I thoroughly enjoyed Kate and Eds story, of them rediscovering who they are and what they want from life.

Featuring Christmas where they have just agreed to break up but can't bring themselves to tell either family, they spend a few days trying to pretend everything is OK.

With various degrees of success. We get to meet both families and I especially loved Kates.

There is a lot of bickering between our "couple" which I found quite amusing as was never completely sure what direction the story might take.

I also enjoyed the flashback chapters to the early stages of their relationship, and seeing just how that moulded them.

This was a lovely quick and easy read, which certainly had me smiling as I read it.

Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎄

Kate and Ed are on their way to celebrate Christmas with their families and normally there'd be a Christmas mix playing in the car but now there's just frosty silence. After a flaming row about their future, the couple realise they've come to a deadend and decide to break up. But the show must go on and they decide to just get through the holidays with a brave face one last time.

Such a cute little holiday read, I finished this one in a day. Dual POV and dual timeline, we get a full 3D look at Kate and Ed's relationship. They were childhood sweethearts but now that they're older, they're changing and realising they want different things and struggling to find a way to make that work within the confines of the relationship. It was a really interesting look at a complex situation with heightened emotions at a time of year when everyone's stressed out as it is!

I really liked both of the main characters and let's be honest, it's a feel good Christmas book so we knew where it would end up, but I enjoyed the journey and the story!

Thank you @netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review 🎄

this was such a good book. I felt very drawn to the characters which surprised me. I loved the setting as its the perfect book for this time of year in the run up to Christmas with a bit of romance thrown in

One of my all time favourite Christmas films is Four Christmas with Reese Witherspoon and this book really reminded me of that film.
It was such a great book.
I am a huge sucker for Christmas books however, so I may be very bias in this genre
It’s hard enough spending Christmas with the family and trying to please everyone, but imagine having to do that whilst pretend you’re still in a relationship with your childhood sweetheart, who’s visiting with you!!
I really enjoyed the way the author told the story, flashing back to the past and inviting the reader into the story of Kate and Ed
Whilst the book was predictable at times, it just added to it being an amazing Christmas novel.
There is so much humour in this book and I think the characters were really relatable.
Working in law, I could sympathise with Kate and I’m glad things ended the way they did for her in that respect
My favourite character was Gubba, who couldn’t love her!
This author writes a perfect Christmas novel and her latest one did not disappoint
Roll on her next one, next year

Joanna Bolouri brings us a festive romcom that follows the crumbling relationship between Kate and Ed. Tensions are running high between the couple as they make their way home to see their families over Christmas but they agree not to tell them that they are breaking up.

It was so clear to see that Kate and Ed were made for each other but that they had got too comfortable after so many years together and they have lost their way and stopped communicating with each other. I loved how my thoughts towards them both chopped and changed throughout the storyline, one minute being frustrated with them at times not liking them especially Kate, and then as the bigger picture is revealed I came full circle and really liked them both and just wanted to bang their heads together!

The supporting characters really helped this storyline too, especially with Kate's Gubba (Grandmother) who was a wickedly wonderful character who brought a touch of humour to lighten the storyline. The storyline although set at Christmas really isn't overly festive so it can easily be read anytime of year.

The chapters were short and sharp, switching between both Kate and Ed POV which worked really well to get both sides of the story and see first hand what their thoughts and feelings were rather than only seeing one's view on the other. The chapters also at times went back in time which took some getting used to on the kindle, I wonder if this maybe better laid out in book form.

An enjoyable light read tackling troubled stagnant relationship and showing the importance of communication.

One of the cutest Christmas romances ever. Loved! I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read an ARC of Driving Home for Christmas. This was my favourite thing in a long time.

Driving Home for Christmas
Named after the song that must keep Chris Rea in posh hot chocolate laced with brandy this novel is a bit of a change from the will they won’t they scenario. This time we meet Kate and Ed who are in ten years into their happy ever after and discovering love isn’t always enough.
Laura is a hot shot divorce lawyer but that wasn’t what she wanted was it? Ed teaches music but didn’t he want to play it? They’ve not only drifted apart they’ve driven a tank through their hopes and dreams.
Deciding to call time on their relationship Kate and Ed also decide to spend thie scant days off with their respective parents and leave out this critical information before being wrapped in the bosom of the families. Maybe only a snowfall can save them now, it’s definitely going to take more than Christmas flavoured Baileys for this happy ending.
Of course all hope is not lost and this book looks at how a relationship can be rebuilt on more solid foundations which will make it last. All the elements of romance at Christmas time are there but there’s also a dose of healthy tension and some laughs to ease it. Both of them examine where their lives have got them and whether there is a future. I’m reminded of Love Actually, parts of which I actively loathe but happily this only picks up the non cringe inducing moments.
Let’s face it, stresses and strains of Christmas bring out the worst in us and there’s a reason the divorce rate goes up after the enforced lockdown until New Year. This book has laughs and tears but its actually got a soft centre which manages to gives out a positive message which we can all enjoy.

I enjoyed reading this cute, second-chance romance book (which isn’t a trope I read very often), but I was slightly disappointed at how quickly everything concluded at the end as opposed to how well the rest of the story flowed. The back and forth throughout the years of Kate and Ed’s relationship had me rooting for them from the word go, and I loved how real/ flawed they were as characters.

An ideal book for those wanting some feel-good festive vibes!

I liked the characters, I enjoyed the story and I love a festive read but this book just didn’t wow me. Overall I’d say it’s alright but just missing something that would have me racing back to it

One of my all time favourite Christmas films is Four Christmas with Reese Witherspoon and this book really reminded me of that film.
It was such a great book.
I am a huge sucker for Christmas books however, so I may be very bias in this genre
It’s hard enough spending Christmas with the family and trying to please everyone, but imagine having to do that whilst pretend you’re still in a relationship with your childhood sweetheart, who’s visiting with you!!
I really enjoyed the way the author told the story, flashing back to the past and inviting the reader into the story of Kate and Ed
Whilst the book was predictable at times, it just added to it being an amazing Christmas novel.
There is so much humour in this book and I think the characters were really relatable.
Working in law, I could sympathise with Kate and I’m glad things ended the way they did for her in that respect
My favourite character was Gubba, who couldn’t love her!
This author writes a perfect Christmas novel and her latest one did not disappoint
Roll on her next one, next year

Kate and Ed are driving home to spend Christmas with their families, and a huge row leaves them agreeing to end their relationship. They can't possibly tell their families at Christmas, so they decide to visit Ed's parents, Kate's Mum and Kate's Dad, hiding their split. What ensues is a sweet re-examination of their relationship, with some comical and plenty of emotional moments.

A good cosy Christmas read, I found myself sympathising with Ed one minute, then Kate the next, and just wishing they would actually talk to each other!

My cheeks hurt from smiling through this delightful book. This one kept me hooked and entertained until the last page… The characters each have these little pieces that make them such believable characters! This fabulous summer read is a gentle reminder love never gives up on anyone. An unforgettable story.

Review of Driving Home For Christmas by Joanna Bolouri

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Driving Home for Christmas is out now! 💌

Aw, this was very cute. I really liked to read about Kate and Ed and I was just rooting for them throughout the story. The Christmas feels made it even better and cuter to get into this story. It also really had some depth to them, especially about the pressure being put on women to have children. I thought that was so wonderfully portrayed in this book.

Definitely a recommendation for everyone who enjoys cute romance books with a very Christmassy feel (although definitely not overdone), but very limited spice. Overall, just really sweet and cute, perfect to cozy up with ♥️☃️

Ed and Kate have known each other for 15 years and live together in London. They come from Derbyshire and every year they drive home to see their respective families but this year things get off to a bad start when Kate, a lawyer specialising in family law leaves work late, keeping a frustrated Ed who is a music teacher, waiting in his freezing cold car. They have a massive argument and instead of buying motorway sandwiches to munch on later in the car, they agree to take a break in their relationship, as suggested by Kate. Neither wants to tell their parents they are no longer a couple, so they continue to Castleton and Hope anyway.

Funny and festive, I really enjoyed this novel. Told using flashbacks and alternating chapters offering Ed and Kate's perspective, the short chapters made this an easy read. The secondary characters provide some hilarity and lightheartedness, especially Gubba, Kate's Grandma. Very good.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Quercus via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Enjoyable Christmas read with lovely characters and descriptions. Sit back relax and enjoy. 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

A really great, festive read with some warm hearted and funny moments as well. Two likeable leads in Kate and Ed and an interesting journey. (3.75 ⭐️)

A sweet, festive, and entertaining Christmas rom-com. I enjoyed it, rooted for the characters, and think it's an excellent book for a grey winter afternoon.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

We meet Kate and Ed when they are driving home for Christmas. There’s already a bit of an atmosphere as Kate is an hour late leaving her job and Ed has had to sit in a chilly car for over an hour waiting for her. Sometimes stresses and strains seem amplified at Christmas and they certainly take their toll on this relationship. Although they have a massive argument on the journey and decide that time is up for the relationship, with three different family groups to spend Christmas with, they decide to fake it with the families, rather than risk spoiling their Christmases too. There were some rather uncomfortable scenes for both Kate and Ed as the weight of expectations from their families made for some rather awkward moments!

Kate’s grandmother, known as Gubba, was one of my favourite characters. She was feisty, astute and wasn’t averse to speaking her her mind which at time was hilarious. Kate’s much younger brother, Tom, was just so sweet and it was lovely to see how he looked up to Kate and especially to Ed.

Kate and Ed so obviously still loved each other, still fancied the pants off each other and admitted as much. We see how their very different life paths and expectations had led them to grow apart. I enjoyed getting to see how their relationship developed from when they first met as teenagers and what made them into the people they’d become. I so wanted them to resolve their differences but they seemed insurmountable.

Driving Home for Christmas is a book which will give you all the festive feels but could be enjoyed at any time of the year really. Ed and Kate are really relatable characters and I was completely caught up in their story. I absolutely loved this book and definitely recommend you add it to your Christmas reading list.

Romcoms are like a hug in a book, and Driving Home For Christmas gave me a massive squeeze.
There can be a lot of over-the-top drama in romcoms (which isn’t a bad thing, I love it!), but the stand out here is how relatable and honest both Kate and Ed are and their relationship too!
I saw characteristics of myself in both of them, flaws and all and correlations between their relationship and my previous one, which made it even more real.

I loved their interactions, again for how real they are. I mean, the snarky comments and bickering are funny but so familiar I also understand the pain behind their words.

DHfC is funny, emotional and brilliantly written.
I loved it and now have a new must-read author to add to my list.

I do have one issue. Thanks to the title, I have a certain Christmas song firmly lodged in my head! Lol 🚗 🎶🎄

One final note, Gubba is epic! Highlighted perfectly in one scene where Kate says, “My grandmother is kind of a d**k!”
Lol, Read it.

Thank you, Quercus Books & NetGalley, for the arc in return for my honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Ed is a music teacher, Kate, a divorce lawyer, and they’ve both been together since they were teenagers.

Living together in London, at Christmas every year, they go to visit their families, joining the festivities, and then heading back to London.

But, it’s different for this year, they have a big row as they’re on their way, and both decide to
take a break from their relationship, but they have to get Christmas over with first, that too without their families getting suspicious.

Apart, they both think about themselves, about the lives they lead and each others.

Do they really want to split up or is there a chance they can save the relationship?

I recommend this book.