Book Review - A Merry Irish Christmas by Clodagh Murphy

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Title: A Merry Irish Christmas

Author: Clodagh Murphy

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books 

Publication Date: 6th September 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Mary is looking forward to a proper, Irish family Christmas… but she’s in for a big surprise…

Mary McBride hasn’t told her family that she’s coming home for Christmas. After breaking up with her boyfriend just before the holidays, she decides to surprise them and get a last-minute flight home. But when she arrives in Ireland after a long journey, she discovers her family have had the same idea, and gone to New York to surprise her.

To make matters infinitely worse, they’ve done a house swap with grumpy (but sexy) New Yorker Evan, who makes it clear he doesn’t want her, or her Christmas cheer, around.

Mary is determined to keep the festive spirit alive, so she proposes that she and Evan each get one day where the other has to do things their way. But can Evan put aside his grouchiness to embrace a proper, Irish Christmas? And how will Mary cope with a day of sulking and moody walks on the beach?

One thing’s certain: as the temperature drops outside, things start to heat up inside the McBride house. Maybe it’ll be a merry Christmas after all …

A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy full of Irish charm and festive romance, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Catherine Walsh.

Please please please tell me this is the first book in a series, as I really need to read more of these characters. Very specifically this book was giving me Marian Keyes, Walsh family vibes and feel like Sheena who is Mary's mum is going to be pivotal to everything. 

I adored Sheena whenever we saw her, and she certainly has the gift of the gab, and clearly loves her children. 

I also feel like this would make a fabulous festive movie, there is a brilliant meet cute, close proximity possible romance, elements of The Holiday (the house swap), characters who want to surprise loved ones, only for it to backfire slightly and a whole lot more. 

I found this to be a wonderfully fast book to read, it seemed like the pages were going past without any effort from me, while I was enjoying every last word of this. 

Set between New York and a small Irish town, this is pure enjoyment this festive season.  There are friends to be met, a really lovely Christmas Day, and a slow burn romance, which I was definitely rooting for. 

This was an incredibly enjoyable book to read and I'm definitely keen to read more from the author, and hopefully this family too. 

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