I enjoyed reading So This is Christmas by Helen Rolfe. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I was a bit worried that I'd find it hard to get into this book as it's August and I'm a very seasonal reader! I adore Christmas books and I usually start reading them in November so it was very early for me, but I needn't have worried as I had no issues at all when it came to reading this beautiful story. I actually felt that even though it's a festive read, Christmas itself was more of a background theme to the overall story which was absolutely perfect for me.

I loved the idea of the two best friends writing letters to each other over so many years. Time and distance are no obstacles when it comes to their enduring friendship and there was something so beautiful about the commitment they made to each other to send the Christmas letters every year. It's true that most people don't write letters anymore since we have video calls and emails nowadays, so I loved that they kept up the tradition, although as they got older the letters were typed due to failing eyesight.

Of course there's terrible sadness in this book as Bea passes away peacefully one night, and her friend and carer Sophie is absolutely devastated. But with Bea's passing comes the push that Sophie needed to do something for herself, so she takes a trip to beautiful Vienna at Christmas. I'd love to visit Vienna at any time of year, but Christmas must be absolutely magical with all of the Christmas markets and stunning architecture; it's definitely a trip that I'd love to take one day.

This trip to Vienna changes Sophie's life in many unexpected ways and I know that Bea would have been very happy to know that she played such a huge part in that, although she sadly didn't live to see it. There was definitely a lot more to this story than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a lot more Romance but what I actually got was a beautiful story of second chances and friendship which I adored.

Overall this was a cosy festive read with quite a big unexpected twist, and some very loveable characters. It's definitely got me ready for some more Christmas books, and I've got a TBR pile forming already.

“So This Is Christmas” a beautiful christmassy setting with seasonal love and joy to match it. I was so thoroughly absorbed in this take of found family and intergenerational friendships that I read the book in one day.

The story is about the yearly Christmas letter shared between old friends, Greta in Vienna the Bea in London.

Sophie cares deeply about Bea, one of the residents in the home she works in. She helps her to write and send letters to her oldest friend, the most important one being the Christmas letter. This year is different, this year Bea is no longer and Sophie needs to decide how to break it to Greta and her family. Should she send the letter with a covering note or should she visit Vienna for Christmas?

Greta and her husband have spent their years together taking care of others finding people in need of care and support and helping them find their feet. Their family circle includes their own son Nick and Jennie, who was thrown out of her home and has become like a daughter to them. Greta and Bea have spent several years trying to persuade Sophie to visit Vienna. They seem 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 cosy read, despite the secrets and lies causing emotional turmoil that lurked between the pages.

Sophie is a care assistant in a residential home where she forms a close relationship with one of the residents, Bea, who was originally from Vienna. For years Bea and her best friend from Vienna Greta had swapped letters at Christmas and in later years Sophie had been helping Bea write these letters and read those sent to her in return. When Bea unexpectedly passes away Sophie decided to travel to Vienna to pass the final letter on personally.
Mainly set in Vienna at Christmas time this is a very emotional story, covering loss but also forgiveness and reconciliation.. There are unexpected twists and secrets revealed that have long been held, both good and bad, that are difficult to be reconciled, but equally helped to understand and hopefully forgive. There is a touch of romance as well which helps give the whole story a positive spin, and one which I will remember for a long time.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

A heartwarming Christmas story of life long friendship between two old friends, always writing a Christmas letter to each other. Cosy read

Throughout their long friendship Greta and Bea regularly corresponded with each other, but the highlight of each year was the Christmas letter. Now in a care home Bea has developed a close bond with Sophie, one of the assistants, who helps with her correspondence. Following Bea’s death just before Christmas Sophie was fired unjustly from her job and, realising that she hasn’t posted the Christmas letter, decides to go to Vienna to give the news of Bea’s death to Greta and her husband Walter in person. Warmly welcomed by Walter she discovers that Greta died a few months earlier. Walter and Greta’s son Nick is also welcoming to Sophie, but a semi adopted daughter, Jennie, has reservations.

Gradually Sophie and Jennie warm to each other, as they have both had difficult childhoods, but both have secrets that they are frightened to talk about, and one secret unexpectedly links Sophie and Jennie. As Sophie’s stay in Vienna continues the secrets gradually unfold but the arrival of Sophie’s ex-boss proves a catalyst for disaster.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I really enjoyed it.

Great read! Love a Christmas novel and this delivered on all aspects! Sophie, who works as a residential care assistant forms a close bond with one of her patients Bea. For decades, Bea and her friend Grace have exchanged letters often filled with family news, travelling stories and current affairs. Although both originally from Austria, they both ended up in England. But now Grace is back in Vienna and with both her & Bea's encouragement, they get Sophie to go to Vienna. The story unfolds unexpectedly but it is still heartwarming & tugs at your heartstrings! Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy.

This is a wonderful Christmas story of family and forgiveness. Bea and Greta have been best friends since they were kids growing up in Vienna, moving to England for different reasons, and into retirement. For the last fifty years they have kept up a tradition of writing each other a Christmas letter and it is time to write this year’s letter. Because her vision has declined, Bea is helped by her lovely aide Sophie at the care home she lives in. Bea and Greta have been trying to get Sophie to visit Vienna, where Greta returned to along with her husband Walter after they retired. Sophie did not have the happiest childhood and her husband died young, leaving her to raise their son on her own, so the idea of traveling there on her own does not feel right, even though he is off at college.

It was a nice Christmas book and it’s bout 2 ladies

Blurb

Two old friends 🫂 One last letter 💌 A life-changing trip! ✨

Care assistant Sophie loves the holidays, and nothing makes her feel more festive than helping 82-year-old resident Bea keep in touch with her old friend Greta. In their Christmas letters, the women update each other on their lives – Bea’s in the quiet residential home in London, Greta’s in the heart of Vienna and the grand Wynter Hotel.

But everything changes when Bea passes away before Sophie’s had a chance to post this year’s letter. Devastated, Sophie struggles to imagine this Christmas without her dear friend. But then Sophie finds one last note from Bea – and this time, it’s not addressed to Greta. It’s to Sophie, telling her to go to Austria.

Which is how Sophie finds herself in Vienna at Christmas, with the snow falling, and an important delivery to make… But when Sophie reaches the Wynter Hotel, there are surprises in store, and before she returns to England, her life will have changed in ways she could never have imagined…

Sophie is a care assistant to a lovely elderly lady Bea, who has a friend in Vienna called Greta that she writes to, when Bea sadly passes away, there is one last letter written by her for Greta. Instead of posting it Sophie decides to take a trip to Vienna & hand deliver it. This a beautifully written story of love, loss & friendships.

A story of a lifelong friendship. Greta and Bea have exchanged Christmas letters for years and now that Bea is 82 yrs and in a care home relying on care assistant Sophie to write her letters and read the ones from Greta.

Greta lives in Vienna and Bea in London and they both want Sophie to visit Vienna.
This is a lovely story with lovely characters, well apart from one.
. Friendship and love and Christmas, what more can you ask for ? I'm enjoying Helen Rolfe's books, still have quite a few left to read.

This heartwarming Christmas romance follows Sophie, a care assistant who treasures helping 82-year-old Bea exchange festive letters with her dear friend Greta in Vienna, until Bea's unexpected passing leaves Sophie heartbroken and holding an undelivered Christmas letter. When Sophie discovers Bea's final note isn't addressed to Greta but to her, instructing her to travel to Austria, she finds herself on a snowy Christmas journey to the grand Wynter Hotel in Vienna with an important delivery to make. What begins as a mission to honour her beloved friend's last wish becomes a life-changing adventure filled with unexpected surprises, new connections, and the magic that only happens when you're brave enough to step outside your comfort zone during the most wonderful time of year.

I just loved this book! I just couldn’t put it down once I started reading it. It’s an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming book with a beautiful story about two friends from Vienna who as they get older move apart due to jobs and their lives but who every year at Christmas they send each other a letter to tell them everything along with photographs of their lives. It has two beautiful and heartwarming women Greta and Bea who have such big hearts. They bring together two women who have a certain day in common which changes their lives completely but ends up being a surprise to both with amazing consequences. They bring together Sophie and Jennie along with other amazing and one not so amazing characters. I just loved Walter who was Greta’s husband he was such a beautiful character inside and out. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was sad when I came to end as I enjoyed it so much.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you believe in second chances which leads to meeting wonderful people who are amazing characters and so heartwarming.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this Advanced Readers Copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the ARC of this book. Sophie works in an elderly facility where one of her patients (Bea) passes away and sends her to Vienna to meet with the ladies friend (Greta). This leads to Sophie finding out that another woman (Jennie) who has been family friends with Greta and Sophie share a dark secret. This had such a good ending but I’ll be honest it was soo sad. This was ok.

This is my first book by Helen Rolfe and it's a charming Christmas read. It's a tale of life long friendship, releasing guilt and finding forgiveness. There's a touch of romance in Jennie and Elliotts relationship as well as Sophie and Nicks, but is not the main storyline here. It's really about the legacy of Greta and Bea. Very quick read and good food for the soul.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

So This is Christmas by Helen Rolfe carries themes of forgiveness of others and self, love of family (especially those family who are chosen), and love through the ages. Traveling through Austria and London, Greta and Bea pass their love and friendship on to Greta's and Walter's son Nick and their daughters by love not blood, Sophie and Jennie. What develops over a 50-year friendship for Bea and Grets turns into a poignant story that can get the reader reaching for tissues.

Releases Aug. 24th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Two friends.

One last letter.

A lifechanging trip.

The setup for this holiday read is quite a hook!🎣

The two friends are Greta and Bea. They have been exchanging Christmas letters since they met decades ago. Greta and her husband Walter live in Vienna. Bea is still in England in a retirement home. The letter Bea has written with the hope of carer Sophie is ready to be mailed. . . Sophie will find herself personally delivering it to Vienna -- at Christmastime. Wish I could stowaway I her suitcase.

To share four reasons for my rating, I will the four leading ladies in this book:

🧑‍🦳BEA KERN ~ Although a Vienna native, her retirement years are spent in England as a resident of the Tapestry Lodge. She and Greta have exchanged letters at Christmas (and other times of the year) for fifty years. Her beloved husband Anthony is deceased.
👱SOPHIE HANNAGAN ~ She works at Tapestry Lodge and has gotten to know Bea so well that she is helping her with her Christmas letter to Greta. There are secrets from Sophie's past that are coming around to haunt her decades later.
🧑‍🦳GRETA WYNTER ~ beloved wife of Walter and back in Vienna to live out her golden years. She has cooked up a plan to try and get Sophie to come visit. Bea is her co-conspirator. Why???
🧑‍🦱JENNIE CLARKE ~ has been unofficially adopted into Greta and Walter's family. She is working in Vienna as the head housekeeper at the prestigious Wynter Hotel. Her "brother" Will also works there and he is single, ladies!

Themes of forgiveness and family permeate this read. Unfortunately, their meaning for Christmas is rooted only in traditions and I was hoping for more. If you love holiday stories with big reveals and lovable characters, this is the book for you. Perfect for fans of Shari Low.

Happy Publication Day (August 24, 2025)! Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'm already familiar with the author's world and writing style and I was looking forward to a new heartwarming Christmas romance. It's pleasant, cosy and magical. I liked the idea behind the book concept. Lovely read.

So This Is Christmas by Helen Rolfe, Sophie is a caretaker at the rest home where B lives and every Christmas she helps her write a letter to her best friend back in Austria. greta moved to England with her British husband Walter who she met in the Austria and it wasn’t long before be followed. It was before their move to England that they started the Christmas letters but for now Sophie is enjoying helping her patient keep in touch with her dear friends in Austria. she also helps be FaceTime with Greta and Walter and the two in Austria constantly tells Sophie to come for a visit something B is keen on the nurse doing as well. greta and Walter lived in England for years but since their son Nick in “adopted“ daughter Jesse moved to Austria they soon followed suit. unfortunately soon B passes away due to old age and her death and all that happens during it facilitate Sofies holiday in Austria and the fact that she’s going to deliver B’s last letter only urges her on to take the vacation. Sophie grew up in a cold home where Christmas was never celebrated so her trip this year will come with many surprises Love a family of her own and guilt that she’ll finally be ready to let go of but first she must deliver the letter to Greta and this becomes her first surprise. of course there’s way more to this story than what’s in my review just know this is the first book I have read that ever changed my attitude from semi depressed to super happy because this is such a hard warming book and I’ll be there are some who are sending that will read it and say they guess the whole plot but there’s something to be said for a good rider that writes a story even though you know how it’s going to end you still want to read it and see exactly how it does and that is this book. I really loved it I now want to go visit Austria during Christmas and stay at the winter hotel this was just such a great book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #HelenRolfe, #SoThisIsChristmas,

What a heart-warming Christmassy book. Loved learning about Greta, Bea and Sophie and the setting in beautiful Vienna.