One more today? It’s such a pleasure to share my review of the wonderful Let the Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson. Published by Simon & Schuster on 23rd October, it’s now available as an ebook, in hardcover and as an audiobook: the ecopy I read was my own, preordered and purchased via Amazon.
Goodness, was it really 2021 when I last reviewed one of Milly’s books? That was The Woman in the Middle, that perfect balance of wonderful humour and desperate sadness, and a quite perfectly wrought and compelling story (you’ll find my review here). Milly’s characters are just so very real, people you recognise, behaving as real people often do – and her writing often touches you at the deepest level, only to find yourself laughing quite uncontrollably a few pages later. Before that, it was I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day, a book overflowing with love, written from the heart – a joy to read, a group of unforgettable characters, the very best of writing and storytelling with that perfect balance of laughter and heartbreak (you’ll find my review of that one here). I’m just glad I already have copies of the three books I missed (sorry Milly!) – Together, Again, The Happiest Ever After and Same Time Next Week – waiting on my kindle (and two of them as audiobooks too!) for when I need a really special treat.
But enough – let’s take a closer look at her latest…
Seven people, four days and a snowy Christmas on board a luxury sleeper train. This festive season getting away from it all takes on a new meaning…
The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas.
Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.
This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever?
They started as strangers – well, except for the married couple with a few problems – who found themselves in a station waiting room in the middle of nowhere, hoping to get to their destinations as the snow continued to fall. They’re picked up by the Yorkshire Belle – a luxurious sleeper train – but find themselves bundled into the rundown and freezing carriage tagged onto the back. The train gets stuck, and the staff walk for help – and our group decide that they might as well make themselves comfortable by moving up the train, not knowing that they’d end up staying for four days, until after Christmas.
There are worse places to be – the train is sumptuously fitted out, stocked for a stay in the Highlands for its millionaire owner, so they decide to use whatever they need with a plan to settle up later. But, lovely as it is, they’re all confined together – there’s time to think and consider the future, to share memories of the past, to work through problems, but with seven such different people there are tensions too. There are friendships to be made – some looking very unlikely at first – and maybe some possibilities of something more than just friendship. For some, there are difficult decisions to be made – but there’s plenty of laughter too. And the most perfect musical accompaniment (I’d forgotten just how much I loved “the real BBC”… quite wonderful).
At an emotional level, it’s all so perfectly judged – I so enjoyed watching the individuals’ stories unfold, sometimes wiping away a tear, sometimes just feeling so full of joy as the different pieces fell into place. Ok, there are some similarities with her last Christmas book – but it’s more about “Easter eggs”, cleverly planted links and crossovers that wouldn’t cause any problems if this was the only book you read, but a treat for everyone else. And, without spoiling anything, there’s a magical touch to the story too that I adored – just so perfectly handled.
A quite wonderful story of fresh starts and second chances, as beautifully written as ever, with all the festive touches, and a cast of characters I’m sure you’ll take to your heart every bit as much as I did. I really loved it…
About the author
Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. A Sunday Times bestseller, she is one of the Top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK, and has sold millions of copies of her books sold across the world. Let the Bells Ring Out is her twenty-third novel.
Milly’s writing highlights the importance of community spirit and the magic of kindness. Her books inspire and uplift but she packs a punch and never shies away from the hard realities of life and the complexities of relationships in her stories. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience, and celebrate love, friendship and the possibility and joy of second chances and renaissances. She writes stories about ordinary women and the extraordinary things that happen in their ordinary lives.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Newsletter sign-up
Fab review Anne – I loved this one too!