This book got me through Covid!

I read this book while stuck in bed with Covid. To say I was feeling down and out is an understatement. However, the Christmas magic in Jennifer Joyce’s Christmas Cupid was just what I needed.

Zoey is tragically killed while working the Christmas parade. Visited by her grandmother, she is given the chance to live, if she can match six true loves by Christmas Day. Fueled by her desire to win back her ex- boyfriend, Scott, she learns that not all love stories end in a happily ever after.

I must admit that I struggled with Zoey at times. She was so focused on getting Scott back that she neglected to see his faults. Her willingness to diminish herself in order to become the woman Scott wanted was heartbreaking. He was such a tool; unworthy of Zoey’s time, attention, and love.


Special thanks to NetGalley and HQ for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

“I’ve been such a fool. I was given a second chance at life, and I didn’t take it wilt both hands. I hankered after an old, battered life, one that should have been left behind, and wasted the opportunity to be truly happy.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Christmas Cupid was an such adorable read. We follow Zoey, a manic pixie dream girl type, who has just been broken up with a couple of days before Christmas, losing her dream man took away all of her Christmas cheer (which she, as a retail worker, definitely needs). During the department store parade, Zoey ends up in a freak accident which costs her her life, BUT she is free to return if she can match 6 couples by Christmas eve… Easy right?

I had such a fun time reading this book. Was it anything fantastic? no. But did I thoroughly enjoy myself whilst reading? yes!

I would recommend this if you’re a fan of the film “Last Christmas”, I definitely get the same feel from both. It isn’t too romance heavy, which caught me off guard, so I’d recommend going into it in the hopes of it being a “womens fiction” with a side of romance.

I will definitely check out Jennifer Joyce’s future releases!

Zoey is having a very bad December. She's just been dumped by her boyfriend Scott, had a very unfortunate haircut and now has to walk on stilts for the Christmas parade. But after being hit by a Christmas bus she's sent back to the beginning of December with a mission to match six couples by Christmas eve. Will she manage to bring six couples together before time runs out?

This was so good and gets you right in a festive mood. From Christmas markets, music, hot chocolate and parades Jennifer Joyce did a good job of putting you right in the story and making you wish for Christmas.

I like how Zoey and Scott's relationship was written as sometimes it can take a person a long time to realise they're not being treated well. Though I do wish we got more about Zoeys happy ending before the story ended.

I enjoyed watching Zoey trying everything she could to matchmake people and the way she was alerted to a new match was a good twist though I'd have liked to see how each match was getting on by Christmas. The friendships in this were also great making you wish you were sitting in at the pub quiz and karaoke with them.

I really enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down as I wanted to know if Zoey would make it in the end.

If you're after a good christmassy rom-com I highly recommend.

I struggled with this book. Zoey made me extremely mad, so much so that I thought about not finishing. I did decide to push through, yet I felt that her decisions in this book “dumbed her down”.
I did like the concept of the book, I thought it would be a lot like drop dead diva, but the delivery did not come out as well for me.

This book was so witty and fun and a great Christmas themed story! I couldn't put it down and was sad i had to when i finished.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

There are no prizes for guessing the match that completes the required set- it is clear from the offset, but that does not detract from the pleasure of reading to the conclusion!
grab some special hot chocolate and settle in for a wintery love story.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a really enjoyable, Christmassy read. I was invested in the characters and storyline (although I couldn't stand Scott!) and enjoyed seeing how the storyline progressed.

The Christmas Cupid by Jennifer Joyce

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

Blurb

Zoey Beake is having a bad December. She’s just been dumped, she’s had an extremely dodgy haircut that even the biggest woolly hat can’t hide, and then a tragic accident – involving an elf outfit, stilts, and a red double-decker bus labelled ‘The Santa Express’ – leaves her dead.

But then Zoey is given a second chance at life. Sent back to the start of December, if she can match six couples by Christmas Eve her life will be saved. Which gives her the perfect opportunity to win her boyfriend back too…

Can Zoey find love in time for Christmas?

My Opinion

Well this was an interesting Christmas book - an enjoyable light-hearted read. As the book progresses I found myself wishing that Zoey would pull herself together and just see that she deserved so much better than Scott - will she work it out before it is too late?

A festive rom-com, with some entertaining attempts to play cupid. My only previous book by Jennifer Joyce was a festive novella, so it was nice to read a full length novel. Throughout this book there were some lovely descriptions of festive cupcakes, you have been warned.

Rating 4/5

This was everything you want a Christmas book to be- funny, heartwarming, bringing that warm feeling that comes with wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket and reading with a hot mug of cocoa (with marshmallows!)
Just fun!

This book is a touching and cute Christmas/holiday story. If you were looking for a holiday story to get you into the mood or just spread a little Christmas cheer, this is the book for you. The characters are well written and the plot itself moves well within the story. I loved reading this book because it just felt like a perfect little Christmas story and the ending is nice too.

Seriously good! This book was a fantastic romantic comedy, made even better with the holiday spin. I loved it!

Did not finish this book ~30%. The main character, Zoey, really put me off. She is VERY unobservant in her life and relationship, but she still wants to try with a guy who could not care about her. I kept wanting to reach through the book and shake her and say, "OBVIOUSLY SCOTT IS AN A**HOLE!! WHY CAN'T YOU SEE IT?!?" She's completely oblivious and it was totally frustrating to read! It's more of a life lesson/personal growth book as opposed to a romance, but there *are* romantic aspects to the portion I read, they just weren't enough to keep me interested. Thanks to NetGalley and HQ/HQ Digital for the ACR!

I throughly enjoyed this novel. In fact, it’s one of the few lately that has held my attention throughout the entire story. While I could see a few things coming, I never felt like rushing though it. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

4 stars

Somehow this is one of the better Christmas books I have read this year. The bar for Christmas books must be in the basement by now. But The Christmas Cupid with its silly title and silly premise managed to cross the bar and rise up to, like, the 2nd floor of Christmas.

The female main character, Zoey, works at a toy store during Christmas and just got dumped by her crappy boyfriend and participates in a Christmas Eve parade where she DIES. Why this is not the first time I have come across a Christmas book where someone dies this year I don't know. Is it a metaphor for how terrible the holidays are? Anyway, Zoey, who is dead, is given a second chance at life if she manages to pair up 6 couples by Christmas once the ghost of her grandmother sends her back in time to December 1st! And her fitness tracker keeps count of the paired up couples!!! Completely asinine plot but I was here for it.

Since this is a Christmas romance in the year 2022 where there is no guarantee of characters having a nice holiday, a satisfying romance, or even staying alive, I will spoil everyone to confirm that yes, Zoey accomplishes her task and does not remain dead permanently this time. She also gets a new romance with a less crappy person even after she spends way too much time and energy trying to keep Scott (her crappy ex) once sent back in time. She also consumes a lot of Christmas hot chocolate and cupcakes. And that, everyone, is what Christmas is all about: not dying and eating treats. And maybe romance I guess.

I really enjoyed this book. I love Joyce's writing style and her quirky characters. It put me in the mood for Christmas and I may just have to read it again before the holiday!

Honestly.... I'm disappointed. The plot sounded like the tv-show Drop Dead Diva meets the movie Christmas Cupid (fitting name lol) and the premise sounded so good that I got very excited for it. But the main character drove me NUTS! Which really made me dislike the book. Let's just say that it did not put me in the Christmas mood that I had hoped it put me in.

This was a fun story to get into the Christmas mood! I just finished binging Drop Dead Diva, and really got those vibes but I liked it! It was a fun quick read and I can't wait to read more by this author!

An enjoyable an entertaining holiday read! Zoey is in an accident and on her death bed, her grandma gives her the good news, Zoey's getting a second chance. She is sent back to December 1st. Now, all she has to do is get 6 couples to fall in love by Christmas eve and she gets to live. This was a cozy and lighthearted read and my anglophile heart enjoyed every minute!

What I Say:

Jennifer Joyce certainly knows how to write a festive Rom-Com! The way she writes is full of quirky characters and sometimes sweet, sometimes hilarious but always lovely moments.

The Christmas Cupid sees Zoey being given a second chance to live the month of December but she has a mission. She has to make 6 love matches before Christmas Eve. Zoey is also focused on stopping The Terrible Row she and her boyfriend have right before Christmas. She thinks if she can become the Perfect Girlfriend, she can fix things at home and avoid a holiday break-up.

Zoey throws herself into match-making and waits for the magic to happen. 

I adored (most of) the characters we meet here. Zoey, Milo, Franciska and Eloise especially. I loved being in and around the Manchester Christmas markets as I've been several times and can picture it and smell the gorgeous fragrances of the festive season! I really want a raspberry ripple hot chocolate now!

This book is a Christmas must-read! It's perfect!

I have enjoyed several books by Jennifer Joyce and I really liked the synopsis of this book. Sadly it wasn't as good as I expected it to be.
I found the main character Zoey to be annoying. I also thought that the book would have been better with an epilogue, as it would have been nice to read more about what happened next.
The book was readable and I did enjoy reading it, it could have been much better in my opinion. I give it a 3.5 star rating.