One Family Christmas

This was wholly lovely.

Lottie, decided that she is going to host a family Christmas. Her family are crackers, she cant cook, what could possibly go wrong? Then to top it off, Joe, the love of her life who left 9 years ago is back in the village.

From the very start of this book it is filled with humour, I laughed out loud A LOT and this is a wonderful tale of family, friendship, felines and everything else you could want from a Christmas book.

I am now off to collect all of Bella Osbornes backlist and I will be adding this book to my wishlist, it needs to be in my physical collection!

What a delight this wonderful Christmas read is.

We start off meeting Lottie wanting one big family Christmas for her beloved Nana Rose even though Lottie cannot cook to save her life.

Taking us through the few weeks upto the big day and new year you have a dog named Dave and a lovely cat Dutchess and a mad family to keep you entertained.

Full of humor, warmth and love this is one book you do not want to miss out on.

Thank you Avon Books.

I absolutely loved this book! Christmas fiction is my favourite type of fiction and this book is a definite 5 star.

We start the book meeting Lottie, our main character. She and her family always have a family Christmas at her Nana Rose's so why should this year be any different?

We then are led through Christmas with Lottie and her family. My favourite characters were her niece Jessie and brother Nick. This book has made me laugh out loud on many occasions when I've been reading it today. The Bleeding Bear sounds like a welcoming local as well!

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas rom-com and one that I will definitely be recommending when it is released.

I think Bella Osborne is definitely one of my new favourite authors. I love her books, I loved this story about Lottie and her family at Christmas time. It was festive, fun and like a big warm hug. There are animals too, which include a dog called Dave who is cheeky and a cat called Duchess. I really like Lottie a lot, she does everything for everyone else and has such a Kind heart. I was intrigued to see what would happen with Joe conning back her old love who she hasn't seen for many years. Lovely ending, I do see if this story will continue as there is a great bunch of characters and I would love to see Lottie settled down. It deserves 10/10.

♫♫ “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” ♫♫ One Family Christmas is a wonderful festive read that has had me reaching for my Michael Bublé Christmas CD (in September!) I’ve read so many books by this author now, and in this latest one we meet Lottie and her dysfunctional family! She is arranging one last family Christmas before the family home, Henbourne Manor, is sold and is following her Nana Rose’s wishes to the letter. What ensues is a heart-warming, joyful and funny story filled with secrets, betrayals and enough love to warm the heart of the coldest snowman!

I loved Lottie’s character! It honestly felt like she was the only one who wanted to keep the family traditions going, and she tried so very hard to, despite mishap after mishap! Not only having to deal with her own grief which threatened to overwhelm her with every memory she faced, she also had her mother and her vegan toy-boy, her uncle and his family secrets and her brother and his missing present to contend with as well!! All she needed was an old flame turning up to complete the story…wait!...that happened too!!

The story was wonderfully written with the location of a small village in the Cotswolds perfectly described, particularly when the snow begins to fall! Despite Lottie professing not to be a cook, I was amazed at the number of dishes she managed to produce (some out of nothing), all of which sounded delightful…well, almost all!! (I’d definitely avoid the mulled wine!) At the turn of every page, I found myself quietly chuckling at the antics of Dave the Dog, the Duchess or Lottie’s mum’s battery hunting! However, in between all the laughter, there was also some beautifully tender moments, which brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion.

This was a fantastic read showcasing what I’m sure some of our family Christmases have turned out like over the years! Secrets never stay secret for very long, and this is definitely what happened for the Collins family, with every one of them having a confession to make of some sort! I loved this book from the very first page and was hooked, not being able to put it down until I’d finished it. It was truly a pleasure to read and I would definitely recommend it as a must-read Christmas book!

A dysfunctional family Christmas awaits the Collins family as they gather for a final family Christmas at the manor after the death of the grandmother.

Every family member is keeping a secret and the book reads like a rom com set at Christmas where you come home for Christmas to deal with your difficult family. The book is told from different perspectives and it can be jarring at times because it will suddenly switch from one paragraph to the next.

It is interesting though and I find the characters really relatable. It is a quick fun read and one that will get anyone into the holiday spirit.

**Received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity**

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Just like her Nana wanted, this year Lottie, is hosting one last big family Christmas at the home she grew up in .

As her relatives arrive on the manor house, it seems that Lottie, gets more than just hosting the family Christmas..

As all the family have secrets, but in this family,

So it’s not just cooking the Christmas dinner that she’ll have to do, she’ll also have to keep everyone’s tensions from rising, deal with a stray dog.

Without her Nana she’s got a lot to do and take care of. Add to this, her first love showing up - that too after nine years, of walking out of her life. It’s just what she needed to add to her list of things to do.

So will Lottie be able to make their last family Christmas one to remember….. all for the right reasons????

Recommend it.

If you ever had a family gathering and thought, “Oh my gosh I’ll never get through this in one piece”, you need to read this book because it will definitely top any of your family celebrations (hopefully yours are much calmer than the Collins family gatherings).

I have recently started reading Bella Osborne’s books and I love her writing style, her character development, and her plots. I enjoy stories that encompass all age groups. I also adore quirky, unique characters. In this book, Lottie tries so hard to organize a wonderful Christmas celebration for her family and she is definitely not up to the goal of doing it perfectly. Her attempts at cooking and planning fun activities sometimes falls short, but the results are very humorous, sometimes heartbreaking but always full of love for her family.

As I was reading, I kept thinking “Oh No!”, as one thing after the other did not turn out as planned. Then I would find myself laughing out loud over the many odd situations that happened.

I read this book during the Covid19 pandemic, and it was such an amazing stress relief! I was so engrossed in this book and wanted to do nothing but read since it gave me such a wonderful escape and so much joy and hope for the future. If Lottie and her family could get through this Christmas there is hope for all of us!

I want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the pleasure of reading the advanced reader copy of this fantastic book. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC.

A total festive delight/ treat from start to finish!
A crumbly old manor house, a very dysfunctional eclectic family group, eccentric cat and dog,snow, and Christmas cheer aplenty! Makes for the most delightful, entertaining, funny read! Perfect for getting in the festive spirit! Family dynamics, tangled love lives and messages from nanna Rose interspersed with fun, laughter and drama I really can’t recommend this book enough!
Thank you net galley for this early read.

A brilliant feel good book. The cooking of the turkey was so funny. and when they worked why they knew their mothers new boyfriend. It was so funny. The book had its sad moments but a perfect read

Another fantastic read from a very accomplished author. This is a great feel good book., to add to the collection I’ve already read can’t wait for another new book
A* highly recommended

Another fantastic read by Bella. I have read most of her books and loved them all.
Lottie wants one more Christmas with the family before the sale of nanna Rose's
house after her death.Of course not much runs smoothly not least because Lottie isn't much of a cook. Also after nine years her ex Joe returns. Lottie's mother brings her toyboy new boyfriend who is vegan and her brother brings his girlfriend who no-one knows about and his 6 year old daughter Jessie. And let's not forget uncle Bernard.
A lovely cosy Christmas read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon books UK for the ARC

A lovely story of how Nana gone but not forgotten brings her family back together for Christmas before everything changes. However poor Lottie soon begins to realise how much stress she has put herself under. I loved Dave and Dutchesses love/ hate friendship. An abundance of love, laughter, friendship and hope

A few weeks ago I started thinking ahead to Christmas. This year I might actually have both my kids home for Christmas and I want to make it special. I thought a Christmas novel might put me in the mood.
Then I found One Family Christmas. It did not disappoint! It gave me that home-spun Christmas feel that I wanted.

I honestly don’t think there are any characters in this book that I don’t like. They were all made into actual people in my opinion. The book grabbed my interest with the prologue and the baking scene with Lottie and Nana. I was only sorry to remember at that point that we wouldn’t have Nana with us for the whole book.

I loved the Christmas that Lottie (in her Nana’s memory) put together for the family! So many traditions followed. I love traditional Christmases! The English countryside setting was lovely as well. Oh how I’d like to spend a few weeks in the English countryside! There was plenty of action going on as well - both pre-planned events and spur of the moment.

If you like immersing yourself in Christmas tradition, hot chocolate, discussions over tea and coffee, and a few surprises, you should definitely pick this book up!

Thank you to NetGalley and and Avon Books UK for providing me with the book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Nana always has Christmas at her house and the whole family comes for it. Nana and Lottie are preparing for the dinner weeks before Christmas and Nana goes upstairs to write her Christmas cards for the family. Lottie has come home to heal her wounds from a bad relationship and helps Nana with preparations.

Nana passes away and at the funeral Lottie tells the family that she wants them all to get together for Christmas because it was Nana's last wish. Lottie has decided that she is going to prepare the meal for the family and Lottie isn't much of a cook.

This was a really good book about family coming together. I enjoyed it and you will too.

I love a Christmas book and books by Bella Osborne! This did not disappoint. Although Lottie is grieving for her Nana she is determined to have one final big family Christmas at the Henbourne Manor before it is sold, even though she's not a very good cook! She persuades everyone to come together one last time and then the fun begins with a stray dog, an old boyfriend who comes back to the village and her brother who is trying to propose. Along with uncles and aunts and a mum who hasn't grown up herself all of whom have secrets, Lottie has her hands full. I felt this truly described so many family christmases that it will resonate with lots of people who will be able to identify their own family members!! It certainly made me chuckle and I will be stealing the stocking game idea. Curl up with a box of matchmakers, tea and forget your turkey is cooking. Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books and of course to Bella Osborne for another smash hit.

The ultimate Christmas with a dysfunctional family- absolutely brilliant, loved it!
Lottie is home again and helping her beloved Nana to bake for Christmas. The family always comes together for Christmas and this year is no exception.
This is a laugh out loud and smile to yourself as Christmas unfolds with a totally 'normal' group of people! Christmas family traditions, games, Christmas trees, holly and more!
Loved the characters and the story, which has Christmas and all the trimmings! Recommended!

I really enjoyed this Book and the story it told and I would recommend that everyone reads this book, Its the 1st book that I have read by Bella Osborne and I will definitely be reading more books by Bella .

I loved this book as it tells the story of family get together and the character Lottie cooking a family christmas and what happened when all the family get together , This book remind me so much of my own family and what happens when they all get together

Reading this book during the covid 19 and hoping that I be able to have a christmas like in the book this years as mine are very similar esp with the family gathering but lucky i don’t have to do the cooking.



With thanks to Netgalley & Avon Books UK for the ARC of this for this my honest review.

After her Nan a passed away it falls upon Lottie to organise the last Christmas gathering for her family at Henbourne Manor before it is sold. Full of her madcap family, Lottie's mother and her toyboy, a feuding Aunt and Uncle, a poorly Great Uncle and his carer plus her brother Zak with his girlfriend Emily and his daughter Jessica cat called Duchess and a dog called Dave this truly deserves the description of being a romantic comedy. As with all good books of that genre there are some sad moments to counterbalance the happier moments. Throw in an ex boyfriend Joe, who disappeared to America years before and a Megan Markle lookalike this book kept me hooked to the point where I finished it at 5:15am as I just couldn't put it down. Definitely highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I am all here for new Christmas books! This was the perfect book to get me in the mood for the holidays and reading it I could imagine myself in front of the fire with a hot chocolate, even though it was 105 the weekend I read this book. I loved Lottie and her attempts to bring her family together for one last Christmas in their family home. Like every family, hers has its flaws and they play out with hilarious results. Underneath it all, however, is a strong current of love. I enjoyed finding allies in surprising places, enjoyed the twists and turns, and enjoyed spending Christmas with Lottie's family.

One Family Christmas makes for a wonderful holiday read! This book has lots of laughs, family drama, great characters (including some of the animal kind), and a little romance. Lottie is determined to make this Christmas one that her beloved Nana would be proud of. Unfortunately, not much is going according to plan.

What a fabulous story! So amusing, and I think everyone will be able to recognise either some of the situations that occur, or the family members from their own Christmases.

At times this reads like a comedy of disasters, it feels like anything you don't want happening at Christmas, in fact happens for Lottie's family.

There are year old secrets to be uncovered, treasure to be discovered, a proposal... well if they ever work out where the ring is, there is a porn star dating a family member, two adorable animals Duchess the cat, and Dave the dog.

There is an old flame back in the village, a pregnancy test, and a large amount of food which Lottie isn't sure how to cook, there are unexpected vegans, and well that hasn't even touched the surface of the brilliance of this family and their ability to amuse me!

Now I'm not saying the specifics of how any of that fit in, but the cast of characters at this family Christmas include a whole host of vastly different and highly entertaining people.

I think you may be able to tell I really loved this book, it is so refreshing to see a Christmas that isn't picture perfect, and is in fact far more realistic., I loved the reasonings why two people both really needed some batteries amongst many other highlights of the book!

There is just so much going on, there isn't a dull moment, and the whole book takes place pretty much over Christmas Eve until 27th December. So plenty of action, laughs and just a whole feel good book that I adored reading.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A lovely, absorbing read about Lottie's family Christmas and how she was the powerhouse behind getting it all going - then (I, at least) began to wonder whether her family was worth the effort.

The book has everything - interesting storyline, constantly evolving secrets and a blast-from-the past love, along with the kind of family members we all love and love to hate.

Bella's become a must-read author for me.

This delightfully funny and romantic story was just the tonic as the darker nights started drawing in and thoughts turn to Christmas.
Lottie’s family are a caricature of every comedy of errors tale I have ever encountered. Anything and everything that can go wrong, does go wrong and with both hilarious and bittersweet results.
From Lottie’s Mum with her toy-boy, her brother, his adorable daughter and possibly pregnant girlfriend, there is enough to entertain anyone but, Bella Osborne does nothing by halves! We also meet the Aunt and Uncle with a dark secret, the cousin who has not been honest about his life at Uni and the Great Uncle and his romantic ties to his carer.
If all of the above isn’t enough, there’s a former boyfriend who is clearly still interested. Telling you anything else could be considered a spoiler so don’t tell anyone about Dave and the Duchess.
I really enjoyed the repeated failed proposals. It looked as though the question would never be popped but, hang in there, the happy ending is there.
This book packs a punch and I genuinely loved it. Bella has written a wonderful story which has the right levels of mayhem, comedy and heart-warming moments.

I only discovered Bella Osborne’s books this year, when I read Meet Me At Pebble Beach (which I heartily recommend). So I was pleased to be given an early opportunity to read and review her new festive novel.

The opening chapters are actually quite sad, as Lottie and her family say goodbye to Nana Rose. Lottie manages to persuade everyone to stay at the Manor House, for one last Christmas, before it is sold and the proceeds split between the family.

Lottie’s family are an eclectic mix, elderly Great Uncle Bernard and his carer, Lottie’s widowed brother, his young daughter Jessica and ‘new’ girlfriend Emily, her mum Angie and latest of many boyfriends, Scott, and her uncle Daniel and his family. As the ‘blurb’ states, everyone is nursing a secret, and these will be revealed over the Christmas period.

Lottie is trying to achieve a perfect family Christmas, which isn’t easy when her ex boyfriend, Joe and a stray dog arrive on Christmas Eve, she forgets to defrost the turkey and a surprise present goes missing from the tree.

I loved this book, so many laugh out loud moments, especially with Jessica, Dave the dog and Duchess the cat. After a stressful day, this was just what I needed – a book to escape into, full of festive fun, a dysfunctional family, romance and disasters waiting to happen. Lottie is a wonderful main character with a heart of gold.

Love Love Loved it!

We arrive at Henbourne Manor, where Lottie wants one last family christmas at the Manor, following her Nana passing away. We meet the Collins clan along with a surprise visitor or two. As much as Lottie wants to follow her Nana's wishes, Lottie is wondering if One Last Family Christmas at the Manor can run smoothly especially with some unexpected turns and glitches...... Can the Collins family be just that, a family for one day of the year?

Brilliant from start to finish, I couldnt put it down! Gripping but an easy read!

Praise to Bella Osborne - Absolutely wonderful Festive read.

You can always guarantee a Bella Osborne book to be full of drama and One Family Christmas is no exception. The book begins with Lottie wanting a big family Christmas that her nana Rose would have been proud of. There’s just one problem, Lottie can’t cook. But as her relatives descend on the Manor House, it appears they’ve brought not only presents but also plenty of secrets with them. Not only do we have a mischievous dog, burnt stuffing and a turkey that goes up in flames but we also have the love of Lottie’s life returning after leaving her nine years earlier.

This book is a delight to read and I devoured each page. It’s a story of family, new beginnings and love with plenty of lighthearted and poignant moments added in for good measure. A fabulous festive read that I would recommend to all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

Wow! Reading this book was like a festive game of pass the parcel, each new layer adding to the excitement until you unwrap the prize.
I loved Nana Rose and I felt I grieved for her throughout the book just like Lottie and the family. Having family together for Christmas is stressful enough but throw in there a lot of big personalities and the threat of loosing your home, an ex boyfriend a bunch of secrets and you have the amazing ingredients of this book.
I loved the sibling bond between Lottie and Zach and I loved him and Emily, I felt they were just as important from a love story POV as Lottie and Joe, we saw a lot of their relationship develop throughout the book. I really enjoyed reading Scott, I thought he was a great character and his presence really helped Lottie and Angie bond.
This book had everything and flowed so beautifully, it really had me worn out reading about all the running around and meal prep Lottie had to do - I think everyone who’s hosted a Christmas before could totally relate to Lotties reaction to everyone being snowed in an extra day. LOL. I really hope to see these characters again in other books, however I do think Dave and the Duchess stole the show.

Another fabulous book by Bella Osborne. A truly delightful and funny festive read, following a family gathered together for what could be their last time to spend Christmas together. I heartily recommend this book.

This was such an enjoyable read, and so easy to zip through. There were so many places where I laughed out loud, and it put a big smile on my face. The characters were interesting & the family drama was entertaining.

A sweet, lively story. The characters are finely drawn, and I reckon most people can think of similar people in their own wider families.

Lottie has spent much of her life living with her grandmother, her real mother being far too busy looking for ‘the one’ to spend her life with, leaving Lottie and her brother Zach with her mother and only returning for a while when yet another relationship collapsed. Five weeks before Christmas she and her grandmother Rose are sorting things out ready for the normal family Christmas, writing cards and preparing the Christmas pudding. Sadly, three weeks later the family come together for Rose’s funeral. Lottie is shocked to find that her mother and her brother Daniel have already put the house up for sale - she and Uncle Bernard, who also lived in Rose’s large Manor House are about to be made homeless! After the service Lottie, having heard some of them talking about their Christmas plans, gets them all together and demands that they all come for a final family Christmas at the manor. They all agree, if somewhat grudgingly.

And so follows a loud, busy family Christmas, complete with unexpected guests, furious rows, accidents; Lottie feeling resentful because she has never produced a Christmas dinner before and almost nobody wants to help with any of it - preparation or clearing up afterwards. On Christmas Eve there is a knock on the door, and it is the estate agent to let them know that a company has bought the house at the full asking price, Lottie’s about to be homeless! Her mother and Uncle Daniel celebrate by drinking all the Prosecco that Lottie had hidden away to serve with Christmas dinner. There will only be ordinary wine now, and it is their own fault!

There are moments of high farce, laugh-out-loud humour, and a few sad moments, all well-written and imaginable. And anyone who has ever cooked a Christmas meal will be familiar with some of the disasters, and methods of recovering from them. And there are happy-ever-afters for most of the characters ... although the kitten that gets named right at the end of the book might well disagree!

Well worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and AVON/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. for a copy of "One Family Christmas" in exchange for an honest review.

Ms. Osborne has written the perfect holiday book. It had me laughing and crying but mostly not wanting to put it down. It was a truly heartwarming message about what is truly important during the holiday season and that is family.

The story starts 5 weeks before Christmas. Lottie Collins and Nana Rose are making Christmas pudding together and preparing for the annual gathering of the Collins clan at Henbourne Manor. The story then forwards to 2 weeks prior to Christmas and the Collins family is gathering for an unexpected wake. The family includes: Great Uncle Bernard (Lottie and Zach's late grandfather's brother); Lottie and her brother Zach, who has a 6 year old daughter from his previous marriage named Jessie and his current girlfriend Emily; Lottie and Zach's mother Angie and her current boyfriend Scott; Angie's brother Daniel, his wife Nicola and their 10 year old son Rhys. Also added to the family is Joe Broomfield, the new village vet who just so happens to be Lottie's ex-boyfriend.

Lottie promises to make this one last family Christmas at the manor special for everyone. And special it is!!

The stars of the book are without a doubt Dave a stray dog that has adopted the family and the Duchess, Nana's cat. The pair make an adorable "couple" throughout the book. The Duchess somehow ends up in the tomato soup and the mouse that she brings in as a gift ends up in the mulled wine.

The story is so well written that you feel you are standing in the room with the family, sharing their Christmas fun. You feel for Lottie and Great Uncle Bernard when you learn that the manor is being sold out from under them. However, Great Uncle Bernard has a secret and it may involve his carer. Dave may or may not have eaten a very important Christmas present. Why exactly did someone give Great Uncle Bernard 5 cans of tuna? Who thought that the Duchess would appreciate an Alfie Boe CD? Someone in the family may be pregnant according to the test found in the rubbish. Someone had an affair and their surprise daughter has shown up at the manor. Someone is dating a porn star who is young enough to be their son. Someone has a heart attack on Christmas Day. There are a couple of infernos spread throughout the book - a turkey catches fire, a tablecloth goes up in a blaze - however the Christmas pudding that was supposed to catch fire - well it doesn't.

I absolutely loved this book and would happily spend the holidays with this cast of characters. I will certainly be on the lookout for more books from Ms. Osborne and I highly recommend this one as a perfect way to kick off the upcoming holiday season. Worth more than the allotted 5 stars!!

Everyone's idea of Christmas is different; some like the hustle and bustle, others like the peace and quiet. But for Lottie all she wants is to have that one last family Christmas that her Nana held every year since she can remember. Then everyone can move on with their lives and the only home that Lottie knows can be sold. 

What can possibly go wrong?

Lottie's cooking is not known to be great and the manor house is perhaps feeling unloved and needs some attention but the family descend and endeavour to honour Nana Rose memory. 

Lottie's widowed brother Zak arrives with his young daughter, Jessie and his new girlfriend, Emily. Their mother, Angie arrives with her latest young squeeze who looks oddly familiar to some. 

Then there is Uncle Daniel and Auntie Nicola, tense and completely unaware of their teenage son Ryan's new plans for his life. 

Great Uncle Bernard resident already in the house with his carer Dayea has surprises of his own to share on the big day. 

Add to this the return of Lottie's old flame, Joe and it seems this Christmas is going to go off with the bang and that won't be the crackers round the table. 

With affairs, a frozen turkey, pregnancy, secret children, proposals, births, porn stars, scary dolls, snow and a dog called Dave this is one Christmas none of the characters are going to forget in a hurry. 

This book has much love in it, but there is a great amount of humour as you see how all the characters interact when they are thrown together at such a stressful time and it was a book I could picture being brought to life on the big screen, it has so much visual potential. It works well as a book because it let's your imagination run wild and it suddenly reminds you of all those 'strange' family traditions that we all have at Christmas. 

As someone who comes from a very small family and has not experienced a Christmas such as Lottie's (and I don't want to) this was a fascinating humours insight which is worth reading to perhaps remind you that perhaps not all families are than unique! Especially at Christmas.

Once I'd gotten over Lottie's obsession with keeping everything exactly as her Nana did following her death, I really enjoyed this book. I've read another of this author's books and it was good that this one was set in a similar area so some locations and characters were recognizable. I love a christmas book and this didn't disappoint. Of course there was a happy ending as there always is with these sorts of books but it was a nice story and an easy, comforting read in these difficult times

This book was such a fun Christmas read. It had some elements of mystery and also had a few different plot lines. I loved it!

Thanks to Avon Books UK & NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon books for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Lottie wants a final family Christmas at the Manor to remember. She wants it to be just the way Nana Rose would have wanted but what a family they are. They are all nuts, Lottie can't cook and just to add another bit of interest - Joe who she hasn't seen for 9 years since he vanished to America reappears on the scene. It will certainly be a Christmas to remember!

This is a wonderfully festive book from Bella Osborne, to make you laugh, to make you cry and probably to make you realise that your family aren't quite so bad after all.......

This is a wonderfully entertaining book about a delightfully scatty young lady who is trying to prepare a perfect Christmas as her recently deceased nana would have done. There is the expected quota of greedy relatives all with many issues. Along comes an amazing vet with a crazy dog and after a range of funny events, all works out happily. A fun book which I would recommend to anyone.

One Family Christmas is a book full of romance humorous dialogue and a cast of interesting characters humans and animals.
Lottie is hosting Christmas at the Manor house she lived in with her now deceased Nana, determined to have a final family Christmas before the Manor is sold she invites all her rather resistant close relatives.
So starts the mayhem, romance, arguments, humour, misunderstandings of this lovely story.
My only downside is that I loathed Lottie’s mother a self centred vacuous creature with a boyfriend half her age and acting completely inappropriately, whilst humorous I would of liked Lottie to of had more backbone and put her firmly in her place, she did at times but not to great effect.
A happy ending, so feel a good satisfying read.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Although it is autumn and too early (for me) to read books about Xmas but love this author her books always make me smile and feel good, this was a fantastic read - even though its September..

I really loved this book, it was set over a very chaotic Christmas with lots of mishaps along the way, very funny!

Lottie had fairly recently moved back in to Henbourne Manor with her Gran, who unfortunately has just died quite suddenly. Her Gran always hosted the family Christmas and made sure everyone attended and, as the house is now being sold, Lottie feels it is her responsibility to make sure everyone attends their last Christmas together at the Manor.

So attending the big family gathering is Zach (Lottie's brother) and his girlfriend Emily (who hasn't met any of the family yet), along with Zach's daughter Jessie. Then there's Angie and her boyfriend Scott (Lottie & Zach's mother), their Uncle David and his wife Nicola and their 19 year old son Rhys, and Great Uncle Bernard who currently lives in the house, and his carer Dayea. Then thrown into the mix is Lottie's old love, vet Joe, who has just moved back home to start up his vet practice.

It is absolute mayhem, but in a really nice way! There are secrets and events galore that come out during the course of their stay - engagements, pregnancy, old affairs, a heart attack (sort of), and a surprise birth. How Lottie managed to keep them all together and still stay relatively sane I have no idea!

Very, very enjoyable and definitely a 5-star Christmas feeling read as it's set right over Christmas and the New Year and even has some snow! Very entertaining.

Bella is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Love the writing style and always well written characters.

Wow what a fabulous book. When Netgalley sent me a copy of this book to review I could wait to start reading.

After the death of her beloved Nona its up to Lottie to provide one last family Christmas before the beloved family home is sold and if that weren't enough her first love has returned to the village.

Over a three day of Christmas festivities Lottie and her dysfunctional family try to make it through Christmas without killing each other.

This book is so full of heart and you really get to know the characters, It made me laugh upriariously in parts and cry in others. I couldn't put it down till I finished it but now feel as if I have lost friends forever.

Wonderfully, delightful book! I absolutely enjoyed this cleverly written novel. I haven't read anything this heart-warming and whimsical in a long long. I can absolutely see this as being made into a holiday film. Lottie is an original character. She is filled with patience, understanding, loyalty, and the biggest of hearts. Lottie is definitely a memorable heroine.

This story takes place in a small English town. Most everything about this novel was unrealistically entertaining. That was my favorite aspect of the book. These things just don't happen in real life. And if they do, not at this scale. Poor Lottie. She went through so much trouble to make everything as perfect as she could. Nothing was perfect and that is just how I liked it.

As dysfunctional families go, Lottie is part of one of the flightiest. After her grandmother passes, Lottie is determined to make her last wish of the traditional holiday get-together a reality. The truth is, none of the family wants to attend. But Lottie puts her foot down and tells the family they are going to spend the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays together whether they want to or not. Lottie has her work cut out for her. I mean that literally and figuratively. Trying to prepare meals through the chaos going on around her is beyond a challenge. It doesn't help that nearly everyone is hiding a secret. Oh! I just laughed so much. This author made humor out of some serious situations and kept me wholly engaged. I was truly sorry this book ended. And that ending? Amazing!

I'm intentionally keeping this review vague. You should go into this story with the only expectation that you're reading a holiday fiction. There is a ton of fun and laughter. Secrets galore. Some angst and even heartbreaking moments. A touch of suspense and mystery. And some romance to add even more enjoyment. The book is written alternating different perspectives which makes the story even more fun and a bit more complex. I absolutely recommend this wonderful novel. One Family Christmas will be one of the handful of holiday romances I will re-read over and over each year.

This is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. :)

Absolutely loved this books. Really warming Christmas story with all the true values and reality of a family Christmas. Full of love and festive quibbles. I loved the way little seeds of some questions are planted at the beginning and then the story keeps you waiting and wondering what the answers are going to be. I just loved it and didn’t want it to end. Left me a warm a Christmas glow.

What an absolute joy of a book. Warm, very funny with every character you can relate to. The true epitome of a traditional extended, disjointed British family Xmas.... plenty of turkey, arguments, love and tears.

Nana always hosts a family Christmas at the manor but sadly this year dies before the big day. With the manor house up for sale, Lottie is determined to carry through the festivities as nana would have wanted one final time. However throw into the mix a boyfriend from the past, a lost engagement ring, mum's new boyfriend who is a porn star and an uncontrollable dog, a peaceful time is far from guaranteed.

A book that absolutely feels like a warm hug.....hugely recommend.

This book is a great read to get the holiday season started. Family brings many dynamics: laughter, tears, yelling, and chaos. This book had me smiling and laughing out loud because I was so engaged with the characters. I will definitely be looking for more books by Bella Osborne.

I really like Christmas stories. Crazy families are always a bonus. Lottie is out to make this last family Christmas in her grandmother's house a memorable one. It is. With an old love, an unknown child, a possible pregnancy, and a sex crazy mom, what can go wrong.
I enjoyed the story, but Lottie waiting until the last minute for everything was annoying. Dutchess's condition not being noticed by the vet. Too many silly sidetracks. But a HEA is worth it! Thanks Netgalley!

After the sad loss of her nana, Lottie hosts one last family Christmas in nana's home before it is sold off. The story mostly covers Christmas Day and Boxing Day, reliving traditions within the family, along with a whole host of unexpected guests. Although the loss of nana is clearly very sad, this book is beautiful, upbeat and a riotous festive read.

I loved reading about the baking that Lottie did, with and without Nana. These old family recipes are something to treasure. I have my own nan's recipe for stuffing and Christmas pudding and fondly remember her making them for each family member. And just like in this story she lined the ceramic bowls with parchment and tinfoil and tied it with string. This stirred up some very fond memories for me and I always get a bit misty-eyed at Christmas time missing my own nan.

There are so many festivities in this story that will resonate with most readers - making homemade Christmas cake, sausage rolls, and mince pies. And of course, the wonderful traditions like decorating the tree together remembering stories behind special Christmas baubles.

One Family Christmas is full of great characters and lots of slapstick humour, especially relating to Lottie's mum, Duchess the cat, and Dave the dog. Add in some drama, a couple of love affairs, a moving and heartwarming ending, and it all makes for the perfect Christmas read. I think this has been my favourite Christmas read of 2020 and I really hope there will be more books featuring this cast.

Having read all of this author’s books, this one is my favourite.

After the death of her beloved nana, Lottie wants one last family Christmas. But as her family arrives, so does chaos and when a past love walks back into her life Lottie is left wondering just what she has let herself in for.

A great fun filled story with entertaining characters. This book will put a smile on your face.

Lottie wants a last Christmas at the family manor before it's sold. Lottie was brought up by her grandmother because her mum was irresponsible & had had many 'man friends'. The story looks at the family dynamics of them all being together. Throw in an old boyfriend, an uncle being ill, a niece she didn't know existed, a lost engagement ring & a few other calamities, makes this a full on but amusing & entertaining read.

#onefamilychristmas #bellaosborne #netgalley #netgalleyreview I’ll be honest this delightful cover drew me in before even reading the description. 🤷‍♀️ what can I say. I definitely #judgeabookbyitscover 🙈 this cheeky book did NOT let me down. What a cute little Christmas story to get you in the mood for the holiday season. I adored everything about this charming story ❤️ we have Lottie. Poor girl. She’s been thru the ups and downs of life. More back home with her Nana and Uncle Bernard. In this endearing story of coming home. Holidays. Love. And more. You’ll be enraptured from that first chapter. This is definitely a must read for your holiday season #bookstagram #netgalleyreviewer #booklover #romcombook #booksbooksbooks📚 #christmasbooks #boxingday #bookstagrammer #reviewer

Ah this was one of those books that you can totally see playing out in front of you like a movie-this would make such a fabulous film. Terribly British and hilariously funny-everything that could go wrong with this Christmas, every soap opera cliches that could happen happened in this book and I loved every moment of it. I picked this novel up on Monday morning and didn't put it down again until I had finished it on Monday night!

Lottie was such a great character to spend this novel with because she is so easy to relate to and you will find yourself on her side 100% right from the word go. I love that she is trying so hard to make Christmas perfect for everyone but as the synopsis says, everybody in this family has secrets and so poor Lottie has a really hard time of it. I also really related to Emily. have been the new person at a table at a bigger family Christmas than I am used so and so I could really sympathise with her and the position that she found herself in. I loved getting to know these women and I loved the bond that they formed.

There are some absolutely hilarious moments in this novel. If you can think of something that could go awry whilst cooking or decorating for Christmas you will probably find it here. You want some ghostly presences? You got it! A cute relationship between a dog and a cat? Check! A blast from the past suddenly appearing again? Bella Osborne has got you sorted.

There is some serious family drama in this book, some romantic moments and some good old fashioned family bonding. Overall though this book has a lot of heart in the relationships it explores and the humour found in every situation. I love that these characters take everything this authors throws at them and more and I am sure you will too!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bella Osborne, and Avon for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I fell for this book hard and fast. I was drawn in by the family dynamics, and couldn’t get enough of the shenanigans! Lottie is a very likeable character and fun to follow. I value her uncertainty in life, and her insecurities about some things, and her strength and determination, even in times where things are not going the way she had hoped. Her character development even within the short span of this book is fun to watch!

This story had a Family Stone kind of feel to it, which is one of my favourite Christmas movies. Dealing with extended family instead of just immediate, it certainly has an eclectic cast, and the adults sometimes act more like the children!

The authors writing style is great and allowed me to immerse myself in the characters, the setting, and the events taking place in the book. I love how she brought the family together in the beginning and seeing how the dynamics were at the end. I could easily picture what the words reflected and would love to find myself in a small English village such as this one!!!

A fantastic Christmas story, I can see myself reading this one year after year. A 2020 Christmas must-read!!

This is a story about Lottie and her family. Lottie is determined to have one last family Christmas in he house where she grew up before it is sold. Drama unfolds as the mismatched family gather for one last time. Secrets are revealed and hearts are broken and repaired with the magic of Christmas.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I have read and loved all of Bella Osborne’s books and this is one of my favourites. The whole story is believable and relatable and draws you on from the very beginning. There are twists and turns throughout and you can never second guess what will happen next. Even though the story only covers about 3 days there is just the right amount of detail in each day so that you feel as if you are there in real life as part of the family.

I loved the fact that characters from previous books make an appearance. This is one of the best Christmas books I have read.

Lottie is has moved back to her granmothers house to lick her wounds after she caught her boyfriend cheating on her. Its the run up to christmas and the extended family always come for christmas. This year may be the last christmas in the house and so lets make it a good one. Lottie pull out all the stops and tries so hard! mishaps, mis-steps and miscommunication its a very busy christmas for Lottie.

So much going on and alot to hold the interest there were plot points i didnt see coming and others i did.

Totally wonderful a farcical family christmas.

This book was provided to me by Netgalley and Avon Publishers. I thank them both but the stars i award are my own to give

A heart-warming, lovely Christmas story of loss, love, forgiveness and fun. Lottie is determined to bring her family together one last time, before her beloved home is sold.
She is shocked when old flame Joe returns to the village after years abroad, both holding secrets from each other.
Tears of laughter and sadness in equal measures, as Lottie tries to recreate her Nana's traditional family Christmas. An abundance of different characters, both quirky and fun, including abandoned dog Dave and snooty cat Duchess.
A wonderful story of family fueds, misunderstandings and forgiveness, I struggled to put it down.

I needed a good mental covid destresser read and got this holiday festive book from NetGalley. So, Im a few months ahead of getting in the Christmas mood.Well,this is the book to get a good feeling and one can relate to preparing for the holidays with nothing going perfect.
Nana Rose's house is the annual gathering at her 5 bedroom Manor House.. Her granddaughter Lottie , lives with Nana and has learned the importance of family gatherings especially during the holidays and altho family members die, their traditions live on forever...if one continues them painstakingly.
Lottie is the perfect host , No matter what life is throwing at her as she prepares for a week's worth of family tradition with food and games and everything that makes the holidays memorable, she has Nana's strong geer to get it done.
I started to love Nana too and the way she keeps her adult granddaughter's life stable throughout her growing yrs. Yes Lottie has a mom....ANgie, who is too busy trying to live her life like she was still single and Nana, who is ANgie's mother, takes Lottie in as a child. Sad we didn't keep Nana too long in the book but she is alive and well throughout Lottie's memories and bringing what Nana hoped would continue another Christmas memory and thereafter. Nana leaves Christmas cards with a letter to each family member too.
I enjoyed this book and couldnt put it down. Especially the details that have some turmoil and laughs, of preparing for each day before the big Christmas Day event, the neighbors and a lost love who shows up 9 years later.
The secrets this family unfolds,and a dog and a cat who are also main characters,beleive it or not!
You will not be disappointed and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Thank you NetGalley for presenting me another good read for me to review.





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This was a warm, early Christmas book to read, I loved it. As I was reading it I could imagine the house at Christmas with all the family neighbours coming together over the festive holidays. I love Christmas time with ll my family together, hoping for the same this year if we are able. I loved the panic over whether the turkey would defrost, I’ve been there!!! and he panic over whether there will be enough food.
What a wonderful cheerful story. I love Bella Osbourneks books, more please.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Not my usual choice of genre but I felt in need of a light, uplifting read with a bit of romance and a lot of Christmas and this met all my requirements! Lottie is planning one last family Christmas in the home of Nana Rose who has recently died, but family gatherings never run smoothly - relationships are already under strain at the start of the book and the emergence of old family secrets threatens the peace. What surprised me most about this book is the sharply timed comedy - there are some real laugh out loud moments and some slapstick which I found hugely entertaining! There is so much to enjoy about this book - the family members we will all recognise - the reclusive teenager, the selective vegan, the over- amorous couple. I particularly liked the re-igniting romance between Lottie and Joe and the relationship between Emily and Zack. All the little details of Lottie’s preparations for the visit, juggling their conflicting requirements, trying to feed the growing numbers for extra meals as they acquire additional visitors and snow extends their visit, feel wonderfully and warmly familiar. This is a delightful, heart warming and very funny Christmas romance. With thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books U.K. for a digital copy of this book.

I don't care it's only September, I'm now getting into a Christmas mood. Why? I've just finished this book. Over the last few years, I've become something of a Christmas Romance lover and this one is up there with the best I've read in a long while.

We've mad dogs, cats being (well) cats, enough family arguments and conflicts to fill two or three other books, and an amount of food that would have sunk the Titanic! There are puns that wouldn't be amiss in a Carry On movie!

Buy and read this now - but first don't forget to put the sprouts on!

One Family Christmas - Bella Osbourne

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley.

Lottie Collins feels that Henbourne Manor is home, having spent most of her childhood there. After the breakdown of her relationship she moves back home to stay with Nana Rose. Every year Rose has thrown a large family Christmas, where all family members are expected to attend. Following the death of Rose, Lottie is determined to ensure that the family have one last family Christmas at Henbourne Manor.

Bella Osbourne has managed to capture all of the drama of a family Christmas in this book. With every member of the family seeming to have a secret that will be revealed during the week of festivities.

This not the typical Christmas book, but it captures what Christmas is really like with family drama and cooking disasters.

After reading about the Collins family and Joe, I would love to learn more about the characters and hope that Bella writes more about the family and the rest of the residents of Henbourne.

Rating: 4/5
A perfect read for when the weather outside is miserable.

This was a lovely story of a family Christmas with all the ups and downs that this entails. Delightful characters and some great interactions. The animals were a big part of the story too. With a happy ending as all Christmases should, a very complete story.

Lottie is the keeper of secrets and since the death of her Nana Rose, the one who tries too keep the family together; especially for one last Christmas before the family home is sold.

I found this story both sad and funny and sometimes just too full of secrets and mishaps. The family dynamic was a mixture of selfish indulgence, individual faults , quirks and secrets; just like real families then! But maybe too much for one just one family?

This was an enjoyable prelude to the Christmas season and in spite of wanting to push some family members heads together I was quite sorry when I finished it. Maybe a sequel?

I have been reading Bella Osbourne books for a few years now and I always look forward to a new one coming out.
This story starts with Lottie baking in the kitchen with her Nana, who unfortunately dies just a few weeks before Christmas. It was a tradition, that every Christmas was spent at Nana's manor house and this year was suppose to be the same. Lottie's mum and uncle are keen to sell the manor house asap, so Lottie suggested one last family Christmas. She is expecting everyone to arrive on Christmas eve, so she is busy with cooking. During the holidays some family secrets come out, Lottie's old crush arrives back into the village. This book is a really good festive read.

Another fantastic Christmas read; this is pure entertainment all the way!

Lottie's Nana has provided a family Christmas every year; so on the first yuletide with her - and the last in the family home - Lottie thinks it's more important than ever that they all get together to celebrate for one last time. This year will be very different, however, as Lottie - not known for her prowess in the kitchen - has volunteered to cover all the meals. Added to the family turning up, a stray dog crashes the party and everyone seems to be hiding a secret. Can they survive the annual get-together?

This is a great book on two levels: it's a good solid family drama, plump and ready to burst with everything going on and the mood is constantly lifted by the humour peppered throughout. The family dynamics are completely realistic; the inclusion of the pets gives so many opportunities for laughter and Bella Osborne never misses. We all have our own family issues and I'm sure that this will raise memories for every reader, but the hilarity kept me reading long after I should have laid the book aside last night. Wonderful characters, a great story and giggles aplenty make this one sparkle from first to last, leaving me with a great big grin on my face. Absolutely recommended and worth all five glittering stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley and to Rachel's Random Resources for my spot on this tour; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Thank you to Avon for my copy of this book via Netgalley and to Rachel for letting me be part of the tour. I have read a few of Bella’s books and always enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling they give you. As this was her first Christmas story I had to take part in the tour.

Lottie’s family are quite something. Not only do they not want to spend one last Christmas in the family home when they relent and agree they leave everything up to poor Lottie. I just wanted to give Lottie a big hug and make all the rest of the family help out.

If something could go wrong this Christmas it did for poor Lottie. We have all had that Christmas where the dinner goes wrong, someone doesn’t have a present or an argument breaks out. At the time it seems like the worst thing but when you look back it’s just another funny Christmas memory. The Collins family were a tad more dramatic than any of my family Christmas' but they were very entertaining.

Bella has written about such a beautiful location yet again. I always want to dive into her book locations. I would love to visit the village, especially around Christmas time. It sounds rather magical.

This book really gave me the Christmas feels. This year is going to be somewhat different for Christmas but it gave me hope that things will still turn out okay in the end.

A delightful festive treat! It has everything- Christmas, family gatherings, conflict, humour, romance, animals, all seamlessly bound together in a thoroughly enjoyable story. I just couldn’t put it down. Perfect entertainment with a feel good factor which we all need in these difficult times. I can’t wait to get the paperback version to read it again. Highly recommended if you enjoy Christmas books with a touch of romance and humour.

There's nothing like a cosy Christmas read to get you feeling festive - and One Family Christmas by Bella Osborne is just the warm, fuzzy Christmas book everyone needs to read this season. It's one of those books that everyone can relate to in one way or another, which makes you feel closer to the (very eclectic mix of) characters! I absolutely loved the main character, Lottie. Entertaining, funny and festive with some romance- what more could you want from a Christmas book!? Looking forward to reading more books by Bella Osborne.

5 stars from me!