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A Not Quite Perfect Christmas: A Humorous Women's Fiction Story of Love and Festive Chaos in New York
A Christmas fairy tale in New York?
This Christmas, Emma Darcy has decided, is going to be perfect! Not only has she exchanged her glamorous London life to jet out to the even more glitzy New York, but she has her gorgeous boyfriend finally by her side, and her dream job comes with an invite to their super-dazzling Christmas party. Ooooh, what to wear?!
To celebrate, this year she’s planning a Christmas like you see in the movies; her tinsel-topped to-do list includes ice-skating outside Rockefeller Center, strolling around a snow-covered Central Park and Christmas (window) shopping at Tiffany.
That plan goes slightly out the window with news that her Mum, sister and niece Lily will be visiting her – that’s a lot of Darcy women, even in the Big Apple! With family drama and a work disaster to avoid too, this might not quite be the picture-perfect Christmas she’d had in mind…!
A Not Quite Perfect short story.
This Christmas, Emma Darcy has decided, is going to be perfect! Not only has she exchanged her glamorous London life to jet out to the even more glitzy New York, but she has her gorgeous boyfriend finally by her side, and her dream job comes with an invite to their super-dazzling Christmas party. Ooooh, what to wear?!
To celebrate, this year she’s planning a Christmas like you see in the movies; her tinsel-topped to-do list includes ice-skating outside Rockefeller Center, strolling around a snow-covered Central Park and Christmas (window) shopping at Tiffany.
That plan goes slightly out the window with news that her Mum, sister and niece Lily will be visiting her – that’s a lot of Darcy women, even in the Big Apple! With family drama and a work disaster to avoid too, this might not quite be the picture-perfect Christmas she’d had in mind…!
A Not Quite Perfect short story.
- GenresChristmas
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2013
About the author
Annie Lyons
17 books895 followersDear Reader,
thank you for dropping by to visit my Goodreads page. I am the author of seven novels and one novella. My first book, Not Quite Perfect was a Kindle number one bestseller and my novel featuring octogenarian, Eudora Honeysett was a USA Today bestseller as well as being nominated for the RNA Contemporary Novel Award. My latest book, The Air Raid Book Club is my first historical fiction novel. It tells the story of recently-widowed bookseller, Gertie Bingham and fifteen-year-old Hedy Fischer, who are thrown together by the events of the Second World War and who form a book club to support their community through these dark times. This book is particularly special to me as I’ve spent my life around books, from trips to the library with my mum as a child to my early career as a bookseller on Charing Cross Road and then over ten years in publishing and now as a writer and creative writing teacher. If I’m not writing or reading books, I like nothing more than to lose myself for an hour (or two if I can manage it) in a library or bookshop. I love the quiet calm and the smell of books, old and new. My favourite writers are Anne Tyler, Ruth Hogan, David Nicholls, Rachel Joyce, William Boyd, Katherine Heiny and Maggie O’Farrell but I love anything which makes me laugh and cry. I try to reflect this in my own writing and for me, it begins with the characters. I work to get to know them as well as my own friends and family as I write and allow them to lead the story. My aim is to write stories which are uplifting and ultimately hopeful as these are the books I love to read. My stories feature families, friendship, grief, love, happiness, singing, loss, betrayal, forgiveness, death, hope, books, joy and plenty more besides, and they invariably include a beloved family pet! My favourite thing about being an author is when readers contact me to let me know that a book has touched them, made them laugh or just served as a companion for a while. I recently received a card all the way from New York from eighty-four-year-old Rita in praise of the story of eighty-four-year-old Eudora and that was my week made. If you would like to get in touch, you can also find me on social media (links below) where I mainly talk about books, writing, my garden and my black Labrador, Nelson.
Happy reading!
Annie x
Instagram: @annielyonsauthor
Twitter: @1AnnieLyons
Facebook: www.facebook.com/annielyonswriter
Website: www.annielyons.com
thank you for dropping by to visit my Goodreads page. I am the author of seven novels and one novella. My first book, Not Quite Perfect was a Kindle number one bestseller and my novel featuring octogenarian, Eudora Honeysett was a USA Today bestseller as well as being nominated for the RNA Contemporary Novel Award. My latest book, The Air Raid Book Club is my first historical fiction novel. It tells the story of recently-widowed bookseller, Gertie Bingham and fifteen-year-old Hedy Fischer, who are thrown together by the events of the Second World War and who form a book club to support their community through these dark times. This book is particularly special to me as I’ve spent my life around books, from trips to the library with my mum as a child to my early career as a bookseller on Charing Cross Road and then over ten years in publishing and now as a writer and creative writing teacher. If I’m not writing or reading books, I like nothing more than to lose myself for an hour (or two if I can manage it) in a library or bookshop. I love the quiet calm and the smell of books, old and new. My favourite writers are Anne Tyler, Ruth Hogan, David Nicholls, Rachel Joyce, William Boyd, Katherine Heiny and Maggie O’Farrell but I love anything which makes me laugh and cry. I try to reflect this in my own writing and for me, it begins with the characters. I work to get to know them as well as my own friends and family as I write and allow them to lead the story. My aim is to write stories which are uplifting and ultimately hopeful as these are the books I love to read. My stories feature families, friendship, grief, love, happiness, singing, loss, betrayal, forgiveness, death, hope, books, joy and plenty more besides, and they invariably include a beloved family pet! My favourite thing about being an author is when readers contact me to let me know that a book has touched them, made them laugh or just served as a companion for a while. I recently received a card all the way from New York from eighty-four-year-old Rita in praise of the story of eighty-four-year-old Eudora and that was my week made. If you would like to get in touch, you can also find me on social media (links below) where I mainly talk about books, writing, my garden and my black Labrador, Nelson.
Happy reading!
Annie x
Instagram: @annielyonsauthor
Twitter: @1AnnieLyons
Facebook: www.facebook.com/annielyonswriter
Website: www.annielyons.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 4, 2024
”Not Quite Perfect Christmas” (A Not Quite Perfect Short Story) by Annie Lyons @annielyonsauthor ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Short Story. Location: New York City, NY, USA, and London, England. Time: Christmas season.
Emma Darcy decides this Christmas will be perfect, just like in the movies! She’s moved from glamorous London to the even more glitzy Manhattan, New York. She has her gorgeous boyfriend Martin by her side, and her dream publishing job comes with an invite to their super-dazzling Christmas party. Her mum Diana, sister Rachel, and 7-year-old niece Lily are coming to visit: 3 generations of independent Darcy women! Her holiday to-do list includes ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, strolling around snow-covered Central Park, and window shopping at Tiffany. There’s family drama, looking after English singer Cameron Soul (a major work client), and nasty work colleague Wendell Burke trying to sabotage their firm. This might not be the picture-perfect Christmas she has in mind.
Author Lyons has written a light-hearted Christmas short story full of humor. Her plot revolves around family bonds, no matter how different the personalities. The American-born characters sometimes use UK words/phrases (like ‘proper’, and a NYC mugger using ‘neither-nor’🤣), and the English characters do a bit of fat-shaming, but it doesn’t really distract from the plot. Fun details include the family’s trips to various New York sights and events. Take a little time from your holiday schedule to snuggle up with this short story. It’s 4 stars from me.🌵📚💁🏼♀️🎀
Emma Darcy decides this Christmas will be perfect, just like in the movies! She’s moved from glamorous London to the even more glitzy Manhattan, New York. She has her gorgeous boyfriend Martin by her side, and her dream publishing job comes with an invite to their super-dazzling Christmas party. Her mum Diana, sister Rachel, and 7-year-old niece Lily are coming to visit: 3 generations of independent Darcy women! Her holiday to-do list includes ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, strolling around snow-covered Central Park, and window shopping at Tiffany. There’s family drama, looking after English singer Cameron Soul (a major work client), and nasty work colleague Wendell Burke trying to sabotage their firm. This might not be the picture-perfect Christmas she has in mind.
Author Lyons has written a light-hearted Christmas short story full of humor. Her plot revolves around family bonds, no matter how different the personalities. The American-born characters sometimes use UK words/phrases (like ‘proper’, and a NYC mugger using ‘neither-nor’🤣), and the English characters do a bit of fat-shaming, but it doesn’t really distract from the plot. Fun details include the family’s trips to various New York sights and events. Take a little time from your holiday schedule to snuggle up with this short story. It’s 4 stars from me.🌵📚💁🏼♀️🎀
December 31, 2023
This short story was just a “nothing” read. The story went no where and had no meaning. It was a book club choice for the holidays and thankfully, very short. I enjoy this author though so won’t give up on her future novels.
November 26, 2015
Having read Not Quite Perfect earlier this year, I just had to catch up with the Darcys. The Not Quite Perfect Christmas short story revisits Emma and Rachel Darcy at Christmas time as we see how life has changed for the two sisters.
Since the first book, Emma is on a two-year secondment, continuing with her work as an editor in New York. Having left one sly co-worker behind in London, Emma now finds herself suspicious of Wendell who seems unimpressed with her work.
Her sister Rachel decides to visit her before Christmas, along with Diana (Rachel and Emma's mum) and Lily (Rachel's daughter). The Darcy women make an impact in New York and everyone has a part to play!
It's difficult to review the book and go into detail without completely spoiling the novella and the original book (if you haven't read it) but what I can say is that it's a lovely short story full of warmth and happiness at Christmas time. The character of Lily is one of my favourites - she is hilariously written and is wise and bold beyond her years.
Not Quite Perfect Christmas is a short and sweet novella which will leave you wanting more. The Darcy ladies are so well written, I'm sure that Annie Lyons could (and hopefully will) continue their stories in the future.
thanks to guest reviewer Kat for this post
Since the first book, Emma is on a two-year secondment, continuing with her work as an editor in New York. Having left one sly co-worker behind in London, Emma now finds herself suspicious of Wendell who seems unimpressed with her work.
Her sister Rachel decides to visit her before Christmas, along with Diana (Rachel and Emma's mum) and Lily (Rachel's daughter). The Darcy women make an impact in New York and everyone has a part to play!
It's difficult to review the book and go into detail without completely spoiling the novella and the original book (if you haven't read it) but what I can say is that it's a lovely short story full of warmth and happiness at Christmas time. The character of Lily is one of my favourites - she is hilariously written and is wise and bold beyond her years.
Not Quite Perfect Christmas is a short and sweet novella which will leave you wanting more. The Darcy ladies are so well written, I'm sure that Annie Lyons could (and hopefully will) continue their stories in the future.
thanks to guest reviewer Kat for this post
August 4, 2014
Not Quite Perfect Christmas is a short story about the main characters of Not Quite Perfect. Emma is living in New York and her sister Rachel, her niece Lily and her mother are coming over for a visit. Emma has a conniving, nasty colleague who tries to sabotage her, but fortunately she's got her family by her side to help her. It's Christmas time and the sisters have to wear beautiful dresses while going to glamorous parties. There are even some celebrities around. The winter holidays are romantic, especially in New York. What will happen to the sisters this time?
I liked to read about Rachel and Emma again. I highly recommend this novella when you've read Not Quite Perfect. That is a fantastic book and if you haven't read it yet, I think you should get both. Anny Lyons came up with an original story once more. This time the sisters are in New York. Rachel's traveled with her daughter and her mother, so there are three generations of women who all have their own plans. I really liked to read about their issues and intrigues. Not Quite Perfect Christmas is a great and festive addition to the wonderful original.
I liked to read about Rachel and Emma again. I highly recommend this novella when you've read Not Quite Perfect. That is a fantastic book and if you haven't read it yet, I think you should get both. Anny Lyons came up with an original story once more. This time the sisters are in New York. Rachel's traveled with her daughter and her mother, so there are three generations of women who all have their own plans. I really liked to read about their issues and intrigues. Not Quite Perfect Christmas is a great and festive addition to the wonderful original.
November 9, 2014
Not Quite Perfect Christmas is a great short story by Annie Lyons. The main character in this book is Emma who now lives in New York with her gorgeous boyfriend Martin. There was a previous book Not Quite Perfect where you get to know the family in much more detail, you can read this as a stand alone book but I was very happy reading this as a follow on, finding out what had happened after the rather turbulent family love lives of Emma and her sister Rachel.
Emma's sister Rachel, mum Diana and her 7 year old niece Lily all come to visit Emma, a girlie trip to New York. There is much fun in this book, shopping, love and a bit of detective work when Emma finds one of her obnoxious colleagues is trying to ruin the firm she works for.
This book has it all for a Christmas short story.
Emma's sister Rachel, mum Diana and her 7 year old niece Lily all come to visit Emma, a girlie trip to New York. There is much fun in this book, shopping, love and a bit of detective work when Emma finds one of her obnoxious colleagues is trying to ruin the firm she works for.
This book has it all for a Christmas short story.
February 2, 2014
I hadn't read the novel preceding this story but that certainly didn't matter for me. Quickly i got to know the characters, including riotous Lily and uptight Diana. What a sweet, short read which I found very entertaining, despite the fact Christmas is now long-gone. It portrayed how strong family bonds rise above differences in personality. Perhaps there will be another book in this series - maybe a double wedding for Emma and Diana?!
December 23, 2013
This is a lovely festive treat, a chance to re-visit some of the characters from Not Quite Perfect on their travels to the Big Apple. It’s a warm and funny short read, the perfect book to snuggle up with over the Christmas period.
November 12, 2015
Fast paced . Lots of characters to keep up with. not the best short xmas story
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December 29, 2014Review to come soon
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews