Cute, pretty classic Christmas rom-com. I don't actually read much romance except for Christmas, so the genre still feels pretty fresh to me and I don't get bored even if the book doesn't necessarily bring anything new. I'm still entertained and having fun reading. The reason I don't read a lot of romance though is that it just doesn't give me a lot of emotions, doesn't really make me excited or particularly attached to the characters... Basically, I enjoy the story but don't really fall in love with it. It's a bit of a palate cleanser for me between other genres. But you absolutely get what you came for when you pick this up: a cute festive rom-com with lots of funny moments and lots of swoony ones. It gave me the same feeling as a Hallmark movie: you know you didn't watch a masterpiece and will never watch it again, but you still has a lovely time watching. That's what this book was to me: not great literature, sure, but a fun, heartwarming read that gave me a good time!

This book was absolutely adorable!! I connected instantly to this story. Cassie, a heartbroken American girl, travels abroad to explore her Irish roots. When she finally decides to spend Christmas overseas, her quest for a holiday home reminds me of Cameron Diaz in “The Holiday”.

The British references are spot on—Cassie’s fangirl moments over shows filmed in England and her crush on Hugh Grant from his Notting Hill days made me smile. As a Canadian with family in England and Ireland, I couldn’t help but laugh at the comments like, “My cousin lives in America, maybe you know her?” It brought back fond memories from my own visits!

The highlights kept coming, from calling rain boots “wellies” to a hilarious TikTok featuring a dachshund (just like my own pup!). I loved how “Home Alone” was dubbed the classic family Christmas movie. And let’s not forget the curious yet delicious mince pie and the intriguing mention of Ancestry DNA—perfect elements that made the story feel relatable and fun.

Overall, “A Very Irish Christmas” is a delightful read that will warm your heart and leave you dreaming of your own holiday adventures. Highly recommended!

This was a great rom-com set in an Irish town In England. I loved all the characters and how you did not know who Cassie was going to end up with until the end.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book early. Cassie uses her inheritance to spend some time at a cottage where she meetings great people and the cutest dog. This story was feel-good, warm, gave me all the bets feels I want at Christmas time.

3.75 ⭐️
this book was really cute and I flew through the pages and couldn’t put it down. The setting in the English countryside with the big manor and a small town full of friendly Irish people was amazing.
The ending however, did feel too rushed for me and I was quite surprised when I already reached the Epilogue. I’d still recommend it though, as it’s a perfectly cozy holiday read. ✨🎄

*thank you to NetGalley for access to this ARC*

“A Very Irish Christmas” deals with Cassie, who in an attempt to break the monotony of her life goes to Ireland for the holidays. There she finds herself in a quaint town surrounded by lovely townspeople and two very lovely suitors.

The story gives off very cute rom-com vibes and I enjoyed the humorous moments between Cassie and the people of the village. Even her scenes with Eejit were adorable.

The only qualms I really had with it is that the writing can be a bit slow at times, with certain scenes taking so much time to build up.

As for the romance, while I found she had potential chemistry with each love interest, I don’t personally feel I saw why one won over the other necessarily. I think there were just some scenes missing or lacking to really justify why Cassie picked one over the other.

Overall, still a cute read and would be good for anyone wanting something lighthearted to read during the holidays.

Cute and fast Christmas story. The FMC used her inheritance to travel to England after she was jilted at the alter and her grandmother passed. This book put me in the holiday spirit, but I wanted more. I smiled a lot and enjoyed the Irish and English vernacular. I loved all of the side characters/interactions. I struggle saying this is a romance- I didn’t get any sparks with either of the MMCs and then she “picked” one but I didn’t really “feel” why.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Cassie’s story! It was filled with emotions and good vibes. This is a heartwarming romance with no spice, which I don’t usually go for, but I feel like I needed it.
The Christmas atmosphere was perfect- this was the book I desperately needed to read to get ready for the holidays.
I was scared that the love triangle was going to be something I didn’t like but it was actually fine. And I’m glad she picked HIM.
I love Eejit so much and he really brought magic to this story.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!

This was oh-so-cute!! It gave French Holiday by Sarah Ready! While both Charles and Ryan were perfect, I just wanted Cassie to find happiness, and the overall journey was so heartwarming 🥺

Cassie O’Hara is an event planner, but lately instead of getting large, sought after events, she’s been downgraded to birthday parties. She decides that she should use the money her Irish Nana Nora left her in her will to travel and spend a month abroad. She finds a cozy cottage in a small village and decides to book it on a whim. When she arrives the cottage looks nothing like the warm, inviting space that was pictured online, quite the opposite in fact—it’s cold, damp and dusty.

The villagers welcome her that first evening and she enjoys a hot meal in the pub. She’s caught the eye of two men who seem to be at odds with one another. Ryan, the Irishman who’s enlisted to get Whimsy Cottage in working order as soon as possible and Charles, the Englishman with the manor house overlooking the village.

Cassie offers her event planning skills to Charles so that he can woo the investors he’s talking to about Bancroft Manor. They say it takes a village and in this case it does with Cassie, Ryan and Charles leading the way. As Cassie’s time in the village is winding down, she can’t help but feel a tug in her heart.

I loved this rom-com and will be recommending it to friends. It’s a feel-good story where two men are vying for the same girl in an idyllic village at Christmas time…what more could a person want?!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #AVeryIrishChristmas

Loved this sweet, Christmas story. Engaging characters and excellent descriptions. I really enjoyed it!

Cassies trip to Ireland after being jilted has some surprises. The rental cottage is not what it was made out to be, there's her adopted dogs, two men vying for her attention and an event planning gig. A vacation turns out to be an adventure of discovery of love. Cute holiday romance, written in an easy style.

#netgalley #AVeryIrishChristmas

dnf 30%

I was really excited to start this book and it is a cozy feel Christmas book, but I wasn’t clicking with the writing style. I wasn’t getting into the book, it was going a little slow for my preference, so it was harder for me get into. Really wanted to love this book but I couldn’t connect with it.

Enjoyable festive read, slow start but once it gets going it's a real cosy read. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

📚🎄ARC BOOK REVIEW🎄📚

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson
⭐⭐⭐

This one was a cute Christmas romance full of fluff and good feelings once you get past the angst.

The opening chapters were a little slow for me, with a little too much emphasis on telling instead of showing, and so it took me a good while to commit to completing the read and actually get interested enough to devour it. But once we reached the part where Cassie stopped moping, got to Ireland, and met Ryan and Charles, things really picked up.

Overall, the writing could perhaps use some polish here and there to sort out the telling not showing problem; and some of the characterizations were a little silly and over the top, and maybe a bit cliche, but the story was sweet and fluffy and full of rediscovering one's purpose and finding a passion for life again in the wake of a tragedy.

If you're looking for a feel-good Christmas read that will give you all the same vibes of a Hallmark Christmas movie, this one is for you.

#arcreview #books #bookstagrammer #booksta #bookblogger #review #bookreview #AVeryIrishChristmas #DebbieJohnson #netgalley #netgalleyreads

New Yorker Cassie O'Hara receives an inheritance from her recently deceased Irish grandmother Nanna Nora and decides to book herself a month-long stay in the beautiful English countryside in a small and cosy Irish village. She expects a quiet stay in a cute cottage with an extra dose of Christmas cheer but finds herself in the center of a love triangle between sophisticated aristocrat Charles and sweet, flirty handyman Ryan in this holiday romantic comedy!

I really enjoyed this very sweet travel romance! It had the perfect mix of a small-town setting, humor, loveable characters, and found family. This lovely story also had major growth for the main character Cassie where she learns to build her self-confidence and learns to trust again after a very emotional break-up. Nanna Nora also plays a huge part in this story and I loved being able to get to know her as a character through what Cassie learned about her along the way in this book. Overall, a super cute holiday romance!

My reviews are also available on GoodReads.

This book is available for purchase now!

I would like to thank Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was the perfect book to get me into the holiday spirit. It was so cozy I felt I was watching a hallmark classic. Every character was so warmly created and had so much personality, even the dog! I finished it ready to book my own Christmas trip to Ireland.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read "A Very Irish Christmas" in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story begins in New York, five weeks before Christmas where Cassie O'Hara is working through the "Things I love/hate about Christmas". Cassie is bitter after being left at the altar by Ted. Then her beloved Nanna Nora died days before her 100th birthday and she's feeling lost. She decides to do something that Nanna Nora would be proud of, so with the money that Nanna Nora left her she travels to England to trace her roots.

In England she finds that her accommodation might not be what it seemed online. She meets Ryan Connolly and Eileen who rescue her from Eejit the stray dog as she's off to find something to eat. Charles Alexander Bancroft invites her to stay at Bancroft Manor. For some reason Cassie has a lot of trouble understanding the English language which she points out several times.

There are secrets being held by several of the characters that affect their interactions with each other. Charles has a wonderful daughter named Georgie whom Cassie immediately takes to. When Georgie is in trouble Cassie doesn't hesitate to go and help.

Cassie learns what she went to Europe to learn about her beloved Nanna Nora. In the process with her Nanna guiding her, she helps the village join forces with Charles to save the Manor. Planning events that will pay for the upkeep of the Manor in the future.

Ms. Johnson has created characters that are interesting and you care about them as the story goes on. Her writing draws you in and you feel like you are there with Cassie and her new friends. A very heartwarming Christmas story.

A great festive read. I loved the setting of this book, in little Ireland, which is in England. Cassie is there for a break from her life in America. Will she fall for Charles or Ryan, or is she not ready to let anyone in yet?

A delightful Irish Christmas read. Exactly what I needed! Thank you so much for the advanced read.