Karen Swan Christmas 2021

Clover Phillips, an incredibly talented documentary maker, has produced an award-winning documentary featuring pro surfer, Corey Albright. His professional career in the balance due to a competitive accident, Corey and his family are at risk of losing everything. Scrambling to make sense of the tragedy, his wife suggests that former surfing champion, Kit Foley is to blame and, in an effort, to chase down another winning story, Clover and her team head to the Austrian Alps to film a documentary featuring Kit. Attempting to reinvent himself and keep in the spotlight, Foley is now making a name for himself in snowboarding. Clover and her team aren’t the only ones hoping he’ll shed light on the day the Phillips’s lives were shattered. Exactly what happened? Who is responsible?

“He was a world class competitor, used to the fight. He knew how to win. At any cost.”

This story began as a seed ten years ago when Swan watched ‘The Crash Reel’ based on Kevin Pearce’s snowboarding accident while training for the 2010 Winter Olympics. She wanted to explore how life changing the risks can be when things go wrong. For anyone who enjoys these winter sports, they know how one degree and one second can make all the difference. A little difficult to get into at first, Swan’s book also explores what is required to be a winner, what it’s like to live with public disgrace, and what it’s like to forever be the villain. Swan’s novel is a testament to her research into these winter sports and locations. She unravels the human psyche and the catalyst for our interactions, mixes it with a winter sport, some mystery, some romance, and sets it against spectacular scenery!

In a search to find answers, Clover uncovered something she wasn’t expecting to find. There’s a lesson in that for us, too.

Publishes October 1, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Karen Swan, Pan Macmillan, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Karen Swam wrote a sport, full of secrets, Christmas story and it was perfect.
This book grabbed my attention right from the beginning, I loved Clover and just like her I needed to know what Kit was hiding.
This was a very enjoyable read and would easily recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy read.


I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Karen Swan and Pan Macmillan for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay seriously, Karen Swan is ON FIRE the last couple of years with her new books! I have loved her writing from the first book I read, but she truly gets better with each book and I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT!!!

I absolutely loved this story. The characters were likeable, different from each other, fun to spend time with, and human in that they make mistakes. Swan does NOT hold back in this one with the stuff that can happen (TW: physically violent act), but handles it so well and does not dwell on certain areas that may be harder to read about for some readers.

The concept of this story is so great, and to get two sides of a story is ALWAYS fascinating. Things are never what they seem to be and the author just loves to throw in little curve balls and I AM HERE FOR IT!!

I haven’t read too many sport style stories (ironic as I enjoy sports), but loved the dip into the world of surfing and the dive into the snowboarding. I had such an easy time picturing what she was writing about and the excitement when a boarder would land some crazy jump was definitely felt.

The emotion in this story had me all over the place! It’s happy, sad, it has betrayal, anger, depression, you name it. Kit is a very expressive person, even when he isn’t saying anything! And Clover also is unable to hide how she feels, but the two handle their emotions in different ways.

I won’t spoil anything, but the conversation between Julian and Clover about Justice, and the sort-of continuation of that (at least from the reader side) between Clover and Tim was one of my favourites. The ties that were made between actions, words, and career choices was *chefs kiss*.

Honestly, if you love Karen Swan you’re probably already planning on reading this, but make SURE it is on your TBR if it isn’t already! And if you haven’t read any of Swans books, ruuuuuuuuuuuuun out and grab it on release day!

Well, what else can I say other than this is Christmas perfection wrapped in a bow! As always Karen Swan. From the perfect atmosphere to the perfect characters this will get you in the mood for the holiday season

My first book by Karen Swan was Christmas at Tiffany’s and I have enjoyed so many of her books since. I always look forward to her Christmas books and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. I especially loved the sports aspect in this book. If you are looking for a great book make sure to check out one from this author.