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sarahthereadingaddict's review
5.0
I loved this book from start to finish
I really liked Bella, she had such a lovely connection with the kids in her class. Even when she has the shock of her life her teaching and general loveliness doesn't change.
This is such a heartwarming story. Freddy and Bella delivering gifts was so cute, despite the mishap half way through the deliveries. There friendship was adorable.
I am a total sucker for romance and I welled up at the end of this story. Absolutely loved it.
I really liked Bella, she had such a lovely connection with the kids in her class. Even when she has the shock of her life her teaching and general loveliness doesn't change.
This is such a heartwarming story. Freddy and Bella delivering gifts was so cute, despite the mishap half way through the deliveries. There friendship was adorable.
I am a total sucker for romance and I welled up at the end of this story. Absolutely loved it.
kariniwonderland's review
5.0
The Perfect Christmas Gift is the perfect Christmas read. See what I did there? ;) Charming, hopeful, funny and heartwarming. I highly recommend it!
I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.
emmascr's review
4.0
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to HQ for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. This is the first book I have read by Katie. I asked to be part of this tour because I loved the Christmassy cover. I am well and truly on the Christmas book train now.
Bella Moore is the loveliest woman I have ever met. Bella has such a big heart and I think everyone was right when they said she was too good for Evan. They really didn't seem well matched to me. I loved Bella’s family and their enthusiasm for Christmas.I think Christmas is such a magical time of year. I love how everyone is in such a good mood. Bella would do absolutely anything for anyone. She really is one of a kind.
Nick, oh he is so much more than the guy next door. This man is a rugged landscaper who has somehow kept it together for the last 6 months. Not only did he have his broken heart to think about also little Freddie’s. This man is far too good for Paige and definitely deserves more.
Freddie stole my heart in this book. He is such a sweet kid. He thinks about others before himself and is a very forgiving child. He really tugged on my heartstrings.
I loved the village of Meadowbank. I love it when a community all rallied around each other. It was so lovely to see them all getting involved in the Giving Tree. I understand this isn’t the first book set in this village, I’m definitely going to be finding the other one as I really loved this community.
Katie has woven a wonderful story here of not only love but also about the true spirit of Christmas. It’s not all about what we receive but about the simple act of giving. I think this book really encapsulates the true meaning of Christmas and reminds us to enjoy the simple things.
Bella Moore is the loveliest woman I have ever met. Bella has such a big heart and I think everyone was right when they said she was too good for Evan. They really didn't seem well matched to me. I loved Bella’s family and their enthusiasm for Christmas.I think Christmas is such a magical time of year. I love how everyone is in such a good mood. Bella would do absolutely anything for anyone. She really is one of a kind.
Nick, oh he is so much more than the guy next door. This man is a rugged landscaper who has somehow kept it together for the last 6 months. Not only did he have his broken heart to think about also little Freddie’s. This man is far too good for Paige and definitely deserves more.
Freddie stole my heart in this book. He is such a sweet kid. He thinks about others before himself and is a very forgiving child. He really tugged on my heartstrings.
I loved the village of Meadowbank. I love it when a community all rallied around each other. It was so lovely to see them all getting involved in the Giving Tree. I understand this isn’t the first book set in this village, I’m definitely going to be finding the other one as I really loved this community.
Katie has woven a wonderful story here of not only love but also about the true spirit of Christmas. It’s not all about what we receive but about the simple act of giving. I think this book really encapsulates the true meaning of Christmas and reminds us to enjoy the simple things.
jo_bookworm's review
4.0
Bella’s Christmas’s are always special, she loves the build up and the time she gets to spend with those she loves, her boyfriend, her family and her friends. Except this Christmas is going to be very different.
Bella returns home to find a suitcase and her boyfriends trying to leave without telling her. Bella is heartbroken and wonders how this Christmas can be at all special when she feels so desolate.
Bella’s next door neighbour is Nick, single father to Freddie a boy at the school where Bella teaches. He has not really got to grips with managing life as a single father but is determined to put his son first when he is subjected to bullying at school.
When Bella comes up with the wonderful idea of a giving tree, so everyone gets some Christmas joy throughout the village she starts to see a future. Her interactions with Nick become more frequent and she find him very much different to her ex boyfriend. Add into the mix, the festive season, the snow falling and the expectation of what is to come and it all seems plain sailing.
Until a ghost of the past returns and it looks like Bella is back to square one and facing a very different Christmas than the one she hoped for.
This is a wonderful tale, it embraces the joy of giving, of being with family (no matter how mad!) and of enjoying a white Christmas from the comfort of your own home. Added to that was the wonderful picture that the author created with a lot of the book set in a village school, where the children are such vibrant little characters that you can’t help but laugh and enjoy their innocence.
A book to warm your heart and not afraid to shy away from tackling some not so warming subjects. Handled with care, makes this a wonderful book to escape in this Christmas.
Bella returns home to find a suitcase and her boyfriends trying to leave without telling her. Bella is heartbroken and wonders how this Christmas can be at all special when she feels so desolate.
Bella’s next door neighbour is Nick, single father to Freddie a boy at the school where Bella teaches. He has not really got to grips with managing life as a single father but is determined to put his son first when he is subjected to bullying at school.
When Bella comes up with the wonderful idea of a giving tree, so everyone gets some Christmas joy throughout the village she starts to see a future. Her interactions with Nick become more frequent and she find him very much different to her ex boyfriend. Add into the mix, the festive season, the snow falling and the expectation of what is to come and it all seems plain sailing.
Until a ghost of the past returns and it looks like Bella is back to square one and facing a very different Christmas than the one she hoped for.
This is a wonderful tale, it embraces the joy of giving, of being with family (no matter how mad!) and of enjoying a white Christmas from the comfort of your own home. Added to that was the wonderful picture that the author created with a lot of the book set in a village school, where the children are such vibrant little characters that you can’t help but laugh and enjoy their innocence.
A book to warm your heart and not afraid to shy away from tackling some not so warming subjects. Handled with care, makes this a wonderful book to escape in this Christmas.
aurigae's review
3.0
Bella, a schoolteacher, is left by her boyfriend just before Christmas. Her neighbor, Nick, was left by his wife six months ago. Bella and Nick are brought together by a social problem Nick's son is facing in school as well as a charity project Bella embarks on after her breakup, and they soon find themselves falling in love.
This book has a lot going for it: two wronged main characters; a holiday project that brings a whole village together; even a comical antagonist in the father of Nick's son's bully. But there just weren't enough sparks for my taste. Not only sparks in the romance between Nick and Bella (they appeared to have minimal physical chemistry, and it wasn't clear what drew them together aside from mutual niceness), but any sort of fire in any of the conflicts. Nick and the bully's father have one and only one argument. When Nick's ex tries to win him back (after abandoning him and her son for months), their conversation doesn't even qualify as an argument. Bella's parents and sister, who are meant to be jolly and wisecracking and a bit odd, are relegated to the background. Even Bella's own personality - her anger at her ex, her desire for marriage and possibly children - is muted.
For all that, it's an enjoyable read. If you like Christmassy romance, in a British village, with no edge, it may be right up your alley.
This book has a lot going for it: two wronged main characters; a holiday project that brings a whole village together; even a comical antagonist in the father of Nick's son's bully. But there just weren't enough sparks for my taste. Not only sparks in the romance between Nick and Bella (they appeared to have minimal physical chemistry, and it wasn't clear what drew them together aside from mutual niceness), but any sort of fire in any of the conflicts. Nick and the bully's father have one and only one argument. When Nick's ex tries to win him back (after abandoning him and her son for months), their conversation doesn't even qualify as an argument. Bella's parents and sister, who are meant to be jolly and wisecracking and a bit odd, are relegated to the background. Even Bella's own personality - her anger at her ex, her desire for marriage and possibly children - is muted.
For all that, it's an enjoyable read. If you like Christmassy romance, in a British village, with no edge, it may be right up your alley.
kitvaria_sarene's review
5.0
The Perfect Christmas Gift was a wonderful heartwarming winter romance, which I closed with a big smile on my face.
The biggest plus points for me was the main characters acting like adults, and not like hormonal teens. They take other people's feelings into consideration instead of just going into a sulk, or produce drama out of nowhere. I really enjoyed spending time with them, and would love to be a neighbour of theirs!
The romance is a nice slow build and intertwines well with secondary plots. The whole village is kind of a character on it's own, and I loved how they all came together to help each other out. The whole idea of helping for the sake of making someone happy, without getting any reward or glory was well done. It just felt cozy and compassionate instead of like a moral hammered in.
It is a comforting and wintery story, like a hot chocolate on a freezing day!
Thanks to #Netgalley and #HQDigital for this feel good story!
The biggest plus points for me was the main characters acting like adults, and not like hormonal teens. They take other people's feelings into consideration instead of just going into a sulk, or produce drama out of nowhere. I really enjoyed spending time with them, and would love to be a neighbour of theirs!
The romance is a nice slow build and intertwines well with secondary plots. The whole village is kind of a character on it's own, and I loved how they all came together to help each other out. The whole idea of helping for the sake of making someone happy, without getting any reward or glory was well done. It just felt cozy and compassionate instead of like a moral hammered in.
It is a comforting and wintery story, like a hot chocolate on a freezing day!
Thanks to #Netgalley and #HQDigital for this feel good story!
pam_sartain's review
5.0
The Perfect Christmas Gift by Katie Ginger is a lovely book, that will make you feel super cosy and so much in the Christmas spirit!
Bella is a primary school teacher whose boyfriend leaves her one day in November, completely unexpectedly. Nick lives next door to Bella, and he's been trying to keep it all together for his son Freddie, after his wife, Paige, left them both 6 months ago.
I really enjoyed this Christmas romance, set in a small village, where everyone knows everyone else's business, there is a lovely community spirit, a lot of Christmas, family and romance. It is a really lovely read, and one that will make you feel ready for Christmas!
The Perfect Christmas Gift was published on 22nd October 2021, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.
You can follow Katie Ginger on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and on her website.
You can read my reviews of other Katie Ginger books below
The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse
The Little Theatre on the Seafront
I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to HQ.
Bella is a primary school teacher whose boyfriend leaves her one day in November, completely unexpectedly. Nick lives next door to Bella, and he's been trying to keep it all together for his son Freddie, after his wife, Paige, left them both 6 months ago.
I really enjoyed this Christmas romance, set in a small village, where everyone knows everyone else's business, there is a lovely community spirit, a lot of Christmas, family and romance. It is a really lovely read, and one that will make you feel ready for Christmas!
The Perfect Christmas Gift was published on 22nd October 2021, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.
You can follow Katie Ginger on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and on her website.
You can read my reviews of other Katie Ginger books below
The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse
The Little Theatre on the Seafront
I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to HQ.
mazza57's review
4.0
I received this book via netgalley as an ARC. It is the first book written by this author that I have read. It is of a type - i.e. a charming holiday story with a bit of romance, christmas cheer and moral uncertainty thrown in. It is well written and the setting of school and charming village with a winter wonderland. The Perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter's day in front of the fire. For me this type of book is enjoyable but lacks a certain depth that would make them more memorable
luellabenkess's review
4.0
This is the perfect Christmas read. It flowed so nicely as was a pleasure to read. The characters were likeable and you really rooted for the main two characters. It was so enjoyable to snuggle up on the sofa and drift off into this story.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
libbycrews's review
4.0
I really loved this book. It was sweet and endearing, but it also dealt with some pretty serious issues and how those issues impact children. Bella was easy to love from the beginning and she was easy to cheer for throughout the novel. If you’re looking for a fun, feel good Christmas book, this one is it!