Now, first up I do have to point out that Karen’s Christmas books aren’t full on festive fun and are normally just set at or around Christmas time - however the story could be set at any point in the year and it would still work. I found that this one did have a slightly more festive feel to it however, there was Christmas market and the chilliness that comes with Copenhagen…

What this is though is a historical art discovery, it grabs you in and leaves you wanting to know more about the woman in the painting, I did have a few guesses but I was surprised with how it turned out. All along we have the somewhat will they won’t they relationship with Max and Darcy, you can see the sparks flying every time they meet but for professional sake they decide to keep things platonic… for as long as they can anyway!

At first I didn’t want Darcy to end up with Max and was hoping that she’d fall for the Vet instead but that very swiftly changed, IYKYK! Max also seemed to change as we went through the book, he started to open up a little and I felt like Darcy was helping to unravel his layers in more ways than one!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, like I say, not really a Christmas book in my eyes but still a really good book, storyline and characters and one that I would recommend!

All I want for Christmas is een fijne roman om te lezen, met leuke personages en een goed verweven mysterie uit het verleden rondom een schilder en zijn werken.

British author Karen Swan writes contemporary feel-good novels at a fast pace. She publishes a new book every summer and winter. Another characteristic is that each novel is set in a different place in the world. Her latest novel is All I want for Christmas and is set in Denmark.

Darcy studies in Copenhagen, and for her graduation she goes to work at a museum that is planning an exhibition of the famous painter Trier. Discovering an unknown painting of a young woman gives Darcy a new assignment, in which she has to find out who that is in a relatively short time. The search for the unknown woman brings up an old secret.

The character Max has interests in the exhibition, but that only becomes clear later. There is an undeniable attraction between Darcy and Max, but there are too many factors at play, which means they keep circling each other for a long time.

The title All I want for Christmas suggests a Christmas story, but the Christmas element only plays a minor role. It is more like an indication of the time around which the story of Darcy and Max is interwoven.

The book is easy to read. Swan has a beautiful descriptive way of writing. Everything, characters and surroundings come to life while reading. The story has a good structure, but it goes slowly. As a reader you expect a bit more tension. But the interaction between Darcy and Max is well developed. The mystery from the past also has a good structure and keeps you captivated as a reader. In addition, the supporting character Freja is a sweet person and a perfect listener for Darcy's doubts. And the dates imposed by Freja on Darcy bring humor to the story.

All I want for Christmas is a nice novel to read, with nice characters and a well-woven mystery from the past surrounding a painter and his works.

Nothing kicks off the festive reading season quite like a new Karen Swan novel. I was utterly entralled with "All I Want For Christmas" and didn't want the story to end.

The backdrop for this festive treat is Copenhagen which I thought made the perfect Christmas destination. The main character, Darcy is currently finishing her art history PhD when best friend, Freja signs her up to an online dating app. Darcy reluctantly agrees to just three dates but looking for love is not her main focus when she is asked to research an unknown painting found hidden in the back of a well known masterpiece.

What I love about all of Karen Swan's novels is they are so much more than a romance story. There are layers of intrigue and mystery to unravel which makes for a satisfying read. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Darcy and Max. You could feel the sizzle of tension as they try to keep a professional relationship.

Overall this was great storytelling which kept me turning the pages. My thanks to Pan Macmillan for inviting me to read this book.

I love that Karen Swans Books are a great mix betweeen love story and solving a mysterious problem. I loved Darcy as she is just such a smart and sympathetic woman. The story with the mystery painting was very intriguing and took more than one unexpected turn. The location of Copenhagen at Christmas Time is wonderful. Definitely another great read!

It's no secret that I ADORE anything that Karen writes and even though it was probably July when Chlo slid into my inbox offering me her latest Christmas book, I wasn't mad about it ❤️
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Before I start, if you're looking for Hallmark Christmas, I don't think this is it. I don't think any of Karen's Christmas books tend to be - but that's why I like them. They're set at Christmas, there's definitely a seasonal feel, but I've said it before - Christmas just isn't rammed down your throat which personally, is a good thing.
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All I Want for Christmas follows Darcy, an art historian who is on a study year in Copenhagen to write her thesis. She ends up being parachuted in to help when a portrait is discovered on the back of a framed, 100 year old, exceptionally famous painting. With her knowledge, she's the person to unravel the mystery of the painting.
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But of course - this isn't a book simply about a mysterious painting! It's also a book about a strong, single woman who swipes right on three guys on a dating app! The path to true love never runs smoothly....especially in a Karen Swan novel!
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I loved it, in case you couldn't tell. It's cosy. It's got what Karen does best - a strong female lead. It's got friendship. It's got 3 hot guys in it, 2 situationships and one that doesn't quite make it. It's got the happy ending that you know you're going to get.
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For me - this is the perfect read to be getting into now - a bit of a warm up to the influx of festive reads. I'm a fan!

Another lovely book by Karen Swan. Her books always contain far more depth than a typical romantic / chick-lit type novel. Great characters and whilst somewhat predictable, this was a great read.

A nice read, not one of my favourites by Karen though, i found the art references too much at times, it’s didn’t feel as Christmasy as her books usually do, maybe just the way I am feeling, I still enjoyed it though. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for tho early copy.

As always with this author this is a beautifully written book featuring a love story, the joys and sorrows of Christmas and in this book an outstanding amount of interesting information about the art world.

Darcy has moved to Copenhagen for her art thesis and together with flatmate Freya is searching for a suitable partner. An exclusive dating app provides 3 matches, one of which is handsome Max, with whom she enjoys a love hate relationship that features throughout the book.

The story flows throughout so easily and I enjoyed the descriptions of how Darcy was investigating the origins of a painting and how the discoveries had an impact on both her relationship with Max and her completion of her thesis.

Lovely writing and a highly recommended read.

This was not my cup of tea, the art references seemed to go on forever and although I like art I don't understand all the jargon, I am sure it was well researched but I got so bogged down with it all I didn't finish it as I put it down and didn't pick it back up with is a clear indication I was not enjoying it, i am sure there are people out there who will love it and for the author I am glad.

Sorry not for me.

A cosy Christmas romance with a dash of Danish art history - I really loved this story, it has so much more than your usual festive read. The Danish artist storyline and the links to Lilja was absorbing, and I possibly enjoyed this part more than the modern romance between Darcy and Max. Her failed online dates added a touch of humour too. I just loved it and would highly recommend!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

4.5⭐️

This is a Christmas read like no other. It has everything to sustain interest from start to finish. From the contemporary and Christmas vibes to the delve into history and the art world, this was interesting and engaging.

It follows the story of Darcy, a PhD student, who is tasked with finding the identity of a painting found at the back of a lost masterpiece.

I loved the idea of the story within the story and must confess that I was more vested in Lilja’s story.
I enjoyed the contemporary narrative too- the foray into online dating, the office politics and the politics that goes on around art, masterpieces and artists.

I loved Darcy’s enthusiasm and her commitment to her work and trade. I enjoyed her encounters with Max and how in the face of it all she was able to give a voice to the defenceless.

I loved how the author balanced the past with the present. There was a gentle easing into history but it was engaging, thrilling and had edge of the seat moments.

It was a beautiful story with great storytelling and wonderful characters all through. The Danish setting gives an authentic Christmas feel to the book.

But I felt the ending was quite rushed, given the word building from the start. I would have loved to read more about Max and Darcy.

If you enjoy office romance with some slight enemies to lovers then you will enjoy this.

It is the perfect escapist romantic mystery to get you in the festive mood. Darcy is a PhD student finalising her studies on secondment in Denmark. Her exceptional research skills allow her to research a recently discovered painting, which proves to be life-changing. As Darcy is between relationships, her best friend persuades her to sign up for a high-profile dating site and pick three matches. Darcy's dating experience becomes tangled with her professional research and takes her on a devastating emotional journey full of heartbreak, passion and self-realisation. It is a complex story with a fascinating art history setting. The romance is glamorous, and the emotional journey Darcy experiences is immersive. I like the art history, the mystery, the festive Danish setting and the romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

4.5 stars
I always look forward to a new Karen Swan read and this will look great amongst my collection of her books on the shelf. Thanks to Chloe
All I Want For Christmas has it all: a complicated chemistry, an intriguing mystery, beautiful Denmark at wintertime as the perfect setting and a gorgeous love story of course.
I found the mystery behind the painting so fascinating- the lives untold have such a great story. Seeing the mystery unravel through Darcy’s eyes as she started to realise what she’d discovered was captivating. Her tenacious approach despite the obvious and very attractive distraction was to be admired

I love Karen Swan’s books and All I Want For Christmas didn’t disappoint! I loved the characters and the Christmassy setting in Denmark. The relationship between the characters was a moving and interesting development across the novel. Would highly recommend this book as a Christmas read. Thank you to Net Galley and Pan MacMillian for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

A very good book which had a bit of a mystery about it also romance.

Darcy is told to investigate a portrait of a woman that is discovered who is she and why was it hidden away. She meets Max who is a lawyer and the company he works for has a vested interest in the portrait. Darcy and Max have a connection but decide to keep it professional. Will Darcy discover who is the woman on the painting and the story behind it all.

I enjoyed the investigation of the portrait and how they went about it all it was interesting.

I could not put the book down and wanted to see if they found out and whether there would be a happy ending.

Karen Swan is a go to author for me. I love that her stories are more than just a romance. In this case I didn't connect with the secondary art history storyline that well but the setting more than made up for it. I loved the vivid descriptions of the St Lucia kayak parade, Christmas markets and tourist sights, having been to Copenhagen last Christmas. I also really took to both Darcy and Max, even if did I want to shake Darcy a few times. But if the romance had been smooth and happily ever after then the book would have been far too short. So, not my favourite by this author but another great and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Darcy is studying for her PhD in Copenhagen, and is tasked with discovering the identity of a mysterious woman whose image has been found under a masterpiece by a great Danish artist. Can she solve the mystery into he timescale she has been given by her boss, and can she find a way to work with the difficult Max?

The title suggests a book about Christmas, however the time of year felt very incidental to me - the book could have been set any any time of year, Christmas felt like an add on, and as such then title didn't fit the story for me. It was well-written and the art world was well researched, but it felt a bit long in places. Overall, a pleasant enough book, but it wasn't really for me.

Karen’s Christmas book, which is not entirely about Christmas, though the incidental descriptions of Copenhagen at that time of year are wonderful and so well portrayed.. It is mystery within the Art world, a painting of a mysterious woman on the back of a painting by the most famous local artist. There are warring factions collaborating with resources from the Museum and a local wealthy family who have amassed their own Foundation, because of a connection..Both would like to own the original painting. Into the mix comes Darcy, a British researcher finishing her PhD thesis attached to the Museum, who is tasked with finding the identity of the newly discovered woman. It is an intelligent novel which kept me enthralled. Of course there is romance, beautifully told between Darcy and Max from the Foundation, very ‘’will they, won’t they!’ I thought it was wonderful

I loved this book. I have struggled to engage with a couple of Karen Swan's summer books in recent years so I was interested to see whether this Christmas one still had her usual magic. Reviews are down to personal experience so I recognise that many, if not most, Karen Swan fans will adore every book she's ever written.

I loved this book. Despite reading it long before I even thought about decorating a tree or wrapping a present, I felt Christmassy and didn't want to be interrupted when reading it. I will definitely be rereading it when it's mid-December.

I recommend this to Karen Swan fans and anyone who loves a Christmas story that leaves the reader feeling warm and happy. A great festive read.

If you want a mox of modern Christmas fiction and historical happenings then this is the book for you - along with the gorgeous setting of Copenhagen this is an ideal Christmas story.