This book followed multiple characters whose lives overlapped with the Queen of England, particularly at Christmas. I found it somewhat disconcerting at first to switch between the different story lines but they eventually came together to create an interesting story. The Queen was not the predominate character in the story but her story did add interest to what became a love story over the years between the two main characters. The story line was somewhat slow to develop but I did enjoy the story and would recommend it.

The dynamic author duo has done it again. Co-written a lovely histfic tale, this time featuring young Queen Elizabeth II during the years 1952 to 1957, and two MCs Olive and Jack, as they work for the BBC and the Royal kitchen, respectively. The charming story captures the era with grace and poignancy.

As the book opens we find ourselves in London during the infamous fog of 1952, which leads to the death of many due to illness caused by the toxic smog, or to tragic accidents as visibility is impossible. Jack's life is forever changed as a result.

Olive bravely makes her way through the impenetrable "soup" to the BBC, and talks her way into covering the Royal Family at Christmas when a veteran reporter becomes ill. The stage is set for a wonderful holiday gathering, and the chance for Olive and Jack, filling in at the Sandringham kitchen, to reconnect.

I was enthralled by the vivid scenes that make you feel you are with the young Queen as she celebrates the holiday and makes her first Christmas address. She has just lost her father to lung cancer, and become Queen so much earlier than anyone ever imagined. She is a wonder!

As the novel unspools during the next five years, I found myself incredibly nostalgic for the Queen, who reigned longer than any other Royal except for King Louis XIV of France. I was also totally invested in the compelling lives of Olive and Jack, and of England post WWII.

Highly recommended for fans of the Queen, The Crown, historical fiction, and the talented authors. And a perfect holiday gift!

I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. This delightful story offers a fun and heartwarming glimpse into the royal family's Christmas traditions. The way the authors captured the charm and warmth of the season reminded me of the love, joy, and cheeriness that Christmas can bring. The festive spirit and family togetherness portrayed in the book made it a perfect holiday read, leaving me with a cozy, uplifting feeling. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a feel-good Christmas tale!

Oh I enjoyed this book so much. A story within a story as Jack, newly widowed is reconnected with Olive, a single mom when they both go to the Sandringham when Queen Elizabeth celebrates Christmas, Jack as a chef and Olive covering the event for the BBC. This story takes place over a number of years as they see each other briefly. Old fashioned romance abounds and there is a hidden backstory here when later revealed to the reader makes you respond with an "ah ha" moment. This is a story of hope and joy and a great insight as well into the life of the young queen and her prince when she came to power following the untimely death of the king, her father. We see how Queen Elizabeth grows as a woman and as a sovereign and connects with her people. Well written, this story kept me engaged from page one. It's a winner. Many thanks to #netgalley #hazel gaynor #heatherwebb #chritmaswiththequeen for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Very thankful to have been able to read an advanced reader copy of this book. Lovely story of two people whose lives continually intertwine over a number of years. Love any book that somehow involves the royal family and this one has just enough of that. In ways, it is similar to Downton Abbey. Highly recommend.

If you enjoyed watching The Crown on Netflix, you’ll want to read Christmas With The Queen, by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. Focusing on the first few years of Elizabeth’s reign, this delightful story is told from three points of view: Queen Elizabeth, Jack (one of the royal chefs), and Olive (a reporter for the BBC). Jack grew up in New Orleans and was taught how to cook by his grandfather. His spicy recipes becomes a favorite of Phillip. Olive is in the right place at the right time to help Elizabeth prepare her her first Christmas broadcast. How their lives intertwine makes for a great read. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

This is my second read from the dynamic duo of Gaynor & Webb, and I think they've very quickly become my go-to for historical fiction books. I loved reading about Queen E, Jack, and Olive, and the rest of the colorful cast! There was something so homey & cozy about this one (and the love story!!!). You absolutely must put it on your TBR for this holiday season! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you, netgalley for this opportunity to arc read this

I went into this thinking “not my typical genre but it’s Christmas and my favorite time period so I’ll try it”

Let me tell you I was very pleasantly surprised! I absolutely adored this book. It was such a sweet story. I loved the bit of history in it as well. I don’t know anything about what the Royals do for Christmas but after reading this book, I really would love to visit some of the places they spoke about.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that I feel like she took way too long to tell Jack what she needed to tell him. Other than that, I give this book a 10 out of 10! It’s a nice clean story, no smut etc, so I can’t wait to buy a copy and gift it to my grandmother for Christmas because I know she will love this!! I also want to copy for myself because I will be reading this again. It was such a nice relaxing story, perfect for curling up by the fire at Christmas time to read.

This was my first time with this author, but I will definitely be back !

I was so excited to read this one and why not - it had everything I enjoy - historical fiction - Christmas time - the queen! However it kind of deflated for me like a Christmas figgy pudding gone wrong. The story primarily centers around the lives of Olive and Jack with minor players being Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. I was hoping for more of them throughout since the title of the book is Christmas With the Queen. It is a predicable story and I did struggle with Jack's feelings for Olive as a recent widow myself. There is a line in the book which states that you can have more than one love of your life - I don't agree with that. Yes you can love more than once - but true love of your life - nope that only happens once if you are lucky. I did enjoy the wonderful descriptions of Sandringham at Christmas time along with the wonderful food - but where are the recipes????? Overall those that enjoy simple pleasure stories should enjoy this. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Princess Elizabeth becomes queen, and she must get Sandringham house ready for Christmas, as well as prepare a radio speech on Christmas day. love the book.

Princess Elizabeth has become the Queen of England, and we meet her and other characters at Sandringham House.

What a lovely bustling place to be. Cooks, housekeepers, and all the staff rushing around to make Christmas perfect and special for the first Christmas with the new Queen.

The kitchen is the busiest place of all and where we meet Jack Devereux, a fill-in chef, and Olive Carter a typist and reporter for the BBC.

How did they meet? Well....they met many years ago and have a history and run into each other at Sandringham House.

Neither could believe they had run into each other. Why were they surprised but pleased?

Find out in this wonderful read by master storytellers Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb as we spend Christmas with the Royals, many lovely characters, and as we follow Olive and Jack both past and present.

Both authors know how to tell a story that you won't be able to put down and that you will think about long after you turn the last page.

A lovely, lovely storyline, wonderful behind-the-scenes information about the Royals, and a beautiful read all around. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have been looking forward to this book sense it has been announced. The story covers two people who meet just as World War II is ending. One has aspirations to be a writer for the BBC and the other is looking to open his own restaurant. Plans change when Jack's wife is killed in an accident during some intense fog. Olive is in the typing pool at the BBC and takes a chance on reporting on the first Christmas for Queen Elizabeth at Sandringham., As Jack is grieving his wife's death, he is encouraged to come to Sandringham to help in the kitchens. As fate would have it, both Jack and Olive are reacquainted. Each are working through the relationships that forged friendships at the end of the war and to navigate the secrets that followed.
I enjoyed the book immensely. I like the insights of being at Sandringham at Christmas and 'seeing' a side of Queen Elizabeth interacting with her family and staff that served the royal family. I could imagine what it might be like to be a fly on the wall during some of these personal and intimate experiences.

Inspired by the true events of Queen Elizabeth's inaugural Christmas broadcast at Sandringham, I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes featuring the royal family and their mix of strengths and flaws. However, the overarching narrative chronicling the prolonged ups and downs between the two main characters felt quite tedious. I genuinely wanted to enjoy this more, as the writing is beautiful, but as time progressed, I found myself increasingly frustrated by their poor communication, especially when much more was at stake. I would have preferred if the writers had centered the story around the royals, relegating Jack and Olive to the background.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

England 1952. The war years are behind; lives have been altered. Three characters are facing change and perhaps second chances. Olive, single mother of Lucy, is struggling to break into the male- dominated world of BBC journalism when she comes face to face with the father of her seven year old. Jack, an American chef who met the love of his life during V-E Day celebrations, struggles now to adjust to the loss of his wife. When offered a temporary job working for the Buckingham Palace kitchen, he defers his dream to open his own restaurant and accepts. Elizabeth, young wife and mother, struggles with the loss of her father as she accepts the duties facing her as Queen; must importantly, proving to her subjects she is capable. Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb frame their storyline around the royal Christmas messages. The reader witnesses the imagined thoughts and actions of Elizabeth as she meets Olive and Prince Philip as he meets Jack. Because it is a “cozy” tale, the action weaves gently back and forth to how Jack and Olive met and why they keep failing to unite. All in all, it is a delightful Christmas treat!

This was such a great book! I really enjoyed reading it and it truly put me in the Christmas spirit. Jack and Olive's love story throughout the years captivated me and had me rooting for their relationship the entire time. I really liked how the authors incorporated these characters' jobs into their stories, particularly for Jack and him being a chef for the royal family. I loved Queen Elizabeth II's chapters in this book and wish there were more of them featured in the story. I also liked the tidbits of Prince Philip included in the story as well; him and Queen Elizabeth II's relationship was just as endearing and interesting as Jack and Olive's one to me! I am such a huge fan of these two authors and I cannot wait to read more of their work!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel!

Christmas with the Queen
by Hazel Gaynor; Heather Webb
Pub Date: November 19, 2024
Thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
’Tis the season! The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally in the latest heartwarming historical novel from Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, bestselling authors of Last Christmas in Paris, Meet Me in Monaco, and Three Words for Goodbye.
Great book I will recommend to my historical fiction readers.
This book has all of the makings of a good holiday kick off romance. I enjoyed that it is set in a timeline of history that is often not written about in favor of 1940s WWII era. Both Olive and Jack were enjoyable characters with enough development of their personalities to keep you invested. While there are no plot twists, and the ending is predictable. It offers everything a cozy holiday read should.

The one thing that I was missing - to the point that I kept desperately trying to turn the page- Where are the recipes?! This is a book that does a fantastic job talking about working in palace kitchens, opening an inventive concept restaurant and describing fantastic food. It would benefit from a recipe for Olive's Tomato Soup, or Po Boys, or anything!

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for access to this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I looooooved this. If you love The Crown and Downton Abbey this is 100% for you. Set during post WW2. This story follows Jack, an aspiring chef, Olive, an aspiring BBC reporter and Elizabeth the Second, a…well the Queen obviously. To describe anything other then the fact that the story revolves around their intertwining lives would be to cheat you of a fantastically yummy reading experience.

I will be reading this again.

This feels quite a wholesome read, not sure if it's the time period or maybe the setting but quite a feel good story. Yet not without tragedy.
The story felt a tad slow with the story advancement at times but it made it possible to know our characters in a deeper way.
I found our main character Olive, slightly frustrating. At times she would be happy with herself and striving for more at her job and then she would talk about how she just couldn't be content without a man to fulfill her life. I enjoyed the bits of the behind the scenes with the royal family, especially at Sandringham during Christmas time.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a light any charming read. The story's plot was somewhat predictable, but it was a very sweet story and enjoyable to read. The inclusion of the Queen in the story added a little sometime extra..I always enjoy seeing her and the corgis. The was not a deep read and did not offer a lot that was new but it was heartwarming.

Thank you for the ARC.@NetGalley. I typically don’t care to read books set at Christmastime during the summer, however, for this one, I was happy I did.
The story is told with an emphasis on Christmas time from 19552 through 1957. The main characters met each other on V-day in London, and then are linked by their relationships with the Royal Household. I enjoyed the historical details, such as including the Great Smog of 1952, as well as the beginning of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, as well as the long-lasting impact WWII had on England. A bonus was the focus on cooking and the struggle for women to move into male dominated roles. Overall, a good read!

#ChristmaswiththeQueen #NetGalley