I love Christmas. Everything about it. So of course I love it when NetGalley unveils the year's new Christmas books. This book did not disappoint. It was the book equivalent to a romantic Hallmark Christmas movie. I had not read a book by Eliza Evans before but this certainly will not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was perfect to read cuddled up by a fire under a blanket with a cup of delicious hot cocoa,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review!

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The Christmas Cafe was a sweet holiday read for my favorite time of year. It felt like reading a Hallmark movie, which is exactly what I want for a cozy Christmas read. The characters in Silver Bells, Wyoming felt like my friends, and Sylvie's bakes inspired a few bakes of my own. If you like cozy Christmas vibes, a classic love-triangle, and families and towns coming together in the most heartwarming way - you will love The Christmas Cafe!

This was really cute! I loved the grandpa and loved the cute small town aspect. I thought her dog Crumpet was so cute and the memories and elements of her grandma were really sweet.

I just loved how easy this was to read, and just how much of an escape this was. It has a good blend of romance and comfort and romance. Perfect for the holidays

Cover drew me into this one! Love a small town Christmas romance! Hallmark Christmas movie in a book - perfect for a lazy holiday afternoon.

This cover is just so cute. I need all the Christmas romances. I love the small town feel. Sylvie was so sweet and determined. I was happily surprised by the romance. It was so perfect. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Christmas Cafe by Eliza Evan’s

A baker, Sylvia West, has worked at the Christmas Cafe in Silver Bells, Wyoming, ever since her eggnog fruitcake won the town’s annual holiday bake-off. She was recently widowed. She lived with Gramps and her pup, Crumpet.

Sylvia is carried away by the attention of Royce, a movie star filming in town. Meanwhile, Abe is adoring her from a distance. A romantic, holiday novel. Sylvia realizes Royce is only using her. A light, enjoyable book. I recommend this book..

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced copy for my review.

I received an advanced copy of The Christmas Cafe by Eliza Evans from the publisher Penguin Group Putnam via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Sylvie West has worked on the Christmas Café in Silver Bells, Wyoming and is an expert baker who has spent years working along her beloved Grandma. Sylvie likes her routine and her life quietly updating the café menu and living with her recently widowed Gramps and her yappy chihuahua-pug Crumpet. But when she learns that the owner wants to sell the café, she desperately decides to save the café. Luckily for her, the holiday channel is filming and town and after an encounter with the lead, she is able to get the film team to set a scene at the café! However, Sylvie starts wondering if she is being true to herself and is suddenly in seeming love triangle with the actor and her longtime friend Abe.

What I Loved: This book has a cute little plot set up and is kind of a very Hallmark film type book and so it was a nice holiday read. I loved how this book explored grief and adoption despite being set up to be so light. I really liked this path of self-discovery and finding what you need in unexpected places. I also really loved the relationship between Sylvie and her Gramps relationship. I also liked Abe

What I Didn’t Like: I found a lot of the characters poorly developed. The brother and sister just seem so one-dimensional and didn’t really care about them or for them. I really also hate the ridiculously villainy love interest in a triangle, it makes it seem unreal and exaggerated.

Who Should Read It: People who love holiday books that overlap with movie sets. People who like some Hallmark in their holiday reads.

Summary: A woman sets out to save the local café with the help of a movie star.

Sylvie West is the baker at The Christmas Cafe in Silver Bells Wyoming. She has settled into a happy life with her roommates and her gramps. She doesn’t really think of the future m, because how could things get better? Well there is going to be a change, the owner of the bakery wants to sell the cafe. She needs to find a way to save it or make it hers. She gets the Holiday Channel to film a scene in the cafe. She figures the film crew and the influx of visitors will help the numbers at the cafe. She can handle the baked goods. She just needs a push in profits. Once the scene is planned, she meets the lead actor, handsome Royce and gets ready to learn her lines. Her dog Crumpet can’t help but gain attention. It starts to become too much and she finds herself relying on Abe her old friend. He is just back and taking care of his family’s goat farm. Sylvie can’t help but feel all the feels of the holiday season. With the help of her friends and family she just might make the cafe profitable. She just might be able to make the cafe hers. This was a quick, cute holiday read. The setting was perfect. The story was good. I will always take the opportunity to read a holiday book. I want to thank Netgalley and Eliza Evans for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure reading and reviewing this book.

Hallmark movie in book form! Set in a Christmas town, movie star visiting and a G rated romance. The main character is quirky and relatable. The local love interest gives major Luke from Gilmore Girls vibes! Super cute light hearted holiday read! Thank you net galley for the ARC

I had no idea that The Christmas Café was Eliza Evans debut novel, and now that I'm done, I have to hand it to her for writing a super cute and lighthearted holiday read. It did give me debut vibes at times, but this was a solid 4 ⭐ read for me, and if you like romcoms and Hallmark Christmas movies, you should definitely read it. I loved Sylvie's dog Crumpet and wanted him for myself, and her Gramps just made me feel 🥺 all the time. There was a little bit of a love triangle for half a second, but I was always rooting for Abe, and I really wish we could have gotten more development of their relationship than just the very end. This is very typical for a Hallmark movie as well though, which is why I think people who love them (like me), will also love this story.

And speaking of adorable, the audiobook narrator Eileen Stevens really made this book for me, and every single time she narrated one of Crumpet's yips it made me giggle. She was perfect as Sylvie and since the entire book is narrated from her viewpoint, it totally worked having only one narrator for the audio. Especially someone as good as Stevens was for her... role? Whatever you want to call it she was perfect. 🤣 The overall feel of The Christmas Café is pretty light although there are still plenty of parts, mostly with Gramps, which provide heartfelt moments and depth. There is absolutely zero steam in the book, but there are plenty of LOL moments, so for me, it evened itself out. 🤪 I would 100% take a sequel of this book if that matters, but I think Evans is an author to watch, and I can't wait to read whatever she writes next!

I enjoyed this book a lot, i knew where it was going, but it did the rollout in fun and unique and moving ways.

This is a lovely Christmas rooted in Hallmark holiday films about love, community, and the holiday spirit. Sylvie is working on saving the Christmas Café, a place she always felt at home. When a holiday movie crew comes to film in town, she sees it as an opportunity to get the word out about the café. With the help of Abe, an old friend, and the attention of the film's protagonist, Royse, Sylvie will have her hands full this holiday season.

I am late to this review and my apologies. I was new to NetGalley when I applied.

This was a fun, feel good Christmas novel. I think it would make the most adorable movie. The characters were fun and the setting was everything you could need in a Christmas novel.

Would definitely recommend for the holidays and will be reading more from this author.

Eliza Evans delivers a captivating story with adorable characters, a jovial cheer, and a touch of romance. I recommend it to readers seeking a cozy holiday read. I'll be reading it again next year.

WOW. If you are looking for a Hallmark Christmas movie in a book - here it is. This was adorable. Set in a small town in Wyoming, all about one woman's quest to save the cafe that means so much to her. Family, friends, cute animals, romance, Christmas cheer, and cute recipes, make for a perfect Christmas book. I just loved how easy this was to read, and just how much of an escape this was. Highly recommend you check this one out once it releases.

This is the cozy Christmas read you've been waiting for. I enjoyed this book so much I also picked up the audiobook for my partner and I to listen to for our annual Christmas story!

Lovable characters, embracing your true self, and going after what you want makes this an enjoyable ride the entire way through. I would LOVE to see them make this into a movie for the holidays!

This is one I can see others really enjoying. It was just ok for me, but I could see the appeal for readers who enjoy reading more romances. I wasn’t thrilled with the love triangle. I suggested this to friends and they enjoyed it more than me

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. Unfortunately, I was not able to finish the novel so I won't be leaving a full review.

Super cute and a fun festive read! I enjoyed it and think it would make a great film. I liked the setting best!