As the title of this book might suggest this one centres around a letter sent to one of the main characters!

Holly writes every year to a stranger spending Christmas alone and receives one in return. This year when she receives her letter she feels compelled to answer and ends up meeting Emma. Emma and Holly are very different characters but share one similarly tragedy in their history which is how they have become estranged from their families and alone at Christmas.

Jack is the other main character who narrates throughout the story. He is Emma’s estranged grandson and although Holly meets him by chance before meeting Emma, she is brought back into his life as she tries to secretly reunite Emma and Jack.

The story is an emotional rollercoaster with many ups and downs. I would say I enjoyed the second half of the book more. All characters are on their own redemption story and work towards a happy ending throughout the book. There are some trigger warnings so make sure you check them out before you read this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title.

This was such a curl up with a hot chocolate, a throw and a cosy fire background book, I really enjoyed the plot and loved the characters.

Holly is lost she's recently split from her boyfriend (tbh she wasn't really into the relationship) she's estranged from her sister and parents due to a car accident that happened a few years ago and she feels responsible, and her best friend is planning her wedding to an amazing man.

Abi (Hollys best friend) suggests she join an anonymous letter writing programme where you write to other lonely people esp. around the festive period and it's a way you can put down what you feel, and the other person won't know it's you.

After Holly receives a letter from Emma, she can't just sit by and do nothing she feels a need to go to her, which leads to a series of events that feel like fate inc the fact that Emma's grandson is the same Jack who Holly met a few years ago on the night of the very accident that changed Hollys relationship with her family and how she feels about herself. We see the story unfold over a year and the pace was a good steady flow.

There is mention of miscarriage and loss in this book but its written very well.

My first every festive read and I absolutely adored this book. It actually spans a few years so you could easily read it any time of year, it’s not focused on Christmas as such. It is a lovely warm story and I could also see this being made into a movie. If you fancy a cosy book with some depth, that’s well written, do give this one

Thank you for my eARC of this book. Talk about late to the party but I read this in March lol! I thought this was an enjoyable read, and though it wasn’t necessarily. Stand out for me, I had a nice time with it.

Holly joined the Dear Stranger club after being in an accident with her sister. Every year she writes a letter to a stranger and she receives one as well. Since the accident she has spent Christmas alone.
A letter she receives from Emma makes her want to try to find her as the place where Emma has wrote the letter from is a place Holly knows.
After tracking down Emma she realises that Emma’s estranged grandson is someone she once met a few years ago. Can she reunite them or is this going to get too complicated?

I really enjoyed this book and didn’t want to put it down.

A great christmas book to get you in the mood for the festive season! I really enjoyed the plot and the characters! Thank you netgalley for the review copy!

Great read with festive feels! Although a few sad moments I related to a lot… there was a gorgeous love story arc and more importantly a great friendship too. Loved the letters and would love to read more from Emily Stone soon.

Emily Stone does it again. She rips my heart out and makes me almost cry!
Int his book we are introduced to Holly who meets Jack due to fate in a cafe on her way to Christmas celebrations
Then everything goes wrong…
Holly is also at Christmas and estranged from her family. To help ease her loneliness Holly joins a Dear Stranger probe r where people who are on their own at Christmas write to each other. Holly receives a letter from Emma and receiving the letter is that start of her life…

This book truly gripped me. I was routing for Holly and Lily and Holly and Jack. The author didn’t make it easy on me though. I had to suffer a few heartbreaks in their journey

The book is all about fate and it did make me think does everything happen for a reason.

The book is excellent. It’s not your typical happy Christmas festive fiction, but it wouldn’t an Emily stone novel if it was!

Emily has definitely found her forte in the fiction world and I’m looking forward to reading more by her.

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️
Rounded up to 5 stars.

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

I really enjoyed The Christmas Letter and thought it was a fabulous festive read.

The book is beautifully written, and the characters are well-rounded and relatable. I loved Holly, Emma, and Jack and the dynamic between the three characters, especially as the threads of the story unravelled.

It made me smile, and it brought a tear to my eye — an immersive, entertaining read.

3.5 stars. A sweet read with some deeper layers than I was expecting, exploring themes of grief and loss as well as love and forgiveness. I really loved the central idea of the book, the letters to other lonely people. A slow read, with some tearful moments. Thanks Netgalley.

This was simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking and had me hooked the whole way through.
The characters feel realistic and completely draw you in to the story. I was definitely invested in their stories.
I also really appreciate Emily Stone's use of letters throughout the books that I've read from her so far.
I will, say, it wasn't too festive, so you could read outside that time of year.
But overall, this was a lovely book to curl up with over the winter months.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a lovely Christmas romance book, full of coincidences and lovely people. I could not put it down, found it quite sad in places but absolutely loved it. thank you Netgalley x

Thank you to NetGalley for the approval - and the joy that comes with reading another Emily Stone 💗
I loved this book - just the perfect amount of emotional, beautifully crafted characters and back stories.
The tendrils of connection and family playing a big role in this book.

You will not regret reading this at any time of year. Well done on another fabulous book.

4.5 stars
A beautiful emotional story full of hope. Holly and Jack both have such depth to their stories and characters. I loved how Emma was the link and enabled them both to grow from the past. The use of letters and writing was a beautiful connection for Holly and it felt right that this enabled her to share feelings and fears this way.

This really pulls at your heart strings and is so well written and creatively crafted which does not always happen with Christmas books. I loved the story and characters and they way they explored grief and relationships particularly at Christmas.

I really, really enjoyed this romance. It wasn’t TOO festive if you want to read it during the rest of the year. It was super sad and super beautiful.

It’s time! 🎄❄️

Halloween has come and gone, and I’ve donned my cosy, chunky knitwear. Scarves are making their appearance, and we’re fully immersed in the hot chocolate season.

Christmas markets are peeking over the horizon, accompanied by the delightful aroma of mulled wine and crackling open fires. But you know what would make this picture even more perfect? Snuggling up with a heartwarming Christmas book!

Every December, Holly embarks on a touching tradition: she writes letters to strangers who will be spending Christmas alone. In return, she receives heartfelt letters from fellow solitary souls. The “Dear Stranger” club has become a cherished part of her holiday season, especially since an accident three years ago left her spending Christmas in solitude.

Typically, the letters Holly sends go unanswered. However, when she reads this year’s Christmas letter from a woman named Emma, something tugs at her heartstrings. Emma’s words resonate with a sadness Holly understands all too well, and she mentions a place that holds a special meaning for Holly. Without hesitation, Holly offers to help Emma reconnect with her estranged grandson.

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.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Headline for approving me for an ARC of this book. I have read and loved Emily Stone’s previous books and could not wait to curl up with this one.

💌What I love about Emily Stone’s books is that letters are central to her stories. There is something deeply personal about writing letters and I don’t feel we do it enough.

💗Full of warmth, love and heartache, this is a story that really pulls at those heartstrings. I adored Holly, Jack and Emma and how their stories were brought together. The writing was lyrical and effective, often bringing tears to my eyes.

⭐Once again I was not disappointed, I truly adored this wonderful story. It was perfect reading material for those cold winter nights and I can not wait to see what Emily Stone writes next.

3.5 stars rounded up

Having read 'Always in December' just before this, unfortunately they felt very much the same, but don't seem to be from the same universe? Unfortunately, both of these books feature cancer and a crash - death (especially cancer) is not something I wanted to deal with right now, and this plot was a heavy heavy feature in this book (much more than always in December). I did prefer the romance and found friendship in this book, and I felt it was a bit more realistic, despite all the 'fate'. I also really like the found friendship angle. I do think both books were too long, and that all conflict was fixed too easily. I preferred this to Always in December in all aspects - story, writing, and characters, but the cancer angle spoilt it for me. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

This is a beautiful and extremely emotional Christmassy read. I loved the concept of strangers meeting after writing to each other. Holly is a lovely character who goes on a real journey during this book, I enjoyed learning more about Holly and why she spends Christmas alone. Then we have Emma, who is also likeable but in a different way and again I enjoyed learning her backstory as well.
This book is very emotional and heartfelt and I was on the verge of tears multiple times but this book is also full of hope and love.
'The Christmas Letter' is a very Christmassy read that will leave you feeling full of hope, love and wishing for a hot chocolate.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.