Book Review - This Christmas by Emma Heatherington

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: This Christmas

Author: Emma Heatherington

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 31st August 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Rose used to love Christmas - until the year everything changed. She hasn't been home to visit her family for the holidays since.

Charlie is facing his first Christmas alone. It may be the most wonderful time of the year for some, but not for him. Not this year.

In search of comfort and seclusion, Rose escapes to a cottage in rural Donegal to hunker down for the festive season by herself.

But when Charlie opens the door to Seaview Cottage, the two strangers realise that their holiday rental has been double-booked.

Both of them expected to spend this Christmas alone. But their lives could be changed forever if they agree to spend it together. . .

This would make a wonderful festive film it has all the right qualities to work on a big or little screen. And it is just so good. 

It's about two people determined the only way they can get through Christmas this year by being alone - up until the point they end up having both booked the same holiday cottage. 

I enjoyed getting to know Rose and Charlie, and learning just why it is they are trying to avoid Christmas. And in being at Seaview Cottage, I loved seeing how they gradually changed. 

Charlie is convinced they need rules to live by including only texting each other and not having actual conversations if it can be helped. But I'm sure you can guess how that went! 

They are both characters at times I wished I could reach out and give hugs to. I felt for them but was also rooting for them to start healing.  At times it almost broke my heart, and others I was definitely smiling. 

Ultimately this definitely had a feel good factor and the ending is utter perfection. 

Another truly fabulous Christmas book from this author. 

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.