I didn’t like this one. Just felt like it was very generic nothing really stood out to me. I was really board while reading this one. I was hoping it would be better because it sounded really cute.

3.5 Stars

The Christmas Cafe, by author Eliza Evans, is my first holiday book of the season! I am so excited to kick off the BER months with this warm and fuzzy book. This is my first book by Eliza.

If you want to start your Hallmark Movie experience now, this is definitely the book for you. The book follows the FMC of Sylvie West, a baker at the Christmas Cafe in Silver Bells, Wyoming. I mean, come on. This setting is perfect! Sylvie learns the cafe is at risk of being sold, and she jumps to action. I adored the Christmas vibe of this book so much. From the Christmas movie shoot and the yummy creations that Sylvie has created, the Christmas parade, and the lights and holiday spirit.

While I enjoyed Sylvie’s character, I found her a little immature, and I was not too fond of how she constantly put herself down. The side characters were awesome and were a welcome addition to the storyline. I did not get the love story I had hoped for; it was more behind the scenes.

Thank you to Netgalley, Eliza Evans, and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me an eARC of Let Him In. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sylvie West bakes at the Christmas Cafe and it's been her whole life. She worked there with her grandmother and since she passed this is her link to her.
A movie crew is in town filming a Christmas movie with Royce as the lead actor. He shows an interest in Sylvie and starts helping her promote the cafe.
Abe is local and supplies the cafe with goat milk, cheese and eggs. He has returned from the army to take over his family farm. Abe has been in love with her for years.
Can Sylvie find love this year and save the cafe?

This was a cute quick read that felt like every other holiday romance on the market. I feel like I've watched this book during the Hallmark Christmas movie season.

Despite absolutely no spice, it was a cute rom-com.

The Christmas Cafe was a quick holiday, no spice romance that was cute and predictable. While I enjoy formulaic holidays stories, The Christmas cafe doesn't have anything that sets it apart from the already saturated market.

I enjoyed Sylive and Gramps but the rest of the characters fell flat and were extremely one dimensional.

While this wasn't my favorite read, I recommend it when you want to have a quick read that is easy to follow and doesn't take much concentration.

The Christmas Cafe by Eliza Evans was the cutest holiday love story, involving a love triangle, cute animals, and a Cinderella story moment, complete with a shoe left at a ball that the protagonist was desperately fleeing on foot.

I love how through the book, the protagonist, Sylvie finds what is truly important to her. When the book opens, she really is a true people-pleaser and a bit of a doormat, which is unfortunate because there is so much greatness that was part of her character that was being taken advantage of by most of her quaint hometown of Silver Bells, WY. Like most people, she reached her limit of being taken for granted, and started standing up for herself, even though a time or two, she ended up behaving badly because she had been pushed too far by that person. But after the flying cake settled, everyone around understood why she was justified in her actions and reactions, and continued to respect who she really was.

And did I mention cute animals??? Her tiny rescue dog likes to cuddle with a baby goat. That would be enough for me to pick up this book.

But seriously, this book is a great read for anytime that you are wanting to feel in the wintery holiday mood. …and now, I want holiday treats!!

Thank you so much to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this unforgettable ARC!!

This wants to be a Hallmark Christmas story, including filming a holiday movie during the book. Sylvie West works as a baker at the Christmas Cafe in Silver Bells, WY. She has a meet cute with hot actor Royce who is in town to make a movie for the Holiday Channel. When Sylvie learns that the owner plans to sell the Cafe she hopes to get diner in the film in hopes of saving it. Her old friend Abe has returned home to manage the family goat farm and she ends up spending time with him too.

Love triangles are tricky to write because inevitably you’re spending time on a person who isn’t going to get the girl. This book is sweet but maybe trying to be a little too cutesy. But if you want to suspend practicalities, this is a sweet, kissing only, low angst holiday romance. And Gramps and her siblings add to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnum for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

Just a fun holiday romance!

Baker Sylvie is trying to save the Christmas Cafe - where her grandmother worked and taught her how to bake. Abe is the local goat farmer that brings in her baking supplies. A movie is being filmed in their town and the hunky leading man, Royce, falls for Sylvie - but is he just acting or is it real? Gramps and all the side characters are such great supporting cast. It's a super cute romance and I really enjoyed reading this book! There is a sad undertone with the death of Grams, but it's healing, too.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This was an ok read. A cute romance where a small town tries to save a restaurant.




***********************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley*********************************

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the Advanced Readers Copy of The Christmas Cafe by Eliza Evans!

ARC REVIEW

The Christmas Cafe
By Eliza Evans

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Publishing date 10/3/23

Review:
This was cute! Not my favorite holiday book but I actually liked it! 🎄

It was 100% predictable. I figured out what was going to happen almost instantly but that's not uncommon with rom coms!

I liked sylvie and found myself laughing out loud. And the relationship with her Gramps was ADORABLE.

I recommend!

Thanks @netgalley and @putnambooks ! Always appreciative to read your arcs!

SUMMARY:
Clumsy, earnest baker Sylvie West has worked at the Christmas Café in Silver Bells, Wyoming, ever since her boozy eggnog fruitcake won the town’s annual holiday bakeoff fifteen years ago. Her forever happy place, the café compliments her sweet, well-ordered life with her roommates: recently-widowed Gramps and her yappy chihuahua-pug Crumpet.

When Sylvie learns the café might be sold, she’s determined to put the Christmas Café on the map in a big way. Good thing the Holiday Channel* is filming in Silver Bells. And how perfect of bra-snatching Crumpet to have forced an awkward encounter with the film’s charming lead actor, Royce. When Gramps and Sylvie make a pact to be brave this Christmas, Sylvie knows just how to stretch her wings and save the Christmas Café in the process: get the film team to set a scene at the café!

Between her newfound acting gig, a booth at the Christmas Festival, an appearance at the Christmas Parade, and a budding romance with Royce, Sylvie has a lot on her plate. Good thing her old friend, gruff yet reliable Abe has just come back home to manage his parents’ goat farm. That is, until she catches herself feeling all too merry and bright in his presence. With a little help from family, friends, Crumpet, and the goat farmer down the way, Sylvie just might make this Christmas the sweetest she’s ever had…

The romance in this book was good and has me kicking and giggling the whole time. It’s not just a romance story, you also get to go through Sylvia’s journey and her finding herself and what she wants and her needs, the romance is a plus. I loved the characters especially her little brother Brando and her sister Claire. Overall it was a good story and I would highly recommend

Gave major hallmark movie vibes, it did come off a bit cheesy at times. The character depth was great and I really enjoyed how much Syl loved her grandparents! Overall a cute holiday read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a charming, fun Christmas book. It really put me in the Christmas mood!

Look, I love some cheesy books and I absolutely adore Hallmark Christmas movies as much as the next person. That's what I thought I was getting into with The Christmas Cafe. Don't get me wrong, we do get that but the characters really felt one dimensional and cliches just shoved into the story. The story begins with the main characters dog taking off with their bra and going outside with it. Of course this dog isn't trained or anything. Why would your dog be trained to come back to you? This is when the "celebrity" comes in. Naturally, she doesn't know who they are and she's not even dressed. So quirky.

I just didn't click with the story or any of the characters. The cover though? That cover is absolutely adorable and I love it. I imagine this book is going to be pretty popular though! Quick Christmas read.

A Christmas romance about Sylvie who works at the Christmas Cafe. I love holiday romances, but I found Sylvie to be painfully awkward at first. Overall, this one was fine. I don’t think anyone will gush about it being the new best holiday romance, but it is solid over all.

This book very much provided Hallmark movie vibes. Not in a bad way! I thought it was a cute and cozy read. Definitely getting me into the holiday spirit!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE CHRISTMAS CAFÉ by Eliza Evans will certainly appeal to readers who never miss the chance to marathon made-for-tv holiday movies. This book was stuffed with all the things that make those movies so popular: small, Christmas obsessed town; a woman who works at a bakery and is trying to keep it from being bought from a chain restaurant; a love triangle between two very different men; and so much more. Sylvie is the often clumsy, but big-hearted character that makes Hallmark or Lifetime holiday movies—and books that capture the same emotions—so popular.

THE CHRISTMAS CAFÉ was a quick, cute read, but felt as if the story didn’t explore deeply enough into the relationships between characters or even Sylvie’s quest to save the Christmas Café from closing.

I usually enjoy a Holiday romcom with all those fuzzy holiday feels, but this one was pretty lacking for me. From the love triangle (admittedly, not my favorite trope) to the surface level connections with BOTH love interests, I just couldn’t immerse myself.

The initial meet cute with the movie star was a great start, but then it kind of petered off.

And I usually enjoy friends-to-lovers, but this one just didn’t feel authentic; like, she never noticed he was into her before? Really?

It was a cute story, but not one that will leave a last mark on me, and not one I would recommend to friends, unfortunately.

What this book is giving:
✅ Holiday Rom-Com
✅ Love Triangle
✅ Movie Star vs Boy next door
✅ Small town
✅ Holiday baking

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
🚫 / 5 🌶️

This was such a cute and cozy read. Perfect to cuddle up with a hot chocolate and blankets. I devoured this novel in one sitting.