This book certainly wasn't what I expected but in a way, that was good. The title makes it seem like such an easygoing feelgood read and whilst it is a feelgood read, it is so much more than that.

I haven't read the previous books so went into the book blindly. I really enjoyed the characters - the friendship between the women is amazing. Many secrets are revealed, all to the backdrop of World War One.

The true horror of war is shown via the soldiers in the hospital and the bombings, the true value of family and friendship shown through the characters and their stories. I'll certainly be checking out more of the authors work.

Firstly I would like to thank Aria for letting me review and read this wonderful WW1 saga.
I have read the others in this series and adore the characters and could not wait to see where they all are now. Christmas is an exciting time of year but with the war still raging on it will be different for many with family and friends away fighting.
We follow Alice, Molly and Victoria as they continue to make the best of the situation throughout the war. What I really like about Elaine Roberts writing is all the sub plots that run along the main story line. It gives great depth to they story and you get drawn into the lives of the girls. There are some exciting things happening to the girls in this story as well as some tough times, making for a great page turner.
I cannot wait to read more from Elaine Roberts she is now counted as one of my favourite authors.

I didn't read the other novels in this series but I had no issues with this one.
I found it engrossing and entertaining, full of sadness and hope at the same time.
I liked the well researched historical setting, the fleshed cast of characters and the gripping plot.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This book rounds off the series by telling Victoria's story. It is seven years since her parents died and the man she loves left her. Now she has finally decided to open up her parents' room, while also becoming a volunteer at a hospital, but the secrets she uncovers and the people she meets surprise and shock her and ultimately change everything. Without giving spoilers, there were a few too many unlikely events, a sudden big change of attitude by one character that I struggled to believe, and too convenient a resolution for me, but it's an easy read that I'm sure will please many readers.

So- this isn’t a feel-good happy story, the series has grown and covered all three of the main characters for a couple of years now, and they are all happily reunited at he Foyles Bookshop after Molly escaped serious injury or death with the explosion of the munitions factory she was working at. With Alice married and juggling work and her husband and young son, and Victoria and Daisy holding down the ‘home’ while their brothers are away fighting, everyone is tired of the endless worries, bomb threats and struggles that have been the hallmark of the war. While Molly is back at the shop and adding a sense of ‘everything returning to normal’, Mr. Leadbetter, the manager of the shop, has picked Victoria out to help as a floorwalker, a temporary move but one he thinks she is well suited for. While sorting problems in the shop, helping customers sort books, and bringing her general air of helpfulness and good sense to the job, Molly is engaged and happy in the children’s section and Alice is working her position reliably with little to no issues.

But, with Molly having a boyfriend, and Alice married, Victoria seems stuck in the past, longing for Thomas, convinced she’s going no where and watching a growing flirtation with her sister Daisy and a fellow police officer. She’s also made no efforts to clear out her parent’s room after their death, and her anger at them for leaving, as well as a general depression has both Alice and Molly worried for her, a worry that increases as Molly sets a wedding date and Alice is pregnant again.

There are secrets, clues and some more family information hidden in the room, along with clothing that Victoria never remembers seeing, and her worries about ‘not being enough’ have led her to volunteering at the hospital. Unearthing family secrets, discovering the whereabouts of Thomas and generally obsessing over her own lack of everything, Victoria isn’t allowed to wallow for long or too deeply as the girls have pitched in to help, listen, puzzle out clues and push her forward. You can’t read this as a stand alone as the stories are confusing to walk in on, and the personalities of the girls have all been established as their stories unfold. While only containing a bit about the holiday season and the adjustments and decorations set up for the bookshop’s Christmas with Santa and free books for every child, it is more a story of coming together and finding pieces lost, reuniting families and friendships, and coming together in hopes for an end to the war in the coming months.

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-awC”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Great wrap-up to the Foyles series. A bit of war heartbreak and a good romance. You will like this book!!

I loved this book. It’s part of a series and is a perfect read
A book full of love, loss and hope and I couldn’t put it down
The setting was perfect.
A highly enjoyable read

I made the mistake of requesting this book and not knowing it was book 3 in a series. I wish I had known because it is charmingly written, with great characters and emotion, but I felt disconnected because there was so much I was supposed to have already known.

Elaine Roberts has a great finesse with words and language and I look forward to going back and reading books 1 and 2, as it stands I will rate this book as if I had read the preceding two, as that seems fair.

The setting is charming, and I love bookshops so it was a no brainer that I would adore the setting, and the characters felt like real people even without the back story of books one and two. In theory this COULD be read as a stand alone if you don't mind trying to piece together bits and pieces, Overall, I really enjoyed it.

I am so pleased that I have been able to read and review Christmas at Foyles Bookshop. I have loved this series and getting to know the wonderful ladies Alice, Molly & Victoria.

This era of historical fiction is one of my favourites and this latest instalment was another brilliant read. It was a book full of loss, love and hope and I loved it from beginning to end. It was written with empathy and you could feel the emotions of these wonderful ladies through their highs and lows.

The setting of the bookshop is just magical and the fact that it was written in the lead up to Christmas added a little something extra. A highly enjoyable read that I am sad to have finished as I felt like these lovely ladies and allowed us into their friendship group throughout these books.

<b>THE TITLE HAD ME HOOKED - THE CONTENT LOST ME</b>

<i>Full disclosure - I did not read the first 2 books in this series</i>

<b>Actual rating:</b> 2⭐️ - I elected to give this book 3 stars even though I felt it was a 2 because I haven't read the books preceding it. Who knows, maybe some of the complaints I had with this books would not have bothered me, had I read the entire series first.

There were three reasons why this book initially appealed to me - the words 'christmas', 'bookshop' and the fact that it was set in WWI. Sadly, this is not a christmas book, only the last chapter takes place during christmas. So that was strike one. The bookshop was a nice touch, so was the WWI setting. But pretty much everything else was a letdown.

<blockquote><i><b>"[...] tea and cake solves everything."</b></i></blockquote>

<b>THE THINGS I LIKED</b>

<u>The setting</u>: There really aren't enough books about WWI as opposed to WWII. More of these please!

<b>THE THINGS I DISLIKED</b>

<u>Plot</u>: Sadly, I felt that the plot was quite weak and full of holes. There were several things I just did not find plausible or realistic.

<u>Characters</u>: As I was reading, one thing kept sticking in my mind in regards to the characters. They felt mostly like cardboard cutouts without any real personalities.

<u>Victoria</u>: The MC of this book, Victoria, was a very unlikable character, mostly because I didn't understand her reasoning or her motives for the things that she did (or, in most cases, didn't do)...

<u>Yawn</u>: Yeah, I was actually bored because nothing interesting happened at any point.

<u>Giggling</u>: This might just be a 'me-thing', but the three girls of this book had a very annoying tendency to always <i>giggle</i> at the smallest things! To me, it made the girls seem really silly and vapid. I did not enjoy that. Grown women don't giggle that much!

As a rule I don't read Christmas themed books much and certainly not before mid November. I broke my own rules for this as, well, it's set in Foyles bookshop and Elaine Roberts is a Saga queen who I have read but never reviewed! Well, now, best put that right!

IT's out in October and I hope there's a launch of some sort in Foyles/near the spot where the old bookshop stood. This is an olde worlde bookstore and Elaine has recreated the magic of the bookstore world right on the page. You can sense the excitement of the workers, see and take part in the hardwork involved and get to meet the customers. All this just during wartime so it's interesting to see how people view books and escapism of this kind during what must have been a time of so much tragedy.

The characters come to life off the page and even though this is the third part of a trilogy, I haven't read the others and I fully immersed myself into the lives and loves of the characters within.

Delightful and perfect for book worms at Christmas!

I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. Great characters and a great plot line. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Christmas at the Foyles Bookshop by Elaine Roberts is a lighter book set in WWII. Victoria, Molly, and Alice are best friends. They all work at the Foyles Bookstore in London. Alice is married with one child. Molly and her fiancé survived an explosion at a munitions plant, so she is now back at the bookstore. Victoria has been the provider for her two younger siblings, Daisy & Stephen, since her parents were killed in an accident seven years ago. Victoria loves Ted, but he left and joined the Army when her parents were killed. While he has written and asked for forgiveness, she doesn't know if there is a future for them.

When Victoria finally goes through her parent's belongings, she discovers a part of her family she never knew, even a brother she didn't know she had. Follow the ups and downs of these three friends as they encourage one another and help each other as they navigate the world of young adults during WWII. These three have "friends that stick closer than a sister." With all the ups and downs, there is a happy ending.

Brilliant book by Elaine Roberts another author that draws you into the story and well worth 5* the characters all mix along to make you want more.worthy of 5*.

Love this trilogy so warm the characters their friendship.their lives.English saga writing at its best.Hihgky recommend.#netgalley#ariabooks

I love books set in this era, and this one was no exception. The characters were lovely, well rounded and so believable. I just loved this novel and read it in a day!