Another beautiful story from Cressida McLaughlin this time set in a beautiful village in Norfolk. I’m yet to read one of her stories without having a burning desire to visit the location it’s set in. I loved Sophie, Harry, the villagers and animals. They’re so well written I feel like I know them. A beautiful wintery tale

A cosy Christmas read which paints a beautiful picture of the Norfolk coast in winter. This is definitely a book to read curled up with a blanket and a hot chocolate so that you can escape somewhere perfect.

I loved this cosy Christmas read definitely a must read for those Christmas vibes and cosy season for a feel good read

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for my ARC copy.

I absolutely adored this book, it has everything you could want in a festive book, found family, hard pasts, amazing friendships and a very believable build up to a relationship. Oh and a goat in christmas jumpers! Felix is the absolute star of this book.

Aaaah, what a delightful festive read. I loved the main characters, Sophie and Harry and really didn’t want this story to end. It’s one of those where you miss the characters at the end of the book. Cosy up and enjoy.

This is a lovely festive read full of wintery wonder and community. Sophie has ended up in Mistingham, a little seaside village in Norfolk. She sells her notebooks, makes no plans and always has her escape ready until the Christmas where everything changes.

It's a cosy read, not too short and the characters are likeable. The village feels real and the community is entertaining. The love story, whilst a little predictable, doesn't disappoint and there are plenty of bumps and turns before the end of the story. If you like Cressida McLaughlin's other stories, you'll enjoy this.

It'll make you want it to be Christmas right now though, and probably leave you hankering for fish and chips!

From the minute I say the book cover and the title I knew I was going to love this book and I was right. It was a beautiful Christmas read set in a lovely seaside village full of wonderful characters.

Sophie who is the main character is extremely likeable and I enjoyed her journey throughout the story and how she managed to make strong ties with the people and the area despite her past.

I have read that this will be the beginning of a series of books like Cressida’s previous series The Cornish Cream Tea series and I can’t wait to read more about some of the other characters especially Dexter, Lucy and Jazz who I really enjoyed hearing about.

To sum up this is a fantastic cosy Christmas read which I would definitely recommend to get you in the festive mood.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction and Cressida McLaughlin for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This sweet Christmas story is a really enjoyable escapist read, perfect for cozy winter reading. I’ve read and enjoyed the author’s Cornwall-set series, and the different setting here of a lovely village in Norfolk works really well. The book finds Sophie struggling to balance her drive to move frequently and avoid lasting ties with the friends and success she’s found in the charming coastal village she’s lived in for most of the past year. When she gets drawn into a literary mystery and planning the village Christmas fair with a reclusive local, the struggle becomes even harder. I liked that the side characters are fully developed and charming in their own rights, and that the main characters’ emotions and reactions feel very real and understandable as they drive the events forward. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for n advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

This was such a a lovely festive book, set in a quaint village where everyone helps everyone else out. They all pull together sorting out village affairs and that made me smile. Highly recommend. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

The Secret Christmas Bookshop By Cressida McLaughlin, a NetGalley review. Sophie the main character is used to back up and starting again when the going gets tough, an act of survival and self preservation from being moved around as a child from one foster home to another. Sophie has been living in this beautiful Norfolk town for a year, she’s made friends and become part of the wilder community but can one surprise package make her run for the hills again. I love this author @cressmclaughlin and always look forward to her books and this was no exception and I think this brings all the best parts of her previous books into this lovely cozy, winter read and just not for Christmas. The setting is stunning, the characters feel real and jump of the pages, it’s romantic, it incorporates a love of books and again it’s set around Christmas. I love the little hints of some of the things the author likes, for example the Norfolk, references to Cornwall and certain authors and books she loves, this is a great personal touch. It is predictable but that’s part of the joy of reading this authors books and even though I was pretty sure I knew where this story was heading part of me wanted it to go the other way, with no happy ending! I love the character of Sophie but she did annoy me slightly, even though I knew the reasons behind why she was doing what she did. When secrets were revealed around who sent her the mystery book package, I thought her reaction was a bit over the top and again I knew the reason behind it but because of the way the author writes, as a reader the characters feel real and for me enable me as the reader to have these reactions as though I’m reading about someone I knew. There’s so much I loved about this book, the little things and I will try and not give anything away! I loved the quirky jumper wearing goat, the seaside town setting, the community feel, the oakfest, the secret behind the mystery book packages, Sophies notebook making/binding business. I will always recomend this authors books but this is one of my favourites, so it’s an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me 📚📚

This was a lovely wintery read set in the run up to Christmas in Mistingham which will leave you wanting to get wrapped up warm, cuddled in front of a fire with a blanket, a book and a plate of seaside fish and chips!

I was really looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint, Sophie is such a lovely character that you can’t help but warm to her and want to see her find happiness - even if I did set my eyes on Dexter first… (here’s hoping for a sequel with Dexter and Lucy as the main characters…) But Harry has just that right level of broody, grumpy and reclusiveness that makes you want to know more about the guy behind the rumours.

I really liked seeing Sophie and Harry getting to know each other as it felt like they discovered more about themselves as well. We unwrapped more layers with every chapter and I just wanted to keep on reading to see if anything would develop…

This was a lovely book that has made me excited for some crisp winter walks, cheese toasties, Christmas lights and all the festive feelings that Christmas brings - it may only be September but I feel like I’m well and truly ready to embrace the season!!!

Wow Cressida really never fails to deliver . Loved this she’s just so clever she can make a book so thought provoking but whilst also keeping things light at the same time! Cannot wait to read the rest of this series !!

This is a great feel good book, with a beautiful rural/coastal setting, taking place during the build up to Christmas. I did find Sophie frustrating with some of her decisions, but her position is clearly explained in a very empathetic way. There is a strong community spirit as the village comes together for the Christmas festival, which is lovely.

I’m a big fan of this author, you know what you’re going to get when you read one of her books - two slightly flawed main characters, a lovely set of characters supporting them in a location you’d love to visit. This book is set in a Norfolk village and with Christmas approaching, Sophie gets drawn in to help out organising the local Christmas Celebrations. She is, initially reluctantly, helped by Harry, who lives in the Manor house and hasn’t been seen around the village since his return about 18 months earlier. Their relationship is interesting and has its moments, helped along by Felix the goats antics. I really liked the references to Jane Eyre, the way the community all come together, looking out for each other, and how the author gets you through to the ending that you want to read. Recommended

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Sophie has never stayed in one place for very long. Shes been in were she is now for nearly a year and is starting to plan her next move even though
her small buisness of handmade notebooks is doing well.

Harry lives in the manor house in the village and has been having it tough since he returned from london to take care of the house and his dad.

Sophie recieves a surprise gift one day at work of an old book that has been beautifly rebound and has a mysterious note attached and starts the search to find out who sent it.
This was a really enjoyable read love all of Cressida's books

*Does a big old contented sigh and cheesy little smile'!

Ah what a joy of a book..the stunning cover with the colours and image, the Jane Eyre references throughout, the mischievous little goat, the whole load of people from Mitsingham who were all just so real and believable, Sophie and of course the dark and brooding Harry Anderly himself 😍

Also..there's something magical about including all the things that book lovers truly adore in the story. It has a way of making us feel included in the story.

This is a perfect Christmas cozy read and I happily lost myself in it in one whole sitting.

Thank you for the ARC...will definitely be recommending 💫💫💫💫💫

Heartwarming, festive with a little mystery. Really enjoyed reading this. Absolutely fantastic.

Thank you Cressida McLaughlin, HarperCollins and Netgalley for this ARC.

Sophie moved to a small sea side village after her relationship ended and the village welcomed her, one day a beautiful bound book turns up where she works anonymously and she is desperate to find out who it is from.
She then meets Harry the owner of a crumbling manor house who had returned from London after his father died, he is withdrawn and angry until the village vote for him and Sophie to organise the Christmas fayre and sparks start to fly before the romance begins.
A nice romance but I found too much information on running a fayre for me I wanted more of the romance. Loved Felix the goat.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

This was a great read. I enjoyed the setting and the characters they are all very likeable and some of them extremely quirky. I think the sentiment of this book can ring true for many people who have been left to manage alone for a long time.