A Very London Christmas

Spice: 2/5

An easy, light Christmas read.

I like Miles and Saoirse as characters, but I was expecting more to them than the book gave me. While the chemistry is there, they fall in love too quickly and honestly, other than their love for Bea and their empathy for each other’s situation, the book doesn’t show they have that much else in common.

The book’s still good enough. It feels very Christmassy and I enjoyed the descriptions of London in the Holiday season.

Overall, it’s a nice, quick, lighthearted Christmas read which is what I was looking for.

[a:Sara Madderson's 20040776 Sara Madderson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1635331274p2/20040776.jpg] “[b:A Very London Christmas 59577126 A Very London Christmas Sara Madderson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636456859l/59577126.SY75.jpg 93828303]” certainly attempts to wrap readers in a festive embrace, complete with sparkling lights and — sometimes — cosy corners of London. However, as enchanting as the premise might sound, the execution left me cold. While marketed as a heartwarming seasonal read, it's more akin to a tin of biscuits that looks promising but offers only the plainest, already-crumbling, and dry selection once opened.The most glaring issue is the utter superficiality of the characters and plot. Operating on a schematic level, the people populating Madderson's London feel less like real individuals and more like archetypes hastily thrown together. Additionally, there's a complete lack of innovation here. Every twist, from misunderstandings to the eventual conclusion, feels plucked from genre clichés. That said, I reluctantly admit a few redeeming qualities. I appreciated the absence of the typical third-act breakup — a trope overused to death in romances. Madderson avoided it, which felt refreshing amidst the otherwise predictable fare.Still, these positives can't outweigh just how hollow the reading experience is. While serviceable as a bit of forgettable fluff, “A Very London Christmas” fails to either uplift or inspire. Two out of five stars feels fair.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam