From the kitchens of Buckingham Palace to the country lanes leading to Sandringham and the Queen’s first televised message, this ‘will they-won’t they’ romance is a delightful Christmas adventure.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow Paperbacks, and authors Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb for the advanced reader copy of this book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Christmas With the Queen is a charming book that is a lot of fun, while at the same time showing just how hard society was on women who wanted a career following World War II. It was a time of change in England as Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne, while at the same time, widespread misogyny in society marginalized the women who wanted to keep working outside of the home.

Olive Carter is a single mother who has worked in the BBC typing pool for several years but has ambitions to do much more. An opportunity opens up to work on a story on the Queen's first Christmas radio broadcast after having ascended the throne following the death of her father. Olive looks at it from a bit of a different angle, rather than the traditional report the male correspondents have made.

Meanwhile, Jack Devereaux, an American sailor and chef who married a British girl and settled in London, is facing the holiday season alone for the first time after a tragic accident kills his beloved wife, Andrea. They had plans to one day open their own restaurant together, but Jack is paralyzed with grief. A friend had arranged for him to start working in the kitchen at the Queen's Sandringham estate for the holidays, but he's reluctant to get on with his life. His friends bring him to Norfolk for the holidays, and they convince him to go to work at Sandringham.

Olive and Jack knew each other following the end of World War II. They were part of a group of friends that formed in the celebration of VE Day. Over the years, they lost track of each other but met up again at Sandringham.

Christmas With the Queen follows Olive, Jack, and Queen Elizabeth through the early years of her reign as their lives continually intersect, usually at Christmas. The Queen and Olive form a bit of a bond as Olive coaches her on her speeches. They are both females in male-dominated worlds. Jack's distinctive cooking style gets him a job on the Palace's staff as a chef, and he and Olive manage to renew their friendship. Could it be more than that?

If you enjoyed the series The Crown, I think you'll enjoy Christmas With the Queen. The story humanizes Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and their family in a holiday setting. She's the Queen of England but she is nervous about the changing times and doubts herself as much as anyone. The story follows her Christmas message from when she first takes the throne until the first television broadcast of the message. She thinks of her own father and what he had to overcome with his speech impediment as she works to blend tradition and progress.

At the same time, Jack and Olive's tepid romance gave me something to root for. I'm not a huge fan of romances, but this was sweet without being saccharine. They are both people I could root for. Olive has a secret she has managed to keep from just about everyone, but she's still very sympathetic. We all make decisions in our lives based on the circumstances at that time, and in hindsight, it's not always the right one. Jack and Olive arent' good at communication, and their lives seem to keep throwing them together until they get it right.

If you're looking for a fun, lighthearted Christmas romance, you can't go wrong with Christmas With the Queen. The authors did a great job with the setting as well as the story itself. It's hard to believe that this was seventy years ago now, and the time before television will be alien to many of today's readers. The historical setting is depicted very well, and I could picture what it must have been like in those years.

This book tells the story of Olive, a single mother and BBC correspondent, and Jack, a recent widower and aspiring chef. Through many fortuitous events they each find themselves working around the royal family through the early 50s early during Queen Elizabeth’s reign and especially during Christmas celebrations over the years. This book explores buried secrets and second chances along with a modernizing monarchy and a young QEII newly on the throne.

This was a delightfully cozy read. I especially liked the snippets of Queen Elizabeth and royal life at Christmas. The personal stories of Olive and Jack are sometimes painfully cheesy and the coincidences that unfold in their lives are almost too much at times. BUT the Christmas coziness and royal family references kept me enjoying this read throughout. (3.5/5; thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy)

The story itself was interesting, and I liked the concept, and for the first half of the story I was invested in both Olive and Jack`s storylines - hearing a little about the traditions of the royal family was somewhat interesting for me. The authors did seem to meet their goal of showing what might happen if ordinary people go entangled in the royal traditions.

The characters were enjoyable to follow, but I think what fell flat for me was that the relationship and communication between Jack and Olive was too dragged out and beating around the bush too long and it felt unrealistic for me. Though, if you are looking for a lightish mid 20th century romance and long slow burn romance then this is the book for you .



Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for this ARC . This is my honest review.

First off - this cover is easily one of my all-time favorites! I just love the color palette with the dark green jacket and red door. The snow is perfect and I just feel cozy and wintery every time I look at it.

I'm so glad that Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb are back with another Christmas historical fiction! There are a severe lack of adult historical Christmas books so this one really made me happy. This book features two timelines for readers to escape into. It has a royals, a sweet romance, an unforgettable setting, and all the holiday scenes you could ask for!

Christmas with the Queen- it was fine, it was filled with a lot of tropes I normally cannot stand, but I tried to look past them because it was a Christmas/ Hallmark feeling book with historical elements. Overall not bad, but if it was not Christmas themed I would have scored it a lot lower.

Hallelujah for another invigorating holiday read by this amazing duo. Based on actual events, the authors take some liberties while showcasing a young Queen Elizabeth II of England. Her earlier life with Prince Philip is refreshing as she prepares the traditional Christmas Day speeches following a decades-old tradition. It was fun learning of Royal Christmas traditions, the menus, trips, and their relationship. At a time when the royals are all over the news, this was a remarkable story. While “Queen” is in the title, this story revolves around Jack and Olive’s love story. When it finally takes off, it is proof all things are possible. I enjoyed the book and would certainly recommend it.

What a wonderful story! As a kid, I lived in Australia so I have always had a fascination with the Queen and the royal family. I particularly enjoyed the historical context, including the struggles of women, particularly single moms. Thanks #NetGalley #WiliamMorrow

I love when historical fiction picks a real figure and tells the lives of people around them. Olive and Jack are rich characters that both look up to the Queen and service her. Get your mind out of the gutter. 😂 Jack works in the kitchen and Olive is a budding reporter trying to make a splash reporting on her. They also have some history.

I’ve always been fascinated with the Royal family and their ways. This felt like I was stepping into Sandringham and the royal ways. The time when Elizabeth was first becoming the queen the world can to love.

I loved Jack and Olive’s (kinda) second chance romance and their past connection and Jack’s bits from his time in the war.

I was captivated from the start through the author’s note at the end detailing the authors’ research and planning.

This is a great read for anyone enamored with the Queen or maybe fell in love with the crown.

I read the last page with tears in my eyes as I loved this story and the authors' notes so much that I didn't want it to end. Whether you're a historical fiction lover or enjoy a beautiful romance this book is for you. I adored Jack and Olive's chapters, but was entranced by the glimpses into royal life that at times seems otherworldly on the outside yet with relatable emotions and challenges on the inside. Such a fun and captivating look at the upstairs/downstairs lifestyle of the 1950's.

This was a wonderful holiday read that I really enjoyed. Taking place in the 1950s, the young Queen Elizabeth prepares for her famous Christmas Day broadcast. We also follow a romance between a reporter and a widowed chef. I love reading anything that has to do with the Queen or the royal family and I loved everything about this. This was a charming royal Christmas story that I highly recommend.

Cute second chance romance set in the halls of Buckingham Palace and Sandringham with the Queen. The cameos by Queen Elizabeth II were touching and heartwarming, both for the message sent and received by Her Majesty. I would have loved more with her but Jack and Olive take center stage in this one, with their busy jobs and their missed opportunities. A nice, light romance perfect for the holiday season.

I received a copy from #NetGalley and #williammorrowbooks for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow Books and the authors for the gifted e-arc!

I absolutely LOVE this writing duo! When these two put their pens together, magic happens! Last Christmas in Paris is one of my all time favorite Christmas books, ever!!! … and will always be at the top of my list for a holiday rec! Soooo pure joy & excitement doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings when I found out they were bringing us another Christmas offering! Gah.

This one combines Jack & Olive’s fictional second chance love & life journey with the real life peek into 5 Royal Christmases with the highlight each year being Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas speeches to her adoring nation. Perfection! It made for the perfect cozy, feel good holiday story!

I also really loved that there were some Easter eggs from Last Christmas In Paris! That just made my heart smile so big!

The flow of this book as it travels between timelines was so well done & all the characters, events & settings really captured the spirit of the story, making me feel like I was right there! All the stars for another favorite Christmas read!

Sweet and simple. Like a Hallmark movie. Wish it had more perspectives from The Queen. Well written and easy to read. Perfect mood booster during the holiday season. Would recommend to anyone looking for a sweet easy read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. What a wonderfully perfect holiday novel! I cried through the ending and will now seek out more books by both authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor. This book was an enjoyable and lighthearted read, perfect for the holiday season. It had a charming, cozy feel reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, with a festive atmosphere that truly captures the spirit of Christmas.

While the secret/lack-of-communication trope is not my personal favorite, the delightful setting made it easy to keep reading. Fans of The Crown will especially appreciate this story, as it beautifully complements that series' feel.

Overall, Christmas with the Queen is a lovely read for those seeking warmth and royal holiday cheer.

I absolutely adored this charming historical fiction novel! I loved all the main characters, despite their flaws. The inclusion of Queen Elizabeth as a main character and woman with worries and aspirations and not just a queen made me see her in a whole new light. The way the author describes the royal residences really took me to a different place, and the Christmas setting makes this a delightful holiday read!

I enjoy all the books this author pair write! This one was really good, as I’m also fascinated with all things royal. I liked the transition time period they set the book in, post war and at the start of her reign. Excellent backdrop for the story of Jack the chef and Live, the aspiring journalist at the BBC trying to make it in a male dominated industry. Puts me in the Christmas spirit!

Another amazing read from Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor.

Told from the perspective of Olive, Jack and the Queen this is a delightful story that I enjoyed thoroughly and could not stop reading.

I will read anything these two ladies write!!!

I enjoyed reading this story, and if you’re a fan of the British royal family, this would be a fun book. Well written and well researched historical fiction! The authors’ note reveals that the two authors wished to tell a story that involved a young Queen Elizabeth, and a romance that involved two people who had a reason to be near the royal family, and I think they accomplished that.

Following the years from Queen Elizabeth’s first Christmas radio broadcast to her first televised one (1952-1957), the book follows Jack, a grieving widower who works as a chef in the royal kitchens, and Olive Carter, an aspiring journalist at the BBC. These two old friends reconnect and meet up over the space of five years, until they finally fall in love. But will Olive’s big secret tear them apart?

I enjoyed the love story between Jack and Olive, but I wish it had been more condensed, rather than taking place over multiple years. Or that the book was simply about them so their romance could have had the main stage.

I enjoyed the bits of the story that were about the queen, and I wish there could have been more. Perhaps the entire story could have centered around her?

Basically, I understand the authors’ intent, and I also think I would have enjoyed the story more if the romance and the queen could have been two separate stories, rather than entwined into one. There were so many interesting parts to both the historical story and the romance that I felt weren’t delved into enough!

I was a bit annoyed with Olive for taking so long to discuss her secret with Jack—if I were Jack, I would have been mad too! I almost felt that the writers didn’t make him mad enough!

There is also an accidental pregnancy storyline (it happens before the story begins) which isn’t my favorite in a book.

The authors’ first book written together is Last Christmas in Paris, which is phenomenal and has become a favorite of mine. I do think it’s hard to write two historical fiction Christmas books and have them both be slam-dunks! Clearly I have many thoughts about this book, but despite my criticisms, I did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and the royal family. The writing of these authors is fantastic and I will be reading more of their books!

Any book that gives me a lot to think and to say is obviously a book worth recommending!