Ok, it’s definitely time to start sharing my Christmas book reviews – and where better to start than with Christmas on Fifth Avenue by Julie Caplin. This is the first Christmas Escapes book, a spin-off series from her lovely Romantic Escapes, and entirely readable (and equally enjoyable) as a standalone, as her books always are. It was published by One More Chapter on 23rd October, available as an ebook (and, I see, just 99p for kindle), in paperback, and as an audiobook. The ecopy I read was my own, preordered and purchased via Amazon.
Whenever I see people writing about favourite Christmas books, I think about mine – and my all-time favourite might just be one by Julie’s alter ego Jules Wake, Notting Hill in the Snow (it was published in 2019, and might just have passed you by, but it’s free with Kindle Unlimited – and you can read my review here). But Julie’s written some rather special Christmas reads too. I really enjoyed The Christmas Castle in Scotland – a definite 10/10 for me, and the most perfect Christmas escape (you’ll find that review here). And then there was A Little Place in Prague, such a special book with a beautifully drawn setting, a gorgeous romance, lots of emotional ups and downs, special friendships, and a happy ever after I so hoped for but doubted would ever happen. I loved every single moment – so her latest was one I was really looking forward to…
Welcome to New York, where the Christmas lights dazzle, the snow is falling and love is just around the corner…❄️❄️❄️❄️
Evie Green’s Christmas dream turns into a nightmare when a viral video makes her the laughing stock of the internet. But then a 5 star hotel sees a PR opportunity and invites her to New York for a Christmas she’ll remember forever.
Enter Noah Sanderson, a disgraced soccer star seeking anonymity. Forced to fake a festive romance for the cameras, sparks fly – but not the twinkling Christmas kind!
As Fifth Avenue sparkles in all its holiday glory, can The City that Never Sleeps show these two frosted hearts that, maybe, the best love stories are the ones you never see coming. ❄️❄️❄️❄️
I’ll admit it, I did wonder at the beginning whether this was going to be the book for me. I didn’t really take to Evie, despite the way she’d been demonised on social media for doing something awful (albeit for the best of reasons) without thinking about the consequences. And then being offered an all expenses paid stay in New York? And Noah, her chance meeting at the airport, a top flight football player leaving the country so a career-ending illegal tackle could be forgotten. To be honest, I rather thought they deserved each other, and not in a good way – but how wrong can you be?
When Noah’s agent suggests a fake romance might be a good way of saving his reputation – and the Plaza Hotel think it’d be the perfect addition to the social media coverage from Evie’s visit – they set about discovering together everything New York has to offer in the festive season. And I do mean “everything” – so many wonderful experiences to add to your “must do” list if you ever visit at Christmas (and I think I’d rather like to…), and a few rather more edgy ones you might prefer to give a miss.
The way Evie finds joy in every moment is totally infectious – and it’s no real surprise to find their fake romance becoming more real with every shared experience. And neither Noah nor Evie are the two-dimensional characters I thought they were when I first met them – there’s real heartbreak and poignancy in this gorgeous book, all the past hurt, and a fair amount in the present too. And their developing relationship was enchanting and believable, engaging and all-consuming – but with a number of significant setbacks before the hoped for happy ending.
This book is a real love letter to New York, with its many attractions perfectly drawn – and the couple at the story’s centre entirely won my heart. There’s a great supporting cast too – Noah’s agent, the staff at the Plaza, Evie’s wronged flatmates (who weren’t entirely blameless either), and a lovely running cameo of Mrs Evans, a fellow guest with an endearing (and dreadfully spoilt) dog. Such a delightful story, with real warmth, all the Christmassy touches you could possibly ask for, and far more depth and emotion than you might be expecting – and a thoroughly lovely book I’d very much recommend.
About the author
Julie Caplin, formerly a PR director, swanned around Europe for many years taking top food and drink writers on press trips (junkets) sampling the gastronomic delights of various cities in Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Copenhagen and Switzerland. It was a tough job but someone had to do it.
These trips have provided the inspiration and settings for the best selling Romantic Escapes Series which began with The Little Café in Copenhagen, which was nominated for a Romantic Novel of the Year award. Since then she has set books in countries including Iceland, Japan and Paris. The series has been published in 20 territories from Brazil to Sweden and have become bestsellers in the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy.
Julie also writes best selling novels as Jules Wake, which include Covent Garden in the Snow, Notting Hill in the Snow, The Saturday Morning Park Run, From Italy with Love and The Spark.
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