'Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea' is an absolutely charming story with delightful characters and a wonderful locale. It is the first book I have read in the Mickelwick Bay series but it is obviously a stand alone as I didn't feel lost at all. It is deep and kind and I highly recommend it to those wanting a lovely, fun Christmas story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott is a heartwarming and festive tale set against the cozy backdrop of Micklewick Bay. Florrie and Ed are delightful characters, and the magical atmosphere of the bookshop, with its charming decorations and enchanting holiday spirit, creates the perfect setting for romance. The mystery surrounding Ed’s secret adds an element of suspense, keeping the story engaging as Florrie tries to uncover the truth. The mix of Christmas traditions, sweet treats, and cozy moments makes this a perfect holiday read. While the pacing slows a bit in the middle, the heartfelt conclusion delivers a satisfying and festive ending. A wonderful, feel-good read for fans of Christmas romance with a touch of mystery!

This is the epitome of a Hallmark movie book. It was cute, it had a cute setting, the characters were cute. It was cute. Picturesque if you will. First book by this author. Great as a lighthearted happy read.

A simple, cozy holiday read with a hint of mystery! I didn’t realize this was the fourth in a collection of books so my introduction to the characters was a bit abrupt, but Eliza J. Scott did a good job of clueing her unknowing readers into the dynamics. The story made me feel cozy and was a decent escape from reality, though I was quite frustrated by the assumptions Florine was always making instead of asking questions. Maybe I’ll read a few of the other Micklewick Bay stories should the time feel right.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I'm totally obsessed with Micklewick Bay, and I was beyond excited to return to the Happy Hartes Bookshop and hang out with Ed and Florrie again. Don't worry if you're new to the series - this book works perfectly as a standalone, and it'll probably make you want to binge-read the rest of the series. Ed and Florrie's life is basically goals - they live above the bookshop, surrounded by friends, and it's just all very lovely. Florrie's all about making Ed happy, especially since he had a crappy childhood, so she decides to create the ultimate Christmas experience for him with 'The Happy Christmas Memories Project'. But, because life is never easy, Florrie's got to deal with a hostile takeover bid, Ed's secrecy, and her own emotional baggage. I loved catching up with the rest of the Micklewick Bay crew, and the trip to Danskelfe Castle was basically the icing on the cake - especially the sleigh ride, which was just wow. At the end of the day, it's all about Ed and Florrie's relationship - can they make it work, or is Florrie just setting herself up for heartbreak? No spoilers here, so you'll just have to read it for yourself. This book is basically the definition of a feel-good story - it's all about warmth, friendship, and community, and I am totally here for it. Eliza Scott has written another ridiculously charming story, and I'm obsessed. Seriously, add this to your Christmas reading list - you won't regret it.

Part of the Micklewick Bay series, "Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea" by Eliza J. Scott is a delightful read for the holidays.

Florrie and Ed now own the Happy Hartes Bookshop that was started by his grandparents. I loved the descriptions of the Christmas windows and the author events in the bookshop. If you have ever dreamed of owning a bookshop, this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This book is about Florrie and Ed who own a bookshop together in Micklewick Bay. I loved how festive the story was! Florrie had a project to give Ed Happy Christmas memories and it was very heart warming and festive. I liked the drama the story had regarding Ed and the attic. I loved ending. I would recommend this book for a cute cozy Christmas read.

Florrie and Ed run the Happy Hartes Bookshop. Ed does fabulous displays and crowds queue to see the Christmas ones.
Ed never had much of a childhood so Florrie determines to make this one unforgettable. Although Ed disappears for a few days making Florrie worry but everything turns out ok

What can I say, this is a festive cosy read that is perfect for the holiday season. This story will give you everything you could want from a festive read, and you'll likely devour this in a few short sittings, filling you with that warm romantic nostalgia.

This is the fourth book in the series, so it may do new readers well to pick up the prior books and follow them along, but I went straight in at book four and still really enjoyed this, despite maybe losing some of the characters back stories by not having read books 1-3.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review

really enjoyed this book it was a lovely festive read. didn’t even realise it was part of a series until after i had read it so don’t worry about missing previous books.

I am so happy to have read this book! It’s my first time to read a book by Eliza J. Scott and it won’t be my last! This book is the fourth one in a series. I haven’t read the first 3 ones but it wasn’t an issue for me to understand what was going on in this story. It can be read as a standalone. If you love Christmas, you can only love this book! It’s so christmassy! So lovely! I loved the atmosphere, the characters, the love between the two main ones, the friendship, and there are different mysteries around this story that will keep you want to turn the pages to know what will happen next! 4 stars out of 5 for me for this wonderful book!!!

Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott is a festive, heartwarming read set in the charming seaside town of Micklewick Bay. Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte are preparing for a magical Christmas at their Happy Hartes Bookshop, but a call from Ed's father disrupts their plans. As Ed grows distant and eventually goes missing, Florrie fears her holiday dreams might fall apart.

Packed with cozy holiday vibes, gingerbread hot chocolates, sleigh rides, and festive decorations— the story captures the magic of the season. Florrie and Ed’s chemistry, along with the support of their found family, makes this a delightful and romantic winter read.

I didn’t realise that this was a book in a series, perhaps that’s why I felt it lacked character depth. I found I couldn’t get on board with the characters. I found Ed and Florrie to be quite flaky and the storyline overall a little hit and miss.
The issue I had with this book was that it felt too forced and tried to incorporate too many storylines. The mystery and danger theme seemed to weak and not scandalous enough.
Perhaps this works as a series, but as a standalone, it didn’t make quite the impact for me.

Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott is a heartwarming, cozy read set in the charming seaside town of Micklewick Bay. This fourth book in the series can be enjoyed as a standalone, though there are references to past storylines that might leave readers unfamiliar with the earlier books feeling slightly disconnected from the full depth of the characters' histories.

The story centers around Florrie Appleton and her partner, Ed Harte, who run the local bookstore, Happy Hartes Bookshop. When mysterious events and a strange phone call lead Florrie to suspect that Ed might be hiding something, she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. Along the way, the couple faces a few holiday mishaps, but the festive atmosphere, quirky characters, and charming town create an uplifting, feel-good vibe.

While the romance is light and sweet, with a cute Christmas gesture from Florrie to Ed, the book also presents a subtle mystery surrounding the bookstore that adds intrigue to the story. If you're looking for a cozy, snowy day read with humor, romance, and a touch of suspense, this book is a delightful choice. Fans of small-town charm, holiday cheer, and bookshop settings will love this one.

Book four in the Little Bookshop series will fill all your Hallmarky Holiday Wishes! Thank you to NetGalley, Eliza + Storm Publishing for the eARC

What to expect:
⭐ Small Town Romance
⭐ Holiday Hallmark Vibes
⭐ A villan trying to take a bookstore away
⭐ A couple trying to grow together + work through communication issues
⭐ Family drama
⭐ A community of love and support

My Thoughts:
This is my first book by Eliza, I didn't know it was a full book series! This is Book 4 of them all. One thing I will say, while you can read this as a standalone there is depth missing from MANY of the character storylines. A lot of it gets glossed over and you can tell is covered in depth in previous books. I knew there was one for sure before since it has a title of a similar name, but didn't realize that there were four which makes A LOT more sense as to why the depth of story is missing.

Ed and Florrie are adorable together and I wish I could see the display windows of the shop in person! They sound dreamy. Also who doesn't' love a book store at Christmas! Sometimes I find their relationship a bit icky. She is sometimes super insecure and he is non-communicative which in a real world relationship would be cause for serious issues. I love their bringing joy to Christmas moments and what it means for Ed. I love all the secondary characters and I think would have appreciated and loved them more if I had read the other books. There is mystery, intrigue and mush!

t is definitely gushy, Hallmark vibes of a story. Lots of descriptive language to really make you feel like you're in the place. While I enjoyed it. there was something about it I didn't really love. Maybe a bit of over description. Maybe because I was missing a lot of the back story... It was a fun holiday read in a cute small town none the less! Also it seems that there is more to come based on the ending!

Synopsis:
In the seaside town of Micklewick Bay, Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte are gearing up for a magical Christmas at the Happy Hartes Bookshop. Florrie’s book-themed decorations are the talk of the town, while Ed’s dazzling window displays could have been plucked straight from a fairytale. With romance in the air, this promises to be their best holiday season yet.

But after a surprise phone call from his father, Florrie worries that Ed is keeping a secret. Why is he spending so much time in the attic? And what’s making him act so distantly?

Determined to make this Christmas unforgettable, Florrie packs their days with festive treats from gingerbread hot chocolates to sleigh rides under the stars. But when Ed disappears just a few days before Christmas, Florrie fears the worst. Will her holiday dreams shatter like a dropped bauble? Or is Florrie in for a Christmas surprise of her own?

In this charming holiday romance, readers travel to Micklewick Bay where Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte own and operate the Happy Hartes Bookshop and are preparing the store for the holiday season. With beautiful book-themed decorations, enchanting window displays, and romance in the air in Micklewick Bay, the holiday season seems picture-perfect and life is good. When Ed starts to act strangely -- disappearing a few days before Christmas, spending time in the attic, and distancing himself from Florrie -- following a phone call from his dad, Florrie’s fears grow and risk ruining her holiday cheer unless her fears are unfounded. With its charming characters and cheerful holiday location, readers will love the wintery holiday atmosphere that Eliza Scott so successfully brings to life in Micklewick Bay and the Happy Hartes Bookshop. Ed and Florrie’s relationship is charming and realistic, and readers will definitely be engaged with their narrative and dynamic. The rest of the village is well-written and incredibly detailed, so the background characters and location development really enhance the narrative and Florrie and E’s story. Brilliantly written and with a great emotional core, this holiday bookstore romance is a great new title perfect for readers looking for a charming and escapist romance this holiday season.

I’ve always loved books by this author but unfortunately I found this book a little slow going. Although I still loved visiting Florrie and Ed in their little world, it isn’t a book I would revisit.

A sweet story set in a cozy bookshop.

I really enjoyed the bookshop setting as well as the romantic gesture that the main character did for her boyfriend for Christmas. And I enjoyed the whole mystery surrounding the bookshop as well.

I think because this is like book four in a series and I didn't read the others before this one. So for me I wasn't as connected with the characters and you could definitely tell there was some continuation storylines from other books as well. There was a mix of characters I enjoyed and others I didn't connect with very well.

*thank you to #NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book to read. All thoughts are my own.

This was a cute story, but it just wasn’t one that was for me. I didn’t find the story to be that engaging and for that this was a dnf at 30%. I just think that it was the wrong book wrong time. r

Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea was sweet and heartwarming if a bit predictable. A nice holiday read.