I received a free copy of, The Secret Santa Project, by Tracy Bloom, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jolene is starting a new job as a trainee, but her colleagues want to cancel Christmas, Jolene wants to change their minds, get them to embrace Christmas. This is not your typical holiday romance, it has a lot of twists and turns and surprises.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot...

I've read quite a few novels by Tracy Bloom, so was pleased to be invited to read this one.

It was an enjoyable, light read - but with some grittier topics along the way too (such as bereavement, single parenthood, relationships various, workplace cutbacks, etc).

I think the author captured the all-too-common atmosphere of many office environments as the festive season approaches; some staff are entirely on-board and enthusiastic, whilst others are less so, or don't celebrate Christmas (some being happy to go along with office festivities anyway).
Gradually everyone's backstories make it clear why they have particular attitudes to both work and celebration.

The characters are a varied mix but include people that most could identify in their own workplaces, which made them instantly familiar. The child of the outfit - Grace - was a bit of a minx but added much humour! Jolene (one of the lead characters) was very much "an innocent abroad", with her love of all things Christmas and optimistic approach - I found myself hoping (despite her being fictional!) that she would always stay the same rather than becoming a cynical, downtrodden person.

This book will appeal to you if you like Christmas - possibly less so otherwise.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Book Review: The Secret Santa Project

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of The Secret Santa Project by Tracy Bloom. This delightful novel is exactly what I needed to kick off my holiday season. Combining elements of Love Actually and Groundhog Day, it offers a refreshing and comedic take on office holiday traditions.

From the outset, I connected with Jolene, a character whose enthusiasm for Christmas is infectious. Her excitement about the office Secret Santa was relatable and reminded me of my own holiday office antics. However, I quickly realized this year was different; her colleagues needed more than just silly gifts to lift their spirits. Jolene’s determination to create a memorable holiday for everyone was both heartwarming and inspiring.

The way Bloom portrays the chaotic yet joyous environment of an office during the holiday season had me chuckling throughout. Jolene's creative ideas to enhance the Secret Santa experience were clever and often hilarious. I found myself eagerly anticipating what mischief would ensue as she worked to spread holiday cheer.

The narrative is peppered with laugh-out-loud moments, yet it also captures the deeper themes of connection and community. Watching Jolene navigate her relationships with her colleagues, as well as the ups and downs of her own life, made for an engaging read.

Overall, The Secret Santa Project is a joyful romp filled with humor and heart. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good holiday read that celebrates the spirit of giving and the importance of togetherness. I highly recommend curling up with this book—it will leave you smiling long after the last page!

A new Tracy Bloom's book is always a treat. So I thought.
This one was not so much a treat. I don't know, it simply didn't work for me. Especially Jolene, who truly got on my nerves. On one hand, the characters were true to life and had to deal with problems, just like normal people. On the other, everything worked out so unbelievably smoothly for them, like all the dreams came true.
And guys. Hold me. I've never loathed a character as much as I did this time and you will probably never guess who it was. Grace. Never, ever, absolutely never will a 7 - year - old speak and behave like Grace. Totally unbelievable and I couldn't stand her, and I've never thought I'm going to say something like this about a child - character. 7 going on 70, in the worst way possible. She was not funny. She was simply not authentic.
I also expected much more humour from Tracy Bloom. This story felt somehow much too depressive and it has never happened before but I started to skim - reading some of the passages. Too many pages, too less conflict.

I'm dissapointed, because I had great hopes for this one, but well, sometimes the book don't gel with you, or you don't gel with the books.

What a feel-good story to make me feel warm and fuzzy! This book was packed full of the best dry humour, sweet moments, shocking plot twists and ended with me crying happy tears. I adored it!

Every time I thought I found a favourite character or story, I'd start the next chapter and change my mind. The story is such a brilliant snapshot of a small office team over the Christmas period. Tracy did such an amazing job of making me feel connected to the characters emotionally but also making me laugh. They were so relatable and I felt so invested.

Jolene is a gem (oh to be able to view the world as she does!) and Yang is an angel who needs to be protected at all costs!

This was such a gorgeous Christmas story and thank you so much to Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley.