Scan barcode
franticfreya's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Grief and Alcohol
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lizaxwin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Oh, I so loved this book and the characters. The setting is perfect and even though I kinda anticipated the ending, it was still great. Big thumbs up for all the plot strings getting nice closure and the character development. Also, some scenes really brought me to tears and my heart sped up a little bit at the romantic parts. Really great writing! Can‘t wait for more works by Emily Bell and I really want to go to Dublin now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thank you, Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing, for sending this book in a welcome pack in exchange for an honest review.
This book is based on Norah Jones she is alone again for Christmas and whilst she is trying to get through the busy high streets of London, she hears the first notes of a busker’s song that transports her back to the most romantic week of her life. She was laughing under an Italian sky, knowing she had to leave her Irish lover, Andrew. Who made her a promise if they are both single on Christmas Eve in ten years' time, they will meet under the clock on Grafton Street, Dublin. Norah has no idea if Andrew will remember, but she has nothing to lose. So that’s where she decides to go. To Dublin. To that clock, hoping for a Christmas miracle with Andrew.
I liked Norah as a character, and I think this book is a really good read with her personal journey of grief and how it feels to lose a parent and how it can be even more difficult at Christmas. I wished it was just her personal journey. Ngl, I was getting weird vibes from Andrew from the beginning. Joe is the definition of if he wants to, he will sort of lad, where Andrew just kept her on a string I wanted to snap. For this being a festive novel, there wasn’t a lot of festiveness in it. I wanted more, I wanted to feel like I was in cold Dublin, but I just felt it was lacking. I know the whole book was based on Norah and Andrew’s relationship, but I would have loved for that to end in the middle of the book and have more of Joe and a slow burn, friends to lovers and it just wasn’t there.
Overall, this book was a nice read, will I remember about it next year? Probably not, but it was an easy read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
tbrinthestars's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
emmajacksonc's review
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
aakas's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
amys_hygge_reads's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
‘It’s funny isn’t it, how we agonize over these supposedly big choices we have to make that actually make no difference in the end. But the little decisions – that seemingly mean nothing – they can change everything.’
Main character Norah is a likeable music teacher in London. She has no plan for Christmas, until she remembers a plan she made with Andrew during a young holiday romance – to meet in 10 years time on Christmas Eve in Dublin. So off she heads to Dublin… with one of her best friends Joe. Will Andrew turn up? And what exactly is Norah looking for in her life?
The story alternates between present day, the week leading up to Christmas, and some important moments in her life during the past ten years. She explores aspects of love, friendship, career choices, family, grief and life!
I absolutely loved all the Irish and London references – made the story very relatable. Even if some of them were not completely accurate!
Think Hallmark channel Christmas movie but as a book. Perfect light-hearted book to get you in the festive mood. Finished this on Christmas day and it gave me the warm Christmas feelings I was after!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
jacqui_l's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
annikareads_'s review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
More...