I loved reading Lola. story. About her fulfilling her dreams and following her story with Tristan. Alf, a surrogate grandfather, was a wonderful character which brought a tear to my eye reading his back story. A wonderful setting in the village of Polcarrow which made for a wonderful escape. A real page turner which I thoroughly enjoyed.

A cosy Christmas themed book, that covered village life as well as a dual storyline. A story that was nice but will not remain long in the memory.

oh what a time to be a reader when this kind of book makes its way through your tbr piles. and errm this went straight to the top. no scratch that it went to my read next, now piles lol. and im so glad it did. Jennifer Bibby quickly put herself in my wahoo a new author glee spree when the first in this series came out. ive been waiting for more and was beginning to think and feel sad there might not be one. i know tragic right?
but now how we are with another book based in that gorgeous place and those gorgeous people. and we are back with a Christmas themed one? ermm could it get any better a welcome back to this authors lovely writing> nope.
we re back in Polcarrow the little Cornish village.( someone from here adopt me please?) and we meet Lola who is heartbroken and feeling heart wounded having lost her boyfriend and her grandmother. so to Palcarrow she goes with dreams of opening her own cafe and healing a bit along the way.
Freya is here again(yay) and the best-est friend anyone could wish for. oh Alf too and what lovely figure to have in ones life as that grandfather type support. oh and did we not mention Tristan the vicar yet. well, hello heart.
there is a home to be had and made here for Lola and soon she gets taken in and taken up in local life, festive happening and maybe even what could start something precious like love.
there is also added mystery in this one surrounding Ruby's dear grandmother and what connections she had to this place. could it bring her closer to home and her new friends? or might it be the thing that hurts her once again.
a book about founding yourself and picking yourself up after heartache. about letting people in and trusting people have your back. a book about small town love and community and what it feels like to truly belong. and when you get that how home is everywhere you and those people you call home are with you.
i loved this book by Jennifer. i cant give it more stars. i feel so lucky to get to read this book and then get all the wonderful feelings i got from reading it. this book made me feel better.it made me feel hugged, held and that is something we all so need in our world as it is right now. books are powerful things. and this book once again showed me how and why.
brilliant. loved it. more please Jennifer.

Such a heartwarming story. Lola finds herself adrift following the breakdown of a relationship and the loss of her beloved gran Ruby. Finding a postcard in Ruby's recipe book featuring the village of Polcarrow in Cornwall, Lola finds herself drawn to the place and wondering what was it's connection to Ruby. Using money left to her by Ruby, Lola fulfills her dream of opening a bakery and is soon the heart of the village. Lola is a free spirit and empath who dispenses wisdom and love along with her delicious bakes and is soon absorbed into village life. A lovely slow burning romance develops with the charming vicar, Tristan and he also gets involved in the mystery of Lola's connection to Polcarrow, when Lola receives a parcel of love letters which unfolds her beloved gran's youthful love story . Totally spellbinding.

I received a free copy of, Christmas at the Little Cornish Bakery, by Jennifer Bibby, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Lola lost her grandmother, and her boyfriend, so she decided to get away to Pocarrow. This was a really great Christmas read, I enjoyed reading about Lola and her cafe, and Tristan of course.

Jennifer Bibby’s latest novel is a heartwarming and utterly charming festive romance set in the picturesque Cornish village of Polcarrow. Combining the allure of a small-town community with the rich traditions of Christmas, Bibby crafts a story that feels like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day, full of love, loss, and the gentle magic of finding oneself in unexpected places.

At the center of the story is Lola, a baker whose life has been upended by heartbreak and grief. Fleeing the chaos of her past and mourning the loss of her beloved grandmother, she arrives in Polcarrow seeking solace and purpose. Lola’s journey is both poignant and relatable, as she grapples with vulnerability, the pain of loss, and the hope of carving out a fresh start. Bibby expertly develops her protagonist, allowing readers to feel Lola’s emotional highs and lows intimately, while simultaneously immersing them in the vibrant rhythms of village life.

The novel shines in its depiction of community. From best friend Freya’s unwavering support to the artistic charm of biker Angelo and the lovable wisdom of Polcarrow’s ‘grandad’ Alf, the ensemble cast brings depth, warmth, and humor to the narrative. Lola’s bakery quickly becomes the heart of the village, a place where lives intersect, friendships deepen, and love finds a way. Bibby’s ability to blend interpersonal relationships with a broader sense of communal belonging makes Polcarrow feel fully realized—a setting as much a character as the people who inhabit it.

Romance in this story is tender, layered, and refreshingly genuine. The arrival of Tristan, the village vicar, injects both tension and hope, challenging Lola to confront her fears and reconsider what it means to open her heart again. The author balances the romantic storyline with the richness of historical intrigue: the letters and diary entries from Lola’s grandmother reveal a past of love and loss, adding emotional weight and depth that resonates across generations. The interplay of past and present heightens the stakes, making Lola’s journey toward love and self-discovery all the more compelling.

Bibby’s prose is vivid and inviting, capturing the essence of Cornwall in the winter months with its sea-kissed landscapes, festive celebrations, and quirky local traditions. From organizing the village Christmas festivities to constructing a lobster-pot Christmas tree, the novel delights in small, charming details that make the story immersive and heartwarming. The pacing is excellent, seamlessly balancing moments of quiet introspection with the excitement of seasonal events and romantic tension.

In sum, this novel is a triumph of cosy, uplifting storytelling. Jennifer Bibby has crafted a festive romance that is as engaging emotionally as it is charmingly picturesque, blending humour, romance, and a strong sense of community into a narrative that lingers long after the last page. For readers seeking a feel-good holiday read that combines heartfelt emotion with irresistible Cornish charm, this book is a must-read.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A perfect blend of romance, nostalgia, and community warmth that makes Christmas in Polcarrow unforgettable.

After losing her grandmother and her relationship ending lola descovers a postcard in her grandmothers belongigngs of Polcarrow in cornwall and decides to go and visit.
Her Grandmother always wanted to open a teashop with Lola but never did but now lola has a chance to do this when she spots and empty cafe for sale in Polcarrow.
Just as she gets settled she recieves a box of thing that belonged to her grandmother her recepie book that also contained more postcards of polcarrow and a bunch of letters and her diary with photos in.
As Lola starts to unravel her grandmothers past she has help from the local vicar who has started to come to the cafe every morning since it opened .
The pair become close but just as Lola thought there was something there a ghost from the past that Tristan the vicar had hoped to have got away from comes back to cause problems.

After a break up and the passing of her grandmother Ruby, Lola escapes to the Cornish village of Polcarrow, with the dream of opening a cafe. She is soon caught up in the village life with vicar Tristan, elderly Alf and assistant Freya. Can Lola work out what her grandmother's link to Polcarrow was, and will it affect her relationship with her new found friends?

I loved the mystery surrounding Ruby that was woven within the story, with little bits of information given out slowly as Lola read her diary. The village is a beautiful setting, and I really liked the mix of "found family" characters - their joint plans for Christmas was just lovely. The lobster pot Christmas tree was a fabulous idea, and the descriptions of Lola's food was wonderful! I hadn't realised this was a second book set in Polcarrow, so will definitely look out for the first now.

I wasn't sure what I needed at the end of the summer was a Christmas romance but it turns out, heading back to Polcarrow hit the spot perfectly!

Christmas at the Little Cornish Bakery, with it's beautiful scenery, all the fantastic characters we've met before and a dash of sweet, clean romance, is epically readable. I loved the hint of past family secrets and Lola's connections to Cornwall. I also very much enjoyed Lola and Tristan's chemistry. You can feel their connection from the very beginning. It was also a delight to revisit Freya and Angelo, and see them from Lola's eyes.

I enjoyed really enjoyed this book, maybe even more than the first visit to Polcarrow! Thanks Jenn, Bonnier Books and Netgalley for the eARC.

Absolutely loved it . You have Cornwall, a fabulous baker, friendship, a pinch of romance and a family secret. Like a nice hot chocolate with a mound of whipped cream on a frosty evening—comforting, sweet, and just the right indulgence. A pleasant joy to read.

This was a truly delightful, festive read. I read this in a few hours and absolutely loved it, I loved all the characters and the gorgeous Cornish setting

Christmas at the Little Cornish Bakery is like a warm mince pie on a frosty evening—comforting, sweet, and just the right amount of indulgent.

Jennifer Bibby invites us into the heart of Polcarrow, a charming Cornish village that feels like it was stitched together from fairy lights and heartfelt second chances. Lola, reeling from heartbreak and grief, arrives with dreams of opening a café and ends up finding something far richer: community, connection, and maybe even love.

The cast is delightful—Freya is the kind of best friend we all wish we had, Alf brings grandfatherly wisdom and warmth, and Tristan, the local vicar, is quietly magnetic. Their interactions sparkle with humour and tenderness, and the festive backdrop adds a layer of magic that makes everything feel possible. Bibby weaves in deeper themes too—loss, identity, and the secrets that shape us—without ever losing the lightness that makes this such a joy to read. It’s a story about healing, about letting people in, and about trusting that sometimes the universe has a better plan than the one we imagined.

If you love cozy romances with heart, a dash of mystery, and a whole lot of festive charm, this one’s a treat. Perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley and Jo Thomas. Loved this and will be reading again from my Christmas book list!

With thanks to Jennifer Bibby, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely loved it . Had read the first one but you can read as a stand alone. Already ordered number 3!!!!!. Where do I begin. You have Cornwall, a handsome vicar, a fabulous baker, a lovely mature man, friendship and a family secret. Read in one sitting. I just escape into the book . Fantastic .