This is a truly glorious book by a very talented author, which in my mind contains two of life’s greatest pleasures, reading and chocolate.

Clara is suddenly jobless and feels like a life change at 40. A recent meeting with an online love interest sparks a move to Switzerland where her new beau is relocating for his work. As a goodbye from her firm they offer to fund a course and on seeing a chocolate making one in Switzerland Clara joins up. Finding the course is designed for professionals and not amateurs does not deter her and her spirit sees her through many challenges.

A well written and heartfelt book with some absolutely amazing descriptions of the chocolates that are tried and tested which made my mouth water. The characters in the book are vividly described and I loved the pluck of Clara, who kept going and supporting others when that wasn’t always reciprocated.

Highly recommend this as a Christmas read, the place sounds amazing and I would love to visit!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jo Thomas has this amazing knack of drawing you in with her first few sentences. I have travelled vicariously with her for many years, partaken of numerous different cuisines, as well as romances. All without leaving my sofa! I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of her books.

A Recipe for Christmas is no exception! Heartwarming....despite all the snow, as comforting as the raclette and the delicious hot chocolate frequently drunk by the characters and a will they/won't they/should they romance. What more could you want?

Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

What's not to love about a Jo Thomas book, you are always transported to the most lovely destinations wonderfully described. Great characters with a magical ending. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

It sounds absolutely idyllic moving to Switzerland with a new boyfriend and signing up to a chocolate making course but nothing turns out the way she expected, but along the way everything starts to fall into place and maybe this Christmas will turn out to be special. The characters are believable and mostly likeable but with a couple of rogue contenders. A perfect Christmas read.

I was gifted this book by the publishers as have previously read and enjoyed Jo Thomas’ books. I think this is my favourite yet because it’s not only a warm, romantic escape, but it’s based around a chocolate school in Switzerland - like a dream come true for me.
Clara has been working in HR forever, but when she’s offered redundancy at the same time her new boyfriend is offered a job in Geneva, she decides to throw caution to the wind and go with him. Here redundancy money will pay for some training so she enrols on a chocolate making course, which turns out to be for experienced chocolatiers. When the new boyfriend turns out to be a bit of a disappointment, Clara throws herself into the chocolate life. With the help of handsome master chocolatier Gabriel, can Clara turn into a real chocolate-maker, and rediscover herself?
Like a lovely mug of hot chocolate, this book is comforting and delicious. A Christmas treat, even if I did read it in September!
Thanks to NetGalley and to Transworld for the ARC.

What’s not to like? A book about chocolate and Christmas, just a perfect combination. I felt transported to Switzerland, with the snow, mountains, chocolate and more chocolate

Not a bad read. I found it a bit, almost twee. A romance story with recipes. Not original but can be fun, Fairly typical storyline, no surprises. I suspect I'm a bit out on a limb here as lots seem to love.
2.5/5 stars

Clara has a new boyfriend who got offered a new job in Switzerland so she decides to go with him and she enrolled in a chocolatiers course, unfortunately it is for experts not beginners and she is totally out of her depth and everyone laughs at her, but her relationship breaks down and friends are made in her class especially with Gabriel who is the countries finest chocolate maker.
A brilliant atmospheric romantic book, you just want to go there and eat lots of chocolate.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

If you are looking for a cute wholesome Christmas book then this is it! Really enjoyed it. Thanks for the early read Net Galley!

Cute little Christmas book all about chocolate. Clara decided to move to Switzerland with her new boyfriend and enroll in a chocolate class. I will say I skimmed more in the middle. Too many details for me to follow closely. But of course it’s a happy Christmas book with a happy ending.

This book is a delightful Christmas treat wrapped in charm and surprises. The author’s vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling made me feel right alongside Clara, blending festive magic with genuine, relatable moments. It’s a heartwarming read that captures the essence of finding joy and warmth even when things don’t go as planned. I loved and highly enjoyed reading it.

Loved this book, If you read just one Christmas book this year make it this one. The story is so heartwarming the characters are the sort of people you wished were your neighbours. It is one of those books you just don’t want to put down! I was sad to finish it. Chloe is a single mum trying to do right by her son but when he goes to New York for Xmas with his father her whole life changes. Theo the love interest is just the sort of man any woman would be glad to have in her life. An absolutely lovely story can’t praise it enough.

A very slow beginning to this story with lots of negativity which was rather off putting. Things began to improve once Clara began to establish herself on the chocolate course. She certainly found her feet there and helped her fellow course mates and their mentor sort out their lives in a pleasing ending.

A chocoholic’s dream! Clara decides to take a chance by moving to Switzerland with new boyfriend Daniel. She loves chocolate, so she’s gone to the right place for Lindt! She joins a residential chocolate-making course, hoping to become a chocolatier. But will she finish this professional course and is Daniel really the man for her? A book to make your mouth water, especially at Christmas!

Another fabulous Jo Thomas book. It should probably come with a box of Lindt truffles . A story of it never too late to follow your dreams. Set in a quaint Swiss village and chocolate school. Lots of nice twists, shows the value of friendship and carrying on when the odds are against you. Lots of yummy chocolate moments. I would happily gone on the research trip Jo Thomas mentions at the back of the book . Read it

This book is like a chocolate from a chocolatier, it's sweet, spicy and still has some snap to it, and will slowly melt your heart. I highly recommend to buy yourself a box of Lindt's chocolates before reading this book as the craving will be real. If you've ever watched the movie Chocolate with Johnny Depp you'll know why I'm saying this. Jo Thomas has written this book beautifully and I could almost smell and taste the aromas. I was gladly surprised when I realized that even though this is a Christmas romance it wasn't too cheesy (pun intended, you'll understand when you've read to book). Clara really grows in this book as does Gabriel and her colleges from the chocolate making class. This book was a chef's kiss a perfect Christmas read

This book was utterly wonderful from start to finish. It’s not often enough a plot is based around a woman of this age looking to finally begin the lift she’s been waiting for. It gives you hope and inspiration. The setting, the supporting characters, the plot were all absolutely perfect. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a long time. Thank you Netgalley

Wow Jo Thomas books have always been one of my all time favourites and A Recipe for Christmas certainly didn’t disappoint!
Reading and chocolate are two of my favourite things so I was in literary bliss reading this! The tantalising descriptions of the hot chocolate, the hand made chocolates and raclette and fondue made my mouth water and certainly added a festive feel!
Clara has moved to Switzerland with her very new boyfriend and enrolled in a chocolatiers course, totally out of her depth both in her relationship and chocolate making abilities we follow her on a voyage of self discovery and intense learning!
Along the way we meet some very diverse characters as they all compete against each other, favouritism, sabotage and subterfuge are rife.A fantastically festive read full of delectable Swiss chocolate, self growth, realisation and a spattering of romance!A great read to get you into the festive spirit would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

Following Clara’s journey to “find herself” and reading her opinions on life was enlightening. Having such a positive attitude, she just had to succeed! I loved the interaction between the students. A good read and good attention to the details of chocolate making. Only downside, I wanted chocolate and didn’t have any!!

Absolutely amazing. Had everything a festive read needs. Christmas, love, friendship and best of all chocolate. The way Jo has written this it's like you can picture everything. Definitely loved this.

Thank you Jo Thomas, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.