I was so excited about receiving this book and I was not disappointed. This book was exactly what I look for in a Christmas/holiday romance book. I absolutely fell in love with the characters.

I felt lots of lovely christmassy vibes reading this book, it was full of heartwarming friendship, cosy family love and will they won't they romance. Occasionally there was some frustration with some of Beas decisions but ultimately it was sweet, twinkly and just what I needed to start the Christmas season!

I absolutely adored Last Christmas by Clare Swatman! From the very first page, I was completely captivated by Bea’s journey and the fascinating “what if” concept that unfolds. The story is beautifully written, full of warmth, emotion, and a touch of festive magic that makes it the perfect Christmas read.

Bea is such a relatable and endearing character, and I felt every moment of her dilemma—should she chase her lifelong dream in New York, or stay in London with the life she’s always known? The way the book explores both paths was so cleverly done, making me think about how the smallest decisions can completely change our lives. It’s emotional, thought-provoking, and full of heart.

I loved how Clare Swatman wove together themes of love, friendship, fate, and self-discovery. The relationships, especially Bea’s connection with Dom and her friends, felt so real and layered. Some moments made me smile, others brought a tear to my eye, and by the end, I was left with such a warm, satisfied feeling.

This book is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Beth Moran—romantic, moving, and full of heart. If you love a beautifully written, feel-good read with depth and meaning, Last Christmas is an absolute must-read. Highly recommend!

Really sweet. I enjoyed this and it's perfect for reading in the run up to or during the festive period. Little bit of romance is good for the soul....especially at Christmas time!

If you love stories that explore fate and the roads not taken, "Last Christmas" plays with that idea in a festive-but-not-so-festive way. Bea Preston's life splits in two after a fateful moment at Heathrow Airport—one version of her boards a plane to New York to chase her dreams, and the other stays in London with her safe and steady boyfriend, Dom. The book jumps between these two parallel timelines, checking in on her life each December. The setup is fascinating, but make no mistake—this isn’t a cozy Christmas romance with twinkling lights and meet-cutes under the mistletoe. It’s more about the emotional weight of choices, regret, and how small decisions shape our futures.

Bea’s journey is compelling, but at times, she’s frustratingly passive. While one version of her is chasing career goals, the other struggles with a relationship that feels more obligation than love. The love triangle isn’t exactly swoon-worthy, and at points, it feels like Bea is stuck on autopilot, letting life happen to her instead of taking charge. The dual timelines offer an interesting contrast—one filled with ambition and loneliness, the other with comfort and compromise—but neither is entirely satisfying. The story does an excellent job of highlighting how choices can bring unexpected happiness and heartbreak, but some plot points feel rushed, and the emotional beats don’t always land as deeply as they could.

I’m giving "Last Christmas" three stars out of five. The premise is intriguing, and the structure is engaging, but it lacks the emotional gut punch that could have made it unforgettable. It’s a solid pick for fans of parallel-lives narratives, but if you’re looking for a feel-good, Christmas magic-filled romance, this might not be the holiday read for you.

This is a lovely book. Will be looking out for more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review..

A wonderful christmassy story to get me ready for the festivities. Bea was a likeable character from the start. I really enjoyed this.

This was such a slow read that I skimmed through the second half.

Okay to Beatrice wanna run away, the reasons are being revealed so late but I will shout them out, she was sexuelly assaulted at her job and she felt drained by her depressed boyfriend Dom, so she wanna leave for New York, the city.

But the scenerio of staying, need to be explored right? No not really in my mening but okay. So at odd chapters Bea will Stay and at even chapters, Bea will Go!

But fate is fate, so it doesn't matter if Bea stays or go, her life and future will interwine. Bea will meet a guy names AJ somehow and they will fall in love and her happy ending is New York.

This is such a dramatic ride full with romantic drama, cheating guys, no spicy, and alot of friends that loves partying.
I mean if you fancy Gossip girl, this may be you vibe.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an e-arc for an honest review.

I enjoyed the different timelines in this book and thought the concept was really interesting! I did get slightly confused with moving back and forth but I enjoyed reading nonetheless. It’s a beautiful story of what ifs and alternate timelines, and perfect for the holiday season. A wonderful read!

I loved the dual timeline of this book where we could see how life would have been for Bea depending on the decision she made.
Bea is at Heathrow Airport on 22 December 2022. She has a ticket to fly to New York. It's clear that she loves the hought of the city, having seen so many on-screen images over the years. However, it is also clear that Bea is a little unsure about her journey. She receives messages on her phone from her boyfriend Dom. She is then knocked over by another passenger, her
belongings scattered all over the floor. This is when the story turns into 'Stay' or 'Go'.

3.5 stars rounding up to 4.

I liked how the book was written with 2 timelines in a sliding doors style. I enjoyed seeing how things would turn out if there had been on slight difference at the start of the story. I found the writing style to be unique and also easy to read.

This was fun and festive. The characters were well developed and like how the Darrell timelines ended.

I just loved this story about how the choices we make can alter the course of our lives over the span of years. Bea is ready for some changes in her life. She has a job she's ready to leave, a boyfriend she thinks she's ready to leave and has always wanted to experience live in New York City. And while it's not an easy decision for her leave everything including her family behind in London, she does just that. This story is hopeful and inspiring and just really fun to the read. And the ending made me really glad I chose to read this lovely book by Clare Swatman!

This wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing. I thought it was an average romance read that is a great one to read during the festive period.

I liked this book but I didn't love it. I was looking to feel more Chrismassy when I red it and it didn't deliver in that manner. However, I did love the main character and I was rooting for her. The dual timelines could prove to be a bit confusing for someone who might not be able to read this book in a couple days time as I myself was a bit lost and found myself having to re-read chapters but all in all I felt a bit of nostalggia in reading this book and wondering what life would have been like if I picked another opportunity or went with my heart instead of my head in certain situations. A good book to say the very least.

Alternate timeline contemporary romance. Well written but with a lot going on. I enjoyed the premise; though, I didn't love the female main character. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Not my usual Christmas “feel” read. It’s not going to make you feel all cosy with those romanticising Christmas feels. The start of the book is fine but it loses its way and then appears muddled. Really wanted to love this but missed the mark for me.

I wanted to love this as I enjoy the author's writing. I did enjoy it but I didn't love it. I found it a bit difficult to keep track of the dual timeline, and I didn't love the characters. However I did finish the book and I know that others will love it.

Sliding Doors meets Bridget Jones meets The Holiday!! The story follows Bea on two different time lines one where she goes to New York and one where she doesn’t get on the plane. Each chapter is set a year apart and alternates between the two timelines. I enjoyed this book although I did get confused in places as the time lines were slightly hard to follow at times and I didn’t know which of the two timelines - Stay or Go. I loved some of the characters but found myself being mad at Bea occasionally as she was often selfish and hurtful to others.

Although set in December and primarily at Christmas this book didn’t feel like a festive read so I think it could be enjoyed at anytime of the year. I would love to see the story be made into a film as I think it would work well visually rather than trying to follow the timelines in print.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy. This was a lovely read. Although I wasn't overly enamoured with the main character and found her attitude towards mental health quite judgemental and stigmatising at times, I enjoyed the premise of this story a lot. Swatman skillfully explored the two different potential futures. I particularly enjoyed the New York scenes, and liked many of the wider characters.

Last Christmas by Clare Swatman had an intriguing premise, but it just didn’t work for me. The story follows Bea, who faces a big decision two days before Christmas: should she leave her life in London for her dream of living in New York, or stay with her boyfriend, Dom? The book splits into two parallel timelines, looking at the outcomes of each choice over the next eight years. While I was initially drawn to the “what if” concept, the execution fell flat.

The alternating timelines were repetitive and often so similar that it became hard to tell them apart. This took me out of the story repeatedly,…., which was frustrating, and annoying!
Bea herself was another issue—I found her indecisive and self-centered, and it was hard to root for her. The love triangle at the heart of the story felt messy and, at times, unrealistic, with some plot points that were downright absurd.

I also wouldn’t call this a Christmas book. Despite the timeline revolving around Christmases over the years, there was very little holiday spirit or festive charm. Instead, the book leaned into drama, infidelity, and family interference, which only grew more over-the-top as the story went on. By the second half, I found myself rolling my eyes at the implausible twists and was tempted to stop reading altogether.

While the idea of exploring alternate lives is intriguing, the lack of character growth and confusing structure ultimately made this book feel tedious. I wanted to like it, but it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read it.