I love a Christmas themed book so reading this was a no=brainer for me - it was a good read but I had to keep checking back which situation I was reading in. An enjoyable read that I lost an afternoon to and do not regret.

Oh get ready to have ALL the feels with this adorable, and just extremely darling love story! I just melted reading this book. Get ready for a sweet love story!

Last Christmas is a cosy festive novel by Clare Swatman.
This was such a cute read. It was easy to follow and had a good cast of characters. It's the perfect book to read over the festive season. A good book that I would recommend to other readers.
❤️ Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the idea of a parallel universe starting with a simple decision. Very 'Sliding Doors!'

I also loved the characters who were there throughout it all, best friend Mia and Maggie and the cast of supporters in Bea's life

To be honest, it got really confusing halfway through as to which storyline we were in as there were similar circumstances in each. None of them were the perfect fairytale that I look for in an escape read.

I did like the fact that a lot of similarities continued to happen and the way the ending worked.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Clare Swatman for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

The idea of this book was really cute, but unfortunately I was only able to get about 15% done. The timeline was just getting too confusing for me.

Last Christmas by Clare Swatman, The book starts with Bea hemming and hawing at the airport trying to decide if she should fly off to New York or stay in London with her boyfriend and her family. I have never DNF a book at 93% but totally did with this one I knew on the plane when “Patty“ wouldn’t tell her his real name and then when she sees him again he tells her his name and it’s not even close to being as hideous as he claimed but I let that go, I breathed in five times and out four endkept reading then I learned Dom the guy she left on Christmas also suffers from depression and when do people get depression the most… During the holidays! What a great girl Bea is. After reading this whole book from her life in New York to her life in London to the reason she left London and everything else we get to the end or almost the end and when her mom calls her to come over and tells her what she tells her I was done. I mean talk about a 360 they have other instances I want to give but it would be spoilers I don’t like when people do that to me so I’m not going to do that to anyone else. I will say at the beginning of the book I really liked be but the more I read the two POV’s in the more I got to know her the way she was written it’s like every decision she makes she second-guess’s it and she seems to never be satisfied. I know a lot of people enjoyed this book but I did not and think the reason I am not really into romantic stories because I am too pragmatic. For example think of being on a plane with a guy you don’t know and he’s attractive but he won’t tell you his name, keeps trying to ply you with alcohol and then wants to hold your hand as the plane is landing no woman would go for that or at least most wouldn’t. I always think about what would happen in real life and I really wish I did not because it ruins a lot of books for me but despite that there are many romantic stories I have swooned over because I get so swept up but with this one I just kept thinking OMG that would never happen.#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #ClareSwatman, #LastChristmas,

This was a nice read, although in August it still gave a nice Christmassy feel, i liked the way the character had to make choices and how it followed those choices, with the "go" and "stay" it sometime did get confusing but overall a nice read.

Bea is on a plane to New York just before Christmas, contemplating whether to start a new life in the Big Apple or stay behind. She's leaving a strained relationship with her live-in boyfriend, who suffers from depression, and is unsure if she should move forward with her own life. On the flight, she meets a man she nicknames Paddy, who keeps his real name a secret, hinting that it's something people have laughed at in the past. The story alternates between two parallel timelines: Bea’s life at home and her life in New York, leaving the reader to wonder which is real and which will work out.

This novel is praised for its unique and clever premise, seamlessly blending two possible realities. It explores the idea that life’s path can be shaped by fate, with unexpected twists leading to different outcomes. The book is a life-affirming romance, reassuring readers that the right things happen for the right reasons, even if they don't align with initial expectations. The story is well-crafted, Christmas-themed, and emotionally gripping, making it a memorable read that’s difficult to put down.

Last Christmas by Clare Swatman is a beautiful dual timeline novel that I really loved.
The novel takes place during the first decade of the twenty first century. The reader drops in on each Christmas as well as having a bitesize catch up for the previous year.
Last Christmas is a novel with a difference as we experience a sliding doors moment. When faced with a life changing decision would we choose path A? Or path B? Would the final outcome be the same? Or totally different? Both paths take similar but different routes. The novel alternates between ‘Go’ and ‘Stay’.
The choices run parallel. The leading players are the same but the choices provide some very different outcomes.
This is a novel about love and life, family and friendship, and the choices we make.
Dividing time between London and New York, the reader ‘experiences’ two very different Christmases. There is no doubt that snow, lights and Central Park definitely produce the more romantic of the two options to the reader. Weighed against that is the small family Christmases in London. Where would you choose to spend Christmas?
We witness the awful disease that is Alzheimer’s. We see how a family pull together.
Within the novel we ‘mourn’ a passing and we ‘celebrate’ a birth.
Last Christmas is a delightful read with an eclectic mix of characters. It is a festive read that will warm your heart and entertain you whatever ever time of year you read it.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for letting me read last christmas early.
I absolutely adored last christmas, how we get to follow bea (Beatrice) through out the years in the lives she decided to move her life to New York and the version where she changed her mind to stay home after all.

Clare Swagman is a brilliant writer that bring her characters to life on the pages. Bea is a wonderful character and you can't help get immersed in her story, wanting her to live her best life. The story flits between London and New York, it encompasses love, friendship and family, it's emotional and romantic. A perfect winter read.

Bea Preston stands at a crossroads in Heathrow airport, torn between two futures. As Christmas looms, Bea faces the ultimate decision: stay in London, where life feels predictable, or take a leap into the unknown by boarding a flight to New York. Perfect for anyone who has ever wondered how a single decision could shape their destiny, this book is a delightful holiday read filled with heart and thought-provoking twists.

Claire Swatman is a hit-or-miss author for me I enjoyed The World Outside My Window and A Love to Last a Lifetime but I found The Lost Letters of Evelyn Wright lacking. I picked this one up as a Christmas in July read but I got so behind it ended up as a Christmas and August book but that's okay because this really isn't a Christmas book. Each chapter takes place in December of every year from 2002 to 2010 but that's it as far as Yuletide goes. The book is about Bea and whether she goes to live in New York or not also which man does she end up with Dom or AJ? The chapters alternate between Stay and Go...it's very reminiscent of the Gwyneth Paltrow movie Sliding Doors.

The book was okay I just wish I liked it more because the premise was wonderful and Clare Swatman managed to keep each chapter fresh, a lot of times books like this can feel redundant. The problem I had with the story was our female lead, Bea, why couldn't she just be on her own? She left England because of sexual harassment and not feeling fulfilled in her relationship, she should have just worked on herself. Secondly in both scenarios, she keeps flip-flopping back and forth between two men. Love triangles make me feel so frustrated and reading about these two men suffering at this woman's hands just made me angry.

What I really did like and loved was Bea's relationship with her best friends, that was the best part of the whole book, the relationship she had with these people and how they were always there for each other gave me all the feels. The ending was a little too neat and tidy for my liking in both scenarios. I like a happily ever after as much as the next person but these were just too perfect. I would have preferred one of them not working out quite so well. I'm assuming the author was trying to make a point about the fact that no matter what we do destiny will always decide our fate.

Even though I didn't enjoy this book as much as some of the authors others it was still a good book in my opinion and I would read another by Ms. Swatman. If you haven't read anything by her I suggest you start with The World Outside My Window or A Love to Last a Lifetime

Will she or wont she? When Bea decides to leave ebverything she knows and move to New York she could not know the outcome. In this story we find out two different versions. One if she did and one if she decided not to get on the plane. I enjoyed the book but did find it confusiong at first as we tracked back and forth. I am sure though others will love this format and will not be able to put it down.

Both lives pan out and Bea gets her future and we get two stories.

Bea is at a crossroads in her life and must decide to stay in an unhappy relationship in London with her boyfriend or make a new start for herself in New York.
The story is told with two different outcomes one in which she gets on the plane to New York and the other where she stays at home.
There were some likeable characters in this book and some interesting developments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4
A few days before Christmas 2002 Bea is in Heathrow Airport about to fly to N.Y.C. to see if she could make a life there. She has left her fiance Dom behind and both he and her mom try to get her to change her mind. The book tells two stories of how Bea's live will develop if she gets on the plane or turns around. We get two summaries each Christmas about the developments of the past year until Christmas 2010.
In each version Bea goes to New York (eventually) and meets A.J. who could be the love of her live but somehow she keeps going back to London and to Dom. It seems like Bea just can't decide and thus will never be truly happy.
I found the book entertaining and the idea of how one decision can change the course of a life appealed to me. However I had problems relating to Bea, her behaviour completely annoyed me at some points. Also I felt the story dragged on a bit too long and had too many plot twists. All in all it was a pleasant book but not a must-read for me.

Wow this is two stories in one. Gripped you. Bea had decisions to make and you follow both choices over the years. Covers depression and dementia and letting go of someone but no spoilers. A beautiful love story too. Hard to review but another Saturday afternoon escapism read. Enjoyed it

If you loved sliding doors then this is the Christmas book for you. I
Struggled to get into it but this book has kept me company through a nasty bout of norovirus and I will forever be great full for it. I loved reading about New York in the festive series and this was a really sweet great read. I loved the friendships, the fun, the nightlife and the relationships and the drama. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Such a cute and unique read that made me feel all the feels. I didn’t want to put it down.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed above are my own.

This is a lovely book but I wouldn't say its a Christmas novel more a novel that begins at Christmas. I enjoyed the characters and the 'what if' element. Although I felt a little like you never discovered which path was the one Bea really took. I would recommend it.