3.5 Stars - Eva is a hardworking businesswoman who has dedicated herself to building her company. However, she is experiencing difficulties in her marriage, friendships, and professional relationships. To take a break from her troubles, she decides to spend Christmas at Penhallow, a manor house in Cornwall, with her friends Hallie and Kian. At the Christmas Eve party, Eva is overwhelmed by an unexpected announcement and tries to return to London. On her way back, she encounters the ghost of her deceased grandmother. When she wakes up on Christmas morning, she realizes that she is not in her own body. The story is a mix of Groundhog Day and Freaky Friday, as Eva finds herself reliving the same day but in different people's bodies. Although the story tackles heavy themes like grief and loss, it is also uplifting as Eva reevaluates her priorities and works on healing her relationships. Personally, I don't think this is the kind of book I would prefer to read at Christmas. I prefer lighter and more cheerful reads, which are emotions present in this story only to a minimal extent. However, if you are a reader who enjoys introspective books during the holiday season, you will definitely appreciate this one more.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

One Christmas Morning by Rachel Greenlaw was one of the few holiday books I managed to actually finish during winter break. I just wasn't in the mood for all these sappy books about Magical Christmas this year and I felt a little Scrooge meets The Grinch. Then along came our main character Eva who seemed to be in a similar mood to my own. We bonded immediately. When she went on a Groundhog Day meets Ghost of Christmas type self finding journey, I found my holiday spirit right alongside of her.
This was the perfect book for me to read this holiday season!

Three years ago, Eva’s life was ripped apart on Christmas. To distract herself from her grief, she poured herself into starting a new business. And in the process she has lost her connection with her friends and husband. Now, she finds herself celebrating the holidays with her husband and their friends at the same magical place from so many of her memories. It’s right before her shop is scheduled to launch and she feels she should be working, plus to make things worse her best friend announces she’s pregnant bringing some of Eva’s pain back to the surface. She tries to leave without anyone noticing, but at midnight runs into the ghost of her beloved grandmother who tells her she needs to face her problems and reconnect with her loved ones before she loses them all. Over the next few days, Eva finds herself repeating Christmas morning, but each time she wakes up she experiences the day in a different body of the people at the house. She learns more about the people around her as she gets this detailed glimpse into their lives and learns more about herself in the process as well.

This book is very heavy for a holiday story and it very much gives A Christmas Carol vibes.. It's an interesting twist on a time loop and I enjoyed that she lived the day as a new character each time. Eva is a challenging character to like throughout most of the story, but that allowed for some great character development.

Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted copy.

Who doesn't love a groundhog's day trope? Don't we all have that one day we wish we could live over and learn from our past mistakes? I really enjoyed this book and the way the main character gained insight through experiencing the same day over and over, but through those around hers own eyes and perspectives. If only we could truly see how our actions are affecting the ones we love the most so we can choose to make the best decisions. This was a very heartwarming and eye-opening book. Definitely add it to your TBR!

Such a cute Christmas read it was giving Freaky Friday Vibes and I loved it so much! This one was probably my fav read of the month!

(Content warning for a lot of fertility issues and pregnancy loss in the book.)

Christmas books are completely unaware of how absolutely batshit they can be. This book casually had a full sci-fi horror scenario where each time loop involved the main character living a day in someone else's body while the host's consciousness went...somewhere and her guide through all these loops was the ghost of her dead Grandmother whomst she found in the England version of a swamp. All of this was framed in an extremely uninteresting plot involving a workaholic business woman found her Christmas cheer through seeing Christmas through the eyes of poor people and her best friend and whatever. Snooze.

I really wish the sci-fi plot was explored more. Like, where did the hosts go while she was living in their bodies? Were they all aware of living in this time loop? Were they all actually her in different hosts and Grandma was creating an infinite loop of her invading everyone's body until the whole of England was actually copies of this lady? Whose whole problem was being a workaholic who had a really great idea of opening a whole ass store at Christmas??? But as per usual at Christmas, Grandma was very unclear about the host situation and we are left to come to our own conclusions.

Anyway, it got 3 stars because 5 star sci-fi concept + 1 star boring and overly tragic Christmas plot = mid

Heavier than I was expecting for a Christmas book. But, it wasn’t really a Christmas book in my opinion. g. I liked the idea of the author trying to get readers to remember to tell the people you love that you love them while you still have the chance to do it. Still, I expected a bit more from this book.

The book One Christmas Morning was an enjoyable read. I would recommend any book written by Rachael Greenlaw. Happy Reading!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.

I’ll be honest, I first picked this up thinking it would be another flirty, fun holiday romance. Well, this certainly isn’t a super “fun” book, but it was so gorgeously written & the message is beautiful (though painful to read at times). We start on Christmas Eve as Eva, a workaholic who has lost her way after a tragedy 3 years ago. She’s heading to a Christmas gathering with her husband James, best friend, and best friend’s husband. The book has a sort of A Christmas Carol vibe, as each day Eva wakes up on Christmas as someone else - her assistant Diana, who is struggling with a loss of her own; her best friend, Hallie, newly pregnant; the cook Sarah, a single mother of two. Through these encounters, she learns the inner struggles each person is really facing.

As the novel unfolds, we learn that Eva and James are in a rocky place in their marriage, her friendship with Hallie is on thin ice, and Eva begins to realize - through some “magical intervention” from her deceased grandmother - that maybe her focus on work has just been a distraction from dealing with her grief and pain.

This novel was a bit slow at times, and handles some very sensitive content (miscarriage, death of a loved one, marital strife), but the end was so poignant and this is the kind of book that makes you want to stop and think about what’s *truly* important in life. 🎄🤍

Thank you so much to the publisher for my copy of the eARC for One Christmas Morning.

Sadly, I had to stop this book around the 15% mark. I wasn't expecting the serious and somewhat sad tones the book had. Most of this is my own issue since myself and my kids have all been really sick for most of December and I was looking for books to escape into with fun and lighthearted Christmas themes.

I think that this book would definitely be a good read for most, but it wasn't for me right now. Hopefully I can come back to it in the future.

I really enjoyed this debut novel from Rachel Greenlaw; I was unsure at first where the plot was headed or what was exactly unraveling, but loved the context added for setting the stage of this “Groundhog Day” style Christmas morning, with a “Freaky Friday” plus “A Christmas Carol” twist with different characters. A very interesting approach that really worked in my opinion!

This novel was easy to follow and really took the reader on a journey through the various POVs - I only wished to learn a little more about a few of the characters introduced and only offered a day in the life of… but didn’t gain a huge follow-up after the fact.

Ultimately, I will add Rachel Greenlaw as a must-read author on future books to see how her style and stories continue to develop!

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy to read in exchange for my review.

One Christmas Morning is a sort of time loop story along the same vein as Evelyn Hardcastle but not nearly as convoluted. It tells the story of Eva, a woman trying to launch her new store and deal with the strain it has put on her relationships. While away with friends, stressed about work, when she gets caught in the bodies of the other guests, as her deceased grandma tries to steer her in the right direction with her life. Oh boy did I cry? This book hit me. It was so emotional and so raw. Eva’s grief and remorse was palpable. I loved how the pieces fit together with this book and how the different characters showed so much depth and so many layers as Eva was in their bodies. It was heavier than the other holiday books I read and I really liked it.

Anyone who has read their Dickens knows that the holiday season can bring both celebration and contemplation. That is certainly the case in this Christmas story with elements of A Christmas Carol reminding readers that this is the case.

Readers get to know Eva who has had a bad Christmas experience. This has resulted in her pulling away from people and diverting her energy into work. Readers also meet the ghost of her beloved grandmother, her husband and friends. 

It looks as if this year things may well be different.  The unexpected will happen as Eva takes on the perspectives of some of those in her world. How will these experiences change her?

Will Eva get a happy ending? Will the spirit of Christmas lead to understanding, friendship and good things? Readers will certainly hope so..

This is an enjoyable debut novel. I look forward to the author’s nest book.

Many thanks to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

The book was a little bit of a slow start. There were a lot of characters, but once I had them all set in my mind, I was ready to dig in and enjoy the book.
It's a book of trying to balance work and life, and seeing how that can affect the relationships closest to us. I loved how Rachel G. took us on the journey with Eva as she tries to develop her own company and realizes that it was become all-consuming and she's about to lose everything else that is important in her life.... including her best friend Hallie and her husband James. It takes a few visits from the ghost of her Gran to get her back on the right track. If you're looking for a fun glittery Christmas read this isn't that, but it's a beautiful story of realizing what you really want from life.
*I will add that if you are triggered by miscarriage or struggling to get pregnant, then this book might not be for you <3

Thank you to NetGalley and Rachel Greenlaw for allowing me this kindle version in exchange for an honest review.

One Christmas Morning is an excellent debut novel with major Christmas Carol vibes. This book has much larger themes than just Christmas which makes for a compelling and well-thought out read. I love an unlikable main character who gets redemption in the end! My favorite character was definitely the ghost of Eva's Gran, who was incredibly sassy even in the afterlife.


Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

One Christmas Morning is the debut novel by Rachel Greenlaw. Eva has suffered much loss in the last few years beginning with the death of her dear grandmother in a mysterious accident which left her at the side of the road near Penhallow. To reign in her sanity, Eva has pulled away from her husband James and their best friends Kian and Hallie. Simultaneously, Eva has thrown herself completely into building a home decor business, first online and now readying the opening of her first actual store. Late nights, missed plans, and driving her assistant Diana equally as hard, Eva seems to be struggling to handle all.

Now Hallie has set up a Christmas house party for their friend group at Penhallow. Penhallow holds both wonderful childhood memories with her grandmother and the horror of her grandmother’s death for Eva. When Diana offers to drive Eva to Penhallow to meet her husband and friends, she takes her up on the offer. When winter storms snow the group in Eva gets caught in some type of time warp, repeating Christmas Day over and over through the viewpoint of those around her; Diana, Hallie, Hallie’s sister Natalie, a domestic worker from Penhallow, and ultimately back to herself. Eva is guided through this disjointed journey by her grandmother, not certain as to the key she is seeking to unlock the loop.

This is a very deep story, full of secrets and despair on the way to finding a surprising climax. I am astounded that a book of this depth and breadth is a debut entry. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

I loved the premise of a woman repeating Christmas day to learn from her mistakes. However, this book was very dark and depressing and not at all what I expected from a story set at Christmas. The entire story is told from Eva’s point of view, and I really hated being stuck in this woman’s head. I understand that she has been through a terrible trauma, but that is still no excuse for her terrible behavior. She’s making herself and everyone around her miserable, and I felt miserable having to witness that.

Even though I wish I had never picked this up, I am giving it 2 stars because it is well-written and ends on a somewhat more positive note. But be aware that this story includes fatal accidents, multiple miscarriages, a parent dying of cancer, fights, and marriages and friendships ending. If you like your fiction really dark and angst-filled, you might enjoy this more than I did.

I received a free advanced review copy of the ebook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

🎄📚 One Christmas Morning is a captivating and magical romance that weaves together love, hope, and a touch of Christmas enchantment. Rachel Greenlaw’s debut novel takes readers on a heartwarming journey that lingers long after the final page. 📚 🎄

Plot Summary: Eva, our protagonist, once believed she had found her soulmate in James. Over ten years, they fell in love, got married, and dreamed of starting a family.

But everything changed one fateful Christmas three years ago, and their relationship has been drifting apart ever since. Eva hopes that a friend’s Christmas party at an old manor house in Cornwall will provide an opportunity to reconnect.

However, she wakes up on Christmas morning in the body of a different guest. As Eva relives Christmas Day from various perspectives, she realizes how far her life has veered off course. Can she break the cycle and save her future with James before it’s too late? 🌟❤️

Why You’ll Love It:
♥️ Poignant and Clever: The novel tugs at your heartstrings, leaving you with a mix of emotions. It’s cleverly crafted, blending romance with a dash of Christmas magic.

🔀 Unique Twist: The haunting twist—Eva experiencing Christmas through the eyes of others—sets this festive love story apart.

✨ Hopeful and Magical: Rachel Greenlaw’s writing casts a spell, filling your heart with hope and warmth.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my review!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is not your average fun and festive holiday novel! One Christmas Morning puts a dark spin on the holiday romances novel. The story starts off with Eva, the main character draining all her energy into the passion to open her business. Her drive and focus brings heart break to other parts of her life. Pulled away from her passion for a weekend with friend at a house which holds painful memories, Eva spends the holiday fighting to figure out what truly matters in life, day after day after day. I enjoyed the character build and plot of this story and thought the unquie take on a Christmas novel was fun and enjoyable, though dark. I found myself rooting for Eva throughout the whole story. Hopingv she’d figure out what truly matters to her during the most wonderful time of the year

Eva is a workaholic and she’s shut out her dearest friends after her grandmother dies. Now she’s at a Christmas house party with them all. Her grandma appears to her and tells her she risks losing her friends. The next morning, Eva wakes up in the body of her assistant. She gets to see how she looks to her assistant and her friends as the days go on. I liked how Eva saw herself as others saw her, interesting premise.

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