Member Reviews
Oh my, why oh why? Every year I try and 'save' Mandy Baggot books because I normally love them and read them WAY too quickly. So this year I waited, and then I waited and then I couldn't wait any more so started it, and lo and behold now I feel bereft. What can I possibly read now? Yes there are people that probably think I am barking mad, but there are many people out there (I see you!) that have this same battle in their head. Mandy Baggot books are like a comfort blanket to me, and she along with a handful of other female authors are what I reach for when I am feeling rubbish.
This particular book I just adored. Lara is our main character and she is a Lorry driving tomboy who lives in a village with her Dad and her (sort of) brother. She ends up making the trip to New York with her friend Susie (who I also adored). What started out as a madcap scheme has quickly turned into a reality and before long, it's one that Lara cannot quite believe she is a part of. I don't want to say too much more regarding the story line because it's an endearing and funny read.
What I will say is that we meet Seth Hunt who is an Actor in New York and his friend/flat mate/manager Trent. All of the characters in this book were so likeable and all very individual and brought their own flair to this book. There were moments that had me laughing to myself, and moments I was holding my breath to see what would happen next. Most of all it made me practically breathe in New York fumes from the pages. A beautifully descriptive narrative of New York at Christmas, so much so it made me want to go back. I was truly disappointed to finish and as always will wait with excitement for her next book!
Lovely Christmas romance. I really liked the story and the characters are nicely developed. Amazing Christmas read.
Really enjoyable book and Christmas in New York is a wonderful background. I'm not sure how realistic parts of the storyline are but it's sometimes best to suspend disbelief. I don't know of any hairdressers (the best friend) who could actually drop everything to go away just before Christmas as they are usually booked solid from the end of November to Christmas Eve with no spare appointments, but hey ho! This really set up the storyline as rather stretched which is when I realised I needed to just enjoy the story and try not to be too critical. It kept this up right to the end when family could book seats on flights last minute at Christmas too. All that said, I was pleased to enjoy the book and really liked the characters too. Thanks.
Love Mandy's books and this was no different, a fantastic read, loved the atmospheric wintry feel, really lovely read!
All starts when Dan asked for a break in their relationship whit girlfriend Lara. However, when Lara starts wondering where is the mistake, she really realizes that what Dan wants is to break up completely. Lara doesn’t stay at home crying, so Lara sets off for New York with her friend Susie to make the trip of a lifetime., looking for a fresh start. In the Big Apple, both friends will finish their journey with the help of Seth, an actor who is making his way in the world of cinema and who currently works on Lara's favorite series.
I like the way Mandy Baggot describes the most touristic places of New York, so you can imagine yourself along with two friends. It is an easy reading to enjoy at Christmas.
I started this book expecting it to be a typical Christmas chic-lit book, however, I was wrong!!
It's December 1st and Laura is driving in the annual Appleshaw Christmas fair when she receives a call from her Boyfriend Dan who is not sure of his feelings for her anymore. In order to move on and make Dan realise what he's giving up, Laura's best friend, Susie, suggests the tweet celebrities to make him jealous, not expecting to get a response. Seth Hunt, Dr Mike from Manhattan Med replies and what was meant to be a bit of fun turns into an adventure for Laura who's never been out of Appleshaw.
Although this book is set at Christmas, it doesn't feel too overly Christmassy. There is mention of how beautiful New York is at Christmas (obviously) but other than that it feels like it's just a winter love story. I love the character of Laura and how she is so confident when doing things; she's such a strong minded character. Usually women are heart broken and don't know what to do with themselves but Laura is so much more than that. She's accepted that her life is the way it is and she's content with that fact.
I love how up to date this book is and how everything is so relevant.
This is such a great feel good book and I would recommend trying it if you want a feel good story where you're rooting for all of the characters.
What will happen when a truck driver and an out of work actor meet in New York?
I read this book over the Christmas period and thoroughly enjoyed it. The descriptions of the tourist sites in New York were better than most travel guides.
My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review. I gave this a 4 stars or 8/10.
I've read and enjoyed quite a few of Mandy Baggot's other books and enjoyed them, this fell into the same category of having enjoyed it. Mandy has the ability to transport you to other countries and immerses you in the lives of her characters. It was the perfect feel good book for the Christmas season with plenty of romance and secrets to keep you engaged in it.
Lara Weeks escapes to New York with her best friend to try and get over a relationship. Her ex-boyfriend Dan appears to have already moved on and she needs to do the same or try to make him jealous and want her back.
Step in Seth Hunt a gorgeous actor who might or might not have an ulterior motive for getting close to her or does he? Their paths cross several times, in various situations and will that underlying attraction and romantic spark ignite between them or not?
Why not grab a copy for yourself and let Mandy Baggot immerse you in the Big Apple and all it has to offer Lara, Seth and all the other characters.
Another gorgeous romance from Mandy. Loved New York, loved the topical references and LOVED the smush. She's done it again!
I always love a new book from Mandy Baggot. She transports you right into another world with wonderful characters that you get to know so well.
Lara takes a holiday to New York with her best friend after a break up. Her friend hatches a plan to make her ex jealous and Lara ends up meeting a wonderful character who is a real dreamboat. He’s an actor looking for a big break and he has a heart of gold and a wonderful family who help the homeless. There is a huge attraction between them but is the timing right for either? Can Lara , who is a homebird get used to the red carpet trappings that Seth’s world introduces her to.
I wanted to hop on a plane to New York to see the sights at Christmas. It is on my wishlist and this book just transported me straight there and made me want to move this right to the top of my list.
A nice enough book.
Lara has been told by her boyfriend, Dan that he wants "a break" and before you know it, Lara and best friend Susie are off to New York where Susie has convinced Lara to tweet one of her favourite slebs, Seth. The plan is for Lara to have a few photos taken of her and Seth to plaster all over Facebook and Instagram to make Dan realise what he's missing out on.
A lovely Christmas read! I always manage to find a few Christmas reads to enjoy during December. Easy and quick to read, great characters and plenty of Christmas schmaltz!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy - I will most definitely be looking out for more novels by Mandy Baggot.
This book did what it said on the tin really. It promised romance and Christmas themed and that's exactly what it served up. Normally I would opt for something much more meaty but this was good to just while away a few hours. It was very festive too.
Sorry. This one was archived and then disappeared from ALL of my devices before I had time to read it. Even my backups. I won't give low stars to a book I haven't read, though. Very disappointed.
Not my usual genre but this book had me gripped throughout. Will be looking out for more of the same!
What can be better than New York at Christmas? I can't think of a more festive place.
Lara has just been dumped. Luckily her best friend Susie is on hand to help. Susie comes up with a plan to make Lara's ex jealous. Enter Seth a famous actor, after drunk tweeting several celebrities. Seth's best friend replies on his behalf and invites Lara to New York. The first time Seth & Lara meet its up a tree. Talk about a meet cute. Seriously you need to go and pick up a copy of this book. It has everything you can want in a book. Great characters and of course New York.
I wanted to read a typical Christmas romance, and this fitted perfectly. The characters were so lovely and it was just such a feel-good book throughout. Perfect Christmas read!
There's 2 things that caught my eye about this book: 1.) Christmas and 2.) New York. The two put together sounded like Heaven so I gave it a read.
As predictable as I thought this book was going to be, I think we can let that slide since it's almost Christmas! One thing I loved about this book was how much it made me want to go back to New York! It was so whimsical and left me with that warm and fuzzy feeling that's Christmas always brings. Admittedly, I wasn't a fan of Lara getting hung over about Dan when it was so obvious that she liked Seth and the story did drag slightly towards the middle. But there's some really hearty characters in this book like Kossy and Susie that make it just a delight to read.
Overall, it's hard not to like a book about New York and Christmas. Especially when there's the unconventional Lara at the center of the story alongside some other great characters.
Lara is devastated when her boyfriend says they need a break and is off to Scotland for Christmas. A drunken tweet to an actor leads to Lara and her best friend heading to New York to meet him and make her ex jealous. They meet Seth and Lara begins to wonder if she really wants her ex back after all.
This was such a great read. It's a perfect Christmas story and I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes it's quite predictable but I loved it. The plot flows well and there's lots going on to keep a reader entertained. The ending was perfect and just how I wanted it to end. It's a modern story and I loved all the little references like the Good Place. It makes it very relatable.
Oh I loved Seth so much, he was such a sweet character and the story of finding his mom just added more depth to the story. Lara is a strong lead and so relatable.
In ‘One New York Christmas’ we meet Lara Weeks. Lara is a small-town girl who always loved Christmas and her little home town. Lara is definitely a small-town girl through and through. She drives a truck, knows a lot about farm animals and isn’t afraid to get dirty. When Lara gets dumped by her boyfriend of two years, she and her best friend are determined to make him regret his choice. And what a better way to do that than to go to New York and meet an handsome actor.
This was a story that took me a little time to really get into. But not in a bad way. There was just a lot to get into in the first view chapters. Lara is definitely a tough hardworking woman but when she gets dumped by her good-for-nothing boyfriend she is devastated. I get that! But I didn’t really like the way she still wanted the guy back. It frustrated me, which is definitely a bravo to the author who made me feel these emotions.
After the first view chapters I began to love this story more and more. I looooooved Seth’s character. He was an actor, waiting on his big breakthrough but he definitely didn’t want the whole fame part of being an actor. I loved that about him. And I loved how kind he was. And this book definitely made me laugh multiple times. There were so many funny moments.. Especially those moments when Lara acted without really thinking.
Not only the romance and the humor in this book was something I enjoyed. I also really enjoyed the other characters in this book like Seth’s mom, her homeless friends and Aldo Lara’s brother. There where so many things that made this book fun that I honestly can’t even write them all down.
Although I didn’t really need to have any more reasons to want to visit New York one day, this book made me want it even more. Christmas in New York just sounds magical and dreamy.. and sigh..
‘One New York Christmas’ was definitely a very fun Christmas read I enjoyed immensely. I really have to read more Mandy Baggot books.