Finding Love at the Christmas Market was a book that just seemed to ooze Christmas sparkle. As I am writing this it is a rainy day, but already I can taste snowflakes, hot chocolate, gingerbread and cinnamon.  This made me want to put on my Christmas jumper and just go to a Christmas market.

I adored this book and devoured it in one sitting. I really loved Connie and I felt like she was a bit down on herself and really need a moment to shine! And you could see her generosity and kindness through the love that you see from her pensioners. Then there is Pearl who is a cool grandma and William who is trying to juggle being a baker and a father.

Then there is the German Market itself in all its glory. Through it all everyone makes a list of their Christmas dreams and try to live them all out. Life after all is about making memories. Whether it is ice skating, singing in a Christmas Choir or being part of the Nativity, every signal activity is covered.

The romance part was slightly predicable, however that is the joy of this sort of book. A cozy comfort read without the stress of not knowing what is going to happen. And in a way I wanted more of the romance. I honestly feel like the story was cut short. There was so much more that I wanted to see and take part in. Or maybe it is because Christmas is the best time of year and I wanted to live vicariously. Either way I just didn't want to stop read.

Finding Love at the Christmas Market was a Christmas delight and one that I cannot wait to read again and again.  This was one heck of a Christmassy sparkly book.

Wonderful heartwarming story. Good strong characters and a nice storyline. Lovely easy reading, great for getting into the Christmas spirit.

What a delightful heartwarming tale. It reminds the reader what Christmas is all about: good friends, romance, past memories and future hopes. This is a book I could read time a d again in the future.

Another beautifully written story from Jo Thomas. I absolutely loved this, such an easy read, consumed it all whilst curled up on a wet dreary day & it made me smile

Well, what can I say? I devoured Jo Thomas’s Finding Love at the Christmas Market in one sitting. It is as Christmassy and delicious as a gingerbread house and stollen eaten on a snowy day in Germany! I absolutely LOVED this book - it has totally put me in the mood for Christmas....... Jo has the gift of picking up her reader and taking them on a whirlwind adventure and this book is no different. She is one of my favourite authors and I always feel a sense of anticipation when her next book is being published.
The books tells the story of Connie who takes a minibus of residents from the local retirement home to Germany to visit the Christmas markets and say goodbye to their beloved resident Elsie, who so loved Christmas. Connie, who is divorced with a grown up son, combines her trip with meeting Heinrich, a man she met through an online dating site, to decide whether he ‘ticks all her boxes’ for the perfect man. But can you decide your life by tick boxes alone or should you take risks when looking for love? Connie faces that dilemma as she is torn between kind, measured and handsome Heinrich and the rather grumpy, broke and thoughtful William.
A fabulous and atmospheric Christmas story, filled with wonderful characters, baking, hope, friendship and most importantly, love. Bring on the gingerbread and hot chocolate!

*I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Penguin Random House and Jo Thomas.*

(There are very minor spoilers in this review, none of them are big enough to ruin the plotline)

This was the first Jo Thomas book I have read and I wouldn’t say I loved it. Liked it yes, but not loved.

The cover and title of this book are what really drew me in, I thought it was going to be a lovely cosy Christmas read. However, for me, it fell a little flat. The festiveness was pleasant and the romance was not too cliche so all in all it makes for a nice, quick read.

Long story short Connie is going on a trip to Germany with a group of pensioners from retirement flats where she delivers food. After the death of Elise, which we only hear about and do not experience, the group are going to Germany, where she was born to scatter her ashes.

There is also another reason why they are going, so Connie can meet up with Heinrich whom she had been talking to online for the past few months. This all takes place in The Old and New Town where each year they have competing Christmas markets.

The story was fun and I really liked some of the characters, mostly the retired pensioners who accompany Connie on the trip. However personally, I found Connie to be a very two-dimensional character and I felt that she had little to no personality other than her love for baking. She was completely blind when it came to seeing what Heinrich was really like and I couldn’t believe she didn’t figure this out until the very end. It was obvious almost instantly who she was going to end up with, I won’t say who as I don’t want to ruin the book for those who are thinking of reading it.

So far it sounds like I really didn’t like this book, I did I promise. I love all things Christmas and baking so I really enjoyed the moments spent at the markets and reading about all the food that was being made.

The descriptions of the landscape and the markets were really nice and I did at times feel that warm and cosy feeling you get at Christmas.

The pensioners were very endearing and I loved the idea of the Christmas memories list, however, you didn’t really get to see any of that happen as the book was too focused on Connie and Heinrich. Which I know is the whole point of the book, but I didn’t enjoy reading their parts together as I could tell that something was off with him.

I am still giving this book a good rating as I did genuinely like it and at times I thought it had great potential. The fact that it was a quick read is another reason, the book kept a good pace and nothing felt like it was being dragged out.

An easy to read Christmas story.
Connie is a single mom who tried internet dating but it didn’t really work out like she planned.
Then she gets to go to a Christmas market....

Warm hearted story
Great for the Christmas holidays

"Finding Love at the Christmas Market" is a modern day fairy-tale set in England and Germany. Some may find it a bit saccharine but it is very readable and presents some moral dilemnas in addition to the central love story. The Old Town and it's market are lovingly described, as are the minibus occupants.

Good seasonal read.. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.

It took me a little to settle into this story but once Connie and her friends had arrived at the German market, it really took off for me and I was totally hooked. Connie is at a crossroads in her life as her son is now away at University and she is divorced. She has the empty nest syndtome. A lifeline to her has been her online baking friends and the seniors she delivers cooked food to. You realise at once that she is basically kind and thoughtful and in many ways, she is relatable.

Once in Germany, she meets two very different men and the whole group get totally involved in the Christmas festivities. This means festive reading with a capital F! The Christmas market sparkles and you can almost smell the delicious cinnamon and hot chocolate. There are plenty of characters who add lots of humour but also genuine warm feeling to the novel. I absolutely enjoyed it. It's a book to curl up with and dream of a snowy, shimmering Christmas.

In short: A festive treat
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

I love the stories that Jo Thomas weaves, in part because love and life is always entwined with food, which is exactly how I love to live my own life! This story was so beautifully festive, and so vivid that I could practically smell the gingerbread from here. Truth be told, I did light a gingerbread scented candle, the book just made me feel so festive.

I’ve only visited Germany once, in a cold November for a very fast 36 hours while my daughter sat a Korean language exam, and while I was killing time I got to visit Heidelberg, and this book really transported me to a fictional world that made me think of that trip. Combining that memory with my memories of Christmas markets in the UK and further afield, and I just felt swept away by the festive spirit. This book was pure escapism, and I found myself completely torn between wanting to savour every moment as slowly as possible, and not wanting to put it down!

I loved the romance and Connie’s connection to both Heinrich and William, but I have to admit I was Team William from the moment they met! Although it could have been the lebkuchen and family recipe hot chocolate that did it for me!

The stars of the book were definitely the adorable pensioners from the residential care home that Connie delivered meals and her own home-made cakes to. I loved the way in which they all went in search of their individual Christmas memories, and found ways not only to celebrate Christmas, but also to celebrate friendship, love and life. There was so much humour when they were around, and the way in which they followed Connie around on her dates had me in stitches.

This was such a brilliant and completely Christmassy book for me that it was such an easy 5 stars for me. I seriously think this could possibly become one of my go-to Christmas books to re-read.

Love this book loved the characters they become family a warm feeling read so easy to read I read in a day just loved it all a great Christmas books

Thank you Netgalley for sending me free eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
This is my first book by Jo Thomas and I’m so delighted to say that I’m gonna check out all her books after reading this book. Although Finding Love at the Christmas Market was so full of annoying clichés, it did not make this book less entertaining. I totally loved all the clichés: kissing under a street lamp, finding love where you least expect it, making cake together. OMG! I loved all these scenes!
The story follows Connie who has been unsuccessful at finding true love so far. Finally she meets someone through online dating who ticks all the right options on her list of perfect match. Her friend, Pearl, persuades her to go to Germany to have a face to face meeting with this guy, Heinrich. Connie, along with Pearl and some other friends, set on a journey to Germany to scatter the ashes of their deceased friend, Elsie, and to meet Heinrich at the Christmas Market. Heinrich is all Connie has always dreamed of, a perfect, handsome, caring boyfriend. Although every ingredient fits perfectly, something still seems off. Connie feels as if their chemistry does not feel right. In the same Christmas Market, she also met Heinrich’s rival in business, William, who runs his own bakery. Although Connie came to Germany to see if Heinrich is her perfect match, it feels as if her chemistry matches with someone else, not Heinrich.
This book gave me all warm, festive vibes I used to get while watching Hallmark Christmas movies. I really loved the character of Connie. And also William. I imagined Richard Gere while reading about William. Not only Connie and William, but I also enjoyed random dialogues among all of Connie’s friends who came with her. The plot development was perfect. Once I started reading this book, I could not stop completing it. Plus, I also loved all the detailed description of Christmas Market. On the whole, it was a beautiful, heartwarming story full of Christmas festivities. Pub date is November 12, 2020.

I read Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas in staves with other Pigeonholers as part of a group.

A caterer for residential flats, single Connie has suffered many on-line dating disasters and doesn't want another. One of her residents, Pearl organises a trip to a German Christmas market to scatter the ashes of a friend who has recently died and who regularly visited there. Connie, who has an ulterior motive, promises she'll drive a mini-bus full of pensioners over. She has an on-line German friend, Heinrich who might be 'the one', provided he ticks all the boxes on her checklist. But she hasn't bargained for the possibility of another potential beau lurking among the gingerbread and Stollen...

Finding Love at the Christmas Market was a wonderful, spellbinding cosy Christmas story. The writing style of Jo Thomas was right up my street and her descriptions of the Old and New Towns were a real treat. She portrayed the setting perfectly and I could easily imagine ice skating on the rink, tasting the scrumptious sounding gingerbread, and sampling a delectable hot chocolate or two. Pearl and her cronies from Lavender Hill residential flats were an absolute scream with their funnies, witticisms and reflections. This was an uplifting and enchanting read that was immensely enjoyable and the talented Jo Thomas created an escapist story full of nuanced characters that I cared for, resulting in me being completely riveted to the festive tale.

A magical and very worthwhile yuletide read.

A special thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers/ Corgi, Jo Thomas, NetGalley and Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

4.5
I absolutely adored this absorbing read full of festive cheer. It was the perfect book to curl up with and get lost in on a wet afternoon.

One of the things I most love about this author is her ability to transport you to another time and place with her wonderfully vivid descriptions. I truly felt like I was visiting a snowy Christmas market, seeing all the wonderful things on display. I could almost smell the gingerbread and taste the mulled wine. It has definitely got me excited for the festive season and I have been looking at potential Christmas markets I might go to.

The characters are all wonderful creations that I warmed to instantly and I enjoyed following them on their journey. They were very funny, sometimes unintentionally I think, which made them very endearing. They started to feel like old friends and I felt quite sad to finish the book and leave them behind.

The love story part of the book was well developed and I liked how it wasn’t overly done so that the book became too sugary sweet. It was fun to watch it all develop and I was very intrigued to find out how it would end

There was a few quite poignant moments in the book regarding how elderly people can be treated, especially around Christmas time. It was sad to see them unwanted by loved ones, even more so as they were aware of it. I wished I could have reached into the book and give them all a hug at times.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Transworld for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you want an absorbing book full if Christmas cheer then you need to read this book!

Connie is driving a bus load of residents of the retirement home she provides meals for from the UK to Germany to scatter the ashes of Elsie. One of the elderly ladies who lived at the home who dreamed of returning to Germany. The other reason for the trip is to meet a man she has been talking to online. With all that being said, what could go wrong?

A hilarious and heartwarming read.

A magical wintry romance that is absolutely perfect for curling up with as the nights begin to draw in and the weather begins to get colder, best-selling author Jo Thomas has written another winner with her latest novel, Finding Love at the Christmas Market.

With the festive season fast approaching, residential home-caterer Connie cannot help but feel a bit listless. With her son Sam having fled the nest and gone to university intent on having all sorts of adventures, Connie isn’t exactly looking forward to Christmas. Single and with a social life that is not exactly thriving, Connie had hoped to find her Prince Charming via Internet dating, but having dated her fair share of frogs, she cannot help but feel despondent at the prospect of being alone this Christmas. But just when she had been about to lose all hope, she finds herself embarking on a trip to Germany to help scatter the ashes of a resident who lived in the care home Connie worked at. Connie cannot wait to go to Germany and to take in all the winter splendour and magic which the country is famous for – and even to meet the man she had been set up with who on paper looks absolutely perfect for her: Henrich. But is Connie setting herself up for more disaster and disappointment? Or could Henrich truly be the one?

On arrival in Germany after an interminable journey that was punctuated by lavatory breaks, moaning pensioners and badly sung Christmas songs, Connie sets off on her date and finds that Henrich is a man who ticks all the boxes. However, she cannot shake off this feeling that Henrich seems to be too perfect for her. The pastry chef seems to have walked out of one of her romantic fantasies, but is he the right man for her? Connie’s head might be telling her yes, but her heart is whispering a whole other story. Especially as she finds herself unable to stop thinking about Henrich’s rival, William….

Connie had always thought that she needed a check-list to find her Mr Right, but maybe this Christmas she should tear up her list, follow her instincts and listen to her heart…

Warm, witty and wonderful, Finding Love at the Christmas Market is an uplifting, feel-good and enchanting read that is immensely enjoyable and impossible to resist. As always, the talented Jo Thomas in Finding Love at the Christmas Market has created a world peopled by wonderfully nuanced characters readers cannot help but care for and plenty of humour, hi-jinks and heart to keep them absolutely glued to the book’s pages.

A superb tale that sparkles with humour, romance and magic, Finding Love at the Christmas Market is another triumphant read by an immensely talented writer: Jo Thomas

It was the first time reading a book by jo Thomas and it didn't seem to fail.
I felt like I was walking though the market and smelling all the smells. This book is a loving heart warming Christmas story. I can't wait to read more off her books. I am off to find some gingerbread but be nothing like the ones in the book

I received an advance copy of, Finding Love at the Christmas Market, by Jo Thomas. I love books by Jo Thomas, especially Christmas books. This one does not disappoint. Connie has had bad luck in the dating department, will this year be different? I love the idea of love at a Christmas market, an authentic German Christmas market at that. I love the cast of characters. This is a great holiday book.

What do you get when 40 something woman, a group of seniors (who have joined said 40 something to a dating website) go on a trip to the German Christmas markets? A heart warming, delightful & fun Christmassy story.

I love Jo Thomas and I love Christmas books so this was always going to be in with a good chance with me.

Wonderful book. Loved seeing Connie open her eyes to life beyond her tick lists and discover what really matters: alchemy.

Gorgeous setting, great characters and new beginnings. Enjoy.