Book Review - Christmas at the Movies by Anne Marie Ryan

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Title: Christmas at the Movies

Author: Anne Marie Ryan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 9th October 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

A Christmas film festival. Can this be their second shot at happily-ever-after?

Every December, Sarah and James run a festive film festival in their struggling indie cinema. But this year, Hollywood comes Plumdale when a film crew shoots a movie in the village!

Close to her breaking point, Sarah jumps at the exciting opportunity to work with the handsome and charming director on the script. Screenwriting had been her dream until she put it aside to help run the cinema and raise her children in the Cotswolds.

Worried that he took his wife for granted, James decides to put the festival together on his own, choosing films to remind her of everything they've shared and how much he cares. But with the community and Sarah enthralled by the movie production, James is going to need a Christmas miracle to save both his marriage and the cinema...

Charming, funny and heartwarming, Christmas at the Movies is the perfect Christmas romcom full of community and endearing side characters.

If you are a lover of films and Christmas books then you will absolutely adore this story. 

Sarah and James are obsessed with films, and own an independent cinema that shows indie films, that is struggling a bit financially.  From their first meeting, films have been present in their lives at all they key moments. 

And in between the present day storytelling chapters, we get chapters highlighting their story to this date, including things like their meet cute, their wedding, children and various health struggles of family members.  

But things could be about to change when a festive film is being shot in the village, but anything that sounds too good to be true, really does tend to be.   

I loved the sense of community in Plumdale, I loved that they had a highly sensitive child and seeing how he is dealing with the move to high school.  As well as his older sister's attitude and first possible crush / love.  It's a real family affair this story and I really enjoyed getting to know all of them. 

And with the way James uses this years Christmas Film Festival, it is one of those books that will certainly leave you smiling and a believer in romance. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, which I found highly entertaining and really enjoyed all of the characters present. 

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