I may have read this in the middle of summer, but the way this book transports you to a whole other world makes Christmas in July perfectly acceptable.
Oh, I just adored this book. I only visited Hay-on-Wye for the first time last year, it was such an idyllic destination for a book lover, and Jack has captured the essence of the place perfectly. The friendly atmosphere, the beautiful buildings, the cosy small town vibes. Whilst elements of the story are more fiction than others, there were also some really fun real facts peppered throughout- I particularly loved reading more about Richard Booth and his peculiar ways.
Our main character, Quinn, is SO relatable. Awkward and anxious, but so real. I loved seeing him and Noah's interactions, the will-they-won't-they element keeping us guessing throughout. What I loved more, though, was Quinn's beloved bookshop. Kings and Queens sounds absolutely perfect- a welcoming space that is truly the heart of the community, and a safe haven to not just the LGBTQ+ community, but everyone that needs it. The moments in the book where Quinn gives advice were so genuine, and didn't feel forced at all.
It was really interesting discovering more about Quinn and Noah's respective family histories, and subsequently their relationships with their families now. I guess that brings us to Hermione - what a woman! I adored this mysterious lady and coming to understand why she was so misunderstood.
Every single one of the supporting characters in this novel serve a purpose, and there wasn't a moment when I wasn't genuinely invested in them all. (Speaking of supporting characters, I would absolutely read Ivy and Bloody Blair Beckett's story 👀)

Overall an absolute joy to read, definitely one you want to find under the Christmas tree this year, and absolutely not want to one to be missed- a book lover's perfect Christmas read.

Super cute cosy MM romance set in a welsh town. I loved the plot of this book I think book lovers and any fan who read LGBTQ books are going to really enjoy this.