Countdown to Christmas by Jo Thomas is a 2023 Christmas release. I don’t think I have read a Jo Thomas Christmas book before now but I do have another on my TBR that I am now very excited to get to. I found the premise of this book really interesting but didn’t have super high hopes but I loved it and gave it an easy 4.5 stars.

Countdown to Christmas follows Chloe whose son, Ruben, is spending Christmas away with his dad and is just ready for the season to be over and for him to be back. Then she gets a call to say she has inherited land in Canada so she makes the decision to go to Canada and see what it’s all about.

I am a massive fan of festive romance books and this followed the structure you’d expect but wasn’t completely predictable and still let you not know exactly what was going to happen. There is a certain type of comfort that comes with these books and the reason why I read so many each year. The vibes are cosy, there are great characters and some great bonding. Also, the small town feels are fantastic.

If you couldn’t already tell, I really loved this book but I did have some favourite things that stuck out to me. Quite a few of these things are associated with specific scenes so I won’t go into too much detail not to spoil it but I still need to talk about them. The change in Chloe between when she arrives at the town and the end of the book is massive and really positive. There are certain scenes where you can see those changes and while it means things don’t quite always go as she wishes she would she is so kind to everyone and I don’t quite know the words for what I’m trying to say but there’s a scene that comes to mind when she just wants to make sure no one gets hurt, no matter who it is.

I loved the romance and while there was kind of a third act break-up there wasn’t any big miscommunication which I was so thankful for. Both characters in the relationship understood the situation and that it may not last forever but didn’t expect them to sacrifice their lives for each other which I was thankful for because they weren’t pushing in ways that hurt the other. The ending was perfect for every single character - no one was left behind and not fully included in the ending.

The friendships that were built because of how small the town was were fantastic and I loved every character from the town, the ones who didn’t live in the town maybe not so much. Bea, Theo and Chloe are now some of my favourite festive book characters and the opinion of the advent calendar in the town was fantastic. Everyone was involved and it kept them going in a fantastic way.

I will definitely be adding this to my list of go to Christmas recommendations and I highly recommend picking it up as we go into December over the next week.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a Christmas Cracker! Yet another glorious read and one of my favourite books yet by Jo Thomas.
I loved everything about this Christmas story. It felt fresh, modern and totally put me in the Christmas mood. The wintry setting in a small Canadian town was beautiful and the whole story was captivating, Superb!

This was a lovely cosy festive read. I loved the Advent calendar and finding out what message each door contains It was lovely how the community got involved too.
The setting in Canada was the perfect Christmas location. I loved the characters too.
This is a heartwarming and emotional read and I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Christmas, The most wonderful time of the year and to be able to read Christmas themed stories only makes it better. Jo Thomas is a great writer/author and this book was such a lovely and easy book to read. This is everything Christmas and it didn't disappoint.

Love Chloe and love that the story revolves around and advent calendar (I love those too!). It is such a feel good read and it brings joy, happiness, Christmas and fun to reading. You can't not like this book as it is just too good. Love it. Bring on Christmas.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Blurb :
Chloe can't wait for Christmas . . . to be over! Her son Ruben is staying with his dad this year and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays all together. Her only nod to the season is the advent calendar Ruben left her, to help count down the days till he's home again.
But then an heir hunter gets in touch, telling her there's a plot of land in Canada she may be entitled to. Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? They're offering to pay for her flights . . . and Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'
Suddenly, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .

My Thoughts :
We meet Chloe, home alone at Christmas after her 12 year old son Ruben has flown to New York to be with his dad and new family.
Not knowing want to do with herself for the festive period, and all she has to look forward to is opening an advent calendar everyday that Ruben has made for her. Chloe receives a phone call from an Heir hunter, telling her she has inherited some land in Canada.
He offers to pay for Chloe’s flight and accommodation to go and visit and check it all out.
After Ruben’s latest note tells Chloe to just say yes!. She goes off on her adventure to Quebec, Canada.
Chloe finds herself staying in a log cabin in the town of Foret d’Esprit. Where she is cold and lonely but soon Chloe starts to listen to Ruben’s notes from the Advent Calendar and branches out of her comfort zone with the help of handsome store owner Theo, as Theo tells Chloe all about the production of Maple Syrup right there in the forest, soon she falls in love with the idyllic place and the rest of the community, she even loves Ike the friendly turkey who follows her around.
Chloe puts herself at the heart of the community with helping out pregnant Bea at the diner, making delicious maple syrup pancakes, organising the christmas activities, searching the snowy forest for Christmas trees, spotting the local moose and her young and generally falling in love with this magical place.
When another distant cousin gets put into the mix also claiming part of the land, Chloe soon has to fight for her new friends and their community.
Can Chloe help keep the sparkle and maple syrup chain alive in Foret d’Esprit or will they soon have to give up their beautiful maple forest!?.
Jo Thomas has a way of telling a story that pulls you in to every page and makes the characters come alive. Beautiful surroundings and scenery that has been the perfect escapism.
Right after finishing the book I went online and ordered some proper Canadian maple Syrup to have on my pancakes.
This by far has to be one of the best books I have read by Jo Thomas. Looking forward to more soon.

Possibly my favourite book by Jo to-date. Loved the setting, loved the advent calendar theme, loved the characters. It held my attention throughout. The reason I haven't given it five stars is because I would have liked a bit more time spent on the romance, particularly at the end. A lovely festive read though. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

i really enjoyed this book and I do enjoy a countdown, i liked the main character from the start and each character that was introduced brought a little extra, the area was described but not overly done, so it was just the right amount, i have read a few books by Jo Thomas and enjoyed them all, pick up some pancakes & hot chocolate and enjoy.

I loved it, poor Chloe on her own at Christmas time decided to investigate the opportunity she was given to go to Forët des Esprits and see what was involved regarding her inheritance.

Obviously she was so unsure, the location was completely different to anywhere she'd ever been but her r son Ruben was spending Christmas with his father so she went for it, with the help of Ruben's Advent Calender.

Along the way she met lovely Theo and between them they unravelled the story of her relative and Chloe was drawn into the community.

I loved the ending and wished there could be a sequel of their new life .

I love Jo's books. They are very heart warming.

Loved the story of Ruben leaving his mum an advent calender and the fact that she followed it. The whole town became involved with this. A good cosy winter/Christmas read with a few twists. Friendships and life changes made, with all the trademarks of Jo Thomas.

A thoroughly enjoyable festive read. I am yet to find a book from Jo Thomas that I haven’t enjoyed.

This book had it all-humour, sadness, love, family and friendship and it was so well written that I could imagine being there.

This is such a wonderful cosy festive read. Chloe is dreading Christmas on her own , whilst her son enjoys a Christmas with his dad. When she discovers that she may have inherited some land in Canada, she decides to check it out.
Her lovely son Ruben has left her a beautiful advent calendar, with little challenges to keep her busy and able to cope.

Whilst she is settling into a cold, snowy Canadian town, she starts to meet the locals and they all get invested in the calendar, making a special trip in to see what the days message is. It's such a gorgeous way for us to get invested in the characters and the setting. I really wanted to be there and see the calendar opened daily and see how Chloe takes on the locals way of living , and how her inheritance could affect them all.
I loved it.

Chloe was definitely in a fish out of water situation, having never been to Canada and without her son Ruben for long. Theo was a steady and ever present help, even as he was clueless about his growing feelings for her. Of course he figured it out eventually 😂

This had all the Hallmark Christmas vibes with the charming Canadian winter wonderland. I loved all the characters, how they came together to keep the spirit and essence of the town alive.

The highlight was definitely Ruben's advent calendar for Chloe, and I loved how everyone got invested in it and seeing it through every single day.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved all of Jo Thomas' books that I have read and this is no exception. Chloe is dreading Christmas this year as her son will be spending the festive season with his Dad in New York. He leaves her an advent calendar to count down the days until he gets home. Out of the blue Chloe is contacted and informed she has inherited a property in Canada. So she is off on an adventure to find out if it is real or a scam. The property is in a little town and we find out what happens. As I will be spending my Christmas in a little town in Canada visiting my new grandchild, this story is close to my heart.

Chloe usually loves Christmas but this year her son Ruben is going to be spending it in America with his dad, so she will be alone with only an advent calendar Ruben made her and very much not looking forward to it until a phone call from an heir hunter changes everything.
Will Chloe’s winter adventure to Canada change her life or will it just be a lonely holiday.
Loved it

A lovely sweet story where our heroine is dreading spending Christmas alone as her son goes to New York to spend it with his father and his new family. A surprise visitor informs her of an inheritance in Canada, she goes to look at it and spends time there amongst the Maple sugar making community. Then, as the story progresses her confidence in herself and her abilities grow, and this small town invites her into its heart and makes her one of its own.

I think this is now my favourite book by Jo Thomas. I’m sure I say that every time I read her new releases but they just keep getting better and better!

Absolutely loved the storyline of this one, so original and unique and I adored the location. Such a warm, uplifting and festive read.

Would definitely recommend.

what a brilliant christmas book filled with joy tears happiness and sadness and a feeling of cold with the snow around of course jo thomas never fails to treat you with new recipes of which they all sound amazing and a story which shows an advent calendar is the main story line along with all the happening in foret des esprits

I absolutely love this book! It is an advent calendar in book form. Chloe is apart from her son for Christmas as he is staying with his dad in New York but he has made her an advent calendar with a message to open for each day in the run up to Christmas. Each one gives her a challenge to follow like "say yes!" which leads to a very exciting and eventful Christmas!

This is another great festive book from Jo Thomas.
I loved the characters, the setting and the premise of counting down to Christmas via an advent calendar Chloe's son made to help her get through the period without him. Although Ruben isn't in the book that much, her 12-year-old son has a great impact on the story and I'm sure the readers.

As usual, food plays a main role (everything with maple syrup) and I learned something new about another part of the world and profession - tapping trees. The supporting cast were great, especially Bea at the diner and Theo as the rugged hero of the story. But I also loved the rogue turkey always chasing Chloe around.

I loved every minute of this book. I'm so pleased with the ending as well, wish I could say more but I don't want to have spoilers in this review!

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC copy.

I love Jo Thomas books, she is Christmas for me. This book is a wonderful Christmas book about friends, family and community.
When Chloe is left alone for Christmas because her son Ruben has gone to New York to visit his dad she finds herself alone with an advent calendar Ruben has made when he was little.
Chloe is approached by an Heir Hunter telling her she’s inherited land in Canada. Deciding to go to Canada Chloe finds a whole new world there.
Filled with Snow and Christmas trees and all things festive it’s a truly fabulous book.
A definite 5 star review
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.