Member Reviews
Well, you know a book is good when you get to the end and you just want it to continue! So it was with this story. I am really hoping there will be a follow-up to this book, just saying, lol.
Holly is a dedicated young teacher who is licking her wounds in Hopley after her long-term boyfriend dumps her. Edward is a single dad whose daughter is in Holly's class. Both Edward and his daughter Eliza are starting afresh in Hopley, with a lot of adjustments for both.
I loved the characters of Holly, Edward and Eliza! These three were just so lovely, I was cheering them all on, every step of the way. There were some shocks and emotional turmoil in store for all of them, but the way the author handled those scenarios, with empathy and realism, was what made me give this book 5 stars. I think that every child deserves a teacher like Eliza and Edward's role as a single parent trying to juggle everything but having his priorities so, so right, was the most endearing part of the book. Eliza was just gorgeous :)
5 stars from me, absolutely.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
This book was so sweet and just exactly what I needed this week!
The characters in this one is what really made this story for me. I loved Holly so much and just wanted the absolute best for her. Edward and his little Eliza--from the first time I saw them on the page--I knew I'd love them and be invested in their happily-ever-after.
If you're wanting a quick, sweet read that delights, be sure to pick this one up!
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. My review will be available at the link given, on October 22, 2021.
What a delightful novel. The Little Christmas House tells the story of 3 people - 8 year old Eliza, her daddy, Edward and her new school teacher Holly. Edward and Eliza have moved into the Little Christmas House because Eliza was being bullied at her previous school and so that Edward could be closer to his parents. Holly is recovering after her partner left her the previous January. Eliza loves her new school and life with her daddy. What more could she want? I loved it!
Tracy Rees is a new author to me. I'm happy to have come across this book for several reasons, including I found a new author that appeals to me. Second, I love, love this cover! The artwork is bold and picturesque and very eye-catching. That was in fact what first caught my eye. After reading the synopsis, I new I was definitely going to read this one.
The Little Christmas House was an emotional holiday romance with flawed and lovable characters that I could not help but stand behind and cheer them on to their happily-ever-after. The romance development is slow and careful. Neither Edward or Holly are looking for romance. They are both only trying desperately to enjoy the holiday. Each has their own reasons for why; but with a nudge from unsuspecting characters, Holly and Edward find something much more poignant than Christmas itself.
I don't want to go into details because you will want to experience this sweet, heartwarming Christmas romance on your own without any spoilers. I will tell you that there is some angst, heartache, wonderful secondary characters, a cleanly written storyline, and a beautiful ending. You truly can't depend on the synopsis to lead you into this story; there are moments of unsuspecting fun. For me this was a well-rounded Christmas treasure that I would definitely read each year. In addition, The Little Christmas Househas one of my favorite holiday covers!
While I read an advanced reading copy of this book, this is my honest and unbiased revue and I thank you for taking the time to read it. :)
This is a sweet heartwarming Christmas story that was a joy to read. It is full of Christmas spirit and you can't help but fall in love with Eliza. Grab your favorite throw and a cup of hot cocoa and settle in for a wonderful read.
I received a complimentary copy from Bookouture via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book is like a cup of hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows on top. It's so warm, sweet and cosy. Set in a lovely village Holly, a primary school teacher, nursing a broken heart, is preparing for the end of term Christmas pageant, there are some real lovely moments of her interaction with the children. Eliza has recently moved to the area with her dad Edward who feels as though he's failing as a single parent, and his mother isn't helping the situation by insisting that Eliza lives with her. But when Holly and Edward meet up they find they can help each other heal the past.
Some really lovely characters and heartwarming moments in the book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
Everybody loves a Christmas story. This is a lovely story set around the run up to Christmas in a village called Hopley.
It the story of Edward and his daughter Eliza, and Eliza’s teacher Holly.
Holly, whose recently come out of a relationship, Edward and his daughter have moved to Hopley after his daughter had a hard time at her old school, after her mother, whose famous left her and went off to live her life.
A really, feel-good book and one that’s perfect to get into the Christmas mood. The characters go through a few problems to get to their nice Christmas, for Edward, he needs to make their home ready in Christmas House, a home as a single-parent family.
Holly wanting to get past the life she was going to live and put her thoughts towards a new dream.
Seeing Eliza get over the past ordeal and be a bubbly, happy little girl with the help of Holly was lovely, her dad Edward, juggling being a single parent and having to renovate their house as well as his job.
This book isn’t just about Christmas 🎅
Highly Recommend This Book
Lovely heartwarming story, perfect for long dark cold evenings. Brings magical Christmas to life. Easy and quick enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me an Arc in exchange for an honest review
The Little Christmas House is warm and cozy—the very best kind of story for the holidays! It is charming and heartwarming, with endearing characters thar I truly cared about. Holly, Edward, and dear Eliza are all a bit heartbroken as the holiday approaches, and it was lovely to see them cast off those shadows and learn to love and trust again. There is such a sweet, kindhearted tone to this book, even as the characters must deal with others who try to upend the lives they’re rebuilding.
Holly and Edward tell their story in this delightful tale of two people who were betrayed by their partners but find love and a future in a small town. Holly's a teacher and she's quite taken with Eliza, who has just joined the class. Eliza's dad Edward moved them to the village in hope of a new start after his wife (her mom) left and to get away from his own mother, who has definite opinions. Holly and Edward develop a good relationship but find it tested (no spoilers). You know how this is going to turn out don't you? That didn't matter to me because Rees has good storytelling chops and has written good characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A positive read.
48 chapters can feel a little intimidating at first, but at just over 200 pages, you know they’ll be quick snappy chapters (my favourite kind) that you can plough through before bed.
It’s another judging-the-book-by-the-cover situation here, but I don’t care. The little house on the cover is so quaint and beautiful and I want to move in immediately.
I liked the chapters being from different points of view. It’s very easy to get sucked into the merriment of one or two people’s christmases, but it is another thing to see how it affects everyone else, which it inevitably does. It means it is a more 3D, more personable and more identifiable experience.
It is warming and cosy and magical, but real. It shows the stresses that comes with real life, and that doesn’t just stop for Christmas, as much as we would like it to. The three main characters of Edward, Holly and Eliza are all wonderful - Eliza especially is delightful. And the secondary characters all bring their own charm - and flaws - and humanity to make this such a relatable but joyful story.
Very cute and heartwarming story. The characters are charming and the book is well written. It was the perfect escape during a rainy autumn day.
Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sweet magical book full of Christmas spirit. Holly Hanwell is a 30 year teacher at the local village school in Hopley Village. She is not feeling the Christmas spirit in her personal life as her boyfriend left her to have a baby with someone else. She does get into the Christmas spirit with her students and plans their contribution to the yearly Christmas pageant. Edward is a single father to 8 year old Eliza who move to town to give Eliza a fresh start. Holly is Eliza new teacher who tries to get her involved with the Christmas Pageant but Eliza only wants to work behind the scenes. Edward and Holly bump into each other in town and have hot chocolate together and start to bond. I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it very uplifting and charming read. Highly recommend.
Received this book as ARC from Netgalley for honest review.
A quick and easy adorable read that is fullof festivity and the magic of christmas. I was wrapped up in a cosy little world while i was reading this book, I loved it.
The Little Christmas House is an entertaining read that you know, as you turn the pages, is going to have a happy ending. I loved it!
It’s the story of Edward, a struggling divorced dad who was trying hard to make a home for his daughter, Eliza, and Holly, Eliza’s teacher, who was coming off a bad breakup. Edward’s domestic skills were so lacking, and I almost cried when Mrs D showed up. She saved the day with child care and was also able to show him how to make his house a home. There’s more to come between Edward and Holly.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Little Christmas House. I enjoyed it immensely.
Tracy Rees first branched out into more contemporary fiction earlier this year and we have returned to the village of Hopley that she introduced us to in this her second novel and one with a very Christmassy feel.
Edward and Eliza, have moved into The Christmas House, on the edge of the village of Hopley. A world away from their house in Leeds, but not that far from Edward’s parents. The house doesn’t really live up to it’s name but Edward is determined that this will be home. Eliza simply loves it, but then when you see the world through an eight year olds eyes you can easily forget all the other stuff in the world.
But what is Edward and his delightful sparky little daughter’s real story.
Perhaps teacher Holly Hanwell will be able to get to the bottom of it. Eliza is in her class and she welcomes her in knowing that there was some problem at her previous school. Holly is embracing Christmas as she always does for the little village school she works in and it is through this she discovers more about Eliza.
But Holly is hiding from something herself – she is about to spend Christmas alone because the man she thought she would marry has left and his expecting a baby with his new love. Something that Holly could never do. Holly is hurting and needs some magic, some Christmas magic.
When Holly and Edward’s paths keep crossing it seems that they both have the main aim to help Eliza have a magical Christmas and perhaps that magic will rub off on them too.
As we learn more about their story we are introduced to Edward’s rather domineering mother who has ideas of her own about her son should be raising his child. Holly finds herself drawn to her neighbours and the changing of the seasons to understand that she can regrow and start again with a new life.
The story is split into the points of view of both Holly and Edwards but also Eliza who seems so wise beyond her years. I loved to be able to enjoy each of their stories and how they then started to weave together in another joyful story from this author. I immediately warmed to the ineptness of Edward as a father and shed a tear with Holly over her future. But without a doubt for me as well as I think Edward and Holly, Eliza had her observations spot on and that actually we should all be more Eliza in life. Enjoying the glitter of life no matter the problems it might be covering up. The glitter will always shine through.
This book shines through as a great Christmas read and should be on everyone’s list.
What a wholesome, heartwarming and cozy read! If you want to read something to get you into that holiday spirit, this is the book for you. It's a bit more slow paced than I personally like, but I did really enjoy it. I had never read anything by Tracy Rees before, but her writing is great! I definitely want to read more from this author now!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author, for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review.
A beautiful feel good love story. I loved Edward and Holly. Both been through the mill. Holly’s school sounded such fun and the school play. Don’t normally like books written by 3 different characters but it worked. I would love to live in the Christmas house..You felt for Holly learning to be on her own and her neighbour being so kind . Eliza was very mature for her ages. The local reporter making the school play about the children not Eliza’s famous mother was great . A must read
Get some hot chocolate or mulled wine and curl up with this charming book. It’s a delightful story about how life might not turn out as you had expected, but when you accept that you will be happy in a whole new way like one of the characters in the book says. If you love Christmas and romance then this is the book for you!
What an absolute delight this book is.
I loved all the characters they were so well described I felt I was living my life with them in the little village of Hopley.
Edward is a great dad to Eliza after Cressida his wife walked out on them a few years before to live her movie style life in LA. Edward picked up the pieces and gathered his life together with Eliza. They moved into Christmas House which was in need of TLC which Edward struggled to do along with trying to work.
Every page was sheer bliss and a real feel good read. This book must not be missed.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.