Saturday, October 14, 2023

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop - Fiction Review

Goodreads:  Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Christmas comes early—far too early—to McCredie’s little Old Town bookshop in Edinburgh. It’s summer, but an American production company has decided that McCredie’s is the perfect location to film a very cheesy Christmas movie. After all, who can resist the charmingly narrow historic street with its Victorian grey stone buildings and warmly lit shop windows?

Carmen Hogan, the bookshop’s manager, is amused and a bit horrified by the goings-on, but the money the studio is paying is too good to pass up. She uses the little windfall from filming to create new displays and fend off a buyout offer from an obnoxious millionaire who wants to turn McCredie’s into a souvenir shop selling kilts made in China and plastic Nessies. Still reeling slightly from a breakup, Carmen’s not particularly looking forward to the holidays. But just as snow begins to fall and the lights of Christmas blink on, all sorts of lovely new possibilities present themselves…for McCredie’s bookstore, and for Carmen herself.

Genre: Fiction 

Why I Picked This Book:   I really enjoy this author and I loved my first visit to McCredie's.  And could the cover be more cozy and Christmas-y?

My Impression:  It's so lovely to be back at McCredie's with Mr. McCredie, Carmen, Sofie, and everyone else.  Carmen is still absolutely maddening - incredibly relatable but yet so infuriating -and Mr. McCredie is still having money problems and still pretty clueless about them.  

Colgan's books are basically coziness in a book and this one is no exception.  However, while this gives all the cozy feels not everything is unicorns and rainbows.  Things frequently don't go right for Carmen (or really any of the characters) and they definitely don't always behave perfectly.  Carmen's special skill is putting her foot in her mouth but it isn't played for laughs.  I think at some point we have all had Carmen moments in our life so even when she annoys me I can't help but root for her.

I did want to scream at Carmen and Oke to communicate for then a few times.  I loved them both but their lives would have been so much easier if they had just actually talked to each other.  All in all this was a delightful Christmas-y bookish read and I just loved snuggling up with a cup of tea and this book.   

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I always enjoy this author's books and this was so enjoyable.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Absolutely!  Though I do recommend reading the first Christmas Bookshop book.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

5 comments:

  1. My impression of this author is very cozy. I thought I had read one of her books but it must have been someone else. The not talking to each other would make me crazy.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

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  2. It is a little frustrating when characters refuse to talk to each other when they could solve everything with a simple conversation; but I do enjoy Colgan's books. Especially when there's a bookstore involved. :D

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  3. This sounds really good and I love the cover. Beautiful!

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  4. I loved her Christmas Bookshop and Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery, but have such a bad taste in my mouth after trying to read a Welcome to the School by the Sea, I haven't been tempted to read anything else by her again yet. I am sure I will eventually. Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop does sound good!

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