A truly heartwarming story. Sophie has not had things easy, but enjoys her work as a care assistant in a care home. Her son has left home for university and she has few friends and even less family. She forms a close friendship with one particular resident, Bea. When Bea passes away, Sophie decides that it would be kinder to tell her oldest friend(Greta) in person about Bea's passing, rather than by phone. Here, life takes an unexpected turn and re-opens a chapter of her life that she had thought buried... A lovely reflective story that has at its heart friendship and the power of kindness.

In this emotional and cozy Christmassy novel, readers follow care assistant Sophie as she helps resident Bea keep in touch -- via snail mail letters -- with her friend Greta in Vienna. However, shortly before they mail off the Christmas letter with all the life updates, Bea passes away and Sophie struggles with the holiday season and her grief, but one last letter from Bea -- to Sophie this time -- sends her off to Austria and the Wynter Hotel where Greta lives. With one last delivery to make this holiday season, Sophie has no idea what is in store for her in Vienna and how her life will change after the trip. Emotional, heartwarming, and charming, readers will love the alternating perspectives and the emotional depth of the storylines in this new novel from Helen Rolfe. The characters are the absolute stars of the book, and their emotional journeys will really pull readers into the story. Brilliantly written, packed with emotions, and incredibly detailed, readers will love the various challenges and the emotional rollercoaster of this holiday novel and sympathize with the characters throughout the book. Moving and deeply emotional, readers will love this holiday novel and its themes of love, loss, and friendship from Helen Rolfe.

What a beautifully written and heartwarming festive read set in Vienna at Christmas.

I loved the premise of this story with the two best friends writing to one another, especially at Christmas, across the decades. Bea and Greta came across as wonderful characters, along with Walter, Greta’s husband, despite their meddling.

The other main characters of Nick, Jennie and Sofie were really well written. I loved Jennie and Sofie's stories and my heart went out to them as they have both struggled. I was trying to work out why Bea and Greta were anxious to get them to meet.

I loved the couple of twists that came towards the end and hoped the outcome would be good for everyone.

The author's descriptions of the food, drink and places in Vienna sound wonderful, so much so it is now on my list of places to visit.

This is a book I would highly recommend.

Each time Helen releases a new book I then profess it's my favourite...she releases another book...

This was every bit as magical as I'd hoped for. It's an absolutely gorgeous heartwarming story of family, friendships, and hope.

It gave me all the feels and I may or may not have ended up with leaky eyes once or twice.

The characters were absolutely charming and really made the story something special.

I adored every minute and never wanted it to end.

I'm now off to write my 'Dear Santa' letter, as a festive trip to Vienna is very much on the cards!

Loved loved loved this book! Couldnt put it down at all. Just so sweet and had all the feels!Well worth a read!

Sophie works in a care home in London and has grown close to one of the residents Bea who is 82 and is still in contact with her best friend Greta from when they were children, although Greta still lives in Vienna. Eve though it isn’t technically Sophie’s job she helps Bea keep in contact be writing the letters to Greta for her.
Unfortunately after receiving Greta’s Christmas letter Bea sadly passes away before Sophie can post the letter so she decides to go to Vienna to pass on the sad news in person
When she arrives there is more sad news waiting for her but a series of events unfold that she certainly didn’t anticipate

A charming read about unresolved issues and secrets that get worked out in a positive way.
I find reading Rolfe’s books to be very calming because although there is conflict among the characters I know it will all work out in the end,
I loved the setting in Vienna because it adds to the atmosphere if the plot.
My favorite character was Walter because he had a good heart and his meddling came from a good place.
The holiday season can be hard for some but it’s not hard to get in the spirit with this book!

I always enjoy a Christmas story and even though it is only August, it doesn't diminish that enjoyment one little bit!

Sophie is a care assistant and one of her favourite people at the care home is Bea. She helps Bea craft her annual Christmas letter to her best friend Greta as Bea's eyesight is no longer good enough to do it for herself. Unfortunately, Bea passes away before Sophie has a chance to post her letter. Bea is originally from Vienna and she has long been encouraging Sophie to go and visit that city....does she take a leap of faith and go there? What will she discover about herself and her history if she does?

This book was told mostly from Sophie's point of view but also Jennie's and some of the other characters as well. It is really a story of redemption and family, in whatever form that takes.

I loved Sophie and Jennie as characters as they were quite different women with different backstories and yet they were both vulnerable in their own ways. Walter was such a sweetie, everyone should have a dad like him!

Yes, there is a bit of romance in this book but it isn't the major focus, which is nice for a change as well.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

While Bea now resides in a nursing home in London, she still keeps in touch with close friend Greta who moved back to their home town of Vienna. They exchange letters – Bea now needs help to write them, but it’s one of the tasks Sophie enjoys helping her with. Their Christmas letters are always particularly special – but this year’s will be the last. Bea has died, in the run-up to Christmas, and Sophie hasn’t yet managed to send her letter – and she’s grieving, having been especially fond of the old lady. Finding herself unexpectedly jobless – the manager was always just looking for a reason – she remembers Bea’s insistence that she should visit Vienna, and decides to break the news to Greta in person.

A surprise awaits her there, but she’s drawn into the heart of Greta’s family – her husband Walter and her son Nick, and Jennie who has become as close to them as a daughter. Jennie hasn’t had the easiest of lives, but now works with Nick at the sumptuous Wynter Hotel: the couple helped her to have a fresh start (something they’ve often done for others), and she’s initially suspicious of Sophie, knowing that others have taken advantage of their kindness. And there are more surprises – and a few nasty shocks – to come, as the past begins to catch up with both Sophie and Jennie and a number of deeply buried secrets begin to emerge, including the reason why Bea and Greta were so determined that Sophie should visit Vienna.

I desperately don’t want to spoil the clever plotting of this book – coupled with the emotional story of found family, and a few major misunderstandings (and some unwelcome interference) along the way, I raced through it and loved every single moment. Every character is so real – both Sophie and Jennie very sympathetic, and I entirely adored the lovely Walter. And can there be anywhere lovelier to spend Christmas than Vienna? The setting is so perfectly drawn – the snowfall, the decorations, the food that meant so much to them all, the hotel wrapped in its red ribbon. There’s a gentle romance too – and it’s one I really enjoyed. And every emotional touch – and there are many – is so perfectly judged. I was often on the edge of tears – but there’s such warmth to the whole story that made it a really uplifting read.

The whole book honestly was an absolute delight – and the author’s writing has never been better. Yes, a festive read, and perhaps one to keep until you’re feeling just a little more Christmassy – but it’s a book I’d very much recommend you add to your reading list. I really loved it…

What a wonderful book. Different generations coming together following two friends who each year sent Christmas letters. Two women who didn’t know that there was a connection through an incident that happened years before. Jennie, Nick , Sophie and Walter unite in Vienna around Christmas following on from the death of two friends to keep up tradition. Thank you Helen for your storytelling and to her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

Other than a John Lennon song playing in a loop in my head, I went into this one without reading the synopsis, and I’m glad I did. I have been obsessed with Vienna since hearing the Ultravox song of the same name, but I’ve still not visited. This was a fabulous, yet virtual visit, and I loved every moment. Following the special friendship between Bea and Greta was uplifting and brought to my mind so many of my own dear friends from over the years.
When we first meet Sophie, she is caring for Bea in a residential home in London. She enjoys hearing Bea’s stories of growing up in Vienna and helps her to write her annual Christmas letter to Greta. Bea and Sophie have a special bond, and it’s no surprise that Sophie is deeply affected when Bea slips away. When Sophie then receives a note from Bea, asking her to visit Vienna, she resolves to make the trip.
For fear of including any spoilers, I will leave my recap there, but I can promise the most delightful and heartwarming story awaits when you read this one yourself.
I adored Sophie and loved her kindness and selfless attitude to life and those around her. We soon discovered that poor choices and unfavourable options marked her relationship history. Thankfully, she would be away for Christmas this year, and she had a chance to make some new memories.
I instinctively knew that this would be a truly special story, as Helen has never let me down. Greta and Bea’s friendship is at the heart of this book, but Sophie’s gradual discovery of her own independence was a breath of fresh air. This book left me feeling uplifted and hopeful, and is definitely a contender for my Christmas book of the year.

Bea and Greta have been close friends for years. Over the years they have written each other many, many letters, of which the annual Christmas letter is a highlight for each of them. Greta now lives back in their original home city of Vienna, after spending many years in the UK working in the hotel business. Widowed Bea lives in a care facility in the London.

Sophie works in the care home, and over the years she has built a lovely friendship with Bea. By extension she feels like she knows Greta and her husband Walter, their son Nick and their almost adopted daughter Jennie.

When Bea passes away peacefully, Sophie is devastated, especially when she realises that she had not yet posted the annual Christmas letter to Greta. Suddenly finding herself with time on her hands after her vindictive boss fires her, the idea strikes Sophie that maybe she should take the letter to Vienna herself and deliver the bad news. After all, her son is spending the holidays in America and Bea and Greta had both been suggesting that she should visit Vienna for years. Bea had even left a small sum of money for exactly this purpose.

The Vienna that Sophie lands is is dressed up in it's Christmas best. There are lights and Christmas trees, markets and Ferris wheels all bringing the beautiful city to life. But the single thing that brings joy to Sophie is the very warm welcome that she receives from the Wynter family. She is particularly drawn to handsome, single Nick Wynter. The only person that is a bit cool towards her is Jennie, who isn't sure that Sophie can be trusted and that she isn't going to try and con the family.

Sophie and Jennie both have quite a bit in common. They both had difficult family situations and have had to overcome adversity to get where they are today. They also have both denied themselves opportunities to be truly happy because of things that happened in the past. Can they help each other give themselves the ability to forgive themselves and move forward, or will the recriminations from the past continue to shape their lives going forward.

I have read a number of Helen Rolfe books now, and I am at the point where I know I will be reading each new book as it comes out. There is an extensive back list for me to explore, including a number of Christmas themed books.

As always I enjoy the way that Helen Rolfe weaves different themes through her stories, giving them depth but also delivering feel good, uplifting reads.

Recently a friend and I were talking about her holiday options for Christmas time. They are leaving the adult kids at home and headed to Europe for Christmas. The big question for her was where. The two options were Spain and Portugal or Germany and Austria. As much as I love the idea of Spain and Portugal when she said they would be there for Christmas, my instant response was that my vote was for Germany and Austria, if only for the Christmas markets! I am going to suggest this book to her to read before she leaves. I was already jealous of her trip, but now I am even more jealous, and I wish I was going to Europe for Christmas, but it is not to be this year.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. Check out the other stops on the blog tour as well!




Rating 4/5

So this is Christmas by Helen Rolfe is a wonderful, enjoyable, heartwarming story of love, loss, grief and family that goes beyond blood; a heart-warming festive read that could bring a tear to the eye.

Bea and Greta had been best friends for a lifetime; both originally from Vienna, now Bea's home was in London while Greta's was currently in Vienna. The two friends have an annual tradition of posting festive letters to each other, especially at Christmas. Bea, now in her eighties, resided in a care home with kind, compassionate, care assistant Sophie doing all she could for Bea. With her eyesight failing, Sophie wrote the latest Christmas letter with Bea dictating. The letter was finished, ready for Sophie to post, when Bea quietly passed away overnight. Sophie was shattered.

Sophie loves Christmas, especially helping Bea write her letter to Greta. Unfortunately a few days after they finish the letter Bea passes away and Sophie is devastated. She realizes that she hasn’t posted the letter, when she receives a letter from Bea herself telling her to go to Vienna, she does just that; delivering the last letter in person.

Greta and her husband, Walter, have spent their years together taking care of others: finding people in need of care and support, helping them find their feet. Their family circle includes their own son Nick and Jennie, who after being thrown out of her home, has become like a daughter to them. After retiring, Greta and Walter moved back to Vienna, with their Nick be the manager of the Wynter hotel and Jennie working there as housekeeping manager.

Greta and Bea spent several years trying to persuade Sophie to visit Vienna; appearing to have an ulterior motive. As the story moves on we discover their well meaning motives. We also find out unexpected aspects of Sophie and Jennie’s lives that link them. Secrets that have kept them hiding from the truth and preventing them from living life to the full.

I loved this festive read. The characters were delightful and the close feeling of family and true connection made for a really cozy read, with seasonal love and joy to match it. I was thoroughly absorbed in this take of found family and intergenerational friendships, despite the secrets and lies causing emotional turmoil that lurked between the pages.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#SoThisIsChristmas #Boldwood #NetGalley

Well that was quite the tearjerker! I lost count of the number of times I cried whilst reading this one! Some of it was a bit close to home for me which made it more emotional for me to read.

This was the fourth book I have read by this author and I have enjoyed them all.

The book is set between England and Vienna. Having been to Vienna it was lovely to read about some of the places I had visited. A Christmas visit is now on my bucket list!

When Bea dies in a care home, Sophie her carer and friend decides to travel to Vienna to tell Bea’s lifelong friend Greta Whyte the sad news in person.

In Vienna, the Whytes are reeling from a loss of their own but they are overjoyed that Sophie has made the trip to visit them.

Sophie has a connection with Jennie, a girl the Whytes took under their wing, which neither girl is aware of and which is going to deeply affect everyone.

Such an emotive read and so well written. My heart went out to both Sophie and Jennie and the trauma they had both faced in their lives and the severe guilt they still carried.

A really great read to add to your Christmas reading list.

This is a new to me author. I love a good Christmas book so I was excited to grab this one. I love the genuine friendship between Greta and Brea they seemed more sisters than friends. I will say though I really struggled to get into this book. I like a book that draws you in and captures your attention pretty quickly.  I felt this book favors a very rich descriptive style then and less of a banter and dialogue between the characters, which made it difficult to really get into the story.  The author does a good job and noting each chapter with who it’s about so it is less confusing who you are reading about. Overall I have to say this book just was not for me. The author did keep it a clean read

A Christmas read about relationships from the past that have last for years. New relationships and ones that had broken up. A great story to read and I enjoyed it as I have friends from sixth grade that I still talk to. I would recommend this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood and leaving a review by my own choice.

The magic of Christmas in a magical city. Two long friends keeping in contact by letters. Two young women and their lives touched by a tragedy on their past. And all is interconnected in a magical way. A great story from Helen Rolfe. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy. This is my honest review.

As someone who absolutely fell in love with Vienna when traveling there, this was such a lovely, romantic holiday read. My favorite kind of cozy read, this was a wonderful introduction to Rolfe's work, and I enjoyed the relationship between Bea and Greta via their letters. Jennie's journey through love and loss was so well written, I found myself deeply invested in what would happen next. Thank you so much for this wonderful ARC. I look forward to reading more of Rolfe's works.

So This is Christmas is a magical and cozy Christmas romance. The perfect book to get you feeling the upcoming holiday vibes.
The friendship aspect was lovely. I loved the letter writing between Bea and Greta.
I do have to say, the story was a bit slow at times….maybe it was just me?
A beautiful story about how friendships can go on no matter what happens. We all deserve forgiveness in the end.
Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was the perfect light read for the Christmas holiday (or apparently for August). Most of the characters were very likeable. There was, of course, the one you had to hate.

The story starts out focusing on two old friends who have been in different countries for years, but have kept in touch by letters, especially the yearly Christmas letter they send to each other. Now one is in an assisted living place and helped with her letters by her aide and friend. Upon her death, her friend decides to go to Vienna to tell the other elderly woman in person. There she finds friends and "family" that she had been missing.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.