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Release date: October 21, 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance 

Goodreads blurb: 

A gorgeous country house hotel, a liberal dusting of snow, a cosy weekend away…what more could Lizzie ask for at Christmas? 

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change and she will leap into the new year a new woman. And yet here she is again, at the beginning of December and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband Henry is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbour Marcus and she knows she shouldn’t be … 

So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance. Will this Christmas escape give Lizzie some much needed perspective and allow her to mend her marriage? Or will Marcus prove to be too much of a distraction? 

A funny feel good festive read about rediscovering the magic of Christmas – just the thing to curl up with on a cold winters night. 

Review: 

Most of you know by now that I’m a sucker for a pretty cover and this may be one of my favorite covers ever! Stunning. What’s inside is just as gorgeous and this is much more than just a Christmas novel. It wasn’t even close to what I expected, but I don’t mean that in a negative way. I assumed that it would mostly revolve around Lizzie having some sort of crazy adventure but instead it was a lovely story about strong friendships, family, marriage woes, and the trials of an average life. 

Lizzie is stuck in a monotonous cycle in her life and has been for years. Her two daughters are grown and off at university and her husband Henry couldn’t be more disinterested in her life. She does have her best friend, Ann and the two are as thick as thieves. Lizzie was such a fantastic character, the kind that I would want as a friend for myself. She’s experiencing a midlife slump and isn’t sure about anything in her life anymore. She’s lonely and just wants to feel loved and appreciated again. I found her to be wholly relatable and altogether utterly delightful. Her friendship with Ann was beautiful, the two supported each other no matter what. They were also so funny and their conversations had me cracking up. 

Marcus is Lizzie’s new next door neighbor and the two have an immediate connection. Lizzie is feeling rejuvenated and dazzled by simply spending time with Marcus, but she’s not the type to step out on Henry. Can she just be friends with him without jeopardizing her marriage? Does she still even want to be married to Henry? A weekend away with Ann may be just what she needs to figure everything out. But she may get way more than she bargained for…

There were several twists and turns that I was not expecting at all and things didn’t turn out the way I thought they would either, but I was absolutely not disappointed in the end. There were moments of laughter and joy, but there were also moments were I was teary eyed and emotional. I love a book that can bring out a variety of emotions within me and this one certainly did. It was a feel good, warm and cozy read that I was sad to see come to a close, I felt like I was saying goodbye to a dear friend when my time with Lizzie came to and end.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my copy in exchange for an honest review.