The Christmas Club

Christmas Carrolls #3

by Mel Taylor-Bessent, Selom Sunu (Illustrator)

‘A Christmas book about kindness and cheer to make even Scrooge’s heart melt’ Dame Jacqueline Wilson on The Christmas Carrolls

The Christmariffic Carrolls hit NEW YORK! Funny festive middle grade from the founder of Authorfy, perfect for 8+ fans of Matt Haig, Ben Miller, Sibeal Pounder’s Tinsel, and the Nativity! films

The Christmas-crazy Carrolls are back – and this time, they’re in NEW YORK!

Holly and her family are about to lead the famous Christmas parade in New York City! But there’s a hitch. They have been invited to join the EXCLUSIVE Christmas Club, whose members are among the MOST CHRISTMASSY FAMILIES IN THE WORLD. They simply have to follow the mysterious White Reindeer to find the Christmas Club’s secret headquarters in Manhattan. But when the White Reindeer shows up in the MIDDLE of the Christmas parade, the Carrolls are faced with a dilemma . . . Should they stay, or should they go?

With loveable New York characters, a mystery surrounding Holly’s mum Snow’s real name, and a new little furry friend, this book is a CHRISTMAS CRACKER!

Genres: Christmas, Middle Grade, Audiobook

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2023

About the author

Founder of the hugely successful Authorfy and Little Star Writing, Mel Taylor-Bessent has made her career connecting readers to their favourite authors and encouraging children to write for pleasure. After gaining a Creative Writing degree, Mel launched her first business at the age of 22 and ran creative writing workshops for thousands of children aged 6-12. As a result, she also arranged hundreds of author events and witnessed first-hand the positive impact these interactions had on her students.

In 2017, she decided to replicate this via online ‘Author Masterclasses’ on a website she created called Authorfy.com. Since then, Authorfy has gone on to win numerous awards, partner with the likes of World Book Day and BookTrust, and is used in classrooms all over the world. Now Mel is bringing her own writing to readers with The Christmas Carrolls, her debut fiction series.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars…this series has so many cute animals! Honestly, the half star I’m giving this book and the half star I gave the second book are both for the adorable animals they interact with! This one had a polar bear cub! Oh my goodness - so cute!!!

I liked the story of this book a little less than the second book, which is why I didn’t round up. The story was still cute, but the fart/poop jokes still detracted for me, as did all the made up words.

[BookBairn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A trip to New York over Christmas - yes please! I love how much heart each of the books in this series has. And this one certainly shows the Carrolls at their Christmas spirit best trying to bring cheer to lots of people!
I thought it was a little odd how the Christmas Club (shhh it’s a secret) had a competition for entry - surely that goes against the Christmas spirit? But I did really love the resolution of this at the end.
Again it had so many laugh out loud funny jokes, I personally would have preferred less fart and vomit related moments in the book! The dialogue throughout is just *spot on* and feels so genuine, and quick witted, and really makes you want to befriend Holly and the cast of characters - I’d love to have a chat with them all!
I adored the scenes at the zoo and can see why that got a lot of love - it certainly warmed my heart!

[N.L. McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the series and reading these books is becoming a bit of a christmassy tradition for me, it wouldn't be the festive season without a bit of the Carrolls enthusiasm and I really hope there's more to come as this is the most loveable set of characters I have read across many festive seasons. With the real meaning of christmas in the spotlight, can the Carrolls keep it in sight or will they fall to the glitz and glamour of the big citys festive competitiveness?... secrets are exposed, emotions are tested and the christmas spirit is at stake. I highly recommend this series, for all ages, these books are just so much funtastic, fizzy, bubbleicious fun!.
The illustrations also, absolutely snowtacular. 🥰

[Gary Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this incredible book by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree
A perfect end to the most amazing series I have loved every book and now every book is out you can get lost in all the Christmas magic this year
Thank you so much @meltaylorbessent for writing this fantastic series you are the real Christmas Oueen

[Dreximgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than book 2 but not quite as good as book 3. I do like the Carroll family and I definitely enjoyed the temporary relocation to New York. It was a fun story - very heavy on the morality storyline and sometimes the messages came across as a little heavy handed but it is a kids book at the end of the day. Fun christmassy read though.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the series, this is as funny, fast paced and joyful as the others. This took the Carrolls to New York with new characters and a new environment. Highly recommend this for the run up to Christmas, great fun.

[Kirsty Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a third outing for the Carroll family. If you have yet to meet the family let me take a moment to introduce them to you. It all began with The Christmas Carrolls, then came The Christmas Carrolls: The Christmas Competition and now we have The Christmas Carrolls: The Christmas Club. The Carrolls are – Holly, aged 9, and her Christmas obsessed family. What makes these books stand out is that they are not only feel-good, laugh-out-loud Christmas stories but they are also inclusive. Author Mel Taylor-Bessent understands that Christmas is not for everyone and, gently but warmly, shares this message, reminding us that Christmas, the festive period, is about spreading cheer, remembering the importance of friendship. Through each of the stories we follow Holly and her family as she discovers this, learns what it is that Christmas really means, to her, to her family and to those around them. Add in the lively black and white illustrations by Selom Senu and this book offers a little package of Christmas magic.

In this third title we find Holly and the Carroll family in New York where they are leading the world-famous Christmas season parade through the streets of the city. It must be the most fabulous way to welcome in Christmas, surely? Holly is certainly excited. But then an urgent invitation arrives. The Carrolls are not yet members of the Christmas Club, but they could be… The Christmas Club is exclusive, a top-secret organisation that works to spread cheer around the globe. This invitation is the Carrolls’ one and only chance to join, is it a chance they want to miss when they are the Christmas family? Holly is going to have to ask herself some important questions, not least of which is to decide what Christmas really means. And not just for her, this decision is going to be one that will affect her family and maybe her friends too. Mel Taylor-Bessent manages to pose a challenging question and answer it with a gentle touch, plenty of witty dialogue and a sparkling story reminding us how much we can enjoy Christmas, and other festivities, but that we must remember to think about what role it has in our lives. Is it all-engrossing or simply part of who we are, what we do; occasionally?

[my melody and kuromi K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trip to New York at Christmas!!!????!?!? Wow 🤩 I knew Winston had that shimmer of Santa Claus in his eye. Chilli was so cute as a polar bear!🐻‍❄️ I feel so bad for Seb and Sofia when Happy was mean😭 I still can’t believe Happy and Mary were a couple. I bet Holly and Archer had a fun time in New York with Sofia. A warm,heart-lifting story, that has a lesson to always treat people the way you want to be treated.