Book Review - The Secret Christmas Bookshop by Cressida McLaughlin

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Title: The Secret Christmas Bookshop

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 24th October 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

Can their Christmas love story last a lifetime?

In a village by the sea, where wintry skies bring a dusting of sparkling snow, somebody is opening an unexpected gift…

When Sophie receives a surprise package, she’s intrigued to find a beautifully bound book inside.

Sophie is desperate to discover the mystery sender, and her hunt draws her to the enigmatic Harry. The subject of much gossip since his return from London, Harry keeps to himself in his crumbling manor house.

But they are both about to learn that the best stories can take on a life of their own.

An absolutely heartwarming story that I was totally enchanted by. 

I loved the village setting, the mystery behind he beautifully bound book, and just the whole feel of the story. I was absorbed by what Sophie would decide to do, whether she would continue to move from place to place each year, or if she would start to put down some routes. 

And Harry was intriguing, a bit prickly at first, but turned into a wonderful man that I was definitely falling for.  And the names of his dogs are rather amusing, but it's Felix the Goat that has to be the best character of the book.  He has such a cheeky personality and it was always funny to see what scrapes he ended up in next.

I loved the planning for the big Christmas festival and also seeing how Sophie is starting to connect to more people in the village.  The descriptions of the notebooks she makes too are enchanting and I almost wish I was a bigger fan of stationary to try to find similar ones as they sounded so lovely. 

This is definitely  a very enjoyable festive story that i read over the course of a day. And with Amazon implying this is the first book of a new series, I am incredibly eager to read the next book, and catch up with more of these characters as the setting is so fabulous. 

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