It’s a real pleasure today to be joining the blog tour for Summer Hates Christmas by Rachel Dove, and to share my review. Published by Boldwood Books on 19th August, I will just mention that this book is a reissue (in case you might have read it before!): it’s now available via Amazon for kindle (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks, as always, to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
I must say I was rather blown away by Rachel’s first book for Boldwood, Ten Dates – a glorious enemies-to-lovers story that just got everything absolutely right, with plenty of emotional ups and downs along with the possibility of further heartbreak, with some wonderful family relationships providing a lot of the well-judged humour. But I’ve been reading her books for rather longer than that (although not as often as I’d have liked to…!), ever since she gave a talk at Wetherby Library back in 2016, soon after she’d had her very first book published as the result of having won a magazine competition – you’ll find my post about it here. In 2017, I read one of her Westfield series, The Flower Shop on Foxley St, and really enjoyed it (review here): then in 2018 I read the wonderful The Long Walk Back, one of those books that had my heart in its grip from the opening pages and never let go (you’ll find my review here). I was so delighted when I saw she’d signed with one of my favourite publishers – and not put off for an instant by reading a book with a Christmas theme in my sunny garden in August!
Summer Hastings hates Christmas. She loves sunshine, the beach and running her travel agency, sending people off to their dream destinations – even if she doesn’t get to see the world for herself. For Summer, Christmas is nothing but a reminder of all the things that have gone horribly wrong in her life, so when handsome Noel Pritchett moves his pop-up Christmas shop in the store next to hers, Summer is livid.
Noel loves Christmas…and he also has a sneaking suspicion that he might be falling in love with Summer, if only he could break through the armour she has surrounded herself with. Just why does Summer hate Christmas so much? And can Noel be the one to prove to her that life can be sweet all year round?
Summer has her reasons to be dreading the approach of Christmas – she’d prefer to ignore it altogether, enjoying her walks on the beach, and planning next year’s summer holidays for the customers who visit her Bridlington travel agency. When a pop-up Christmas shop opens up next door, it’s the stuff of nightmares – Noel might be an Aiden Turner look-alike, keen to make friends and get to know her better, but his enthusiasm for everything Christmas sets her against him from the very beginning.
I was expecting a light and festive romantic comedy – and the book certainly has plenty of laughs as Noel tries so hard to win her over and, after a distinctly shaky start, a friendship develops between them that might just become a romance. But this is a book with darker edges too – Summer’s life away from work is difficult, and she’s filled with dread and sadness every time she turns into her street and approaches the neglected house she shares with her damaged and reclusive mother. The family situation is so well drawn, and with particular sensitivity – heartbreaking at times, but with a glimmer of hope shining ever brighter when Summer takes steps to change things for the better. And there are some related sub plots that add extra depth to the story – a really lovely supportive friendship, and some particularly difficult family complications.
At first, I found Summer rather difficult to like – her reaction to Noel’s presence seemed rather OTT and out of proportion – but she did slowly win my heart as her issues became clearer. I really felt for her – planning experiences of a lifetime for others, but with no chance of managing her own escape. I loved Noel from the start though – he’s a bit like an over-excited labrador puppy, but with depths that are gradually revealed – and his understanding of Summer’s issues and the gentleness with which he handles her only made me love him more. The chemistry between them developed really nicely – and although I doubted it at first, this was a rather lovely developing romance I really believed in. And yes, there are heartbreaking elements to the story, but there’s a lot of fun too – some of the Christmassy set pieces were really laugh-out-loud, and the perfect counterpoint to the more emotional moments.
Not quite the book I expected, but it was certainly one I enjoyed – for the raw emotional content that was so well handled, but also for the romance and many fun moments along the way. Uplifting and particularly heartwarming – I’d recommend you give it a try.
About the author
Rachel Dove lives in leafy West Yorkshire with her family, and rescue animals Tilly cat and Darcy the dog (named after Mr Darcy, of course!) A former teacher specializing in Autism, ADHD and SpLDs, she is passionate about changing the system and raising awareness/acceptance. Loves a good rom-com, and the beach!
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