Book Review: The Christmas Dog Sitters by Lucy Mitchell

In The Christmas Dog Sitters, Lucy Mitchell crafts a heartwarming tale that perfectly captures the chaos and warmth of the holiday season. I found myself immediately drawn to Rachel, whose struggles—grief, heartbreak, and job loss—resonate deeply. The weight of her challenges set a poignant backdrop that contrasts beautifully with the festive setting.

Rachel’s unexpected dog-sitting adventure at her sister’s luxurious country house quickly spirals into a delightful mess. Managing the spirited spaniel, Humphrey, along with her quirky Grandpa Eric, added a humorous layer that kept me laughing. Mitchell's writing shines in these moments, blending comedy with genuine emotional depth as Rachel grapples with family dynamics and the ghosts of her past.

As Rachel navigates the complexities of her new responsibilities, I was captivated by her interactions with Ben, the handsome builder. Their connection felt authentic, rooted in shared experiences of loss and a desire for healing. The way their relationship unfolds against the backdrop of holiday preparations made me cheer for their happiness.

The quaint village setting, complete with a looming snowstorm, provided the perfect backdrop for a community coming together. I loved how Rachel’s journey transformed into a mission to bring joy to those around her, culminating in a heartwarming Christmas dinner that felt like the essence of the holiday spirit.

Overall, The Christmas Dog Sitters is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and heartfelt moments. Lucy Mitchell has crafted a story that’s not only about love and new beginnings but also about the strength found in community and family. It’s a perfect read for anyone looking to cozy

I love this time of year and the run up to Christmas, it’s the perfect time for a Christmas story and this one fitted the bill perfectly! It was heartwarming, funny, festive and i thoroughly enjoyed it!

There were so many wonderful characters in this story and maybe a few that i loved to hate too!! Humphrey was just amazing and i adored him but the one person who i loved more than anything was Grampa, he absolutely made the story!

The Christmas Dog Sitters was such an easy read and pulled me in straight away. It was so funny and sweet and heartwarming and with a slow burn and Christmassy and i loved everything about it…….

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Rachel isn’t having a good year so far after her boyfriend was cheating on her and then left her, she lost her best friend Olivia, she died in a car accident. Rachel hasn’t as yet overcome the grief for her friend. Not only that, she doesn’t have her job and is living in a flat where the ceiling leaks.

When her sister Maddie, who is married to Frank who has loads of money, but isn’t pleasant asks her to look after her spaniel Humphrey at the massive mansion in Surrey over Christmas, her Grandpa Eric is also sent to her to be looked after as well.

Rachel loved spending time with her Grandpa and Nana when she and her sister were young and she still does love her Grandpa. But now, with him and Humphrey to take care of, she’s not looking forward to receiving the check in from her overbearing mother in Spain via WhatsApp every day.

When they’re at the big house, Humphrey escapes whenever he gets the chance, but each time, he’s helping those that need it. Grandpa, after going to a dance falls in love.

Rachel, wonders why she’s been informed by Frank before they left for their holiday that the west wing isn’t to be opened up, and to stay in the mansion, not to go into the village.

I guessed some bits, and wanted to find out whether I was right as I continued to read.

The characters are all different, but some are relatable.

I highly recommend this book.

It is easy to fall in love with the combination of Christmas, dogs, and romance, which makes this a delightful Christmas story. Rachel and Ben are two main characters who have a lot of layers and are very real, both coming with their baggage, and yet they have their strength and their charm. It is a love story and the way their love story unfolds is quite interesting and entertaining. This story is a delightful and enjoyable read, and I encourage everyone to read it.

I want to thank Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was a super cozy Christmas read set in England. As someone who knows her time with her Grandfather is limited, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Her grandfather made me laugh a lot because he reminded me of my own, always looking to get up to something.

Without spoilers-The whole Frank storyline was wild and kept me guessing the whole book.

Rachel and Eric’s story was cute, I loved how organically they met and how he ended up being the contractor. It reminded me of a meet cute in a Hallmark movie but less cheesy lol The spice was an appropriate amount without being raunchy.

The DAMN DOG. Omg as a dog groomer I kept getting so mad at the Humphrey 😂 Someone get this dog a trainer! Once we figured out he was helping people I was less annoyed but omg at first I was so agitated by him bc he’s a bad boy 😂.

I recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun little read at Christmas!

I received a free copy of, The Christmas Dog Sitters, by Lucy Mitchell, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Rachel agreed to pet sit her sisters dog, but somehow she is caring for her very cranky Grandpa as we, since Rachel had no other plans for the holiday season she must plug on. This might be Rachel's worst Christmas ever, or it might turn out to be her best! A good Christmas book.

A lovely festive, comedy with a wonderful touch of romance. Filled with good cheer and bound to put a smile on your face this holiday season.

Rachel is struggling with the loss of her best friend and her rented flat. Her sister Maddie gives her a lifeline by asking her to stay at her and her husbands mansion to look after her spaniel Humphrey. She gets more than she bargains for when the whole village are hostile towards her. Loved this book

Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 - 3.5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Genre: Romance

Book Review
Overall, this was a cute and cozy holiday read, perfect for getting into the festive spirit. The characters, especially Rachel's Grandpa and the mischievous spaniel Humphrey, brought some fun and heartwarming moments that made me smile. I enjoyed how the story touched on themes of grief, healing, and second chances, set against the backdrop of a bustling village at Christmas.
While I loved the humor and the charming cast of characters, I found myself wanting a bit more romance. Rachel and Ben’s relationship had potential, but I wished it had been explored more deeply. Their moments together were sweet, but it felt like their connection could have been developed further, especially with the Christmas magic swirling around them.
Despite this, The Christmas Dog Sitters offers a lovely mix of festive cheer and emotional depth, with a cute dog playing a starring role! A light, fun read for the holiday season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC of The Christmas Dog Sitters.

I loved the holiday vibe of this book and the meddling family remembers. (Who didn't love Eric?) The Christmas Dog Sitters was a fun, quick read.

Rachel and Ben are so interesting together. Two strong and independent characters who have been through a lot
Rachel's character was so relatable. Suffering through grief, and some unhappy life situations, Rachel is still a kind hearted character.

Mitchell wrote a cute, Christmas romance and still touched on the topic of grief in a sensitive way.

What a joyous romp of a book! A smorgasbord of quirky characters from the expat matriarch controlling her family via WhatsApp and video calls from her sun lounger, to her "perfect" daughter Maddie, married to ex Hollywood actor turned business tycoon to her younger "disappointment" of a daughter left to look after her elderly grandfather for Christmas whilst dog sitting at Maddie's palatial country mansion. However,all is not as it seems in Maddie 's perfect world and chaos ensues when the Dogsitters take over gathering other miscreants en route including a tipsy auntie and sacked cleaner complete with baby. However the star of the book for me is Humphrey (aka Humph-Wee)the dog . He has magical powers which lead him to where he is most needed by the hapless humans around him. Thankfully he is also an accomplished escape artist and so can take off at will . I genuinely didn't want this book to end and would love a follow up !

This is a heartwarming festive comedy that explores themes of love, loss, and new beginnings. The story centers on unexpected connections, furry friends, and the magic of the holiday season, capturing the emotional journey of characters who find comfort and healing through companionship. Mitchell skillfully blends humor, warmth, and heartfelt moments, creating a cozy and uplifting atmosphere. The characters’ experiences of love, second chances, and personal growth resonate deeply with readers. Set against a festive backdrop, the novel is filled with delightful moments of connection and the joy of new beginnings. With its mix of humor, heart, and Christmas magic, this is a perfect holiday read. It's an inspiring tale that celebrates love, friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a feel-good story that captures the essence of the holiday season.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fun Christmas read. Humphrey the dog brought so much charm and added plenty of lighthearted adventures to the story. Rachel’s relationship with her grandpa was heartwarming and made me miss my own grandpa dearly. While the story leans more heavily on family drama than the romance, I still felt connected to the romantic elements and found myself rooting for the couple throughout. I hope Lucy writes books about Maddie and Layla in the future—I’d definitely pick them up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. When it rains, it pours, and sometimes everything happens seemingly all at once. And for our protagonist, it also coincides with the holidays. And in the typical Hallmark/Lifetime holiday movie way, she finds herself falling in love and finding hope after all.

Ohh, what isn't there to love about this!! There's the madcap adventures of a rebellious Grandpa and naughty Spaniel Humphrey, family dysfunction, mysteries of a forbidden West Wing, and a hunky builder thrown in for good measure too!
It made me laugh, and it made me cry as it also deals sensitively with loneliness and grief as Rachel navigates the putting back together after the loss of her best friend..festive happenings, discovery, friendship and love will find you as soon as you open up this treat of a book.

The reason I wanted to read this story was I'm a pet sitter and I got a kick out of the title and wanted to know how it would tie into the plot, it was cute and funny.
I really enjoyed the Christmas part of the story with Rachel showing what Christmas spirit is all about and helping those who needed help, even if it meant getting in trouble with her brother-in-law. I loved the clairvoyant dog Humphrey, who seem to know when someone was in trouble and would run to their rescue even if he was called a bad dog. He wasn't. I loved Grandpa Eric he was so funny and kind and reminded me of my dad who was sweet too. I absolutely loved, loved Aunt Bev who didn't listen to any of her noisy sisters advise and did what she thought was the right thing to do. I did like Rachel sister Maddie, first because she was the catalyst that help Rachel move on but also because she also didn't allow someone else to run her love life. And finally, I loved the funny and cute relationship that was developing between Ben and Rachel who started off on the wrong foot but finally found there way to each other and how their best friend Olivera finally got them together , so romantic.

The one part of the story that made me nuts was how Rachel's Mom and Aunt talked to Rachel, if ever someone talked to me like that I would have hung up on them. I know that they started part of the plot, but if they were left out of the rest of the story it would have been just find by me.

I want to Thank Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this terrific Christmas story.

A cosy Christmas romcom that follows Rachel who is saddened by the recent loss of her friend, that is asked to relocate to her Sister’s mansion for the holidays to look after her dog while she’s abroad.
Rachel and her hilarious Grandfather ‘go large’’, find love, bring the town together and reassess their lives through a series of events throughout the book.
Loved the relationship between the characters and character development.

I like this authors books as they write about relatable issues and real people within their books and the characters are engaging and the author always injects humour into their writing even when writing about serious or sensitive issues.

This was a heartwarming read about second chances and making new friends and navigating grief and difficult family relationships and love and loss.

Humphrey the dog really came into his own as well with his mischievous antics and loved the community feel of this story to a perfect pick me up and feel good read.

I would love a sequel to this to see how the characters lives and new ventures pan out.

This book didn't start well, infact I very almost DNF'd it. So glad I didn't. It was really good. A lot of characters and story threads to keep track of but it worked. Would love for it to be a series and know how life pans out.

Thank you NetGalley & Bloodhound Books for allowing me access to this e-book!
The Christmas Dog Sitters is a delightful holiday read that put a smile on my face! It deals with heartwarming moments balanced with the bittersweet realities of love and loss. The story follows Rachel, who is grappling with the loss of her best friend, a painful breakup, and a sudden job redundancy—all just as the holiday season looms. When her sister persuades her to dog-sit in a quaint Surrey village, Rachel finds herself not only looking after an energetic spaniel, Humphrey, but also her rebellious Grandpa Eric.
The story takes a romantic turn when Rachel meets Ben, a charming builder with a young daughter, who is also dealing with his own past losses. Their budding relationship, set against the backdrop of the festive season, is both tender and realistic, as they navigate their way through grief and healing.
I recommend it to anyone who wants to read a holiday romance with some really heartwarming moments!