Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The Christmas Book Club' by Sarah Morgan.

'The Christmas Book Club' is such a lighthearted novel, perfect for that cosy read for the Christmas season. The characters weren't in my usual age range but that didn't take away from how well written they were, they felt like actual real people to me. I love Sarah Morgan's writing style and how it flowed so well. This story was just beautiful.

I absolutely loved this book and found it hard to put down. Three friends try to get together for a week away on a holiday break to enjoy their book club and each others company. This year they find themselves meeting up on the run up to Christmas. As they try and read their book club story, their own stories start to unfold and the friends start to understand each others lives a little better. Many people will relate to Anna's story, I know I do. I heartily recommend this fabulous book.

This author never disappoints when it comes to her Christmas novels, she knows how to set the scene and produce uplifting and joyful stories. I really enjoyed this novel and following the relationship dilemmas of each of the four main women and it was wonderful seeing them come together to support one another. The Maple Sugar Inn sounds divine and what a wonderful magical place to escape to, especially at Christmas time.

A heartwarming and cosy Christmas read full of festive cheer, wonderful characters and a setting to die for.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the eARC for review.

I really enjoyed The Christmas Book Club as it had a good story to it. Not just the usual type of Christmas novel but one with a difference. The story of three friends, Erica, Claudia and Anna and how their lives are unravelling. For their annual book club meet up this year they decide to go to the cosy Maple Sugar Inn, where they meet Hattie, who is also struggling with her own problems. Between them all, they can make this a Christmas to remember!

Friends since college Erica, Claudia and Anna meet every year for their book club holiday, it usually happens in the summer but, due to a setback in Claudia's personal life, they decided to postpone till December and Erica has booked them for a week at the stunning Maple Sugar Inn in picturesque Vermont. Anna and Claudia have known Erica long enough to know when something isn't right and, when they arrive at the hotel and it's totally different to where they'd normally stay and Erica is behaving very oddly in front of the owner Hattie, they question her about it, then she drops her bombshell. Hattie, single mum to five year old Delphi, has been struggling the last couple of years since losing Brent and with staffing problems she just needs to get through Christmas and keep all her guests happy. Staying at Maple Sugar Inn will have an effect on all of the friends and Hattie too, but what will it mean for their futures?

When you pick up a Sarah Morgan book you know you're always in for a treat, and never more so than when it's linked to Christmas. This is a cosy feel good read about friendships, family and relationships and the three friends show how strong their bond is by being there for each other through all their trials and tribulations. The story is told in alternate chapters by the four main characters and each have their own tale to tell. I loved the bond that the friends all had and the idea of a week away talking about books sounds wonderful, add that to the wintry scene and the festive joy and it all just sounds idyllic! Another great read from this author which would easily do well as a festive Hallmark movie.

I'd like to thank HQ and Netgalley for inviting me to read this latest book by Morgan, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

What a master of women’s fiction and romance Sarah Morgan really is!!! Her latest festive offering is totally brilliant and does not disappoint, everything we all want from a Christmas book and more!
At the gorgeous Maple Sugar Inn in Vermont single mother owner Hattie is getting prepared for a fully booked Christmas season but is struggling with so much to do and to contend with. The community is supportive but can she do it all on her own?!
Three friends, Anna, Erica and Claudia meet every year for a week away to celebrate their friendship and read books together, now they are on their way to Vermont!! There is so much for them all on this holiday to learn from each other, books to read, hot chocolate to drink and the snow and festive trimmings!!
Complex modern family and relationship issues and dilemmas, intelligent writing, and an easy to read flowing story!!! This is a must for all book lovers this Christmas and such a treat!!
Highly recommended and hugely enjoyed!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the early read!

The “Christmas Bookclub” is a lovely story about change, new beginnings and friendship. Three best friends Erika, Anna and Claudia, who have very different lifestyles, meet every summer for their book club which is usually in a posh city hotel. This year they didn’t manage to meet up so Erika has booked a stay in a beautiful Inn in Vermont in December. Anna and Claudia both think it looks fabulous but it is such an unusual choice for Erika who wouldn’t normally choose comfy and cute places to stay.

Meanwhile Hattie, the owner of the Inn is struggling to juggle her business and personal life. The Inn was her late husband Brent’s dream. They built a successful business together but the vision was primarily his and the staff team more professional than family oriented with friction and adult tantrums abounding. After his sudden death, Hattie was left to bring up their young daughter alone with only the love of the local community and memories of Brent to keep her going.

The first half of the book introduces us to the four women. It shows how all four are at a kind of crossroads in their lives. For me it is Anna’s story that rang true the forthcoming empty nest and fears that her role as a mother is coming to an end. As we all know, this is never the case and a mother’s role is ever changing but as I am going through similar myself it was nice to see such a realistic portrayal of the mixed emotions that can come as your children grow up and move away from home.

The second half of the book takes us to stay at the Inn. There we find out why the cool, calm Erika who never sets down any ties and is afraid of relationships has chosen this inn for their Book Club. We watch her icy exterior melt under the influence of Hattie’s daughter.

The setting is perfect and the Christmassy feeling is never far away. Hattie has a love interest and there is an element of romance in the book but friendship and families are the key theme. I am only giving the book 3 stars because I found the first half a little too long winded as the women’s lives pre holiday are described in detail. I am glad I persevered though the second half was more fun with action and a chance to get to know the characters through their thoughts & actions. All in, I loved reading the book and would happily read another with the same characters in it.

With thanks to the publishers HQ & Netgalley for an e - ARC of this book

It’s never too early for Christmas books right? If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll already know I’m a huge Sarah Morgan fan when it comes to Christmas books. What I loved about this one particularly is that all the characters were so different which made it really easy to relate to. We have career-driven Erica who travels all over the world (but ofc is terrified of commitment), Anna who is family focused and dreading her teenage children leaving the nest, Claudia who just got out of a long-term relationship AND lost her job, and Hattie who runs a cozy inn in Vermont by herself after her husband passed away. Although romance is one of the key themes here there was so much emphasis on friendship and family and finding your passion, overall it was very wholesome! It did take me a little while to get into it and get to know the characters (~100 pages). Towards the end the only thing I wanted more of was Erica and Jack!

This is all the Christmassy vibes and it gave me all the feels. Following the journey of a book club that helps a hotel in need. The story follows four friends and their journey's when they "reach a fork in the road". This book made me laugh and cry and it was just everything you want in a Christmas book.

Aw, I love a Christmas romcom, especially one set in a beautiful snowy location, with meddling townsfolk and a cute kid!
This is a heartwarming story about re-discovering yourself. Told from the points of view of the 4 women, Erica, Anna, Claudia, and Hattie, each woman is going through a stage of development and with the help of their friends and family, they discover change can be good for them.
It's a cute tale, loads of sugary sweetness, and perfect setting.
Another hit from this amazing author!

Three women visit a small hotel in Vermont their annual book club get together, the hotel is run by a young widow struggling to keep going with a young daughter and staff issues. Each has their own secrets, can they overcome their individual struggles and give themselves something to look forward to?
Sometimes when a story is told from several characters viewpoint it can be confusing, however in this case it it helps you to understand what issues each of the characters has. It shows that despite what others may think people might not have the perfect life that they appear to have. It also shows how important friendship and support is when things go wrong. A real feel-good story that I really enjoyed and can highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I just love Sarah Morgan’s books and this Christmas one is just PERFECT!
A real cosy read about relationships, friendships, secrets and a Book Club all wrapped up in a Christmas setting. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. It was an absolute delight.

I enjoyed The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan very much.

Anna, Claudia and Erica were interesting characters who complemented each other well. They interacted believably in that they knew each other well but still had areas of their lives they didn't share. Their friendship was strong but not sentimental. Hattie made a good foil for them, being much more alone and apparently weak. As the story progressed though so did she in her self-belief.

The book was warm and full of emotion, heart-warming without being sappy. Even the inclusion of a precocious child and a dog (fairly low-key it has to be said) didn't spoil it for me!

4.5 stars

In my opinion Sarah Morgan is the queen of Christmas Novels and I say that after only reading three of them (my aim is to start working through her backlog soon!). I absolutely loved The Christmas Book Club and quickly felt gripped by the story and it's characters.

Each woman in this book is going through something in their lives and are realistic characters who you just want to protect, Hattie especially. The dilemmas that they are facing are things that I think a lot of readers will relate to at one point in their life. This is a very character focused story and it's one of the many reasons I love Sarah's books. You get to know these characters, read from their points of view and get to watch them grow. I loved watching them come together to support one another.

I quickly fell in love with the picturesque Maple Sugar Inn. It sounds absolutely perfect and I would do anything to spend time in this inn! It just sounds the perfect winter wonderland and a magical place to escape to!

Also can I just say I loved that the book they were reading was by Catherine Swift who was one of the main characters in Sarah's book Summer Wedding!

If you're looking for a winter read this year then I really recommend picking this one up!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Sarah's books, she always has wonderful characters, gorgeous settings and a happy ending and The Christmas Book Club lived up to all of her previous novels. It went at a nice pace, flowed really well and was the perfect book for snuggling up with!

I loved this book.
A brilliant feel good festive read you can’t put down.
The story is centred around four women. Erica, Claudia, Anna who are best friends and Hattie who is the owner of Maple Sugar Inn. Here is where the book is set and all at a pivotal time in their lives the women come together for their annual book club meet.
I loved the hotel setting, the Maple Sugar Inn is a magical winter wonderland.
I enjoyed the library where book club took place and the book talk throughout. I loved that they were reading a Catherine Swift book as their book club read, a character from a previous book by @SarahMorgan.
I loved the women’s friendship and they way they help and support each other. There’s a bit of romance too.
It’s a fun uplifting read. I definitely recommend reading this one. It’s the perfect book to curl up with and escape.
Thanks to #NetGallery @HQ for an arc of #TheChristmasBookClub in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
Book publishes 26 October 2023.

I adored this book! The setting, the wonderfully varied characters, everything!

Who wouldn’t want to have a vacation in a snow covered lodge and spend the week reading books with friends? Erica and Anna are not quite sure, for different reasons, but they and Claudia agree to go. All three women are facing changes in life but little do they know how much this week will shake up their lives. Hattie is the owner of the inn and has no idea how much these three friends trip will also impact her.

Four wonderful characters, all with different personalities and stories.

A story of love, friendship, life stages and most importantly books! All wrapped up in the perfect Christmas setting. A perfect cosy read.

Three best friends escape all the pre-Christmas chaos, to meet for their annual book group meeting in a beautiful hotel. It’s the escape they all need but will it provide the perspective and answers they have been searching for?

This is a charming festive read for the run up to Christmas. Perfect to cozy up to with a blanket and hot chocolate or to listen to the audiobook as you wrap presents.

It took me a little while to get into this book but around 50% through it got under my skin. I liked how the book centred on the friendship, rather than romance, as other Christmas books tend to. I loved the details of the inn and wished I was there myself. If you are looking for a lighthearted, feel good, easy read, look no further, you have found it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how this book was about women fixing each other's crowns. This was such a lovely read about friendship and having each other's backs without letting pride get in the way - although I did find that it took a while for the story to actually get going.

I also loved how Sarah Morgan incorporated Catherine Swift and Her Last Lover into this book - Catherine Swift being the main character of Morgan's previous book, Summer Wedding/ The Island Villa.

Overall, this was a feel-good and heartwarming read..

Oh I loved this book! Set in a picture perfect inn, I loved the dynamic between our 4 main characters, there was emotion and comedy, the perfect mix for the perfect book. Another fantastic Xmas read from this author, I look forward to the next one.