The Secret Christmas Bookshop by Cressida McLaughlin (Harper Collins)
A small disclaimer here as I do know the author and have worked with her on several events in my past role.
I don't read an awful lot of books in this cosy romance genre, and every time I do read one I ask myself why as they are great fun. Perfect for just curling up on the sofa, with a mug of tea, and losing yourself in the story.
To be fair once the characters are all introduced you have a fair idea of just how the book is going to end but the fun is in discovering how they get there and in this one the journey was very nice - and involved two of my favourite things - books and beautiful notebooks.
As well as the festive setting and romance this book also has a couple of more serious messages, including about the care system and also the decision to move away from what looks like an ideal childhood. The other very poignant one was about the decision surrounding putting a relative in a care home rather than looking after them yourself and how no one outside the family knows the whole story and so shouldn't judge and make comments.
These serious points didn't detract from the romance element at all, and also weren't crowbarred in to the story - they just added to the setting and made the people seem more real and less fairy tale.
An added plus to this book is that it is set in North Norfolk and I had great fun spotting which real locations Cressida and melded into her fictional town!
I can't say that I felt any more festive after reading the book, but I did feel all warm inside and it helped block out the frightful weather for the couple of afternoons I spent reading it!
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the copy of the book.
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