This book has been on my ‘to read’ list for so long! I love Karen Swan’s books and have read a lot of hers but I struggled with this one a little bit, and found myself skim reading. There was a lot going on in the story and quite a few characters you had to keep up with who was who. There was an unexpected twist at the end for Willow, and the last couple of chapters left me in happy tears. I’m glad I read this book but I think it could have been shorter. Thank you for accepting my request, and I look forward to Karen’s next book.

This Book does get better. I struggled and almost gave up with boredom at the repetition for the first third.
It improves and reminded me of several Women's Weekly novels of the 1980s.
An important but impoverished family from Irish gentry left with an albertross of a castle. A prickly response to the only buyer and village intrigue thrown in.
It would be much better if ruthlessly pruned

A great, thrilling read, which will keep you entertained throughout. A good one sitting read, get the nibbles ready, close the door, and read!

Declan Lorne was the last remaining knight in Ireland, when he suddenly dies the ancient title passes with him, he has three daughters! Two daughters inherit relevant parts of the estate but to everyone's shock, Willow inherits the castle. Willow escaped home several years ago to live in Dublin and so she decides to sell the castle.

Before the sale is finalised the prospective new owner, Connor Shaye, arranged a lavish party at the castle days before Christmas. The family secrets catch up with Ottie, Pip and Willow and they must decide whether to change their minds or move on! I enjoyed the characters and loved the original story.

Lovely story based around the last knight of Loren castle and the family left with the unexpected last wishes to deal with as well as a castle needing hundreds of thousands invested into it. 3 daughters all with different lives are left with different views but sort everything out in time for Christmas.

The start was too miserable for me and I therefore struggled to get through it unfortunately. Too close to home

Filled with Christmas spirit, The Christmas Party is a great escapist read as we head towards the festive time of the year. Though there's dark subject matter at times (death, colonialism, patriarchy, family dramas, sibling rivalry, small-town parochialism etc) it's quite good fun, and I particularly enjoyed the fact there was a character called Philippa in this novel - though she is called Pip (if anyone ever calls me that they get my famous death stare). Set in a castle too, so it's a bit of a fairy tale for grown-ups :)

With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

Karen Swan does a Christmas novel brilliantly, and The Christmas Party is no exception. A lovely read, unravelling family secrets against a beautiful castle setting.

The blurb says:

When Declan Lorne, the last remaining knight in Ireland, dies suddenly, an ancient title passes with him. But his estate on Ireland’s rugged south-west coast is left to his three daughters. The two eldest, Ottie and Pip, inherit in line with expectations, but to everyone’s surprise – and dismay – it is the errant baby of the family, Willow, who gets the castle.

Why her? Something unknown – something terrible - made her turn her back on her family three years earlier, escaping to Dublin and vowing never to return. So when Willow quickly announces she is selling up, her revenge seems sweet and the once-close sisters are pushed to breaking point: in desperation, Pip risks everything to secure her own future, and Ottie makes a decision that will ruin lives. It’s each woman for herself.

Before moving in, Connor Shaye, the prospective new owner, negotiates throwing a lavish party at the castle just days before Christmas – his hello, their goodbye. But as their secrets begin to catch up with them, Ottie, Willow and Pip are forced to ask themselves which is harder: stepping into the future, or letting go of the past?

Families, their secrets and lies. New relationships and old ones. I enjoyed this book and would recommend reading it

For some reason, I struggled quite a bit to get into this book. I love Christmas novels and romance and never had an issue, but on this ocassion it really struggled to keep on my concentration and did not feel as connected with the characters.

I think the story was too long and it needed some more trimming for me, and at the same time it lacked that je ne sais quoi.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this. Not my absolute favourite of Karen Swan’s novels but I look forward to the next book from her.

The Christmas Party is a delicious, page-turning story of romance, family and secrets, by the Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Swan.

When Declan Lorne, the last remaining knight in Ireland, dies suddenly, an ancient title passes with him. But his estate on Ireland’s rugged south-west coast is left to his three daughters. The two eldest, Ottie and Pip, inherit in line with expectations, but to everyone’s surprise – and dismay – it is the errant baby of the family, Willow, who gets the castle.

Why her? Something unknown – something terrible - made her turn her back on her family three years earlier, escaping to Dublin and vowing never to return. So when Willow quickly announces she is selling up, her revenge seems sweet and the once-close sisters are pushed to breaking point: in desperation, Pip risks everything to secure her own future, and Ottie makes a decision that will ruin lives. It’s each woman for herself.

A charming story full of wonderful characters as we explore ireland, family legacies, betrayal, intrigue and ultimately lots of love - a truly great read and my thanks to netgalley for an arc in return for my honest opinion.

This is a story about 3 sisters who are the daughters of the last knight of Ireland. There's a complicated back story with Willow, the youngest sister. The book didn't really get going until 25% of the way through and I struggled to maintain my interest.

I'm glad I persevered though because it's a great story with many characters to adore. The ending was constructed beautifully and I felt satisfied after finishing it.

Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for allowing to review this title.

I’m in two minds about this book. I really want to like it and I have to say I enjoyed the ending but the lead up to the last few chapters was hard going. There doesn’t seem to be any spark in this book. The characters are not particularly likeable, if anything a bit dull. I’ve read all of the authors previous books and really enjoyed them but this one doesn’t seem to be up to those standards.

Thank you Netgalley

A charming Christmas read!

Swan never disappoints, this time she envelopes us in an idyllic Irish setting and a Castle are perfect magical surroundings for this elegant party. Where we become wrapped up in the lives of three sisters all distinctive and independent characters in their own right, all with explosive secrets...

The writing is sharp, entertaining & evocative, the build-up as all the different stories are laid out and weaved together makes it a slow-burner to start with but the surprises and twists make it worth it in the end.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan & Netgalley for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

An old castle that has seen better days, the death of the last Knight, a hidden affair, family secrets all set in Ireland on a windswept coast. Three sisters, a weeping widow and a will that leaves everyone shaken up. All of this and some attractive young men destined to steal our headstrong women's hearts. The one question remaining is will they sell the castle, the family seat for the last 700 years?

When Declan, the last Knight in Ireland dies his wife and daughters are devastated and as there are no sons the title dies with him. In an unexpected twist the youngest sister Willow inherits the castle even though she has been estranged in Dublin for the last three years....... but what caused her to flee so suddenly and be so reluctant to come back? The secrets gradually start to come out and so will Willow sell the castle and head back to Dublin or will it stay in the family?

A lovely book with plenty of interesting characters and action, another hit from this author, I always enjoy reading her books and this one doesn't disappoint

A lovely story that keeps you involved from the beginning right through until the final page. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

Willow, having turned her back on her family 3 years earlier, unexpectedly inherits a castle from her father, the last knight in Ireland. This about Willow and her two sisters and the fallout from this bequest. A lot does happen in this book. Not all the characters are likeable and family secrets are alluded to. This was frustrating as I wanted to know what they were! I did enjoy the book but did initially find it hard to get into. It was an 'okay' read, some parts better than others. Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy to review.

Really enjoyed this book thank you. Vibrant, believable, characters and an absorbing plot. I will ensure I look out for this author in the future!