2.5

Honestly, the ending of this book lets it down. I wasn't a fan. I enjoyed reading the two different versions of Liv, told in a Sliding Doors fashion. Both accounts held my interest and the anger that I felt towards Eddie. It made me want to scream in frustration at times. I'm glad I read it but it's not the most memorable book I've ever read.

This had a very sliding doors feel about it. Liv finds herself with a split decision choice to make. She either goes home to her family and dead-beat boyfriend (even before we were properly introduced to Eddie, you just knew he was a waste of space.) OR she stays and to see if the man who just jumped in front of a motorbike and saves her life is OK.

You see the story of both options. I did find it a little confusing at times as to which 'Liv' time zone we were in as some of the story over lapped - especially if I was reading it before bed and my brain was already half asleep.

Not quite the fluffy festive read I was expecting but enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. This is my honest opinion.

Liv is saved by a man who is subsequently injured. Leading to a decision over whether to continue with her plans or go with him to the hospital. Which choice is the right one and how much difference could it make?

This is a really good read but it plays with your emotions a lot. Drama, intrigue, anger, sadness and happiness. What a ride. The story follows the two different paths she could take after that fateful decision. I liked the fact we saw both possible outcomes. The ending was perfect for the book but i must admit its not how I wanted it to end. I cant deny how well it finishes the story however. At times I want to slap Liv for not seeing what's right in front of her but she's been through a lot. The writing is well done and paced perfectly to hold attention. A great read.

This isn't my usual kind of read but I was drawn to it and I'm so happy that I picked it up. I adored the sliding doors storyline and seeing what happened in both potential versions of Liv's life. I wasn't so keen on part of how it ended but at the same time it made sense for the story and it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the book. I recommend it!

Really enjoyed this book. It took me a little while to get used to the way it was written but I found it highly enjoyable. I’d recommend this to a friend.

Bit of a sliding doors story. A good read, but not very Christmassy, and for me not as good as some other other books. It will keep you reading to find out what happens, but not as gripping as I expected.

I fund it a little difficult to read at the beginning trying to follow the dual story line but the more I read the more Iinvested in the story I became. I was hooked and loved how the story unfolded. An extremely good read.

On the First Day of Christmas by Faith Hogan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Aria and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

This Christmas, everything will change...

When Liv Latimer says goodbye to her fellow nurses and finishes work for the holidays, she's looking forward to a Christmas to remember with her boyfriend Eddie.

But as she leaves the hospital, tragedy strikes and Liv is faced with a choice. Will she ignore her instincts and go home as planned? Or will she stay, and potentially change the course of her life as she knows it?

Whatever choice she makes, Liv is about to discover that fate finds a way...

My Opinion

The first thing to know about this book is that there are two timelines taking place - this confused me at first. Once I had figured the dual timelines out this book was enjoyable and whilst it is set at Christmas it was not overly festive so could be enjoyed at any time of year. A sweet and charming read to be enjoyed this year.

Rating 4/5

Unfortunately this one wasn't for me. On the surface it should have been a 5 star prediction. It had sisters, hospitals and a sliding doors-esque plot but I just couldn't get into it at all, it wasn't gripping me and I think that if you keep checking how far in your are then its not for you.

This is a take on the ‘Sliding Doors’ film of many years ago.

ER Nurse, Liv, is on her way home for Christmas when a stranger saves her from an accident, injuring themselves in the process.

It is here that the story splits, with two parallel lives. One, where Liv stays to check on the welfare of the stranger, foregoing her trip to her family home with her boyfriend, and one where she gets in the car with her boyfriend and heads to her parents home.

An enjoyable romance read with a twist.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This festive book really captured my interest. If you remember watching the movie Sliding Doors in the late 90s (featuring Gwyneth Paltrow), and you enjoyed the parallel story lines then this book is absolutely for you!

Following the accident that takes place, the book splits into two parallel stories from the same point in time onwards, and as the storyline progresses you will find yourself seeing two different Christmas experiences that the main character Liv experiences. On the Kindle, the different stories were differentiated by a different font, which made it really easy to keep track of which story we were in when it switched. In both stories, Liv is the same person, as are the other characters in the storylines, but with different events taking her in completely different directions.

I am not going to reveal any spoilers about the story, but the way everything converged at the end was emotional, heart-warming and almost magical in the way it was done. It was such a clever, unique story, with a definite festive feel to it.

This was a nice book to read, not, fantastic but ok. I did find it a little tedious at times but, I plowed on and finished it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this Christmas time romance by Faith Hogan. The dual timeline/Sliding Doors style narrative was quite gripping and I found myself eager to pick up the book again to find out what was going to happen next in the life of Liv, over-worked A&E nurse.

I thought the different plot strands surrounding Liv, her family and her love life were well constructed and Hogan doesn't shy away from real-life heartache in the form of the death of a sister, near death experience and discovering infidelity. Because she is telling the story from two different angles we as readers get to explore different perspectives too that we might not have considered.

I did get a bit frustrated with one of the storylines, wondering how Liv could keep believing her relationship was going to succeed when all the evidence around pointed otherwise, and was not entirely sure about the ending.
Overall a great holiday story to read snuggled up by the fire with a hot chocolate or a glass of wine!

Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance release copy in exchange for an honest review.

FAITH HOGAN: ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS.

THE PLOT: As nurse Liv Latimer, leaves her late shift in a Dublin hospital on Christmas eve, she is more than ready to celebrate Christmas with her nearest and dearest. Convinced her boyfriend is going to propose, this is looking like being the best Christmas ever.
As she rushes to catch her bus, Liv has a close call with a motorbike. Luckily a handsome stranger steps in and saves Liv from injury. Unfortunately the stranger himself is not so lucky and needs to be taken to hospital.
Liv has to choose. Does she carry on with her christmas plans? Or should she go to the hospital with the kind soul who jumped in to save her?

MY THOUGHTS: From the initial incident in the book, the story takes a ‘sliding doors’ theme.
I am a big fan of this approach to a story. It almost feels like two books for the price of one!
On The First Day Of Christmas is beautifully written. Faith Hogan has an enchanting and captivating way with words.
Both paths in this story weave seamlessly through the book.

There is a wonderful mix of characters. I took to Liv from the start. She is conscientious, sweet and thoughtful, if a little naive at times.

The ending is quite simply magical and very touching.

Over all, this is an original and fresh take on a festive tale. It’s not a traditional story of Christmas cheer, but it is a story full of depth and heart.

I absolutely adored this book. It stirred up so many emotions. It touched my heart, made me feel quite sad at times; but was ultimately feel good and uplifting.

A very special book, that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OUT NOW: ebook
audio

Paperback: 12/10/23

With thanks to #Netgalley and #HeadOfZeus for a digital copy of this title.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is very like Sliding Doors with two stories but how will it end and how will Liv choose to live!

A sweet and charming Sliding-Doors-esque story about the decisions we make and how they change the course of our destiny.

Liv has just finished her A and E shift and is excited about going home for Christmas. She also suspects her boyfriend Eddie is going to propose. But when a stranger saves her from a near death collision, Liv has to decide whether to stay with this stranger who is now in a coma, or carry on with her plans.

The story diverges into two paths as we get to see how things turn out depending on a series of choices and I really liked this aspect.

Along the way, secrets and lies are exposed, friendships deepen and new love beckons.

But behind it all is Liv's grief for her twin sister Rachel who tragically died from cancer at 21.

The story takes a supernatural twist towards the end which was magical and moving.

A festive read without any schmaltz, I very much enjoyed this charming book.

A really interesting take on the effect one decision can make on your life. Great characters and lovely descriptions of rural Ireland. Highly recommended.

3.5★s
On the First Day Of Christmas is the eighth novel by Irish author, Faith Hogan.
At the end of her late nursing shift on Christmas Eve at St Columbanus’s Hospital in Dublin, all Liv Latimer can think about is getting home to the family farm in Ballycove where, she’s convinced, her boyfriend Eddie will be proposing. But as she rushes for her bus, a vaguely familiar-looking man saves her life, twice! In the process, he is injured. The least she can do is to take him in to A&E and make sure he gets the best care.

Pete, her late twin Rachel’s best friend, is coming to collect her for the drive to Ballycove. Should she go and enjoy Christmas with her family and await Eddie’s proposal? Or should she stick around, help out in the short-staffed A&E, and check on the progress of her saviour, apparently Finn O’Connell?

From here, two narratives proceed in tandem, distinguished by different fonts, describing these alternate paths. In each stream, Eddie is a selfish freeloader, enabled by his doting mother, with Liv continually making excuses for his poor behaviour. In each stream, Liv is particularly disappointed when she discovers the true extent of his perfidy, and her family and Pete offer their unstinting support.

In the Ballycove stream, Liv acts like a blinkered doormat for Eddie, irritatingly spineless at each turn, and way too charitable about everyone’s motives. And when she learns the truth, she shoots the messenger. In the Dublin stream, Liv is a much stronger character. When the streams merge, there’s a hint of paranormal before a resolution that isn’t altogether satisfying as it feels a little incomplete, a little rushed. Sadly, while this is good, it is not Hogan’s best.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Head of Zeus/Aria.

What a weird book this was to read given its effectively two stories done in different directions, like a what if… I did actually want to read the ending, something I never do, to see which storyline you should read/pst attention to most! Sadly not a book I’ll recommend.

Faith Hogan is just wonderful, an absolute treasure who always delivers with each new book she writes. This has been no different, I have adored On the First Day of Christmas and can safely say that this is one of my favourite books yet.

Liv’s story is one which is told in two perspectives within this one. This has really made this unique to anything I’ve read previously. This is one that will really pull you in and steal your heart.

There are a number of wonderful characters in the pages of this one. Different aspects will touch different emotions and Hogan will really make you feel as you read this one .

This is interesting and thought provoking to read. I found myself pulled in and unwilling to put this one down. Hogan is a gem and this is another treasure.

An absolute recommendation from me.