I've seen raving reviews for this book, so I hoped for an amazing read, cosy romance filled with fun and laughter. However, I'm afraid, it didn't work for me as much as I wanted it to. It felt very slow and repetitive, to be honest and I'm actually struggling now, as I have finished reading the book a few days ago and I already can't remember what it was actually about. Not a good sign.
The characters felt wooden for me, their actions forced, and telling their whole stories, or actually letting them talk to each other at almost the end of the book, was not such a good idea and I didn't feel involved in their life, nor did I feel a connection with them.

I thought the premise of this sounded very sweet - it was kind of giving 'The Holiday' vibes! But I found everyone's connections to one another quite confusing, and didn't love how somber the tone was for so long.

Nothing says festive romance quite like a snowy remote cottage in an idyllic location, two slightly broken but hopeful heroes, a booking mishap and two scallywag pooches. It’s a recipe for perfection and this book absolutely smashes it! The build up to Christmas is paced beautifully and makes you long for a cosy armchair to curl up in and lose yourself for an hour or two. This beauty made me cry and I don’t mind a bit! Highly recommended

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishers for a copy of “ This Christmas “ for an honest review.
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Both the main characters of Rose and Charlie have reasons why they want to be left alone over Christmas , but fate steps in , and they are thrown together.
This was a perfect festive read, with likeable characters in an idyllic setting

This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy!

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

How would you feel if you had booked a rural cottage for Christmas, but you found it was double-booked? Rose and Charlie have this very dilemma. Rose is struggling with grief for her lost love and so now hates Christmas. Charlie is facing his first Christmas alone.

This was a sweet and predictable book (but not in a negative way). Both are forced, through powers they can’t control, to stay in the one bedroom cottage. A lot of the book is the pair trying to live separately in the cottage, determined to stay apart. You have to take the novel with a pinch of salt - can two people, who carry such deep hurts, get over them in such a short period of time? Apparently so! However, I liked both characters and wanted them to sort things out because it is the kind of light-hearted read I wanted for Christmas.

A good, candy floss read that is ideal for this time of year.

This was a perfect read for the holiday season that follows Rose and Charlie who are both escaping Christmas, but end up being double booked in a sweet cottage. They are desperate to be alone, but do sparks fly between these two strangers?

Thank you, Net Galley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

This Christmas will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. It's not the best book I've read, but you're drawn into Rose and Charlie's lives and they're really likable characters. Your heart breaks for these two damaged souls who are just trying to find their place in the world again, after a lot of heartache. There's some uplifting moments and some quite comical ones too (Marion's claim on Charlie was rather entertaining). Overall, a nice festive book to read in the run up to Christmas.

This Christmas was just so perfect. A slow burn, forced proximity romance that made my heart warm.

Two strangers long to escape another Christmas. To be alone to grieve.

But a double booking means they don't get what they want. Or thought that they wanted.

Despite a frosty start, Rose and Charlie begin to warm to one another and watching them let their walls down was just so beautiful.

Snowed in one evening they truly open up to each other. It made me want to transport myself to Granny Molly's cozy cottage immediately.

I loved everything about This Christmas. Family, hope, love, and dogs - what more could anyone wish for.

The cover drew me in initially as it reminded me of the holiday but the contents kept me reading as it was such a lovely festive romance.

I love forced proximity story’s and this one was no different! Rose and Charlie were both likeable main characters.

I’m just jealous I can’t visit Seaview cottage myself.

A really lovely and enjoyable festive romance I’d recommend to others.

Bought on Amazon before I remembered I had it on NetGalley. This was a lovely read. Although the concept felt familiar, I enjoyed the story and was invested in the characters. I also loved the setting. An enjoyable, emotive read.

A slow-burn romance with forced proximity and family drama. The two MCs are dealing with their own issues, and when they have to share a cottage at Christmas time, they are reluctant to share much with each other. I would have loved to know more earlier in the story, but the drawing out of the reveal might be exactly the type of story someone else wants.

Lovely readable tale about two lonely strangers who are snowed in to a Seaview Cottage in Ireland. Rose and Charlie try their best to avoid each other and the awkward situation but the inevitable happens, as in any good love story, and they Elgin to warm to each other, bonding over their dogs and their sadness.
It’s a read to snuggle up with, hot chocolate and a warm blanket, as this is how the book makes you feel.

Rose Quinn has always loved Christmas until 3 years ago her life changes for ever. Desperate to get away from Dublin and the twinkling lights and parties she decides to spend it alone in a remote country cottage which holds many memories.
When Charlie decides he wants to spend Christmas alone after his ex wife and daughter Rebecca move to live in Tenerife he also books Seaview Cottage.
When Charlie and Rose decide to share the cottage for Christmas nothing goes as planned.
I loved the description of the cottage and the surrounding area.
A beautiful story of lost love,families and how 2 strangers can help to heal each others hearts.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this lovely book.

This was an enjoyable, cosy festive read. I liked the characters, especially the canine ones. The setting in Ireland was gorgeous.
I thought that the pace of the story was too slow for some parts, but then too quick in other parts. Overall I liked this book.

A beautiful festive read, this is such a lovely book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Well written, with engaging dialogue, but oh so predictable.
I was willing for the characters to have a fling, get what they needed from each other and move on with their lives.

Emma Heatherington weaves a Christmas tale against the beautiful backdrop of Donegal.

🎄BOOK REVIEW 🎄

#ThisChristmas by #EmmaHeatherington

➡️synopsis

So I hate to let my inner Scrooge out this early in December but I did end up DNFing this one…

So on paper this one should be the prefect Christmas read and it was to an extent. Two people who had reasons to not want to celebrate Christmas end up double booking the same cottage and from there the story begins.

It had the right characters and the prefect chocolate box locations / cottage tick tick. Snow was falling and the fire roaring tick tick. Both characters had interesting backgrounds which really intrigued me, but my goodness it was just too slow for my liking and very repetitive - not even the want to know how it all wrapped up could get me to pick it back up again and I gave up around 80%.

I am bereft as it’s got great reviews elsewhere and it’s from one of my favourite Christmas authors, reading her books yearly tradition, but well yea what is there to say other than just not for me this time.

With thanks the author EH, @netgalley and #penguin for allowing us to read this one.

OUT NOW

Anyone else read this one? Should I have finished it???

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

This was overall quite cute, although the main characters didn't actually interact for a good portion of the book. It wasn't the most realistic and the conflicts seemed easily fixed. They were also WAY too chill about one of the dogs going missing??? I would also suggest checking trigger warnings as death is mentioned a fair amount. Overall, quite cute and cosy, but I would've like more in-person bonding. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Rose Quinn and Charlie Sheerin should never have met but when they are both inadvertently brought together by a Christmas double booking at Seaview Cottage they have no choice but to make the best of the situation. Both of them, for very different reasons, are nursing a broken heart and this gentle story about the healing power of love is sprinkled with a generous helping of friendship, romance and Christmas magic.

With a winter wonderland setting, magical walks through a snow-laden forest and with a tug away at the old heartstrings with Rose's poignant connection to a majestic old lighthouse This Christmas had everything I wanted in a festive read. There's definitely a 'will, they, won't they romantic vibe and with a generous cast of quirky characters who each bring something quite special, including two wonderful canine companions, this magical story captures your heart from the beginning. The ending melted my heart and left me with a wonderful warm glow.