I received a copy of this book by NetGalley for a honest review. This is Book 4 of the Micklewick Bay series, which I was unaware of going into it. I noticed multiple times that there seemed to be a backstory with many of the characters that I didn’t understand. It made much more sense when I realized this is a series.

This book features Florrie and Ed during the Christmas season. There is romance, friendship, mystery, and the Christmas spirit all wrapped up in one book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was able to understand the dynamics of the other characters better. Overall, a cute read.

We are back in Micklewick Bay for a festive instalment to this wonderful series. This story is focused back on Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte the beating heart of The Happy Hearts Bookshop. Even in the festive season can they stop anything bad happening!?

Oh my I loved this massive hug of a book. It’s just what I needed and no I don’t think it’s early to read a book set in December. That’s because Eliza has a way of getting you to enjoy her characters, plot and settings no matter the time of the year 🥰❄️

I love Florrie and Ed and have from the very beginning of the series I love them individually and as a couple running a bookshop. A book set around books, what more can you ask for!?

I am really wanting more instalments to come from Eliza that is set in Micklewick Bay. It’s just a magical place I want to live in I want to be best friends with Florrie, Maggie, Stella and Lark of course I do! 💖

If you want a festive book full of friendship, a little mystery and a ton of love, then this is the book for you 🥰

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was a real treat of a book to read it was so cute and cosy, a perfect festive read. I loved the characters, and the small town setting. I didn’t realise this was the fourth book in the series but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book. I adored the setting and descriptions I wanted to visit this little bookshop and the splendours nearby.

This was, unfortunately, part of a series however this was not clearly indicated on NetGalley. The book was very much my idea of a middle aged cutesy cringe and I hated every second of it. I found it boring, the characters unlikeable, the relationship poor, and the 'mystery' anything but mysterious. Throughout the book, I earmarked various descriptions as nauseating, for example: "Well, she’s pretty special; beautiful on the inside as well as the outside, bright as a button, too. Oh, and did I mention she’s one of the most kind-hearted people I’ve ever met?’". There was an extreme amount of exposition, and frequently restating things we've just covered. Also, can we stop having parents with cancer without a trigger wanting for the love of god. I'd recommend you drink every time they mention the "Happy Christmas Memories Project" to get through it. It's exceptionally bland and I regret signing up for it (and wish I DNFed but I'm a glutton for punishment it seems) as it wasn't at all what I expected. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A sweet little Christmas novel to get swept up in.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott, a lovely, heartwarming holiday novel.

This is a lovely quick paced festive read, with likeable characters and beautiful settings, 3 stars from me🌟🌟🌟

I normally love a festive romance novel, but this one didn’t hold my interest unfortunately. I can’t put my finger on why either. I think this genre is such a saturated market now compared to say a decade ago, that we as readers can afford to be picky. If one doesn’t float your boat, you can DNF and find another one and the same genre. That’s exactly what I’ve done here, sadly. I’m very aware that just because this wasn’t my cup of tea that doesn’t mean it won’t be someone else’s favourite read of the season, but personally I was bored by this one. Even the bookshop setting, which is what I loved about the first novel in this series, couldn’t hold my interest this time around. Not for me and I wouldn’t recommend. DNFd at 33%.

While I loved the cozy atmosphere and was intrigued by the storyline surrounding the bookshop itself, I struggled to fully connect with the book. It felt like the plot lacked a sense of forward momentum, leaving me waiting for a big, exciting moment that never quite arrived. This may partly be because I haven’t read the earlier books in the series; without that backstory, I found it harder to connect with the characters and their relationships.

That said, for fans of the series or readers who are looking for an easy, festive read without too much drama, this book might hit all the right notes. Despite my reservations, I appreciated the charming setting and holiday vibes that made it a pleasant, if not wholly gripping, read.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book. For me, it was sweet and cozy, but it didn’t quite hold my attention as much as I’d hoped.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

What a wonderfully magical book. I read the first one in the series beforehand and thoroughly enjoyed it. The second one in the series was no different. It was fab, reading about Florrie and Ed’s story. I hope there’s more to come, this time about the other girls in their lovely friendship group!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. This is book four in the series but can be read on its own. I didn't know about the others until I went to review it and now that I do know, I don't feel like I missed out on much without them.

This is a magical book with lovable characters. You are on a journey of love, sadness and regrets but you have an ending that makes you smile and tugs at your heart. You will be glad to read this book.

I came into this book having not read the first “Little Bookshop By the Sea.” I consider these types of small town stories to be a genre of their own. I tend to enjoy them, even if slightly (or very) cheesy. But the dialogue just didn’t do it for me. It was juvenile, and reminded me an elementary student trying to write dialogue. If I was capable of DNFing a book, I would have.

ok, though the plot follows a well worn formula which is fairly usual for this sort of book. Problems with family and townspeople and not communicating about things. Set in a fictional part of North Yorkshire, the use of local dialect became irritating (and I am from Yorkshire) . The christmas element is a large part of the story. I liked the good friends part and the bookshop, the local criminal did not come across as particularly believable. Light, entertaining read .
Thanks to NET galley for the ARC

This book had so much festive cheer it made me so excited for whats to come. The concept of a happy Christmas memory project is so fun that I may pinch it and start one with my husband and kids, I love the idea of a festive countdown of activities we can do together. Set in a bookshop with multiple author events I was in my element with content, the characters were loveable (mostly) and had a warmth that small communities often give.

This is a cozy, heartwarming Christmas story with lots of friends, family and love. Eliza J. Scott captures the setting in a very descriptive way. Overall an enjoyable read. Thanks #NetGalley

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. It is a delightful story of romance and intrigue. The friendships feel genuine and completely real. I particularly enjoyed the Making Christmas memories project. A lovely Christmas read..

It was a sweet christmas read and the beautiful thought and emotions embedded throught the book especially the project as me swoon!! The bond shared between the friends and family was delightful!
A perfect christmas read 😁⭐

This was a pretty cute Christmas read. However, I have not read any of the other books in the series. I think I would have enjoyed it more and rated it higher had I connected more with the characters. I loved the thought and excitement Florrie put into creating a memorable Christmas for her love, Ed, who had missed out on this during childhood. The drama and tension didn’t add as much excitement to the book as I would have hoped. I think it’s a cute addition to a series, I just made the mistake of not reading the rest of the series first.

I was gifted a copy of this book from NetGalley, but all opinions expressed are my own.

Set in the seaside town of Middlewick Bay, Florrie and Ed own Happy Hartes Bookshop. After a mysterious phone call in the middle of the night, from Ed's father, followed by Ed acting strangely, and the notorious Dodgy Dick causing trouble for them both, Florrie starts to worry about her relationship and the future of the bookshop.

A quaint and heartwarming cozy tale, full of mystery, light romance, family and friends, and a lot of snow, Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea is a must read for the festive season.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest review