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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
This was a really cute read. Some moments were slower than others. The best bits for me were the setting (Sofia’s house was pretty much across the street from where we stayed in Edinburgh and we spent a couple hours on Victoria street where the bookshop is and took pictures in the Grassmarket so I was vividly picturing it all and I now have a dream to return to Edinburgh at Christmas time some day), the bookshop and the community it brought, and the sister relationship. The romantic bits were ok. The POV was a bit odd. Like a strange version of 3rd person omniscient and the sudden glimpses into others thoughts when it was mostly just Carmen’s thoughts sometimes broke me out from the moment. But I still got lost in this world and I’d definitely read more from her. I’m also now on a mission to find more books set in Edinburgh!
If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, The Christmas Bookshop will probably be right up your alley. While the plot is predictable and has its share of groan-worthy moments, you still get the same warm and fuzzy “All is right with the world because it’s Christmas” vibes, which, to be honest, may be the only kind of warm and fuzzy some of us are experiencing in 2021, so I’ll take it, artificial as it may be.
After losing her long-time job as a shop clerk, Carmen relocates to Edinburgh and moves in with her older sister, Sofia. The two sisters couldn’t be more different–Carmen’s uneducated and freewheeling, and doesn’t want to settle down while Sofia is a successful lawyer who’s married with three kids and a big, beautiful house that somehow manages to stay clean despite her impossible schedule and her husband’s extended absences.
Their differences have created a fractured relationship and neither of them are thrilled when their mother begs Sofia to take Carmen in and find her a job. Sofia’s client, old Mr. McCredie, is about to lose his crumbling bookshop, which he seems to run without ever actually, well, running it. He doesn’t order inventory, or set up displays, or have a card machine, and he’s hesitant to part with on his shelves.
Carmen makes it her mission to turn the bookshop around before Christmas and receives some unexpected help from a famous–but extremely arrogant–author who agrees to do a book signing in the shop. After helping her, he seems to feel Carmen owes him something, so he begins making demands on her time. Although she sees right through him, she’s unable to completely resist his “charm”, and finds herself caught between him and a sweet Brazillian lecturer who frequents her shop.
A few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this book very much. Christmas-romance has never been a favourite genre for me, and I would have found the plot ho-hum.
However, I’ve been leaning into the holiday vibes as much as possible the past two years, again, because I feel like we need to squeeze joy out of life anywhere that we can these days. So what if there’s no mystery or suspense? Sometimes I just want everyone to get along, read a good book, and drink amazing hot chocolate.
And that’s what The Christmas Bookshop delivers: cozy holiday vibes, old-fashioned bookish delights, and a positive message about the benefits of helping others and connecting with family. Plus, the audiobook is read in a gorgeous Scottish accent by Eilidh Beaton, so who can resist that?
Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 (because I don’t quite feel right giving it a 4).
After losing her long-time job as a shop clerk, Carmen relocates to Edinburgh and moves in with her older sister, Sofia. The two sisters couldn’t be more different–Carmen’s uneducated and freewheeling, and doesn’t want to settle down while Sofia is a successful lawyer who’s married with three kids and a big, beautiful house that somehow manages to stay clean despite her impossible schedule and her husband’s extended absences.
Their differences have created a fractured relationship and neither of them are thrilled when their mother begs Sofia to take Carmen in and find her a job. Sofia’s client, old Mr. McCredie, is about to lose his crumbling bookshop, which he seems to run without ever actually, well, running it. He doesn’t order inventory, or set up displays, or have a card machine, and he’s hesitant to part with on his shelves.
Carmen makes it her mission to turn the bookshop around before Christmas and receives some unexpected help from a famous–but extremely arrogant–author who agrees to do a book signing in the shop. After helping her, he seems to feel Carmen owes him something, so he begins making demands on her time. Although she sees right through him, she’s unable to completely resist his “charm”, and finds herself caught between him and a sweet Brazillian lecturer who frequents her shop.
A few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this book very much. Christmas-romance has never been a favourite genre for me, and I would have found the plot ho-hum.
However, I’ve been leaning into the holiday vibes as much as possible the past two years, again, because I feel like we need to squeeze joy out of life anywhere that we can these days. So what if there’s no mystery or suspense? Sometimes I just want everyone to get along, read a good book, and drink amazing hot chocolate.
And that’s what The Christmas Bookshop delivers: cozy holiday vibes, old-fashioned bookish delights, and a positive message about the benefits of helping others and connecting with family. Plus, the audiobook is read in a gorgeous Scottish accent by Eilidh Beaton, so who can resist that?
Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 (because I don’t quite feel right giving it a 4).
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Carmen, laid off from her job, moves in with her sister in Edinburgh, and takes up a job at a floundering bookshop. Her life changes through the shop’s customers and a particular doctorate student.
This was cute. I thought some of the story lines were random and incomplete, and there could have been a lot more to the romantic relationship, but it was cute.
This was cute. I thought some of the story lines were random and incomplete, and there could have been a lot more to the romantic relationship, but it was cute.
funny
lighthearted
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
The Christmas Bookshop had many of the elements of a charming holiday story: the beautiful backdrop of Edinburgh, romance, family, and Carmen's (FMC's) quest to help the eccentric, but very endearing Mr. McCredie save his failing bookstore. It featured cozy and lovely scenes, and Mr. McCredie's family history made a compelling side plot with a wonderful resolution. I absolutely loved Carmen's relentless efforts to help Mr. McCredie transform his cluttered old shop (that didn't remotely resemble a shop) into a gorgeous, lively community favorite. There were a few moments of comic relief, most notably, Carmen's disastrous children's storytime, where the protagonist of the story she read died under very depressing circumstances.
I enjoyed many of Carmen's interactions with her nieces, Pippa and Phoebe, and nephew, Jack. Carmen had a strained, resentful relationship with her older sister, Sofia.
Unfortunately, a few aspects of The Christmas Bookshop left me cold. It was difficult for me to relate to Carmen and I didn't find her likeable at all. I could have done without Blair, the arrogant self-help author, with whom Carmen developed an infatuation. Every time she pined over him, I just rolled my eyes and mentally chided her for setting her standards way too low. Carmen's other romantic interest, local dendrologist Oke was likeable enough, but I didn't feel much chemistry between them, even though I think I was supposed to? It would have been nice to know more about Oke, beyond trees, Brazil, and being Quaker. Who was he, and what was his story? He felt very one-note, sadly, and could have been so much more. Skylar, the nanny, was profoundly unlikeable.
I got plenty of enjoyment from The Christmas Bookshop, but it was not my favorite Jenny Colgan novel. Nice if you want a dose of holiday cheer, but nothing super special. Rating it right in the middle with 3 stars.
I enjoyed many of Carmen's interactions with her nieces, Pippa and Phoebe, and nephew, Jack. Carmen had a strained, resentful relationship with her older sister, Sofia
Spoiler
but as the novel progressed, they grew to understand each other and embrace each other. Seeing Carmen selflessly help Sofia through labor and delivery of her fourth baby was uplifting. Carmen's reassurance and support of young Phoebe, who was cruelly fat-shamed by her nanny, Skylar, was sweet and moving. The ending was the happy, festive finish that you'd expect from a Jenny Colgan holiday storyUnfortunately, a few aspects of The Christmas Bookshop left me cold. It was difficult for me to relate to Carmen and I didn't find her likeable at all
Spoiler
until we began to see signs of personal growth well into the last half of the novelSpoiler
and I cheered with satisfaction when Sofia dismissed her at the end of the storyI got plenty of enjoyment from The Christmas Bookshop, but it was not my favorite Jenny Colgan novel. Nice if you want a dose of holiday cheer, but nothing super special. Rating it right in the middle with 3 stars.
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
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
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes