Thank you for allowing me to read and review.

I always look forward to a Cressida McLaughlin book,

This one didn't disappoint, A warm and cosy read full of Christmas sprit.

I hope in the future we could revisit and see how there story develops.

A warm and festive read set in a beautiful seaside town. Sophie has been in Mistingham nearly for one year. Time to move on…or is it? A surprise book lands up in Sophie’s hands , the only thing is this book has an eerie similar story to her own life. Harry, lives in a crumbling Manor House, prefers his own company and stays away from the town. A chance meeting and sparks fly. Brought together to arrange the Christmas Fair and with a quirky set of characters. The writing is warm and descriptive, it makes you want to experience the town for yourself.
A sweet, cosy and magical book telling a story about finding yourself and where you belong. A great festive read!

The Secret Christmas Bookshop is a wonderfully cosy winter read that perfectly captures the magic of the festive season.

I'm a big fan of Cresissa McLaughlin's writing and she did not disappoint!

Set in the charming town of Mistingham in the run-up to Christmas, it’s the kind of book that makes you want to wrap up warm, curl up by the fire with a blanket, and indulge in a good story - perhaps while tucking into a plate of seaside fish and chips for added atmosphere!

From the very start, Sophie is a character you can’t help but root for.

She’s warm, relatable, and easy to connect with as she navigates her way through both personal and professional challenges.

And then there’s Harry - mysterious, brooding, and with just the right amount of grumpiness to keep things intriguing.

The dynamic between Sophie and Harry is engaging, with each chapter peeling back more layers of their personalities, making their journey all the more compelling.

Watching their relationship unfold felt natural and rewarding, as they not only got to know each other but also learned more about themselves along the way.

While Sophie and Harry’s story was at the heart of the book, Dexter also made quite the impression.

Here’s hoping for a sequel with Dexter and Lucy as the main focus because there’s definitely potential for another heartwarming story there.

This book has left me longing for crisp winter walks, twinkling Christmas lights, and all the cosy, festive traditions that make this time of year so special.

It may only be the start of Spring, but The Secret Christmas Bookshop has certainly put me in the mood for the magic of the season!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely Christmas story, but I wouldn't have a problem reading it any time of year. Great well developed characters, and a lovely setting.

I fear no one does Christmas like Cressida McLaughlin does Christmas - just delightful! I loved Sophie and Harry so much. This was an adorable read.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

I love a Cressida Christmas, you can’t beat them , you won’t go wrong with this slow burn and heartwarming read, I love how descriptive this is all the lovely details of the Christmas fair, it’s just everything you could want for a rest and cosy read

What an adorable festive read of a book! First of all, the cover is eye catching and simply stunning so we’ll done to whoever designed it.
The story itself was well written. Yes, it was slightly predictable. But most books are nowadays and it didn’t detract from the enjoyment. The setting of of mistingham was sweet. Who wouldn’t want to live in a small coastal village. And the budding romance and mystery between Sophie and Harry was sweet. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the lovely read.

Sophie has finally settled in a small seaside town on the Norfolk coast but is starting to get itchy feet when she receives a beautiful gift from the ‘Secret Bookshop’. In the hope of solving the mystery she decides to stick around a bit longer and gets roped into organising the Christmas Fair alongside grumpy Harry.

While I understand that this genre is bound to be a bit sentimental, this was just a bit too sweet for me!

Thanks for netgalley for the chance to read this book.

From the author of the Cornish cream tea novels is another great book. A great Christmas read.

The Secret Christmas Bookshop was such a cosy, Christmas read. I loved the characters and felt invested in the storyline and how it developed. A brilliant escape for cold winter's day.

this was an enjoyable read!

Commitment-phobe Sophie meets aloof manor owner, Harry. Despite a difficult start, they work together to arrange the village fete and, no shocker, they fall in love!

Yes, it is a predictable romance, but it involves books and it was a light, enjoyable read that was perfect for this time of year.

I loved this book. I hadn’t expected to enjoy it so much, but it was just what i needed and was so perfect for this time of year.
Cressida McLaughlin really manages to bring the fictional (sadly!) village of Mistingham to life and the descriptions of the landscapes of rural picturesque North Norfolk bloom in your imagination.

The characters are wonderful - properly realistic with their own history and personalities that shine through. So many similar books have characters that are relatable on the surface, but seem too pink or sugary sweet ott nice. What i loved and found real in this book, are the differences between the characters personalities and not shying away from everyday expressions and terms. The storyline is decent with a few surprises and little twists along the way. If Mistingham was a real village I’d probably be on rightmove now. It sounds so idyllic and i’m hopeful we may be fortunate enough one day to have another visit to see how the characters are doing.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, which did not influence my unbiased and honest review of the book.

This is the Christmas read of all Christmas reads. 'A surprise present, a mystery sender and a sprinkling of secrets.' That sums it up and it just gets better from there. I love the village by the sea setting, the Christmas theme and of course I just love Sophie. This is a warm and cosy read that is perfect for Christmas or anytime really.

This book flowed well from start to finish and enjoyed following the journey of Sophie and Harry's relationship. Love the bookshop, the setting and I just found this such an enjoyable and entertaining book to read.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Such a beautiful cosy Christmas story, perfect for the festive season to get you in the mood for xmas

I read this one over the holidays and it was the perfect festive escape!

The Secret Christmas Bookshop is set in the charming seaside village of Mistingham, where golden sand dunes meet wintry skies, and the festive season is just around the corner ❄️ Sophie, our protagonist, receives a mysterious parcel at the bookshop where she works—a beautifully bound novel that strangely reflects her own life. As she gets to know enigmatic Harry, the village recluse with a crumbling manor house and a cloud of gossip following him, their stories begin to intertwine in surprising ways.

This book was a lovely wintery read that gave me all the festive feels. I’d happily move to Mistingham tomorrow—the cosy seaside vibes, twinkling Christmas lights, and the promise of fish and chips by the sea made it the perfect setting for a holiday story. Sophie is such a sweet and relatable character, and I found myself rooting for her happiness (even if I did secretly have my eye on Dexter first… here’s hoping for a sequel starring him and Lucy!) 🤞🏻

I enjoyed the slow unfolding of Sophie and Harry’s relationship—there’s something so satisfying about peeling back layers of a broody, mysterious character like Harry. Their dynamic had moments of charm, and the story’s festive touches definitely made it a heartwarming read.

That said, while I liked this book, I didn’t love it. Some of the character reactions were a bit OTT, and the story dragged slightly in places, which pulled me out of the magic a little. Still, it’s a lovely, comforting book to curl up with as the weather gets colder🎄📚

This was another wonderful festive read by the talented Cressida McLaughlin.

Sophie and Harry were both likeable and sympathetic characters, as they each had their own struggles. I particularly enjoyed the grumpy sunshine element of the story.

There were a few different threads to this story, which made it feel like so much more than a festive romance. Sophie and Harry are tasked with putting on a Christmas festival in the quaint village of Mistingham, and this gave the Christmas vibe you need in a story like this.

Sophie and Harry were both recovering from their own heartache, but can they put their past trauma aside to find romance?

There were two other key elements to this story: Sophie's desire to run away versus her need to put down roots, and the mystery of the Secret Bookkeeper. Who is sending Sophie a beautiful edition of her favourite book, and why do they want to hide their identity?

I have to admit that the conclusion of the mystery was the part of the story I liked the least. It was unexpected, but sometimes I feel more comforted by a book when it goes how I expect, especially romance books.

Having said that, it did make the ending more exciting and I loved the ending of the book. Overall, a fantastic festive choice!

A lovely Christmas read at any time of the year. Sophie never stays too long in one place. It is safer that way, she doesn't have to trust in anyone and she can control everything in her life. When she ends up in Mistingham she makes some friends, has success with her business, but still plans to move after a year, because that is what she does. Then she receives a book, Jane Eyre, which really connects with her, with a note that suggests she might consider staying instead of moving on.Curious to find out where the book came from she volunteers to help arrange the annual village Christmas festival, along with Harry, who is the handsome grumpy man from the Manor. The friendships and romance are nicely written, Felix the goat is a delightful fun addition, and the town itself brings such a wonderful warm feeling that this book is just a lovely winter read.

I absolutely loved this book. I saved reading it until December and I'm glad I did. It was such a lovely story made all the more special by the many amazing characters in the book. I'm hoping there will be more to this series moving forward. Especially Jazz! Smashing book to end the year on.

After a life in care, Sophie never stays long in any place, before she feels the need to flee.
When she moves to Mistingham on the Norfolk coast, selling her hand made notebooks in a space in a shop owned by her now friends Fiona, she plots her next move.
Then she meets mean and moody Harry, recently back in the village following the death of his father, and his crazy goat Felix. They get roped into organising the Christmas festival, and their friendship grows.
Will her new friends be enough to entice her to trust again and stay in Mistingham, along with the mystery bookshop that leaves her a beautiful copy of Jane Eyre?
Am endearing and funny read, mixed with the magic of Christmas, books and a comical goat. A really lovely read that I struggled to put down.

Sophie doesn't stay anywhere for long. She runs a small business making bound notebooks, that is easy to transport. She decides she will move on from the village of Mistingham, but then is sent a mysterious book. Will solving the mystery help her decide to set down roots?

A nice easy to read book, some lovely scenic descriptions with a number of interesting characters. Unfortunately I didn't find Sophie particularly likeable which did affect my overall enjoyment of the book.