This is my favorite Christmas book so far this year. It was so refreshing to have a book where the main character isn't being dumped by a long-term boyfriend. Christmas by the Book, Ryan's first book for adults, is perfect for any bookworm. Also, it appears that this book was first published last year under the title The Six Tales of Christmas, which is also a very good title for this book.

Simon and Nora own an independent bookshop in the Cotswolds. Like many small businesses, and particularly bookstores, they are struggling. The shop had been Nora's mother's and she can't face the possibility of losing this last connection to her mother. But dodging phone calls and burning the tax collector's letters isn't going to keep this from being their last Christmas not only in the shop but also their home which is in the flat above the store.

But when an elderly man comes into the shop looking for a particular book about the first world war for his grandson who is battling leukemia. It just happens to be one of the first books Simon and Nora bought as a married couple and possibly the oldest book in the bookshop. This book had become a symbol of hope and that every book was meant for someone. With the book finally having found its home, it sparks an idea. Simon decides to do a little random act of kindness and asks the bookshop's social media followers to nominate someone they think needs a little cheering up during the holidays and they will select six to receive a free book. While they wait for the midnight deadline for the nominations, Simon and Nora select the six "Christmasy" books they will send out - among them Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Philip Van Doren Stern's The Greatest Gift.

There are plenty of references to books as people come in looking for gifts and their own reading material. But there are some fun "coincidental" references but I won't ruin them for you. But seriously all the bookish talk made my heart happy.

Simon and Nora are very much a part of their community so we get to see a lot of the locals. Ryan writes them in full color and it makes you want to be part of the village. While Simon and Nora are the main characters, the story isn't focused on only them. We get a closer look at life for the 6 recipients of the random acts of kindness. While Simon and Nora didn't know which book they sent to which person, you would have thought the book was handpicked specifically for that person. Now you aren't just invested in Simon and Nora's struggle, but also you are rooting for these 6 people.

Between the book references and the wonderful characters, I found myself with a silly little smile of delight through most of the book.

If you are wanting a heartwarming story but aren't really into the holiday romances that are abundant this time of year, then you definitely want to get this book. And if you have any bookish friends on your Christmas list, then you should get them a copy too.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday, Oct. 25 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/10/4-more-books-to-add-to-your-christmas.html

CHRISTMAS BY THE BOOK by Anne Marie Ryan is exactly what the title and cover imply – a feel good story filled with Christmas and books. The setting is a small village named Stowford nestled in the Cotswolds where bookstore owners Nora and Simon are facing financial difficulties and the prospect of closing their store. They decide to deliver six books to cheer up other residents and, of course, there are unintended consequences as their gifts help an out-of-work Shakespearean actor, a single dad, a retired teacher, and more. Pure escape and not very demanding (except for the fairly large cast of village residents), CHRISTMAS BY THE BOOK is a delightful, hope-filled, holiday read.

Such a heartfelt sweet seasonal tale.

In a small Cotswold village, Simon and Nora have been running a bookshop that Nora's mother started many years before. Things have fallen on hard times though, and this might just be the last Christmas they are able to keep the shop afloat due to crippling debt. When a customer purchases a book that had been on their shelves for over twenty years claiming that it is the perfect book, they get the idea to send out copies of books to ten people nominated by village members that are viewed to need some sort of encouragement. What happens next is so beautifully heartwarming that it caused me to shed a couple of tears of joy when all was said and done.

This isn't a deep book. It's also fairly predictable in the way that Christmas books often are. Yet, sometimes that's just the type of read you need for the season. This book can give you hope, comfort, and the knowledge that sometimes just a small act of kindness can be monumental for those around you.

Cuddle up under a cozy blanket and enjoy this sweet book. Added bonus--there's a super adorable dog appropriately named Merry.

This book knows the way to a book lovers heart. How can you not love a holiday book that deals with the magic that a book can bring to someone's life? This book is truly a testament to how a simple gift of a book can affect someone and possibly help them find a new path in life. I know that it has happened a time or two from books that I have read. Books hold such power, and this one holds it's own. A perfect book to read during the holiday season. It will fill you with such joy and warmth.
Nora and Simon own their own independent bookstore in their small town, but hard times have put into question if they will be able to stay open after the holiday season. When Simon decides that hold a contest for people to nominate those who might benefit from a free book. Little does he know that a simple act of Christmas spirit might change the life of the six people who receive a book. Will such a simple act of kindness help others for the better? Will the store be able to survive beyond the holiday season?
Thank you so much to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Beyond adorable, just what I needed.

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan (3.5⭐️)

READ IF YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR…
➱ a cozy holiday story *not* centered on romance (the couple is already happily married)
➱ a quaint bookshop in a small town in the English Cotswolds
➱ books changing lives and bringing people together

FROM THE BLURB: In small-town England, two booksellers facing tough times decide to spread some Christmas cheer through the magic of anonymous book deliveries in this uplifting holiday tale for book lovers everywhere.

MY TAKE: Christmas by the Book was just what I want in a Christmas novel — holiday festivities, kind and lovely protagonists, a charming plot, and a happy ending! And this story had the added bonus of being extremely book-centric; books literally save the day!

To recap: quaint English village, local bookshop, cute little dog named Merry, books books books, and tons of Christmas cheer. It’s a perfect festive and mellow read to curl up with this December!

Thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for a free review copy!

The cover is absolutely beautiful and I knew I had to read this book! This book was so well written and would make an amazing movie! The joy and hope was contagious and it was just a hug in a book!

Thank you so much to the publishers for my arc in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas by the Book is the perfect Christmas read full of winter wonderland, festive fun, and cozy bookshop vibes for all of your readerly needs. Featuring a married couple who own a bookstore in a British village as they struggle to make ends meet, this novel kept me turning the pages right from the start, eager to make my home in the village amongst such colorful characters and such a sweet love story. A Christmas must read!

This is the book everyone needs this Christmas! Set in England, Christmas by the Book is full of Christmas miracles. Nora and her husband Simon own a bookshop in a picturesque town in England. Unfortunately, the bookshop has fallen on hard times competing with the internet and stores in the bigger cities. One night Nora & Simon decide to send some “literary acts of kindness” to 6 other people in their community who are also experiencing hard times. The result of their goodwill brings unexpected miracles to their whole town. From a grieving brother, to a retired teacher, a member of parliament, to single parents, the books bless the recipients - and the community - beyond what anyone expected. A feel good book perfect for the holiday season!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I look forward to recommending this to readers who are looking for a sweet, uplifting story set at Christmastime. The cozy bookstore setting and the relatable cast of characters are just perfect. A great holiday read.

An inspiring story about the power of books. Nora and Simon own a bookshop that has fallen on hard times and is on the verge of closing. They take the names of six nominated persons and deliver books to them in hopes of lifting spirits at Christmas. I loved seeing which book was sent to which recipient and how it affected it’s recipient. Perfect story for anyone who loves stories about bookstores or feel good Christmas reads. The cover is gorgeous too. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read in exchange for a voluntary review.

A bit saccharine but a lovely read overall. Perfect for the winter and Christmas season. Lots of life lessons and feel good stories included. Great slice of life writing about the villagers in a small town. Would love to read more about the locals.

Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan is full of heart and Christmas Spirit. It’s everything I wanted in a Christmas book, as it’s about people, helping people, and learning how to give and accept help. The first few chapters I was sure I knew what this book was about, but then it turned and it became so much more than I expected.

Nora and Simon run a small bookshop set on the high street of a small village in the Costwolds. The bookshop used to belong to Nora’s late mother, and she grew up in the bookshop. When she met a fellow bookworm, it was fated that they both run the shop together. They raised their daughter Charlotte in the small town, where they ran the shop. Now, Charlotte is on her Gap year, traveling in Asia, and the bookshop is in trouble, and they may have to close the shop after the Christmas holidays.

I’ll be honest here, I requested Christmas by the Book, solely because of the cover, especially that cute dog on the cover. I expected a light, sweet story, but got so much more. It’s rare that a book exceeds expectations as much as this book did for me. I just loved the way the characters pitched in and really helped each other, even when they didn’t know each other very well, or at all. There are serious topics in this book, and they are dealt with in a serious and realistic way. Nobody gets a quick fix just in time for Christmas, but instead, they work together and find solutions to help each other and they all start to find hope and joy.

I will note that the first few chapters are a bit sad, and I just didn’t want to read an entire book about a couple struggling to save their shop with a miraculous solution at the very end of the book. But, after the first few chapters, we began to see the rest of the townsfolk and learn of their struggles and begin to see hope for the entire village. Nora and Simon learn that in order to save themselves, they have to save others first.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a holiday story that centers on helping others. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Charming Christmas book to warm you up in the cold. A couple on the verge of losing their bookstore decide to send 6 people a Christmas book to spread cheer. The events that take place afterward have far reaching effects for them, and their community.

Holiday setting, quant bookstore, picturesque village, a cast of wonderful characters. The ending wrapped up like a present, all the storylines (including one I thought that they had forgotten and I was getting nervous!)

I requested this book for 2 reasons, Christmas in title and name of the author. I did not expect to actually love the book as much as I did!! Can't wait for it to come out to purchase a print copy!

Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan is a Christmas miracle tale about a couple, Nora and Simon Walden, who own a bookstore that isn’t thriving financially. Nora and Simon think of ways to save the bookstore without letting others in the community know that they are in trouble. One of the ideas is anonymously deliver 6 Christmas books to people in the community that are struggling or need a little Christmas spirit. We are introduced to many characters in this book and as the story flows, we see how the Walden’s the good deeds generate the Christmas spirit in others.
I was very challenged to stick with this book as the first third is sad and I kept waiting for something terrible to happen to our two main characters. As the story continued, it become much more uplifting and positive to the point I was unable to put the book down. The author did a wonderful job creating a story that pulls you in and allows the reader to connect with the cast of characters. I absolutely loved the book and am looking forward to reading more books from this author!
A big thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan is a beautiful portrayal of the magic of books. Those who have been touched by books know that magic and read more to find it again. This book spreads that special magic.

A delightful couple run a bookshop in a village in England. They love the shop and love books and love matching the right title to the readers who frequent their shop. Unfortunately. not many are frequenting the shop these days. They may need to close. In spite of their financial difficulties they decide to perform 6 random acts of kindness, delivering a gift book to six people who need a lift. They open their social media account for nominations. Thus they end up delivering books to a variety of residents in their village, each with their own heartache or worry.
If you like books about bookstores and books and village life this one will appeal to you.

Reading a heartwarming Christmas story in the blistering heat of a southern August was a really good idea. This novel is both fresh and nostalgic. Sure to be enjoyed during the Christmas season as well.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book combined two of my favorite topics: Christmas and small towns, so I had high hopes for this book. And I ended up really enjoying it!