I adored this book and devoured it in one sitting, it was utterly hilarious but romantic and emotional at the same time.

Nick is down on his luck and going through some relationship and work difficulties when he takes on a job as Santa in a shopping centre which leads him to meet Sarah and her son Alfie.
Trying to do something kind and selfless, he sets Sarah up with his best friend Matt but he is also setting himself up for heartbreak as he starts to develop feelings for Sarah.

5 stars! Perfect!

Nick is the MC, having something of a crisis after losing his high flying job and ending up working as Santa in the local shopping centre. Here he meets the wonderful 4-year-old Alfie who only wishes for his Mum to be happy at Christmas. This sets in motion a story that involves love, finding yourself, honesty and trust.

It's laugh out loud funny, with some great observations, for example, the unintentional double entendres children can come out with had me snorting into my coffee. There were some painful moments that involve Nick realising that many of his ex-work colleagues and girlfriend were not the friends that he thought they were. There is a brilliant will they / won't they thread throughout the book that is so wonderfully resolved that I came away with a smile on my face that would melt the frostiest of hearts.

I absolutely adored it and I would like to thank Net Galley and the publishers for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

I was a little wary of reading this one because I hate love triangles with a passion. Someone always ends up hurt and you end up hating one or all parties of the triangle. I should have had a little more faith in JB because Sarah and Matt were all very likeable and I liked how everything was resolved in the end. Nick was a really good lead character who started off a bit of mess but found his feet and his place in the end. Loved his connection with Alfie which was really sweet and his friendship with Matt. I felt bad seeing him pine for Sarah but he was a good friend throughout thinking of Matt which made me like him even more. I would have liked a bit more about how Sarah felt/was feeling about Matt and Nick. This story had a lot of dry, funny moments and interactions between characters that actually made me laugh out loud. Well written and worth a look.

This book was fantastic. So much better than I expected. Could not put this down. Will definitely re-read.

Festive Love Triangle.....
An enjoyable and escapist festive romcom. When a love triangle forms, but created mainly by his own hand, Nick is forced to make some difficult decisions. A tried and tested formula but nicely done and it is both an amusing and engaging read with a likeable cast.

An Okay Read.... 🤔 🎅🏻

The story of Nick through his highs and lows of his career, leaving him reluctantly working as Santa Claus, also impacting his love life. Whilst helping young Alfie fulfill his Christmas wish by introducing Alfie's Mum Sarah to his best friend Matt, finds that he is actually falling for Sarah himself. Will this end in heartbreak or love for Nick.

I like the premise of this story, but for me I was hoping to feel a bit more romance with it. Whilst I like to read a whole variety of books, I found there was a lot a swearing on and off throughout this book, which wasn't necessary, nor seemed to fit in?

Overall an okay read.

I love Joanna Bolouri's style of writing. Her books are always so relatable and realistic. I loved this book! It was sweet, heartfelt and at times funny. Just what you want in your festive read. Would really work well as a Hallmark Movie!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more.

When Nick loses his job and his girlfriend dumps him, he is forced to accept the job of a Shopping Centre Santa, could his life get any worse? When 4 year old Alfie tells Santa that all he wants for Christmas is for his mum Sarah to be happy again, Nick decides to set her up with his best friend and flatmate, Matt. But as the romance between Matt and Sarah blossoms, Nick finds he is also falling in love with Sarah and he begins to realise that maybe his matchmaking wasn’t a good idea.

A lovely heartwarming story with a great cast of characters which was the perfect read.

If you enjoy books that give you all the warmly fuzzies and some laugh out loud moments then this is the one for you.

The MC Nick is down on his luck in his early thirties, not sure where his life is heading after he lost his well payed job, as well being surrounded by his more ‘got their s4!t together’ friends. To get out of his desperate, skint slump he takes a job as the local shopping mall Father Christmas - there ensues chance encounters, life changing realisations and love he wasn’t looking for.

This is the second novel from Joanna Bolouri I have read and again I wasn’t disappointed. As well as some really funny moments (petting zoo rat down your dress anyone?) she also writes some engaging dialogue, fun/honest/flawed/loveable/relatable characters (Alfie is a sweetheart!) and will they/won’t they moments.

Not a book just to be read at Christmas, I enjoyed letting myself be wrapped up in the warmth of this novel as if I was cosy by the fire in my PJ’s with a blanket and hot chocolate whilst the snow is falling outside.

I have read all of Joanna Bolouri’s previous books, so was super excited to get started on All I Want For Christmas.

The author has a great writing style; very grounded, realistic, incredibly funny and relatable. This book was was all of those things.

The first thing I liked was that the book was written from the man’s (Nick’s) POV. I’ve read other books written from the male perspective before, and books written from dual perspectives, but this is the first romantic comedy written in this way that I’ve read...and it was brilliant. I’ve read so many romcoms that it was easy to interpret the female lead’s (Sarah’s) actions and responses. But being privy to Nick’s feelings and emotions was really interesting.

Nick loses his job and, out of desperation, accepts a job as a shopping centre Santa. He meets Sarah and sets her up with his best friend and flat mate, Matt. Over time, Nick develops feelings for Sarah and we see their friendship play out over time. I love how Nick valued his friendship with Matt and ensured this was always in his thoughts. Nick was so well written, you can’t help but fall for him.

I loved this book and devoured it quickly. I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting a romantic Christmas read that has you giggling throughout.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

Beautifully written. Give me all the feels. I love these kind of books because they’re such an easy feel good read. Not read a novel by this author before but il definitely read more.

I wish I could write like Joanna – her ease of writing is evident from the first page. She’s able to describe humour, sadness and loss, and all wrapped up in a festive bow. Nick has lost his job and, grudgingly, accepts a role as a shopping centre’s Santa. It’s not his dream gig and his colleagues aren’t exactly child-friendly but when four-year-old Alfie’s wish is to make his mum happy again, Nick knows how he can help. Arranging a date between Sarah, Alfie’s mum and Nick’s best friend Matt, it sparks a relationship that’s blossoming. Alfie’s happy and so are Sarah and Matt and Nick? Well, he’s thinking he may have made a festive error. It’s so tenderly written in parts, and laugh out loud funny in others. I devoured it in 90 minutes.