The perfect Christmas read! So romantic & cosy. Exactly what I needed to read.

I loved that the entire book to place the week before Christmas so it was filled with so many festive escapades. The characters were instantly likeable which, in a book like this, is exactly what you want.

This books follows Isobel, a travel journalist stopping over in London for a week during the festive period. She meets Tom, a rising star in the world of acting, and begins a whirlwind romance.

I loved seeing London through Isobel’s eyes! Her emotions and her descriptions of London were so enrapturing (particularly her description of the food at the Christmas markets!) The fact that this book also mapped out a change in her career was great. I also LOVED her best friend Estelle, who came across so genuine and compassionate. Tom, however, I struggled with a bit. The Tom from chapter one (grumpy, cold) immediately transformed into the kind, gentle man in chapter two, with no obvious character arc. Whilst I enjoyed reading about him throughout the romance, the lack of arc didn’t sit right with me.

I also found the relationship to be a bit insta-love, and so struggled sometimes with the authenticity of the relationship. That aside however, it was a lovely festive reading experience, and I enjoyed reading Isobel’s story.

This book seemed shorter than others in the same genre I’ve read recently & only took a couple of hours to read. It was an enjoyable read & I would have like to have read a bit more of Isobel & Tom’s story, but I suppose there’s only so much you can cram into 7 days..
written in a style that makes it easy to read with relatable characters and a whirlwind romance that was on the whole relatively believable. A few parts were pretty predictable, but I enjoyed it, and like I say, I would have liked a little more.
A perfect book for the run up to Christmas. Snuggle up somewhere cosy and indulge in a bit of heart-warming romance.

I really tried to get into this book. At about halfway through I had to give up. I like a cutesy cheesy romance but this was all the cheese and no substance. I just found it boring and I did not care about the characters. As I didn’t finish I won’t post a public review.

Very cheesy, very predictable but it wins stars for being an easy light hearted read at Christmas time, which was why I wanted to read it. Thanks to all for the arc.

A very festive read - a bit predictable but definitely very Christmassy! Lovely for this time of year.

Thank you to Belinda Missen for the opportunity to read and review this book. A nice festive romance for this time of year. Fast paced and enjoyable.

This story is a fluffy and fun holiday read. I enjoyed the main character Isobel and learning about her job as a travel writer. Since I am a big theater buff, I also found Tom to be intriguing. I felt as if I was in London at Christmas, which was the best part of the book for me. I did struggle some with the use of the British terms, but that did not detract from my reading the story. This one is a just a fun book for the holidays.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

100% Predictable. 100% Charming.

This novel starts with the quintessential “meet-cute.” Isobel and a busy, handsome mystery man collide on the London streets leaving her clothes soaked but with a small and curious smile for the mystery man. Of course, we get to read all about her fateful reuniting with “meet-cute” man.

This was such a fun read Bc we got to read a blossoming love story that started before the final pages. Was it predictable and did I call the climactic turnaround at the end? Yup, but still super cute!

Perfect romantic Christmas read! This was such a sweet story and I could not put it down! I loved all of the characters and felt like I was in London during Christmas. Do yourself a favor and cozy up with the amazing story!

I think I must be the only person who didn't like this book. I couldn't even finish it which is most unlike me. Romantic Christmas stories I normally devour but I just couldn't take to this. I didn't like the characters and the romance seemed a bit stilted to me. I gave up 51% in as I just couldn't see it getting any better.

I described this to Ste as like one of those cozy Netflix Christmas films, and that is the perfect desceiption!

I really loved the mentions of London and recognising places I had been and the character of Isobel was warm and likeable. The book is quite fast paced in relationship terms and you do have to just let yourself go with it – for a romantic like me this wasn’t difficult!

A perfect Winter read for all fans of rom-coms, this book was like a lovely warm hug to read before bed.

This is a super cute festive book! You do have to suspend your disbelief quite a bit, and accept the almost-insta love, but apart from that it was a great time

We follow Isobel as she lands in London for the pre-Christmas period. Almost instantly, she physically bumps into famous actor, Tom, setting their week-long romance into motion

This was just the light fluffy romance I needed in December. The characters were quite vapid and there was no depth to any of it, but it was super enjoyable and a quick read

If you're looking for a quick festive romance to cleanse the palate this December I'd recommend this one

3.5/5 stars

What this story absolutely gets right is the setting. It almost made me miss Christmas in London! Twinkling-light-lined streets, ice-skating in Somerset House, Christmas markets and bottomless glasses of mulled wine all appear and add to the festive atmosphere. The descriptions of the places Isobel visits are woven into the story so seamlessly and add such an enchanting warmth to the narrative, you can’t help but feel the Christmas cheer.

As a main character, I found Isobel interesting and enjoyed watching the world around her through her eyes. There are lots of details about her job and new blog. I found those details were well-used but not over-done. They helped provide a better picture of who Isobel is. Her interactions with her sister and her comments about other members of her family also help the reader to get a sense of who Isobel really is.

Where the story fell, for me, is the lack of chemistry between the two main characters. I just can’t imagine Isobel and Tom together. Their conversations are natural enough but the spark is missing. I never feel a part of or lost in the magic of two lonely people falling in love and finding that special person who truly understands them and wants to be with them. All the elements are there for the magic to happen but somehow it just doesn’t.

Perhaps part of the reason is that we never really get a sense of or grip on Tom’s feelings. The story is told from Isobel’s perspective, which I suppose makes it harder for the writer to really convey the sincerity of Tom’s actions or the depths of his conflict.

Overall, however, I still recommend this novella for anyone who is looking for a quick, festive read as the descriptions are truly infused with the Christmas spirit.

I am generally a sucker for any rom com, so when I saw this book I was really excited to give it a shot.
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However, this book just fell short for me. I never felt invested in any of the characters and found myself bored throughout. I felt this book had a lot of potential, it just never really hit the mark.

I am not usually a big fan of books that are written in the first person, but I did enjoy reading this story.
Isobel, a writer meets Tom, a semi-famous actor, when he knocks her over at a bus stop in London. Although she feels some attraction, she figures she will never see him again. To her utter surprise and unbeknownst to her, when she arrives at a Theater for an impromptu assignment, Tom is the person that her boss has asked her to interview. They begin spending time together in and around London. Isobel knows that she is leaving in a week to go home, but is enjoying spending time with Tom. The two grow closer, but feel that they have no future as they live in different hemispheres.
We follow them as they get to know each other and fall a little more in love. As with any love story, they have a lot of fun. Throw in a few misunderstandings along the way and you have yourself a fantastic read.
I recommend the purchase of this book to find out how it all turns out!
Thank you Belinda Missen, HQ Digital and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was a cute , fast read. It for sure meet the festive ness of the holiday season. My main issue is that is was extremely short, I also had a bit of a difficult time connecting to the characters. Other than that I did enjoy reading the book.

Thank you to netgalley for providing with me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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I was super excited to be approved for this book. Unfortunately it did not resonate with me. While I loved the Christmas setting, I did not connect with the characters. I felt like they were trying too hard to be funny that it wore me out reading it. There was no background for me to get to know the characters or relate to them in any way. It just didn't grasp and hold my attention.

Australian travel writer Isobel Bennett is spending a few days in London to soak up all the Christmas atmosphere before travelling home to have family Christmas in a scorching summer. While waiting for the bus, a man literally falls into her lap. There's an instant attraction between them, but he makes a hasty retreat and leaves Isobel behind without even telling her his name. The next morning, Isobel's boss calls her with a new assignment: go interview one of Britain's hottest new actors, Tom Bracken. He's starring in a new play, and he also happens to be the man Isobel met the day before. They get their second chance, but they only have a week together before Isobel has to leave. Seven days together to enjoy all the Christmas fun London has to offer. But what happens after that?

An extraordinary amount of attention was paid to the setting, with every page offering a new festive side of London to explore. From mulled wine and ice skating to getting your picture taken with Santa, the book wasn't just a romance but also a travelogue.

The romance never feels like it's over the top or unbelievable, despite featuring a famous actor. The characters are interesting in their own right, aside from the romance. Their banter and the light-heartedness of their festive activities are countered by some angst and a touch of family drama, but the story never really leaves you feeling like things won't end happily for Isobel and Tom.

This was a very adorable and enchanting story. Entirely predictable, but in the best way possible. It's the perfect book to quickly get into the Christmas spirit, and to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy for days afterwards.

'One week til Christmas' is such a lovely and heartwarming festive read. I am an absolute sucker for charming meet cutes and thought it was both delightful and funny how Isobel and Tom bumped into each other at a busy London bus stop. I also adored the magic of the stars aligning with their jobs in order for them to meet again. Belinda poured so much warmth and cheer in to this gorgeous book and I thoroughly enjoyed being with Isobel and Tom for their festive week of fun and getting to know one another.

I felt a lovely sense of calm getting to join Isobel and Tom while they explored London. Their relationship progressed in a beautiful manner. I loved that they listened to each other and talked and laughed, and while yes they only had a short space of time to get to know one another, their was this magic to their banter, like they had known each other for a long time, and it didn't feel rushed. They were both very joyful characters that came across worldly and charming. You couldn't help rooting for them and loving being in their presence.


This book will have you making Christmas 'To Do' lists, i'm already looking for places to go ice-skating, and it will have you believing in the magic of Christmas. Furthermore, I truly loved that Isobel and Tom compromised and fought for each other. Without wanting to give the ending away too much it truly made my heart smile; sometimes people are worth travelling half way around the world for.

I highly recommend you add 'One week til Christmas' to your festive TBR pile!

Happy reading!