I did not expect to enjoy the dual-parallel time line style of this book, but grew to love it. My favorite thing about this Christmas novel was that it was different than the cookie cutter cutesy Christmas read.

I am not a fan of this book for multiple reasons – there were several times in the reading that I was tempted to label it “DNF” and move on.

Two days before Christmas, Bea abandons her life in London to fulfill her dream of living in New York City. The airport is the pivotal decision point – will she depart on the plane or return home to her boyfriend? This is the beginning of Bea’s two parallel lives, each based on her choices. It is an interesting premise; unfortunately, it is not well executed. For the next eight years at Christmas time, the reader is given a glimpse of the events of the past year. There really is no Christmas theme per se, which was a disappointment.

I am not a fan of love triangles, and this book illuminated the worst aspects of this trope. Bea was alternately annoying and obnoxious in her indecisiveness and manipulation of her relationships with two trustworthy men. Additionally, the unfoldment of her alternate lives became repetitive and tedious. The timelines are not clearly delineated and, in some instances, so similar it would take a few paragraphs to realize which version I was reading.

Overall, this book might appeal to some readers, but I found it lacking and cannot recommend it.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. This story focuses on Bea and her life in two parallel timelines. One where Bea goes back home to spend Christmas with her family and boyfriend, Dom. Another where she fulfills her life long dream of going to NYC right around Christmas. Although time of year is Christmas/winter, I wouldn’t classify this as a Christmas story. It was sometimes confusing to keep these alternate timelines straight as I was reading.

I'm going to admit I'm not a huge romance reader, I probably read 2-3 throughout most of the year. When it comes to Christmas thought I find myself reaching for those clichéd christmassy romance books to curl up with. Yes, I know it's only July, but this book has the same title as my favourite festive song by Wham, so I was over the moon when I got the chance to read this.

Bea is the FMC of this story, stuck in her mundane life with her boyfriend Dom. Wishing there was more to her life, she made the drastic decision to run away to the airport and find that fairytale life in New York she'd always dream of. This is where she literally bumps into Paddy, a gorgeous Irish man. Stood there at the airport, torn between staying with Dom or following her dream to NYC. From this moment on, Last Christmas turns into a sliding doors story where we follow Bea down both paths, the one in London and the one in NYC.

The story is set over many different years all around Christmas. I will tell you that this is not really a Xmas story. There's no decorating biscuits, buying of Christmas trees, last-minute shopping for presents, and the rest of the palaver i associate with a good festive romance. It's just set in that period of the year. That left me a little disappointed, I wanted all the clichés, the traditions, and the will they won't they romance.

What I did like is the concept of following both decisions Bea made, and I liked how both sides panned out. Although, I did lose track of which Bea I was reading about and had to re-check a few times. It lulled a little in the middle, too, I just found it all a bit samey. For the most part, it was easy to follow.
Character wise, I didn't like Bea. Her indecisiveness was annoying, and I felt like she just used both Paddy and Dom because it was easy and convenient. She was intolerable. I did love Paddy. He was a really good guy who was totally in love with Bea. I didn't really like the ending. It was too happily ever after for me.

This was a good read overall, but not what I expected. It's no fault of the book, though. It made a nice change to all the thriller/crime I have been reading. It also tackles some serious issues surrounding depression and dementia. Ultimately, it is a story about love, heartbreak, friendships, and family. The what ifs in life and fate. Are we destined to end up at the same destination no matter what path we choose?

Thank you for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bea decides to run away before Christmas to New York from her boyfriend Dom. It got a bit confusing as to whether she was staying in New York or at home and difficult to know which

This is my first by this author and I loved it! A very interesting concept. I definitely expected a Christmas story and it’s really not, so just be aware of that, the cover is a bit misleading? But it was interesting and fun once I realized I wasn’t reading a Christmas romance!

This book is so much more than a Christmas read. I love this authors books and this one was slightly different as the story has a sliding doors concept and goes back and forth between what could happen depending on which path the main character chooses to follow.

How will things pan out Will fate play a part or not in deciding Bea’s future?

This was a quick easy escapism and enjoyable read.

I really like Fiona's books and this book is number 7 in the Nosey Parker Mysteries series.

I've read two in this series so far but I won a competition a while back and won 5 of the 7 books which looks amazing on my bookshelves.

I love the way Fiona writes, her books are intriguing and interesting and really pull you in. I love trying to figure out who has done it and I don't think I've guessed one yet.

In the Campsite Murder I had a couple of ideas of who it could be but as usual I didn't get it right. I love getting it wrong (I know that sounds odd, but I just know a book is written really well if I guess wrong).

I love the Camping/festival vibes in this book, the ins and outs of camping life at a festival and all the things that can happen. Somehow Fiona manages to make her books amusing as well as brilliant. Balancing a book about murder with amusement and also keeping it entertaining is no easy feat I imagine, but Fiona manages to do it so well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I love not knowing what someone is going to end up doing and I always seem surprised when they end up doing the total opposite of what I anticipated. This is so good like solving a murder but for romantics.

I’m a bit torn with this book. I found it all a bit confusing. And not very Christmasy. However I think I wasn’t focused when reading so will try agian!

I love the idea of a sliding doors scenario and whether fate will make things play out the same way regardless. This book had all this and much more. It was a beautiful romantic Christmas book and it had me hooked from start to finish.

Bea is a likeable character and I loved her friendship group. She has to make many choices throughout the book and I loved seeing the different consequences.

Thanks to NetGalley, Clare Swatman and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Baa is flying to New York just before Christmas to start a new life. She is hesitant for several reasons and not just about landing in the Big Apple. Will she go or should she stay? Her relationship with her live-in boyfriend has soured and although she feels sorry for him as he suffers bouts of depression, she really wants to get on with her own life. On the plane she sits next to Paddy as she calls him as he won’t divulge his real name, saying she would laugh at him as many have before. We are taken through dual parallel timelines of Bea at home and Bea in New York living two lives. Which one is real and which works out?

I loved this, it's a very different clever premise but easy to follow. Sometimes life has a plan for whichever way you turn, and not always what you thought. Fate has a hand. This is a romance with a difference, one that's life affirming and reassuring that the planets really can align and perhaps sometimes don’t for all the right reasons. Wonderfully crafted and meticulously planned, a Christmas centric story quite like no other. A book I couldn't and didn't put down, one where I gasped out loud a few times. One to remember for all the right reasons. Loved this so much. Brilliant.


For more reviews please follow me on Twitter (X) @nickisbookblog
----------------------------------------------------------

Bea is at Heathrow airport at Christmas deciding will she move to New York or stay in London. The story goes between 2 stories her life when she moves to New York and her life when she stays in London. A good heartwarming read.

Each day when we wake up we know we’ll be forced to make choices. Some of those choices will affect the future.
This story goes back and forth between two scenarios that Bea could live out. She’s forced to choose between family and love. & just when you think she’s got it all figured out…. they’ll be another day with another decision that will again change the future.
This book might have Christmas in the title but it’s by no means a holiday story. This is about deciding what you want out of life and deciding what’s worth losing to get it!

Clare Swatman does it again! Her writing style is so gentle, understated, unflashy, but should never be confused as boring or empty. You will love her characters, and this book has an extremely UNIQUE plot that is fascinating. Haven't we all wondered what our life would be like if we did this or that thing different? Bea gets to experience that exact thing, multiple different outcomes of choices she could have made.

The Christmas element was neither here nor there to me. It was the concept and execution of alternate outcomes that I found so intriguing and very well done.

I loved the premise of this book, sort of a "Sliding Doors" theme. I enjoyed how the author dove into each character, and built them up chapter by chapter. My only real issue with the book is it seemed to drag at times. Moments when I just wanted the author to get to the point! But, with that being said it was a good read. Perfect for the holidays, or even a rainy weekend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Last Christmas was oftentimes a charming story but drug on just a little too much for it to hit all the marks I’d like from a romance that flirts with fantasy.

We meet Bea on her way to NYC to see if she can kick start her life. At the airport she’s torn between going and staying and we get to follow her through those scenarios. In each she finds herself in a love triangle with new AJ, who has his own past he’d like to escape, and current beau Dom, who has crippling depression. This book got deep at times which is lovely since the story calls for it, but it just takes a bit too long to get to where it was going.

I’ll repeat again that this is charming and I love books with the sliding doors/what could be/time hop concept but I wished that it had perhaps some more climactic events to keep the reader engaged.

‘Bea was always early for everything. Even, it turned out, when she was running away from her life.’ As Christmas approaches, Bea Preston has a choice.

Looking up at the departures board in Heathrow airport, her flight to New York boarding soon, she knows that getting on that plane changes everything. Her life in London has grown stale, her relationship with boyfriend Dom has run its course, and New York has always been her dream. But it’s a risk – she’ll miss her parents, her friends, her job.

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was fantastic. It put me right into the Christmas spirit despite it being the middle of summer. I love it so much!! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was a good book with an interesting storyline. I liked that it went back and forth between two different storylines once a year at Christmastime. I thought Bea was a good main character who was likable, but with her own set of character flaws. I really found all of the characters likable, and I found myself rooting for them all to have a happy ending. While this is a Christmas themed book, I feel like you could read it anytime of the year, I would recommend this book.

I can’t believe we’re reviewing Christmas books already. But I’m not too sad about it because I love a good Christmas story. This book didn’t disappoint.