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The Perfect Christmas
All I want for Christmas is you! If you’re a wedding planner it’s best not to have affairs with married men. This is one cardinal rule that Robyn always abides by. But then she meets Jonathan… After a delicious dalliance in the dance studio, Robyn and Jonathan fall truly, madly, deeply in love. Jonathan justifies his actions because his wife is a workaholic, while Robyn finds the glamour – free from any mundane concerns – thrilling. But then the pressure mounts the guilt; the lies; the strain of it all. With the festive season approaching, can Robyn make this the best holiday ever or will it be the nightmare before Christmas? This is the perfect winter read for fans of Milly Johnson and Kate Harrison.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 25, 2021
Ending Christmas The Right Way!!🌲📖.."To Feel Most Beautifully Alive Is To Be Reading Something Beautifull!!.."❤
December 6, 2011
Georgie Carter’s (aka Ruth Saberton) The Perfect Christmas is a novel that will divide people. Depending how you feel about affairs, and women who justify affairs in the most ridiculous of ways, you’ll either love this book or hate this book. Me? I’m somewhere in the middle. I can say with absolute certainty I didn’t love it. And I can say with certainty I didn’t hate it. At best, I’m indifferent to it. I don’t like books about affairs, and when you compound it with a woman who says a wife doesn’t deserve her husband because she’s (potentially) a workaholic, well, you’re going to get short-shrift with me. I get that life isn’t black and white, that there are shades of grey, but an affair is as black or white as you’re going to get and, frankly, it’s wrong. I don’t like them, I don’t believe in them, and it takes a heck of a lot for me to change my mind whilst reading about them. Specifically with someone who can’t just admit that she’s having an affair and that it doesn’t matter who the married one is, an affair is an affair.
Every single Chick Lit novel with an affair as its theme is either two kinds of affair: a) a man who’s kicked to the kurb because he’s a rat and b) a woman who’s forgiven for doing it “as long as she’s having fun”. I don’t like how women who cheat are fine and dandy, but men are portrayed as awful love rats. Take for example, Robyn Hood, the heroine of The Perfect Christmas. She’s having an affair, she’s to all intents and purposes fine with it… But her dad cheated on her mother and left them in the lurch and she treats him like crap, questioning him about it at one point in the novel. Like she has the moral highground. It drives me up the wall, who the heck is Robyn to question someone when she’s doing the. exact. same. thing? To my mind, it makes her a rather large hypocrite and that is my problem. That’s my issue with books that feature affairs, they’re so hypocritical. If a woman does it, it’s fine; if a man does it, he deserves to be stoned, basically. I’d like another record to be played; I’d like, for once, a female who has an affair to not have an air about her, as if she’s not doing something wrong.
Now that I have my thoughts on affairs out of the way, I can tell you why the novel wasn’t a total disaster. Fact is, Ruth Saberton writes some snappy novels. And The Perfect Christmas is written as well as her two novels under her proper name and as such, I found it very easy to read. I also thought the wedding aspect to the novel was enjoyable (if ironic) and when Robyn wasn’t questioning her singledom (really, you’re having an affair and you still whinge about being single?), her babyless state (which gave me whiplash; “I don’t want a baby”/”I do want a baby” ad nauseum), or her affair (“Anita doesn’t deserve Jonathan because she’s a workaholic!”), I liked her. If you erase the whole affair business, I’d think she was a nice person and, despite her constant similies (“My stomach is like a washing machine on spin cycle”), her narration was, at times, nice to read. There were aspects of the novel that was enjoyable and it could have been a really sweet Christmassy read, without the affair.
Overall, I just felt that The Perfect Christmas was mostly like something I’d read before. The affair irritated me (as if you can’t already tell), and although Robyn had her moments, she also had her non-moments and her irritating inner monologue moments that made me have to put the book down. The ending was the sweetest part, but it felt cheaped by how quickly it all happened, how quickly it all came together and maybe I’m just cynical in my young age, but I just felt Robyn was too quick to figure out who her perfect man was. Sure, I’d figured it out paaaages ago (and I do mean “pages” not “ages”), but Robyn figured it out all in a single day and after what had happened 10 pages previously, well it was all a bit too unbelievable to be believable. Which is sad, because I felt like her perfect man was the perfect man, it was just far too quick. It had its moments, but it also felt like a big cliche-ridden mess at times. If you do want a good affair novel, then Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, is still the one I’d tell you to read and as much as I love Ruth Saberton, The Perfect Christmas really wasn’t all that perfect for me.
PS: As a final rant/speech/word, why do all novels about affairs feature women who ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have to buff themselves every time they see their man? I’m almost sure that most affairs in real life feature women who (gasp!) don’t spend days plucking/preening/shaving/shampooing and that do actually dress normally, rather than like Beyonce, for every single meeting…
Every single Chick Lit novel with an affair as its theme is either two kinds of affair: a) a man who’s kicked to the kurb because he’s a rat and b) a woman who’s forgiven for doing it “as long as she’s having fun”. I don’t like how women who cheat are fine and dandy, but men are portrayed as awful love rats. Take for example, Robyn Hood, the heroine of The Perfect Christmas. She’s having an affair, she’s to all intents and purposes fine with it… But her dad cheated on her mother and left them in the lurch and she treats him like crap, questioning him about it at one point in the novel. Like she has the moral highground. It drives me up the wall, who the heck is Robyn to question someone when she’s doing the. exact. same. thing? To my mind, it makes her a rather large hypocrite and that is my problem. That’s my issue with books that feature affairs, they’re so hypocritical. If a woman does it, it’s fine; if a man does it, he deserves to be stoned, basically. I’d like another record to be played; I’d like, for once, a female who has an affair to not have an air about her, as if she’s not doing something wrong.
Now that I have my thoughts on affairs out of the way, I can tell you why the novel wasn’t a total disaster. Fact is, Ruth Saberton writes some snappy novels. And The Perfect Christmas is written as well as her two novels under her proper name and as such, I found it very easy to read. I also thought the wedding aspect to the novel was enjoyable (if ironic) and when Robyn wasn’t questioning her singledom (really, you’re having an affair and you still whinge about being single?), her babyless state (which gave me whiplash; “I don’t want a baby”/”I do want a baby” ad nauseum), or her affair (“Anita doesn’t deserve Jonathan because she’s a workaholic!”), I liked her. If you erase the whole affair business, I’d think she was a nice person and, despite her constant similies (“My stomach is like a washing machine on spin cycle”), her narration was, at times, nice to read. There were aspects of the novel that was enjoyable and it could have been a really sweet Christmassy read, without the affair.
Overall, I just felt that The Perfect Christmas was mostly like something I’d read before. The affair irritated me (as if you can’t already tell), and although Robyn had her moments, she also had her non-moments and her irritating inner monologue moments that made me have to put the book down. The ending was the sweetest part, but it felt cheaped by how quickly it all happened, how quickly it all came together and maybe I’m just cynical in my young age, but I just felt Robyn was too quick to figure out who her perfect man was. Sure, I’d figured it out paaaages ago (and I do mean “pages” not “ages”), but Robyn figured it out all in a single day and after what had happened 10 pages previously, well it was all a bit too unbelievable to be believable. Which is sad, because I felt like her perfect man was the perfect man, it was just far too quick. It had its moments, but it also felt like a big cliche-ridden mess at times. If you do want a good affair novel, then Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, is still the one I’d tell you to read and as much as I love Ruth Saberton, The Perfect Christmas really wasn’t all that perfect for me.
PS: As a final rant/speech/word, why do all novels about affairs feature women who ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have to buff themselves every time they see their man? I’m almost sure that most affairs in real life feature women who (gasp!) don’t spend days plucking/preening/shaving/shampooing and that do actually dress normally, rather than like Beyonce, for every single meeting…
December 24, 2023
I got through this quickly and whilst in places I enjoyed it for what it was, I grew to really dislike Robyn, I had no sympathy towards her at all and actually I don’t think I warmed to any of the characters, I wanted a warm fuzzy Christmas romance which I felt this lacked.
December 7, 2014
Really enjoyed this book i liked most of the characters and loved Robyn the wedding planner. it was funny in places hope to read more by Georgie Carter.
December 30, 2021
I found this an easy book to read, the story flowed well and the characters were relatable. Robyn is a loveable character and gets caught up in a situation that not everyone will understand or agree with, however when you have low self esteem and someone starts to give you the attention you crave then you get caught up in the fantasy. If the reader can get past this indiscretion then the story is really enjoyable. I didn't really get the Christmas vibe until the end of the book, which was disappointing as I hoped the whole story would be set around Christmas.
If you want a cheesy, romantic read then this is a story for you.
If you want a cheesy, romantic read then this is a story for you.
December 1, 2022
Now I normally love a Christmas book but I really struggled to enjoy this book. The Perfect Christmas by Georgie Carter could have been a really good festive read, apart from the fact that I simply could not get over the fact that the main character has an affair with a married man. I just could not get past this issue and even though she ultimately ends the relationship, it made me dislike the character and I felt no empathy with her. Disappointing.
September 2, 2020
A wonderful holiday read!
This is my first Georgie Carter novel. It’s a well paced read with a strong plot and plenty of humour in it as well. Having suffered myself from Hester types in the past I was glad to see that Robyn finally managed to get the success she deserved, no matter how devious her rival is. Good holiday read and loved the 10 tips for Christmas in the back!
This is my first Georgie Carter novel. It’s a well paced read with a strong plot and plenty of humour in it as well. Having suffered myself from Hester types in the past I was glad to see that Robyn finally managed to get the success she deserved, no matter how devious her rival is. Good holiday read and loved the 10 tips for Christmas in the back!
December 28, 2017
Flew through this book in comparison to my last! But it was a very easy read. I liked aspects of it but it was all a tad ‘Bobs your uncle!’ She needed a venue. Boom...she got one. Caterers last min. Boom...again easy breezy!!! This irritated me a lot. Loved Matt, Johnathan was a prat!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2022
I was disappointed by the book. Expected a Christmas story, in reality, had to read through the entire book to get to Christmas period and it wasn't special. Overall, predictable story and I didn't like "hot" scenes
July 22, 2025
This is my first Georgie Carter book. Its a fab book, really enjoyed it, with its scandals, love and amazing wedding. Would recommend it, if you like to switch off for a while and if you like a bit of romance.
November 17, 2017
Brilliant book I flew through. Characters are relatable and the story sucks you in.
December 19, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; a wonderful festive read! I love Robyn Hood the wedding planner!
August 16, 2022
Absolute delightful read! I love every minute of it. Really got you into the Christmas spirit at the end 🎄❄️
December 19, 2023
Just ok. There were too many times where timelines didn't match up and it was a bit over the top.
December 29, 2025
couldn't get into this at all, the sentences were so much longer than they needed to be and there were loads of spelling mistakes.
December 8, 2011
The Perfect Christmas starts off with a prologue – we find out that Robyn is physically in the same place as last year on Christmas Day but with very different emotions. We’re introduced to her friendship with best friend Faye … and a mysterious male that makes her nerve endings fizz!
I was hooked in by the prologue – who is this mysterious man? What is the story behind the obscure Christmas gift?
Then we go back eight months to April. She meets ex-fiancée Pat again at a wedding she’s planned through her business ‘Perfect Day’. Robyn finds out information that wounds her but on the surface, is calm and in control.
Robyn has a wish list of things to be done before Christmas and one of those things is to attend Swing dancing. It is while trying to book at the Adult Education centre that she bumps into married Jonathan. They realise they’ve met previously at one of Faye’s dinner parties. Catching up over coffee, they have so much to say that time flies by. Innocent texts follow and soon they are meeting up and going out…
There is so much more to Robyn’s story though than her affair with Jonathan. Ex-fiancée Pat and Jo are quite central characters throughout and arch-rival Hester in the wedding planning business who throws many stresses and strains her way when she pitches for an A-list celeb wedding and wins the contract. There is plenty of romance at the four weddings that we get to attend - with the final wedding played out against the backdrop of Christmas Eve.
The Perfect Christmas is written in the first person so we get to know Robyn’s character really well. All the characters are brilliant from Robyn’s mum through to Daisy (who is the child of the A-list celeb). There is plenty of humour alongside the introspection and sadness.
Half-way through I made the connection as to who the mysterious male figure in the prologue was. I was thinking about the story when it suddenly fell into place!
Easy to read with some beautiful figurative language, The Perfect Christmas will take you away from your every-day life and when you’ve finished, you’ll have that glowing ‘feel-good factor.’ At only £0.99 on Kindle, I dare you to resist!
I was hooked in by the prologue – who is this mysterious man? What is the story behind the obscure Christmas gift?
Then we go back eight months to April. She meets ex-fiancée Pat again at a wedding she’s planned through her business ‘Perfect Day’. Robyn finds out information that wounds her but on the surface, is calm and in control.
Robyn has a wish list of things to be done before Christmas and one of those things is to attend Swing dancing. It is while trying to book at the Adult Education centre that she bumps into married Jonathan. They realise they’ve met previously at one of Faye’s dinner parties. Catching up over coffee, they have so much to say that time flies by. Innocent texts follow and soon they are meeting up and going out…
There is so much more to Robyn’s story though than her affair with Jonathan. Ex-fiancée Pat and Jo are quite central characters throughout and arch-rival Hester in the wedding planning business who throws many stresses and strains her way when she pitches for an A-list celeb wedding and wins the contract. There is plenty of romance at the four weddings that we get to attend - with the final wedding played out against the backdrop of Christmas Eve.
The Perfect Christmas is written in the first person so we get to know Robyn’s character really well. All the characters are brilliant from Robyn’s mum through to Daisy (who is the child of the A-list celeb). There is plenty of humour alongside the introspection and sadness.
Half-way through I made the connection as to who the mysterious male figure in the prologue was. I was thinking about the story when it suddenly fell into place!
Easy to read with some beautiful figurative language, The Perfect Christmas will take you away from your every-day life and when you’ve finished, you’ll have that glowing ‘feel-good factor.’ At only £0.99 on Kindle, I dare you to resist!
November 28, 2012
As an 'old' married lady, I have to say that while I don't condone women having affairs with married men when there is enough single and divorced guys to go around for everyone, but it happens in the real world all too often because sometimes you just met someone at the wrong time in life and fall for them. So I went along with it and didn't judge the main character called Robyn Hood and think badly of her for being desperate to be loved. In fact, I quite liked the heroine all the more for the way she handled it in the end. Whereas, Jonathan seemed totally selfish and not at all remorseful about his actions, but poor Robyn the heroine did at least regret her part in the potential home-wrecking business. She had been terribly hurt in the past by 'cheaters', so she knows how it feels to be on both sides of the fence and actually forgives her ex when she arranges his wedding to the woman that he got with while they were still engaged. And how's that for moving on and proving that you've truly gotten over someone, especially, when they all become such good friends that they even holiday together in Ireland like one big family. After which, Robyn the wedding planner gets to organize the perfect Christmas nuptials in the celebrity wedding of the year. But will she get through it without breaking down, when her married man turns up with his wife as guests? And will she see what's right under her nose as far as romance is concerned before it's too late? You will have to read this enjoyable book to find out.
January 13, 2012
Well, I think I prefer Ruth Saberton as Ruth Saberton. This book was for me very "on the surface", as if the author didn't put all her heart and soul into writing it. The wedding planning business was like something nearby, the affair with Jonathan was something nearby, the wedding of Saffron and problems with Hester were nearby, the adventure with swing dancing was nearby... A lot of plots and nothing actually really deep developed.
And actually it was a sad book. I was really sorry for Robyn and her desperation to start an affair. I didn't like Jonathan from the very beginning, he was too smooth and to perfect, and all this bla - bla - bla about unhappy marriage, too cliche and I don't understand why did Robyn believe in all of this. But on the other hand, I guess a woman who needs love will believe in everything. I was a little dissapointed with the sharp reaction of Faye, the best friend can really be more forgiving. And all the open plots, for me there are too many things that are not finished. And everything went almost always so, so smooth, so perfect, I would expect some more troubles with the wedding planning and not just an accident with a soap.
So all in all - not this what I have expected. But anyway, Amber Scott is already pre - ordered. Hope Ruth writing as Ruth will give more heart:)
And actually it was a sad book. I was really sorry for Robyn and her desperation to start an affair. I didn't like Jonathan from the very beginning, he was too smooth and to perfect, and all this bla - bla - bla about unhappy marriage, too cliche and I don't understand why did Robyn believe in all of this. But on the other hand, I guess a woman who needs love will believe in everything. I was a little dissapointed with the sharp reaction of Faye, the best friend can really be more forgiving. And all the open plots, for me there are too many things that are not finished. And everything went almost always so, so smooth, so perfect, I would expect some more troubles with the wedding planning and not just an accident with a soap.
So all in all - not this what I have expected. But anyway, Amber Scott is already pre - ordered. Hope Ruth writing as Ruth will give more heart:)
March 23, 2013
The prologue of this novel drew me into the story and I was excited to find out who and what Faye and Robyn were talking about.
However pretty early on in the book I got fed up of Robyn’s constant self pity about being single and ended up hating her as a main character. I also found the constant jokes about her name tedious.
This book was mainly based around Robyn having an affair. This in turn meant that parts of this novel were so unrealistic and clichéd.
The cover is misleading as this book hardly has a Christmas theme, at most the very start and very end of the book.
One of the things that annoyed me the most about this book was the constant spelling and grammar errors. Faye was spelt three different ways throughout this book which bothered me. I found myself re-reading chunks of this book due to a lot of it making no sense at all.
I would not recommend this book to anyone and probably wouldn’t read any more by this author or any book along these lines.
However pretty early on in the book I got fed up of Robyn’s constant self pity about being single and ended up hating her as a main character. I also found the constant jokes about her name tedious.
This book was mainly based around Robyn having an affair. This in turn meant that parts of this novel were so unrealistic and clichéd.
The cover is misleading as this book hardly has a Christmas theme, at most the very start and very end of the book.
One of the things that annoyed me the most about this book was the constant spelling and grammar errors. Faye was spelt three different ways throughout this book which bothered me. I found myself re-reading chunks of this book due to a lot of it making no sense at all.
I would not recommend this book to anyone and probably wouldn’t read any more by this author or any book along these lines.
February 26, 2014
I was brought this book as a christmas gift at Christmas 2012. I waited till the following year to read it at the build up to Christmas 2013 as I thought it was going to be very festive. As the title 'The Perfect Christmas' and the cover all seem to indicate this. But infact it follow Robyn, a wedding planner throughout the year and only gets christmassy the last few chapters. None the less I enjoyed this book but it wasn't what I was expecting. It tell the story of Robyn who has an affair with a married man. I found that the writer mentioned 'real life' things like t'v show and famous people a little too much, like she was trying to make you really feel that the book was a real story. But she over did it, an ok read but don't wait till Christmas to read it
December 2, 2012
Georgia Carter is better known as Ruth Saberton, although I have yet to read her books under this name I was much looking forward to starting this book. The cover has such a Christmas feel to it, and the red and white together work well for a Christmas read. From the first page to the last, I enjoyed this. The only reason it gets a 4 star for me is because it was slightly slow in parts. Some people may be annoyed because the main character has an affair with a married man. I don't condone this in real life, but in fiction world I let it go and enjoy the book. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
December 23, 2012
I did enjoy this book, though from the cover I did expect it to be a little more festive. Good News if you want a book you can read at pretty much any time of year, but not so good if you want to feel all Christmassy.
It is written in the first person, which felt weird as I mainly read books written in the third person, so it took me a couple of chapters to get into this.
Overall the story was good, if you are reading this review then you will have read the blurb at the top so I won't repeat it. However,
It is written in the first person, which felt weird as I mainly read books written in the third person, so it took me a couple of chapters to get into this.
Overall the story was good, if you are reading this review then you will have read the blurb at the top so I won't repeat it. However,
February 6, 2016
*No spoilers* I bought this book Summer 2012 and decided to keep it for Christmas. After dinner I devoured this novel in one sitting - it definitely has page turning factor. I found myself reading it again Christmas 2013. Christmas 2014 came and I was heavily pregnant, counting the days until my baby came. Throughout my pregnancy I must have read dozens of books to help me relax, this novel being one of them - again. Halfway through the 3rd time of reading it, I decided I was bored of it and put it away. Then lo and behold my waters broke. Some wishes for The Perfect Christmas do come true... This book however lost it's sparkle.
December 11, 2011
I did enjoy this book, but I didn't agree with the story line, Johnathan was a married man, I don't like stories that have affairs with married men, although it takes two to have an affair!! I would recommend.
December 24, 2012
I really enjoyed this book,although I did not agree with the affair aspect of the book.
The book was really quite predictable but very enjoyable nonetheless, although I was expecting a moire Christmassy theme.
The book was really quite predictable but very enjoyable nonetheless, although I was expecting a moire Christmassy theme.
December 19, 2012
Great fun easy read, ideal for the time of year. Could really relate to the stresses and strains of Robyn's life, felt a great empathy with her. Will loo forward to reading another from this author.
September 15, 2016
Loved it
December 31, 2016
A lovely easy read that was perfect for Christmas.
December 27, 2012
Lovely Xmas read. Very light hearted
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews