One Christmas Morning by Rachel Greenlaw

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HQ and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

They say you know when you meet the one.

The moment Eva locked eyes with James over a library bookshelf, she knew she’d found her soulmate. Over ten years, they fell in love, got married and made plans to start a family. Until everything changed one Christmas three years ago, and they’ve been drifting apart ever since.

Eva hopes a friend’s Christmas party at an old manor house in Cornwall will give them the chance to reconnect… but the last thing she expects is to wake up on Christmas morning in the body of a different guest. As Eva’s forced to keep reliving Christmas Day from the perspectives of those closest to her, she realises just how much her life has fallen off track.

My Opinion

This has that feeling of A Christmas Carol with the day being relived whilst Eva learns how to be a better person. I thought that this book was quite intense, and not the light-hearted festive book that I expected. Whilst this book mostly takes part on Christmas day, it is not as festive as you would expect. I enjoyed this book and when I promised I would finish reading it at the end of my chapter, I found that I kept on reading.

Rating 4/5

Last year when I was on the lookout for Christmas books this one caught my eye and I’m so glad it did. If you are a fan of time-loop stories with heart-felt, heart-breaking storylines I would certainly recommend this one.

The moment Eva and James locked eyes, Eva knew she’d found her soulmate. Over ten years, they fell in love, got married and made plans to start a family. Until everything changed one Christmas three years ago and they’ve been drifting apart ever since. Eva hopes a friend’s Christmas party at an old manor house will give them the chance to reconnect.

But, the last thing she expects is to wake up on Christmas morning in the body of a different guest. As Eva is forced to relive Christmas Day from the perspectives of those closest to her, she sees just how much her life has fallen off track.

As someone who is a huge fan of time-loop stories, I’m always looking for a new one that puts a twist on the story. One Christmas Morning does just that. Whilst we see the day repeat itself, Eva lives it through the eyes of a different character each day. I feel like this allows the book to feel unique and adds something unexpected to a story that quite literally repeats itself.

Eva is quite a complicated character and I didn’t know whether I wanted to root for her at the start of the book. But, as the book progresses and we see Eva go through all the time-loops you can’t help but want the best for her.

If you are in search of a completely light-hearted Christmas read, then you may need to think about reading this one. Yes, it does have a large amount of heart-warming moments but there are quite a lot of upsetting moments throughout this book. We see how past trauma and mental health affect not only from the main character but all the other characters in this book. At times this can be quite a lot to read but I understand why this is necessary in moving the story along.

I’m certainly going to be keeping an eye out for further books by Rachel Greenlaw. This is an excellent debut novel and I’m sure future books by her will be entertaining reads.

Overall, One Christmas Morning is a unique take on a time-loop story at Christmas. Although not always light-hearted it still has its heart-warming moments and is an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it.

A Christmas Carol meets Groundhog Day meets Quantum Leap meets The Seven Murders of Evelyn Hardcastle…

Okay, don’t worry there are no murders! I added that last comp purely because this is a super story that involves consciousness swap into a number of characters that share Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the same big house.

Eva has lost herself, following two tragic losses in her life three years before. Her response has been to delve into her business, which now includes her first shop opening in the week between Christmas and New Year. Her business has consumed her, and her marriage to James is falling apart. James manages to get Eva to agree to spend a few days away from London in the countryside, where their close friends are gathering in the huge old house where her grandmother used to live.

The author makes super use of the windswept, cut-off-from civilization troop, that sends Eva into a spin as she is forced to confront her actions and the consequences they’ve had on the people who have been closest to her in her adult life. All while still grieving a loss of her beloved Gran, her surrogate parent as her actual parents were very absent during her childhood.

I’m not giving too much away by saying that we have the Ghost of Christmas Gran popping up to show Eva the error of her ways. That’s a very simplistic way of describing what is a solid study into actions and consequences as we consider grief, love, relationships, friendships, responsibilities, and balance in life. In a repeating day—Christmas Day—Eva’s consciousness will inhabit different characters… Can Eva see herself in a new way and learn from the lives of others? And if she can, will she have the chance to repair the damage done over years?

This is a fully engaging and absorbing journey into oneself, forcing the reader to stop and examine their own choices. We ask ourselves whether our choices and have created happiness and balance in our own lives? And when we look at ourselves in the mirror, can we say that we fulfil our responsibilities to others that we love and care about in our lives?

This is a superbly executed mildly paranormal emotional drama set at the time of year when we’re supposed to come together and celebrate what’s good in our lives. It’s instantly become one of my favorite-ever Christmas stories!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

One Christmas Morning is a heartwarming festive romance with an intriguing twist - a body-switching, time-bending element that adds a unique flavour to the story. Narrated by Eva, the protagonist, the story takes us on a beautiful journey of self-discovery. At the story's beginning, Eva is preoccupied with work and appears self-absorbed. Still, as the plot unfolds, we see her transform, much like Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, learning valuable lessons about herself and the world around her. The story is filled with emotions, from heartbreak to joy, and Rachel Greenlaw's writing is engaging, with well-developed characters. However, some readers may need help to connect with Eva, the main character, which may persist until the end of the story. Overall, One Christmas Morning is a beautifully written tale that sparkles with Christmas joy and will leave readers feeling uplifted.

This book was not what I expected. Its quite depressing. I did like it but it wasn't the uplifting stroy I was assuming it was going to be. One Christmas Morning is well written and I'll definitely read more from Rachel Greenlaw. I hated Eva at first. Honestly, I couldn't understand how somebody could be so self absorbed that they were so unaware of how awful they were to the the ones they love. As the stroy goes on an I got a bit ofa background story I did feel sorry for her though. The part coming towards they end (perhaps it was supposed to be a twist) threw me a bit. I just didn't expect it and felt a bit let down by it. Overall, I did enjoy One Christmas Morning, it just want what I was expecting.

Soulmates drifting apart and reconnecting is one of my favourite bookish tropes and it was handled perfectly here. Cute seasonal romantic, ideal reading in front of a roaring fire.

⭐️ 3 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

One Christmas Morning is very well written. Rachel Greenlaw’s writing is engaging, and the characters are nicely developed. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with the main character, Eva, and even at the end, I can't say I really warmed to her.
 
The character-driven plot is a little slow-paced, and I thought it became slightly repetitive. It reminded me of A Christmas Carol and Groundhog Day.

Not as heartwarming a Christmas read as I’d anticipated, but still entertaining and a great debut.

I haven’t read any books by this author but I love Christmas books so thought I would give this a go.

It wasn’t the usual cutesy festive feels that I expected and the story ran a lot deeper as it delved into Eva and her troubles.

It was an intriguing read even if it wasn’t as light hearted as I usually like, I did enjoy this and would recommend.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and HQ for approving me for an ARC of this book.

❄️I love Groundhog Day style books so this appealed to me straight away. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Eva through other people’s eyes and playing the guessing game of whose turn it would be next.

👱🏻‍♀️I didn’t warm to Eva straight away, I found her quite irritating and self-centred but I think that was the point. Her character transition was expected but I did warm up to her eventually. My favourite character was Eva’s grandmother.

💗This is a story about redemption, loss and grief. Eva’s situation is one that a lot of people will be able to relate to, for other’s it may give them cause to reflect on their own experiences.

A beautifully written story, with a touch of A Christmas Carol, as Eva is made to realise how her behaviour doesn’t just affect her but everyone around her, from her husband James to her assistant Diana, and everyone in between. She is also shown that she isn’t the only person who has loved and lost someone, we all at sometime have to grieve the loss of a loved one. This flowed really well, and while I couldn’t like Eva at the start, I really came to root for her as the book went on. There were quite a few tears shed, as anyone who has been in similar situations will identify with the feelings described. My only slight grumble is that it felt really slow at the start but other than that, a perfect read. 4 1/2 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is groundhog day meets christmas carole, it wasn't what i imagined really it was much deeper, the characters were well written and sets you up for the season

Eva has lost her way. On her journey to have her own business, she has lost sight of the important people in her life, including her husband and best friend! They get an invitation to go for Christmas to Penhallow an old house that Eva spent most of her childhood going to with her grandma. With Eva's shop.opening imminently she pushed everyone further away. Just how can she rebuild her fractured relationships with everyone whilst juggling her business? Or has everyone had enough of being pushed away?
Loved reading this novel had vibes of grounhog day mixed with freaky Friday. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this novel.

𝗔𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝘆. 𝗜𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿…

What a brilliant and wonderful gem this book is. Eva is a character with a lot of troubles in her head. As a result, she has damaged many of the relationships she has with others.

Greenlaw pulled me into this one and held me hostage completely. I wanted more and more which made me devour this in just one sitting.

I have been transported by this one. Greenlaw made me feel as though I was with the characters. My emotions have been completely spun around on multiple occasions.

This is a book that has been unique and original. This is completely different to any other Christmas book I’ve read previously. This is definitely going to be in my favourites of 2023 reads.

The mix of characters in this is perfect. They each add their own elements to the story. There are real life themes in this one which I’ve found really touching. Greenlaw has included these in a sensitive way. They just flow with our characters. However, it’s definitely an emotional journey.

I loved everything about this book. Even the fact that I ugly cried. This has been the perfect read and I’ve adored every page.

I cannot express how much I think everyone should read this book. A definite for the TBR.

A festive romance but with a body-switching, time-bending twist. In a Groundhog Day meets Freaky Friday but with so much heart and love, this tale sparkles with Christmas joy but also gives us a full range of beautiful emotions from the heartbreaking to the uplifting and joyous.

Eva tells us this story, at first she feels self-absorbed, wrapped up in work and oblivious to the outside world - it’s clear she’s about to on a journey a little like old Ebenezer Scrooge and learn a little something about herself, but what a beautiful journey it was.

As she jumps between bodies every day, she quite literally finds a new perspective. It takes about 20% of the story before we get into the key moment - we spend the first section learning about Eva, about Penhallow hall and it’s history. At times it felt a little slow for me, but I still enjoyed it to keep going through the slower moments.

Theres so much emotion as Eva looks at her marriage, her career, her family and her friends — but even with all this real, painful heartbreak there’s still a playfully magic energy. I loved watching her change and grow over the pages, but also loved how even though she learned a lot, she wasn’t a cliche who gave everything up for her husband.

A dazzling Christmas story that was such a delight.

This was a surprisingly easy read which was a great start to anyone’s Christmas reading.

The book finds Eva stressing out at the opening of her new shop and very reluctant to travel miles with her husband to meet friends for Christmas. Husband James has really had the short straw while the business is being set up but neither of them know what to do or how to save them. Diana, assistant of Eva, happily travels with her as she has an appointment nearby. The Christmas weekend is somewhat halted when they are all snowed in and there is little or no WiFi.

Eva struggles to come to terms with things that have happened in her life and how she has dealt with them. In a clever twist she finds herself waking in a Groundhog Day style as someone else at the festive gathering. Can she find herself through being someone else and save her friendships and her marriage?

Thoroughly enjoyable read and for those looking for a lighthearted festive read then this is for you. There are some issues that are sensitively covered and the characters are warm and getting to know them through the eyes of Eva was a great idea.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

New author for me but found this book an interesting read with lovely characters and a funny, emotional at times storyline.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to HQ for the early read

This is not a cutesy Christmas romance, it is a journey of Eva. Eva has to relive Christmas day, over and over, and every time she does she learns something important. Eva is a mess and her character is not likeable for a lot of the book, and I feel that was intentional. This book is definitely not a Christmas read, there are a lot of trigger warnings and it is not a quick easy read.

This book represents a fresh and positive perspective on the potency of hope and personal growth.

The journey of Eva, the principal protagonist, is a transformative and emotional one, as she learns valuable lessons from her close acquaintances in a magical way. The story thoughtfully explores themes of love, grief, and forgiveness, offering profound insights into life lessons.

In summary, this is an inspirational read, with its unique take on the classical themes reminding readers that they can achieve transformation and transcendence through perseverance and self-discovery.

If you want a meaningful and thought-provoking read during this festive period, this book is for you!

Well, this was all kinds of lovely! A slow beginning which sets the scene - the frenetic pace of life and friendships and relationships sacrificed on its altar. The premise is a little bit off the wall, waking up in a different body and seeing your life through other eyes. The author makes it work, and you forget how barmy that is and live through the book the emotion, the pain and the breakdown that people have. Bring your hankie and settle in for a great read.

I've left this book moved and content.

It was a slow burn for me and although I knew why the author did it, I struggled with the fact I reallly disliked the main character, Eva. So there was a point I seriously considered DNF'ing. Im pleased I didnt, it missed the proper Christmas feels, but made for a good story and an important message for Eva and the reader.