I am, by no stretch of the imagination, a Royalist but I do love a Christmas story and I am so happy to have read Christmas with the Queen. I can't even begin to imagine how it works for two people to write a novel together but, in this instance at least, it certainly worked.
The characters really came to life and their stories caused a rosy glow, and sometimes, tears.
The research carried out on the Royal Christmases from 1952 until 1957 was obvious throughout and the nostalgia was papable.
This was one of those books that you don't want to end and I totally recommend it.

The publisher’s intro
December 1952
As a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares to deliver her first Christmas speech, staff work behind the scenes to get ready for the festivities at Sandringham Estate. Among them are Jack and Olive – old friends who are surprised to be reunited after seven years apart.
While Olive works for the BBC reporting on the royal family, and Jack is employed in the queen’s kitchens, their bond deepens – until a secret threatens to tear them apart. When the truth comes to light, it could change Olive and Jack's lives forever.
But maybe Christmas has one last gift to deliver…

My review
Christmas in the UK is not complete without listening to the royal speech. This story starts with this particular time in the new Queen Elizabeth’s life in 1952, her first Christmas speech and goes until her 1957 Christmas speech, the first to be televised. The topic of the queen and her family and their activities and life is addressed with respect, discretion and the writing conveys the elegance and dedication of the queen. The story of second chances between Olive and Jack develops slowly over these four years, reminding us also of how things were before the real time communication craze we live in now. It is a little bit like being in a time capsule. And the Christmas atmosphere is lovely. The recipes are mouth watering, and if I have one bémol about the book, it is that they are not in it, so it all stays in our imagination.
It was a very enjoyable read for a little bit of British Christmas atmosphere.

Such a heartwarming story. I loved following the story of Jack and Olive, rekindling their friendship and exploring out the past really can shape the future. As a royal fan, i loved how sensitive the portrayal of Queen Elizabeth and Phillip was. A story of dreams to follow and correcting the past to the story that could have been!

I enjoyed this festive story, an engaging blend of fact and fiction. Olive works for the BBC and is determined to succeed despite the misogyny she encounters. Jack, a gifted chef, experiences a tragic loss; the third voice in this story is a young Queen Elizabeth. The story is set in London, Sandringham, and at sea, blending historical events with romantic fiction. Olive and Jack meet at Sandringham, which is not their first encounter. Their romance is conflicted with secrets and missed opportunities; it is played out in a festive royal setting. I like the characters, the mix of historical events and fiction and the enduring romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

December 1952

As a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares to deliver her first Christmas speech, staff work behind the scenes to get ready for the festivities at Sandringham Estate. Among them are Jack and Olive – old friends who are surprised to be reunited after seven years apart.

While Olive works for the BBC reporting on the royal family, and Jack is employed in the queen’s kitchens, their bond deepens – until a secret threatens to tear them apart. When the truth comes to light, it could change Olive and Jack's lives forever.

But maybe Christmas has one last gift to deliver…

I cannot express, how much I loved this book. You could tell that plenty research had been done for this book and this definitely made me as a reader, felt like I was there with the characters. I think it was last year that I discovered the author Hazel Gaynor and I love her books already. Also praise to Heather Webb who wrote this book with Hazel.
I’m already super excited for this authors next book next year!

I very much enjoyed this historical novel set just after the end of World War 2. I loved the Sandringham setting and thought the characters were lovely. A perfect festive read.

The book features a young Queen Elizabeth II. It is December 1952 at Sandringham and the new queen is preparing for her first radio Christmas broadcast. Trying to find her feet in her new position and keep up the traditions of her father and grandfather, she enlists the advice of a young BBC typist and aspiring reporter for the BBC, Olive Carter. Olive, who is a stand in for the usual reporter. She seizes the opportunity to prove her worth to her boss and write a new female perspective of the queen for their readers.

Olives story along with Jack Devereux weave into the story of the queen. Jack is working as a member of the royal kitchen staff and has known Olive for years, as they met when the war ended and were friends and lovers once. As they reconnect, the Queen strives forwards to do her duty to her people and the commonwealth, their paths intertwine every December as she again helps the queen prepare for her speech. But will they get the happy ending they both deserve as Olive keeps a secret from Jack that could make or break them.

I actually enjoyed this book more than, I thought I would have to be honest. When the book was described as The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally and Bridget Jones’s Diary. I did not have a clue what I would be getting into. Co- written by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. I haven't read anything by the pair before but I will definitely look out for more of their works.

Being born and brought up in the UK, we followed the family tradition of having our Christmas lunch and sitting down to trifle and watching the Queens Speech, a tradition, I now also carry out in my own household, usually whilst we have a glass of Dubonnet.

I would consider myself something of a royalist and have watched many documentaries about the royal family and read various books about them also. I thought the parts about the queen and indeed prince Phillip were written very well and showed how she like to keep tradition. The queen came across as a warm and caring person whilst keeping the decorum she was expected to as the monarch. And a mutual respect was born between her and Olive., as women and mothers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Exploring the themes of tradition, family, and love wrapped around a fascinating look at the young Queen’s early Christmas broadcasts. Times were changing in those post war years and the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth was facing a changing world. There is a special highlight on her Christmas Day speeches which although the reader needs to suspend disbelief in events leading up to it, the words ring clear and true. There are wonderful insights into those early years of Elizabeth’s reign and especially the operation of the royal kitchens from 1952-1957.

The title of the book is somewhat misleading as the main story is about Jack Devereux, a fill-in chef in the royal kitchens and Olive Carter, a typist and reporter for the BBC. From the time they first met straight after the war until they meet again years later - it’s a story of their romance and the things that connected them in the past and now in the present. The highlights for me were when Olive interacts with Queen Elizabeth as it invites the reader to step into the lives of two women trying to forge their way in a male dominated world.

As I start this month of festive reads I can think of no better story to have as my featured book of the month in December than Christmas with the Queen. Right from the very start of this lovely story, which covers the years 1952-1957, I was taken back in time to the early years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, watching her grow in confidence as she takes on the daunting task of broadcasting her first Christmas speech to the nation and commonwealth.

Not only is this a fascinating look at how the Queen’s Christmas Day broadcasts developed, but it also gives us the chance get to know the two lovely lead characters who hold the story together in such a special way. Olive Carter is a fledgling journalist working at the BBC and hoping to become a royal correspondent and American, Jack Devereux, a talented chef, who gets the opportunity to work in the royal kitchens at Buckingham Palace, Sandringham and Balmoral. Told in individual chapter we learn more about Olive and Jack, and also about Queen Elizabeth herself which makes for a fascinating glimpse into this royal world. However, running alongside is the story of Jack and Olive’s friendship which began in 1945 at the end of WWII and of a secret which, once discovered, will test Olive and Jack’s will they, won’t they relationship to the limit.

Beautifully written, with such a heartwarming message, Christmas with the Queen captured my imagination from the start. It sweeps you from post war London, to the elegant beauty of the Royal estate at Sandringham and gives a tantalising glimpse into life there however, it is with Olive and Jack where the heart of the story lies, and it is their story running alongside that of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip which makes this into such a special festive read.

3.75 ⭐️

Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for this eARC

I’m in two minds about this book: on the one hand, I thought the premise of setting a romance over the time span of Queen Elizabeth II first radio Christmas speech and her first television speech was great, and the second chance love story turned out very sweet… but a few problems did slightly ruin it for me.
First, this book is repetitive. If a character has a thought, they will think it again and again. It starts to verge on telling not showing, and I would rather do some of the work myself. I guessed the big reveal after four chapters and it left me disappointed.
Secondly, I wanted this to give me more of the Queen than the image projected. We got it in small parts, but sometimes it seemed like she was nothing more than a background character there to offer prescient advice and coming across as an oracle or Yoda. I just wanted more and unfortunately it didn’t deliver.
On a positive note, it was very Christmassy and I left the novel feeling very festive.
I’d recommend this for anyone who likes second-chance romance, slow-burn love stories, and of course, those who love the royal family.

Another truly lovely read by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb.
It is 1952 and the young Queen Elizabeth is at Sandringham preparing for her first Christmas message.
Olive, a single mother to Lucy, works at the BBC and is eager to become a true reporter but it is a man’s world. She has an opportunity to visit Sandringham to report on the Queen’s first Christmas as the monarch because the usual Royal Reporter is taken ill. Will this be Olives big chance to shine!
Jack has just lost his wife in a tragic accident and through a friend he ends up as a junior chef at Sandringham.
Olive and Jack bump into each other while both at Sandringham and are surprised to see each other again after so many years.
The books chapters alternate between the life of Olive and Jack in the 1950s and when they first met in 1945.
The book weaves an engaging read across a number of Christmas’s with the Queen’s Christmas message to the nation as the focal point.
Love, friendship, family and tradition are major themes. 5/5

The new queen getting ready for her first christmas speech. Jack facing a tough christmas finds himself at Sandringham working as a chef. Olive wanting a chance to report on the queen and hoping for her shot at being royal corrsepondant. Jack and Olive have a history and maybe they're headed for a new future.

Aww what a lovely festive read. The queens speech was such a legacy and a tradition in many UK households including mine. We all sat with our christmas pudding to hear her words. This was such a heartfelt and wonderful take on those messages and those working behind the scenes. I loved the little interludes from the queen herself. The story though is mostly told by Jack and Olive. The plot is simple and sweet. The ending was so well written, finishing it beautifully. A light-hearted fun read for christmas.

This is a nice easy story, a little more poignant now that the Queen has died, but a nice story nonetheless. Although the queen is featured here, realistically the story is about two old friends, Jack and Olive, who having lost touch years earlier find themselves both at Sandringham for the festive season. Jack is a chef who takes up a position with the royal household following on from the sudden death of his beloved wife. Olive on the other hand lives at home with her parents still, but works for the BBC. The usual royal correspondent is ill and Olive seizes the opportunity for her to cover the royal event. Amazed as they both are to meet in such an auspicious place it takes a while for them both to rekindle the friendship they once enjoyed.
For me this is a three ⭐️story. Many thanks to #NetGalley for my ARC of this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

its an insightful book of the life and times when the queen took over the throne from her father and took on the mantel of making the christmas speeches

but its also about a young chef called jack from america and his dream about owning his own restaurant and the cruel way that life has at times

and then there olive whose one dream is to a good reporter and breaking the mold solidly built by men....

have to say i thoroughly enjoyed this skip down memory lane with the late queen elizabeth and how she changed the monarchy and how jack came to work for the queen and also the impact olive had on the queen

a whimsical read for people who love christmas and the monarchy maybe just a tad to long....

What an interesting way to tell a story about the young queen elizabeth 11 without it feeling intrusive and false.
The book covers the first six Christmas broadcasts made by the Queen with the lives of two imaginary characters, Jack the chef and Olive a BBC reporter woven around Sandringham and the broadcasts.
I really enjoyed the characters and the behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace and Sandringham.
Loved the story, loved the characters and loved the conclusion.
.

Best festive read by miles this year, with the historical fiction strongly evoking the post-war era, balancing with the slow burn second chance romance. Really enjoyed this book, it's excellent!

December 1952. Against the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth II’s first Christmas speech, this beautifully crafted novel weaves a story of second chances, quiet love, and the enduring charm of Britain’s royal traditions. Jack and Olive, two endearing characters, find themselves reunited after years apart, and their journey is as heartfelt as it is cozy.

I gave this book a glowing five stars for a reason. It perfectly balances a slow-burn romance with poignant realism, capturing Olive’s fears about revealing her secret to Jack in a way that felt deeply authentic. The time jumps added depth and complexity to the story, allowing the narrative to unfold at just the right pace, and the interactions between Olive and Jack were as tender as they were genuine.

The inclusion of Queen Elizabeth II as a point-of-view character was handled with remarkable respect. The authors refrained from turning her into a caricature, instead portraying her in a manner that felt true to how England saw her at the time—graceful, thoughtful, and deeply human. The subtle interactions between the Queen and Olive were a highlight for me, showcasing mutual respect and the understated power of kindness.

Beyond its compelling characters and plot, the book radiates good vibes. It’s the kind of story that feels like curling up under a warm blanket with a cup of tea on a rainy day. Jack and Olive’s connection, enriched by the second-chance romance trope, made my heart ache in the best way, while their growth kept me rooting for them from start to finish.

This is a novel I’ll cherish, and I’m already eager to explore more from these talented authors. If you’re looking for a book that’s both comforting and meaningful, I can’t recommend this one enough.

Olive Carter enjoys her job at the BBC. If only the bosses would see past her being a woman and to her potential as a correspondent of value.
Jack Devereux is working in the kitchens at the Sandringham Estate, after a personal tragedy he is burying himself in work.
When Olive and Jack bump into each other it rekindles old memories and feelings they thought were long gone.
Can Olive and Jack move forward when there is so much of the past that still haunts them.
This story starts in London in 1952, against the backdrop of a London coated in thick Smog and a new Queen Elizabeth II working on her first Christmas speech. It then moves across the next few Christmases weaving facts and fiction into a beautifully told story of friendship and love.
Perfect to get you in a festive mood.

This was an unusual story with personal recollections from the Queen but also from two people, Olive and Jack. The story takes place mainly around Christmas in the years from 1952 but also includes some flashbacks to 1945. Olive is an ambitious woman who works for the BBC but intends to become the royal corespondent. However, there is an old stickler in her way. Jack is an ambitious chef whose dream is to own his own restaurant. I enjoyed seeing things from the Queen’s point of view, her relationship with Prince Philip and her commitment to her duties. Jack and Olive had met before but had gone their own ways and had lost touch over the years. I enjoyed the way the recipes and cooking played a part in the story. Now circumstances mean they meet again, could this be the start of some more permanent. This was an enjoyable read with engaging characters. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A wonderful read .. and a lovely way to remember our late Queen.

Olive works at the BBC during the early 1950's; while the new Queen Elizabeth is finding her feet at the palace and leading the country, life is still a struggle for women in their chosen professions. Every small achievement for Olive is a fight against the establishment but she continues on, undaunted. When the opportunity arises to travel to assist the Queen with her first Christmas message, Olive grabs it with both hands and bumps into Jack, a former friend who works in the palace kitchens. As the years pass, Olive finds herself closer to the job she wants and her reacquaintance with Jack results in a new friendship.

This is such a delightful read, good for any time of year but perfection itself for the festive season. The authors have obviously done their homework - and then some - and anyone who has taken an interest in the Royal Family will savour each and every word. A fabulous feel-good read and one which left me feeling very festive indeed. A great addition to any readers' stocking, and one I highly recommend. 5* from me.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.