This book is short and sweet and super festive but I know you would love reading it at any time of year. This was exactly what I was looking for when I picked it up right before Christmas and I am so glad that I did. I kept turning the pages and humming the Christmas tunes and getting stressed over Christmas dinner just like these sisters!



I definitely identified with Elosie in this novel. She is super into Christmas and wants everything to be just perfect for the Christmas day. She is run off her feet at school and she feels it is really important to be together over Christmas. I also sympathised with Cara. We've all been the new one in a job and trying our level best to get noticed and make a good impression, but how much work is too much work?



I really loved the various plot points in this book. It had moments that felt like A Christmas Carol, moments of Trains Planes and Automobiles and then also a few moments that reminded me of aspects of The Family Stone. Speaking of movies, there are also some fabulous pop culture references in this book to Christmas songs and movies and I was here for them all the way.



The romance in this book is super sweet. These women are not long out of college and moving onto not first loves but the one who comes after a first love and that was just fabulous to read about. Even if you are a little older than these characters (like me) you can recall back to that time and how wonderful it is to be discovering a new love at Christmas time.



I just really enjoyed this book. I was appreciative of the speed of reading and the high level of festiveness throughout. Definitely put this one on your TBR for Christmas in July!

This very Christmasy read was perfectly short (200ish pages) and great for a seasonal read. Twins, Cara and Eloise, are trying to be together for Christmas but weather and Cara herself seem to be getting in the way.
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The story itself was pretty predictable and didn't really stand out in any way. The characters were 2D and never were built outside of Cara being a workaholic and Eloise loving Christmas. It felt unoriginal and a recreation of the many Hallmark movies out during this time of the year. (But in that way it was kind of great) The romance was soooo unbelievably eye-roll-worthy and hard to believe. But it can't be a Christmas novella with out a romance. The conflict between the twins reached a peak then lasted all of 5 seconds so it left the reader wondering what we missed. Fairly anticlimactic as a whole. If you are craving a Hallmark-feel-good-everything-is-great-at-Christmastime kinda book then this is a perfect pick! Otherwise, it's good Christmas time entertainment.

I was in need of some light reading after some dark and heavy books so this book seemed perfect expecially in the run up to Christmas. It was definitely what I expected it to be and as a result I got through this book pretty quickly.

Twins Cara and Eloise both have very different attitudes to the coming Christmas holidays. Eloise loves all things Christmassy and can't wait for some quality family time but Cara's workaholic tendencies are making her a bit of a grinch much to Eloise's dismay. Eloise feels that Christmas will be ruined if she's not surrounded by family after a difficult year but it seems that circumstances are conspiring against her. Cara, on the otherhand, is in the midst of a new relationship and feels that a family Christmas will get in the way of her aspirations of a promotion at work. Can the twins come together again to have a Christmas to remember?

What I liked about this book was that it was easy to read and flowed easily meaning I finished it in a few days and enjoyed what I was reading. I loved the little references to all things that a British Christmas entails.

All in all a nice, easy and enjoyable read.

This Christmas novel left me with a smile. The story, for the most part was sweet and full of Christmas cheer, however the overall story line was quite predictable and simplified. It was definitely not much more than an easy read with back and forth chapters between sisters, Cara and Eloise as they figured out their Christmas plans. If cute and simple is what you're after, this is it! I won't say I didn't like it, I did, but if it had been any longer (it was super short), I probably would have questioned what I was doing with my time. I guess that means it was just the right length. Again, cute, easy, predictable and full of Christmas cheer. This type of book has its place in my life: a buffer between heavier books, for vacations, etc. and I enjoyed my time reading it!

It Won’t Be Christmas Without You was unfortunately a miss for me. The premise sounded promising. I love a good story about sisters. This one took me a bit to connect with the characters, and that’s problematic when it’s a novella to begin with, or at least on the short side. I never quite engaged with this story and its characters and felt they needed more development.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

A cute little romance that’s perfect to read snuggled up in front of a fire with some hot cocoa.

Had to read this book of course when I found out it was written by the writer of the movie Kissing Booth. I love a feel good read!
This book is about twin sisters Eloise and Cara. It goes through the countdown to Christmas from both sisters points of view. This book has put me in the mood for Christmas and I can’t wait to read more books by this author.

Eloise and Cara are the focus and narrative perspectives in this little story – a quick and non-demanding read that focuses on the different lives and perspectives of the twins as Christmas celebrations are in the planning stages. While Cara is working every hour sent (almost literally) to get a coveted promotion – foregoing dating, visiting family and denying the holiday celebrations, her sister Eloise is running multiple Nativity pageant rehearsals for the students in the school while she works, nursing a broken heart and returning to her parents’ home at every opportunity. An admitted Christmas junkie (everything is decorated to the nth degree in her flat) she’s also obsessed with the holiday at home to hang with her parents and sister – she’s more than a bit homesick and nostalgic and can’t quite deal with Cara’s apparent lack of interest in anything that isn’t involved with or important to her work.

While their parents book a holiday away (much to Eloise’s dismay) and Cara will only dip into her savings for a bus home on the day, with a return the next, all with plans to work as often as possible, things between the sisters are fraught with tension, and only the questions both have about relationships or lack of them seem to bring any sort of camaraderie, at least until the subject of the holiday comes forward. When you add in unexpected (and significant) snowfall, two relationships finding answers and new understandings, and a bit of growth, insight and conversation about what matters between the sisters, the story brings an expected and heartwarming conclusion.

I’ll be honest when I say that the story was quick to read and had little emotional impact, even in moments meant to bring an “oh wow” reaction. Both sisters and the characters introduced were a bit “young’ in their perspectives and approaches to problems, and the core issue between Cara and Eloise and their perceptions of the “struggles” each had faced was dashed off rather quickly without really addressing anything of substance. In reality, reading the story brought little to no emotional engagement, and adding the snowfall in seemed to add a bit of melodrama to the plot, giving this a feel of a series of unfortunate events (or conversational miscues) story – although enjoyable, it’s not particularly remarkable for depth and ability to draw the reader into the world. It was, however, a quick read that was easy to pick up and put down – and perhaps just what is needed for a little mini-escape during the frenetic moments of the holidays.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-azp/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I think that this would be a really excellent movie that would be mandatory watching each year. As a book, it's just a little meh. I didn't see any personality in any of the characters. But, it was a quick, ok read.

A sweet, very English romance novel with alternating perspectives between two twin sisters - one in London and one in their home town. When their parents announce they're going on holiday over the holidays, they have to make their own festive plans. Got me in the mood for christmas!
the writing was flowing so well and its so pleasurable to read, that I seemed to be reading large chunks of the book without really noticing, or spending much time doing so.

I do love a fast to read book, and when it contains a story as delightful as this one you are onto a winner.

This is such a fantastic Christmas novel that fills you with a warm festive feeling right in your core. Eloise is my spirit animal, I am obsessed with Christmas and just connected with her instantly. I absolutely adored Eloise and her love of all things festive. It Won't Be Christmas Without You is a well paced and fabulously written novel, perfect for the holiday season, with romance, family and Christmas cheer!

I love this author I read the kissing booth I loved it and the movie this one also didn’t disappoint it has family sisters relationship it has love it has Christmas it’s everything you could want

Lighthearted romcom with a festive theme. Will it be a perfect Christmas for Eloise and Cara this year? They have their differences but will the twins come together to embrace the magic of Christmas? Easy reading for the festive season.

I didn't love this, but I equally didn't hate it. In fact, I liked it a lot more than I did The Kissing Booth.

I found Cara to be rather insufferable, though. She read like a woman more than 20 years her senior at times, and I despised her attitude towards her sister and her family. She was by far one of my least favourite characters in the book.

In contrast, I loved Eloise – not least because I loved her name. She's much more upbeat and down to earth than her sister, and I found a lot of my Christmas love mirrored in her, too. Her romance story with Jamie was also my favourite of the two in the book.

I tried to guess plot outcomes in this book but I was pretty far off, a sign of a good read for me.

This story is about two sisters, twins, one who lives in London and the other a few hours out of the city trying to plan their Christmas holiday since their parents will be away in holiday.
It is funny and light hearted and a bit drama filled all rolled into one. A quick and easy enjoyable holiday read as they should be.

2.5 stars

Cara and Eloise are twins, living in London and Doncaster. As their parents have decided to go on holiday for Christmas, it's up to them to spend the day together, following all the traditions. But while Eloise, a primary school teacher, is obsessed with Christmas and can't wait for her sister to come and spend time with her, Cara on the other hand is a workaholic who can hardly find time to meet with her boyfriend, let alone visit her family home for a one day only.

I got into this book full of expectations - let's be honest, the synopsis is promising, right? However, it turned out, that this novel is an OK, average read. The two main characters were sisters and they couldn't be different even if you asked for it - while Eloise was full of Christmas cheer, Cara was the absolute opposite of her, focusing hard on her work and not having time - or not wanting to find time and changing her mind in every second chapter - to spend this festive time with her sister, finding out many different excuses, one more unlikely to the other. Eloise could also be a bit annoying with her demands but I could understand her, she was waiting for Christmas all year long and it's not a wonder that she wanted to spend this time with her closest. Nevertheless, they both could be much better developed, they needed more depth to them, more to their personalities - they simply felt too one - dimensional and too flat and it was hard to connect with them.

The romance aspect in this story was also not too... romantic. It felt too chopped, like an after - thought, and it needed a bit more fun for my liking.

It's a story that once read is quickly forgotten - it may sound harsh but it's the true. Please don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable enough but there was nothing new and the dynamics between sisters quickly became tiring. There was a lot of potential but it lacked in delivery, which is a shame, and I don't know, despite being full of festive spirit it somehow also lacked in festive spirit, as everything felt so contrived and clichéd. However, if you are in a need of a light - hearted, easy, Christmassy read with a happily ever after, simply give this book a go.

It Won’t Be Christmas Without You

by Beth Reekles

Cara and Eloise are twins in Beth Reekles’ It Won’t Be Christmas Without You. The author never tells if they are identical twins or not, but they are certainly different in personality. Cara is a workaholic, driven to earn an early promotion. She feels she has always had to work extra hard to achieve grades and jobs. Eloise is a teacher and success in school and in finding her first job comes easier for her. She, however, always feels lacking in the friendship department.

This year Eloise’s world is turned upside down as their parents announce that they will take a beach vacation on what is Eloise’s favorite holiday, Christmas. Cara decides she may opt out of their traditional celebration also in favor of working. The conflict in the book revolves around the tension between the siblings as they move closer to December 25. Both of the twins become involved in romantic relationships with likable young men.

The chapters move along a timeline which is a countdown to Christmas. It was a quick read, but I never felt fully invested in the characters. I was more of an outsider looking in on the action. I enjoyed learning about some mentioned British foods: roasties, bacon sarnies, and the sweet treats of individual, packaged mince pies, Celebrations, and Roses.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to HarperCollins (One More Chapter) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3/5

Category: General Fiction (A), Romance

Notes: Contains a lot of British Vulgarisms

Publication: August 30, 2019—HarperCollins (One More Chapter)

Memorable Lines:

Wow. She’d actually done it. She’d gone for the blackmail card. Guilting her twin with her own broken heart.

But it did mean she was lacking in experience when it came to relationship problems. Like what to do when you think your boyfriend is lying to you. (Google wasn’t very helpful, when she asked it.)

The burn on the back of her forearm she’d got an hour ago was still red and angry, so she slapped a little Savlon on it. Salon would cure everything that a good cup of tea couldn’t, she was convinced.
Except Christmas.
Nothing could fix this Christmas.

The comment I have for this book is "Oh what fun. . ." although not referring to a sleigh ride! This tale of two sisters serves up lots of fun, romance, and laughter, with a final focus on family loyalty. Twin sisters Cara and Eloise alternately love/hate each other, but sisterly affection wins the day as they try to decide how and where to spend Christmas. Throw in a fun mum and dad, some new boyfriends, food, workplace drama, and wintry weather, and out pops a contemporary holiday mix of mayhem and love. This is listed as the author's first go at writing a book for adults. I hope it is not her last., as I loved the characters and laughed a lot.

Readers should be advised that this work is set in England and uses British witticisms and turns of phrase. Additionally, it is liberally sprinkled with colorful vocabulary, so do not be offended if you choose to read this one!

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Easy, light, fun holiday book. I enjoyed this quick feel good book. There was a nice mix of holiday and romance.

How on earth have I finished this book already? I swear I've only just started it, the writing was flowing so well and its so pleasurable to read, that I seemed to be reading large chunks of the book without really noticing, or spending much time doing so.

I do love a fast to read book, and when it contains a story as delightful as this one you are onto a winner.

The main question in this book is whether or not Eloise and twin sister Cara will actually be together on Christmas day. We see the countdown to the day from both points of view. Cara is a workaholic going for promotion in London .Eloise is a teacher in Doncaster, and it turns out their parents are going on a winter sun holiday this Christmas.

Problem is Cara is exhibiting scrooge like tendencies, and some of the conversations between the twins could be painful. She seems reluctant to commit to spending any part of the holidays with her sister, preferring to work instead.

Whereas Eloise is struggling with things herself but slowly gets to know her neighbour who may not really be as grumpy as he appears.

I loved Eloise's love of the season and the amount of references to Christmas films really did make me smile. Both sister's Christmas office parties were really amusing, and generally this is a light hearted story that was a pleasure to read.

I really did enjoy this a lot and I look forward to reading more of Beth Reekles' adult books, so long as she writes them.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.