Christmas and romance in one book. Yes. I loved it. This was such a jolly read. Sweet romance. Loved this. 3.5 stars.

I am a sucker for a romantic meet and this book has the perfect one...unfortunately it is cast aside as Nick, grumpy part time Santa at a shopping mall, recently dumped by his gold digging girlfriend and in trouble at work sets Sarah up with his best mate Matt to try and make Sarah's sons Christmas wish come true.
There is romance aplenty and a beautiful friendship between Nick and Alfie, the 4 year old son.
feel good vibes on every page!

When I started this book I wasn't sure i would like it.
It is told from a man's viewpoint and that isn't something the books I normally read would do.
However it is a really lovely story. The main character Nick is an unemployed lawyer going through a tough time at the start of the story. He gets a Christmas job in a department store as Santa and meets a little boy who asks him to make his mum happy again.
So Nick introduces her to his best friend Matt. They start a relationship and everything looks good. Until Nick realises he is in love with his best friend's girl.
A really lovely story set over a couple of Christmases.
I really enjoyed this book!

This was a delightful story, just what I needed as another lockdown approaches,. Great characters, a very realistic storyline and a satisfying Christmas Story. loved it!

[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]
It's a fun and light reading, great for people who love a sweet love story but not a cheesy one. I must say I'm a little disappointed that it didn't make me laugh as much as other Joanna books but I had a good time anyway. I love we knew the whole story through Nick's POV, he's lovely and charming. The main characters are great, very likeable and Joanna Bolouri creates a love triangle that keeps you hooked. But although I liked it all, I didn't love it. The story development was too weak for me, It all was slow for me and lacking of action. I didn't get bored because it's well written and easy to read, but it needed some tension that I couldon't find. And it's chick-lit, so no hot scenes here (pity 😂).
Overall it's a sweet and easy reading that leaves you with a smile on you face but with the feeling that it could be so much better. But I'm a Joanna Bolouri fan so everything she writes is a yes for me.
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Estoy siendo muy generosa con la nota básicamente porque esta escritora me gusta y el libro, aunque me ha parecido bastante flojo, es fresco y muy fácil de leer.
No es novela romántica, vaya eso por delante. Seguimos la vida de Nick, un abogado en paro que acaba trabajando de Papá Noel en un centro comercial, donde conoce a un niño encantador y a su más encantadora madre. Podría parecer una comedia de enredo pero se queda en algo simple y planito donde apenas pasan cosas. Los personajes son adorables y el protagonista y su mejor amigo son ideales, me encanta cómo escribe esta mujer los momentos de camaradería. Tiene partes cuquis, partes dulces, partes divertidas... pero todo esto no es el grueso del libro, son momentos. Lo demás es un día a día que avanza la trama más bien poco. Joanna Bolouri se guarda todo para el final pero lo desarrolla poquísimo, de modo brusco y, sinceramente, bastante mñe. Parece que se quiere quitar todo de encima porque se pasa de páginas.
Es una pequeña decepción no haber pasado tan buen rato con este libro como esperaba pero al menos he estado entretenida y me ha durado un suspiro. A ver si el siguiente que escriba me emociona más.

I would just like to thank NetGalley for forwarding me a copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

If you love a Festive rom-com then you will absolutely love this book, it is a must read. I can imagine it being made into a Hallmark Christmas movie, as it was full of heart-warming moments, laughter and romance.
It is set in the present day and features down-to-earth realistic characters and little Alfie just had to be my favourite - he is just adorable!!
When you are reading this book it comes across as a love triangle but is maybe a bit more of a square, if you include Alfie! It also features real-life situations and when I had finished reading it, i had all the happy feelings.
I highly recommend that you add this to your Christmas tbr.....

I really like that the whole book was written from the guy's perspective - it was refreshingly different. This was a great, heartwarming story. It should be made into a movie for the Hallmark channel. Definitely add this book to your holiday reading list!

A bit early for a Christmas read but after this weird year, I needed a feel-good romance to escape reality. It's a typical romcom with a predictable ending but I liked that it was entirely narrated by the male protagonist, that's a nice change from all the usual romance books. The story slowed down and became a bit repetitive towards the end but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. For those it may bother, there is some swearing throughout the book, I didn't mind it because to me it made it all the more realistic (I don't know anyone who doesn't swear) ;-)

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romcoms, 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A refreshingly different love story. I loved this book and I was hooked from the first page, I just couldn’t put it down. So refreshing to read a love story told from the male point of view. The characters were likeable and well written. I immediately fell in love with Nick and really enjoyed his experiences of being Santa. The humour was spot on and reminded me of the movie Bad Santa without the swearing and sex! It was wonderful to see how Nick’s character developed and his friendship with Sarah and her son Alfie was beautifully portrayed. I was rooting for Nick and Sarah all the way through and felt their heartache and frustration. Well done to the author for such a different, heartwarming Xmas story. I read a lot of romance stories and this one really stood out and will stay with me for a long time. A highly recommended read.

This was a fun Christmas read and a bit different than your typical "Hallmark movie" Christmas story. Set primarily in London, Nick is having a bad year (I mean, is it 2020!?). He finds himself out of work and stuck playing Santa in a local mall. He meets a cute, widowed, single mom Sarah, while on the job, and fixes her up with his best friend, Matt. You'll have to read the book to find out the rest!

I really enjoyed the author's character development and loved following the evolution of Nick and Sarah's friendship. There are many heartwarming moments in this book as well as many hysterical parts, which I typically don't find in a Christmas novel. Loved this read!

Perfect festive feel-good read. So refreshing to have a male narrator, I was hooked all the way through. Thanks NetGalley!

A funny, festive feelgood story,, I loved it from start to finish and wished for more. A real 5 star novel, well written and I recommend it to all.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.

What an enjoyable read. Refreshingly told from the man's perspective.. Nick is so sorry of a job and money that he takes a temporary job as a store father Christmas. Sarah is the assistant manager of the coffee shop opposite the store. They meet and get on well. Nick decides that his friend Matt would be ideal to make Sarah son's Christmas wish. He asked for his bereaved mum to be happy again. Needless to say Nick falls for Sarah but this is a dilemma as she is dating his best mate. How can he stands by and watch them be together?? Did the course of true love run smoothly??

I haven’t read anything by Joanna Bolouri before, but absolutely raced through this book. It was the perfect Christmas read, and I really enjoyed being inside Nick’s head as he fought to come back from a crappy few months and get his life back on track. Falling for his best friend’s girlfriend brought a delightful tension to this story in the best ‘Will-they, won’t they’ tradition, and in this way it reminded me of One Day in December.

The writing was warm and witty, and although I would’ve liked to be inside Sarah’s head for at least a few chapters, the fact this wasn’t the case didn’t detract from a truly enjoyable read. One of my favourite things about this book was the bromance between Nick and Matt, highlighting the importance of male friendships. There were laugh out loud moments and Alfie was also a great little character.

I would really like to see this made into a film, and think it deserves to be.

With thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

When Nick loses his job as a corporate lawyer, he never thought his next move would be working as Santa in a shopping centre. But needs must…

Here he meets 4 year old Alfie, who’s Christmas wish is to see his mum, Sarah, happy. So Nick arranges a date for Sarah with his best friend Matt. But as Nick gets to know Sarah and Alfie more, he regrets his decision as he finds himself falling for Sarah.

Oh gosh, how I loved this book! It has humour and heart, I loved every word.

If you are only going to read one Christmas book this year make it this one! I really enjoyed this book it's funny, heartwarming and endearing. It's an adult book, so uses adult vocabulary in places which I think adds to the character of the story it's also written from a male perspective.

Nick loses his job as a lawyer and is promptly dumped by his high maintenance girlfriend. To keep afloat he takes a job as a Santa in a shopping centre. He meets Alfie, a four year old who's Christmas wish is for his mum to be happy again. When Nick (not in the santa suit) meets Sarah, Alfie's mum, he gets her phone number .... to set her up with his best friend and flat mate Matt!

As Nick gets to know Sarah and Alfie more he realises he might have made the wrong decision.

Nick is such a lovely character, we all need a Nick in our lives. All the characters are relatable and the book is filled with genuine laugh out loud moments.

One of my favourite reads of the year.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the ARC

This is a wonderful festive themed rom com but could easily be read at any time of the year. It is told from the male perspective which makes a nice change.
The story has some great laugh out loud moments and is full if warmth and love.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good rom com who isn't out off by a few swear words.

An excellent, festive and heartwarming story. It made me smile, root for the characters and it was a lot of fun to read.
I loved the well thought characters, the festive atmosphere and the well crafted plot.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
It's highly entertaining, strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Nick not only loses his job but is then also dumped by his glamorous and very demanding girlfriend. He’s down on his luck when it comes to finding another job but as money is short he’s forced to accept work as Santa Claus at the local Christmas grotto. Nothing is as he’s planned it – his friends are getting: married, babies, promoted, in love… And he has to spend his days surrounded by spoiled children and an angry elf. Until one day he meets 4 – year – old Alfie. Alfie doesn’t want a Christmas present, he only wants his mum to be happy again after his father’s death. This chance encounter will change Nick’s world – dramatically.

Joanna Bolouri’s characters are true to life, full of flaws but also, and this is so important, and not always so easy to capture, real, genuine and reletable and it’s so easy to get immersed in their lives and feel a part of their world. She can, in a great way, write about friendship and relationship, and her descriptions of adulthood and settling down, then getting married and having kids are so spot on and realistically written. I also liked Nick’s journey throughout the book, from this man – child person to a more responsible adult who hasn’t lost his sense of humour and stayed true to himself. I loved Sarah. I loved her chutzpah and self - confidence, her humour and one – liners, she made me laugh and I wanted to cheer on her and say you go, girl! Matt was the perfect completion to this story.
And nobody can swear as good as Joanna Bolouri’s characters! I wouldn’t go into this topic at all however I’ve seen some reviewers complaining about the language and I think, what’s the problem? Who doesn’t swear? The story is about adult people, told from a male character’s point of view so I think it’s absolutely natural that there is a sweary banter. It didn’t bother me at all, and frankly, it you’ve read the author before you know what you’re into, and because it’s a Christmassy book? The closer to Christmas, the more I swear. The f – bombs made for much more realistic dialogues in fact.

It was, I would say, a bit milder and gentler read from Joanna Bolouri, yet still full of her hallmark humour, charm and fun. Uniquely, it was told from a male character’s point of view but I think that the author has pulled it off really, really well. There was an unusual love triangle in this story that kept me on my tenterhooks all the time as I was desperate to know how it’s going to end – I was even afraid that Ms Bolouri is going to murder one of the characters to be honest. I loved what she did here, Nick’s conflict was so easy to feel and understand, it was really well handled. The friendship between Nick and Matt was absolutely brilliant, honest, genuine and absolutely not forced, they were close and their banter flew so natural, and it was also lovely to see how much Matt’s family doted on Nick, it made my heart grow.
The other highlight was Nick’s relationship with Alfie, the way he was around him – it was so unforced, natural and real, Nick was so, so good with the little boy.

It may not be a book that takes place strictly at Christmas but it didn’t bother me at all as it’s not this kind of read that should put you in festive mood and decorate your Christmas tree pronto – but if you keep Alfie’s wish in mind it will be festive enough. And my, Nick as Santa Claus was enough for me, really *smirk*. The writing style is brilliant, so easy to connect with, filled with catchy and hilarious one – liners and light banter. The story is full of funny and embarassing scenes.

„All I Want for Christmas“ was witty and sharp, full of heart and humour, the first book since a long time that made me truly want to turn the pages – I absolutely enjoyed this delightful Christmassy romance. It’s sharp – observed with so incredibly down to earth will they/won’t they, a book that will leave you with a smile on your face. Very highly recommended, I’ll be coming back to this book for sure!

4.5 stars.
After a lot of doubting I decided to rate it 5 stars instead of four stars, because I really did enjoy it. This book started out in a perfect way, and it promised to be a cosy read, one that I might reread year after year. It definitely didn't disappoint, although this novel spreads out over one year, from one Christmas to the next. I must admit that I prefer cosy Christmas stories to take place over one Christmas, and the month leading up to it, not over summer as well. Other than that, I really loved it.