Member Reviews
I loved this Christmas story. Shannon and her family and the colorful cast of characters had me laughing and ready to book a one way ticket to their quirky village.
Sweet and cosy little Christmas story, full of Irish charm, friendship, family and love!
Right, I can never say no to a Christmas book, I may be a Scrooge in real life, but when it comes to festive romances I am all in and this one is just so good and makes me wish for an Irish getaway.
I haven't read any of Michelle Vernal's books before now, why not?? I think I may have been walking around with my eyes shut to have missed this author, but I will certainly be reading more from her in the future.
Christmas in the Little Irish Village is exactly what it says on the tin, it's full of the joys and emotions of Christmas, with twinkling lights and hot chocolate with the allure and charisma of the gorgeous Irish setting.
The characters had me in fits of giggles more times than I can count, especially Shannon's family, my goodness they are a real hoot!
Why can't my family be like these??
I am a big lover of the snowed-in romance, two completely different people thrown together in enforced proximity you know they are either going to murder each other or fall madly in love - I'm pleased they chose the latter!
This book is just so heartwarming and utterly charming and I can't wait to return to Emerald Bay.
Christmas in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal was an easy to read book set in a rural village by the coast. Reading this book it transported me to this village, to the characters Shannon and James and the family centred story. I loved it.
A lovely Christmas read
A snuggle up in front of the fire book to loose yourself in
A well written story
I really loved this book
Thanks NetGalley
This was an excellent feel good story for indulging in during the Christmas holidays. Easy reading with a lot of good humour included. Would recommend.
Christmas in the Little Irish Village starts with a lovely, traditional setup for a romcom, and author Michelle Vernal has no issue plopping readers into familiar literary territory. After a sudden breakup, nurse Shannon finds herself back home at the Shamrock Inn. Though she’s happy to be with her family over the end-of-year holidays, she’s not feeling much Christmas spirit. However, she manages a pretty big distraction by literally (and accidentally) falling into the arms of another man, an American tourist named James.
Right off, there’s a cozy inn nestled in a charming village—complete with snow and fairy lights. There’s a big family with generational drama. There’s even a meet cute brought on by a stray patch of ice. These early moments ease into what seems like a solid if standard romance—something perfectly satisfying on its own. But that’s about when Vernal starts doling out surprises like presents on Christmas.
Most of these stem from the charming cast Vernal’s populated this world with. Shannon’s family and other denizens of the inn bounce in and out of scenes, reminding her of her past as she slowly assesses what her future will look like. As Shannon bickers with her siblings and cozies up with her cat, the romantic plot sometimes takes a backseat to her reconnecting with her roots.
Yet there’s still plenty of romance. In a fun twist, Vernal packs in two separate meeting moments for Shannon and James, with both of them providing some embarrassment for Shannon. These missteps are a common thread, unfortunately for her—though it’s ton of fun for readers. Vernal’s humor pops through at just the right moments, especially in times of high drama, keeping things generally light and festive as romance slowly blossoms in the background.
For Christmas in the Little Irish Village, ’tis the season for chaotic family gatherings, snort-inducing encounters, and a spot of romance. For the rest of us? ‘Tis the season for a great read indeed.
This was made to be a hallmark movie! It didn’t work perfectly for me pacing/romance wise, but if you might enjoy a slow feel good holiday story- this is a fun pick.
Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture
I loved reading this one. I just love this kind of books.
4 stars read for me. I love this author snd her writing style.
Thanks to netgally for this arc.
I loved this book, the storyline was interesting and the characters were well written and entertaining,
I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!
I wanted to enjoy this book, I was excited to read a cozy Christmas book but it fell flat for me. For me, was really difficult to get into and I just didn’t love the characters and it was very slow.
This is a good book. The two main characters are Shannon and James. Shannon is moving back home after her breakup with her boyfriend. James has come to Ireland looking for information on his mother’s adoption. What he finds is his grandmother’s story of her having his mother and what she went through. Shannon and James have their issue but together they work them out and find love.
THANK YOU NET GALLEY AND PUBLISHER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS. That being said, rating and feelings are my own:
Cute but not my cup of tea. The characters annoyed me a little if I am being honest. I had to DNF about 25% in.
Really enjoyed this little festive read. Beautiful setting, great characters, cute romance, what more could you want? If you’re looking for a sweet festive novel I recommend this one!
A lovely and warm Christmas romance that really gets you in the holiday spirit. I love the villagey feel of this book and the the family dynamic is sweet and funny. I felt totally immersed and now I want to go to Galway! Highly recommended.
I went into this full of hope, looking for a cute Christmassy romance. Unfortunately, the story never quite managed to grip me. Every page was a struggle to get through, and I even nodded off a few times in the middle of a chapter. Not exactly what you want from a romance.
If you're looking for a slow read with some holiday feels, this is a good choice. I didn't love how much focus there was on the past, or how slow the romance felt, but the characters were enjoyable enough to read about, and there are a lot of family feels that readers may enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley & publishers for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Shannon is back with her family to stay after her breakup and whilst she is there, she met James who she have her doubt in his intention to visit her elderly friend. She decides to get to know James to discover his intention and soon, she found she is attracted to him.
This book is about family reunion with romance as secondary theme. There is drama and surprise secret which was revealed at the end. Love both Shannon and James’ character. It is a warm, cosy and touching story line and I enjoyed reading it.
* review post scheduled to be published on my blog on 6/1/23*
Love it a great Christmas book story hooked you great characters you was part of the story slow and steady read I enjoy the Christmas plot I could see in all I'm my mind
Whether it's on the screen or in the pages, there is just something absolutely magical about a sweet, Christmas romance... and this was no exception. The author of this one was unknown to me prior to reading. As someone who very much prefers clean reads, that can sometimes lead to some unexpected surprises... but thankfully, this one did not. It really was just the type of holiday read I enjoy-- sweet romance, holiday charm, family togetherness and of course, a fabulous setting. Oh, the setting! I have wanted to travel to Ireland for some time anyway (thanks to other books set there, of course!)... but this one has me thinking that the holidays in Ireland sound especially nice. Overall, this was a cute holiday romance and one that I enjoyed.
**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
2 stars. This unfortunately was a DNF for me. I love reading Christmas books during December but I just could not get into this one. I did not connect at all with the main character, Shannon… and it just seemed to drag! I made it to 20% and the main male character has not even been introduced yet. Too slow for me. Sadly, I would not recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.