After her career nearly implodes, Holly escapes to a small Norwegian island to visit her brother for Christmas. There, she meets Tor, visiting from Oslo, who's got a reputation as the local hermit. A holiday romance quickly ensues. But what happens when they both have to return to their real lives?

This book focused as much on Norwegian holiday traditions as it did on the romance. Still, it was a light, entertaining read. This is sweet romance, with no dramatized love scenes.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.

Holly has spent most of her life either wanting to be a doctor or training to be one but when something happens one day at the hospital where she works and she is suspended from her beloved job her brother, Jack suggests she spend Christmas and New Year away from London and travel to Christmas Island on the Norwegian coast. Expecting to see pretty, snowy scenes and beautiful vistas, Holly reluctantly does as he suggests aware that Jack and his girlfriend have taken their little girl away and she will be staying by herself for a while. Holly arrives to a dark, bleak place where the biting wind and driving rain do nothing to cheer her up. She is rescued from falling off a cliff in the darkness by an enormous fluffy, yellow-eyed cat Frøy and his sullen, bearded owner, Tor, a Norwegian from Oslo who has rented a house on the island. Tor prefers to keep to himself and Holly soon discovers that the locals refer to him as The Hermit.
Holly is intrigued by this Viking-like man of mystery and the longer she spends on the island the more interested in him she becomes. Tor has been satisfied to spend his time working from his rented house, fishing, or walking on the island with Frøy and finds to his dismay that this Londoner is rather more appealing than he had expected.
I hadn’t read the previous book, Summer Island, and although I now feel compelled to read it and discover Jack’s story, the fact that I hadn’t read it prior to reading Christmas Island didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book.
Told from both Holly and Tor’s point of view, it was compelling to follow both their thoughts and intentions. I also loved Frøy, a huge and enjoyable character; the unusual setting, and also discovering the different Nordic Christmas traditions and food that is enjoyed by the locals. I really enjoyed Natalie’s storytelling and look forward to reading her next book.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

This was a beautiful christmas story that had so much togetherness and love. I truly loved this story and would recommend especially with the holidays around the corner! The characters were great and I loved the story line. I am really looking forward to more of Natalie Normann's writing! This was such a cute christmas read that had me smiling from start to finish!

Thank you to Netgalley, Natalie Normann, and One More Chapter for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

What a fantastic Christmas story! Equipped with the cozy vibes, Christmas cheer, and a little bit of soul searching, it’s a recipe for a favourite read!

Set in Norway, I couldn’t imagine a greater setting for this story. A small island, dangerous landscape, short periods of sunlight. The culture and customs are so interesting to learn about and I like the way the Norwegians eat!

My favourite character is, of course, Froy, who is the best fictional cat I have ever read lol. The author sure knows cats because she captured the aloofness, personality, and sneakiness of this lovely species! And having met my first Norwegian forest cat recently I can picture Froy to a T!!!!

I encourage you to envelop yourself in this wonderfully cultural Christmas. I look forward to revisiting these characters and their shenanigans next year!!!

Christmas Island is the perfect holiday read for anyone that loves to curl up in front of a cozy fire. Holly is a London doctor who goes to a Norwegian island to spend Christmas with her brother and his family. When she is saved from disaster by a strangers cat, the connection is instant. I absolutely loved this closed door romance and it really is the perfect Christmas read!

I loved it. Brilliant food descriptions. Made you want to visit the island. Also a lovely story. I hope there will be a third book. Very well writen

This is not my usual thing but I was really in the mood for a cosy winter romance and Christmas Island really delivered. There is very little drama and it’s more sweet than really invested in looking at conflict between two potential romantic partners so romance readers may find it a little too low key. However it was exactly the sort of stress free read I was looking for.

Nice gentle holiday read. I enjoyed the setting and all of the details about Christmas treats & customs in Norway. Could have skipped all of the references to Holly's pickiness around food though.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This the first book I have read by this author but I have already bookmarked the Summer Island for my first holiday read of 2021!

This book was really good, it's such an easy read, the characters are really relatable and likeable. I love the setting of the book; a small Norwegian island where is dark and cold most of the time but the story is brought alive by the community and the traditions of the islanders. The book was very festive and I love to read a book like this to get into the festive spirit read for Christmas and this book really did the trick. I cant wait to read more from Natalie! On a side note I tried a few of the foods mentioned and the sweet cinnamon porridge is amazing and I have no idea why this isn't more popular in England! Overall I would highly recommend this book!

With thanks to Netgalley and One more chapter for allowing me to review Christmas island
After all the years of hard work it took Londoner Holly Greene to become a doctor, now it could all be taken away and she only has herself to blame. She’s retreating to her brother’s rustic home on an island off the coast of Norway to lick her wounds. Only, it’s the middle of winter and icy slush plus endless darkness isn’t exactly the cheery, festive getaway she had imagined.

Nearly stumbling off the edge of a cliff in the dark, Holly is saved by Frøy, a yellow-eyed cat of fearsome but fluffy proportions, and his owner – grouchy, bearded recluse, Tor. Tor has his own problems to face but the inexplicable desire to leave a bag of freshly baked gingerbread men on Holly’s doorstep is seriously getting in the way of his hermit routine.

Call it kindness, call it Christmas, but Holly’s arrival means midwinter has never looked less bleak.

Christmas island by Natalie Normann is a lovely and cosy book that gives the reader a warm glow that lasts until the very last page.

Holly is a likeable character and you find yourself falling heads over heels with Tor. The best character of all is the delightful cat Frøy.

Christmas island is a perfect Christmas book to snuggle up on the sofa with some blankets and your own version of Frøy. It will soon get you into the festive spirit.

Christmas Island by Natalie Normann was a Norwegian Christmas tale. If you are looking for something light on the steam factor, and just a happy Christmas Romance, this is the book for you.

Holly has been suspended from her job as a doctor in London and is feeling depressed. Her brother, worried about her, asks her to come stay with him in Norway for the holidays. She wants to see her baby niece so she goes. Ends up, her brother had to leave with his family to check on his mother-in-law. She arrives in the darkness (it’s almost always pitch black dark there!) and almost falls off a cliff trying to find her brother’s house. It is a giant mountain of a man, Tor, who saves her. They spend the next couple weeks spending time together. He translates for her, shows her around the island, takes her fishing, and introduces her to the many traditions and foods of Norway during Christmas. Tor has some reasons for escaping to Norway for a holiday and he and Holly bond over troubles and a new environment. When Jack and his family return the romance has begun between Holly and Tor and they embrace him for the rest of the holiday.

The traditions and foods of Norway are fun to learn about. I could also picture the island and would love to see it in person.

The author even includes a few recipes at the end of the story for traditional Norwegian sweets that were always a part of her family Christmas.

Overall, a well written light Christmas romance filled with culture.

This cozy holiday read is perfect for a reader who loves romance, faraway places, and food. Normann spends much of the book using Tor as a vehicle to describe all sorts of Norwegian traditions and foods to Brit-heroine Holly. The book is sweet, albeit a little slow moving, and while the main characters 'hook up' it is void of any steamy, detailed descriptions. This is a fun holiday escape, perfect for winter 'lockdown' and COVID travel restriction times.

This was such a beautiful read and so much more than just a Christmas story as it delved deeper into humans and their emotions and how that special person can bring out the best in another. This was a cosy read and like wrapping yourself in your favourite blanket and giving yourself a hug. It was a perfect uplifting read for the current times. Once had picked it up and couldn't put it down. This was my first book by this author and won't be my last I was excited to discover there is summer island that comes before this one which have downloaded and can't wait to read. The Christmas island can definitely be read as a standalone too

DNFed at 77%

I really liked the idea behind this book. A winter romance set in Norway at Christmas! It sounded perfect. We follow Holly, a doctor from England, who travels to a Norwegian Island to spend Christmas with her brother, Jack, his wife Ninni, and their daughter Rosie. While on the island, she encounters Tor, dubbed 'the hermit' and his mountain cat Froy. Ensue the romance...

Except, there wasn't much in the way of romance. I hung onto this hook, kept going in the hope that it would get good, that the romance would develop, but it didn't. Not in the way I would have liked, at least. Holly and Tor had NO Chemistry at all. Their dialogue was so boring. Honestly, it was too vanilla, no spark. It didn't feel natural and I found myself skimming through dialogue in the end.

There wasn't much Christmas going on. I stopped reading when we eventually got to Christmas interactions, having been so bored by the rest I couldn't see it improving at the end. I didn't care much for the characters and there lives. Even Holly's drama, the reason why she'd gone to island in the first place, was predictable, dull... I could go on.

I don't want to seem harsh. There were some aspects I did enjoy. The setting of Norway was great and the author did a great job of describing the island and made me want to visit. I loved the dive into Norwegian culture, all the traditions, slang and different foods. I learned something, at least. Also, Froy the cat was a godsend. If the book had been about him and his adventures, I would have rated it more highly.

Not for me, but I guess someone who's into a mindless, vanilla winter romance might. Just be prepared to be let down by the zero chemistry between the two main characters. If you want something a bit more steamy, this isn't it.

There is nothing I love more at this time of year that a cosy Christmas read and this book ticks all the boxes. Lovely cover, snowy location, festive food and drink, and lots of friends and family get togethers.

This book follows hardworking Doctor Holly who escapes to Norway for a much needed rest to stay at her Brothers house whilst he is away visiting his wife's family. Arriving on the Island, Holly gets lost and is found by solitary character Tor, who is on the Island also getting away from his real life. The two form an unlikely friendship helped along by his adorable cat Froy. I did enjoy the book but I think it focused a little too much on festive food rather than character development. Someone who was thought of as a recluse was suddenly the life and soul of the party, it didn't really gel for me. I like learning about the local area however and various Norwegian customs surrounding Christmas. But unfortunately for me I didn't love this book, I think if Froy hadn't been as entertaining as he was in the book, it would have been a forgettable read for me personally.

When Holly needs to escape her London life, her brother Jack convinces her to stay with him and his family during Christmas on a remote Norwegian island. As soon as Holly lands, she is freezing, tired and is saved from a near-death experience by Tor - the island's 'hermit'. But as Holly learns about life on the island, and Nordic Christmas traditions she gets to know Tor and the man behind the social awkwardness and hairy beard.

A really nice read that not only served up a lovely community and sweet romance but also taught me a lot about Norwegian Christmas traditions and food. OMG THE FOOD! So many yummy descriptions of baked goods and all sorts - as well as the Little Christmas Eve porridge that sounded delicious! I think I would gladly spend Christmas on this island as they would certainly keep me well-fed and happy.

I did find the first couple of chapters of the book a bit clunky to start with but I kept going and eventually the writing and the village really charmed me. I wouldn't say Holly is the most interesting character I've read - she was slightly basic but I still enjoyed the dynamic between her and Tor and their romance.

Tor definitely, to me, came across as slightly autistic but I don't know if this was on purpose by the author or if it was a spotlight on how all Norwegian men behave. Tor was quite socially awkward, wasn't always great with social cues, not mad on physical touching, and definitely had problems identifying humour. He also was very focused and direct in a way I would recognize as traits from some people on the spectrum.

I liked the sweetness between Tor and Holly though it did feel like their relationship went from 50% to 100% at the flip of a switch. There is no steaminess in the book - maybe just a hint of sexiness - but everything is very chaste and fade to black after one kiss which was a tiny bit disappointing.

The best character was definitely Tor's cat Frøy. I'm not a cat person but this book made me want a cat like Frøy.

The best bits of the book were definitely all the Norwegian Christmas traditions, foods and the Christmas market. If you want to learn about how different countries celebrate Christmas, this would be a good book to read.

The ending was slightly lackluster for me but I still enjoyed the book.

Christmas Island by Natalie Normann is a story that is truly suited for a quiet curl up under a favourite blanket and a box of delicious goodies.

I loved the book and found myself wishing I too were on a quiet Norwegian Island in the middle of December as Normann describes everything in such wo default detail from scenery to the cold that the area is known for. Christmas Island has everything you want in a holiday seasonal HEA although I did wish the romance between English doctor Holly and reclusive architect Tor took just that little bit longer - it felt a little rushed to me and so the intimacy that comes from even love at first sight got lost along the way.

The author's Norwegian heritage is evident throughout the story and adds so much to everything about Christmas Island- especially the food but also the myths and legends that Tor tells Holly about. It was done in such a way that the reader feels - or certainly I did, as if I were overhearing some of his whisperings rather than the author adding the details in such a way that the context within the story itself gets lost along the way.

I also loved that there are recipes for some of the delicious Christmas themed goodies in the back. Its such a lovely touch to once again engage with the reader about something that Normann is truly passionate about.

Thank you @Netgalley and @HarperCollinsUK for my eARC.

After finishing Summer Island earlier in the year I couldn’t wait to read the next instalment and it did not disappoint.

Christmas Island begins with Holly arriving in Norway, slightly down on her luck as she has just been suspended from work. Looking for an idyllic escape she is hoping to enjoy the festive period with her brother Jack and his family. However things don’t go exactly to plan as they are stuck in Spain and Holly is left to find her own way around the island until they return. Unbeknownst to Holly she isn’t the only islander hiding from reality and when their paths cross romance is definitely in the air.

I absolutely loved Christmas Island it was exactly the escapism I needed in 2020. Holly and Tor’s romance had me hooked from their first encounter and I enjoyed seeing it blossom. Natalie Normann writes characters that you instantly feel attached to and can’t help routing for. It was so much fun catching up with old characters from the previous book and I felt that I was stepping right back into life on the island.

Norway in December seems so magical and I can’t help feeling a little jealous. It is definitely on the top of my holiday destination list. The recipes at the end of the book are such a gorgeous touch too.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for gifting me a copy I’m exchange for an honest review.

I'm jealous of anyone who has a sibling (or any other family member) that just...owns a random rustic home that they can just lend to their family members. Is this a real thing? Who is that lucky? Still, this was a supremely cozy read for the winter season.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was a really enjoyable story with great characters, I would definitely recommend this book.