cute book, very reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. A fun quick holiday read

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the review copy.

This was a cute, Hallmark-esque Christmas story. I really liked the characters Abe and Gramps, but never really connected with Sylvie; she just fell flat to me as a character and other than her weird relationship with her dog she seemed very passive and one-dimensional. I enjoyed how Claire's character changed throughout the book and actually Brando even experienced some change on the limited pages he was on. I would be interested in their stories if that is something the author plans on doing in the future. I also liked the town and it's fun eccentricities, plus the Christmas spirit throughout was joyful and made me want to find a Christmassy town to visit one day. Overall if you're looking for something cutesy with a Grumpy/Sunshine trope, Hallmark movie vibes, and baby goats this is what you're looking for!

P.S. - for the editors - I live close to this goat farm and the website is actually incorrect in the Acknowledgements.

This was a cute book. Especially if you love Hallmark movies. I would rate this as 3.5 but I rounded up to 4 stars.

It was an easy enough read and would be nice if you just want a nice cozy book to get your mind off life.

The main character bothered me a little. She’s extremely anxious (me too girl, I get it) but also came off as too whiney and stubborn in a few places. I didn’t really understand her absolute disdain for Royce. He was a typical actor, but he was trying to help the cafe…she didn’t seem appreciative at all or willing to go along with what she needed to do for him to help. Just wear the dress, Sylvie…you won’t die.

I wish there would have been a little more with Abe. It just seemed like he randomly popped up occasionally to catch Sylvie when she fell and then disappeared.

So, it was cute, and if you want something light and Hallmark-y and are willing to just take it for what it is, this is just fine…but if you’re looking for anything other than surface level, maybe not.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for letting me read The Christmas Cafe.

While I enjoyed Eliza Evans' novel, The Christmas Cafe was a bit too Hallmark-y for my taste! Enjoyed the characters, however, and the pace!

The Christmas Cafe is an easy and cozy read and feels like a Hallmark movie in book form! It's super cute, but didn't blow me away.

There was so much cuteness in this book. It reads very much like a Hallmark channel Christmas movie, including small town romance, baby goats, grandparents, found family, love triangle, lots and lots of town Christmas events, and of course, trying to save a local restaurant. Oh, yea.... and there are recipes from the story included in the back! Bonus!!

Reading this book brings you all the holiday feels, in my opinion. You're cheering people on, hoping characters see truths, and attending Christmas festivities alongside the cast. It was heartwarming and very cute, and I'm always a fan when an author makes animals full characters in their stories!

Something I didn't like was that the story seemed to propel forward at lightening speed - I would have liked some chapters to have more time in those scenes, more details or background on some relationships,etc. I also got a little turned off with every time Sylvie fell there was someone to catch her. I feel like it's ok for her to fall and get up herself (especially after the Cinderella story gets brought up), but there was always a guy there to help her and that just felt unrealistic in an offputting way.

All in all, I enjoyed the story and it helped keep the Texas summer heat at bay while I immersed myself in a Silver Bells Christmas.

A Hallmark movie in book form! And I mean that in the best way possible. I don’t usually read Christmas books early, but since I had the ARC I decided to make an exception. I LOVED all the Christmas feels of this book, from sleigh rides to twinkling lights and decorations. I also really loved all the Christmassy confections that Sylvie came up with. (I was so glad the book included some recipes in the back!) Everything she made sounded yummy and I would love to eat at the Christmas Cafe! I also really enjoyed the characters, especially Gramps, who is mourning the death of his wife (Sylvie’s grandmother) and the dog Crumpet (such a cute name!). The romance was a bit lackluster, but it was still cute and gave me major Hallmark vibes. (I totally pictured Abe to look like Tyler Hynes!) Overall this was an excellent debut, filled with Christmas magic, and guaranteed to make you hungry for an eggnog scone!

The Christmas Cafe is a hallmark movie in a book. I loved the feeling of being immersed in a Christmas themed book during the heat wave I'm currently in.
This is a light hearted easy read for me. If you like hallmark small town romance then this is for you!

The Christmas Cafe by Eliza Evans is a fantastic holiday romance debut.

I thought TCC was so cute and perfect for the feel-good read I was looking for.
This adorable, sweet rom-com is a must-add to your holiday reading list, (or any list for that matter) as it will give you all of the cozy Christmas feels
This is a fun holiday rom-com filled with heart and humor.
All the characters were fun, and well developed. The small town of Silver Bells, Wyoming was truly captivating. And Evans writing is perfection.
There's nothing like a good Christmas romance, and this one fits the bill perfectly. One of the better Christmas romances I've read so far this year, with a cast of characters that you'd want to be your friends.
Charming, funny, heart-warming - I can't recommend this book enough as a great Christmas escape from reality!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A Hallmark Christmas Movie in book form! This was super sweet. Combines small town romance with holiday vibes for a very nice romcom. This was a very easy and quick read! Got me into the Christmas spirit despite it being very far away. Definitely recommend for those who love Christmas and Holiday vibes!

Describe the plot. What makes this book different? Why should the reader care?

Sometimes you just want a feel good book centered around a talented baker, her dog named Crumpet, a little love story, some family drama, a movie star and a movie shooting in a darling town with a cafe where the talented baker shines. If that is what you are looking for, this is the book for you! I really enjoyed The Christmas Cafe by Eliza Evans. She has a quaint writing style and incorporates a lot of holiday spirit which is necessary any time of year in my opinion. Her characters were believable and the heroine was just right. Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Evans and G.P. Putnam's Sons publishers for the opportunity to review this Christmas jewel of a book.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars! I had so much hope for this book since I loved the premise of a Christmas-themed small town named Silver Bells centered around a holiday bakery, but the main character fell flat for me. Sylvie is a very awkward and anxious character who is whiny about being a part of the movie filming. She was also super ungrateful for the help the actor gave her with promoting the Christmas cafe to his fans. I also thought the entire Santa debacle at the parade was unnecessary. Unfortunately, I found myself unable to connect with any of the characters and felt like this book was trying to be like a Hallmark movie, but it missed its mark with its chosen leading lady.

My favorite part was the goat farm aspect and the description of all the delicious holiday-themed baked goods. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a lovely quick read. It’s festival and full of Christmas cheer. Felt like I was reading one of the Christmas movies I love to watch.

This was hallmark in a book. Very predictable but also gave you all the good feels. Seemed like some thoughts were lost while in the writing process but I still enjoyed it overall.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this arc. This is the perfect Hallmark Christmas story wrapped into a book. You have Silverbells a cute Christmas town. Slyvie is trying to find a solution to keep their Christmas cafe open and takes a chance using a movie star who's filming in the area to help. There's also a rugged goat farmer! Would recommend.

* Received a copy for review*
If you are a fan of Hallmark movies, this book might be right up your alley. A small town diner that the owner is thinking about selling.
An actor who stars in Holiday themed movies. And a meet cute that involves an escaped fog and a hot day themed bra.
It was pretty predictable but it’s an easy read.

I am a sucker for a cozy mystery and although this book didn't have mystery, the vibes were incredibly cozy. This was a Hallmark movie in book form (so of course there are some very cheesy moments). I love the setting, I love that this takes place during Christmas and I really enjoy that the author shared some background on other characters aside from the main character - this leaves me hopeful that she might continue with a series following some of the other people we met throughout the story.

I will say, the ending of this book you could spot coming from a mile away - there was no surprises and you got exactly what you expected to get in a story like this. I am a reader who loves a good plot twist, so that would be the only downside for me. Other than that, I loved Syl's relationship with her grandfather and I loved how much she spoke about her grandmother and wanted to hold her memory close and honor her by continuing on. Overall this was a very light-hearted read, that is perfect for the holidays. Be sure to grab this one, available October 3, 2023!

I am an ENORMOUS fan of Hallmark movies, especially the Christmas movies. They are formulaic but always satisfying and entertaining. When I read the description of this book, I jumped at the chance to read and review it. I was only a few paragraphs in when I knew that I would not be getting the same happy and feel good feelings from this book.

I just did not enjoy the characters, the plot, the name of the town and the dog. It all irritated me. The main character, Slyvie, was just so immature and annoying. Her dog, Crumpet (seriously silly name that I got seriously sick of reading), was the typical out of control tiny dog that is supposed to supply an adorable comic relief but instead just grated on my nerves.

I cannot tell if the author is British and trying to write for an American audience, but no American refers to a mother as “mummy” or even knows what a crumpet is. With all the plot holes, poor plot pacing, odd vernacular, and just an incredibly boring plot, I feel like this book really needs heavy editing before being published. The cover is ADORABLE. The rest of the book is cringey.

Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Group publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Evans delivers all the cozy, winter wonderland essentials in her holiday romcom set in the town of Silver Bells, known for its Christmas themed bakery and full schedule of holiday festivities, while also gifting us with a grumpy, handsome goat farmer and a plot to save a local business.

The characters were endearing, adding to the overall charm, but I wish we had gotten to know our Sylvie and Abe a bit more - there wasn’t much development to these characters so it was a little bit of a struggle believing their chemistry. Abe, who reminded me so much of Luke Danes - gruff exterior, but sentimental with a heart of gold - and Gramps were definitely my favorite characters. But I loved Brando, Jen, Claire, and the rest of the town too.

What I enjoyed the most is that Sylvie was unwilling to mold herself to what others, even her family members, thought was best. I really loved how Evans turned Cinderella on its head, pointing out the glaringly obvious - we shouldn’t be asked to fit a mold or change who we are to be in a relationship. You are enough just as you are!

I thought it was such a wonderful touch to include the recipes at the end. Very cute and maybe, at times, overly sweet, much like Jen’s salted caramel mocha, The Christmas Café is guaranteed to sweep you away to a winter wonderland while bringing ample holiday joy and cheer.

3.5 stars!

The Christmas Cafe by Eliza Evans is a delightful holiday romance that will warm your heart and make your mouth water with descriptions of the delicious treats baked at the Christmas Café in Silver Bells, Wyoming.

The novel is filled with holiday cheer, sweet romance, and heartwarming moments of friendship and family. The descriptions of Sylvie's baking creations are sure to make your mouth water and leave you craving a slice of fruitcake or a gingerbread cookie. The characters are endearing, and their stories will keep you engaged and rooting for their happiness.

Overall, The Christmas Cafe is a charming and uplifting read that will put you in the holiday spirit and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.