This was a cosy, quick read that's perfect for thes festive season. It follows interesting characters and I loved reading about the different places and bookshops Mirren was visiting on her book hunt. I would have liked more of the romance developing, but it was what I would expect from a novella. I did also find it quite cringe how Theo kept using old-fashioned language to act like a posh gentleman, but I get that it was supposed to be sweet/funny - it was just a bit much for me!

The audiobook narration was great and it's quick and easy to listen to.

This was not my first Jenny Colgan rodeo, I have more than a few festive reads by her on my shelves. Although, I haven't picked up any of her non-festive titles. I probably should.

As a lover of 'The Christmas Bookshop', I was not passing up an opportunity to be involved in the Christmas Book Hunt with @tandemcollectiveuk. I dabbled in both the audio and Kindle version of the book, and I loved that it includes all of my favourite Scottish places. We literally holiday in a cottage in Melrose, live in Edinburgh, and i'm pretty certain that Alnir is also one of my favourite towns, which hosts the ultimate second-hand book shop.

If you're looking for a cosy festive read, the Christmas Book Hunt is a great way to get you feeling cosy and ready for a month of baileys, books, and blankets. I loved Mirren and her bond with Violet, although her mum would drive me absolutely crackers. As usual, Jenny has given us well developed characters and a story that leaves us wanting more. From visits to snobby booksellers to visits with old and new friends, we are taken on a hunt for a very special book. When I got to the end, I was a little sad, but not because there was no closure. It was because I wanted to visit more cosy pubs and B&Bs full of charm. I wasn't ready to leave Mirren's world and come back to the reality of my everyday life.

Thank you tandemcollective, Jenny Colgan and @amazonpublishing for letting me read/listen to this wonderful book

A Christmas book full of a heartwarming story and cozy vibes. All the Hallmark vibes as Mirren takes a cross country journey through snowy streets and various bookstores to hunt down a rare childhood book for her Great Aunt Violet.
Audiobook is narrated by Eilidh Beaton. She was a great voice for Mirren and her adventures. I found the audiobook an easy quick listen and really just got lost in this Christmas story. It left me with all the feels.

I really wanted to love this story. It was just okay for me but it is just a novella so I wasn’t expecting too much from it. It was cute with some cringy parts but overall enjoyable. Narrator did a great job and if it wasn’t for them I probably would have given up on the book.

Oh, wow, this was seriously such a cozy little Christmas treat! It’s all about this girl, Mirren, on a mission to find a rare childhood book for her great-aunt Violet, who’s not doing well. Like, cue all the warm fuzzies because it’s such a sweet way to show love. Her journey through charming bookshops and snowy streets? Total Hallmark vibes. Plus, there’s Theo—mysterious, a little swoony, and definitely not there just for the books (wink).

The story had such a festive vibe, with all the cozy bookish stops and snowy settings. It’s short, but somehow it packed in all the feels—family, romance, and a little intrigue. Honestly, my only complaint is that I wanted more time with these characters. Like, give me a full novel and let me bask in the Christmas magic a bit longer, please!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts. Four festive stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Christmas Book Hunt is a sweet short story full of the heart that Jenny Colgan is known for! All about a devoted niece’s cross-country search for a beloved book for her gravely ill aunt, this little novella is packed with charm, bookish vibes, family love, and even a touch of romance. Will Mirren find this one-of-a-kind treasure (that may not even exist!) and maybe find someone special along the way?

Eilidh Beaton does a great job narrating the audiobook, and her lovely lilting accent provides the perfect British flair. Clocking in at just under 3.5 hours, this audiobook is the perfect length to enjoy during the busy holiday season!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the advanced listening copy.

This was such an enjoyable holiday novella! I absolutely loved the setting and it felt like I was wandering the aisles of the bookstores right alongside the characters. It was also full of heart and despite it being short, I thought that all of the characters were well developed and easy to get invested in.

This was a fun read, but not much more than that.
It was light and fluffy, but I wanted more from it. Part of that may be due to the length - it is a novella so there isn't time to have a big heist or journey across the UK. But I felt like scenes were glossed over that drew away from the plot and the urgency of the task at hand.
Nevertheless, this was a fun jaunt around the UK and a fun, easy read to get you into the Christmas spirit!

If your looking for a quick short Christmas time story then pick this up.
The narrator was clear and was easy to definiciate who was talking.
The story flowed, pace was perfect for this hunt for a book. You got to travel across the UK and see parts of the country. But detail was so easy to visualise that you felt you was there.
I liked that it had a magically feel but also realistic and with the ending not everything can be achieve and I liked how the ending was written. It was emotional in parts but I also found it very relatable. And just glad violet got a wish maybe not the one the book started out with but I think it was a better treasure, find and gave her more joy and peace at the end.

I loved the story. Mirren has to travel to lots of bookshops over the UK to try and find a beloved book her great aunt had when she was younger. But along the way she meets a handsome stranger. They both end up realising somethings that they’ve been struggling to see through just getting on with normal life. The audio is fantastic