Thank you to Jacquelyn Middleton, NetGalley, and Kirkwall Books for my ARC of “The Certainty of Chance” in exchange for my honest review.

If you want a truly sweet and utterly charming holiday romance, you need to read “The Certainty of Chance.” It’s just so lovely.

For me, the holidays are bittersweet, as they are for both Julian and Madeleine and I appreciated Middleton’s #OwnVoices narrative regarding grief and death. Middleton captures that ache of grief while being surrounded by holiday cheer - that whisper of yuletide joy that sort of floats through you but shrouds the holidays in a melancholic hollowness. It really touched me that Middleton leaned into grief and really explored it through these characters. It gives credence to readers that their grief, however they experience it, is valid. And that joy, laughter, and love can still be found in times when you are grieving.

Julian and Madeleine are such well-rounded and loveable characters, as are Julian’s friends, Micah and Tash. I love how Middleton wove in music, pop culture, but the history and sights of London. As someone moving to England in the next few days (and from Boston, just like Madeleine), it reminded me to be excited about the culture I will get to immerse myself in.

Reading this was like being baked in a boozy Christmas pudding - just ooey, gooey loveliness and plushness that engulfs you and gives you a very much-needed cuddle. But it also allows you to wade through your own grief, giving you permission to acknowledge the sharp or dull edge of sorrow that permeates holiday joy that some of us experience.

A beautiful and christmassy love story in London

This Christmas, Madeleine isn't feeling very festive so she planned a holiday to Paris with her sister to cheer her up. Unfortunately, an Icelandic volcano erupts and disturbs the airlines, leaving her trapped alone in London. Madeleine is totally depressed when she bumps into a cute cabbie-Julian. Will he manage to make her feel better?

I'm not a big fan of romances but this one stole my heart right away! First, it's set in London. I've always loved this city and in the book, the author brings us along on a tour of it with fun facts and amazing descriptions of buildings and neighborhoods. It took my breath away and I loved knowing more about the history of London with Julian. He truly is a gem and I was crushing on him hard from the beginning, just like Madeleine was. I loved her too. She was touching and her personality was relatable and pleasant. I also loved that music was involved. The references and fun facts about bands and songs was also purely magical and I really liked the role it played in the story. The secondary characters were also really amazing and fun! As for the story, I loved it too. It was cute, festive when it needed to me, sweet as candy and absolutely beautiful. The subject of grief in it was very well brought and dealt with and I really liked the way the characters reacted to it and how it brought them closer together. It's not often such a subject is present in a romance and the author managed to add it without making the story feel heavy or sad. It was just a beautiful story about grief and love and Christmas and I adored every page of it!

I would definitely recommend to anyone who want a light, cute and amazing Christmas romance.

"Grief will always be in your heart, just like love."

The Certainty of Chance was such a lovely story! I loved every second of this book and it just really made me smile. Not to mention, London at Christmas, what better setting could there be.

Madeleine and Julian were so cute together! I absolutely adored their relationship. Not only were they amazing together, their relationship was also very realistic and I loved that. Though, it can be hard to find that deep of a connection, they didn’t necessarily romanticize life as many romance novels do.

Madeleine was so relatable! I loved her character so much and just reading her dialogue really hit home. Both her and Julian went through so much by themselves and as a couple, but they were always there for each other and I loved it!

This book is a perfect holiday romance and was just so sweet and hit on real topics and problems and was so amazing! I definitely recommend for the holiday season and really anytime!

The Certainty of Chance by Jacquelyn Middleton. Kirkwall Books, 2021.

Grieving Madeleine flies from Boston to meet Shan in London for Christmas, a reunion for the sisters, plus for Maddie, a way to spend the 1st anniversary of a sad loss. When flights are cancelled due to volcanic ash, and Shan’s arrival is delayed, Maddie meets Julian.

The story is about Maddie and Julian, their shared passion for music and pop culture, and Julian’s closest friends and dog Winnie. We love them all. With Julian as a tour guide second to none, many readers will see London as few visitors ever do.

For me, this delightful book where good things happen was a huge stretch out of my knowledge and comfort zone. Despite being from a different generation and having no notion of pop culture, I really enjoyed reading it, and learned many things that I know I will think about again, and want to reread.

The cover of this book is just about perfect in reflecting the story. Now I want to visit London during the Christmas season, with this book as a guide to what to see and do.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Certainty of Chance for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheCertaintyofChance #NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy to review!

This story hit the spot! Jacquelyn Middleton is pure magic at being able to transport you right to a different location. I truly felt like I was in London with the characters of this book. Madeleine is a totally relatable main character who I found myself connecting with from page 1! Julian is my new favorite smoking hot book boyfriend! He has such a great personality, I was in love with him from the very moment he appeared! If you are a romance reader, pick up this book. I promise you will not regret it!

“An emotional love story with a festive atmosphere just in time for the Christmas season!”

I want to say huge thank you to the team of Bookstagrammers.com and the author Jacquelyn Middleton for sending me a review copy of The Certainty Chance!

What a lovely read this was! This is an absolutely heartwarming story about love, loneliness, longing, grief and how the best things in life usually happen when you are expecting them the least.

A few days before Christmas, Madeline Joy finds herself in a very complicated situation. She’s supposed to spend the holidays with her sister in Paris, however, due to a volcano eruption, all airports are closed and she has no other choice than to stay in London until she can travel again. Not only that but the period coincides with the one-year anniversary of her best friends death. Needless to say, her joyful spirits are nowhere to be found. Until the stars align in her favour and she meets a kind, sweet British guy who takes her on a journey around London with his black cab.

Madeline didn’t expect her trip to turn out this way but when Julian Halliwell looks at her with longing and understanding in his eyes.. well.. it is impossible to deny their instant connection. Both characters are absolutely amazing and as cliche as it sounds just ‘made for each other’. Both are respectful, caring, kind and strong despite the few setbacks in their lives. I loved, loved, loved Madeline and Julian’s relationship. We see them quickly become friends and form a real bond over music, books, art, food and the one thing they both struggle with… grief- dealing with the loss a loved one and having no one who understands you. Mrs Jacquelyn Middleton did an amazing job in her portrayal of grief and left an important message for her readers - Every person deals with loss differently, there’s no ‘time-limit’ for feeling sad, there’s no recipe on how to move on. The Certainty Chance was such an emotional journey which definitely made me tear up a couple of times. So so happy both characters found in each other their ‘safe space’.

I need to add an honourable mention for Julian’s friends which were hilarious and supportive throughout the whole book! And of course not to forget poor little Winnie who also got his happy ending!!!

The Certainty of Chance is such an atmospheric book which immediately teleports you there with Julian and Madeline, exploring London during the most beautiful time of the year! This book put me in a wonderful Christmas mood and now all I dream off is booking a one-way ticket to London for the holidays!! Honestly, the whole time while reading I was thinking what a great movie this could be!

I love romance but have been away from it for a while and this book was the perfect way to come back to it! It’s so heartwarming and lovely, got me smiling all the way.

I’ve never been to London, not even during Christmas, but this book gave me a perfect idea of how it would look like!

This is the story of Madeleine and Julian, a romantic and unexpected relationship that grew deeper and more romantic each chapter. I love how relatable and real this characters are, and OMG the love they have for music is amazing! I love books that have music references and this one was a blast.

Both characters go trough a lot just a couple of days before Christmas. Madeleine is American and on holiday in London, by mistake, and Julian lives and works London. They talk about everything so honestly and their connection is so deep and pure, it made me believe in love again!

I definitely recommend this book to all romance lovers and Christmas enthusiasts, it’s so worth reading!

Who's ready for Christmas?!

I was sent this book via NetGalley, and this has to be one of the most detailed books I have read in a while! Reading it really makes you feel like you are experiencing Christmas in London! Even the language used between characters is especially life like, and you can really feel the connections and relationships between everyone. (There is a LOT of British terms and locations in this!)

Madeline is meant to be meeting her sister in Paris, but due to a volcanic storm her flight is delayed - which is where we meet taxi cab driver Julian!

One reason to read this book is it is also one of my favourite tropes - grumpy sunshine (And duel POV!) The connection between Madeline and Julian was so lovely to read, from strangers to friends to lovers - super cute!

This book is both a lovely read, but also extremely emotional and explores grief and how people deal with it in different ways.

If you want to read a cute romantic Christmas story - then read ahead!

There aren't enough descriptive words in my vocabulary to describe how much I thoroughly enjoyed and adored this charming tale. What, specifically, did I love? I loved it all. The characters were relatable, interesting and well developed, the setting could not be more perfect as we journey through magical Christmas-time in London while visiting the iconic and lesser-known landmarks, and the plot was pure perfection.

I will not give spoilers because this gem should be read, relished, and enjoyed with fresh eyes and a grateful heart. It is sure to renew your faith in love found in unexpected places and difficult times in our lives. The romance is sweet and enviable and you are sure to enjoy this charming read!