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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Jenny Colgan's new novel brings readers back to Edinburgh, to the Christmas bookshop and its spunky employee.
Carmen has had a busy year, with a film using the bookshop as a set and lots of changes in her personal life. Still living with her sister Sophia, Carmen's life is upended once again when Sophia announces her plan to return to work, and Carmen finds herself in search of new living quarters as a result. Add in a playful new manny for her nieces and nephews, a conniving millionaire trying to turn all the Victoria street shops into cheap souvenir stores, and the proprietor of the bookshop determined to set sail for Antarctica, and Carmen is busy indeed.
Colgan's fans will enjoy how Carmen and Oke's love story is continued since The Christmas Bookshop, as well as a parade of beloved characters. From the unusual but lovable Mr. McCredie to Oke's snake-studying roommate to Carmen's friends and hilarious family, the gang is back together all year long.
Carmen and her sister Sophia have a fun family dynamic, though they couldn't be more different. It's so lovely to see their relationship further healed and how they handle new challenges.
This is such a lovely, cozy Christmas book. Scenes full of softly falling snow, the dreamiest bookshop descriptions, and wonderful character work make for an engaging story that, though it has reasonable stakes, doesn't induce a lot of stress for readers.
This book is just a mug of hot chocolate, luscious and delicious and perfect for the holiday season.
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is available now. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I struggled with the first book in this series and the character’s immaturity towards her sister’s successes and unwillingness to take action after her workplace closed and she lost her job. She was aimless and the story dragged as a consequence but the character seems to have found her drive and some support and maybe even herself in this second installment. A big improvement and I’m glad I stuck around for this one.
This is a sequel to The Christmas Bookshop, even though they aren't listed that way. And, as always, I would recommend reading the books in order. Not only because this one will make more sense, but also because the first one is equally as entertaining!
Carmen is still working at McCredie's Bookshop and still living in her sister's basement. In traditional Jenny Colgan style, Carmen's life isn't so simple, but it is fun to read about! Carmen struggles harder than Mr. McCredie to keep the store open and profitable, while the villain of our story is trying to buy it to turn it into a tacky souvenir shop. Par for the course, Carmen's love life is a toss up, and relations with her sister are strained. But with adorable characters, an irresistible setting, and Ms. Colgan's signature quirky writing style, this is an enjoyable escape regardless of the season!
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Carmen is still working at McCredie's Bookshop and still living in her sister's basement. In traditional Jenny Colgan style, Carmen's life isn't so simple, but it is fun to read about! Carmen struggles harder than Mr. McCredie to keep the store open and profitable, while the villain of our story is trying to buy it to turn it into a tacky souvenir shop. Par for the course, Carmen's love life is a toss up, and relations with her sister are strained. But with adorable characters, an irresistible setting, and Ms. Colgan's signature quirky writing style, this is an enjoyable escape regardless of the season!
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3 stars, Cute Story
MIDNIGHT AT THE CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP
by Jenny Colgan
Carmen Hogan, the thirty-year-old woman with a Brazillian Quaker boyfriend named Oke managed McCredie's Bookshop at the foot of the castle in Edinburgh. McCredie is getting wooed by shyster Jackson McClockerty who wants to turn all of the quaint little shops into a mockery of cheap souvenirs. Carmen doesn't want to see that happen, so it falls to her to get McCredie's Bookshop in the black again.
She gives the okay for a kooky Christmas movie to be filmed there. She wants to reorganize the shop to encourage shoppers once they have entered.
The story would have been great for me if it were simply a story without the woke elements. I'll be happy when books go back to telling a story without all of that added in. You should be able to find books about it if you want it, but you should be able to find books without it if you want that as well.
..."His fat bum sticking out in the plaid"... That one is hilarious! So easy to picture.
..."She was short of leg and fat of tum"... The English put their words so eloquently. I like reading them.
..." When she was small, the idea of living in a bookshop would have been a dream come true"... This rings true with me. When I was a child, or even now at age 50!
I received a complimentary copy of #MidnightattheChristmasBookshop from #Avon #NetGalley #HarperVoyager #HarperCollinsPublishers I was under no obligation to post a review.
#Contemporary #Christmas #ReligiousExclamations #Woke #Diverse #JennyColgan #Edinburgh #Brazil #MentalIllness
MIDNIGHT AT THE CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP
by Jenny Colgan
Carmen Hogan, the thirty-year-old woman with a Brazillian Quaker boyfriend named Oke managed McCredie's Bookshop at the foot of the castle in Edinburgh. McCredie is getting wooed by shyster Jackson McClockerty who wants to turn all of the quaint little shops into a mockery of cheap souvenirs. Carmen doesn't want to see that happen, so it falls to her to get McCredie's Bookshop in the black again.
She gives the okay for a kooky Christmas movie to be filmed there. She wants to reorganize the shop to encourage shoppers once they have entered.
The story would have been great for me if it were simply a story without the woke elements. I'll be happy when books go back to telling a story without all of that added in. You should be able to find books about it if you want it, but you should be able to find books without it if you want that as well.
..."His fat bum sticking out in the plaid"... That one is hilarious! So easy to picture.
..."She was short of leg and fat of tum"... The English put their words so eloquently. I like reading them.
..." When she was small, the idea of living in a bookshop would have been a dream come true"... This rings true with me. When I was a child, or even now at age 50!
I received a complimentary copy of #MidnightattheChristmasBookshop from #Avon #NetGalley #HarperVoyager #HarperCollinsPublishers I was under no obligation to post a review.
#Contemporary #Christmas #ReligiousExclamations #Woke #Diverse #JennyColgan #Edinburgh #Brazil #MentalIllness
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
emotional
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Jenny Colgan has delivered another wonderful holiday novel with Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop. Carmen is at loose ends with her home, her love life, and her job. But bit by bit, over the course of a year, and with the help of family and friends both new and old, the scattered puzzle of her life gets reassembled. Although the lack of communication at the heart of the story was a bit frustrating, I loved the setting, the characters, and just about everything else about the novel. The Edinburgh of the novel may lack winter sunlight, but it is bright with the joy and warmth of both the holiday lights and the hearts of its residents. Sappy I know, but this is a Christmas romance after all.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
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:
Yes