I've lost count of how many Jessica Redland books I've read, and this is as delightful as her other books. Whilst not being a cat lover myself, I adored hearing about the cats and the trials and tribulations of being a small business owner. Most enjoyable read!

Very cute Christmas story. If you love cats and Christmas, or even one or the other, this is a good book for you. I also enjoyed the romance aspect of it.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

Unfortunately I did not finish this book. I read until I was 26% in, and I don't like it at all. I will give the author kudos and positive feedback for the fibromyalgia representation, but at times this felt a touch heavy handed.

I'm a big fan of show don't tell your readers in writing style, and unfortunately this writing style is very tell tell tell. In the bit I read, we got descriptions and names of her sixteen cats in a way I almost felt I needed to create flashcards for them to remember who their were. Also, her "boyfriend" Leon was clearly in a different headspace than she is, and it took way too long to get that unwound. At 26% in, there were no wintery or Christmassy vibes, more focus on setting up an overly elaborate cat cafe, going through the most predictable breakup, and moving out. Plus the other half explaining fibromyalgia. I just, I want to read books I enjoy with well crafted story, and this felt like it was written by a 12 year old. Sorry it's just not for me.

Cats are the pets I have had most in my life, and so when I heard Jessica Redland had a new book out with cats as a theme, I was very eager to review it.

Cat Cafés are something I’ve heard of and seen on travel shows (for example, some about Japan) and I like the idea.

The cat café that is created in this book is just so cute, and there are different areas. The character who has the idea to open the café, and the author Jessica Redland, have included quirky details and, I think, have thought of everything for both the cats’ and human’s comfort and enjoyment.

The cats themselves are fun and have personalities of their own.

Christmas was the best time of year for this book, as it adds to the cozy café atmosphere. I was glad to be back in Whitsborough Bay. I haven’t reviewed any of the Whitsborough Bay series, but did do a book promotion post for it, and the place is quaint and picturesque. She does the themes of christmas and cafés so well, as she did in Snowflakes over the Starfish Café.

In Christmas at the Cat Café, Jessica Redland has written another winner of a novel. I already knew she has a talent for combining uniquely imagined settings with cute animals, as I was on the blog tour for Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow, and loved that book.

Thanks to Jessica Redland, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

As per usual Jessica Redland has knocked it out of the park.
I loved this story, I am a huge cat person and loved the relationship between tabby and her feline family.

Her medical trials really resonated with me. I dont have fibromyalga however I have suffered with post viral fatigue which has many of the same symptoms minus the tremendous pain of a red day. We actually use the 'spoon level' analogy a lot in our house. So that I found written fantastically.

The relationship between Tabby and Tom was a lovely one to watch blossom and her own personal journey of trying to figure out whether her dream of the cat cafe was infact what she wanted to do was a special one to read.

Thanks Jessica for once again bringing me to Castle Street. I always love to visit that part of the world.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Get in the festive spirit with "Christmas at the Cat Café" by the talented Jessica Redland

Jessica’s latest novel takes us back to the stunning North Yorkshire coast of Whitsborough Bay, where we follow Tabby's journey. Tabby aspires to open an exceptional cat café with her partner Leon and their 15 feline friends. But when Leon disappoints her at the last minute, Tabby must put all the pieces together to bring her dream to life before Christmas. Despite her health concerns, local opposition, and with the support of her family and friends, Tabby opens the café just in time for the holidays.

Jessica's writing is captivating and brings the story to life, allowing readers to support the cat café as customers. It's a fantastic story that will leave you feeling merry and bright.

This is my favourite Jessica Redland so far and I like it because it wasn’t quite what I expected. Yes, it’s still cosy. Yes, it still has romance. Yes, it’s about a woman pursuing her dream of running a cat café and yes, there are absolutely loads of cute cats in it.

But I loved it because alongside all that, Jessica managed to inject a big dollop of real life.

Can you inject a dollop? Probably not. But anyway…

I would love to say more, but I daren’t for fear of spoilers! But what I will say is this. Even if you aren’t into cats, this book is worth reading. Yes, there are a lot of cats in it, as the title suggests, but there’s a lot of other stuff too. More than the cats themselves (dare I admit here that I’m a dog person?), I loved the café description. It sounded like the most wonderful place, and I’m not sure how Jessica Redland managed to dream it up. It certainly isn’t just an ordinary café with tables and a few cats wandering around. Far from it!

People sometimes criticise romance fiction for being predictable, and as a romance writer myself, this is something I worry about. You introduce your main characters near the beginning and as a reader, part of the fun is rooting for the pair of them to get together all the way through the book. I was certainly doing that in this book. But there were other aspects to this story that were far from predictable. I thought I knew how things would work out and I was wrong, and I loved Christmas at the Cat Cafe all the more for that.

At first I thought this would be another cosy read for me but I didn't anticipate the way it would make me mad and sad and happy during various parts. (I bawled with Splodge's decoration being put at the top of the tree)
I also have Fibromyalgia although a lot milder than Tabby's, and didn't really treat it with the type of care that I should be. This book really opened up my eyes to what dealing with it is like and how I feel about it. I applaud the author for making a lovable and funny main character who happens to have a disability. I loved the book and this is my second read by this author and I intend on digging through her previous books asap, especially those on Castle Street.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review

As someone who struggles with a chronic and invisible illness, this book hit me right in the feels. It led to me having to put it down several times to process my own emotions about my illness but just wow. Jessica Redland did such an amazing job capturing the struggles of living with a hidden illness and trying to learn to rely on others. My husband and I actually ended up adopting the spoon method because of this book! I loved how the relationship progressed between Taby and Leon - it was so raw and vulnerable and just felt like a natural progression. Also, cats and Christmas - I mean come on what else could you ask for?!

Tabby is about to open a cat cafe with an inheritance from her gran as she loves cats ( she has 15!) and baking with her boyfriend. Unfortunately her boyfriend who decided to take a temporary job as a chef on a cruise ship which was his dream decides he likes his job so won’t be coming back and dumps her.
Tabby has got a chronic illness so wonders how she is going to manage when her family and friends step in to help while she works out what she needs to do for the best.
A love Jessica’s books but unfortunately this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me, there was a bit too much about her illness for me and not enough about the cafe and what goes on in one

Cats, Cafe’s, Christmas, a new book from Jessica, my bookish dreams are almost complete now if it was just actually Christmas I’d be in my own personal heaven, although the weather today in UK is definitely heading towards it and the shops are full of Christmas stock since August, so I’m nearly there !

Christmas at the Cat Café I’m delighted to say returns us to Castle Street, any regular readers of Jessica’s books will be overjoyed like me (and if you read one book nearly all of us become regular/addicts of heartwarming books) and if this is your first Jessica Redland book, Hello and welcome to the club, we are all warm and friendly just like the stories. Grab a seat, get comfy and be prepared to melt.

This is a standalone so you can read it without any knowledge being required of the other books, although I can guarantee you’ll want to read them once you’ve read this. I loved this story and particularly liked the fibromyalgia representation , I have friends who suffer from fibromyalgia and it’s a very underrepresented illness, in the media and books so I thought it was beautifully handled and covered.

I’m a mad cat woman, well I’m a mad animal person generally and I thought Jessica’s vivid and detailed descriptions of all the beautiful cats was wonderful and added so much to the story. I always love the sense of community in Jessica’s stories and I so want to go live in one of these villages and towns , if you are looking for a heartwarming, emotional and entertaining story then this is definitely for you.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

As a devoted dog lover I am always looking to learn more about their friend the cat and I certainly learnt a lot more about cats from this book. I now have a place in my heart for cats although I am still not convinced that I need one of my own but if any book is going to make you fall in love with the cute felines then this is the perfect book. Although it wasn't as Christmassy as I hoped it had everything else that I love. The main character struggles with a chronic illness and I could honestly feel her pain as I also have a chronic disease but it was interesting learning about this one that I have never heard of and the debilitating symptoms that come with it. The romance was one that I wasn't expecting but it made perfect sense and had my heart melting. Once again Jessica Redland has hit it out of the park and created a page turning read!

Jessica Redland - Christmas At The Cat Café.

Million copy best selling author, Jessica Redland, takes us back to her captivating setting of Whitsborough Bay and in particular Castle Street. Where we catch up with some old faces from previous books and of course meet some lovely new characters too.

Castle street welcomes a brand new business, in the form of a cat café owned by Tabby, who is of course a massive cat lover.

I was very excited to read this book, for three reasons,
I love cats.
I love a good Christmas story, and I’m also a fan of Jessica Redland’s books.

#ChristmasAtTheCatCafe is a book that I slipped into with ease. I loved returning to Castle Street, and even the new characters felt familiar from the start.

Tabby is a bit of a mad cat lady, but that’s ok. It was charming to read about Tabby’s love for her feline friends and about the joy that they brought into her life, especially when her health let her down.

Tabby goes on quite a journey as she works hard to follow her dreams. Along the way, she has to learn to accept her own health condition and the limitations it puts upon her. She must also let in and be honest with the people who love her the most.

As always, Jessica Redland has put an extensive amount of research into her work. All credit to Jessica for doing this, and for seamlessly including information within the story, that will leave us all with a little more knowledge about certain subjects than we may have had before.

Another of Jessica Redland’s skills, is her ability to create the most warm and welcoming communities within her books.
Castle Street is a delight. It so vividly comes to life from the pages and makes the reader feel like they are there at the very heart of proceedings.

The festive feels in this book play their part in the story. And as much as we are wrapped in Christmas cheer, the festive theme does not overwhelm the story as a whole.

#ChristmasAtTheCatCafe is a book that will welcome you in with warmth and love.
It’s a well written tale, that has charm, quirkiness, a fabulous community spirit, wonderful characters of both the human and feline variety and a romance that will melt your very soul.

A purrrrfect read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.

I'm always excited about a new Jessica Redland novel - they're so gentle, heartwarming, and life-affirming. My first foray into Redland's writing was one of the Whitsborough Bay books, and I was very happy to revisit the fabulous community there with the Cat Café. I'm a huge fan of cats, and I love new business venture stories, so I had high hopes for this one. One thing I hadn't been prepared for was the main character's illness. Tabby has fibromyalgia, a cruel hidden disability that causes a range of symptoms and is unpredictable in nature. Redland did a great job of increasing awareness of the condition and highlighting not only how debilitating it can be but also strategies for management. It was handled sensitively and written into the story around Tabby's new business and the gently blossoming romance. The author doesn't shy away from difficult subjects, and the story not only covers long-term illness but animal rights activism and revenge. I really enjoyed reading about the cat café, the supportive community, and Tabby's journey. Another success from the wonderful Jessica Redland, and I'm sure it will make her fans very happy.

It is a lovely return to Castle Street and its mix of vibrant cafes and shops and believable characters. It's readable as a standalone story, but every book in this series is unique and worth reading. As the focus is on the aptly named Tabby and her new cat cafe, it features some engaging cat characters and human characters. The cat characters are individuals and add to the story. The humans are mostly likeable, but there are some notable exceptions. Chronic illness is also a focus of this heartwarmingly poignant tale. Tabby is a courageous woman whose character development is rewarding. The family dynamic and friendships are uplifting, and the gentle romance is beautifully written. I like the story's contemporary relevance, the believable conflicts Tabby faces, and the bonds between family and friendship.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

How wonderful to be back on Castle Street and what a wonderful concept, a cat cafe.
Jessica does a wonderful job as ever building the story and making the main character stronger than she realises.
Love that the RNLI get their much deserved mentions too. You can see why she is a million copy best seller, and this book will put her well on her way to 2 million copies.

Who doesn't love cats, kittens, coffee and friendships?

It was so lovely to come back to Castle Street but to a new shop with the lovely Tabby.

Straight away I love the description of the Cat Cafe in the first chapter. It sounds perfect and I love the names of the areas ❤️

I adore Marmalade, he sounds so much like my cat.

The Fibromyalgia is relatable to me as my mum was diagnosed with it years ago. This isn't the only relatable part in this book. There are elements all the way through it that are relatable, situations, relationships and conversations.

I love the nicknames that Tabby and Tom have, so cute. I was hoping all the way through that Tabby and Tom would become and item despite Tabby being with Leon. I was looking forward to finding out what happened throughout the book.

I absolutely loved the cats in this book, having had cats as soon as I had my own place, I love the comfort they bring. There is also some heartache but on the whole having cats in my life is beautiful so I love the descriptions of the cats in this book.

Oh my God this book gets more and more close to home. I cried...I can't say why because I don't want to give spoilers so you'll have to read it 😭😭

I may have cried a little when they were opening Christmas gifts, oh god it was so thoughtful.

Roll on book 3 at Castle Street, I hope we get to hear more about Tabby and her Cats. I have absolutely adored reading this book, being a cat lover is one thing but reading about them and the things Tabby goes through in this book brings a tear to my eye.

Thank you Jessica for highlighting Fibro too, my mum struggled so much to get a diagnosed. Oh Jessica you really got me crying at the end. I'm in a coffee shop reading this and I'm smiling and crying 🤣.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

Oh i do love this authors books and when i came across this one i just knew i had to read it and I wasn’t disappointed - it was wonderful!

Christmas At The Cat Café was quite an emotional read and i found myself on a bit of a roller coaster ride, happy one minute, angry the next and then with a few tears in my eyes too!!

I loved the whole concept of a cat café and have yet to visit one in real life but loved reading about it and honestly felt as though i was there amongst them all.

This was a very easy read and i found myself turning the pages faster and faster so that I could find out how it was all going to end……..

September 21, 2023
Christmas at the Cat Cafe by Jessica Redland #Review

A festive feelgood novel by Jessica Redland is always highly anticipated and I am delighted to be on the tour to celebrate Christmas at the Cat Cafe was published on September 15th by Boldwood Books.


It's the most wonderful time of the year on Castle Street, and there's a paw-some new business opening....

It had always been Tabby's dream to work with cats and an inheritance from her beloved nanna has finally made that a reality. Idyllic Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay couldn’t be a better place for pastry chef Tabby to open a cat café with her boyfriend, Leon.

But when Leon leaves her in the lurch, the pressure mounts for Tabby. With Christmas fast approaching, she has to open the café on her own – a daunting prospect, especially when she's been hiding her health issues from the ones she loves.

Faced with local resistance to the café – and somebody seemingly determined that she won’t succeed – Tabby will need her friends, family and cats more than ever to recover her broken Christmas spirit and pull together for a Christmas miracle.

Will the cat café bring the festive joy to Castle Street as Tabby had hoped or will it be a cat-astrophe? And can the magic of Christmas on Castle Street mend Tabby's broken heart as well as her business?

Escape with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland this Christmas for the purr-fect festive treat!




Set in Whitsborough Bay, this novel returns to Castle Street and gives us the opportunity to meet up again with some familiar characters. Tabby is hoping to fulfil her long standing dream and open a cat cafe. Cue a wide selection of cats and kittens who are at the centre of her life. If you are a cat lover, you will love being introduced to them all/ Tabby, however, has some issues in her personal life to get over and worse of all, suffers from Fibromyalagia which threatens to flare up at any given moment.

Tabby's family are important to her and together with the residents of Castle Street, show us how a community can rally round. There are some touching moments in the book, alongside the shenanigans of the cats. Tabby also has to sort out her feelings for Tom, who she has known since she was a child. Above all, she has to learn to admit when she needs help and accept support. I was quite surprised by the ending but in the end could see that it made sense for her. This is an uplifting story with some lovely festive touches.

In short: the Castle Street community grows

I have been a Jessica Redland fan for a while and this didn't disappoint, it was full heart and emotion. It literally has everything with a heart-felt narrative that completely stole my heart. I adored the writing style and character development through this story. Tabby the main character is so easy to relate to and empathise with. This book had a perfect mix of romance, chemistry, friendship and humour and was a perfect example of a hug in a book and I was so sad when it ended. I NEED a sequel with Tabby & Tom and their wonderful friends. If you a slow burn sweet romance with a little Christmas spirit then this perfect.