Publication: 24th October 2024 – HarperCollins UK
Can their Christmas love story last a lifetime?
In a village by the sea, where wintry skies bring a dusting of sparkling snow, somebody is opening an unexpected gift…
When Sophie receives a surprise package, she’s intrigued to find a beautifully bound book inside.
Sophie is desperate to discover the mystery sender, and her hunt draws her to the enigmatic Harry. The subject of much gossip since his return from London, Harry keeps to himself in his crumbling manor house.
But they are both about to learn that the best stories can take on a life of their own.
The Secret Christmas Bookshop is a heartwarming and entertaining novel featuring a small town community, found family, Christmas festivities, and a mysterious donor of beautiful editions of classics.
The protagonist is Sophie Stevens, whose rough upbringing has left her distrustful of those around her and she is always ready to pack everything up and move to a new place. Even though she has found good friends in Mistingham, Sophie is already thinking about moving on somewhere new when the arrival of a mysterious package stops all her plans: a beautiful edition of Jane Eyre, accompanied by a cryptic message. Curious to find out more, Sophie volunteers to organize the local Christmas festival, hoping to figure out who, among the residents, left her the book. What she didn’t expect was that Harry Anderly, the Dark Demon Lord of Mistingham, would be co-organizing with her and she certainly didn’t expect that he is not the grumpy and unfriendly master of Mistingham Manor everyone claims him to be.
This novel really gets you into the Christmas mood. The idyllic village of Mistingham is described as a place taken straight out of a period drama on Norfolk’s coastline, with a sandy beach, a wide promenade, and the sea that changes colours depending on the weather. I loved the festive atmosphere and the sense of community. The organizing of the festival kept me quite entertained and there is romance, friendship, and also a bit of mystery, themes of loss, abandonment, and grief, there is a wonderful cast of relatable and likable characters, and, best of all, Felix, the goat who wears jumpers and created the funniest scenes in the book.
The Secret Christmas Bookshop is a fantastic and engaging escapist novel, the perfect story to enjoy at this time of the year!
A huge thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.
Cressida McLaughlin is a bestselling author of contemporary romance who has sold over a million copies of her books. Her feel-good, escapist fiction, featuring unforgettable characters who find their happy place, has established her as a firm favourite among readers and fellow authors alike.
Cressida lives in Norwich with her husband David and when not writing her bestsellers, spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.
Book After Book 
Fab review! I love that cover! 😍
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Ooh sounds perfect!
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