Last Christmas is a dual timeline story spanning 2002 to 2010. In Go, Bea moves from London to NYC. In Stay, she stays in London. From there, the plots merge, converge, diverge, mostly around December. The story is pretty uneventful and the book never really hooked me into rooting for either or both of the "sliding doors". Mostly because Bea is kind of boring and mostly passive for the majority of the book. In both timelines she ends up in a love triangle that doesn't make sense but on the positive note, she makes a great friend group in NYC in addition to her fantastic childhood friends in London. Mia, Michael and Harry, and Maggie were my favorite characters in both times. They were fun, funny, and know what will make Bea happy but let her try to figure it out on her own.

I wish there were more situational references that evoked the fashion, vocabulary, booming tech, or pop culture of the early 2000s. This book could have been set in 1980, 1990, or even 2010 because mostly the characters drink at home, drink in a pub, or walk past a few NYC landmarks. Nothing grounds it into feeling like the Y2K decade. There was no George Michael reference either which was a missed opportunity for a British Christmas book.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

An intriguing festive story with a difference - rather than one storyline there are two running parallel to each other depicting Bea's life if she stayed in London on the fateful Christmas or took the plane to New York.
I adored discovering New York and how her life evolves while there which was in stark contrast to her alternate life living with her boyfriend who suffers badly from depression. Both lives caught my imagination as they covered many Christmases but I did become confused latterly with which timeline I was in because of the convoluted events involving many different characters.
It covered many difficult themes well and is not your usual festive feel-good romantic escape but is an emotional insight into relationships, family dynamics and consequences of snap decisions.

What if?  Its a question we all ask ourselves when we make a major decision.  Loved the the fact that we got to read the story of the what would have happen with the stay or go decision. Not your typical christmas story but set in December over a few years.  Romance, families and some unexpected twists. Really enjoyed this book.

I loved the premise of this book. It started well and I was keeping up with the different timelines in the story but then, about a third of the way through, it became confusing, messy and hard to follow. I really didn't like Bea, the main character as I felt she was immature, selfish and seemed to be drunk an awful lot! The way she treated both Dom and AJ was horrible as she flipped and switched her allegiance between them constantly. She was a very mixed up individual and I really felt sorry for both men who suffered her flippant and indecisive behaviour. There was an excessive amount of bad language in the book that was unnecessary and did nothing for the plot or the characters. I did enjoy reading about New York and found those references interesting and fun. I thought the ending was a bit far fetched as it all wrapped up too neatly and in a way that was hard to believe. A great start but a disappointing outcome for me, sadly. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for my honest review.

I have read a few books by this author but unfortunately I found the storyline hard to follow.

Bea seems to be having sliding door experiences, whether to follow her heart and move to New York or stay in London?

The story gives glimpses into each scenario and how Bea's life would play out in each city and with either her long time boyfriend Dom in London or AJ from New York, who see meets on the flight over.

I found that I was lost at times and had to reread on occasions to understand what was happening, with who and where??

Bea Preston is running away, she's having problems in her relationship with long term boyfriend Dom and is not enjoying life in London anymore, plus New York has always been her dream, but can she actually up sticks and leave behind everything and everyone she's ever known and start again or, could she have the best of both worlds?

Last Christmas is the latest novel by Swatman, with Bea's story told in parallel scenarios throughout the book, changing at each chapter and occurring every December between 2002 and 2010, depicting her life and the choice she made between staying in London and moving to the Big Apple. I really liked Bea and the friendship groups she had in each scenario but I really wanted her to make her mind up who she wanted and where she wanted to live, and to deal with the consequences of the choice she made. This was a great premise for a story, although a little confusing at times, but very enjoyable all the same and even though it has Christmas in the title, it's not really the festive book that everyone would expect so, for those die hard readers who insist they can't read a Christmas book before Autumn arrives, this is one with a difference and, in my opinion, quite easy to read in August, as I've just done. This is my first by this author and I'm looking forward to reading her others now.

I'd like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this book.

Bea is on her way to New York, before Christmas to start afresh.

But, she’s wondering whether she should go or whether she’s making a mistake in leaving for a number of reasons.

The relationship she was in, has changed and she’s feels for him as he suffers from depression. But, she wants to live her life.

When she’s finally on the plane, in the next seat is someone who won’t tell her his real name so she calls him Paddy. .

Then we read the two timelines of Bea in New York and Bea at home living different lives.

Which life does she stick with?

I recommend this book.

Just Ok

I started out really liking this book. The two viewpoints, Stay or Go, had very clear storylines, the characters were consistent in their behavior and easy to follow. About 3/4 of the way through the book, the two viewpoints were almost merged and messy, same characters in both and I found it hard to follow. For the record, I'm a huge reader and have an excellent memory, and even that wasn't helping me.

I understood and empathized with Bea's uncertainties, she was abused at work and was in flight mode. Many of her decisions throughout the book were made from an emotional standpoint rather than a decision made on facts, and unfortunately for her, the emotions were frequently dependent on what she felt was best for others in her life. I understand it was necessary for the plot to work, I just wish she had more backbone.

I have enjoyed other books by this author, and will continue to look for her writings. This one just wasn't hitting me in the right place.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I love a Christmas themed book so reading this was a no=brainer for me - it was a good read but I had to keep checking back which situation I was reading in. An enjoyable read that I lost an afternoon to and do not regret.

Oh get ready to have ALL the feels with this adorable, and just extremely darling love story! I just melted reading this book. Get ready for a sweet love story!

Last Christmas is a cosy festive novel by Clare Swatman.
This was such a cute read. It was easy to follow and had a good cast of characters. It's the perfect book to read over the festive season. A good book that I would recommend to other readers.
❤️ Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the idea of a parallel universe starting with a simple decision. Very 'Sliding Doors!'

I also loved the characters who were there throughout it all, best friend Mia and Maggie and the cast of supporters in Bea's life

To be honest, it got really confusing halfway through as to which storyline we were in as there were similar circumstances in each. None of them were the perfect fairytale that I look for in an escape read.

I did like the fact that a lot of similarities continued to happen and the way the ending worked.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Clare Swatman for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

The idea of this book was really cute, but unfortunately I was only able to get about 15% done. The timeline was just getting too confusing for me.

Last Christmas by Clare Swatman, The book starts with Bea hemming and hawing at the airport trying to decide if she should fly off to New York or stay in London with her boyfriend and her family. I have never DNF a book at 93% but totally did with this one I knew on the plane when “Patty“ wouldn’t tell her his real name and then when she sees him again he tells her his name and it’s not even close to being as hideous as he claimed but I let that go, I breathed in five times and out four endkept reading then I learned Dom the guy she left on Christmas also suffers from depression and when do people get depression the most… During the holidays! What a great girl Bea is. After reading this whole book from her life in New York to her life in London to the reason she left London and everything else we get to the end or almost the end and when her mom calls her to come over and tells her what she tells her I was done. I mean talk about a 360 they have other instances I want to give but it would be spoilers I don’t like when people do that to me so I’m not going to do that to anyone else. I will say at the beginning of the book I really liked be but the more I read the two POV’s in the more I got to know her the way she was written it’s like every decision she makes she second-guess’s it and she seems to never be satisfied. I know a lot of people enjoyed this book but I did not and think the reason I am not really into romantic stories because I am too pragmatic. For example think of being on a plane with a guy you don’t know and he’s attractive but he won’t tell you his name, keeps trying to ply you with alcohol and then wants to hold your hand as the plane is landing no woman would go for that or at least most wouldn’t. I always think about what would happen in real life and I really wish I did not because it ruins a lot of books for me but despite that there are many romantic stories I have swooned over because I get so swept up but with this one I just kept thinking OMG that would never happen.#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #ClareSwatman, #LastChristmas,

This was a nice read, although in August it still gave a nice Christmassy feel, i liked the way the character had to make choices and how it followed those choices, with the "go" and "stay" it sometime did get confusing but overall a nice read.

Bea is on a plane to New York just before Christmas, contemplating whether to start a new life in the Big Apple or stay behind. She's leaving a strained relationship with her live-in boyfriend, who suffers from depression, and is unsure if she should move forward with her own life. On the flight, she meets a man she nicknames Paddy, who keeps his real name a secret, hinting that it's something people have laughed at in the past. The story alternates between two parallel timelines: Bea’s life at home and her life in New York, leaving the reader to wonder which is real and which will work out.

This novel is praised for its unique and clever premise, seamlessly blending two possible realities. It explores the idea that life’s path can be shaped by fate, with unexpected twists leading to different outcomes. The book is a life-affirming romance, reassuring readers that the right things happen for the right reasons, even if they don't align with initial expectations. The story is well-crafted, Christmas-themed, and emotionally gripping, making it a memorable read that’s difficult to put down.

Last Christmas by Clare Swatman is a beautiful dual timeline novel that I really loved.
The novel takes place during the first decade of the twenty first century. The reader drops in on each Christmas as well as having a bitesize catch up for the previous year.
Last Christmas is a novel with a difference as we experience a sliding doors moment. When faced with a life changing decision would we choose path A? Or path B? Would the final outcome be the same? Or totally different? Both paths take similar but different routes. The novel alternates between ‘Go’ and ‘Stay’.
The choices run parallel. The leading players are the same but the choices provide some very different outcomes.
This is a novel about love and life, family and friendship, and the choices we make.
Dividing time between London and New York, the reader ‘experiences’ two very different Christmases. There is no doubt that snow, lights and Central Park definitely produce the more romantic of the two options to the reader. Weighed against that is the small family Christmases in London. Where would you choose to spend Christmas?
We witness the awful disease that is Alzheimer’s. We see how a family pull together.
Within the novel we ‘mourn’ a passing and we ‘celebrate’ a birth.
Last Christmas is a delightful read with an eclectic mix of characters. It is a festive read that will warm your heart and entertain you whatever ever time of year you read it.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for letting me read last christmas early.
I absolutely adored last christmas, how we get to follow bea (Beatrice) through out the years in the lives she decided to move her life to New York and the version where she changed her mind to stay home after all.

Clare Swagman is a brilliant writer that bring her characters to life on the pages. Bea is a wonderful character and you can't help get immersed in her story, wanting her to live her best life. The story flits between London and New York, it encompasses love, friendship and family, it's emotional and romantic. A perfect winter read.

Bea Preston stands at a crossroads in Heathrow airport, torn between two futures. As Christmas looms, Bea faces the ultimate decision: stay in London, where life feels predictable, or take a leap into the unknown by boarding a flight to New York. Perfect for anyone who has ever wondered how a single decision could shape their destiny, this book is a delightful holiday read filled with heart and thought-provoking twists.