Lovely revisit to Micklewick Bay to catch up with the gang! I enjoyed this book, it felt nicely paced and not too rushed, but also had some tension and a few little twists and turns. This author’s writing style is right up my street; nothing to dislike about it at all. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend!

I enjoyed this small town, in Northern Yorkshire, book about celebrating the holidays with family and friends. There are a lot of cozy detail in the book, which was perfect for a Christmas book. Friends getting together, supporting each other, and planning fun surprises for each other. It was apparent that Ed had a difficult childhood and he missed out on a lot that most of us enjoy - especially at Christmas. It's no wonder that he cannot easily share his thoughts and feelings. However, Florrie, who grew up in this town and has deep roots is very comfortable sharing her feelings. Ed and Florrie inherited the bookshop from Ed's grandfather and they are making it a success, including expanding the offerings of the business. Ed's parents are somehow interfering, as is some scary individual who wants to force them into selling to him.

Friends come together to offer advice, support, physical and financial assistance.

However, I must say, in several places, particularly at the end of the book, it was apparent that this book was part of a series because the story seemed to start in the middle. It felt like this especially at the end of the book.

Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott is a heartwarming tale that beautifully captures the magic of the holiday season. Set in a quaint seaside town, the story revolves around the charming bookshop and its endearing characters, making it a cozy escape for readers. The blend of romance, friendship, and festive cheer creates a delightful atmosphere perfect for winter reading. Scott's prose is inviting and warm, leaving you with a sense of joy and a desire to visit this enchanting bookshop again.

I only found Eliza at the beginning of the year and already became an author I will look to read more of. Another fabulous read made even better for being festive.

it was a pleasure to journey back to micklewick bay during the holiday season! ed, florrie, and their group of treasured friends are celebrating the holidays in a most special way - injecting fun and whimsey into as many days as possible leading up to christmas. the happy hartes bookshop is a top priority and they'd like to make some changes to their beloved shop. what do they have in mind?

you can read eliza j. scott's latest release (fourth in the series) as a stand alone book, but i would recommend reading the first three in the micklewick bay series first so that you understand and appreciate the cast of characters even more. two big life changes happen in this fourth book and i'm glad i had the background information going in.

the micklewick bay series feels as warm and cozy as a hot cup of tea. i hope readers feel as content as i did when i reached the final page of the latest book.

3.5 stars rounded up.

thank you to storm publishing for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

A story based around Christmas and a village bookshop.
What is there not to like?
I loved this novel and read it until the early hours .
Couldn't put it down.

A sweet, cozy read. I do think this will be a big hit around the christmas season. I felt Hallmark Christmas movie vibes from this one.

Such a cute and cozy read. If you are looking for a book to curl up with by a fire or trying to get in the Christmas mood here is your book.

I should start by saying i really loved this story telling, the writing was good the characters were great, and i think there was good promise in the plot. However, i missed a main plot line, kinda. I was expecting the book to be building up to a big secret or something really big happening, so the ending was a bit anticlimactic. Nevertheless still a cute little christmas read.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

I’d actually rate a 3.5 ⭐️

I’m always here for any story that revolves around books and heartwarming female friendships, and Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea brings plenty of that cozy charm! The seaside setting and the adorable little bookshop are like a warm hug, especially with all the festive touches and bookish decor that Florrie and Ed put together.

However, the middle part of the book slowed down more than I expected. Florrie’s worry over Ed’s secret started to drag, although a little mystery kept my interest to keep reading. But if you can push through the lull, the ending does bring things back to that cozy, feel-good holiday spirit.

What I loved most were the friendships and sense of community—women supporting and lifting each other up, which reminds me of the power of female bonds (just like the lasses!). The charming bookshop setting and festive atmosphere made it an enjoyable, light read.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet Christmas story with a focus on books, friendship, and small-town charm, this one will give you all the cozy feels.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author & publisher for the ARC.

This is an absolutely delightful and cozy festive story, perfect for anyone who loves heartwarming Christmas reads. Although it’s the fourth book in Eliza J. Scott’s series, it stands well on its own. I still found their journey as a couple to be truly endearing. If you’re less focused on intricate character development, this book is an ideal, feel-good read for a snowy day. The charming setting of Micklewick Bay and the Happy Hartes Bookstore adds even more magic to the festive atmosphere.

Florrie and Ed are a lovable couple, and the strong sense of community and friendship surrounding them only enhances the story’s warmth. Filled with humor, sweetness, romance, and festive spirit, the book is a true Christmas treat. While the plot is light and pleasant, the enchanting holiday details—like Christmas lights, mulled wine, and ice skating—make it an immersive and heartwarming read. It fully captures the essence of Christmas, offering a perfect blend of romance, family, and community that’s sure to leave you smiling.

unfortunately this book wasn’t for me!! i think this genre of romance has a very specific demographic, and i’m not the target audience. the beginning was well written, but it seemed to really drag on unnecessarily. i was expecting Ed to disappear at around halfway through the book and then read an exciting christmasy investigation, but that was not the case. i still love this author, but this was a miss for my taste!

I should start by saying i really loved this story telling, the writing was good the characters were great, and i think there was good promise in the plot. However, i missed a main plot line, kinda. I was expecting the book to be building up to a big secret or something really big happening, so the ending was a bit anticlimactic. Nevertheless still a cute little christmas read.

This story will definitely put you in the mood for Christmas. Florrie Appleton and her beau Ed Harte are the co-owners of The Happy Hartes Bookshop in a small English village of Micklewick. Flossie wants to give Ed a taste of what Christmas is really about and so sets about creating The Happy Christmas Memory Project. With the help of her girl pack, she is able to show that Christmas is really about the small things as she plans things like skating, sledding, making a snowman and going on a sleigh ride. At the same time Ed keeps disappearing and being secretive, a shady couple wants to buy the bookstore and using bullying ways to try to convince them to sell.

This was a sweet story. I loved the girl pack and they're always having each other's backs. I really enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters, especially local author Jack and his friend Jennifer who is also an author. This story tells us that the best Christmas memories do not need expensive presents and trips, but time spent with people you love. If I have a complaint is that Ed and Flossie really need to work on their communications skills with one another.

I did not know that his was the second book. Obviously my not reading the first one did not detract from my enjoyment of this book. This book is like a warm, cozy cup of hot chocolate. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A quick, cozy holiday read perfect for a crisp, snowy day and a hot cup of cocoa. This is the fourth installment of a series, but the first I’ve read. This didn’t interfere with my ability to follow the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

A cute and cozy read! Perfect to get even the grumpiest of grinches into the holiday spirit! Full of friendship family and love but wrapped in a cozy mystery set at Christmas time this story is packed with beautiful character dynamics!

I thought this book was very cute and Christmasy. I didn't know it was a part of a series, but I'm looking forward to checking out the other books. Great mixture of friendship, romance, and a bit of mystery. Florrie was super cute.

Sadly this book wasn't for me. I am a huge Jessica Redland fan so reading the information thought I would love it. It had a bookshop, the sea, Christmas... All things that I love and love to read about. But, the book fell flat for me.
I didn't connect with any of the characters and found Florrie quite annoying and immature - communicate with your boyfriend please!
The 'villain' seemed somewhat of a caricature and not believable. Unfortunately, the story just wasn't there.

The book was an easy read and I know it'll be the perfect cosy Christmas read with a blanket and hot chocolate - this person just wasn't me.

A good festive and escapist story that made smile and turning pages
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher of this ARC for allowing me to read it in exchange for my honest review.

I usually try to push through, but I DNF’d. I couldn’t get into this book unfortunately. I did read that this is a book in a series, and it’s the first one I’ve read, so this could be why. I wasn’t crazy about the style of writing, and I couldn’t connect to the characters and I found their lack of communication frustrating. It fell flat for me but I’m sure there are plenty of people who enjoy this as a cozy Christmas read!