
Member Reviews

I was crying by the first chapter! Utterly hooked and invested in the characters. Able to relate to nearly everything. Managed to read it in a couple of days amidst the madness of moving house and loved every single second.

Oh I absolutely adored this glorious, heart breaking read. Mary and Beckett are two wonderful characters and they really came to feel like friends. I loved the story that they had to tell, they were nice to get to know and Moran makes it clear that there is more to both of them. As the book progresses, we learn about their pasts, how this impacts their present day behaviour and feel even more connected to them. Moran's supporting characters are equally as glorious and I would love to know people exactly like they are.
The plot has it all from trauma, heartbreak and sadness to love, hope and friendship. I found myself swept away by the intensity and beauty of the whole read. Plus, this has the added bonus of being set around Christmas which adds to the atmosphere and magic.
I loved this read and cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

A warm story of friendship and trust. A new beginning with wonderfully written characters. It is a story I fell in love with.

This was a lovely festive Christmas read. Great characters and a warm and fuzzy story. Perfect for cosy winter night by the fire with a hot chocolate. Definitely one to add to your Christmas reading list.

This was a heartwarming read, full of kind strangers, newborns and the festive period. When Mary goes into labour, she calls a taxi. Beckett arrives and knows they won’t get to the hospital in time so they stop at a local church, where the many different faces bring warmth and love at a beautiful time. It’s a beautiful book to read, reminding us that strangers can be kind, friendships between strangers can be real and love may even blossom..
A lovely Christmas read that opens your heart to others. It shares a powerful message to be kind to everyone. 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Is there anything Beth Moran can’t do? Her books are so relatable, so well written and so funny, sad, hopeful and happy all at the same time! I love reading her stories and you can’t help but root for the characters. This book had everything you could ask for, and Mary and Beckett really are the most wonderful characters. I could see myself being friends with them. Definitely a huge recommend on this one, get yourself a cup of hot chocolate and a cosy blanket by the fire and enjoy!

Read it. Loved it. Will probably go out and buy a physical copy :)
I love a Christmas book, especially when we have this horrible sunny weather.
Full of uplifting moments, friendships, Christmas cheer and plenty of plot, this one will be a great read around Christmastime.

Beth new book has everything Christmas you expect as it tells the stories of Mary and Beckett, a doctor who isn't practicing medicine. I didn't love or like the book but kept reading to the end. The church stuff was just too much for me - sorry!
Thanks for the advance copy.

A cozy and charming read perfect for the winter season! Just like with any other Beth Moran book, you'll be on a bit of an emotional ride with characters that will pull at your heartstrings and uplift you.

It’s 98 degrees outside and what better way than to be transported to a snow storm! Mary, pregnant and alone in her UK cottage goes into labor. To the rescue is taxi driver, Beckett, who becomes her friend and stability. This has a cast of characters, history/new beginnings, and a splash of Christmas magic. Thank you to the publisher for a copy.

First of all thank you for approving my request!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.
I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

I love nothing more than a cozy title where two lost people find each other. I adored all the supporting characters, including grumpy old Gramps. It was a delightful read and I look forward to more by Moran.

A very hot summer day by the pool is the perfect spot to read The Most Wonderful Time of The Year. I have read several books by Beth Moran and know I'm going to find a warm, redemptive, cozy book with a happy ending. This book was a slow start for me and I did not really engage until the last 20%. I had a hard time with the two main characters, Mary and Beckett. They were supposed to be these very competent people and yet their lives were in shambles. However I enjoyed the rest of the large cast of characters especially Beckett's grandad. And of course the happy ending.

Beth Moran does it again with her cozy vibes and amazing characters! From the start to the finish this book grips you in and dont let go!

Mary is running, running from her recent past and life and also her austere childhood and family beliefs.
She cant run any longer on the night 3 weeks before her due date she goes into labour and calls a taxi from her forest home. Beckett the taxi driver turns up and through blizzards they get her to a church where she gives birth with his help snd some church ladies. Bob is born snd she realises she cant be alone any more.
Beckett brings her baby stuff and offers support and gradually they become friends. The church ladies rally round too and gently life goes on for all. This was just a great book. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Beth Moran's 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' is a bouncy, feel-good festive novel that lives up to the promise of its title. Mary is the central figure, with a secret past and a baby on the horizon, who finds sanctuary in a remote forest cottage. Her carefully built isolation is destroyed when a reserved taxi driver, Beckett, battles through a blizzard to take her to hospital.
What ensues is a bittersweet story of second chances and unanticipated fellowship. Along the way, Mary finds herself pulled into a tight-knit village community she never thought she'd belong to. Beckett's unshakeable encouragement and gentle companionship become a lifeline to Mary, allowing her to let go of the past and finally learn what it means to belong and connect.
Beth Moran skillfully interweaves mystery, love, friendship, and even heartbreak into a truly satisfying and emotional ride, concluding with a happy message of hope and healing. Those who enjoy comforting, character-based fiction will love this a delightful read.

This starts with Mary giving birth in a church during a freak October snowstorm having spent the last 6 months in solitude for reasons that only become clear much nearer the end of the book. Taxi driver Beckett had been attempting to get Mary to hospital but found himself supporting her during birth and being concerned about how ill prepared she was so found himself trying to support her during her son’s first days.
Mary and Beckett both have great stories, Mary is adjusting to parenthood but luckily finds herself a great group of mum friends and she also finds she can be useful to the church she gave birth in whereas Beckett is struggling to care for his Grandpa Marvin whilst trying to juggle work and has real issues finding carers. There’s some great characters in this, most especially Marvin who shows incredible awareness and the warmth between Mary and Beckett is lovely. This is a warm and easygoing read with a few sad details but mostly uplifting.

A delicious, slow burn of a book. Gentle and kind with great characters and a soothing pace. Definitely a perfect read for the winter.

This was a darling story!
I will admit, Mary’s chapters being first person POV and Becketts being third person POV threw me for several chapters. But I was able to get past it.
I loved the small town melting pot feel, it was very cozy. I did feel like Mary’s story was a bit dragged out and could’ve been revealed a touch earlier, made the story a bit shorter.
But all in all, I liked it very much. A lovely tale of new friends and the fact that life isn’t always black and white.

This one was slow for me until the last 20%, but don't let that turn you off! My fave character was Gramps! I really loved that storyline. I wasn't super invested in Mary and Beckett. I kept thinking there was something missing for me, but couldn't put my finger on what. At one point, an event that might typically have triggered a little misty eye didn't and I knew it just wasn't a home run for me.
The book got more humorous and endearing for me toward the end, which I appreciated and wished there had been more of that sooner. I also liked that there was a baby born in a church to a mother named Mary (first chapter, promise I'm not giving anything away!)...the point is, some religious aspects to the book without being preachy or churchy and likely wouldn't be a turn off for some readers. Zero on the spice meter. Once Mary's full story was revealed, I saw why it took so long to get it out, but ultimately the build up could have been shortened.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.