Member Reviews
Gorgeous setting, an easy, cosy and heartwarming seasonal romance. It's one of those books you start reading and finish in a couple of sittings - at least I did! I would summarise as a perfect holiday read but it won't stay in my mind for too long, so 3.5 stars
An invitation a wedding brings a fractured friendship circle back together. All the friends have their own views in what went wrong and throw the brides ex into the mix means twists as you are reading this. A train ride across Canada brings opportunities for them to get to know each other again. Romance and friends at Christmas makes a very festive read. I will be finding some more of Isla Gordon's books to read.
This was a lovely story to read over the festive season and I really enjoyed it but I don't think it was my favourite from this author. It started off a little slow, the second half of the book was much better paced. I felt the characters were a little childish and I didn't connect with them as strong as what I would like but I did love the Christmas express train and the locations were beautiful.
Rating: 3.5⭐️
This book follows a group of ex-friends as they travel to a winter wedding in Canada. In an effort to try force them to make amends, the bride books them a surprise 4 day train journey across Canada, rather than flights. 4 days stuck together, forced to face their past friendships and romantic relationships.
Likes:
- I loved the snowy setting of the Canadian wilderness! It felt so festive, especially as they spent Christmas Day on the train.
- The author did a great job with visualisation. I could picture the scenes so clearly in my mind.
- I loved the concept of this book, all the drama and wondering if the friends can move past everything.
- Good LGBTQ representation
Dislikes:
- Information was too slowly revealed. It took over 50% of the book to really know any information at all about their fall out 5 years prior. It was hard to feel invested in the story when I knew so little about it for so long.
- Potentially too many characters. I would have preferred one or two less character, with more in depth backstories.
- I felt once all had been revealed that the story was a little weak, I was hoping for more from it.
Overall this was a fun festive read, but I just expected more from it as I loved the concept so much! A nice quick read though, you could definitely fit this in before the end of the year!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for a fair and full review.
This book had bucket loads of charm and magic. It brought the festive season alive to me. The different points of view is not something I find easy to read but this one I became invested in the characters lives made it readable.
Having received a wedding invite and the promise that travel is paid for, Cali and her once-upon-a-time besties can't refuse...can they?
This festive read is a little different to most of the others, there's less of a focus on the festivities and more the relationship and dynamics in a friendship group that has fallen apart. It took me a while to get into it but quite quickly I needed to know where the story was going to end up! It's an interesting look at how self-focussed people can be in disagreements, and the back drop of a Christmas in Canada is very enjoyable too!
It's an easy read with the chapters written from different characters viewpoints. It's not left me feeling ready for Christmas, but I think Canada is on my travel bucket list now!
Wow this was incredible! This was an entertaining and gripping story following the lives of five estranged friends travelling to their friends wedding. I absolutely loved getting to know the history behind why this friendship group was so broken and the dynamics as they travelled in close proximity to one another despite their refusals were extremely juicy. Isla does a fantastic job in setting up the scene and I had a really fun time in Canada, it sounded dreamy! Isla never fails and she will always hit the mark with a Christmas book, I can't wait for more!
An epic Christmas book that hooks you from the first few pages. Featuring a cross country Canada train journey, in the run up to Christmas. With breathtaking descriptions which were amazing. I wanted to take the journey myself.
Five estranged former friends, on their way to Bryn's wedding the sixth member of this friendship group. Curiosity around what broke up this group of friends runs throughout the book. I loved getting to know our various characters. The dynamics at play between everyone played out continually and the train journey stops and activities added to the story. A gorgeously festive book
4.25 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this eARC
I often complain that Christmas books aren’t Christmassy enough - but honestly this book has all the seasonal vibes. I came away from it feeling warm, fuzzy, happy, in the Christmas spirit - and desperate to go on a cross country train journey across Canada (seriously is it expensive? I wanna do it!). It’s a quick, easy read with great humour and a good plot I was desperate to come back to again and again - I would love this to be a film I could comfort watch every year.
I was so excited to read this book! And I am happy I did read it even thought, I have to be honest here, it’s not my favorite book by Isla Gordon. I had a hard time to be drawn to the main characters, I didn’t really « like » them but the story in itself is lovely and fun and the setting is so gorgeous and the writing style is good so all in all I enjoyed my read and I am giving it a « little » 4 stars.
The Christmas express is a great cosy festive read. It took me a little while to get used to the multi POVs but once I got into it I was hooked.
The majority of the story takes place on a train journey across Canada which is just a gorgeous setting and somehow fits perfectly for the characters. I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a cosy read over the Christmas period
What an epic Christmas book that was. I was hooked from the first few pages, and I couldn't get enough of it.
For it features a cross Canada train journey, in the run up to Christmas and the descriptions were just amazing. It almost made me want to take such a journey myself, but I'm not a huge fan of the cold!
And within this train you have five estranged former friends, on their way to Bryn's wedding who used to be the sixth member of their incredibly close friendship group. And they also found Bryn's ex, Ember on the journey too, who is adamant that Bryn has been sending her signals that they should get back together.
The whole time I was curious as to just what broke up this group of friends, and also to see if the forced proximity between them on a four day train journey would aid them or destroy them completely.
I loved getting to know our various characters especially Cali, and Ember. I felt for both of them, and they were our main focus points. The dynamics at play between everyone varied continually and I also loved the fact that the train journey allowed short stops in some of the places on the route, and also put on a few activities in the run up to Christmas.
It's a gorgeously festive book that I absolutely adored. Another complete and utter winner from Isla Gordon. I loved it.
Thank you to Sphere and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
3.5 stars ⭐
This was my first festive read of the season and it was a super fun, cosy one! The Christmas Express follows six ex-friends as they travel to a wedding in Canada after not talking for five years. They end up unexpectedly taking a Christmas train across Canada for four days where they are forced to be near eachother and hopefully resolve some of their past issues so they can move on and enjoy their friend's wedding.
I found this a really easy, enjoyable read. The setting was amazing and perfect for this time of year; now all I want to do is travel on a train across Canada! I really liked the multiple POV for the chapters, they were also nice and small which I always appreciate. The characters were likeable and fun, especially Ember and Cali.
I rated this 3.5 stars; it was a nice seasonal read but didn't blow me away. However, it was a good palate cleanser to get out of a reading slump and really got me in the festive spirit!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a wonderful christmas book, I enjoyed the story and also the atmosphere of being on the train going through snowy Canada. You can't beat a snowy train journey to get you in a festive mood.
There were quite a few characters involved in the story and you get a lot of different perspectives, which kept the pacing up. It's about 6 friends reuniting for a wedding, with a second chance romance. It is also LGBTQ+ friendly.
I like how Cali natters about her problems to random people around her. It's a fun character trait, I liked her the best. I am not a big fan of second-chance romance stories, but her and Luke are cute together.
Highly recommend this! Especially at this time of year.
I really enjoyed this book, so much so I want to go on a sleeper train.
I liked the concept of it and the characters were very well written and I liked them all, the description was just the right amount, i didn't feel there was any filler, I really liked this authors style of writing and look forward to the next.
Rating: 3.25 Stars
Firstly, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel follows Bryn, who invites a group of friends—who she hasn't spoken to in years due to a past falling out—to her Boxing Day wedding in Canada. She covers their flights, but doesn't tell them until they land in Toronto that they'll be traveling together by sleeper train to Vancouver for several days in the hopes of reconciling old tensions along the way.
It was an easy, quick read—perfect for picking up between heavier books. At first, I was a bit confused due to the amount of characters introduced all at once. I also found it frustrating that the reason behind their falling out was withheld until the later chapters, as I didn't feel the reasoning justified the wait.
I found the chapter lengths to be ideal—short enough to keep things moving but frequent enough to switch between characters' perspectives - maybe switching a little too quick though.
While it's not heavy on the Christmas themes, it's a great pre-Christmas read that gets you thinking about cozy season. Overall, it’s a warm, cozy, snowy, heartwarming story that's perfect for a quick escape.
I first want to thank the author Isla Gordon, the publishers @spherepublishers and @netgalley for allowing me to read an arc of this amazing book.
What a fabulous book!!! 6 ex-housemates, 1 ex-girlfriend, a wedding and a new love interest, oh and throw in a 4 day train ride. What could possibly go wrong? How about if I said out of the 6 ex-housemates (that now don't speak) you have 1 who is the bride to be, 1 brother and sister and 1 ex-couple. I'm not going to say anymore because it will spoil it but, I did not see the ending coming at all. I thought I had it all figured out too.
#TheChristmasExpress #islagordon #spherepublishing #NetGalley #ebook #bookreview
Six friends with questionable feelings to one another are invited to their best friends wedding in Vancouver. They havnt spoken in five long years after a spectacular bust up. They are travelling together across the beautiful winter wonderland of Canada by train, what could go wrong? Add to the mix the ex girlfriend of the bride who is also travelling to see 5e bride before the big day as she feels that there is still something between them.
Funny, heartwarming plot twisted with past hurts along the way this is a great books to hunker down with. Loved it.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
I enjoyed reading this fun story.
Bryn who is soon getting married, invites her ex-friends to her wedding in Canada. As they’ve not been in contact for a long time with each other, she wants them to fix what went wrong and become friends again. For them to do this, Bryn pays for them to reach Canada together. But not by plane, but for a Christmas train trip.
So, for four days they all will be together as the train goes through beautiful Christmas scenery like snowy mountains.
Theirs tension between Cali and Luke as they have to navigate their old feelings for each other, the brother and sister, Joss and Joe fight, yet Sara is feeling that she doesn’t belong there.
But that’s not all they have to contend with, also on the train is Ember, Bryn’s ex.
Then a snowstorm happens and the train is halted. The group then take the time to talk about what happened years ago and whether they’ll actually make the wedding.
A story of friendship, second chances and love.
I recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.
The premise of this book sounds so magical - a sleeper train in Canada at Christmas time? Sign me up. The setting doesn’t disappoint and it was really nice to read about Canada throughout the book.
That said, the rest of the book just didn’t gel with me. There are 6 POVs which is too many to build any connection with each character. The big reveal at the end wasn’t as big as I was expecting and fell a little flat personally.
I would recommend to people because they may appreciate multi POV - a lot of people do!