It Always Snows on Mistletoe Square

by Ali McNamara

🎧Listening Length = 8 hours and 58 minutes

From an author whose writing is “pure magic” that makes for “an enchanting escape” (Heidi Swain): In desperate need of a job, Elle — a certified grinch — musters all her fake festive cheer to work as a writer and chronicle a family’s holiday history. Could delving into the past help her navigate her future? Read by an Earphones Award–winning narrator.

Treat yourself to the most uplifting, escapist, festive romance of 2023!

…Wanted: experienced writer to record the history of one house and its family. Bed and board provided, the successful applicant must love Christmas.

Elle is rudderless, jobless and she’s soon to be homeless. When she spies an advert that looks like it could answer all her problems, she’s devastated to see one huge catch: Elle definitely does not love Christmas. On Mistletoe Square, an eccentric elderly woman and her unconventional housekeeper have an enormous Christmas tree and a box of delicate decorations collected over what must be centuries. With each decoration comes a story and with each story a breath-taking glimpse of a Christmas past. One Christmas at a time, the house’s history is brought vividly to life for Elle. But the more she sees of the family’s past, the more she wonders where and how their story might end. And what of her own story? Is it possible that what felt like an ending might have been leading her here … to a new beginning?

Bestselling author and reader favourite, Ali McNamara, is giving her readers just what’s on their Christmas list. The perfect read for fans of Heidi Swain, Philippa Ashley and Sarah Morgan.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, London, Contemporary, Holiday

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2023

About the author

Ali McNamara is a writer and author.

Her debut novel, From Notting Hill with Love...Actually, the first of three 'Notting Hill' books, became an instant bestseller.

Ali has had much overseas success with her books - particularly Breakfast at Darcy's which was a Top Ten bestseller in Italy. Her novels Step Back in Time and Letters from Lighthouse Cottage were nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year.

Ali lives in Cambridgeshire with her family and beloved dogs. In her spare time she likes to visit antique shops and people watch, more often than not accompanied by a good cup of coffee!

Ali suffers with two chronic illnesses: M.E./CFS and UCTD and is a disability and invisible disability advocate.

To find out more about Ali visit her website: www.alimcnamara.co.uk
or follow her on Twitter: @AliMcNamara, Facebook and Instagram.

Reviews

[Angela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When i began reading this book I was slightly confused and wasn’t sure what to expect (no spoilers) but once I was a few chapters in I absolutely loved it. The characters were brilliant especially Estelle and Angela and the whole story just fitted together perfectly.

I loved the stories Estelle and Angela shared and all the little details and characters, I really felt I was there with them and was totally absorbed in the story.

A truly magical Christmas novel in a fantastic romantic setting full of intrigue and mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley, Little Brown Book group UK and Ali McNamara for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's different and beautifully written. A story told across timelines including many ghosts who still feel very much with the characters. Ben and Elle are very good lead characters of Mistletoe square in Bloomsbury.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

È natale e cercherò di essere gentile: l'idea è buona, l'esecuzione è pessima.

Questo libro è scritto veramente male, peggio di un film di Natale di serie Z, e no, per una volta non è colpa della traduzione.
Siamo nella testa della protagonista, con la mia tanto odiata prima persona singolare. La protagonista si ritrova a vivere esperienze sovrannaturali, e anziché trovarci con pagine e pagine di pensieri e, probabilmente, paranoie riguardo a tutto ciò che sta succedendo lei non fa una piega, anzi. L'autrice sceglie di raccontarci le giornate seguenti a questi eventi in tre, quattro righe sbrigative per poi far vivere alla nostra protagonista un'altra esperienza paranormale e così ad oltranza per 300 pagine.
Il punto di scrivere in prima persona è proprio quello di fare entrare il lettore in contatto con il pensiero e l'emotività del personaggio principale, che senso ha fare questa scelta se poi decidiamo di utilizzare il metodo "film di serie Z" di passare da una scena all'altra senza pensarci due volte e dedicare un briciolo di spazio alle sensazioni che sta provando la protagonista in quel momento?

Le storie in sé, tra l'altro, sono veramente insulse. Non trasmettono praticamente niente, l'autrice passa più tempo a descrivere l'arredamento che a dare spessore a ciò che succede ai personaggi. È una serie infinita di un "tell while showing", che non so se esiste e in caso l'ho appena coniato, via: c'è una scena, la osserviamo, la scena di per sé non dice niente, e poi la persona che sta raccontando/mostrando la scena fa lo spiegone di tutto il contorno, altrimenti la scena che vedi non ha alcun significato.
Anche lì, le cose raccontate sarebbero anche importanti, ma vengono talmente tanto striminzite in due righe che alla fine non hanno alcuna importanza. Vengono buttate lì cose che sono davvero importanti con frasi tipo "ah sì la mia antenata ha inventato il teletrasporto, ora andiamo a prendere il tè". Ok, sister.

Per non parlare dei dialoghi, vuoti e vani. Anche in questo caso ci sono quintali di frasi fatte e situazioni trattate veramente malissimo, cose serie che andrebbero discusse anche per ore e con un certo tatto buttate lì come se nulla fosse.

Last but not least: non so se è stata una mia impressione, ma per tutto il libro sono disseminate frasi un po' strane, che mi hanno anche messa a disagio. Ad esempio, lo zio della Regina Elisabetta viene spesso guardato con grande ammirazione per essersi sposato per amore. Sì certo, tutto molto bello, però possiamo non parlare in questi termini di un uomo che appoggiava, insieme alla sua amata moglie, l'ideologia Nazista che in quegli anni si stava spandendo a macchia d'olio?
C'è anche una parte in cui si lascia intendere che la protagonista avrebbe dovuto capire solo "guardando" un personaggio che questo fosse gay. ???? Sono confusa.
Non mi impelagherò sul discorso del pesante classismo sempre presente, perché per quello posso almeno usare la scusa che le persone che parlano hanno duecento anni in due quindi immagino sia più scusabile.

Non lo so Rick, mi pare una ciofeca.

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical read full of Christmas and all things festive, almost a fairytale.

[Natalie Pomeroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Christmas novel. Good idea Jodi.
A lovely magical book with romance and historical fiction.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author, and if you've never read any of her books before, I will warn you to expect a magical treat from all of them! This one has to be my favourite book so far, and once started I couldn't put it down and finished it in just under a day! We meet Elle just before Christmas. She's having a bad time and is found sitting on a London bridge contemplating her future. When a mysterious gentleman leaves her a newspaper advert for the perfect job it sounds too good to be true.

This story was just absolutely delightful! I expected a festive romancey read, which of course it is. But it's also so much more than that! Elle's story takes us back through history, and each visit to a past year is captivating and I found myself hanging on the story's every word! I loved the characters, not just Elle, Ben, Estelle and Angela but the others we meet from the different years. Their stories all brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. How their storylines all unfolded was so mesmorising, I forgot to try and work out where it was all heading and just got carried away with what a wonderful read it was!

This was a book which was full of festivity, friendship, family and love. It was also so magical that I imagined every time it snowed little bits of magic were sprinkled into the snowflakes just to make it that bit more special! I was genuinely sorry to finish this book and could have happily read it all over again...in fact, I might just do that!

[Janette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and felt that there were definitely echoes of It’s a Wonderful Life with the mysterious stranger on the bench. However, as I read on, I didn’t really feel the magic that I was expecting.
I loved the history of the house and liked the characters of Estelle and Angela whereas I wasn’t as interested in Elle or Ben and the modern romance just seemed a bit too neat. I thought that the interweaving of the house’s history was cleverly done and enjoyed seeing how it changed in each time period especially the tree which was constant throughout the book. However, I never really engaged with the way the stories were told which I think stopped me from being really involved with the characters.
Sadly, this book wasn’t for me and didn’t really give me the festive warmth that I look for in a Christmas read.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers Little Brown Group UK and Sphere for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much more than I expected, it really blew me away! I was drawn in from the start, and just when I thought I knew where it was going, it surprised me wholly! I wish the magic of Mistletoe Square was real, and that we coukd all experience it once. The stories that were woven into this book were amazing as well, and I loved how they ultimately came together! I can highly recommend this book, it was such a heart-warming christmas story!

[Lisa Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle responds to an advert for an experienced writer to move into Christmas House in Mistletoe Square to write the story of the house. Here she meets Estelle and Angela and the adventure begins.

I loved this story so much!! Even though it was a bit confusing at first. I'm like Elle so I love learning the history of places and imagining what life would be like. For a house to have stayed within a family for so many generations is just amazing and fascinates me.

Estelle and Angela were amazing characters - I kind of got a little inkling of what was going on, doubted myself and then it was confirmed at the end. They were such wonderful and kind souls.

I equally loved Elle and Ben and their story too. There were too many similarities with them and I knew it couldn't just be a coincidence. I ended this feeling so happy and wanting to live in Christmas House myself.

[Lapis Lazuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una favola magica e dolce, con un pizzico di Canto di Natale, ambientata in una casa incantevole che sembra quasi un personaggio della storia. Una lettura rilassante che è una vera coccola natalizia

[martina_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai adoré ! Ça se lit bien, les personnages sont attachants, il y a un twist fantastique / magique que je n’ai pas vu venir avec la 4e de couverture mais qui est rondement bien mené. J’ai trouvé que ça donnait vraiment un esprit de Noël à ce livre, sans tomber dans le trop facile pour autant. Je ressors enchantée de cette lecture !

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro navideño original y bastante entretenido.
La parte de romance me ha dado un poco de pereza, pero todo lo demás me ha encantado. La ambientación, la forma de escribir, las historias de Estelle y Angela y el toque de magia navideña. Lo he disfrutado mucho.

[MetLineReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm and cosy book - requires you to suspend belief. An interesting social history looking at one house across various time periods and the issues faced.
Really liked the characters of Elle and Ben, felt that Estelle and Angela were (deliberately) holding back but as the layers of the story are revealed at the end it does make sense. Really sweet story that gets you thinking about how society treats people. 4*

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't care for the romance, but loved everything else

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a few chapters in, but I'm loving this book!
What a magical and enchanting book! Loved it

[Emma Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly, I didn’t get around to reading as many Christmas books as I would have liked for 2023 but of the few I did read, It Always Snows on Mistletoe Square was definitely a stand out. Technically, it still is Christmas as here in Ireland Little Christmas or Women’s Christmas takes place on the 6th January so at the time of writing this review you could still read this fabulous, magical and very special book. But to be honest I have been known to read Christmas books in the summer as they are really quite addictive. The cover for this book is simply beautiful and very inviting and right from the start I was drawn into the story.

I fell back in love with Ali McNamara’s writing last summer, having not read anything by her in a number of years, when she published Cornish Clouds and Silver Lining Skies. I realise now that there is always an element of magical realism in her books and to be honest I usually find this too far fetched and over the top as I like having something solid that can be explained to be present in a book. But here and with the previous book, the author makes it work and despite that niggling feeling of wanting a definitive answer even towards the end regarding one aspect of the overall storyline, it really only was a niggle and I loved every minute of the time that I spent with Elle, Ben, Estelle and Angela.

There was a brief prologue where we are introduced to children’s author Elle who has a little quizzical moment occurring in London in December 2023. Yes the opening was slightly strange but I have come to expect the unexpected from the author but very much in a good way. We are then taken back to December 2018 and Elle describes herself as being in a miserable quagmire of her life after having a run of bad luck. She is in a pit of despair with problems enshrouding her. She has lost her job, home, best friend and fiancée. I mean could it get any worse for her?

Elle is sitting on a bench staring out at the Thames and trying to figure out her next move. She is in a deep and dark place when a stranger sits next to her and she somehow starts to share her story. The man says these wise words ‘If you have the courage to trust and follow your own path, Elle, instead of fighting it, you’ll never be truly lost in life’. With this said he disappears leaving a newspaper behind him in which Elle discovers a job highlighted. It sounds like the ideal job for her considering her current circumstances.

An experienced writer is wanted to write the story and history of a house. Accommodation will be provided and above all else the successful candidate must like Christmas. Elle arrives at Mistletoe Square and it’s like stepping back in time. It’s as if all around it London has moved on into the present but Christmas House and the Square have retained the charm and magic that they have had since they were first built. Estelle, along with her dog Alvie, lives in Christmas house and it has been in her family for over 250 years. Her housekeeper Angela is more like a sister to her than a servant.

Estelle doesn’t want her family’s history to disappear. The stories need to be written down and this is where Elle comes in and from this point on Elle forgets about her own worries as she becomes completely caught up in the numerous stories that Estelle shares. It was almost as if Estelle knew that Elle was at the end of her tether and things could really have gone either way for her and that this opportunity would transform her life in so many ways. Amidst the light and laughter there were some dark moments but they all perfectly balanced each other. Ben has recently moved into Holly House next door and he too has suffered with relationship troubles. Before long, he is drawn into the stories that begin to unfold.

Elle sets about her task of writing the history of the house and she learns lots of information through Estelle sharing the stories. The stories are told in a flashback format and I loved the historical element that began to come into the story alongside the fantasy/magical aspect. There are too many stories to go into but each details a family in the house and there are a lot of characters to keep track of and you are constantly asking yourself could there be a connection between them all or even to the present day? The manner in which Estelle begins the stories and the strange events that occur well it is rather unbelievable but I’ve learned to just go with the flow when it comes to the authors writing as I knew it would all eventually make sense and have a reasonable explanation which for the most part it does. There is a method behind Estelle’s madness and I found her to be a very clever and intuitive character. She is showing Elle how one little moment can change a life. The only one constant throughout the story is the Christmas tree. It makes its appearance every year despite the changes the residents have gone through.

I have been intentionally vague throughout this review for to detail each story would be too much and it would give too much away. I’ll admit there was a point where I was questioning where was everything going or would things just turn into a big anti climax? I needn’t have worried at all as I was in capable hands and when things started becoming clearer I quickly came to realise how clever the author had been and how brilliantly plotted the entire book was with such a special message and themes being explored. Elle soon comes to understand that ‘Family is everything, whether that’s the family you’re born into, or the family you chose to live with, and we need to appreciate it while we can. Especially at Christmas’. That’s what Elle is missing in her life and I sincerely hoped that Elle, Angela and Ben might offer what had been missing from her life.

It Always Snows on Mistletoe Square was a unique, special and memorable read that I devoured in short order. When I wasn’t able to read it due to work and life commitments I found myself itching to get back to it to discover what would happen next and what stories would be revealed. The characters and their messages will live long in your mind once you have read the final page and you will be reluctant to leave the but the ending is deeply satisfactory. Ali McNamara is now firmly back on my reading radar and I hope she is hard at work on a summer book for this year if not another Christmas book would be brilliant.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐
Children should be with people who love them. Wether that be their actual family, or someone who is willing to give them the love they deserve
- Elle -

If you have the courage to trust an follow your own path, instead of fighting it, you'll never be truly lost in life

❤️🎁🎄❄️😭🥹❄️⭐🪽❄️🥹😭❄️🎄🎁❤️
WOW!! This book is so perfectly and meaningful, everyone should read it. Definitely the best Christmas book I ever read! It plays in the real world, but it is also full of magic and shows how magical Christmastime should be. As we grow older we forget about that, but why not celebrating Christmas like we are kids? Why forget this magical and special feeling? 

Also it's incredible how big of a topic womenhood is! Of course there is the family topic, but they celebrate women, especially mothers, in a so special and healing way I got very emotional at some parts. Loved how the story included the famous "Great Ormond Street Hospital", Charles Dickens and his famous Christmas carol, it fits this story soo good!

There are sooo many quotes that made me smile, I barely ever have so many good quotes in a book. 
Even though the romance part is very small, because of all the other big social topics, Elle and Ben are a super cute couple and deserve all the happiness. The last 50 pages were constantly shock! There was one plot-twist after the other and everything wrapped around just perfectly. I didn't see that coming or would have thought that I would like this book so much!!

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Ali McNamara’s books. However, until now, they’ve always been a treat I’ve looked forward to in summer. This year, I was so excited to find out that she was bringing out a Christmas book – her first one – and what a treat it was!

With echoes of It’s A Wonderful Life, we meet writer Elle at a very low ebb in her life, sitting by a bridge contemplating how things have gone so wrong. Just as for George in It’s A Wonderful Life, a mysterious stranger turns up at just the right time. The advert she notices in the newspaper he leaves behind offers the perfect solution to her problems – a live in job for someone who loves Christmas (not really Elle) writing the story of the house.

First of all, I loved the idea of writing a history of the beautiful, old house on Mistletoe Square. Mistletoe Square is just exactly the kind of place you imagine when you think of the Victorian idea of Christmas, made popular by Charles Dickens who, funnily enough, makes an appearance in this book. So many significant events seemed to happen in Christmas House at Christmas time. The elderly owner Estelle and her housekeeper told the story of the former occupants by focussing on vintage Christmas tree decorations. Estelle had a unique way of storytelling which made everything seem very real to Elle and to Ben, the young lawyer who was renting Holly House next door.

I have to mention the characters who we met through the different eras. I realised quite early on in the book that almost all the characters had Christmas related names. I had fun spotting these and also looking up some to see the origin of the name and its connection to Christmas if it was one I wasn’t familiar with. As we discover much later in the book, the characters are often connected to each other too. I mentioned before that the book has similarities to It’s A Wonderful Life but it also reminded me a lot of A Christmas Carol with all the vignettes from bygone days being like the visions of the Ghost of Christmas Past.

As with all Ali McNamara books. there is a sprinkling of magic in this book, something I love about her writing. Who cares if it’s something that can’t really happen? If you can’t believe in magic at Christmas time, when can you? I adored every page of this book. It couldn’t be more Christmassy if it tried. It Always Snows on Mistletoe Square is an enchanting, heart-warming, romantic story and I highly recommend you don’t miss this one this Christmas time.

[mirjam]

3.78/5 ?🤷‍♀️🫠
- Elle in Estelle sta ful preveč podobni imeni za dve različni glavni osebi če mene vprašaš
- Ne vem a bi mi mogli bit teli dialogi smešni ker mi kind of niti niso?
- Elle pa Ben (Ebenezer je njegov full name btw💀) mi nimata glih chemistryja in sta kr skp po tem k se poznata 5 dni?
- Res ne vem kam vse to vodi pa kako in zakaj se vse dogaja (vse z Estelle pa Angelo) ampak v tem plotu ful bl uživam kt v romancu kar me preseneča
- Ful jak christmas vibe in res kjut drgač : )
- “I love you” IN POZNATA SE 6 DNI??
- Okej to taprvo glede imen so pojasnli tk da fer
- “Late”?? As in dead???
- Okay now that was a roller coaster🤯
- Okej zdej na koncu mi je tale relationship mal bl ok, ampak še zmeri the fact da sta precej resno govorila o prihodnosti in o družini po tem k se niti en tedn nista poznala je crazy
- Ampak še enkrat: wholsome christmas vibes

(Nika, če bereš to, hvala za knjigo, vem, da zgleda kt da mi ni bla tok dobra, ampak not true!! Would very much recommend za naslednji božič, sploh, če greš brat z zavedanjem da ti nč ne bo jasno do zadnjega poglavja in sam uživaš v vajbu!)

Lp

[Giovanna Sirchia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una lettura fiabesca nella quale il passato e il presente si incontrano e convivono insieme.
Una trama originale anche se inverosimile con un finale sicuramente scontato ma tutto assolutamente in sintonia con lo spirito natalizio.
Lo consiglio a chi , da adulto, non ha perso il coraggio di lasciarsi incantare dalla magia del Natale 🌲

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely captivating, magical story. I adored reading this book. There’s upset and pain but also the most uplifting sense of love and romance all shrouded in mystery. Absolute escapism. Fabulous read! I highly recommend any time of the year!

Thank you Netgalley

[Kicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

En helt och hållet magiskt underbar berättelse, en sådan som man vill aldrig någonsin ska ta slut och där man känner saknade efter karaktärerna och händelserna långt efter att sista sidan är läst.
Helt klart en bok jag kommer att läsa om och om igen.

[Mamie-Rose Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic story, had me hooked from the first page and finished in a a week!

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of Christmas magic, ghosts and a happy ending. This is a lovely Christmas story.

[Stacey Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little read. Made me quite emotional at the end!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting at all! Probably a good job though because I possibly wouldn't have read it. A magical read to start the festive season!

[Lotta Söderlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jag gillar karaktärerna, miljön och magin. 🥰

[Kimberley Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never writes a bad book! Another amazing read.