Three days after Christmas, Bea boards a plane from London to New York. Needing a break from her relationship with Dom, she decides to go to the city of her dreams.

Dom calls before she boards and this is where Bea’s life splits in a sliding doors manner; what happens if she decides to follow through and go to New York; what happens if Dom’s call causes her not to board the plane.

I was extremely frustrated with Bea’s decisions in both timelines. I felt she was rather selfish holding the future of two men in her hands, often leaving them dangling. In the end however, she ends up with the man I felt she should be with.

I’m so excited by all of the holiday reads I have in my NetGalley approved list and this is the first one I’ve read. Despite my frustrations with Bea, I really enjoyed the book especially since it was told in the delightful sliding doors format. I adore books like that!

If you’ve not checked out any of Clare Swatman’s books, I highly recommend starting with this one before tackling others in her expansive library.

The first thing I’ll mention – just in case reading a Christmas book in August/September gives you the chills – is that this is a book you’ll be happy to read at any time of the year. The season just anchors the story, as it shifts between the alternative scenarios – whether Bea decides to go, leaving her life and partner of five years behind, to follow her dream of living in New York, or to stay and change nothing in her increasingly troubled life.

We first meet Bea at Heathrow, three days before Christmas, with a long wait for the flight that will change her life, working through her uncertainties and the implications of her decision. At the airport, she bumps into a stranger, scattering her luggage – and then fields a call from partner Dom, hoping she might just change her mind. And that’s where the story divides – she pulls herself together and goes home, or she gets on the plane and discovers what the future might hold.

The way the book is written is easy to follow – the alternating chapters headed “stay” or “go”, always set in December over an eight year period, looking back at the year before, with Bea’s experiences as their focus. I’m not sure how I felt about her – at times she’s sympathetic and likeable, especially when dealing with some of the most difficult personal challenges, but I was sometimes a bit put off by the selfishness that seemed to underpin some of her decisions. And the issues she finds herself facing, in both timelines, are often very difficult to handle – there are moments of joy, but plenty of heartache too. In her London life, there’s a particular focus on living with depression – and its impact is particularly well handled. But it’s also a story that focuses on friendship and family, with a strong romantic element and excellent characterisation – all perfectly balanced, and always emotionally convincing.

The writing is just superb – although the reading is easy, the organisation of the content must have been an immense challenge. There are touchpoints between the two stories – sometimes repetitions of the same events with a slight shift of context or perspective, very cleverly done. And I never lost track of which of Bea’s lives I was reading for an instant – although the way the stories slowly converge could have made things difficult. The author’s confidence and the firm grip she has on the story is flawless – I was entirely involved throughout, engaged at every level, and hoping for a happy ending. And it’s a book that makes you think too – about fate and destiny, the possibility of change, the impact of decisions, and the different paths sometimes leading to the same conclusion.

This was such an accomplished piece of work, highly original, but also a moving and particularly compelling story. I loved it – and it’s a book I’d highly recommend to all.

I think although there are pertinent parts of this book that return to Christmas time during the years it covers, it isn't particularly festive so depending on what you're looking for this may or not be a good thing, but you could certainly read this book at anytime for the plot.
The concept of this book is a "sliding doors" theme of one decision, to stay or to go, that then proceeds with mirrored storylines split from each decision. This was really well written and I enjoyed seeing the differences and similarities and ultimately where the characters would end up, as we all know life is full of coincidences, chance, and also such random curveballs.
I did feel compelled to drop a star in my rating though as throughout the story there was a lack of true connection to the main character, and at times I felt very frustrated with her choices, sometimes to the point of dislike, which yes is reality, everyone is flawed, but in a story like this I just needed more consistency or connection to the main character which I just lacked, but that's just me.

This was such a gorgeous story and has stayed with me since i finished it.

Bea decides to run away from her life and wants to go to New York for a new start. but should she stay or should she go?

I loved the dual timeline of this book where we could see how life would have been for her depending on the decision she made.

Possibly one of my favourites i've read from Clare Swatman!

Clare Swatman - Last Christmas.

It’s that time of the year again when summer becomes a memory and those fabulous festive reads start to wave their tinsel clad covers at us in a bid to lure us into the mood for Christmas.
Clare Swatman is leading the pack this year, with her seasonal offering, Last Christmas.

Before anyone gets too stressed by the thought of Christmas books so early in the year, let me say that this book does cover the festive period. However, it’s not Christmas heavy. Christmas is very much in the background of this story and not full force turkey and baubles.

Bea is stuck in a rut. Her life in London feels stale and her relationship with her boyfriend Dom has definitely gone off the boil.
Bea has always dreamed of a life in New York and as she stands at the airport, she has to make the decision to get on the plane and go find her new life. Or she can turn around and head straight back to Dom and their life together. What should Bea do?

This is where the book goes all sliding doors and we follow Bea as she takes both paths.
Will they both lead to the same place, or can one moment in time - one split second decision really change the whole course of Bea’s life?

I think this may be my new favourite Clare Swatman book.
Both choices took Bea on a roller coaster of a ride and I honestly didn’t know where she would end up.
I liked Bea and was rooting for her to make the right choices and be with the right people, in the right places.

The story skips along at a good pace and kept me hooked from start to finish.

#LastChristmas is an epic tale that is beautifully written with real warmth and feeling.


Heartwarming, charming, moving and uplifting.
Don’t wait until Christmas, get your copy now and you will be gently eased into the festive shenanigans with this absolute joy of a book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This heart-warming and enthralling romance follows Bea, who has a choice to make. Leave her life to start afresh in her dream city New York or stay.

Going between the different scenarios, go and stay she gets to see where each option would lead.

Stay – Go back to her boyfriend and her old job. Go – Start afresh, where she meets a handsome stranger on the plane.

Where will each decision take her life? Is fate real?

This romance was really heart-warming and was a read I just didn’t want to put down.

The book is split into alternating chapters, going between the two decisions, go or stay. I loved this idea, and although at first it took a little getting used to, I was soon swept up in Bea’s life and what path her decisions would take her.

There are a few entwining storylines along the way, which add to the wonderful exploration of Bea’s life and the people around her.

Overall, a heart-warming and enthralling romance with a big decision and a chance to see if fate is real.

Last Christmas by Clare Swatman

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Bea was always early for everything. Even, it turned out, when she was running away from her life.’ As Christmas approaches, Bea Preston has a choice.

Looking up at the departures board in Heathrow airport, her flight to New York boarding soon, she knows that getting on that plane changes everything. Her life in London has grown stale, her relationship with boyfriend Dom has run its course, and New York has always been her dream. But it’s a risk – she’ll miss her parents, her friends, her job.

What if Bea could live both lives? In one she goes back home for Christmas, and in another she heads to the Big Apple. Would her fate remain the same, or can one decision really change everything?

My Opinion

Bea has a difficult choice to make so why not follow her to see how each option will work out for her?

If you have followed my reviews for a while then you will know that I can read a Christmas book at any time of year. Last Christmas is told over a few years with each year being split for if Bea had chosen to stay or go. For me, this was very easy to follow as the chapters are clearly labelled. This was an enjoyable and exciting premise.

This was my first book by Clare Swatman but I really enjoyed the way that it was done so I already have my next one lined up.

Rating 4/5

If you enjoy fate, festivities and friendships, this story should appeal. Bea is afraid of life passing her by. Always a people pleaser, Bea decides that this time, she wants to live her life in the moment and leaves her family, friends and lover to spend Christmas alone in New York, but does she? The story lets the reader follow two versions of Bea's new life; in one, she goes to New York, and in the other, she stays in England. It covers a few years of Bea's life in the noughties and explores relationships, fate, life, love and friendship. I like the story's fatalistic element, the locations and settings and the cast of complex and relatable characters. It's a lovely festive holiday read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I wanted to love this book but it on no way was engaging. It might be for others but it is not for me!

The book is centered around Bea, and her choice to stay in London or Go to New York every Christmas. I have mixed feelings about this book. The dual timelines concept was good at the start, but it felt confusing at a point. I didn't warm up to Bea throughout the book. She couldn't make up her mind about anything in her life. She is doubtful and unhappy with the situations in the whole lot of the book. It's tough to keep track of the story. I just finished to find the ending, and it also felt unimpressive. Maybe someone else can appreciate it better. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

For five years Christmas is the point of change in Bea’s life. The decisions she makes takes her to two journeys through friendship, family, new beginnings, forgiveness, and finally the end that was meant to be from the star. Clare Swatman’ s capacity to storytelling is amazing.

This was another ‘WOW’ read, and I loved everything about it. Having been the target audience when the film Sliding Doors hit the cinema, I was more than intrigued to see how this story would play out. Would Bea find happiness in London, or would New York be her final destination, and with whom would she settle? With this premise, it’s impossible to predict how the story would turn, but I was happy to strap myself in and enjoy the ride.
Our protagonist, Bea, is easy to like but not as easy to second-guess. She’s wrapped up in family loyalty and wants to make everyone happy, even to her own detriment. She has long nurtured a desire to live and work in New York, and leaving her stale relationship behind, she heads to London, Heathrow, and her final destination across the pond. After a luggage malfunction on the moving walkway, she meets an annoying yet sad-looking American. As she gathers up her scattered belongings, her life divides into two scenarios: Go and Stay.

Bea’s London relationship is filled with her experiences of dealing with her boyfriend Dom’s battle with depression. This is handled in a very sympathetic manner, but there is no avoiding the overwhelming fact that more than one person in a relationship is affected by the highs and lows of mental health.
As the differing timelines crossed and Bea’s worlds were tossed and turned, it was impossible to guess what the end story would be, but I found myself hoping for a positive and happy conclusion. The amount of thought and careful planning involved in ensuring that all versions worked flawlessly was a huge consideration. I can only imagine the number of Post-it notes involved—it’s beyond comprehension. That said, Clare Swatman is an accomplished writer and clearly knows how to catch her reader’s attention.
Simply wonderful!

This book tied in me knots. It’s like the Choose Your Own Adventure stories when I was kid.
Alternating chapters are based on what happened if Bea got on the plane to NYC or if she didn’t.
It was rather confusing at first and the chapters share many of the same details but in different circumstances.
I felt that Bea ricocheted between Dom and AJ and didn’t give herself time to think and heal. I harbored mixed feelings about her because I thought she was unfair to both of them in each story line, but then they were unfair to her too.

Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion in return. So set mainly around Christmas time, the story dips between timelines seeing what would happen to the lead character should she make different decisions and choices regarding her future. This book does take a little bit of getting used to and a little concentration in places with its back and forth story telling, but it's definitely worth a read.

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.