The Christmas Calendar Girls is an charming feel-good romance by Samantha Tonge. The plot is filled with charming characters and emotions, giving the reader a delightful experience. The story follows Fern and her friends, as they try to bring their town of Chesterwood together to create a living advent calendar in order to save the local food bank. As Fern and the town's new man, Kit, get closer, secrets begin to come out from all around. With emotional depth and family struggles, Tonge presents a truly touching story.

This novel was an uplifting, comforting read that tugged at the heartstrings. Not only was it the perfect read for the holiday season, but it’s a timeless read that one could return to any time. Samantha Tonge offers a captivating tale of redemption and love. The Christmas Calendar Girls is an inspiring story of community and connection that any reader is sure to enjoy.

As soon as I saw the title I thought of the film the calendar girls and it straight away intrested me as I remember watching that film years ago. I loved the small town twist as well as a community helping each other in a time of need even a new person or such I say handsome man. Fern has such a big heart which you can tell within a couple of pages of the book and what she does to help and support people shows and gives hope that there is and would be people like that in the world. Such a heartfelt book about love, strength and pulling together to help each other in the darkest times and not to mention a few secrets along the way then again who does love a christmas book with drama!

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. An interesting novel by a new author in my personal reading-sphere! I am sure others would enjoy it too. Good character portrayls, descriptive setting and gripping plot.

Christmas is meant to be a time of giving, so with Chesterwood food bank under risk of closure Fern knows just what to do to save it. She's going to get the town to create a living advent calendar.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I loved this book all about friendship, spreading the Christmas cheer and thinking of others, it's such a good heart warming read. ... I love the idea of a living advent calendar with lots of Christmas traditions to enhance the festive fun and this book is full of that seasonal spirit

Samantha Tonge has openly spoken of her struggles and I love how she’s added an element of that in a few of her characters namely the elusive Kit. Going through hard and desperate times doesn’t make us bad people it makes us human. I loved seeing him transform as a character ultimately forgiving himself for his wrong doings. Most of the time we are our own worst critics and Kit learned the hard way and came out on top.

From the very beginning I loved Cara, Davina and Fern three very different feisty ladies who make the greatest army of friends. I loved how they pulled together and worked as a team. If you decide to read this novel you will see how ying and yang they are but ultimately they are the greatest friendship group. I loved getting to know them and seeing each of them hit bumps in the way and come out on top.

I have to mention Audrey who really did pull at my heart strings. She made me think of my beautiful Nan who is now one of the brightest stars in the sky she was fiercely independent right until the end and the cinema experiences had me back in my Nan’s front room watching films. I like to think my latest job move is linked to her and I feel a small sense of pride when I watch something I know she would have loved. It’s like a hug from her all over again.

I really loved the sense of community and sadly these days it’s not something that happens. I love the togetherness and the sense of hope and achievement. Another festive read that made me think of the true value of Christmas. Myself and my siblings now do a secret Santa and bar that we only go all out on the kids and my parents and that suits us. Although last year we all managed to work out who had who etc.

We’re not into the festivities yet as it’s only October but my nieces are taking part in harvest festival at school and are appreciating that there are others out there less fortunate than us.

A novel full of love, friendships and how loss in any way shape or form effects us all both young and old alike. A truly heartwarming story that will have you smiling once you close the book.

Unfortunately I did not get on with this book and therefore cannot rate it very highly. I really struggled to connect with the characters and storyline.

The Christmas Calendar Girls

by Samantha Tonge

Fern, Davina, and Cara bond over children who attend the same school in Birchwood Estate. With different personalities and strengths they value each other rather than hold jealousies. In The Christmas Calendar Girls by Samantha Tonge, the ladies work together to save the food bank that is a lifeline for so many in the community, from the addict to the unemployed parent struggling to provide.

It’s the busy Christmas season and late to begin a project to raise money, but Fern has an idea to save the food bank and engender community spirit and good will. Her friends jump on board to help.

All is not smooth sailing, however, with the project and its changing deadlines or in the “calendar girls’ ” personal lives. Fern is a widowed journalist trying to find a new normal for herself and her daughter Lily. Perhaps she is ready to have a relationship again. Kit, a former client of the food bank, stirs her heart, but is he ready for romance? Davina has always been close to her twin boys, but the more sensitive of the two begins pulling away and the pair get into a fight at school. Cara is fantastic with food, very creative, and a doting, stay-at-home mom. Suddenly she seems to have lost it all as she burns foods, uses the wrong ingredients, and forgets school notices and weather appropriate clothing for her kids. She fears the onset of early dementia.

Watching these characters grow as they lean on each other and gradually reveal their secrets and rooting for them as they try to help those less fortunate, makes for a gentle, interesting, and inspiring story. Birchwood Estate will never be the same.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Aria for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction


Publication: October 3, 2019—Aria

Memorable Lines:

That’s what Cara’s homely place was like…If it was a person it would have been a welcoming aunt, who always had your favorite biscuits in and never forgot to send birthday money.

“Bringing everyone together, friends and family, over food and drink, with the purpose of helping people facing difficult times…your idea really does encapsulate everything that the festive season should be about.”

Sometimes I worried I’d never meet another man. I didn’t need one to look after myself and Lily. But I wanted the company. The closeness. I missed that.

Moving and captivating book. I read this in less than a day and I’m not ashamed to say a few were shed. Fantastic throughout and completely enthralled me. There are several strands through this tale involving the main characters and those they come into contact with and it’s fascinating to see the story weave together. Highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley

A lovely heartwarming book from Samantha Tonge. I am always keen to read the latest book. I absolutely loved the community feel surrounding this book where everyone wants to help raise money to help the local food bank, which is struggling to survive. The concept was totally different to what I was expecting, initially, from the title- but I just loved the idea. It is a real page turner, leaving you with a lovely warm feeling.

A lovely heartwarming winter read with such a cosy community feel. This was something I instantly connected with, being from a small town myself. I did find this a bit hard to get into at the beginning but once I settled into the story I got on much better with it.

A memorable read bringing home a strong message with regards to recovering from illnesses and how life can take unexpected turns and change your circumstances in the blink of an eye.

I loved little Lily she pulled at my heartstrings throughout and Fern was such a strong character who had found a way to move on after the tragic loss of her husband.

A book brimming with positivity, highlighting the value of friendship and talking your problems through. These lovely friends shared the highs and lows in their lives.

Overall when I finished this book I felt hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel and we have the ability to find the glimmers of light and hold on to them

Christmas magic and love is just the cozy cup of wonderful that all readers will want to snuggle up with and enjoy the season.

Fern loved her husband Adam and their daughter Lily is her world since his death.
The threat of the local food bank closing spurs Fern and her friends Cara and Davina plus all their kids into action and The Christmas Calendar is born.

Fern has not wanted to date again for some time and after a disaster date with Oliver, who helps unemployed people, she wants to concentrate on Lily and the Christmas calendar. I felt just as uneasy about him as she did.
Kit has had a hard past. Drink and gambling ruined him and he ended up at the food bank.
When he and Fern meet they immediately hit it off. He gets a caretaker job at the school where she teaches Year 3 pupils and Lily and he also get on. He’s popular with the children in general.

Despite having met Kit she still misses Adam terribly and Lily does too. The book of life advice Adam made for Lily before he died was a great idea and the contents were so touching I could feel myself getting emotional. There were some beautiful sensual memories too.
The idea of the human advent calendar with events and festive window displays at 24 houses in the road Fern lives on is a lovely one and the atmosphere during preparations was festive and contagious despite the hard times some of the characters have in their backstory.
The book is very honestly written and takes not just Christmas themes but tougher ones like homelessness, families in need and rough sleeping which are dealt with extremely humanely and sensitively by the author.

Fern is very sensitive to people’s struggles and also is often willing to help people while asking for nothing in return. Those are some things I liked about her.
Kit is friendly, understanding and approachable and the themes in the book are made all the more poignant and raw since after being a successful party planner in the business he and his friends set up and traveling the world and mixing with wealthy people, he was in a situation where he too had less than most people.

The book was enhanced by the memories of Adam sprinkled throughout the book and of how he and Fern met when they were both journalists working on the same tabloid newspaper.

It was exciting how Samantha Tonge let the reader in on all the ideas the characters had during the preparations and it was heartwarming how they always wanted to help each other out, but there were conflicts too. Kit’s expertise from his past job shows in his unique ideas for the calendar. He and Fern are good together. They are playful and easy going.

Davina and Cara are good friends to Fern. The way Davina’s modern style in clothes and the way her home was decorated and organised was a great contrast to Cara’s interest in clean eating and recycling. This gave the characters unique personalities and they jump off the page.
The novel is about being happy with what you have and making the most of life within what you are able to have.
The plot and relationship between Cara and her mother in law Audrey is well written.

The Christmas atmosphere is a joy to witness in the pages of this book and the food is mouthwatering.
Author Samantha Tonge really gets into the characters’ personalities and I liked the inclusion of real world issues that made the Christmas Calendar Girls so true to life. The writing style is relaxed and cosy.

Mia was an interesting character and Lily was smart, funny and wise beyond her years- I couldn’t agree more with Fern’s view that she has the perfect daughter.

Fern’s doubts about Kit and learning to love again is realistic and I sympathised with her.
The visuals are excellent throughout the book and Samantha Tonge is excellent at showing the characters’ emotions too.
Overall, the characters, emotions and conflicts are realistic. There are secrets, lies friendships and strengthening bonds.
We get a real sense of the importance of helping people and making people important in one way or another whether they are a boyfriend girlfriend son or daughter.

The Christmas Calendar Girls is a book about second chances and is such a sweet novel. I loved it!
A must- read and well worth the 5 stars I’m giving it but it deserves an even higher star rating.

A wonderful feel- good novel.

If you love Hallmark Christmas movies, The Christmas Calendar Girls is a great choice for you! A fun, warm, cozy read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

5☆ A Christmas Cracker of a read, Not to Be Missed!

I absolutely ADORE Samantha Tonge's books so as soon as i see she had a Christmas Book out I couldn't wait to read it!
Once again she has written a Christmas Cracker of a book!

The Christmas Calendar Girls is a heart warming, feel good story full of Community Spirit, Friendships, New Beginnings and a festive romance.

Fern is having a tough time after losing her husband. So when she heard that her local food bank is having some troubles, she feels like it's time to give something back

So she decides to rally up her best friends and The whole community and get them involved in creating a Living Advent Calendar to help raise funds.
It's not going to be easy but they way they come together melts my heart!

Oh and also a very handsome Kit comes to the rescue helping Fern not only with the Calander but healing her heart with warmth and a sparkle of romance.

There are many wonderful touching stories weaved together throughout the story.
It adds to the heart of what Christmas is about and the power of helping people.
You never know when you might need the help of a food bank and it's becoming increasingly important that they remain in place.
It's such a current and poignant topic, I applaud Tonge for writing with such passion and research.
In which Helps to Educate with sensitivity and realisim .

The Christmas Calendar Girls is a wonderfully festive read, it was uplifting and left me with a warm feeling inside.
I could see this being made into the PERFECT film.
Once again Tonge has written superb Characters, they all gelled together perfectly. I love how despite their own personal dramas they came together as one to help the community, it was really touching!
The plot was relatable, current, festive and compelling.

I highly recommend The Christmas Calendar Girls such a gem of a book and that book cover is simply a festive delight!

Thank you to Aria Fiction for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Unfortunately i can't say that I have really enjoyed this book. The storyline is pretty good and I enjoyed some parts of the book but overall i found myself a bit bored and wasn't able to connect with the characters. Also I found that there were too many parts of this book talking about children and I found that a bit boring. But I am sure many of you who will read this book will enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me. I hope I will enjoy the next Samantha Tonge book more!

Chesterwood Food Bank is under threat of close and Fern has come up with what she thinks is the perfect plan to save it. A living advent calendar. With the help of her best friends, Cara and Davina, she begins to put her idea into motion.

She is also getting closer to Kit who is the temporary caretaker at her daughter’s school and the only man to get close to her after the death of her husband, Adam.

However, Kit has a secret and it is holding him back.

One of Davina’s son’s is acting strangely and the other is deeply unhappy. Domestic goddess Cara is starting to forget things. Can the three of them pull together and make it a perfect Christmas by saving the food bank?

The Christmas Calendar Girls is everything I love in a Christmas novel.

The idea of a living advent calendar sounds brilliant and makes this Christmas lover want to see something like this for real. As the story progressed, I couldn’t help but feel more and more festive.

Fern is a character I rooted for from the very beginning. She has been through a lot and I wanted her to be OK. The same could be said for Kit. I knew he was holding things back but the more I got to know him in the novel, the more I liked and trusted him.

It took me a couple of chapters to get fully into the story but it builds really nicely into a warm, festive conclusion and the journey from beginning to end is inspirational, full of secrets, mystery, warmth and wonderful moments.

If you know me, you know I don’t like to go through too much of what happens in the story beyond what I have already written but if you are looking for a beautiful Christmas book to add to your Christmas book list, The Christmas Calendar Girls is perfect.

I adored it to the point where I hope it’s not long before we revisit Fern, Kit, Cara and Davina. I would love to know what happens next. What do you reckon, Samantha?

Overall, a great, warm, beautiful festive novel. I recommend it.

Nice thoughts. Friendship and goodwill. Very slow starting. There are so many Christmas books that I failed to finish.