Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson!

When a heartbroken woman swaps her usual holiday plans for a trip to a quaint and picturesque village, she finds herself surrounded by warmth, charm, and unexpected connections. A Very Irish Christmas is a story of love, self-discovery, and the magic of new beginnings, all set against a beautiful holiday backdrop.

For fans of The Holiday, this book offers Hallmark vibes, a stunning setting, and a delightful cast of characters. The story is simple, sweet, and full of festive cheer. While I enjoyed it overall, I think the love triangle could have been avoided, which would have made the book even more enjoyable. Still, it’s a cozy and heartwarming addition to any holiday TBR!

Book Review: A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson

Rating: 2 Stars

So, I just finished A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson, and honestly, I’m feeling disappointed. I was really excited to dive into this one because who doesn’t love a cozy Christmas story that promises a sprinkle of romance and a dash of Irish charm? But alas, my hopes took a bit of a nosedive by the end.

Summary:
In this festive tale, we meet Cassie O'Hara, a New Yorker who decides to use her late grandmother’s inheritance for a month-long escape to a quaint Irish village. What she imagines as a cozy retreat filled with hearty meals and holiday cheer quickly turns into something else entirely. Instead of the picturesque cottage she dreamed of, she finds herself in a dusty old place with a stray dog that seems to have claimed her as its new best friend.

As if that wasn’t enough, Cassie gets caught up in a love triangle between two charming men: Charles, the suave English aristocrat with a massive estate, and Ryan, the rugged Irish handyman with an alluring accent and a mysterious past. As she helps Charles plan an event to save his family estate, she discovers secrets about her grandmother's life while navigating her budding feelings for both guys. With Christmas approaching and her return ticket looming over her head, Cassie must decide what truly matters—love or belonging.

My Thoughts:
Ugh, I really wanted to love this book. I mean, the setting is enchanting, and Cassie is a likable character who has some genuinely funny moments. The village life and the festive vibes made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside… until the ending hit me like a ton of bricks.

I was totally on board with the story right up until the author decided to go with the guy that Cassie had barely spent any time with! Seriously?! I hate love triangles for this exact reason. It felt so rushed and unsatisfying. After all that buildup with both Charles and Ryan, it just seemed unfair to pick the one that didn’t get nearly enough screen time.

So yeah, while it's not a bad book by any means, and I can totally appreciate the charm and humor throughout, that ending was such a letdown for me. It almost spoiled the whole experience. If you like feel-good stories with some festive flair, you might enjoy it more than I did. Just be prepared for a twist that might leave you shaking your head!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This is a delightfully cozy Christmas read. Cassie was left at the altar a few years ago and decides to take a Christmas trip for her self to England. Here she meets two eligible bachelors, both very different. I loved the English and Irish setting and the community feel of this book. There are fireplaces, cozy Irish pubs, blankets of snow, castles and the cutest little stray dog named Eegit. The romance is sweet. It is the perfect December read by the fireplace or under your heated blanket.

This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Cassie O’ Hara is still recovering from her failed wedding. After being dumped at the alter, she has spent the last three years of her life merely going through the motions. So when her beloved Nanny Nora passes away and leaves her with a nice inheritance, she decides to skip out on the holidays. Will her time abroad reignite her zest for life, or will it reveal family secrets that send her further into isolation?

My favorite feel-good Christmas movie is, The Holiday. I love everything about it including its premise, settings, and dual love stories. So when I saw, A Very Irish Christmas, advertised as The Holiday in book form,I knew I had to read it!

While this book is reminiscent of The Holiday, in that it shares a few plot points, it ultimately is very different. Debbie Johnson chose to center her story around one female protagonist, not two. The story is set in three locations; New York, an Irish town in the English Countryside, and Ireland. In addition, her protagonist, Cassie, quickly finds herself in a love triangle with Charles and Ryan, two very charming locals.

Overall, if you enjoy The Holiday, you will most likely enjoy A Very Irish Christmas. This is only the second book I have read from Debbie Johnson and I am learning she is a phenomenal author. Her books are filled with tons of heart, tackle tough subject matter, but leave you filled with hope.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Debbie Johnson for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this cozy and quick Christmas read!

Cassie, the main character, is not having the best few years between being left at the altar, being essentially demoted at her job, and the death of her grandmother. Cassie's grandmother left her a small fortune and Cassie decides to spend it on a month long vacation in December to a small English countryside town populated mainly by Irish people (her grandmother was Irish) for a change of scene and some self-discovery from her New York life. The town sounds so adorable that I wish I could personally visit it! Cassie was not prepared for the adventure that ensues between being booked at a cottage that was not ready for inhabitants, an adorable dog, and a love triangle, among other things.

This read was cute and fun, but a bit underdeveloped at times and hence why I gave it 4 stars, instead of 5. But definitely a worthwhile read and I would recommend to anyone wanting to add a quick holiday read to their rotation!

A complimentary ebook copy was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had so much fun with this book, I am near screaming that it ended.
Cassie hasn't been having a good year, or rather, a good few years since she was jilted at the altar. To avoid a terrible Christmas with her less then supportive mother and sister, she decides to book a month-long stay in England, staying in a cottage of a little village known as Little Ireland. While there, she runs into Ryan, the Irish playboy handyman, and Charles, the local aristocrat. Both MMCs are very interesting and different and it was so fun watching Cassie get to know them and learn their histories. The supporting cast is vibrant and full of life, I found myself torn between which man I wanted Cassie to end up with. I think this will be a yearly reread for the holiday season.

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, i found it a bit slow & repetitive. Not for me, sorry.

This was a great Christmassy read. I felt like I was transported overseas and it was truly an escape! Also, mad props to the author because this was one of the most well-done love triangles I’ve ever read. I couldn’t tell who the final love interest really would be (I just knew who I hoped it would be).

My only complaints were that it started too slowly for my liking and I felt that the love didn’t build enough. But overall, a great seasonal read!

Coming from an Irish background, it was a given that I’d be reading this book!

Debbie Johnson's *"A Very Irish Christmas"* is a heartwarming festive romance set in the picturesque English countryside. The story follows Cassie as she honors her late grandmother’s memory and seeks healing in a charming, snow-covered village in the Cotswolds, filled with holiday cheer.

The romantic subplot, involving Cassie’s dilemma between two suitors, adds a lighthearted element, though the connections with either didn’t feel particularly strong. Even so, the story’s cozy, uplifting atmosphere more than makes up for it.

With its blend of Irish humor, festive traditions, and gentle romance, Johnson delivers an easy, feel-good holiday read perfect for the season.

A Very Irish Christmas follows Cassie who, faced with suffering through another Christmas with her family, opts instead to use her inheritance from her recently deceased Irish Nanna to visit England. She plans on staying in a cozy cottage, but finds the rental in a state of disrepair. For her troubles, she is whisked away to owner Charles luxurious Manor House whilst Irish handyman Ryan fixes the place up as quick as he can. She is soon wrapped up in working with Charles to save the estate, and subsequently the village, and experienced more than just a holiday escape.

Honestly, I spent a large portion of the book confused - for a book called 'A Very Irish Christmas', she spends most of her time in England, though pretends she's Irish throughout (it was cringey, not charming?? Using words she's just learnt like she's native) and it's brimming with stereotypes. When she eventually goes, it's very much on a whim, and mostly for a man, not her Nanna. She frequently thinks of her closeness to her Nanna, but when someone offers to look into her family history and asks for her birthday, Cassie has to ask her Dad.

The book is described as a "laugh-out-loud romantic comedy full of Irish charm" but honestly, it was lacking in all of the above. Cassie stumbles into a love triangle with the first two men she meets, but it's clear from the off who she will choose. I would have preferred to actually explore the relationships more, more romance, dating, and pay off to root for either one of them, but especially the one she ends up with. As is typical for this genre, the supporting cast quickly rally around Cassie, doing everything and anything for her, just as she quickly fancies the men and essentially does her job for free on her holiday. Are we not allowed time off anymore? Or any sense of realism? There was minimal Christmassy atmosphere, though it was clearly aiming to be a one sided version of The Holiday, and I can't think of anything that was funny. Also the dog deserved better. It was an easy, mindless read and fans of basic hallmark stories will likely enjoy this. This may be a sign for me, after reading multiple standard Christmas romance books, that I want more than that for it to be anywhere above average for me, and I just wasn't getting the cosy, Christmassy vibes that I was hoping for. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Very Irish Christmas is a cozy holiday romance that is like a warm cup of hot cocoa. It’s gives The Holiday meets Eat Pray Love vibes. The charming Irish small town setting and healing journey the FMC goes through are very touching.

Thank you to net galley, storm publishing and the author for the e-arc.

A warm, inviting, feel good Christmas story. Cozy setting, enjoyable characters. I will say it isn’t quite my favorite holiday read this season, it served its purpose. It would be a good seasonal palette cleanser for sure!

Cute fun romance with a Christmas in Ireland twist. I really enjoyed the setting and found the characters and relationships very believable.

A fabulous cute and quick read that really hits all the feels and is the perfect cosy christmas read. I felt so sorry for Cassie after being let down on her wedding day (can you imagine!) and loved seeing her pick herself back up and find happiness (with the help of Ryan and Charles) and although I felt there wasn't much chemistry between Cassie and the men, I felt that the true love discovered was between Cassie and herself, which for me was beautiful given her circumstances.

Cassie’s very much loved nana Nora has passed away as her nana was Irish and used to live there before she moved to America Cassie decides to go to visit Ireland for a month.
Unfortunately her dreams of a cosy picturesque cottage in the village crumbles when she is faced with a draughty, dirty run down cottage that looks very much un lived in.
Will she turn and head back to America or will she be rescued by the villagers ?
Loved it

This book was wonderful. I loved the setting, the characters, even the animals. What a joy to follow Cassie on her journey to love and a new life in a new country. It was wonderful to see her rekindle her passion for her job as well as meet the supporting characters, especially Georgie who was a funny little thing.

Perfect mix of comedy and romance. Reminded me a lot of Christina Lauren. First of Debbie Johnson I’ve read.

I absolutely loved A Very Irish Christmas! There’s nothing better than a festive, feel-good read this time of year, and this book had everything I was hoping for. Cassie’s trip to a charming Irish village was full of humor, heart, and holiday magic.

The setting was perfect, even with the dusty, draughty cottage (or maybe because of it), and the romance was so fun to watch unfold. I loved the contrast between Charles, the polished aristocrat, and Ryan, the rugged, mysterious handyman. Ryan definitely stole the show for me—his chemistry with Cassie was spot on. And the little mystery around Nana Nora’s past added a sweet touch that tied everything together.

This was such a warm, cozy read, and I couldn’t put it down. If you love Christmas books as much as I do, you’ll definitely want to add this one to your list!

What a fun book!! This book was such a fun, sweet holiday read. The main character has had some bad luck and is trying to escape. She ends up in an Irish part of England and begins to heal from her past. Two men are vying for her attention and it's always in the back of your mind, which one will she pick? The side characters make this book come to life and the way they surround her with love and friendship is heartwarming. I highly recommend this book.