On Christmas Eve, Liv finishes her shift at the hospital and is making her way home when she narrowly avoids being involved in a road traffic accident. The stranger who saves her is knocked unconscious and she accompanies him back to the hospital. She then had to make a decision - to remain in Dublin for the Christmas holidays or return home to Ballycove to spend Christmas with her family as planned.

The chapters then divide, with half of each chapter devoted to events should she decide to return home to her family and the other half to events should she decide to remain in Dublin.

I really enjoyed this book and enjoyed reading the dual storyline. I found myself really liking Liv and sympathising with the situation she found herself in. I would have given it five stars, were it not for the ending. I didn’t feel the two versions of the story came together adequately. One version of the story clearly superseded the other so I’m not really sure what the point of the alternative version was?

Although the events of the story take place between Christmas and New Year, this is not so much of a Christmas story that it couldn’t be enjoyed all year round.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A very original heartwarming and heartbreaking novel: a dual contemporary timeline, a sort of what-if that can change you life.
It wasn't love at first page but it was a riveting and compelling read.
Well developed plot and characters.
publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A story about Love , Loss & Betrayal, hope & Life afterwards . Liv's story could be rather confusing at times , but it was a different view on peoples lives over the Festive season. #NetGalley, #Goodreads, #FB, #Instagram,#Amazon.co.uk,# <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/358a5cecda71b11036ec19d9f7bf5c96d13e2c55" width="80" height="80" alt="100 Book Reviews" title="100 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

I have read a few books by this author and she always manages to create a story that is addictive and has some wonderful moments. This one is a slightly different style, not a straightforward read as such but a duel story that runs parallel. The main focus is Liv, a nurse who works in Dublin. She has lost her sister and lives with her boyfriend Eddie. She finishes her shift at the hospital and is making her way home when there is an accident. This is where the story splits.

I am not going to go into too much detail about the storylines, but they do have similarities in certain aspects of Liv's life. Both of the stories flit back and forth between each other, and there is a difference in the printing style in the copy that I received, so it did make it easier for me to be aware of the changeover.

The author took me on a journey through the life of Liv and her potential future. her story is one of sadness and family and with the support of her best friend she manages to continue on and keeps a busy work life. The decision to work more shifts rather than deal with her feelings and the truth makes this an addictive story. This is a story that feels closer to real life in the respect that not everyone is always able to live happily ever after.

The author uses the two storylines to great effect, it makes this a very thought-provoking read. While it is about family and friendship it s also about the future and accepting what has happened.

The format of this story did initially throw me but once I realised what was happening I was able to settle into this a lot more. I would like to mention more about the stories but this would just ruin it and if I was to try t explain more I would confuse you more than you probably are now!

This is a cleverly laid out story, it does flow really well and the author gave a very thought-provoking and poignant story. It is one for those who like contemporary fiction and romance novel with something a little different about it. I really enjoyed it and I would happily recommend it.

I am a big fan of Faith Hogan’s books, and this one did not disappoint. An accident on Christmas Eve leads to a parallel story line for Liv. It’s up to you to figure out which story seems truer and more realistic, although in the end it doesn’t really matter, and Liv makes the only choice that matters

If you are in the mood for a festive read, this is a book you do not want to miss!

A tragedy unfolds as Liv leaves her nursing role for the Christmas period. What will Liv do? This writing style allows the reader to discover the consequences of either possibility. If you think that sounds like it is going to be a complex plot, you would be right. However, it is very enjoyable. I would not classify this as an easy, cosy read, but I liked this about it.

There are twists and surprises throughout, and the characters within the same stories do not really change; it is more the consequences of their actions. The festive atmosphere, love, loss, and emotional journeys are heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.

Although not my favourite festive read, this is something different from the norm and expected, making it well worth the read.

I chose to read this book to start my festive reads, however although it was set over the Christmas period it wasn't an especially Christmassy book. It was still an enjoyable read, and unlike others I had no difficulty keeping track of the dual timelines - my kindle had different fonts for each which helped.
The main character Liv was a little too good to be true and I did find myself getting frustrated with her in both timelines but I guess that means I was invested in the story, so surely a good thing.
The ending was open to interpretation and I like to think everyone got their HEA.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Although I am not a Xmas person at all I actually really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the storyline.

Liv is a nurse whose life is saved by a stranger, Finn. Finn ends up in hospital because of the accident and Liv connects with him. Liv has a boyfriend called Eddie, who is a complete waste of time and energy but somehow she hangs in there with him.

Then, the storyline gets a bit perplexing. There are two storylines going on at once; Liv when she stays in Dublin and Liv when she goes home to Ballycove. Each storyline is in a different font so you have a bit of an idea of which story is which, but I still found it confusing, sorry.

By the time I got to the end of the book, I just wanted to figure out what was going to happen. I think there was so much scope for expanding the depth of some of the characters and it just wasn't really done.

I normally love books that are written by Irish writers because I think they are amazing storytellers, by and large, but somehow this format just didn't quite work for me.

3.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus.

I always enjoy a touch of serendipity and a twist of the unexpected, and this story set at Christmas time has both. Liv, an A&E nurse, is looking forward to going home for Christmas when she is saved from death by a stranger. She can follow two paths; this book charts them with deft characterisation, emotion and twists.

Immersed in both stories, I enjoyed them, and the ending is magical.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Another delightful book by Faith. This has been a refreshing and enjoyable read, which I found emotional in some parts.

A love story , set around Christmas. Certainly an entertaining read, though the realms of reality are stretched slightly at times ( nurses working hours ) . Liv's story is told in two different ways, stemming from the decision to return home to her parents for Christmas or not. Often both sides told within a chapter so I found I had to reset that particular version in my head... not sure either when they came together or if they do ?
The baddies were nasty, the friends nice, as it should be. LOts of typos in my version, which was irritating, but a light and fairly enjoyable read.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5037855821

An interesting and gripping story, the book begins with 2 different versions of events. We are left wondering which is the actual turn of events and which one is happening in the alternative universe.

A 'Sliding Doors' theme as the story follows Liv, a nurse, through 2 different outcomes of her life following an accident just before her festive holiday. This Christmas story had me feeling so much emotion throughout.

Liv has an adorable relationship with her best friend, Pete and a very close relationship with her parents giving all the feels required of a Christmas story.

There is a theme of love and loss, sprinkled with humour throughout. The author has written very cleverly and created the most spellbinding ending, capturing the love of twins, and wrapped a warm blanket around my heart.

I keep going back and forth between three and four stars, so I compromised and settled for 3.5
I enjoyed this, it was very much a Sliding Doors story. The two parts played out simultaneously with the only hint that it was the other version was the slight change to the font.
I must admit once or twice I had to think back to which version I was reading but besides that it was pretty straightforward, until the two versions were in the same city.
I now want to go rewatch the film Sliding Doors.

It was lovely to return to Ireland, to Ballycove and to Dublin. Although this is set around Christmas, with references to many of the festive touches, it is not all sparkle and tinsel in the story. It has a definite 'sliding doors' feeling, with two stories running in parallel, both centred around Liv and her friends and family. Liv's twin sister has died some time in the past and she has struggled to carry on, at times, going through the motions. As the two stories develop, you see her working through her present situation and there emerges a definite feeling of hope for the future and grasping every opportunity.

There is quite a range of characters in both stories. Not all of them are likeable and at times, you want to shake Liv and urge her to wise up. Desperate for her own happy, family life, she has been in danger of settling for second best. Liv's family in Ballycove are well aware of this and you can sense their frustration with her. However, you can see how such a kind and caring person has come about, when you see her family. I did find the parallel stories quite confusing at times and had to keep checking which story thread the chapter belonged to. However, for the most part, they stayed distinct and I appreciated how the final events came about.

In short: your future is in the stars

It is Christmas Eve and nurse Liv Latimer is looking forward to heading home to Ballycove, on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, to spend some time with her family for the holiday. She is sure that this will be a very special one too, as she is convinced that her boyfriend Eddie will finally be asking her to marry him.

But as Liv leaves the hospital, she is involved in an incident that leaves her with a choice. Should she head home as planned, or stay behind in Dublin and follow the pull of destiny that is tugging at her?

What could be nicer that a story that takes you back to glorious Ballycove, where it is always like being among old friends? Well, how about a story that takes place in Ballycove at Christmas? Now you are talking! But this is also an unusual Ballycove story, because in On the First Day of Christmas Faith Hogan works the cleverest of Christmas magic, making it a Dublin tale in equal measure by following the Sliding Doors principle, with two parallel story lines that diverge at a fateful moment in time.

When nurse Liv Latimer leaves work on Christmas Eve, with her head full thoughts of a comforting break with her family, and the flutter of excitement at the prospect of a hoped-for marriage proposal, something happens that splits the potential course of her life into two paths. In one she continues on to Ballycove and the family reunion she has been looking forward to, and in the other she follows her instincts and stays in Dublin. It is really difficult to talk about either of the timelines without giving the game away, which I really do not want to do, but suffice to say that both offer Liv a chance to reflect on where life has brought her, but in different ways. In true Sliding Doors style, things are not always as they appear at first sight, and it is hard to tell which timeline will ultimately prove to be the one that offers Liv the happiness she has been looking for since the tragic death of her twin sister Rachel - although in both the prospect of marriage to her hopeless boyfriend Eddie, and the resulting horror of a mother-in-law, is not something to be wished for.

It is surprisingly easy to keep track of the parallel stories in the text as they are helpfully printed in different fonts, and they swap back and forth to build up a picture of what fate holds for Liv in each one. Many of the same characters crop up in both - notably Eddie and his awful mother Barbara, Liv's parents and younger sister Maya, and Liv's best friend Pete with his deceitful girlfriend Anya in tow, with name drops for some familiar faces you might know if you have spent any time in Ballycove too. As each separate storyline unfurls, they flip back and forth more frequently, which builds pace, and this ratchets up the suspense until they come crashing together in the most unexpected manner.

There are so many things I love about this book, including the delicious way Hogan keeps where her real intentions lie hidden until the climax of the story. As in all her books, this one revolves around the trials and tribulations, the hopes and dreams, that we can all relate to about family, friendship, loss, and the pivotal decisions that we make. She has such a talent for working these themes through to heart-warming, bittersweet conclusions, so it is not a surprise that the same is true of this story. But there is also an extra dimension here that makes the absolute best of the magic that comes with a tale set at Christmas, by weaving in the enchanting whisper of a supernatural guiding hand from Liv's late sister Rachel to ensure everything works out the way it should.

I adored this book. The way Hogan uses the idea of 'the road not taken' is so moving, and I was really struck with her use of green and gold to tie Liv and Rachel together. This story made me laugh, it made me cry, and it even made me angry at times (Eddie, Barbara and Anya I am looking pointedly at you here!). I ran the gauntlet of emotions very much as I expected from one of Hogan's books, finishing with a heart that was full, and many tears shed - and I would not have changed a thing. What an excellent book to get the festive reading season underway!

A book packed with emotion and some soul searching. This is not a cosy Christmas read but a delve into past history and baggage being carried around that happens to revolve round the Christmas period currently and historically. Liv , the main character lost her twin sister a few years previously and needs to review her current life and love. A chance accident on leaving work changes her life. The book interestingly looks at two scenarios of how her Christmas could roll out but positively come together for the conclusion

Liv's identical twin sister Rachel dies & she tries to get on with her life. The story is based around events at Christmas with two different paths taken by Liv, which one is the real one & which one is fantasy?
A wonderful look at Liv's life & how it could work out from both scenarios.
I liked Liv, I wanted the best for her.
Recommended read.

I seem to be going through a bit of an Irish phase at the moment. This is my second consecutive book set there and I'm currently watching the very unpredictable Bad Sisters on Apple TV. You may have read Faith's earlier bestseller - The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club - and if you enjoyed that you are in for a real treat here. I love a good Christmas story and every October as soon as the nights start drawing in I give myself permission to seek out the festive fiction. The best way to describe On the First Day of Christmas is to say that it has a bit of a Sliding Doors vibe, if you remember the 1998 Gwyneth Paltrow movie there are two versions of the story running in tandem that vary because of one decision at the start.

Liv Latimer finishes her shift in the Emergency Department of a busy Dublin hospital. It is Christmas Eve and she is looking forward to going home to her family in Ballycove. She has a feeling that her longtime boyfriend Eddie is going to propose to her so it feels like it is going to be a special Christmas. As she waits to cross the road at the traffic lights she reaches out to press the button at the same time as the man next to her. Their fingers touch and she gets an electric shock. As she starts to cross the road a motorbike appears out of nowhere at high speed. She feels the man push her out of the way and then there is a sickening screech of metal on the road. Dazed, she climbs to her feet and stares at the the broken biker in the road and the man who had saved her life.

Later, back at the hospital, the timeline splits out into a version where Liv sees that her rescuer is safe in hospital and decides to go home for Christmas as planned and another where she stays on in Dublin to make sure that the man who has saved her life is out of danger. Whatever choice that she makes Liv is about to find out that fate will intervene and change her world forever.

I really enjoyed reading this story about family and love and friendships. It can be quite an emotional read as it deals extensively with grief but it is a real life-affirming tale filled with joy as well. My only criticism is that the book has more days between Christmas and New Year than actually exist but its a small price to pay! Suspend your disbelief and allow yourself to be drawn into this Irish family Christmas, you won't regret it!

Supplied by Net Galley, Aria and Head Of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.

On The First Day Of Christmas was a book I was hoping to enjoy and have a few hours of relaxing holiday reading.
The storyline was how one decision made in a slit second can change a person’s life.
Liv had her life told in the story with it being the perspective of what would happen if each of the decision were the one, she made.
For the switching between each one had me confused at times and unable to follow what was happening.
I want to thank NetGalley, Faith Hogan and Head of Zeus for the copy of On the First Day of Christmas. This is my personal review