Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb.
This book was a sweet, cozy story focusing on Olive Carter, an aspiring reporter, and Jack Deveraux, an American living in England who becomes a chef for the royal family. This story has three POVs: Olive, Jack, and the Queen and begins in 1952 just as the Queen has ascended to the throne. It was a heartwarming story that gives you a glimpse of royal life. It focuses on the importance of family, friends, and healing after a tragedy. I would definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a sweet Christmas story with a little side of Cajun cooking descriptions. The ending was perfect, and I enjoyed it.

I didn't love this as much as I expected to. The writing itself was great and engaging, but I felt like the plot was drawn out over way too many years.

Thank you NetGalley, Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, and William Morrow for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this one, as I always do with these author’s books. This one is set in the 1950’s and features young Queen Elizabeth II and two people whose lives intersect with hers.

This one primarily follows Jack Devereux and Olive Carter. They both visit Sandringham House to work and meet up after many years. Jack is a recently widowed chef, and Olive a single mother and aspiring reporter at the BBC, and I really enjoyed learning about both characters. It takes place primarily around Christmas time over the years as the Queen becomes more confident and eventually does her first televised Christmas speech in 1957.

There are characters from their previous books in this one as well, which was a treat! I really enjoyed this one overall, and also tried the audiobook for a bit, which was great and really enhanced the story, especially with the Queen’s parts. If you like the royals, historical romances, or just want a sweet Christmas-themed book, be sure to pick this one up!

If there is such a thing as a cozy romance, this is probably it. The main characters are Jack and Olive. Jack is a recent widower and chef who dreams of opening his own restaurant. Olive is an aspiring reporter for the BBC and a single mother. Jack and Olive knew each other before the war who lost touch with each other. They meet again when Jack is working in the kitchens at Balmoral and Olive is sent to cover the preparations for Christmas for the new queen. Over a span of five years, we follow along as Jack and Olive reconnect. Through flashbacks, we learn how they met and why they lost touch.

This is a very predictable story and I could see some of the twists in the romance coming. Despite that though it was a good Christmastime story. While it centers around Jack and Olive, you do get bits of the struggles that a young queen faced and she tries to juggle her many roles, long before she thought she would need to.

Set every Christmas starting in 1952, this book tells the story of Jack Deveraux (a chef) and Olive Carter (an aspiring BBC reporter). Old friends from the wartime days, Jack and Olive are reunited at Balmoral for Christmas where Jack is working in the kitchens and Olive is taking notes for an upcoming broadcast.

As their paths cross over various Christmases, the spark between them grows. But Olive is holding back a secret that could change Jack’s life forever.

Why Kirsten likes it
I loved the premise of this story, but a few of the Christmases seemed a little unnecessary. It was pleasant to check in on the friends – and the Queen – each year, but some of the years were filler because of the layout. Still, I liked how their love story progressed in a realistic timeline – I just wish Olive had been more communicative sooner.

Christmas With the Queen is a historical novel set in the 1950s, spanning several of Queen Elizabeth's early years on the throne. The storyline follows her annual Christmas speech on the radio. There are two other characters who readers get to know over the featured years: Olive Carter, a single mother who is a reporter for the BBC and who wants to be taken seriously in a male-dominated field, and Jack Devereaux, a royal chef who lost his wife during the London fog. Olive and Carter were close years ago and become reacquainted at Sandringham over the holidays.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction and have always been interested in the life of Queen Elizabeth. A light note: I loved the glimpse of Susan and the queen's other Corgis in this novel!

This is such a lovely book and a wonderful way to start a new reading year! I loved all three intertwining storylines. I found Olive and Jack's friendship and tentative romance so moving. I was pulling for them so much as they moved one step forward, two steps back during the span of this novel.

I highly recommend Christmas with the Queen for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in the royal family and the life of Queen Elizabeth.

I loved the characters and the whole premise of the book. It was unique and so enjoyable! These authors together have such talent and perfected storytelling! I always enjoying reading anything by Heather & Hazel!

I've always enjoyed reading the books that the two authors co-author and this book was no different. While a bit predictable with the love story of Olive and Jack, I liked the aspect of having the royal family interspersed throughout the story and the little peeks behind the castle curtains.

The story is structured around Christmas time over a number of years. We get to see how the young Queen grows into her role through her yearly Christmas messages. Olive becomes her confidante and helps her to express herself that is relatable to all people.

Jack works in the royal kitchens, and I found this part of the story very interesting. It was easy to picture how busy the kitchens were and all the specialties that were demanded of the staff.

I enjoyed Olive and Jack's story and was happy they were able to finally find their way to each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this review copy.

Perfect atmospheric holiday read! I loved the setting and the slow build up of the romance. I didn’t love the secret that Olive was keeping from Jack and felt it dragged on for a bit too long. The chapters about Queen Elizabeth II were so beautifully written.

Disclaimer: Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the free copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Ranking and Thoughts:
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Spice Level: 2/5
Enjoyment: Medium
Overall: 4/5

- Set in the 1950s plus the mid-1940s. Awesome! I like vintage things.
- When Jack prepares food. All the delicious food makes me hungry.
- I like most of the characters.
- Christmas! I would say a good holiday read.
- I assume this is based on true events. Including the late Queen Elizabeth II and her family.

Extra thoughts:
The downsides are one scene that is somewhat rushed and few scenes I read makes me disappointed.

Verdict:
I enjoyed it, in spite of a few flaws.

I ended up listening to the audio of Christmas With the Queen and I highly recommend that format. For fans of the Royal family and The Crown, Christmas With the Queen will grab your attention and you will be rooting for the main characters.

I really enjoyed Last Christmas in Paris by this duo, so I when I saw they had written another holiday historical novel, I knew I had to read it. I started with the audio while I prepared a holiday dinner for my family. What a great accompaniment! I found it absolutely delightful. The audiobook is narrated by Fiona Hardingham, Gary Furlong, and Ester Wane. They gave great voice to the characters in this story. I switched to the ebook later in the evening to finish.

The story follows Jack and Olive in first person interspersed with Queen Elizabeth II as they embark on their individual duties or jobs for Christmas in 1952 and follows the characters through the holiday in subsequent years leading up to 1957. Olive is a typist and aspiring reporter with the BBC and is ready to take on more responsibility, namely covering the Queen as she prepares her Christmas address. Olive is juggling her job with raising a young daughter with the assistance of her bickering parents. Jack is a grieving widower and chef from New Orleans who has a second chance at an opportunity to work in the royal kitchens for the holiday. He aspires to own his own restaurant and cook cuisine inspired by his grandfather.

I loved the characters in this story. I was a little nervous about reading this one because I guessed that it had a trope that I’m not particularly fond of in books, but the characters were so delightful that I enjoyed the story so much regardless. I enjoyed reading about Olive’s perspectives into what it was like as a woman to pursue a career during this time period and for Jack to work through his grief and reach for his dreams.

Recommended to historical fiction lovers for a different type of holiday read.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for a copy provided for an honest review.

I loved the concept of this book so much! Getting to hear about the queen while really diving into other characters was a perfect set up for this historical fiction! The story moved along very well and gave little Christmas vibes throughout. Overall, a great read.!

Favorite book of 2024! I appreciate any well written book based on the life of Queen Elizabeth. Bonus that it included Christmas. It was charming, lighthearted and full of just enough romantic to make it sweet.

Historical fiction books tend to be hit or miss for me. I either find them fascinating or boring. Unfortunately, this one was the latter for me. I'd hoped it would be the former because I loved The Crown and the blurb for the book sounded promising, but it never fully grabbed my attention. I ended up skimming a lot and never really clicked with the characters or the main relationship. The writing was decent though and I can definitely see how the story would work better for other readers.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Christmas with the Queen is a charming and unique historical fiction novel that offers a refreshing perspective on Queen Elizabeth, told through the eyes of Olive Carter, a young reporter for the BBC trying to make a name for herself. As Olive embarks on her journey, she unexpectedly reunites with Jack Deveraux, an old love now working at Sandringham. Their paths cross repeatedly throughout the story, building tension and anticipation as they navigate their feelings for each other.

What makes this story particularly compelling is Olive's one big secret—something she's kept hidden from Jack—that almost derails their romance. The emotional depth and drama of their relationship, set against the backdrop of royal life, add a rich layer to the narrative. I am recommending to readers who enjoy historical fiction, women's fiction, or anything involving the royal family. I believe it would also make a great Book Club choice for December. Christmas with the Queen is a perfect holiday read for anyone seeking a heartwarming, romantic, and engaging story with a satisfying happy ending.

Christmas with the Queen is a charming blend of historical fiction, royalty and the Christmas season in the UK. This is a delightful novel that takes place over several Christmas seasons in the 1950s, as a young Queen Elizabeth is set to deliver her first Christmas Day holiday broadcast. When young BBC employee (and aspiring reporter) Olive finds herself at Sandringham she has an unexpected encounter with the Queen and runs into former friend Jack, a recently widowed chef helping out in the royal kitchens for the holiday season. Jack stirs up a lot of memories for single mom Olive and vice versa. Part of the same social group after VE Day, Olive and Jack lost touch. Olive, worried she will never be able to climb the ladder in a man's world, continues to try and establish a name for herself. Connecting over the next 5 Christmas seasons, Jack and Olive's past resurfaces and secrets are exposed. Will Olive be able to assert herself at the BBC while managing the complications with Jack? This question and more are answered in this wonderful holiday novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

5⭐️

If you love all things Queen Elizabeth II or even just books set in the time period of her early years as monarch - the 1950s - then you will love this delightful love story that coincides with Her Majesty!

The story of Olive and Jack is one that can be relatable to so many - right person, wrong time. I thoroughly enjoyed following the journey of two old friends (old flames??) through their early friendship, separate lives, and chance encounters while serving the royal family during Christmas that lead to the rebuilding of a new friendship… and maybe even a budding romance!

“Wherever you are, either at home or away, in snow or in sunshine, I give you my affectionate greetings, with every good wish for Christmas and the New Year.”
Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas Day 1952

Thank you HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This story was just an "OK" read. I had hoped to see a more personal side of the Queen but felt that the yearly interactions with the character Olive helping with her speech, it didn't go much further. A lost opportunity. The romance between Olive and Jack didn't do much for me. A one-night stand turns into a chance meeting each Christmas. I never felt there was enough at these meeting to make me feel that a true romance was forming.

Jack is a chef going to the royal residence in Sandringham to cook for the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth for Christmas 1952. Olive is a newly minted reporter who ends up going to Sandringham to report on the Queen’s first Christmas radio address. Jack and Olive know each other from several years ago, but Olive has a secret that could have huge repercussions for both of them. The book follows Jack and Olive throughout the next several Christmases as they grow closer, interact with the royals, and follow their own hopes and dreams. This is a very cozy historical fiction, and a surprisingly quick read! I loved the little Last Christmas in Paris easter eggs we got throughout the book, and I enjoyed getting to peek behind the curtain into Christmas with the royal family (even though it was fictionalized). I definitely liked Last Christmas in Paris better, but this one was so fun as well!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this book! ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.