⭐️3.5⭐️
Rounded up to 4 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I’m a huge fan of Karen Swan’s Christmas books, but unfortunately this one was missing the usual magic for me.
 
All I Want for Christmas is well written, and I loved the setting, but I just didn’t gel with the two main characters, Max especially. I didn’t sense any sort of spark between him and Darcy at all.
 
It’s classed as a Christmas read, but sadly nothing about it felt festive to me.
 
An easy read, but certainly not one of my favourite books by Karen Swan.

Karen Swan is one of my favourite authors so I was looking forward to reading this book over the festive season. There is not a lot of reference to Christmas in the book so it would not really matter which time of year you pick this up. Although I think of Karen as a historical writer who uses her excellent research skills, this novel is set in the present. However, the past is important to the story as the main character, Darcy, has the task of looking into the background of a woman portrayed found literally, within a painting! There is history, culture (Danish) and romance (along with the usual misunderstandings and twists) all wrapped up to create a fair read. I have to admit, not my favourite but that's just my opinion.

I do look forward to a Karen Swan at Christmas. Sadly this wasn’t a favourite. It didn’t feel at all Christmassy, the art story was a little boring and Max I didn’t like at all. It was an ok read and not her usual standard.

Another unputdownable story by Karen Swan!
I loved everything in this book - and I don't say it often. Really, everything was perfect - beautiful setting in Denmark, living and breathing characters that made me feel frustrated, annoyed and made me keep everything crossed for them, the absolutely interesting and brilliantly written world of art...
It was truly an absorbing story and I would read it in one sitting if I only had enough time - I wanted to know everything, I wanted the mystery solved - but when it was solved it turned out that there is much more to it than we thought at first and I loved it! You could never be sure how the things will turn out and some of the revelations were unexpected and completely surprising.

The characters will grew on you immediately! Darcy was brilliant, loyal, friendly, funny and amazingly clever and I adored some of her banter and one - liners. Her friendship with Freja was real and genuine. I loved Darcy's determination and her being so sure of herself and of what it is that she wants - when some would give up, Darcy was fighting. And I really, really enjoyed following her disastrous love life, finally some dates that felt fresh and original, really. And Max, oh my, what a complex, complicated character - and you know, even though he made me feel so, so frustrated I've never hated him - you can feel there is so much more to his persona!

The brilliant mix of the academia and art worlds was so well captured in this story! Karen Swan's writing has made it so interesting and also so exciting and thrilling and... well, dirty as well, especially the little games between the characters. As usual, the author has brilliantly blended past and present, easily transporting her readers into the characters' worlds.

It is an atmospheric, thoroughly researched and thought - over story that I absolutely enjoyed. I was captivated and invested and it really felt as if I was a part of the book's world - it was so well written. Karen Swan is always a jackpot and never disappoints.

My first Karen Swan book.

A slow burn between Darcy and Max. Darcy is a PhD student in art history. Her PhD work is interrupted when she is tasked with uncovering the identity - and story - of the subject of an uncovered portrait hidden within a famous artist’s masterpiece. I found myself surprisingly interested in this storyline and the “will they-won’t they” back and forth between her and Max was nicely done. I’d definitely read more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for the ARC.

Karen Swan delivers another poignant, entertaining, and well plotted story that talks about arts, grief, ambition, emotions.
There's a lot going on and I enjoyed this story even if the vet part was a bit too much for me.
Well done, recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Isn’t that cover just stunning? The book is set in Copenhagen and honestly, I now just want to get on a plane and head there to experience the Christmas markets, wander by the canals and experience the Danish Christmas traditions.

This is not your typical Christmas romance, although romance does play a part. Darcy is working on her PhD in art history in Copenhagen and her relationship has recently broken up. Her loved up friend Freja is determined that she won’t be on her own at Christmas and sets her up on a dating app, where Darcy has matched with three men. There’s a bit of a conflict of interest though when one of the three, Max, turns out to be a lawyer she will be in close contact with through her research project. Close contact of a different kind may be on both their minds but they agree to keep things strictly professional.

I found the storyline about Darcy’s research into the mysterious painting socompelling. I don’t know much about the art world really and it was so interesting to read about the techniques used when working with valuable paintings. I visited the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam earlier this year where the painting The Night Watch is currently undergoing a major restoration programme and the public can watch the process. Reading about the research and discovery of a hidden painting in this book put me in mind of that and was just fascinating.

All I Want for Christmas is a real page-turner of a book and Karen Swan had me glued to the pages throughout. I couldn’t wait to find out the story behind the hidden painting and I couldn’t wait to find out if Darcy would find her perfect match. Highly recommended for your Christmas reading list. Although actually, even though it’s set around Christmas time, I would say the main focus is on the mysterious artwork so if you can’t fit it in before Christmas, don’t be put off. You could easily enjoy this at any time of the year.

I loved everything about this book, the setting in Denmark is just such a wonderful place to set a book around winter time. The main characters were well developed and pull you into their worlds really easily. I liked the plot set around art, it gave the book a sense of the past and of something a bit special.
The author’s writing is always so engaging, capturing your interest and I always think the characters feel so real and alive, they could step right off the pages.
As a love story I enjoyed the tension created and there is not a book I haven’t loved by this author. A read which transports you to a country which provides a beautiful backdrop to a story of love and attraction and hidden secrets in the world of art.
Another perfect Christmas read by Karen Swan

Another great read from Karen. I enjoyed this one even though it wasn't very Christmassy. This being set in Denmark made it a little bit different from her others. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Karen Swan delivers another charming Christmas tale with All I Want for Christmas. Set in the magical, festive streets of Copenhagen, the story follows Darcy Cotterell, who is newly single and determined to focus on her PhD. But her friend Freja has other plans, pushing her to join a dating app. Amidst three first dates and a captivating art mystery, Darcy finds herself entangled in love, self-discovery, and festive wonder.

The novel's setting is richly atmospheric, bringing Copenhagen to life with its snowy streets and warm holiday traditions. The art-history subplot adds an intriguing layer, particularly as Darcy uncovers the secrets of a mysterious painting. Swan's characters are relatable and well-developed, especially Darcy and her relationships with those around her.

While the story delivers plenty of heartwarming moments and twists, alt ough sometimes predictable. Swan’s signature ability to balance romance, mystery, and personal growth makes this an engaging and cosy seasonal read.

A brilliant book by one of my favourite authors. What a delight to be able to read this book. The characters become Alive.

🎧 Audiobook Review🎧

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I want to thank Netgalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.

Karen Swans transports us to beautiful Denmark where the picturesque descriptions are enough to make anyone want to visit.

The tenuous relationship between Darcy and Max was entertaining. The sarcasm and banter was in full force and the forced proximity was excruciating but fun.

The mystery surrounding the painting was my favourite part. Seeing how Darcy set about discovering its origins gave me a new appreciation for the level of research that has to be conducted.

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

I love Karen Swan's books and this one did not fail to impress.

Darcy is a student in Denmark on secondment from university in London, studying her PhD. She is given the chance of a lifetime from her boss, to uncover the identity of a woman in a hidden portrait which is behind a picture owned by the state of Denmark,

At the same time, she is nearly single and has been challenged to find her new man on a dating app by her housemate, she has to pick 3 men and see what happens.

There are many challenges to her first two dates, but her third one, the lawyer, is non responsive. This now leads to her meeting him, and that lawyer is Max!

This is where work and her private life collides - Max is now part of both! She is having to be a detective to find the identity of her mystery lady but under certain parameters, she cannot study the archives anywhere other than the Foundation or Max's home... there are many consequences to this and you never know where the story will go!

The other men... well this is a romance, you know where that will go, but not the how, what, where..

The ending... oh my word, you never know what can happen when everything collides. The last chapter was beautiful! Will definitely recommend this to people...

When I started the book I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it. But a few chapters in and I found I was liking it more and more. I loved the connections from Darcy's research and present day. Darcy's character was very relateable.

Although the book was set over Christmas, I didn't find the book too Christmassy which I'm glad as the story line was great as it was. It was just the right amount

A great read for this time of year 😊

Darcy meets Max at a party, not realizing that she had 'met' him on a dating app. Soon her work is forcing them to spend more time together but he is keeping secrets and has his own agenda so what will happen when she finds out?

If you’re looking for a cozy wintery read that is more Christmas adjacent than outright Christmassy then this one might be for you.

The story follows main character Darcy as she navigates a shocking mystery uncovered in the Dutch art world while she also juggles her ailing love life which she’s trying to reignite in time for Christmas.

The mystery in the storyline is quite similar to the story in another of Karen’s books - The Paris Secret. The unfolding of all of Darcy’s detective work kept me guessing right until the end although I did have my suspicions!

The romantic storyline is very much an angsty enemies to lovers romance. The angst is heightened by what’s at stake with the paintings and the battle for ownership.

I’m a big fan of Karen’s writing. Especially how she manages to bring the settings so vividly into the story. This one is set mostly in Copenhagen and you can just really imagine it through her writing. I thought the characters were really well written, believable and realistic as well which made this a quite enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this title.

This was honestly quite an interesting read and the art history element along with the historical storyline and the romance between the main characters made this an enjoyable Christmas read

A Karen Swan book in time for Xmas is always a treat. The Copenhagen setting and the friendship between Darcy and Freja made this one pop for me, however the romance with the avoidant/gaslighting/love bombing Max was just not working for me. He was so unlikeable and contrary, the character just repulsed me and I spent the whole book hoping they wouldn't end up together. The art history element was out of my usual area of interest but it was well done so it felt like learning as well as enjoying the mystery at the centre of the book.

All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan @panmacmillan a NetGalley review. I can’t remember the what time I read a book by this author and hopefully I won’t leave it so long next time. Darcy and Max are entangled and thrown together when Darcy is asked to research a mystery painting, a painting steeped in family secrets. Max and Darcy are equally stubborn and focused, perhaps destined to clash but equally destined to ignite passion in one another. For me the story the characters are tangled in, with the mystery painting, is the best part of this book and in all honesty the characters did get on my nerves a bit, especially with their dithering will they won’t they relationship. That part of the book was predictable. It’s a beautifully written book as you would expect with this author, however it did take a while for this story to grab me and in parts I found it boring until the story got into the thick of revealing the paintings secrets, they things completely changed and I couldn’t put it down and when it did end, I felt it ended far to abruptly, reading the story one minute and the next page was the end! I even double checked that it was actually the end! Once the books gets going it’s a strong, interesting and intriguing read. As you would expect with @swannywrites it’s a very descriptive book, painting a vivid picture, igniting the imagination. Definitely worth a read and a read for anytime of the year, I would recomend to friends and family and give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is 99p on kindle at Amazon currently so definitely worth a purchase.

Smart is the new sexy.
Who would have thought that romance mixes so well with art history?
I loved all the discussions about fine art, paintings and history, and found the Danish setting refreshing. The book didn't have a real festive feel (to me) but the story undoubtedly takes place before Christmas. Karen Swan's books are always a joy to read and this one was no exception.