I’ve made really good progress on the pre-Christmas festive reads, but time’s fast running out – so I think I’d better share three reviews today (and then just one more before the big day)! First up, it’s such a pleasure to share my review of Christmas at the French Repair Shop by Sophie Claire. Published by Hodder & Stoughton on 9th October, it’s now available as an ebook, in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks to the publishers for my reading e-copy, provided via netgalley – and I’m sorry it took me so long.
While Sophie’s written some really lovely summer reads, I always have a particularly soft spot for her winter books. I really loved The Christmas Holiday, back in December 2019 (you’ll find my review here), and it was so lovely to return to Willowbrook at Christmas with A Winter’s Dream in October 2020 (you’ll find my review here). I really looked forward to This Christmas in Paris in 2023 – the perfect setting, a very real and convincing romance, unexpected twists and turns, much more depth and nuance than I expected, and a strong story that had me hooked from the first page to its wholly satisfying ending (you’ll find my review here – and, if you missed it, it’s only 99p for kindle). She’s kept us waiting a bit for her latest – but as soon as I spotted it, I eagerly downloaded it as a “must read” before Christmas…
❄️ Can they patch up their broken hearts this Christmas?❄️
Christmas in the picturesque village of Willowbrook should be dreamy – twinkling fairylights, snow in the air, and a busy time for Amélie in the repair workshop she owns, restoring furniture and mending treasured objects for locals to give as Christmas gifts. But in the tiny community, Amélie keeps bumping into her ex, Jack – and it’s killing her festive feeling.
Jack and Amélie were perfect for each other… until one day they weren’t. And when Jack’s attempt at reconciliation goes wrong, he finds himself locked in Amélie’s van.
Driving to her aunt’s house in the South of France, Amélie thinks she’s finally going to get some peace over the festive period, but like it or not, she’ll now be spending Christmas trapped on holiday with Jack. Could it help unwrap the secret to why they split up? Or will it be a gift they’d rather exchange?
Curl up with your perfect Christmas read from Sophie Claire. A wonderfully cosy, second-chance enemies-to-lovers festive romance, perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Jo Thomas and Sarah Morgan.
After an early life that was fraught with complications, Amélie’s found happiness living in Willowbrook – and her workshop where she repairs and upcycles furniture and smaller wooden items is doing well in the run-up to Christmas. Everything would be perfect, except for the situation with Jack, a late night DJ on the local radio station – their relationship was coming along nicely when it seemed he’d betrayed her trust by sharing a secret about her past. As a result, life’s becoming less comfortable for her in the community where she’s felt at home – and although she’s made it clear they’re over, he’s still a thorn in her side. He’s constantly playing pranks on her, as he did when they were together – and she reciprocates, perhaps conflicted about whether their relationship is really over, or whether she wants it to be.
She’s escaping to France for Christmas to stay with the aunt who brought her up – who has a repair shop of her own – and to pick up some items for her workshop from the many brocantes that pop up in the festive season. But when she opens the back of her van before getting on the ferry, it’s not empty – a prank has gone wrong, and, locked in, Jack is asleep inside. As he can’t get home, she reluctantly agrees he can come with her, help her load the items she picks up – and their enforced proximity gives them both the opportunity to re-evaluate their relationship. And it also gives them both the opportunity to clear up – if they can – the issue that drove them apart, as they both learn more about themselves and their pasts.
The dynamics between them are wonderfully handled – while she’s prickly at times, and he can be intensely irritating, they both have the opportunity to see if there’s still anything left of the flame between them that had been burning brightly. Their exchanges sparkle and fizz – and, as a lot of the book’s messages are about the need for communication, that works so very well. And as they begin to grow closer, their relationship developed into one I really hoped would have its happy ending. There’s a lot of poignancy in the book too – all those perfect emotional touches, and a nice focus on family – as Amélie comes to terms with her past, the perceived betrayal of her secrets, and the reasons why commitment has been a challenge for them both.
As always, the French setting is beautifully captured – the house Amélie always loved, the Christmas markets, the food and drink particularly delicious, and I loved all the festive touches. This really was a gorgeous read – with a sometimes unlikely developing romance I really believed in, and a couple who entirely won my heart. Very much recommended – I loved it.
About the author
Sophie Claire writes emotional stories set in England and sunny Provence, where she spent her summers as a child.
She has a French mother and a Scottish father, but was born in Africa and grew up in Manchester, England where she still lives with her husband and two sons.
Previously, she worked in Marketing and proofreading academic papers, but writing is what she always considered her ‘real job’ and now she’s delighted to spend her days dreaming up heartwarming contemporary romance stories set in beautiful places.
Sophie is a member of Novelistas Ink, a group of writers who meet regularly and share a blog. The Novelistas’ support and encouragement was invaluable during her journey to publication and continues to be so.
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I really enjoyed this book. Loved it.
Very much reminded me of your writing Sue – and, as you can tell, I really loved it too… x