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𝙅𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙨, 𝙒𝙮𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩!

📍 Read if you like:
• Hallmark Movies
• Love Triangles
• Small Town
• Film Crews
• Christmas

I have such mixed feelings about this book!! The beginning of the book had my full interest, but I soon began to lose it as the story went on.

This book gave MAJOR hallmark vibes, I could definitely picture some movies similar to this book - which could be a good or bad thing. The story is set in a small town in Wyoming and follows a love triangle, which I actually tend to enjoy (I know, unpopular opinion).

It’s a very lighthearted and easygoing holiday romance and I loved the Christmas vibes it gave. I also loved the talk on food and the pets involved in this!

The only reason why this is a three-star is because it was quite cheesy at times. I also didn’t resonate with the writing style as much. Also, I feel like the pacing was all over the place and the story dragged at times.

This was such a fun and lighthearted Christmas read. It definitely gave off the holiday vibes and I absolutely loved that about this. The characters were interesting and I actually enjoyed the love triangle. It was quick, it was festive, and it was very much enjoyable!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Putnam for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Grief

Thank you Penguin Group (Putnam) for sharing the advanced reader copy for The Christmas Cafe. The review contains spoilers.

This book was a light and warm holiday read akin to a Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas movie. The book has an overarching predicable narrative in the same way as those holiday movies, but in the same way that it is not a downside of a book, but makes it comfortable and relaxing.

I appreciated the Evans' description of the protagonist Sylvie. Her insecurities were highlighted in a way that was real but not overly helpless or oblivious lead as some books paint their protagonists. Though she was "blind sided" by some of the behaviors of the love=interest-turned villain Royce, she did not appear ignorant of the circumstances. The progression of Abe and Sylvie's romance storyline also felt organic in that it was plausible that despite being in each other's orbits, there was no catalyst for real time together until the events of the book and learning about Abe's backstory in an organic way for both Sylvie and the readers made me root for them.

Though I expected and the book delivered the happy ending, I really appreciated that the spirit of the Cafe lived on rather than miraculously being saved against all logical odds. It did not tie it up too neatly, but made me as a reader feel like the characters went on an emotional journey with more depth for such a light, comforting book.

My only critique is that it felt like there were too many supporting characters that also had their own interesting and seemingly full backstories (e.g., Sylvie's brother), but there was just too much to give each a thorough arc.

The "quirky" female main character was baffled why she got attention by some hot actor one too many times and I could not go on. DNF @ 30%.

This is the definition of a Christmas novel. This really is the next Hallmark Christmas movie. It's a bit cheesy, but its sentimental at the same time. It's the small town feels that I love in novels, with a friendly romance (just kissing), and it's charming and a quick read. I enjoyed this- was a great read and would recommend for those wanting a feel good book during the holidays!

The Christmas Café by Eliza Evans is a clean, sweet romance that would make a perfect Hallmark movie. It is the story of Sylvie West from Silver Bells, Wyoming who finds out the cafe she works at may be sold. She makes it her goal to put the cafe "on the map". Fortunately for her, The Holiday Channel just so happens to be filming in Silver Bells.

This book was very into the holiday spirit. Perfect to read while sitting with a warm blanket.

Enjoyed the characters and it gives hallmark movie.

My final Christmas read of the season is also the cheesiest and most sentimental. It is literally a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form, because it is literally about a Christmas movie being filmed in a small town.

Welcome to Silver Bells, Wyoming, home of the Christmas Café. Our heroine, the klutzy Sylvie West, has worked at the café for years as its head baker, crafting scrumptious desserts using butter from her childhood friend Abe's goat farm. But now, the café is in danger of being sold to a chain restaurant franchise. Sylvie desperately hopes she can leverage the Holiday Channel movie that's filming in Silver Bells to get the Christmas Café some much-needed publicity. With the help of the film's handsome star, Royce, her chihuahua-pug mix Crumpet, her recently-widowed Gramps, and Abe the lovable goat farmer, Sylvie sets out to save the café -- a journey that takes her way out of her comfort zone and just may put her directly on a path to finding love.

The Christmas Café is beyond cliché, but it's charming and filled with delicious dessert descriptions and lots of lighthearted, feel-good holiday moments. There's very little tension and no real conflict, because there's never any doubt who Sylvie is going to choose. It's the book equivalent of one of Sylvie's gingerbread scones: classic, simple, and warm all the way down. Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the complimentary reading opportunity.

The Christmas Cafe written by Eliza Evans destroyed me so much. I will hold this book close to my heart for a while, it just had that long lasting effect on me. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me smile, but it also made me angry at a certain character. I literally had tears streaming down my face from laughter, to tears streaming down my face because it was so sad. Don't even get me started on the delicious food that was mentioned in this book, AHHHH DELICIOUS!!!!!!! Eliza Evans truly does a good job capturing the essence of the Christmas season, all the delicious Christmas themed baked treats, all the holiday decorations, it was just a beautiful moment. Please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book immediately, you will absolutely love it so much.

First off, I would like to thank Cheyann for buddy reading this book with me. I had the best time obsessing over Abe with you, does Amazon have a man like him?

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I love the cover of this book and its probably what drew me in but unfortunately I had a hard time connecting with the characters.
Although it was a cute story, it just dragged on.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Penguin Group Putnam for the gifted book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Cute cheesy books, Hallmark movies, love triangle

This was super cute and predictable, like a Hallmark movie. I didn't feel like the connection was quite built enough. It was rushed. I was left feeling like I needed a little more.

I'm such a sucker for a small town Christmas story and this one did not disappoint! It was cute and cozy and I just adored the characters.

I did not care for the female main character who was extremely immature and didn't stand up to her boisterous siblings. The thing I liked most was her charming grandfather. Her dog was absolutely terribly behaved and was an annoying third wheel in many of the scenes. The true love interest deserved better. The villain love interest was really just terrible. This was very much like a not great Hallmark movie. I was anticipating this being like a good Hallmark movie, but the characters weren't fully fleshed out enough to be that. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This one fell a little short for me as a deep lover of Holiday stories. I found that it relied so heavily on stereotypes (the clumsy female lead, etc) that I was more annoyed with the story than enjoying it most of the time.

This was adorably cute. A Christmas themed small town all year long. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a love triangle trope and I devoured this book. The moment Abe stepped into the page i felt his pining for Sylvie. Royce was good a good competitor but I was rooting for Abe from the beginning. It did give off Hallmark vibes but not cringey as some of the films tends to feel like.

It is Hallmark in a debut novel....and that isn't necessarily bad. Because while the tropes are all there (namely loving the small town guy right in front of you) it is also a story of female empowerment. And finding the real you from within.

So you could say it had lots of elements that resembled Its a Wonderful Life....and again not a bad thing!

1000% predictable, love triangle, sweet Christmas story. The idea that there’s a cafe that needs saving and the movie star guy swoops in is essentially Hallmark. Then it’s saved by the goat farmer, who is gruff and beautiful. Seriously so predictable, but a fluffy read to get ya in the Christmas spirit. A quick cute read for those who just need something without deep thinking! Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Sylvie works as a baker and waitresses at the Christmas Cafe in Silver Bells, Wyoming. She loves the slow pace of the town and what the cafe means to the local folks. She loves to try new recipes and share new treats with all. Which is why she is devastated to find out that the owner is considering selling. It’s not that profitable any more and he wants to move away. Sylvie wants to show the owner that she can bring in big bucks to help.

Lucky for her, the Holiday Channel is filming a Christmas movie nearby and she has already met the star, Royce thanks to her Crumpet, her chihuahua. She and Royce hit it off and they have a few flirty dates. Royce also films a love video from the cafe and soon they have more business than they can handle! Abe, an old friend of Sylvie’s is also back in town and working at his parents’ farm. He and Sylvie work together, but they also have a good banter and small flirtation. How can Abe compare to a real life movie star? On top of all of this, Sylvie also is helping to take care of her grandfather who is recently widowed.

I really enjoyed this story. It was so genuine and didn’t follow the typical hallmark movie plot. This was one of my favorite Christmas books I’ve read so far. I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrator did a great job. I especially loved Crumpet the dog who was always escaping.

Thank you so much @prhaudio @putnambooks and @booksbysaraandeliza for my gifted ALC and ARC. The Christmas Cafe is out now!

If you are looking for a cozy, feel good, Hallmark-Holiday romance, this book is for you.

A quick and easy read that will help get you in the holiday spirit, by following our small town baker FMC as she finds herself and maybe...just maybe, falls in love along the way.

Hey you had me with clumsy baker. I'm a sucker for a Christmas rom com, but even more so when you tell me that the heroine is clumsy. I love a good clumsy heroine it makes her more believable.

This book is a Hallmark movie waiting to happen. Sylvie works for the Christmas Café as the baker. When she finds out it’s going to be sold, she’ll do anything together to get more business and keep it open. There’s a movie filming in her small Wyoming town, and she approaches them to film a scene at the cafe. The star, Jake, invites her on a few magical dates. Sylvie knows that could make a difference to the cafe, but she’s been hanging out with her friend Abe who has a crush on her. Can she save the Christmas cafe and get her HEA?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.