This story is the perfect story to get you into the holiday spirit. I always base Christmas stories on whether they can be a good Hallmark movie, I’m such a fiend for those movies, and this book totally hits that spot. Now the only drawback and it’s totally my fault, is I didn’t realize this story was the second in the series, and was a little confused on the characters relationships. I think it would have been better to read the first book first, because I think the characters developed their relationships more in that book. Still I absolutely loved Carmen and Oke and all their miscommunications.

I adore Jenny Colman. Her books are like coming home to a warm, cozy fire at the end of a hard day and just relaxing with your fav drink. I love her storytelling and look forward to books from her!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Carmen works in an old bookshop and lives in her sisters basement. The bookshop is failing and Carmen is working hard to save it. Carmen and her boyfriend are having problems and he leaves to go on a research trip to the rainforest. This books follows them both as they work to cont their lives and save the bookshop. This book was just ok for me. I think it would have helped to read the first book in this series first.

This book was a great addition to the series. I loved the wit sprinkled throughout and it was a great escape read.
Many thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wouldn't to love this one because I love Christmas rom coms. But this one fell flat to me. And I'm also beginning to think that this author isn't the author for me.

This is the perfect book to read if you were a fan of the Gilmore girls. It’s cozy, fun and will leave you will all of the feels. I adore Jenny’s books and always look forward to more.

3.5 Carmen and the gang are back for this overall enjoyable sequel to <i>The Christmas Bookshop</i>, taking place over the year following the previous book. (This volume isn't truly stand alone, so reading its predecessor is advisable).

While there were some plot twists I'd have preferred to have been different, Colgan deftly weaves in plenty of humor--some of which had me laughing out loud--amidst some weightier elements. I particularly liked more page time with Carmen's nieces and nephews and the additional attention to developing their unique personalities and quirks.

Carmen spends much of the book floundering and wrestling her way through many personal issues, so perhaps that's why this wasn't as much of a page turner as I would have expected, but I'm glad I stuck with it and that Carmen ultimately gets her HEA. To me, the ending is written in such a way that Colgan has left open the possibility to continue the series.

Thanks to #Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC e-book. #MidnightattheChristmasBookshop

The sequel to The Christmas Bookshop didn’t have quite the same appeal as the first book, but it’s still a Jenny Colgan so it’s always worth a read. A miscommunication leads to a blowup between Carmen and Oke and he decides to agree to a research trip in the Amazon. Carmen is left trying to keep the bookshop afloat and finding the mythical, affordable place to live.

All sorts of shenanigans and disasters take place over the course of 6 months, both in Edinburgh and the Amazon. As a result, the story felt a bit disjointed and not quite as cohesive and impactful as her other novels.

Rating: 1.5


I read one of Jenny Colgan’s books (“The Bookshop On the Corner”) lat year and loved it! However, this book didn’t leave me the same way. It might be that I hadn’t read the first book but regardless, when comparing “Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop” to “Bookshop on the Corner,” there were stark differences in appeal.

The writing was overly descriptive and it’s because it was going off on several tangents! I hit a point where I ended up skimming a lot. With so much filler language, I hit 84% of the book where I noted nothing much had happened. I was left wondering what was going on and where the story was trying to go. Along with that, the concept of time didn’t make sense in that I don’t think there was a strong concept. Aside from the storytelling, I have notes on the publishing edits. I’m not sure if these are edits because this is from an American publisher but I was thrown by the American linguistics - i.e., “mommy” versus “mummy”, “soccer” versus “football”. I had to ask a friend who went to university in Scotland as I was confused with these changes. If these were changes for an American reader, I don’t understand why - they would understand what the original words meant in context.

I’ll briefly talk about the characters before going into the main character Carmen. Mainly, why were all the characters unlikable? I don’t think there was a single one that stood out and make me think “hmm I like that person.” On to Carmen - she was the worst of the worst in this book. Not sure if Colgan created her to be like that but Carmen was extremely self-absorbed with a painful victim complex. I was glad to have not read this during the holiday season because she was so dull and whiney that my mood was ruined.

Overall, I’m disappointed by this read. It read more as a novella but felt dragged out. Myy thoughts might’ve been different if I had read the first book but I don’t think so.

In order to enjoy this book fully, make sure you read the first book in the series or you will be a bit lost in this book. That said, this book is an excellent second book in the series. It is a heavier story than the first book with more angst than the first starting with a misunderstanding between Carmen and her boyfriend. Things spiral out of control in her life from there until she either gives up or starts to take control of her life back and starts putting herself in order. You'll have to read to find out which, but I will tell you that a lot of growth for the character happens and I am absolutely excited to see where the series goes next as there is no way that we can be done with the Christmas Bookshop yet or at least I hope not!

I adore Jenny Colgan books and have read many over the years. Unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. I found it slow moving and didn’t feel engaged with the characters despite enjoying book one. Unlike other Colgan series, you really need to read these in order, I would not say this is a stand alone story.

It’s Christmas again in Edinburgh at the bookshop where Carmen works for owner, Mr. McCredie. But you learn this is just a movie set and it’s actually summer. Carmen has hooked up with a hallmark style movie company to use the bookshop and street to make extra cash for the struggling book store. Oke, Carmen’s love interest, leaves for Brazil after they have a breakup and much of the time is pining for him. A contrived donation story brings a remodel and success to the bookstore. The story overall just didn’t click for me, and I realize romance often is contrived but this wasn’t working.

That being said, I would still read anything written by Jenny Colgan in the future!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Avon Books for the advanced copy for honest review.

I love Jenny Colgan's Christmas stories. They always have the most quaint, relatable characters- very atmospheric and set just the right tone for a perfect holiday read. Charming and entertaining. Definitely recommend reading The Christmas Bookshop first though this novel could also be read as a stand alone.

This book should have been shorter. The love story part of this book is too short. You spend most of the time with Carmen being a Debbie Downer. You do not see Carmen and Oke's love for much of the book. What you do get is her wallowing in how badly she acted toward Oke and how depressed she is. The book could be more cheerful, and for being a Christmas book, it should be. I liked the description of Edinburgh throughout the book, but it wasn't enough to save it.

Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for a digital copy of the book for my honest opinion .

This is the second book in the series and I feel that reading the first book is a must to understand this book.

Jenny Colgan is a must for the holidays! I was all in with the Scottish setting, bookshop, and charming storyline.

Jenny Colgan is one of my favorite authors for when I want a cozy hug of a book. The prequel to this one, The Christmas Bookshop, was exactly that. The Edinburgh setting, the quirky characters, the sweet romance, it was the perfect book to get lost in during the holiday season. I was hoping this one would be the same, and while it's definitely sweet, the cozy factor wasn't there, mostly because it takes place during July, not Christmas as one might think. I'd still recommend it for Colgan fans, but just temper your cold and cozy holiday expectations.

A Christmas book by a favorite author, what could be better? Nothing really, to be honest. Jenny Colgan has been a favorite author of mine, for some time and I love her ability to tell a sweet story. They don’t all have perfect ending but the way she wraps them up, is so good. Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is the story of Carmen Hogan, a bookstore manager at McCredie’s bookstore. Her boss, is barely helping run the store. It hasn’t had an update, in years. It is filled to the brim with books. It is dusty and messy, it doesn’t do much business but the regulars love it. Mr. McCredie is trying to take a huge trip, save money and semi retire. Carmen needs the bookstore. T has everything she needs. Work a place to live and her family is close by. She needs it to make more money and an American film company wants to film a Christmas Movie here. What a storm of luck. They will pay to use the space, help them update and help Mr. McCredie take his trip. This book is set in The Edinburgh and it is a perfect palace. The town has so many different and interesting characters living in it and the author describes them so well. The story has the feeling of Christmas, the coming together of neighbors, gossip and life. I love reading Holiday books and this one did not disappoint. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for my copy, for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read & review this book.

This was a fun but different romance story. I wasn't expecting the main couple to be separated for most of the book, but somehow this actually worked for me.

The story spans over a year, briefly introducing us to the central couple in chapter one with the entirety of their relationship, and then following the characters through the next year of their life. While Carmen is still foundering due to the break up, she finds herself working for Mr McCredie's bookshop ( love the name!) in the heart of Edinburgh. It needs some organizing and PR and Carmen takes it on. We see her grow in her self assurance and independence and become part of the community. This really is much more a story about her as she spends the year single and gets more of a sense of what is important in life. I loved it.

I have not read any of Jenny Colgan's other Bookshop books, but I plan to look a few more up. This one was especially fun for me because I just recently visited Edinburgh and the descriptions and vibes are perfect. The story made me yearn to go back to see it at Christmas. If you are looking for a hot and sexy holiday romance, this will likely not be for you. I went in blind and found a cozy feel good story with great characters and a bookshop in one of the most beautiful cites ever, and I couldn't be more happy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for access to the this eARC in exchange for a fair review.

Managing the Old Town bookshop for Mr. McCredie has been a dream job for Carmen Hogan. There is nothing she enjoys more than helping customers find the perfect read. The only problem is the bookshop still has barely enough money in the till to pay the bills. At the same time an evil local developer has been turning every nearby business into a tacky souvenir shop and Mr. McCredie has been offered an opportunity of a lifetime to trace his family history on an historic voyage to Antartica. The trip costs a lot of money and Carmen is determined to help this sweet old man who believed in her when no-one else did. While missing her ex boyfriend Oke terribly since he left Scotland and her sister Sophia passive aggressively nudging her out of the family basement Carmen once again finds herself at a confusing crossroads. As the lights in Edinburgh begin to glow, past holiday memories lay heavy on her mind. Carmen completely throws herself into reinventing the bookshop and her personal life as well. Filled with our favorite characters from The Christmas Bookshop (and some fabulous new ones!) this delightful sequel is the perfect read for some quirky bookshop love this holiday season.

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop, by Jenny Colgan, is book two in the Christmas Bookshop series, though it doesn’t state that anywhere. It really is best when read in order otherwise you won’t know the characters and their backstories that are pertinent to the story.

This story contains Colgan’s typical caustic banter and witty commentary. Carmen works at McCreadie’s Bookshop and is on a very tight budget and while other businesses are selling out, she remains stalwart in her stance to maintain her business.

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop was lacking in the festive feels of the previous book, and the characters could be utterly aggravating at times. I didn’t love the dismal view of religion, or the unnecessary feuding that took place between several characters. The overall tone of this story was more melancholic than hopeful, in this story , and though things resolved themselves in the end, it was a bit painful getting there.

I absolutely adored this book. It is the perfect holiday story and it kept me smiling the entire time I read it. The characters are well developed and I loved all of them.