Thank you to Penguin - Random House UK and Emma Heatherington for granting me a Netgalley digital Arc of Maybe Next Christmas in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Maybe Next Christmas is a heartwarming romance that is a journey full of love, grief, and courage to change in our life journey chasing a dream. Emma Heatherington’s writing brings to life the magic of family connection and love at Christmas time between the traditional trimmings of a 5-star hotel in bustling London and the cozy charm of a rural Irish village.

This book has a fantastic cast of loveable characters, including some of the most adorable canine companions I’ve read. Over a year, so much goes into the lives of the well-developed and vibe characters that challenge them and prompt their growth in their character arc, which ties sweetly to the romance plot. Bea’s independence and wanderlust brought her to life nicely against the challenges of loving someone and striving to be true to yourself. I loved Ollie’s portrayal as a caring, compassionate, and devoted male nurse who puts their needs at the expense of his own. I think this was a fantastic nod to the service, care, and sacrifice that NHS nurses give, especially working through Christmas Day.

A love-at-first romance that is a warm, heartfelt connection and will tug at your heartstrings on Bea and Ollie’s journey as they struggle to be together as life curveballs bring them together and tear them apart. It’s heart-wrenching as they fight to be together over the distance, and Bea battles to keep true to her dreams when their connection is so sweet and tender.

A wonderful, heartwarming tale full of cozy Christmas storytelling in this slow, gentle read full of adorable romance with a meet-cute worthy of a hallmark movie and Love Actually vibes (a few nods to this movie). If you love a sweet, quick read for your TBR this Christmas, Maybe Next Christmas is one to add to your wish list.

Bea and Ollie meet when their flight home to Ireland for Christmas is delayed. These two strangers, although having met in unusual circumstances, find a shared connection but unfortunately it may well be the right place, however, it’s certainly not the right time for a relationship to go any further. What then follows is a delightful story which follows both Bea and Ollie as they go about their lives and yet neither forgets the other and the endless possibilities of something which could have been beautiful.

I’ve been quite enchanted by Bea and Ollie and invested so much emotionally in each of their characters and followed their individual stories with real enthusiasm. Such is the power of the story that it kept me turning the pages long after I should have stopped reading to do something else. There is an element of will, they won’t they about the story but ultimately I hoped that this two lovely characters would get the happy ending they each deserved. The author writes beautifully and creates time and place really well, I could imagine the hustle and bustle of Bea’s London life juxtaposed against the peace and tranquillity of Ollie’s rural Ireland.

An absolute delight to read from start to finish Maybe Next Christmas concludes my festive reading for 2024 and what a lovely way to finish.

A very sweet and festive romance - this reads like a cute holiday romcom and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and Emma’s writing was excellent. The main characters - Bea and Ollie were well written and the side characters were written with significant nuance and care that made you invest in them. In places, it was a little syrupy, and the ending was predictable, however exactly what you’d want and expect from a Christmas novel.

Maybe Next Christmas is the perfect heartwarming festive read.
The ideal curl up beside the Christmas tree & fire read to sooth your soul and get you into the Christmas spirit.

Another fabulously festive read! 🎄

Bea is making her way home for Christmas for the first time in a few years. Faced with a delay at Heathrow airport, Bea takes the time to plan how she is going to break up with long term partner Sean, having both drifted apart and wanting different things. It’s here where she comes face to face with Ollie, who is also heading back home to Ireland to spend what might be his last Christmas with his Dad. Bea and Ollie are instantly drawn to each other and sparks definitely fly but they part with no way of contacting each other…until fate has other ideas.

Thrown into each other’s paths for various reasons over the next year, will Bea and Ollie realise that they are meant to be? And can they make it work when they are a sea apart??

Some touching explorations of grief, with both main characters having experienced loss. Lots of emotional moments and I loved how raw and heartfelt the dialogue was. I could feel the agony that Bea and Ollie were facing with their difficult situation and decisions - it felt very, very real. It’s definitely a book that pulls on your heartstrings!

A fantastic set of supporting characters - from Leroy (who knew he’d be such a vital role!!) to Aunt Nora to Murphy the dog 🐶 My only gripe with the book and the only reason I knocked it down a star was because I found Bea to be a tad whiny at times 😂 but overall it was a really lovely book full of festive heart!

Maybe Next Christmas is a wonderfully heart-warming festive read, set between a backdrop of rural island and bustling London, that is a perfect love story for this time of year.

I adored the 'meet cute' of the two characters in this story. Bea and Ollie are both at the airport on Christmas Eve, waiting for a flight back to their homeland of Ireland, and end up sharing a pub Christmas dinner while their flight is delayed. Bea is such a likeable, bubbly character and Ollie is so sweet and loveable - they make a really great match.

Their journey from there is so easy to get immersed in and I was rooting for them for the whole book.

There is quite a focus on grief and heartbreak, but this is written really well and I loved the side characters that are involved.

A perfect, cosy Christmas read!

This is such a heartwarming, lovely, easy, festive read! I loved it.
I felt I was there and I just wanted to know what happened next!
It made me feel warm inside and all ready for Christmas!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely wonderful book. Bea has decisions to make about her life. A chance meeting on Christmas eve turns her life into a turmoil. Ollie who is on his way home for Christmas shares a table with Bea at the airport lounge and are seated by each other on the flight home. Bea is also going home for Christmas. They both work in London and both come from Ireland. when they land they say their goodbyes and go their separate ways. Then by chance they bump into each other again when back in London. Is it by chance they bump into each other or is there a reason they are in the same place at the same time?.
I enjoyed this story, I got totally involved with it, even to a point I shouted at Bea to sort herself out and do the right thing her heart was telling her to do on more than 1 occasion.
This book is well worth the read. A very nice feel good Christmas story.

Lovely Christmas read.
Ollie and Bea meet on Christmas Eve on the way home for Christmas.
Their paths cross over the next year, but they both have settled lives in their jobs and with their dreams.
Loved seeing how their dreams and lives mix.
Really nice Christmas book

I couldn't have loved this book more. Maybe Next Christmas is the most heartwarming and cosy book. I was cheering Ollie and Bea on the whole way and loved characters such as Leroy and Aunt Nora. This book gave me all the Christmas feels

A festive, heartwarming and well plotted novel that made me smile and root for the characters.
Loved the storytelling and the fleshed out characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I feel bad writing this because I know it takes a lot of effort to write and publish a book, but I thought this was really badly written. The dialogue was so clunky and didn't feel authentic or real. Repetitive, predictable, badly written. Would not recommend, even though I usually love this kind of book.

My thanks to Random House Publishers and NetGalley for a copy of “ Maybe Next Year” for an honest review.

From November I start trying to get into Christmas spirit by reading my festive books
For me this one stood out from the crowd, it was a bit different from the generic seasonal reads.
The characters were really likeable and the story, told from both sides of the couple, flowed perfectly.
I don’t think I’ve read anything by Emma Heatherington before but I’ll definitely look out for more by her.
A wonderfully heartwarming book to get you into the Christmas mood.

A cosy and sweet Christmas romance perfect to read while cosying up in front of a fire! A good story and interesting characters

A cute little Christmas romance that starts in the airport with a delayed flight. A perfect addition to your cozy holiday!
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book!

Loved this story, a chance meeting that changed lives. Set from Christmas Eve to the following Christmas, Everything wasn't always aligned and different goals were in place but a chance meeting changed everything. Feel good read.

This was such a feel good book pair it with a mint hot chocolate and whipped cream and you’ve got yourself a match made in heaven (unless your lactose intolerant) the book was very well written and the story just flowed I can definitely see this being a festive Netflix film.

The characters are likeable and not annoying and I love that you get everything from festive to family, to grief and love I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason so Ollie and Beas chance meeting at the airport is fate.

I’ve not read anything by Emma Heatherington before but I’d definitely will do in the future.

Thank you netgalley

A truly wonderful Christmas romance. Delightful characters and such an emotional journey. I couldn’t put it down, and the plot line kept me interested from beginning to end. Beautifully written and just the right amount of Christmas sparkle.I highly recommend this book, so put it on your Christmas reading list. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Loved this story. The characters of Bea and Ollie are so likeable and I found myself racing through the book to see if it all works out for them. A lovely heartwarming book.

Bea is flying home to Ireland when she gets stuck at the airport due to bad weather. Ollie is on his way home to and by chance they share a table in an airport pub to pass time. They hit it off, enjoying each other’s company and were happy to learn they were on the same flight home. But once landed in Ireland, they each go their separate ways.

Unfortunately, Bea has her reasons not to think of Ollie in a romantic way and Ollie wants to spend this Christmas with his father who is terminally ill.
The chapters alternates between Bea’s and Ollie’s point of view and it is amazing how a common friend unbeknownst to them is giving them a push in the right direction of love.

This was such a sweet story, both Bea and Ollie so likeable! Definitely one to curl up with on the sofa!