This debut novel is a compelling combination of magical realism, romance, and seasonal storytelling. It is emotionally intense for a Christmas story, but the redemptive conclusion made living with the protagonist’s angst worthwhile.

After suffering two devastating losses at Christmas three years ago, Eva Glass has let her unresolved grief fuel her desire/need to succeed in establishing and expanding her business. The price? She has withdrawn from those she deeply cares about, namely her husband, her best friends, and her loyal assistant. To appease her neglected husband, she reluctantly agrees to attend a weekend-long Christmas celebration being held at Penhallow, a magical place filled with childhood memories of the holiday spent with her beloved grandmother. As the story unfolds, Eva is visited at midnight on successive days by her grandmother’s ghost, whose purpose is to help Eva regain her balance and save her marriage. Each Christmas day begins with Eva “living” inside another person’s body and seeing herself through their perspective. The time loops continue as she struggles to admit that her obsession with business is consuming her life, leaving her isolated and exhausted.

This is a skillfully written novel that drew me in deeper and deeper with each chapter. The character of Eva, while extreme in her withdrawal, is relatable and believable as she begins to recognize her misplaced priorities and embrace her mistakes. The supporting characters are also well-developed; their perspectives are heart-felt and honest. This is not a light-hearted Christmas story, but it is a sensitive and realistic exploration of love, loss, friendship and second chances. I highly recommend it.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

This is a definite "put it on your list anytime" read! I adored it!
When Eva loses a big piece of her heart on a Christmas past three years ago, she can't help but to be bitter, angry, sad and heartbroken.
She handles it the only way she feels she can. She pushes everyone she cares about including her husband away and throws herself in to her new business venture.
However.... One Christmas, her special angel and beloved Gran decides to return from beyond to try to set Eva straight.
Can she? Will she?
So many lessons she must learn, and to see how her sadness has affected those around her! It's not good!

This story reminds me of "It's a Wonderful Life" and I loved that and this novel!
It is emotional, thought provoking and simply lovely.
OHHH... to be able to have a chance to redo and learn form our mistakes!
Thank you to @Netgalley and to @Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.
@Rachel Geenlaw has hit it out of the park.

At its core, One Christmas Morning is a story about a women’s self-discovery and second chances.

Eva has buried herself in her work over the past three years and is about to launch the opening of her new store, so the last thing she wants to do is attend her friend’s Christmas getaway with her husband and closest friends. Amidst all the stress with her job and not being present, she gets stuck in a time loop, and now spends each new Christmas day witnessing her life from the perspectives of those closest to her. With this new experience, Eva comes to realize how she has spent the past three years escaping from pain versus prioritizing what is most important and really living. However, is it too late to make amends?

This women’s fiction holiday read is truly a special book filled with many timely lessons, such as the importance of finding a work/ life balance, letting people in versus shutting those closest to you out, and figuring out what’s most important in life. It definitely took me a while to like the main character, but as the story developed, I started to see the world from her POV and understand and emphasize with her more. By the end, I felt uplifted and fulfilled as the story really came full circle. Also, while I know this is a small detail and not so important, I do wish we knew about more about Eva’s business and the shop she was opening. All the references were vague, yet it was such a big part of her life!

Read if you like:
-Groundhogs Day trope
-A Christmas Carol
-Stories about overcoming grief
-England countryside setting
-Found family

Thank you Avon for the ARC! Pub date: 10/17

"One Christmas Morning" is a delightful and heartwarming novel that captures the essence of the holiday season and the power of personal transformation. Rachel Greenlaw delivers a touching story filled with hope, redemption, and the enduring bonds of friendship. This book is perfect for readers seeking a heartfelt tale that reminds us of the magic of second chances and the joy of embracing the present.

I loved the premise of One Christmas Morning from the moment I heard about it. A Christmas Carol meets Groundhog Day. What I didn't expect was the magic of Eva, the main character, living within the bodies of the most important people in her life--the very people she's pushed away. I love this so much, for we not only get to know Eva, but all the people around her as she gets to know them as well. Greenlaw explores Eva's married life, friendship, work, and past. Her language is at times lyrical and the emotions are real and heartfelt.

what a interesting book about grief and seeing christmas in different eyes. she is busy working but this day she is able to repeat the day and see her relationship through other eyes and try and mend her relationship with her husband and her friends.

One Christmas Morning is the story of workaholic Eva who has suffered loss - the loss of her beloved grandmother and a miscarriage - and is pushing people away to hide her continued grief. Enter deceased grandma, who sends Eva into a loop of re-living Christmas Day over and over again, in the different bodies of people at the Christmas house party she is attending, to help her learn to let go of hiding behind her work. It's an interesting premise but there were many times that I almost put it down as I just didn't feel Eva was that likable. I found this book similar to the movie Groundhog Day or the book A Christmas Carol but just not as much fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I read this ARC for honest feedback. *Trigger Warning- infertility and miscarriage

This was a very well done twist on the whole "ghosts of Christmas past" theme. I liked how Eva gets to experience how everyone sees her, while she gets to live as someone else each day.
The author tackles miscarriages and infertility really well in this book. You truly feel for the women dealing with those, and the struggles that they have to endure.
I would absolutely recommend this book.

A fun twist on Dickens' classic. I love holiday time and books about celebrating Christmas are fun for me to read. I think Greenlaw did a good job with this debut novel. I liked the main character and her struggles seemed relatable. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for a review.

One Christmas Morning is a magical Christmas story that shows us all the different ranges of human emotion. Caught in a time loop where she embodies different people our FMC learns more about herself then she first thought was possible. I enjoined this story.

This was such a perfect heart warming and emotional christmas book. I read this quickly and highly enjoyed it.
I just reviewed One Christmas Morning by Rachel Greenlaw. #OneChristmasMorning #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I received a free copy of, One Christmas Morning, by Rachel Greenlaw, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Christmas is not Eva's favorite holiday or time of the year, she is not looking forward to her friends Christmas Party, but her husband James insists they go. to her best friend Hallie's for Christmas week. Eva is going through a lot, working to hard and avoiding talking about her grief. When her beloved Grandmother visits her like the ghost of Christmas past, and shows her how life will end up if she does not change her way. This is a good Christmas read, but sad at the same time, grief does affect us all differently.