Stevie‘s review of This Christmas by Emma Heatherington
Contemporary Holiday Romance published by Penguin 26 Oct 23
I’ve not read many winter holiday stories this season, and I’ve been even slower to get ’round to reviewing them, but here’s one for those of you who don’t mind reading about Christmas past the beginning of January. Our two protagonists have their own individual reasons for wanting to spend the holiday season away from anyone who might be celebrating it this year, and there are also a set of subplots about family reconciliations, as well as a pair of cute dogs. Throw in an isolated cottage and a quaint village, and you pretty much have all the main tropes covered.
Rose used to love spending Christmas with her family, until her boyfriend died in an accident on Christmas Eve – while driving to their favourite seaside spot, where he was planning to propose to her. She’s spent the years since with just her dog for company, turning down all invitations from relatives, friends, and colleagues. This year, however, Rose’s home seems too bleak, and she makes a snap decision to visit the holiday cottage that once belonged to her grandmother and is now an AirBnB run by her estranged cousin.
Charlie is preparing for his first Christmas since his ex took their young daughter to live overseas with her new partner. Wanting to get away from all reminders of his fractured family, he takes up a friend’s offer of a stay in their friend’s holiday cottage and sets off for Donegal with his dog. On arrival, he finds the cottage has been double-booked, with both halves of the couple who manage it having promised to let it out of season as a special favour.
Rose offers to let Charlie keep his booking for the tiny one bedroom cottage, since he arrived first, but car problems leave her unable to return to Dublin. So they agree to share the cottage and take turns sleeping on the sofa, while the other resident has the bedroom. At first, the pair communicate mainly by leaving notes for each other, while their dogs become fast friends, but slowly they start to unfreeze – at least until the inevitable misunderstandings occur. In trying to resolve them, both Rose and Charlie have to take a good look at all the other issues in their lives and are able to help those around them repair other communication breakdowns too.
I liked all the background family relationships – along with Rose’s memories of her grandmother – more than the relationship between Rose and Charlie; however, the descriptions of the village and its inhabitants also added to the charm of this story. I particularly liked Charlie’s sister and her daughter and found them to be far more engaging and likeable than Charlie himself. Overall, this book gets its grade for the people, places, and dogs, rather than for the central romance.
Grade: B
Summary:
Two strangers. One double-booked cottage. This Christmas will be one to remember. . .Rose used to love Christmas – until the year everything changed. She hasn’t been home to visit her family for the holidays since.
Charlie is facing his first Christmas alone. It may be the most wonderful time of the year for some, but not for him. Not this year.
In search of comfort and seclusion, Rose escapes to a cottage in rural Donegal to hunker down for the festive season by herself.
But when Charlie opens the door to Seaview Cottage, the two strangers realise that their holiday rental has been double-booked.
They both expected to spend this Christmas alone. But their lives could be changed forever if they agree to spend it together…
Read an excerpt.
