Very funny book with many laugh/snigger out loud moments, I felt a lot of empathy with the author, echoes of numerous of my own past Christmas woes! I loved the story about Tim the turkey and the end glossary is just hilarious. Perfect gift book for family, friends or as a secret santa present.

I was sent a copy of An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe to read and review by NetGalley.
This was an amusing little read, especially as being of a certain age I can remember much of the tradition that the author touches on. There are a few ‘laugh out loud’ moments but not as many as you will find in her novels such as Man at the Helm.
The book centres on Nina Stibbe’s own memories of Christmas with her family and the misfortunes therein. Included in this narrative is a rather pleasing short story, which I think is one of the highlights of the book. I am not sure whether the accompanying glossary that completes the memoir is entirely successful, it feels a bit too much like a page filler to me! However, An Almost Perfect Christmas is an entertaining quick read and would make a great stocking filler, especially as I think it would be best read during the festive season.

I enjoyed Love, Nina and find her writing funny, intelligent and very easy to relate to. Reading An Almost Perfect Christmas was rather like sitting with Nina, sharing a glass or two of wine and listening to her recount one hilarious tale after another. It's a cracking little book.

Her narrative is very easy going; but it's a remarkable talent to make the mundane interesting and laugh out loud funny. Most British readers will understand references to frozen turkeys, sprouts and Slade. For millions, they're almost ingrained as part of the culture of a traditional British Christmas. She's sharp at observation and the stream of one liners kept me chuckling right the way through. This may seem a simplistic collection, but make no mistake, it's sharp and funny. I really enjoyed it and my thanks to Viking for a review copy via Netgalley.

I adore Nina Stibbe's books, and as soon as I spotted "An Almost Perfect Christmas" on NetGalley, I immediately downloaded it (ah, the benefits of being pre - approved, I love it!) and started reading it. Of course I didn't bother to read the synopsis - well, duh, it IS Nina Stibbe, right, so there is no need for it, because no matter what she writes about it is exceptionally brilliant, but this time I was surprised, as this book is not a story but actually it's full of short and very funny essays on Christmas. And oh my word, guys, I loved them!

I love the way Nina Stibbe views Christmas, good - naturedly, and what an relief it was to see that I am not the only one non - perfect organizer of Christmas. The essays are short, funny and sharp, family based which only made them so much more relatable, and I found myself nodding more than once - they bring a smile or smirk of recognition. Nina Stibbe's writing style is so light - hearted in this book, it is so easy to follow and even the most boring things she skilfully turns into funny events with a great dose of sarcasm and not treating herself too seriously.

I've read this book within two days and I wanted it to go on and on. I love Nina Stibbe's sense of humour and her views on different things and really close to my heart, and this little book has fulfilled all of my expectations. It was laugh - out - loud funny, it was full of embarrassing moments, just what the doctor ordered. It was wry, down - to - earth and it rang a bell more than once, and it was great that the author was so open about her own life. If you feel yourself overwhelmed with Christmas preparations, just take this book, read one story and you're going to feel much better, I can guarantee! "An Almost Perfect Christmas" - highly recommended!

Collection of seasonal stories that will strike a chord with many - very funny family tales

We all have them - the Christmas tales of seasonal get-togethers, traditions, horror stories and 'incidents' unique to our own broods. Nina Stibbe here collects hers together (let's hope she checked with family members before including them!) for a short selection of amusing anecdotes.

From nightmare turkey experiences to eating a bird with a name, there are tales here I connected with (Slade! Going home for the holidays!) and I loved the whole little volume, even in October.

Stibbe chats away to us with honesty and a deft touch, you can't tell if she's embellished, it all flows nicely with previous stories mentioned and making a cohesive whole.

I felt a little nostalgic for family Christmases that won't ever be the same now I'm a mum myself, but also a little excited about (yet another!) the December just around the corner, and making more memories with my own small children.

This would make a lovely gift, but ideally it would be read before the season to get you in the mood (and remind you to defrost the turkey!).

Short but sweet. Treat yourself.

With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

This is a great book, a perfect Christmas read. Forget all the twee romance stories under the mistletoe.....this is the real Christmas "joy" we all experience. From a turkey obsessed mother to the horror of buying enough gifts, this book is funny and true to life. I have always enjoyed Nina Stibbe's work and this does not disappoint. You can step into her past and relive those moments we all remember at Christmas. Really enjoyable and I would be very happy to find this in my Christmas stocking,

There were a few funny parts to the short stories in this book. My favourite being Timothy the turkey. I did find it a little repetative at times especially the lists, these seemed a little long and I got a bit bored so skimmed over them. Sadly not as funny as I'd have hoped.

Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. You only have to think about the turkey for that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to defrost overnight, and if that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Nowadays it's all having to make sure it's suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, and get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, though, is of course also a time of great boons. It's cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, it was always a godsend for postmen with all the thank-you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and as for the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and sell them any other time of the year?

This book is like that – easy, charming reminiscences and quips about Christmastime, although of course with more of the ease, charm and quippingness than I could hope to provide. It's a selection of essays, themed around the returning siblings with their subtle pre-Xmas wish to be given a better choice of going back home each and every year, or the pain in choosing suitable music for seasonal parties – and of course the worry of not getting the food right for all-comers without going spare yourself. Peppered in between, like old farthings in the pudding, are four stories – and as is usual with Ms Stibbe they have more of the whiff of autobiography about them, at least at first. Certainly it's not the only time she's made a young female character cause a scene in Leicester's recently-departed department store, Fenwick's – methinks there's a confession in there somewhere.

We close with an A-Z of Christmassy elements, and a brief description of their pros and cons – WRAPPING. Make an effort… get the shop to do it, if possible, or RE-GIFTING. One of the most exciting aspects of Christmas (risky but rewarding). It's all very warm and cosy, but the laughs are solid, whether you recognise the Leicestershire references or not, and whether you too are in a situation like Nina – large family of adult siblings who could host, but won't. The book is on the slight side, it has to be said, and that partly comes from at least some of it being published as essays and samplers of her work before now. But whatever the derivation, and whatever the lack of credit for prior publication, the pieces are definitely part of the author's growing oeuvre and the subject in her hands bears such singular attention. I wouldn't see a problem in anyone gifting this book for Christmas – and oh look, here's the very author in these pages saying exactly the same thing. There's nice.

Thanks so much to Netgalley, Penguin books and Nina Stibbe for an advance copy of this book in return for this honest review.

Although I haven't read any of Nina Stibbe's previous books, I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted read. I laughed out loud on a number of occasions as it's such an easy book that would make a great stocking filler, or, as the book describes them 'bulker- uppers'.

Please be aware though, there's no story/plotline as such, it's just a series of reflections and musings. Having said that, I enjoyed it!

Very funny at the beginning - humorous anecdotes from the author's life. Did start to get a little bit repetitive at the end - only so many laughs at the expense of Christmas!

Nina Stibbe is a funny writer, no question. I like ‘Love, Nina’ so much that I’ve read it three times. There’s plenty of humour here, from how to deal with a turkey (or not), to acceptable gifts and the skill of regifting (what a word!). An amusing, light read but I felt it had ‘produced for the Christmas market’ all over it. I did like this description of Nina’s venerable Christmas tree: ‘Every year it has looked a bit scrawnier, but never has it died. It is the Tithonus of Christmas trees – seeming to possess immortality, but not eternal youth, and no desire to grow or thrive.’

I wasn't sure what to expect from this - I've enjoyed Nina Stibbe's writing before, but I wasn't sure how the short chapters based loosely around the subject of Christmas would fit together.

Indeed, the only thing connecting the different chapters is the Christmas theme - we hear about Timothy the free range turkey, the wonky Christmas tree, Christmas pudding fires, advice on festive music playlists and much more. There's also a rather strange story and an A to Z of Christmas. It's all written with warmth and wit, as is to be expected from Stibbe.

Overall, this is a light and enjoyable read, although it is a little bit patchy - some of it is really funny and relatable, while other bits are less engaging. Worth a read though, even if just to get you in the festive mood!

A short light read with a Christmas theme with short essays and observations about family Christmas which one can certainly associate with. I've not read Nina Stibbe before but like her style of viewing Christmas from a woman's perspective, not sure that men would 'get it' as, certainly amongst friends and family, it is the women who mainly organise traditional Christmas festivities. It certainly raises a smile of recognition and would make a good lighthearted present. I shall look out for other titles from this author.

This is s short story book all about Christmas. It conjours up the feel and atmosphere of Christmas - but not only the feel good but all the disasters and mishaps that happen each year. We all have our traditions and still do them year after year even when they never work and children have grown up. This is a well written book funny as well as thought provoking.

I'll read anything by Nina Stibbe, as she is a very funny and engaging writer. An Almost Perfect Christmas is Nina's take on all things Christmassy, plus some enjoyable very short stories on the same theme. Look no further for all the guidance you'll ever need (possibly) on gift-selecting, turkey-wrangling, party-throwing, playlist-selecting, pudding-hating, and other festive delights. As a member of an enormous family (even if her estimate of almost a thousand people to buy presents for might be ever so slightly exaggerated), Nina is well placed to comment on all these issues.

A light, fun read.

I’ve never read any of Nina Stibbe’s books before but I’m a sucker for anything Christmassy, and the description appealed to me. I read it in only two sittings (it would’ve been one, but I couldn’t go 24 hours without any sleep) and didn’t want it to end. I loved Nina’s writing style and her sense of humour was just up my street. Being of a similar age to Nina, parts of the book brought back memories of my own childhood and Christmas traditions. This wasn’t just a ‘laugh-out-loud’ book, for me it was a ‘laugh-out-loud-and-occasionally-snort’ book, and I’d highly recommend it. I loved it so much that I’ve been straight out and bought another of Nina’s books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books UK for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really expected to enjoy this book as it appeared to "target" all of the perennial problems (family and other) that infect what should be a happy and enjoyable family time but haven't. I couldn't manage a smirk, smile or nod of the head towards anything in the book. It's against my principles to give up on any book (genuinely feeling that I owe it to the author to complete it) and so I persevered until grinding to a halt at 47% on my Kindle. Then I just had to admit defeat and stop.

I always look forward to a new Nina Stibbe novel. I know it's a perfect treat waiting to be read. She always makes me laugh, enough to make me want to be her best friend! Creepy!

In this little gem of a book, Nina lets us into her own world of Christmas, and sets out dos and donts of this festive period. Need advice on a tree? A turkey? The perfect present? Whether to throw a party? Well all this and more can be found within the pages of this hilarious autobiography/short story/advice book!

The only downside - it's too short!! I want more! Thank you Nina for yet again bringing a smile to my face.

I adore Nina Stibbe. Love Nina is a book I've read and re-read and gifted so many times. Her novels are also excellent, and this is a charming, funny collection of short stories and reminiscences of Christmas pasts that has all the charm of Love Nina and which would make a fantastic gift this Christmas. I've already pre-ordered a copy to give to my mum. Part of the reason I love Nina so much is that she often writes about Leicester, and it's where I grew up and now live. I used to love reading Sue Townsend's work because she wrote about places I knew and people I recognised (not individually, obviously - but they were recognisably real people because I lived among people just like them). I'm delighted that Nina is carrying on that tradition. She is such a good writer because the characters she writes fly off the page into my heart and mind and are real for me, just like the places she writes about. She has a wonderful ear for the absurd. Her dialogue is pin sharp and she has that wonderful ability to be funny and devastatingly sad all at the same time. This is beautifully written and it was a privilege to be able to read it.

Nina Stibbe is one of the funniest new writers I have recently discovered. Her tales of Christmas had me laughing out loud and her mother must be a character to get to know as she and the book are hilarious.