I'm very torn over this review. I love all things Scotland, but this book is hard to review. On one hand it was very well written and you sort of see the growth of Carmen through the book through trial and a lot of error. That's my main problem with this book, it's all about Carmen. Her love interest, Oke, has a few chapters that I think were supposed to build some angst considering the self-appointed caretaker, but why? I thought this was supposed to be a romance, but now see it was listed as women's fiction too. I should have paid attention to that. So, if all you care about is the heroine, then you'll probably like book. If you're looking for romance, you'll be as disappointed as I was, since the first couple of chapters had them dating and then the last couple of chapters gave you a resolution. The rest of the book was all Carmen messing up and trying and messing up and trying and seemingly learning along the way.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Oh wow Jenny Colgan books get better with each one!!!!!!! I so hope she continues this series. Fans have to have more of Carmen & her darling community!!!!!!!!!!!

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshp by Jenny Colgan is the perfect holiday story! Carmen is working at a not very successful bookshop in Edinburgh, but loves it. The shop is being used as the backdrop for a holiday movie as a means to make money to keep it going and out 9f the clutches of a local businessman who wants to turn it into another souvenir shop where he can sell plastic Nessies and cheap tartans. Carmen is determined to save the shop and this movie may be the only way... but filming Christmas in the heat of summer? A fun holiday novel you won't want to miss!

I just love Jenny Colgan, and I've read many of their books at this point, including the first book The Christmas Bookshop. As far as sequels go, this one is fairly good. It was a quick, cute, holiday read at less than 300 pages. But, it was very enjoyable and great to get you in the holiday season mood. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

The plot was cute but the constant jumping around of perspectives made it impossible to keep up with. Took me out of the story too much for me to properly enjoy.

I didn't realize this was a sequel upon starting this and I think that might have been what led to me feeling a disconnect to the characters. I was excited for a mushy Hallmark light read but this book just never hit the amazing point I was hoping for. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for this ARC.

I could not resist this cover. Certainly not when I had the opportunity to read it, so I gladly accepted it. This is a fairly quick read for me as I got caught up in the storyline. Lovely story with wonderful

This is a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her work.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary of this book. Opinions are my own.

I'll start by saying that this title has me wanting to head to Scotland for the holidays. Jenny Colgan has done a marvelous job of painting an enticing picture of Edinburgh, especially during December.

Overall, the book was a fun read that could definitely help someone find their holiday spirit.

Jenny Colgan's new novel brings readers back to Edinburgh, to the Christmas bookshop and its spunky employee.

Carmen has had a busy year, with a film using the bookshop as a set and lots of changes in her personal life. Still living with her sister Sophia, Carmen's life is upended once again when Sophia announces her plan to return to work, and Carmen finds herself in search of new living quarters as a result. Add in a playful new manny for her nieces and nephews, a conniving millionaire trying to turn all the Victoria street shops into cheap souvenir stores, and the proprietor of the bookshop determined to set sail for Antarctica, and Carmen is busy indeed.

Colgan's fans will enjoy how Carmen and Oke's love story is continued since The Christmas Bookshop, as well as a parade of beloved characters. From the unusual but lovable Mr. McCredie to Oke's snake-studying roommate to Carmen's friends and hilarious family, the gang is back together all year long.

Carmen and her sister Sophia have a fun family dynamic, though they couldn't be more different. It's so lovely to see their relationship further healed and how they handle new challenges.

This is such a lovely, cozy Christmas book. Scenes full of softly falling snow, the dreamiest bookshop descriptions, and wonderful character work make for an engaging story that, though it has reasonable stakes, doesn't induce a lot of stress for readers.

This book is just a mug of hot chocolate, luscious and delicious and perfect for the holiday season.

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is available now. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.

This was the first book I have read by this author. I loved the quaint book shop and all its secrets. I did have to get used to some of the Scottish references.

The family dynamics between Carmen and her sister were interesting. I’m not sure I would want anyone living with my family for a year even if she were my sister.

Rudi, Sophia’s children's’ ‘manny’ was an interesting character with a wonderful sense of humor. I never knew what he would do next.

Switching gears from Carmen’s to Oke’s viewpoint was a little challenging, but, all in all, I enjoyed Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop.

I was excited to get this book because I loved the first one but while this one was good it did not give me all the same warm feelings as the first one. The children were not in this one as much and the family is not spending as much time together. The book ends at Christmas time but takes place over half a year which also lowers the Christmas feelings. Carmen and Oke’s relationship was in a weird place and I really don’t like Mary. The bookshop coziness is still there and they open the stacks up making the bookshop sound amazing and some place I would love to visit.

I received this book from Netgalley for review.

Thanks to Avon Books for my copy of Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan which came out yesterday October 10th.

I didn't realize this was a sequel to her 2021 Christmas book The Christmas Bookshop which I somehow missed reading. I think I would have enjoyed Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop if I had read that first. This seems much more of sequel than two stand-alone books in the same universe.

I usually enjoy Jenny's books, especially with the Scottish setting and delightful characters but something was missing in this one for me. And it didn't feel super Christmas-y to me. I wish there had been more about the movie filming at the bookshop.

This is a cute, lighthearted story about a young woman who is desperately trying to get her life under control. Carmen, who lives with her sister, works at the bookshop and has just lost her boyfriend to an expedition in the Amazon.

Carmen's sister is a professional with a husband and family and is going back to work. She wants Carmen to move out in order for her to hire a full time nanny for her four children. That’s were Rudi comes in. He has lost an arm in the military, but does not use that as an excuse for sympathy. His personality is such that he charms everyone he meets.

When a money hungry schemer comes on the scene trying to buy all the locally owned shops on the street, he an Carmen get off on the wrong foot. She doesn’t like that he is bringing in cheap and tacky souvenir shops to replace the stores that have been there for years.

Between Carmen’s family life, her love life, and her attempts to make the bookshop a success and keep the schemer away, the story moves at a fast pace and manages to convey the spirit of the holiday season.

I especially liked all the cultural references to Scotland. Even though I have been there, some of the references were new to me. I also though this worked well as a stand alone. I don’t feel as it I missed any backstory.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager, Avon for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to offer my review and recommend this to other readers.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I struggled with the first book in this series and the character’s immaturity towards her sister’s successes and unwillingness to take action after her workplace closed and she lost her job. She was aimless and the story dragged as a consequence but the character seems to have found her drive and some support and maybe even herself in this second installment. A big improvement and I’m glad I stuck around for this one.

This is a continuing story of a quaint little Old Town Bookshop, located in a charming Victorian village in Edinburgh. Carmen Hogan, is the manager who struggles to save the bookstore, struggles in her romance with Oke, and struggles in her crowded living situation with her sister and family. She also must ward off a millionaire wanting to turn her little shop into a cheap souvenir shop. So when an American movie company offers money to film at the bookstore, she can hardly refuse. Lots of hardships for Carmen in this one with family, romance , and her shop, but when Christmas comes all the joy of the snow and season returns.

It's so lovely to be back at McCredie's with Mr. McCredie, Carmen, Sofie, and everyone else. Carmen is still absolutely maddening - incredibly relatable but yet so infuriating -and Mr. McCredie is still having money problems and still pretty clueless about them.

Colgan's books are basically coziness in a book and this one is no exception. However, while this gives all the cozy feels not everything is unicorns and rainbows. Things frequently don't go right for Carmen (or really any of the characters) and they definitely don't always behave perfectly. Carmen's special skill is putting her foot in her mouth but it isn't played for laughs. I think at some point we have all had Carmen moments in our life so even when she annoys me I can't help but root for her.

I did want to scream at Carmen and Oke to communicate for then a few times. I loved them both but their lives would have been so much easier if they had just actually talked to each other. All in all this was a delightful Christmas-y bookish read and I just loved snuggling up with a cup of tea and this book.

To start out, I did not realize this was a sequel to The Christmas Bookshop until I went back to read the summary of that book. That being said, I read this as a stand-alone, but feel it should be marketed as part of a series. It would make for a more enjoyable reading experience.

Based on the description of the book, I was so excited to dig in. A movie set at a book shop in such a quaint location. What more could you want?! I wanted to love this book, and it had such great potential, but I really struggled with Carmen. Perhaps if I had read the first book, I may have liked her more. Although this one was not for me, it’s a perfect, lighthearted Christmas read that will get you in the holiday spirit.

Thank you to Jenny Colgan, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of the book for an honest review.

This book was a good read, but it would have been so much better if I had read The Christmas Bookshop first. I had a hard time trying to figure out what happened before, but after reading a little further, it was a good read.
I received a complimentary copy from Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review. What else is there to say about Jenny Colgan? Every novel is the perfect cozy read, and the holiday books add an extra bit of warmth! This book is an absolute fave! Amazing setting, interesting characters, and a bookshop, in Edinburgh, during Christmas. It's a must-read for any cozy reader!