I’ve read several books by the author and feel like there are two types of books even with the genre. One is with a bigger cast in the background with their own problems that get solved ( to some extent along the way) and another where the focus feels like it is on one single individual. This was how I thought before I came to this book.

This story falls somewhere between the two random characterisations that I’ve made for myself. Although our lead protagonist is set to find her growth arc and we focus mainly on her, there are some people in the area who also get helped a little.

Cassie is not in a good place and wanting to connect to her Irish roots, decides to book a random holiday ( I imagined a scene from the movie ‘The Holiday’, because of the similarities). This sets her in a village in England which almost feels like a part of Ireland for obvious reasons.

What follows is a set of people working together and Cassie gets to find out about her grandmother as well.

I personally enjoy the way the author writes and this was no exception. I am not a fan of love triangles, but this was relatively painless. The story was simple and enjoyable in its own way, it was also a little more realistic than some others of its ilk.


I would recommend this book to fans of the genre and definitely plan to continue to pick up her books.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

"A Very Irish Christmas" by Debbie Johnson is a heartwarming tale that beautifully captures the spirit of the holiday season. Set against the enchanting backdrop of Ireland, the story follows the journey of its protagonist as she navigates love, loss, and the magic of Christmas. Johnson's writing is both evocative and engaging, painting vivid images of the Irish landscape and the warmth of its people. The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own unique charm and depth to the narrative. The themes of family, friendship, and the importance of community resonate throughout, making it a perfect read for anyone seeking a cozy escape during the festive season. Johnson masterfully weaves humor and emotion, ensuring that readers are both entertained and touched. Overall, "A Very Irish Christmas" is a delightful read that will leave you with a warm heart and a renewed appreciation for the magic of Christmas in Ireland. Highly recommended!

Firstly, a big thank you to Storm publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

I rated this 3.5⭐️. We get a super cosy, wholesome vibe from this book. It’s set in a village with a strong community feel where everyone knows everyone. It gives a found family element to the book which definitely brings up the Christmas spirit. We also get an ‘upper class’ experience with the setting of Bancroft Manor, and its old time charm shines off the page. A perfect setting for a Christmas book.

This book is told through Cassie’s perspective. I really liked Cassie as a character so I enjoyed following the story from her perspective. She went on such a transformative personal journey in this book so it nice to see her raw feelings as things played out.

I feel like this was supposed to be a love triangle but I didn’t always get the feel it was a love triangle. For the majority of the book it feels like Charles is her only option and Ryan is just an idea she flirts with every now and then. Then Charles confesses his feelings and suddenly she’s all about Ryan. Don’t get me wrong, I like that she ended up with Ryan, he definitely felt more suited to Cassie’s personality, but it was not who I expected her to end up with at all, it seemed a bit sudden.

As I’ve mentioned, this book followed Cassie’s personal journey, but we also get to see Charles’ and Ryan’s personal journeys as they work through the trauma of their pasts. I feel like we could have got a little deeper into Ryan and Charles’ backstories but I feel like their tragic pasts were definitely handled with sensitivity. The author definitely created some nicely fleshed out characters that we could connect to.

Overall, this is a great book for Christmas time. It’s definitely leans more to a story of personal growth and overcoming our past with romance as a secondary factor. Ultimately, it was very festive, wholesome and emotional read, with great side characters and a small town, homey vibe.

Christmas and Debbie Johnson go together like mistletoe and wine. A brilliant story, beautifully written.

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson is a heartwarming, festive read that beautifully blends romance, family, and the magic of the holiday season. Set in a charming Irish village, the story follows Jess, who returns to her roots for Christmas and is swept into the warmth of family, old friends, and a second chance at love.

Johnson’s writing is cozy and inviting, making this the perfect book to curl up with during the holidays. The setting is picturesque, and the characters are endearing, with plenty of humor and heart. The romance is sweet, and the holiday atmosphere adds the perfect touch of cheer.

If you're looking for a cozy Christmas romance full of charm, love, and a little bit of magic, A Very Irish Christmas is a delightful choice.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson was a solid 3.5 star read for me. I enjoyed the humor, romance & Christmas spirit throughout this book. The characters were lovable and I really enjoyed the story.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Charming, cozy, and brimming with holiday heart, This book is is a delightful holiday escape. With a lovable heroine, two swoon-worthy love interests, and a dash of family mystery, it’s the perfect feel-good read for fans of festive romance and small-town charm.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
Funny, touching, and wonderfully festive. Debbie Johnson blends humour and heartache in a Christmas story that delivers big emotions and feel-good warmth. With an Irish setting that’s rich in charm, this is holiday fiction that feels real and uplifting.

Well, this was very cute! It's a warm, inviting, fluffy, feel-good story. Whether you're dreaming of a manor house or a cozy cottage this Christmas, this book delivers both charming settings! However, it is a little slow but in a comforting kind of way. This is certainly charming and definitely festive, but it is more a palate cleaner than anything.

This was a very sweet book. I loved the town and the characters in it. I loved that the depth of the characters. Thanks for letting me read early!!!

I went into this thinking this will be a regular Christmas romance with a love triangle trope.
It ended up being so much more.
Cassie O'Hara was born and raised in America. However, she has been hearing about Ireland form her Irish grandma her whole life. Her grandma was the life of the party and meant everything to Cassie. When tragedy strikes and Cassie loses the one person she loved most, she decided to use the money left to her to go to Ireland, hoping to feel more connected to her grandma.
She ends up in a small village where everyone knows everyone and treat each other life family.
With two men vying for her attention, Aristocrat Charles who requests her help with bringing his family estate back to life, or handyman Ryan, who seems to always be around to help and has a past that he doesn't like to talk about.
Also, diving deeper into her grandma's past before she moved to the US all those years ago, will Cassie figure out what she's been looking for?

I love traveling to another place to experience the locale, emotions of characters and especially the holidays! 'A Very Irish Christmas' didn't disappoint. There is humor, drama, past secrets revealed and overall fun. This one will become annual holiday reading for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A gorgeous cosy and festive read. This was heartwarming story of the FMC finding herself again after heartbreak, and finding a lot of love on the way.
Huge thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for this ARC.

Beautiful cosy Christmas story. Makes you feel warm inside. Close the curtains and curl up with a warm drink and get lost in the story

* I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. Anything Irish I love!

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson offers a charming holiday story set against the picturesque backdrop of Ireland. While the book has its heartwarming moments and delightful descriptions of Irish traditions, it may not fully resonate with all readers.

The protagonist, Mary, is a likable character, but some readers might find her journey a bit predictable. The plot follows a familiar holiday romance formula, which, while comforting to some, may feel a bit clichéd to others. The pacing of the story can be uneven at times, with certain sections feeling rushed while others drag on.

Johnson's writing is engaging, and her ability to capture the essence of an Irish Christmas is commendable. However, the supporting characters could have been more developed, as they sometimes come across as one-dimensional. The romantic subplot, while sweet, lacks the depth and complexity that could have made it more compelling.

Overall, A Very Irish Christmas is a pleasant read for those looking for a light and festive holiday story. It may not stand out in the crowded field of Christmas romances, but it still offers a cozy escape with a touch of Irish charm.

Having read lots of Debbie Johnson's books previously I knew that it was highly likely that I would enjoy this one and it didn't disappoint.

It combined romance, cosiness and Christmas so I really enjoyed it.

Yes, the storyline was a little predictable but it didn't matter and I still wanted to read on to follow Cassie's story.

This book kind of reminded me of The Holiday but without the house swap. Cassie decides to use the money her late grandmother (Nanna Nora) left her to go on a Christmas holiday to Ireland - except she finds a village in The Cotswalds, known locally as Little Ireland where she decides to go instead.

Once she arrives, she meets a dark-haired, blue-eyed, very handsome Irishman (because all Irishmen have dark hair and blue eyes!) named Ryan. She finds out pretty quickly though that he's known as a playboy and there is no chance of him settling down.

Then when she finds out the cottage she booked is uninhabitable, she meets the owner - Charles, who is the opposite of Ryan in every way but still incredibly handsome, and he invites her to stay at "the big house" while her cottage is renovated to make up for the mix up.

As Cassie is an events planner by trade and Charles is clearly in need of some help and inspiration to get people to invest in the manor house (that also happens to own the village), she steps up to offer her expertise and Charles, very quickly, falls in love with her after thinking he could never feel that way about a woman again.

But of course, her heart beats only for Ryan, and it's not until they're spending some time together in County Cork that she starts to think maybe he feels the same way she does. So she has to put on her big girl pants and declare her love for Ryan, after only knowing him 2 weeks.

The story is cute but very predictable. The characters are all likeable, even all the background characters like Charles' mum and daughter. I felt that there could have been more of a build up between Cassie and Ryan though and I don't think the love triangle with Charles was really needed. Having the two of them become friends would have been more than enough.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Heavy on the Irish than the Christmas. I could not get into this book due to my lack of connection with Cassie as she seems more like a disney princess than an actual women. It gets 3 stars because I personally would have loved if we would have gotten more scenes between Ryan and Cassie. It felt like we got more with Charles and it felt a little unbalanced. Other than that, this truly is a lovely, quick and lighthearted Christmas read.