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The Little Board Game Café #4
Christmas at the Board Game Cafe
COMING SOON the next festive instalment of The Little Board Game Cafe series!
Kate seems to have it all – wonderful friends, a successful career and an idyllic life in the quirky Yorkshire town of Essendale. But under the surface Kate's lonely, and she longs to feel part of a family – especially during Christmas.
With the holiday season fast approaching, and the town desperate to attract more visitors, Kate conceives a brilliant an enchanting living Advent calendar. Each December evening, a captivating window display will be unveiled across town. With local businesses struggling, including her best friend's board game café, she's feeling the pressure.
But Kate's picture-perfect plans take an unexpected turn when her ex-boyfriend arrives in Yorkshire, insisting on creating the Christmas Eve display. Can Kate trust him to deliver a show-stopping window? And can she finally put the past behind her and embrace the future she's always dreamed of?
***
Perfect for fans
Second chance romance
Small-town settings
Cosy reads
***
Praise for Jennifer
'An absolute delight from the very first page to the delicious end!' Faith Hogan
'Word perfect! I loved it!' Heidi Swain
'Another cracker from Jennifer Page! This is a hug of a book.' Caroline James
'A heart-warming romance perfect for curling up with. I absolutely loved it.' Kitty Wilson
Kate seems to have it all – wonderful friends, a successful career and an idyllic life in the quirky Yorkshire town of Essendale. But under the surface Kate's lonely, and she longs to feel part of a family – especially during Christmas.
With the holiday season fast approaching, and the town desperate to attract more visitors, Kate conceives a brilliant an enchanting living Advent calendar. Each December evening, a captivating window display will be unveiled across town. With local businesses struggling, including her best friend's board game café, she's feeling the pressure.
But Kate's picture-perfect plans take an unexpected turn when her ex-boyfriend arrives in Yorkshire, insisting on creating the Christmas Eve display. Can Kate trust him to deliver a show-stopping window? And can she finally put the past behind her and embrace the future she's always dreamed of?
***
Perfect for fans
Second chance romance
Small-town settings
Cosy reads
***
Praise for Jennifer
'An absolute delight from the very first page to the delicious end!' Faith Hogan
'Word perfect! I loved it!' Heidi Swain
'Another cracker from Jennifer Page! This is a hug of a book.' Caroline James
'A heart-warming romance perfect for curling up with. I absolutely loved it.' Kitty Wilson
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2024
29 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Page
6 books71 followersJennifer Page lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her husband Hermi and his very – no, make that extremely – large collection of board games. Her debut novel, The Little Board Game Cafe will be published on 13th April 2022. Jennifer writes light-hearted, cosy romantic fiction which was initially inspired by her own dating adventures. Before she met Hermi, she was single for 13 years and had pretty much given up on meeting The One.
When she isn’t writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games; since she met Hermi, she’s become even more obsessed with them than he is! She also loves cooking (though she’d never claim to be any good at it!), caravan holidays and walking in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.
When she isn’t writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games; since she met Hermi, she’s become even more obsessed with them than he is! She also loves cooking (though she’d never claim to be any good at it!), caravan holidays and walking in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
July 17, 2025
Christmas at the Board Game Cafe by Jennifer Page is a sweet average romance in a Christmas setting.
September 29, 2025
Christmas At The Board Game Café is the fourth book in The Little Board Game Café series by British author, Jennifer Page. Marketing expert, Kate Harker is a bit apprehensive about meeting up with her friends for Jo’s birthday drinks: she has just, somewhat unexpectedly, spent the night with her best friend Em’s ex-fiancé, Peter Ridley. Em is very happy now with Ludek, but still…
The Board Game Café is rather quiet, and her friends share their concern for the West Pennines towns of Essendale and Hebbleswick: business is good in summer, but by November, the shops are struggling; Alessandra’s Dress Shop has recently closed down. Can Kate apply her marketing skills to attract more people to the towns? She promises to think on it.
In fact, Em, Jo and Taylor are all happily loved up with their partners, and Taylor is overjoyed to be pregnant. It leaves Kate feeling depressed about her own love life.
Soon enough, though, Kate has two men on her mind, distracting her from work and ideas for the towns: with Em’s blessing, she’s going out with Peter, an attractive, thoughtful man with whom there’s, unfortunately, no spark. That has her recalling the man she dated four years earlier: there was a massive spark with Zander, but then she came across the deal-breaker, his collection of toy soldiers.
When she happens upon a magazine article about a living Advent calendar, Kate shares the idea with Peter, convinced it will revitalise the towns, and he pledges moral and practical support. Her friends get on board, and the town meeting soon has more than enough potential windows and clever ideas to be revealed from December first onwards.
Kate hits the social media hard, but is a bit disappointed at the lack of interest from conventional media. And she needs to find the new owner of Alessandra’s: that boarded up window isn’t a good look. When she finally chances the resident at home, it’s quite a shock. But he’s immediately enthused about the idea, promising a show-stopper for Christmas Eve.
Kate’s very understanding boss allows her flexible hours to get the preparations done, and is encouraging and innovative when a social media poster accuses her of encouraging energy wastage for a frivolous idea. A verbal faux-pas by one of the windowers manages to attract even more attention, and Kate is pleased with turnout each night. But will it make a difference in the long run?
Once again, Page populates her novel with characters with whom the reader can easily fall in love, and want to meet again. We can only hope she has more of this cast and setting up her literary sleeve. Heart-warming, hopeful and enjoyable.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Aria & Aries.
The Board Game Café is rather quiet, and her friends share their concern for the West Pennines towns of Essendale and Hebbleswick: business is good in summer, but by November, the shops are struggling; Alessandra’s Dress Shop has recently closed down. Can Kate apply her marketing skills to attract more people to the towns? She promises to think on it.
In fact, Em, Jo and Taylor are all happily loved up with their partners, and Taylor is overjoyed to be pregnant. It leaves Kate feeling depressed about her own love life.
Soon enough, though, Kate has two men on her mind, distracting her from work and ideas for the towns: with Em’s blessing, she’s going out with Peter, an attractive, thoughtful man with whom there’s, unfortunately, no spark. That has her recalling the man she dated four years earlier: there was a massive spark with Zander, but then she came across the deal-breaker, his collection of toy soldiers.
When she happens upon a magazine article about a living Advent calendar, Kate shares the idea with Peter, convinced it will revitalise the towns, and he pledges moral and practical support. Her friends get on board, and the town meeting soon has more than enough potential windows and clever ideas to be revealed from December first onwards.
Kate hits the social media hard, but is a bit disappointed at the lack of interest from conventional media. And she needs to find the new owner of Alessandra’s: that boarded up window isn’t a good look. When she finally chances the resident at home, it’s quite a shock. But he’s immediately enthused about the idea, promising a show-stopper for Christmas Eve.
Kate’s very understanding boss allows her flexible hours to get the preparations done, and is encouraging and innovative when a social media poster accuses her of encouraging energy wastage for a frivolous idea. A verbal faux-pas by one of the windowers manages to attract even more attention, and Kate is pleased with turnout each night. But will it make a difference in the long run?
Once again, Page populates her novel with characters with whom the reader can easily fall in love, and want to meet again. We can only hope she has more of this cast and setting up her literary sleeve. Heart-warming, hopeful and enjoyable.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Aria & Aries.
August 31, 2024
I received a free copy of, Christmas at the Board Game Cafe, by Jennifer Page, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the fourth book in The Little Board Game Cafe series. Kate has the brilliant idea to do a little something different for advent. Stores in her area are not doing so well, so she decides to have a different store display a brand new live action window display will debut, but having her ex back in town does not help. I think this would be so cool to see in person, a nice read.
October 9, 2024
I was so excited to read this book! I adore the Board Game Café series and to have a Christmas theme included added another fantastic layer to the story.
It was brilliant to see Kate’s story unfold. A character in the other books, her gentle support and enthusiasm for her community already made her a character that I enjoyed reading about. I loved her fantastic idea for bringing people to the area with the living advent calendar and it was entertaining watching her pull it all together.
I also love seeing a second chance at love theme too, Xander was a wonderful character and I relished seeing them reconnecting as the story progressed.
So much festive fun, and a gorgeous community made this a really uplifting experience. I would love to create a living advent calendar in my community now! This book has inspired me to be more creative with my decorating and also to dig out some board games too! It’s everything I love in a festive book!
It was brilliant to see Kate’s story unfold. A character in the other books, her gentle support and enthusiasm for her community already made her a character that I enjoyed reading about. I loved her fantastic idea for bringing people to the area with the living advent calendar and it was entertaining watching her pull it all together.
I also love seeing a second chance at love theme too, Xander was a wonderful character and I relished seeing them reconnecting as the story progressed.
So much festive fun, and a gorgeous community made this a really uplifting experience. I would love to create a living advent calendar in my community now! This book has inspired me to be more creative with my decorating and also to dig out some board games too! It’s everything I love in a festive book!
November 4, 2024
Starting a series at the fourth instalment can be daunting, and I wondered if I should try to read the earlier books first, but I simply couldn’t squeeze them in. I needn’t have worried as this story is constructed in a way that I soon found myself easing into the delightful community at Essendale and enjoying the characters immensely.
Kate is a fantastic protagonist and a veritable marketing whizz. Her track record speaks for itself, so it seems only natural that she would take on the challenge of helping turn around the fortunes of her village and the businesses she cares about. As the synopsis explains, she organises a living Advent calendar display, something that I would certainly look forward to. This is definitely a community effort, and it helps us meet more delightful characters from the local area and neighbouring village. My favourite would have to be Mr B and his baubles. A genuine laugh-out-loud moment!
Kate had recently had a brief encounter with her best friend’s ex and swore it would be a one-off dalliance. The issue being that she wouldn’t break the code of the sisterhood and mess with an ex. Besides, she still had feelings for an ex of her own.
I honestly felt Kate’s conflict and found her childhood experiences to be heartbreaking. Her own understanding skewing her perception of adult relationships. But her story was told with such warmth, making her concerns totally believable, and I was moved by her experiences.
Of course, Kate couldn’t consider a romance for herself until she’d resolved her issues with her past, and that led to some gorgeous developments filled with warmth and the joys of Christmas. It's one of my favourite Christmas books this year, and I’m already looking forward to reading more from Jennifer Page.
Kate is a fantastic protagonist and a veritable marketing whizz. Her track record speaks for itself, so it seems only natural that she would take on the challenge of helping turn around the fortunes of her village and the businesses she cares about. As the synopsis explains, she organises a living Advent calendar display, something that I would certainly look forward to. This is definitely a community effort, and it helps us meet more delightful characters from the local area and neighbouring village. My favourite would have to be Mr B and his baubles. A genuine laugh-out-loud moment!
Kate had recently had a brief encounter with her best friend’s ex and swore it would be a one-off dalliance. The issue being that she wouldn’t break the code of the sisterhood and mess with an ex. Besides, she still had feelings for an ex of her own.
I honestly felt Kate’s conflict and found her childhood experiences to be heartbreaking. Her own understanding skewing her perception of adult relationships. But her story was told with such warmth, making her concerns totally believable, and I was moved by her experiences.
Of course, Kate couldn’t consider a romance for herself until she’d resolved her issues with her past, and that led to some gorgeous developments filled with warmth and the joys of Christmas. It's one of my favourite Christmas books this year, and I’m already looking forward to reading more from Jennifer Page.
August 29, 2024
I've enjoyed the Boardgame Cafe series by Jennifer Page, and to find another book was fantastic!
Kate is happy (ish) in life, being Little Miss Perfect at work and being there to help and support her friends and the community around her. However, it feels like she's stuck in one place while everyone else is moving on. Her best friend, Jo, is loved up, and happy with her partner and running a successful business, and her other close friends are in relationships or even pregnant. It's just her sitting there alone, even though the others never make her feel like an outsider or a spare part.
She embarks on a relationship she's unsure of and finds another cause to support, as the local businesses and residents lament the B&B generation where summers are lovely and busy. The cold weather starts, and there is no one here... no holidaymakers, no affordable housing for those who would like to live there, and no trade...
I won't go into it too much, as you need to read for yourself, but it was great to read about how Kate grows as a person, coming to grips with some long-held beliefs, repairing some relationships, and severing others.
Oh, and I just loved Xander! I'm just saying... who can resist a man who cooks?
Of course, we are treated to updates on all the old characters through this book, as their stories entwine, however you could read this as a stand alone.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an ARC.
Kate is happy (ish) in life, being Little Miss Perfect at work and being there to help and support her friends and the community around her. However, it feels like she's stuck in one place while everyone else is moving on. Her best friend, Jo, is loved up, and happy with her partner and running a successful business, and her other close friends are in relationships or even pregnant. It's just her sitting there alone, even though the others never make her feel like an outsider or a spare part.
She embarks on a relationship she's unsure of and finds another cause to support, as the local businesses and residents lament the B&B generation where summers are lovely and busy. The cold weather starts, and there is no one here... no holidaymakers, no affordable housing for those who would like to live there, and no trade...
I won't go into it too much, as you need to read for yourself, but it was great to read about how Kate grows as a person, coming to grips with some long-held beliefs, repairing some relationships, and severing others.
Oh, and I just loved Xander! I'm just saying... who can resist a man who cooks?
Of course, we are treated to updates on all the old characters through this book, as their stories entwine, however you could read this as a stand alone.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an ARC.
October 10, 2024
I loved this book...It was a heartwarming story that left me with a smile on my face! I liked the way the characters were developed, with their flaws and the feelings of loneliness although everything seems good..I really appreciate when I read about realistic behaviors and relationships and Jennifer Page really succeded it! This is the perfect read for everyone who wants to get into christmas spirit! So make a cup of hot chocolate, get comfortable on your couch and let this story fill you with warm and christmas vibes!
September 3, 2024
I'm obsessed with this series. I've loved all the Board Game Cafe books and this one set at Christmas time is equally as beautiful.
Back in the idyllic towns that hold so many beautiful memories but with the addition of a Living Advent Calendar and I'm here for it. I would love to see one in the flesh, it just sounds so picturesque.
Another easy 5⭐️ read and I can't wait to see what comes next.
Back in the idyllic towns that hold so many beautiful memories but with the addition of a Living Advent Calendar and I'm here for it. I would love to see one in the flesh, it just sounds so picturesque.
Another easy 5⭐️ read and I can't wait to see what comes next.
December 31, 2024
Such a cute Christmas story. Kate is trying to help her town by getting more people to visit during December. They have an Advent calendar of Christmas windows from local shops and homes. The countdown is on- I really wish I could have seen them in person! They sounded so cute ! She also has to decide between new guy Peter and an ex-Xander. I was torn at first, but loved how it all worked out!
October 13, 2024
A delightful hug of a book.
It was fabulous to be back in Essendale in the company of the characters from the Board Game Cafe.
Centre stage this time is Kate. As she tries to increase footfall in the cold winter months with her walking Advent calendar she not only helps the town reach its full potential but she finds herself reaching her own too.
A wonderful catch-up with characters I've become invested in and I can't wait to revisit them again soon.
It was fabulous to be back in Essendale in the company of the characters from the Board Game Cafe.
Centre stage this time is Kate. As she tries to increase footfall in the cold winter months with her walking Advent calendar she not only helps the town reach its full potential but she finds herself reaching her own too.
A wonderful catch-up with characters I've become invested in and I can't wait to revisit them again soon.
January 15, 2025
Perfect
This is a brilliant story I like Kate very much, she's a hard worker and a very faithful friend to her great group of friends. I loved the living advent calendar idea a wonderful book Jennifer Page .
This is a brilliant story I like Kate very much, she's a hard worker and a very faithful friend to her great group of friends. I loved the living advent calendar idea a wonderful book Jennifer Page .
December 28, 2024
The thrill of discovering a new author will never grow old and that’s exactly what happened this year when I came upon the Little Board Game Café series by Jennifer Page. Since then she has established herself as one of my favourite authors and I have read all four of the books in the series so far. Each book has been better than the last and that’s saying something as every book has been fantastic from beginning to end. Jennifer has created a cast of characters that you are rooting for all the way and with a real community feel in the villages of Essendale and Hebbleswick which only grows with the publication of each new story.
Each book is unique in its concept and truly it’s genius the ideas that Jennifer has come up with. Each has kept my attention whether it featured board games, scrabble, upcycling fashion or as with the latest instalment a Living Advent Calendar. My enthusiasm and affection for the series has just grown and grown. Those who have read the previous books in the series will revel in overlapping characters and stories (in fact that’s half the fun and enjoyment - spotting familiar faces and seeing how they are doing now) but each book can be read as a standalone as there is much to enjoy in each book alone. But let’s be honest if you are anything like me and start one book you’ll instantly want to devour them all one after the other if at all possible.
At the end of book three, Second Chances at the Board Game Café, I was left wondering would Kate ever get a chance to share her story? Thankfully my question has been answered and let me tell you the wait to delve deeper into the character of Kate was well worth it and it was even more of a bonus that it was centred all around Christmas. In Christmas at the Board Game Café, Jennifer Page has excelled herself in writing a festive read that does what it says on the tin. Too many books in this genre claim to be Christmas reads and then the reader can be left bitterly disappointed with little or no connection to Christmas. But here Christmas and everything that goes with the most wonderful time of the year was here in abundance and I soaked up every magical moment of it. I truly didn’t want this book to end as I adore the writing by the author as she creates those just one more chapter kind of books and then before you know it you are gutted to have reached the end. If I could I would take the time to savour every page but I couldn’t because I as just so enthralled with everything going on and dare I say it Kate has been my favourite character to read about so far. In the previous books she was always there in the background doing everything for all the other featured characters. But now we come to realise that Kate has her own insecurities and problems and now that the spotlight has been turned on her it is perhaps the time to do some work on herself as well as continuing all the wonderful work that she has done for so many others.
Kate is such a fantastic well developed character and I think we can all see a little bit of ourselves within her. Too much time spending doing things for others that she neglects herself. Or in this case it’s to take her mind off the fact that she hasn’t found the right man and fears that she never will. Kate is always on the go in her marketing job, working long hours and completing her tasks to perfection. So much so that she has won an employee award for several years running. She is always there for her friend Em, who runs the board game café, or helping Jo with the recent Scrabble festival or Taylor with her upcycled fashion show. Kate is kind, caring and generous and is always there to offer a shoulder to cry on in times of need. She offers her knowledge and skills free of charge. This is highlighted throughout this story as she realises the towns of Essendale and Hebbleswick are distinctly lacking that Christmas charm that will bring visitors and improve the fortunes of local businesses. If something is not done and fast then many businesses whose owners have worked so hard to keep them going will be forced to shut. Kate can’t stand by and let that happen especially when it comes to her friends.
Despite dreading Christmas every year as it reminds her of all that she doesn’t have and deeply longs for and it also reminds her of people that should be in your life but no longer are for whatever reason. That being a husband and a family. She is aching to have someone by her side who wants her and to have children and to feel part of a family. The more time passes the more Kate feels like the odd one out in her friendship group as they all have partners and are happy and content with exciting events ahead for some of them. But she pushes her own worries aside and strikes upon a brilliant idea - to create a Living Advent Calendar - where all the businesses will devise their very own special Christmas window. It will be a fun project for Kate but businesses will be pinning their hopes on it. Kate becomes like a whirling dervish organising the event and I thoroughly enjoyed every detail that was explored. This meant the book couldn’t be more Christmasier if it tried. I revelled in all the windows that were unveiled with some very inventive ones displayed, it has to be said. Kate gives her full commitment to the task but is worried the visitors the towns so badly need won’t arrive. Will the whole thing be a flop and a disaster for the usually very much on the ball Kate?
For those that have previously enjoyed this series of course there is a romantic angle to this story. But what I love is that each of the main male characters are just normal, down to earth men who each have some unusual hobbies/pastimes. There are no hard to reach men who seem unobtainable and out of this world and completely unrealistic. Instead, you feel as if you could meet one of them on the street in real life and actually be quite happy to do so. Kate initially finds herself in quite a conundrum when she wakes up in the house of Peter, the ex-fiancée of Em who runs the local engineering company. I mean isn’t it some unwritten law somewhere that one never ventures into that territory. But Em gives her blessing and a tentative relationship ensues between the pair. But to be honest it didn’t feel real at all. It was as if Kate was desperate and settling for second best and Peter himself seemed distracted from the whole thing. An unexpected arrival sets the cat amongst the pigeons in the form of Xander, Kate’s ex boyfriend. He is very much the one that got away and through no one’s fault only Kate’s. You can see the regrets she has regarding this and that she believes she truly blew any chance of happiness when she let Xander slip through her fingers. But there must have a been a good and solid reason for this and overtime delving into Kate’s family history things become a little bit clearer. I loved this aspect of the story as it brought out a more human side to Kate which she kept hidden with her work ethic. The true meaning of Christmas, family and loved ones starts to come to the fore and this will bring a tear to your eye.
Kate has a heart of gold and works like a trojan and it was fun to see what each window would be each evening in the countdown to Christmas with Xander keeping his secret until the very last night. I desperately hoped that Kate would overcome her issues and find the happiness that she so truly deserved. Filling her life with activities to make her feel less alone will only work for so long. I kept my fingers crossed that things would work out for Kate and indeed that the Advent Calendar would do its job and be a roaring success. Without doubt, Christmas at the Board Game Café has been my absolute favourite Christmas book out of the few that I have managed to read this year. It’s trademark Jennifer Page filled with warmth, love, community and soul. Make sure it’s on your Christmas reading radar this year.
Each book is unique in its concept and truly it’s genius the ideas that Jennifer has come up with. Each has kept my attention whether it featured board games, scrabble, upcycling fashion or as with the latest instalment a Living Advent Calendar. My enthusiasm and affection for the series has just grown and grown. Those who have read the previous books in the series will revel in overlapping characters and stories (in fact that’s half the fun and enjoyment - spotting familiar faces and seeing how they are doing now) but each book can be read as a standalone as there is much to enjoy in each book alone. But let’s be honest if you are anything like me and start one book you’ll instantly want to devour them all one after the other if at all possible.
At the end of book three, Second Chances at the Board Game Café, I was left wondering would Kate ever get a chance to share her story? Thankfully my question has been answered and let me tell you the wait to delve deeper into the character of Kate was well worth it and it was even more of a bonus that it was centred all around Christmas. In Christmas at the Board Game Café, Jennifer Page has excelled herself in writing a festive read that does what it says on the tin. Too many books in this genre claim to be Christmas reads and then the reader can be left bitterly disappointed with little or no connection to Christmas. But here Christmas and everything that goes with the most wonderful time of the year was here in abundance and I soaked up every magical moment of it. I truly didn’t want this book to end as I adore the writing by the author as she creates those just one more chapter kind of books and then before you know it you are gutted to have reached the end. If I could I would take the time to savour every page but I couldn’t because I as just so enthralled with everything going on and dare I say it Kate has been my favourite character to read about so far. In the previous books she was always there in the background doing everything for all the other featured characters. But now we come to realise that Kate has her own insecurities and problems and now that the spotlight has been turned on her it is perhaps the time to do some work on herself as well as continuing all the wonderful work that she has done for so many others.
Kate is such a fantastic well developed character and I think we can all see a little bit of ourselves within her. Too much time spending doing things for others that she neglects herself. Or in this case it’s to take her mind off the fact that she hasn’t found the right man and fears that she never will. Kate is always on the go in her marketing job, working long hours and completing her tasks to perfection. So much so that she has won an employee award for several years running. She is always there for her friend Em, who runs the board game café, or helping Jo with the recent Scrabble festival or Taylor with her upcycled fashion show. Kate is kind, caring and generous and is always there to offer a shoulder to cry on in times of need. She offers her knowledge and skills free of charge. This is highlighted throughout this story as she realises the towns of Essendale and Hebbleswick are distinctly lacking that Christmas charm that will bring visitors and improve the fortunes of local businesses. If something is not done and fast then many businesses whose owners have worked so hard to keep them going will be forced to shut. Kate can’t stand by and let that happen especially when it comes to her friends.
Despite dreading Christmas every year as it reminds her of all that she doesn’t have and deeply longs for and it also reminds her of people that should be in your life but no longer are for whatever reason. That being a husband and a family. She is aching to have someone by her side who wants her and to have children and to feel part of a family. The more time passes the more Kate feels like the odd one out in her friendship group as they all have partners and are happy and content with exciting events ahead for some of them. But she pushes her own worries aside and strikes upon a brilliant idea - to create a Living Advent Calendar - where all the businesses will devise their very own special Christmas window. It will be a fun project for Kate but businesses will be pinning their hopes on it. Kate becomes like a whirling dervish organising the event and I thoroughly enjoyed every detail that was explored. This meant the book couldn’t be more Christmasier if it tried. I revelled in all the windows that were unveiled with some very inventive ones displayed, it has to be said. Kate gives her full commitment to the task but is worried the visitors the towns so badly need won’t arrive. Will the whole thing be a flop and a disaster for the usually very much on the ball Kate?
For those that have previously enjoyed this series of course there is a romantic angle to this story. But what I love is that each of the main male characters are just normal, down to earth men who each have some unusual hobbies/pastimes. There are no hard to reach men who seem unobtainable and out of this world and completely unrealistic. Instead, you feel as if you could meet one of them on the street in real life and actually be quite happy to do so. Kate initially finds herself in quite a conundrum when she wakes up in the house of Peter, the ex-fiancée of Em who runs the local engineering company. I mean isn’t it some unwritten law somewhere that one never ventures into that territory. But Em gives her blessing and a tentative relationship ensues between the pair. But to be honest it didn’t feel real at all. It was as if Kate was desperate and settling for second best and Peter himself seemed distracted from the whole thing. An unexpected arrival sets the cat amongst the pigeons in the form of Xander, Kate’s ex boyfriend. He is very much the one that got away and through no one’s fault only Kate’s. You can see the regrets she has regarding this and that she believes she truly blew any chance of happiness when she let Xander slip through her fingers. But there must have a been a good and solid reason for this and overtime delving into Kate’s family history things become a little bit clearer. I loved this aspect of the story as it brought out a more human side to Kate which she kept hidden with her work ethic. The true meaning of Christmas, family and loved ones starts to come to the fore and this will bring a tear to your eye.
Kate has a heart of gold and works like a trojan and it was fun to see what each window would be each evening in the countdown to Christmas with Xander keeping his secret until the very last night. I desperately hoped that Kate would overcome her issues and find the happiness that she so truly deserved. Filling her life with activities to make her feel less alone will only work for so long. I kept my fingers crossed that things would work out for Kate and indeed that the Advent Calendar would do its job and be a roaring success. Without doubt, Christmas at the Board Game Café has been my absolute favourite Christmas book out of the few that I have managed to read this year. It’s trademark Jennifer Page filled with warmth, love, community and soul. Make sure it’s on your Christmas reading radar this year.
October 20, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
Whilst this was cosy and festive, it wasn’t much of a romance book.
The main character Kate I found difficult to like, and whilst she grew on me a bit towards the end, overall I wasn’t a fan of her. She has 2 love interests in the book, both of whom are rather dull and uninspiring.
Ignoring the ‘romance’ the story is nice and Christmassy- the living advent calendar is a great idea and I enjoyed reading about the different windows created by the locals.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Whilst this was cosy and festive, it wasn’t much of a romance book.
The main character Kate I found difficult to like, and whilst she grew on me a bit towards the end, overall I wasn’t a fan of her. She has 2 love interests in the book, both of whom are rather dull and uninspiring.
Ignoring the ‘romance’ the story is nice and Christmassy- the living advent calendar is a great idea and I enjoyed reading about the different windows created by the locals.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2024
Cosy, humorous and heartwarming, Christmas at the Board Game Café by Jennifer Page is about a woman who feels lonely during the Christmas season and discovers that someone she dated four years ago has moved to her hometown.
Summary: Christmas is coming soon, and Kate Harker feels lonely. Her friends are all dating, and despite being their dating guru, she's still single. She still pines for Xander, a guy she went on five dates with four years ago. Then one day, Kate finds out that Xander has moved to Essendale.
Tropes/Genres:
• second chance romance
• christmas
• small town
• slow burn
• contemporary romance
• set in Essendale
Review: The best part about this story is the living Advent calendar. It sounds so fun! The romance is sweet, though it doesn't seem to be the focal point of this story. Admittedly, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first three in the series, but I liked it nonetheless.
Kate is a relatable person. She is someone who strives to be perfect because she feels that she needs to be perfect to be liked. I liked her character growth throughout the story. It's heartwarming. Xander is such a nerdy sweetheart. Who wouldn't love a cute nerd? He also cooks, which is a huge plus. The fact that he has a collection of toy soldiers is also so cute! Ah, nerds :) The two of them are good together, and they have a cosy chemistry.
The characters are awesome. It's so nice to see the ensemble Even Peter who appeared in the first book as Em's ex-fiancé became much more likeable here. It's so nice to see his personal growth throughout the series.
This feels less like romance and more like contemporary fiction. After all, we don't meet Kate's love interest Xander until the 40% mark, though she spends some time before the reunion mentioning him and pining over him even though they only had five dates four years ago. That's fine. It's okay for this book to feel more like a story about Kate's personal journey of growth. However, I somewhat feel that something is missing.
Kate's relationship with her father significantly impacted her views on the guys she wanted to date, but I felt that the development of the father-daughter relationship wasn't impactful enough. There weren't really any clues or foreshadowing to the grand revelation of why her father was the way he was. It's hard to believe that her mind instantly changed after learning the truth about her mother, especially considering how long she had that negative perception of her father. I still find their relationship heartwarming, though. Her father was truly amazing.
However, I liked the whole thing about the living Advent calendar a lot. I kind of wish I could've seen them. I like how this book sheds light on struggling local businesses, especially in periods when there are fewer tourists. The issue with EcoEssendale regarding how eco-friendly the living Advent calendar is for the environment was also done well. It honestly shows what a good person Kate is.
Overall, I recommend this book to those looking for a cosy second-chance Christmas romance. It has minimal drama, and fans of the first three books in this series would be delighted to see the beloved close-knit community. History geeks may like this as well due to the war references!
P.S. I want to eat Lancashire hotpot now.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.
Related Reviews:
The Little Board Game Café (Book 1)
Love Letters on Hazel Lane (Book 2)
Second Chances at the Board Game Café (Book 3)
Christmas at the Board Game Café (Book 4)
Summary: Christmas is coming soon, and Kate Harker feels lonely. Her friends are all dating, and despite being their dating guru, she's still single. She still pines for Xander, a guy she went on five dates with four years ago. Then one day, Kate finds out that Xander has moved to Essendale.
Tropes/Genres:
• second chance romance
• christmas
• small town
• slow burn
• contemporary romance
• set in Essendale
Review: The best part about this story is the living Advent calendar. It sounds so fun! The romance is sweet, though it doesn't seem to be the focal point of this story. Admittedly, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first three in the series, but I liked it nonetheless.
Kate is a relatable person. She is someone who strives to be perfect because she feels that she needs to be perfect to be liked. I liked her character growth throughout the story. It's heartwarming. Xander is such a nerdy sweetheart. Who wouldn't love a cute nerd? He also cooks, which is a huge plus. The fact that he has a collection of toy soldiers is also so cute! Ah, nerds :) The two of them are good together, and they have a cosy chemistry.
The characters are awesome. It's so nice to see the ensemble Even Peter who appeared in the first book as Em's ex-fiancé became much more likeable here. It's so nice to see his personal growth throughout the series.
This feels less like romance and more like contemporary fiction. After all, we don't meet Kate's love interest Xander until the 40% mark, though she spends some time before the reunion mentioning him and pining over him even though they only had five dates four years ago. That's fine. It's okay for this book to feel more like a story about Kate's personal journey of growth. However, I somewhat feel that something is missing.
Kate's relationship with her father significantly impacted her views on the guys she wanted to date, but I felt that the development of the father-daughter relationship wasn't impactful enough. There weren't really any clues or foreshadowing to the grand revelation of why her father was the way he was. It's hard to believe that her mind instantly changed after learning the truth about her mother, especially considering how long she had that negative perception of her father. I still find their relationship heartwarming, though. Her father was truly amazing.
However, I liked the whole thing about the living Advent calendar a lot. I kind of wish I could've seen them. I like how this book sheds light on struggling local businesses, especially in periods when there are fewer tourists. The issue with EcoEssendale regarding how eco-friendly the living Advent calendar is for the environment was also done well. It honestly shows what a good person Kate is.
Overall, I recommend this book to those looking for a cosy second-chance Christmas romance. It has minimal drama, and fans of the first three books in this series would be delighted to see the beloved close-knit community. History geeks may like this as well due to the war references!
P.S. I want to eat Lancashire hotpot now.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.
Related Reviews:
The Little Board Game Café (Book 1)
Love Letters on Hazel Lane (Book 2)
Second Chances at the Board Game Café (Book 3)
Christmas at the Board Game Café (Book 4)
November 10, 2024
Kate lives in the town of Essendale which is struggling. So she decides to attract more visitors to the town by creating a living advent calendar through window displays to promote local businesses. But then Kate’s ex-boyfriend Xander appears on the scene having recently moved to Essendale and wants to help Kate. Can Kate trust him and will the living advent calendar be a success.
The Board Game Café series is one I look forward to reading because it gives me the opportunity to return to Essendale which is a town that has so much character. To see that this instalment is based around Christmas made the series even more special.
The storyline was filled with Christmas cheer, community spirit, themes of moving forward and relationships. What captured my attention was the prologue because a character is looking at model soldiers and I wasn’t sure how this fit into the story until I started to read. The story is told in a dual timeline format and moves between the past and the present. In the present Kate is dating Peter and keeps seeing Xander who she previously dated but she can’t understand why she keeps seeing him. In the past we're given an insight into how Kate met Xander and what transpired between them that led to Kate abruptly stopping their dates.
I did feel really sorry for Xander because I got the impression that he really liked Kate when they first dated. He put a lot of effort into getting to know Kate and their dates but Kate made a decision when she didn’t know Xander very well and stopped their relationship from progressing. Part of the story is about Kate realising and acknowledging what is in front of her and what she wants in her life. Kate finds herself in a position that many people will relate to and that is she is single but everyone around her is settled, in a relationship and having a family. On top of that it's coming up to Christmas and it is a time that she really doesn’t like.
Having learnt what happened in the past between Kate and Xander I was interested to see them interact in the present. One thing about Kate is that she is a bit of a perfectionist but that does work to her detriment. Everything around her needs to be perfect including the person that she dates. Unfortunately when Kate was initially dating Xander she overlooked his best qualities because she didn’t see him as perfect. When Kate and Xander reconnect she realises that being perfect does not determine whether she should or should not be with someone and she starts to see Xander in a new light. Why Kate strives to be perfect and the idea of perfection is explained later on in the story when the relationship with her mum is explored. Kate is resentful of her dad and they have quite an estranged relationship because she believes that her parents split up because of her dad. When the truth behind the end of her parent’s marriage is revealed Kate realises that it wasn't her dad who was at fault which brings them closer.
One of my favourite aspects of the story was the Christmas setting and Kate trying to help Essendale attract more visitors. Essendale has become a place where tourists visit but only at certain times in the year and the town now has more Airbnb’s than residents. I loved the idea of the living advent calendar. It was such a brilliant way to promote local businesses and increase footfall to the town.
A story about Christmas and community.
The Board Game Café series is one I look forward to reading because it gives me the opportunity to return to Essendale which is a town that has so much character. To see that this instalment is based around Christmas made the series even more special.
The storyline was filled with Christmas cheer, community spirit, themes of moving forward and relationships. What captured my attention was the prologue because a character is looking at model soldiers and I wasn’t sure how this fit into the story until I started to read. The story is told in a dual timeline format and moves between the past and the present. In the present Kate is dating Peter and keeps seeing Xander who she previously dated but she can’t understand why she keeps seeing him. In the past we're given an insight into how Kate met Xander and what transpired between them that led to Kate abruptly stopping their dates.
I did feel really sorry for Xander because I got the impression that he really liked Kate when they first dated. He put a lot of effort into getting to know Kate and their dates but Kate made a decision when she didn’t know Xander very well and stopped their relationship from progressing. Part of the story is about Kate realising and acknowledging what is in front of her and what she wants in her life. Kate finds herself in a position that many people will relate to and that is she is single but everyone around her is settled, in a relationship and having a family. On top of that it's coming up to Christmas and it is a time that she really doesn’t like.
Having learnt what happened in the past between Kate and Xander I was interested to see them interact in the present. One thing about Kate is that she is a bit of a perfectionist but that does work to her detriment. Everything around her needs to be perfect including the person that she dates. Unfortunately when Kate was initially dating Xander she overlooked his best qualities because she didn’t see him as perfect. When Kate and Xander reconnect she realises that being perfect does not determine whether she should or should not be with someone and she starts to see Xander in a new light. Why Kate strives to be perfect and the idea of perfection is explained later on in the story when the relationship with her mum is explored. Kate is resentful of her dad and they have quite an estranged relationship because she believes that her parents split up because of her dad. When the truth behind the end of her parent’s marriage is revealed Kate realises that it wasn't her dad who was at fault which brings them closer.
One of my favourite aspects of the story was the Christmas setting and Kate trying to help Essendale attract more visitors. Essendale has become a place where tourists visit but only at certain times in the year and the town now has more Airbnb’s than residents. I loved the idea of the living advent calendar. It was such a brilliant way to promote local businesses and increase footfall to the town.
A story about Christmas and community.
December 12, 2024
Over the past few years Kate has seen her friends find love in the Yorkshire towns of Essendale and Hebbleswick, but somehow she has never been able to find her own happy ending, despite being something of a dating guru.
Christmas is approaching, and Kate longs for more than the dreary festivities with her distant father, but her romantic prospects are looking thin. At least she has a project to keep her busy - creating a series of special Advent windows to put these little towns on the map, and hopefully give the local economy a boost.
Unexpectedly, this project brings with it a possible love match with a person she had not considered before. On paper, they make the perfect couple, but Kate is unsure - especially when an old flame appears on the scene and sets her heart a-flutter... Can Kate make peace with her past and allow herself to open her heart up to the kind of love she deserves?
Welcome to the fourth lovely adventure in the world of the Little Board Game Cafe, which revisits the life of marketing executive Kate, a character that has always been on the sidelines when it comes to finding happiness for herself, even though she has been on hand to help her friends make their own love matches in the previous three books. Feeling a bit depressed about her lack of romantic possibilities in the midst of all the happy couples who have got together around the Little Board Game Cafe set, Kate is a bit down in the dumps. However, her marketing brain is as full of sparkling ideas as ever, and her Advent window initiative gets the community fired up in more ways than one.
As the community come together to back Kate's ideas, loads of familiar faces from the series put in a welcome appearance - one in a role which Kate really does not expect. However, she finds herself torn between heart and head when an old flame turns up out of the blue and makes her reconsider how the past has shaped her ideas of love, to seriously poignant effect.
Page pulls out all the stops in this super festive tale, plucking your heartstrings with a practised hand as she throws in all the necessary twists and turns in Kate's journey towards happiness, and floods the story with her favourite themes of friendship, family, loneliness, love, and the many issues that come with living in small rural communities. The advent theme works so well with the romantic suspense that keeps the will-they-won't-they vibes going strong throughout too - all the way to the most gorgeous of endings that makes good use of the final window display to hit the heart-melting sweet spot to perfection.
Festive, fabulous, and a thoroughly enjoyable sob-fest of a fourth instalment to the series!
Christmas is approaching, and Kate longs for more than the dreary festivities with her distant father, but her romantic prospects are looking thin. At least she has a project to keep her busy - creating a series of special Advent windows to put these little towns on the map, and hopefully give the local economy a boost.
Unexpectedly, this project brings with it a possible love match with a person she had not considered before. On paper, they make the perfect couple, but Kate is unsure - especially when an old flame appears on the scene and sets her heart a-flutter... Can Kate make peace with her past and allow herself to open her heart up to the kind of love she deserves?
Welcome to the fourth lovely adventure in the world of the Little Board Game Cafe, which revisits the life of marketing executive Kate, a character that has always been on the sidelines when it comes to finding happiness for herself, even though she has been on hand to help her friends make their own love matches in the previous three books. Feeling a bit depressed about her lack of romantic possibilities in the midst of all the happy couples who have got together around the Little Board Game Cafe set, Kate is a bit down in the dumps. However, her marketing brain is as full of sparkling ideas as ever, and her Advent window initiative gets the community fired up in more ways than one.
As the community come together to back Kate's ideas, loads of familiar faces from the series put in a welcome appearance - one in a role which Kate really does not expect. However, she finds herself torn between heart and head when an old flame turns up out of the blue and makes her reconsider how the past has shaped her ideas of love, to seriously poignant effect.
Page pulls out all the stops in this super festive tale, plucking your heartstrings with a practised hand as she throws in all the necessary twists and turns in Kate's journey towards happiness, and floods the story with her favourite themes of friendship, family, loneliness, love, and the many issues that come with living in small rural communities. The advent theme works so well with the romantic suspense that keeps the will-they-won't-they vibes going strong throughout too - all the way to the most gorgeous of endings that makes good use of the final window display to hit the heart-melting sweet spot to perfection.
Festive, fabulous, and a thoroughly enjoyable sob-fest of a fourth instalment to the series!
November 5, 2024
It was an absolute delight to be back in Essendale and spending time with friends once more. Kate’s always been there in the background – focused, driven, a bit pushy, a loyal friend – and, at last, we get to learn more about her story. Behind that front, she’s hurting – everyone else is coupled up and getting on with their lives, and with Christmas just around the corner she’s dreading spending it alone. Well, other than the obligatory (and always difficult) visit to her father – what she saw of his relationship with her mother rather shaped her life.
But when she comes up with an idea to breathe some life into the struggling business community and try to draw in the visitors – a living Advent calendar, with each business decorating a window in an original way, with a nightly unveiling – it gives her the project she really needs to take her mind off her own problems. If only she could sort out a display in the window of Alessandra’s – in prime position, but currently boarded up and looking neglected. It would be a far better finale for Christmas Eve than the rather tired nativity scene the vicar’s insisting on – and with news that the property’s changed hands, there might be some possibility of success.
After what might have been an unwise fling, she’s fallen into a bit of a relationship with Peter – but he’s her best friend’s ex, and although he’s considerably sweeter than she ever thought he was, it just doesn’t feel right. And she does still rather hanker for a previous relationship that went wrong – it was her decision to end it before it really started. But now she’s begun to see her ex – or at least, she thinks it might be him – in the unfamiliar setting of Essendale, and it throws her off kilter a little.
I really mustn’t tell the whole story – the advent calendar, and each new reveal, gives it its shape, along with so much of its Christmas sparkle. Some of the ideas are absolutely inspired – and some of the marketing ideas don’t go quite as they should, but those mis-steps are exceptionally funny, and it all just endorses the fact that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. And it seems that the window at Alessandra’s might just be possible after all – but Kate finds it particularly difficult not having any input, and fears it might be a disaster.
But this is very much Kate’s own story too – coming to terms with her past, putting her experiences into perspective, rebuilding relationships and hopefully finding her future path to happiness. There’s the loveliest focus throughout on friendship and community – if you’ve read the earlier books, there’s the opportunity to catch up on recent developments in everyone’s lives, but you’d have no problem at all reading this one as a standalone if you really wanted to. Family too, in all its complexity – and a particularly moving and convincing romance that both warmed my heart and brought a tear to my eye (and that was even before I saw that final Christmas window…). There’s a strong thread of humour – with a few particularly laugh-out-loud moments – but this is quite an emotional story too, all so beautifully handled, and with real warmth to the story’s telling.
And then there’s the important question – is it all Christmassy enough? Oh my goodness, I couldn’t have asked for more… I loved it! This was most definitely one of my favourite Christmas books this year, and I really couldn’t recommend it more highly…
But when she comes up with an idea to breathe some life into the struggling business community and try to draw in the visitors – a living Advent calendar, with each business decorating a window in an original way, with a nightly unveiling – it gives her the project she really needs to take her mind off her own problems. If only she could sort out a display in the window of Alessandra’s – in prime position, but currently boarded up and looking neglected. It would be a far better finale for Christmas Eve than the rather tired nativity scene the vicar’s insisting on – and with news that the property’s changed hands, there might be some possibility of success.
After what might have been an unwise fling, she’s fallen into a bit of a relationship with Peter – but he’s her best friend’s ex, and although he’s considerably sweeter than she ever thought he was, it just doesn’t feel right. And she does still rather hanker for a previous relationship that went wrong – it was her decision to end it before it really started. But now she’s begun to see her ex – or at least, she thinks it might be him – in the unfamiliar setting of Essendale, and it throws her off kilter a little.
I really mustn’t tell the whole story – the advent calendar, and each new reveal, gives it its shape, along with so much of its Christmas sparkle. Some of the ideas are absolutely inspired – and some of the marketing ideas don’t go quite as they should, but those mis-steps are exceptionally funny, and it all just endorses the fact that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. And it seems that the window at Alessandra’s might just be possible after all – but Kate finds it particularly difficult not having any input, and fears it might be a disaster.
But this is very much Kate’s own story too – coming to terms with her past, putting her experiences into perspective, rebuilding relationships and hopefully finding her future path to happiness. There’s the loveliest focus throughout on friendship and community – if you’ve read the earlier books, there’s the opportunity to catch up on recent developments in everyone’s lives, but you’d have no problem at all reading this one as a standalone if you really wanted to. Family too, in all its complexity – and a particularly moving and convincing romance that both warmed my heart and brought a tear to my eye (and that was even before I saw that final Christmas window…). There’s a strong thread of humour – with a few particularly laugh-out-loud moments – but this is quite an emotional story too, all so beautifully handled, and with real warmth to the story’s telling.
And then there’s the important question – is it all Christmassy enough? Oh my goodness, I couldn’t have asked for more… I loved it! This was most definitely one of my favourite Christmas books this year, and I really couldn’t recommend it more highly…
October 11, 2024
Christmas At The Board Game Café by Jennifer Page is a most delightful Christmas contemporary novel that will warm your heart and leave you smiling. It is the fourth book in The Board Game Café series but can be read as a stand-alone.
This is the perfect book to read in the lead up to Christmas. It will get you in the mood for the festive season. This really is Christmas in a book.
Two Yorkshire villages are the delightful setting. As summer has given way to autumn, the tourists have dropped off. Something needs to be done to attract the visitors back again – enter the Advent Calendar Trail. What is it? Read the book and immerse yourself in the action. It educates, it stirs memories and it is downright hilarious. The scene with the baubles makes me snigger even now!
All the characters were well drawn, likable and believable. They offer a warm welcome to all, including the reader.
We see how the loneliest place can be amongst friends who are all couples, when you are single. It feels like being on the outside looking in. Christmas is a time that some people dread.
A character has struggled with loneliness for years. “Staying busy… keeping the loneliness at bay.” Sooner or later the busyness has to stop or we risk burn-out. Being single has been a way of protecting a heart from hurt but it is a heart that isn’t cherished due to the walls that have been erected around it.
We see how even into adulthood a character has been trying to be perfect because “I wanted to make her [mother] love me.” As a child we never really know just how our parents feel as they try to shield us. A narrative that a character made up as a teen has been forever believed by her – but it was never the truth. “People often go through life believing the stories they tell themselves, often without questioning whether these stories are actually true.” What is the truth? Could now be a good time to find out?
There is much love within the story. Love doesn’t just happen at Christmas it blossoms all year around. Love is not just found within couples but between families and friends too.
I absolutely adored Christmas At The Board Game Café. It is a festive hug in a book that you do not want to miss.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
This is the perfect book to read in the lead up to Christmas. It will get you in the mood for the festive season. This really is Christmas in a book.
Two Yorkshire villages are the delightful setting. As summer has given way to autumn, the tourists have dropped off. Something needs to be done to attract the visitors back again – enter the Advent Calendar Trail. What is it? Read the book and immerse yourself in the action. It educates, it stirs memories and it is downright hilarious. The scene with the baubles makes me snigger even now!
All the characters were well drawn, likable and believable. They offer a warm welcome to all, including the reader.
We see how the loneliest place can be amongst friends who are all couples, when you are single. It feels like being on the outside looking in. Christmas is a time that some people dread.
A character has struggled with loneliness for years. “Staying busy… keeping the loneliness at bay.” Sooner or later the busyness has to stop or we risk burn-out. Being single has been a way of protecting a heart from hurt but it is a heart that isn’t cherished due to the walls that have been erected around it.
We see how even into adulthood a character has been trying to be perfect because “I wanted to make her [mother] love me.” As a child we never really know just how our parents feel as they try to shield us. A narrative that a character made up as a teen has been forever believed by her – but it was never the truth. “People often go through life believing the stories they tell themselves, often without questioning whether these stories are actually true.” What is the truth? Could now be a good time to find out?
There is much love within the story. Love doesn’t just happen at Christmas it blossoms all year around. Love is not just found within couples but between families and friends too.
I absolutely adored Christmas At The Board Game Café. It is a festive hug in a book that you do not want to miss.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
August 31, 2024
ARC REVIEW - CHRISTMAS AT THE BOARDGAME CAFE BY JENNIFER PAGE
BOOK #4
5⭐s are not enough - congratulations Jen and thank you for this beautiful book.
I was delighted and honoured to be sent the arc of the 4th edition to the boardgame cafe series. Being a huge fan of Jen's writing, I knew it would be good, but I wasn't prepared for the depths this book would lead me to.
In previous books, Kate's character has been so masterfully crafted, almost in the background rather than the forefront of each story. This insight has brought us to this book beautifully and whereas previously, she may have not been relatable to many with her somewhat 'perfect' life, despite her dating mishaps, as the layers of her character are peeled back in this book, she becomes far more relatable.
We learn how it is to have fractured relationships and grieve someone that is still alive. Covering abandonment issues, we see Kate go on a journey of revelations, unwrapping her concept of perfect and learning to love her 'imperfect.' I can probably relate to this part of the book the most. The need to feel validated from others.
There is so much depth and feeling to this book that whether you share the experiences of the characters or not, you can't help but feel empathy for Kate.
Aside from all that depth, there is a genius and wonderful concept of bringing the villages of Essendale and Hebbelswick to life with the power of Christmas. Of course, with her invaluable marketing skills and her selfless drive to help her friends, Kate is at the forefront of this uplifting project.
We see our usual favourites within the book, including #mrbsbaubals which was perfectly fitting to the character. Snippets of the next installments of relationships built in previous books which was a very welcome addition to the story. A second chance love story and a happy ending.
If you've read the other books, your jaw will hit the floor in the first couple of pages! But no spoilers here!
I have never connected to a series as much as I have this one. The characters are truly relatable and by the end you will want to go and live with them in their beautiful little village.
@jenniferpagewrites
BOOK #4
5⭐s are not enough - congratulations Jen and thank you for this beautiful book.
I was delighted and honoured to be sent the arc of the 4th edition to the boardgame cafe series. Being a huge fan of Jen's writing, I knew it would be good, but I wasn't prepared for the depths this book would lead me to.
In previous books, Kate's character has been so masterfully crafted, almost in the background rather than the forefront of each story. This insight has brought us to this book beautifully and whereas previously, she may have not been relatable to many with her somewhat 'perfect' life, despite her dating mishaps, as the layers of her character are peeled back in this book, she becomes far more relatable.
We learn how it is to have fractured relationships and grieve someone that is still alive. Covering abandonment issues, we see Kate go on a journey of revelations, unwrapping her concept of perfect and learning to love her 'imperfect.' I can probably relate to this part of the book the most. The need to feel validated from others.
There is so much depth and feeling to this book that whether you share the experiences of the characters or not, you can't help but feel empathy for Kate.
Aside from all that depth, there is a genius and wonderful concept of bringing the villages of Essendale and Hebbelswick to life with the power of Christmas. Of course, with her invaluable marketing skills and her selfless drive to help her friends, Kate is at the forefront of this uplifting project.
We see our usual favourites within the book, including #mrbsbaubals which was perfectly fitting to the character. Snippets of the next installments of relationships built in previous books which was a very welcome addition to the story. A second chance love story and a happy ending.
If you've read the other books, your jaw will hit the floor in the first couple of pages! But no spoilers here!
I have never connected to a series as much as I have this one. The characters are truly relatable and by the end you will want to go and live with them in their beautiful little village.
@jenniferpagewrites
October 10, 2024
This year I discovered the Little Board Game Cafe in Essendale, among the pages of this wonderful series by Jennifer Page, and I’ve absolutely fallen in love. Over the first three books, Emily, Jo and Taylor have gotten their HEA! Always by their side being the bestest friend ever has been Kate. Always there to help cheer them up and offer advice, she’s the best friend anyone could ever ask for. But what about her happily ever after? Well it’s time for Kate’s story!
I love, loved Christmas at the Board Game Cafe. Kate is the epitome of Little Miss Perfect, always trying to achieve perfection [and she really does seem perfect], but what she really wants is her own cheesy, happy ever after. When she sees that the Board Game Cafe is struggling she puts her marketing thinking cap on and finds a way to help make Christmas a little more cheery in Essendale with a “Living Advent Calendar”. However, will her Christmas also come with a happily ever after too?
What I love about this series is the community feel. Every book builds on the previous book, with the same characters coming back to cheer on their friends and family to be the absolute best they can be. This shines through in Christmas at the Board Game Cafe. They way the whole town rallies around Kate’s idea of a Living Advent Calendar is beautiful. The idea itself is absolutely brilliant and I would love to see it in person… especially Mr B’s Baubles!!
My favourite thing about this series is the characters. Jennifer Page writes characters that are realistic and ones that you can see yourself in. She really pulled at my emotional heartstrings with this one, as I could see myself in Kate and this gave the story an added layer of “got to grab the tissues while I read”! Right up to the last chapter I was rooting for Kate and hoping that she would get the HEA she so deserved!!!
If you’re looking for a book to get you in the holiday mood you need to add Christmas at the Board Game Cafe to your holiday reading. It is beautiful, heartwarming and I can honestly say it would warm even the grinchiest of grinches!!
I love, loved Christmas at the Board Game Cafe. Kate is the epitome of Little Miss Perfect, always trying to achieve perfection [and she really does seem perfect], but what she really wants is her own cheesy, happy ever after. When she sees that the Board Game Cafe is struggling she puts her marketing thinking cap on and finds a way to help make Christmas a little more cheery in Essendale with a “Living Advent Calendar”. However, will her Christmas also come with a happily ever after too?
What I love about this series is the community feel. Every book builds on the previous book, with the same characters coming back to cheer on their friends and family to be the absolute best they can be. This shines through in Christmas at the Board Game Cafe. They way the whole town rallies around Kate’s idea of a Living Advent Calendar is beautiful. The idea itself is absolutely brilliant and I would love to see it in person… especially Mr B’s Baubles!!
My favourite thing about this series is the characters. Jennifer Page writes characters that are realistic and ones that you can see yourself in. She really pulled at my emotional heartstrings with this one, as I could see myself in Kate and this gave the story an added layer of “got to grab the tissues while I read”! Right up to the last chapter I was rooting for Kate and hoping that she would get the HEA she so deserved!!!
If you’re looking for a book to get you in the holiday mood you need to add Christmas at the Board Game Cafe to your holiday reading. It is beautiful, heartwarming and I can honestly say it would warm even the grinchiest of grinches!!
November 9, 2024
WOW! How is it even possible the author has four books out already in the Little Board Game Cafe series? I've read and loved every single one of them. This one is Kate's story, and I think it's my favorite, but I probably said that about all of them because I loved them all. I think it's the most emotional of the series but not in a bad way. There are so many things going on and I don't think this isn't a spoiler, but the book has a lovely happy ending.
I still wish there was a board game cafe near me in the states, it's sounds like such a fun way to spend some hours. I love the characters that we got to visit from previous books and meeting new characters was a blast too.
Kate has been friends with the board game cafe owner since early school days and now that winter is here business is not only slowing down in the cafe but around town in general. With dark approaching earlier there just doesn't seem to be the draw from the business there was in the summer. Marketing guru Kate overhears her friend lamenting about lack of business during this cold and dreary time and knows she has to do something to jump start business for the cafe but also around town. The plan she comes up with is genius and in such a short amount of time. A lot of the time is spent talking about this plan and its marvelous final results and I loved every minute of it.
I was so glad to see Kate had cleared up a big misunderstanding she had with her father, and it has brought their relationship closer. There is also a possibility of a romance brewing for Kate with two very different personality types. There were some laugh out loud moments in the book and some awww moments too. I also enjoyed learning about some Polish Christmas traditions too and even looked up a few more to learn more about it.
A very well received book, I enjoyed it so much!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I still wish there was a board game cafe near me in the states, it's sounds like such a fun way to spend some hours. I love the characters that we got to visit from previous books and meeting new characters was a blast too.
Kate has been friends with the board game cafe owner since early school days and now that winter is here business is not only slowing down in the cafe but around town in general. With dark approaching earlier there just doesn't seem to be the draw from the business there was in the summer. Marketing guru Kate overhears her friend lamenting about lack of business during this cold and dreary time and knows she has to do something to jump start business for the cafe but also around town. The plan she comes up with is genius and in such a short amount of time. A lot of the time is spent talking about this plan and its marvelous final results and I loved every minute of it.
I was so glad to see Kate had cleared up a big misunderstanding she had with her father, and it has brought their relationship closer. There is also a possibility of a romance brewing for Kate with two very different personality types. There were some laugh out loud moments in the book and some awww moments too. I also enjoyed learning about some Polish Christmas traditions too and even looked up a few more to learn more about it.
A very well received book, I enjoyed it so much!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
November 16, 2024
Christmas at the Board Game Café is the fourth heartwarming installment in Jennifer Paige's much-loved series, and it’s as cozy and delightful as ever. This festive tale follows Kate, the quintessential “Little Miss Perfect,” who excels at everything she does but often struggles to let her guard down. Her story is one of community, love, and self-discovery, all wrapped in the warm glow of Christmas magic.
One of the highlights of the story is Kate’s ambitious and creative effort to organize a living advent calendar in the village. Each day in December brings a new festive window designed to attract visitors and breathe life into local businesses that are on the brink of closing down.
The Board Game Café remains the heart of the story, with its cozy charm and sense of community. It feels like curling up with a cup of hot chocolate, surrounded by friends, laughter, and the simple joy of board games.
Paige’s writing shines in her ability to balance lighthearted moments with emotional depth. Kate’s journey is relatable and inspiring, as she learns that perfection isn’t always the goal—sometimes, it’s about embracing imperfections and letting others in. The romance adds a lovely layer to the story, though it’s the friendships and community spirit that truly steal the show.
And let’s not forget Paul! I can’t help but hope he gets a story of his own in the future. A whole book about Paul would be a joy to read, and it feels like there’s so much more to uncover about his life.
Christmas at the Board Game Café is a festive treat that captures the magic of the holidays and the power of community. Kate’s living advent calendar brings the village to life and will leave readers feeling inspired and uplifted. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, this book will warm your heart—and make you hope for more stories from this delightful world, especially one about Paul
One of the highlights of the story is Kate’s ambitious and creative effort to organize a living advent calendar in the village. Each day in December brings a new festive window designed to attract visitors and breathe life into local businesses that are on the brink of closing down.
The Board Game Café remains the heart of the story, with its cozy charm and sense of community. It feels like curling up with a cup of hot chocolate, surrounded by friends, laughter, and the simple joy of board games.
Paige’s writing shines in her ability to balance lighthearted moments with emotional depth. Kate’s journey is relatable and inspiring, as she learns that perfection isn’t always the goal—sometimes, it’s about embracing imperfections and letting others in. The romance adds a lovely layer to the story, though it’s the friendships and community spirit that truly steal the show.
And let’s not forget Paul! I can’t help but hope he gets a story of his own in the future. A whole book about Paul would be a joy to read, and it feels like there’s so much more to uncover about his life.
Christmas at the Board Game Café is a festive treat that captures the magic of the holidays and the power of community. Kate’s living advent calendar brings the village to life and will leave readers feeling inspired and uplifted. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, this book will warm your heart—and make you hope for more stories from this delightful world, especially one about Paul
October 21, 2024
This was the first book that I have read in the series, and it was a very cozy Christmas-y vibe. I think I would have enjoyed it a little more if I read it closer to Christmas time, but overall it was cute! The main character in the story is Kate. She ends up dating her friend's ex fiancé after attending her wedding. They don't necessarily have any explosive chemistry, but they get along well and Peter treats her really nice it seems.
As the story progresses, Kate's ex moves into the town she lives in. She starts to think about him more and more while dating Peter. She realizes that Peter is also still in love with her friend. They both decide to split up on good terms and stay friends.
Kate decides to host an advent window throughout their small town to try to attract some business for the struggling town. Everyone who wants to is allowed to participate and create their own window. Kate starts to spend more time with her ex Xander as Christmas approaches and they grow closer. Kate has some child hood trauma that she has to get through before deciding if she can accept Xander and be in a realtionship with him.
My favorite part of the book was probably the references to actual board games. I am a huge board game fan, so hearing about the characters playing certain board games was relatable and I thought it was neat that they weren't just made up games.
The only negative I have is that I didn't like how she was so interested in Xander while she was dating Peter. While she technically didn't cheat, you could tell she was very lustful. I think Kate and Xander's relationship is great though and I much prefer them together. Overall, this was a super cozy read and I enjoyed it! Thank you to Netgalley, Aria & Aries, and Jennifer Page for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As the story progresses, Kate's ex moves into the town she lives in. She starts to think about him more and more while dating Peter. She realizes that Peter is also still in love with her friend. They both decide to split up on good terms and stay friends.
Kate decides to host an advent window throughout their small town to try to attract some business for the struggling town. Everyone who wants to is allowed to participate and create their own window. Kate starts to spend more time with her ex Xander as Christmas approaches and they grow closer. Kate has some child hood trauma that she has to get through before deciding if she can accept Xander and be in a realtionship with him.
My favorite part of the book was probably the references to actual board games. I am a huge board game fan, so hearing about the characters playing certain board games was relatable and I thought it was neat that they weren't just made up games.
The only negative I have is that I didn't like how she was so interested in Xander while she was dating Peter. While she technically didn't cheat, you could tell she was very lustful. I think Kate and Xander's relationship is great though and I much prefer them together. Overall, this was a super cozy read and I enjoyed it! Thank you to Netgalley, Aria & Aries, and Jennifer Page for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2024
Having visited the Scrabble Board Cafe in this quaint English village previously, first in Love Letters On Hazel Lane {book 2 in the series} and more recently in Second Chances at the Board Game Café {book 3 in the series} what better way to celebrate Christmas than with a return visit.
Such a wonderful cast. Mr B and his baubles by far my favourite though I did enjoy the exploration of Kate as a somewhat conflicted individual {how can she possibly resolve her current issues and consider a meaningful romance when she still has childhood issues to deal with?}, the beauty of her character being that, like her or not, relate to her/her situation or not, she is written with such a beautiful warmth and depth that you cannot help but feel for her.
Billed as the 'Standalone Fourth book in the Little Board Game Café series'. Whilst perfectly readable in its own right, I really would suggest that in order to get the best out of them they be read in order as whilst not dependent on the previous book each book builds on the previous one.
A great addition to the franchise. As much as I loved this as your fairly typical festive cosy-romance, delving as it did into the difficulties encountered by struggling local/village business, Kate's answer to which is the 'living advent calendar', I enjoyed it equally as a festive contemporary read.
Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... One of several bloggers participating in the Publication Day Push of this book, agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own; no financial compensation was asked for nor given; threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.
Such a wonderful cast. Mr B and his baubles by far my favourite though I did enjoy the exploration of Kate as a somewhat conflicted individual {how can she possibly resolve her current issues and consider a meaningful romance when she still has childhood issues to deal with?}, the beauty of her character being that, like her or not, relate to her/her situation or not, she is written with such a beautiful warmth and depth that you cannot help but feel for her.
Billed as the 'Standalone Fourth book in the Little Board Game Café series'. Whilst perfectly readable in its own right, I really would suggest that in order to get the best out of them they be read in order as whilst not dependent on the previous book each book builds on the previous one.
A great addition to the franchise. As much as I loved this as your fairly typical festive cosy-romance, delving as it did into the difficulties encountered by struggling local/village business, Kate's answer to which is the 'living advent calendar', I enjoyed it equally as a festive contemporary read.
Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... One of several bloggers participating in the Publication Day Push of this book, agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own; no financial compensation was asked for nor given; threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.
October 8, 2024
A cute and cozy closed-door romance for the holiday season.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kate has put forth a lot of effort to be seen as the successful career woman she is while hiding away her sadness and frustration that her personal life just isn’t as fulfilling as she wants it to be. As all the people around her are happily coupled, facing another holiday season alone is taking its toll.
The local businesses in the cute little town of Essendale, including her BFF’s Board Game Café, are struggling to make ends meet. The town is becoming a summer vacation town which is leaving the winter streets empty. Kate, using her marketing genius comes up with the idea to do a living Advent calendar window display to bring people to Essendale. Each day in December, the town will gather to unveil a new and beautiful window display.
Kate is thrown an unexpected twist when one of the windows she hopes to use is in a shop now owned by her ex-boyfriend. She will have to put all of her trust in him to come up with a display worthy of the final reveal.
All of the characters in Essendale make this series such a joy to read. I really enjoyed following Kate on her journey as she grows as a person, deals with some of her past trauma, and repairs relationships. The dual timeline aspects that show us what happened between Kate and Xander helped pull me into this story.
Another must read from Jennifer Page! I absolutely love all the references to some of my favorite board games in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kate has put forth a lot of effort to be seen as the successful career woman she is while hiding away her sadness and frustration that her personal life just isn’t as fulfilling as she wants it to be. As all the people around her are happily coupled, facing another holiday season alone is taking its toll.
The local businesses in the cute little town of Essendale, including her BFF’s Board Game Café, are struggling to make ends meet. The town is becoming a summer vacation town which is leaving the winter streets empty. Kate, using her marketing genius comes up with the idea to do a living Advent calendar window display to bring people to Essendale. Each day in December, the town will gather to unveil a new and beautiful window display.
Kate is thrown an unexpected twist when one of the windows she hopes to use is in a shop now owned by her ex-boyfriend. She will have to put all of her trust in him to come up with a display worthy of the final reveal.
All of the characters in Essendale make this series such a joy to read. I really enjoyed following Kate on her journey as she grows as a person, deals with some of her past trauma, and repairs relationships. The dual timeline aspects that show us what happened between Kate and Xander helped pull me into this story.
Another must read from Jennifer Page! I absolutely love all the references to some of my favorite board games in this series.
November 7, 2024
Christmas at the Board Game Café by Jennifer Page
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Kate seems to have it all – wonderful friends, a successful career and an idyllic life in the quirky Yorkshire town of Essendale. But under the surface Kate's lonely, and she longs to feel part of a family – especially during Christmas.
With the holiday season fast approaching, and the town desperate to attract more visitors, Kate conceives a brilliant an enchanting living Advent calendar. Each December evening, a captivating window display will be unveiled across town. With local businesses struggling, including her best friend's board game café, she's feeling the pressure.
But Kate's picture-perfect plans take an unexpected turn when her ex-boyfriend arrives in Yorkshire, insisting on creating the Christmas Eve display. Can Kate trust him to deliver a show-stopping window? And can she finally put the past behind her and embrace the future she's always dreamed of?
My Opinion
I have followed this series from the beginning and so far, I have been amazed with what Jennifer Page has written. With this book I really enjoyed reading the descriptions of all of the windows on the living advent calendar. As this is set in the run up to Christmas you can expect it be a lovely, festive book. Essendale is such a great community and I have enjoyed every visit. If you haven’t started this lovely series yet, what are you waiting for?
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Kate seems to have it all – wonderful friends, a successful career and an idyllic life in the quirky Yorkshire town of Essendale. But under the surface Kate's lonely, and she longs to feel part of a family – especially during Christmas.
With the holiday season fast approaching, and the town desperate to attract more visitors, Kate conceives a brilliant an enchanting living Advent calendar. Each December evening, a captivating window display will be unveiled across town. With local businesses struggling, including her best friend's board game café, she's feeling the pressure.
But Kate's picture-perfect plans take an unexpected turn when her ex-boyfriend arrives in Yorkshire, insisting on creating the Christmas Eve display. Can Kate trust him to deliver a show-stopping window? And can she finally put the past behind her and embrace the future she's always dreamed of?
My Opinion
I have followed this series from the beginning and so far, I have been amazed with what Jennifer Page has written. With this book I really enjoyed reading the descriptions of all of the windows on the living advent calendar. As this is set in the run up to Christmas you can expect it be a lovely, festive book. Essendale is such a great community and I have enjoyed every visit. If you haven’t started this lovely series yet, what are you waiting for?
Rating 4/5
October 9, 2024
I absolutely loved this book, but then I am loving the whole series and truly hope that Jennifer will keep writing books to the series. I just adore the board game theme but then that is because I am a big fan of modern board games, love them as much as I love reading.
Anyway, this is book 4 and this story focuses on Kate, whom we have met in the previous books but in this story we get to know the real Kate, her story, what she has been through. And she gets a second chance at love. The whole story was just wonderful and so heartfelt.
Another bonus to this story, is that it features Christmas, who doesn’t like a bit of festive spirit and activities in a book.
I also loved that we got reacquainted with some of the previous characters, Em, Jo, Taylor, Harry, Ras and Ludek. What I wouldn’t do to have friends like them, they seem like such a lovely bunch to be around.
The whole story was really well written, and the author has left me wanting more, I just didn’t want it to end. I loved that there was even more mention of different modern board games in this book, such as Wingspan, Forest Shuffle, Cold War, Azul, all of which are great games, although my favourite is Forest Shuffle.
So last words, if you haven’t experienced the joy and entertainment of Jennifer Page’s books yet, the don’t delay, as her books truly are gems. I already can’t wait for the next book, well I truly hope there will be a book 5.
Anyway, this is book 4 and this story focuses on Kate, whom we have met in the previous books but in this story we get to know the real Kate, her story, what she has been through. And she gets a second chance at love. The whole story was just wonderful and so heartfelt.
Another bonus to this story, is that it features Christmas, who doesn’t like a bit of festive spirit and activities in a book.
I also loved that we got reacquainted with some of the previous characters, Em, Jo, Taylor, Harry, Ras and Ludek. What I wouldn’t do to have friends like them, they seem like such a lovely bunch to be around.
The whole story was really well written, and the author has left me wanting more, I just didn’t want it to end. I loved that there was even more mention of different modern board games in this book, such as Wingspan, Forest Shuffle, Cold War, Azul, all of which are great games, although my favourite is Forest Shuffle.
So last words, if you haven’t experienced the joy and entertainment of Jennifer Page’s books yet, the don’t delay, as her books truly are gems. I already can’t wait for the next book, well I truly hope there will be a book 5.
October 14, 2024
Le doy esta calificación por el final porque fue lo que salvo todo el libro, es lo que se espera de un libro navideño y mucho mas. Pero dire que Kate como protagonista no me gusto mucho que digamos, primero y creo que esto va mas en mi que en otra cosa, el girl code de no salir con el ex de tu mejor amiga y de paso tenerlo muy en mente cuando sales con el chico fue un no para mi (aun cuando tu amiga dijo que esta bien), el porque termino con Xander aunque entendible un poco fuera de onda, pero a medida que leía y vi como se esforzó para que el pueblo pudiera salir de problemas haciendo todo lo del calendario de adviento viviente me hizo que me gustara un poquito.
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I give it this rating because of the ending because it was what saved the whole book, it's what is expected from a Christmas book and much more. But I will say that I didn't like Kate as a protagonist very much, first and I think this is more about me than anything else, the girl code of not going out with your best friend's ex and by the way having her in mind when you go out with the guy was a no for me (even when your friend said it was okay), why she ended up with Xander although understandable a little out of touch, but as I read and saw how she tried hard so that the town could get out of trouble by doing the whole living advent calendar thing made me like it a little.
📌I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
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I give it this rating because of the ending because it was what saved the whole book, it's what is expected from a Christmas book and much more. But I will say that I didn't like Kate as a protagonist very much, first and I think this is more about me than anything else, the girl code of not going out with your best friend's ex and by the way having her in mind when you go out with the guy was a no for me (even when your friend said it was okay), why she ended up with Xander although understandable a little out of touch, but as I read and saw how she tried hard so that the town could get out of trouble by doing the whole living advent calendar thing made me like it a little.
📌I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2024
Oh my goodness what a heartwarming and fun-filled book.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the Board Game Cafe all over again. This is such a lovely community Jennifer has created and built.
Sometimes when you read series' they can become a bit samey but Jennifer's books are connected in a way that you don't feel this at all, in fact you feel the opposite. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and I am so grateful to Jennifer and her publishers and also Netgalley for allowing me and early copy of this book.
I am in awe of you Jennifer, to come up with all these ideas based around the lovely Essendale. I love that some of this story was inspired by elements of your life, this is so heartwarming.
I loved the idea that Kate came up with to revitalise the town and the way everyone got involved was brilliant. I especially loved the last part and I definitely shed a tear or two about the display of Christmas in a different time (trying not to spoil it for anyone but when you read it you'll know what I mean).
Can't praise this book enough, it was romantic, heartwarming, funny, the community feel of this book stands out a mile and I love that it wasn't all about perfect relationships, because no relationship is ever perfect, this is just an honest and beautiful story and I'm in love.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the Board Game Cafe all over again. This is such a lovely community Jennifer has created and built.
Sometimes when you read series' they can become a bit samey but Jennifer's books are connected in a way that you don't feel this at all, in fact you feel the opposite. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and I am so grateful to Jennifer and her publishers and also Netgalley for allowing me and early copy of this book.
I am in awe of you Jennifer, to come up with all these ideas based around the lovely Essendale. I love that some of this story was inspired by elements of your life, this is so heartwarming.
I loved the idea that Kate came up with to revitalise the town and the way everyone got involved was brilliant. I especially loved the last part and I definitely shed a tear or two about the display of Christmas in a different time (trying not to spoil it for anyone but when you read it you'll know what I mean).
Can't praise this book enough, it was romantic, heartwarming, funny, the community feel of this book stands out a mile and I love that it wasn't all about perfect relationships, because no relationship is ever perfect, this is just an honest and beautiful story and I'm in love.
September 8, 2024
Christmas and board games go together so well, that I was incredibly eager to start reading this book.
Add in a Living advent calendar for Essendale and Hebden and you really do have the most amazing book.
I couldn't read this fast enough, and I was astounded at the author's creativity and imagination at bringing 24 different but all equally brilliant windows to life.
And to keep the finale not only a secret from Kate who had organised the whole thing, but also from the readers, until it was Christmas Eve was inspired to keep me reading.
And it really was the most wonderful final window, and not anything I would have ever thought of. But it just worked.
Before that though you have Kate trying to juggle a busy love life, with being perfect at everything she does and we even get to discover just why she is the way she is.
Add in Em, Jo and Taylor our previous leading ladies and their gorgeous men, as well as an assortment of board games, new love interests, a brief return of the series villain and memorable window from Mr B, and it truly is a joyful and fun filled book that I totally adored.
I love this series so much and this was perhaps my new favourite book from it. Utterly fabulous and incredibly festive.
Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Add in a Living advent calendar for Essendale and Hebden and you really do have the most amazing book.
I couldn't read this fast enough, and I was astounded at the author's creativity and imagination at bringing 24 different but all equally brilliant windows to life.
And to keep the finale not only a secret from Kate who had organised the whole thing, but also from the readers, until it was Christmas Eve was inspired to keep me reading.
And it really was the most wonderful final window, and not anything I would have ever thought of. But it just worked.
Before that though you have Kate trying to juggle a busy love life, with being perfect at everything she does and we even get to discover just why she is the way she is.
Add in Em, Jo and Taylor our previous leading ladies and their gorgeous men, as well as an assortment of board games, new love interests, a brief return of the series villain and memorable window from Mr B, and it truly is a joyful and fun filled book that I totally adored.
I love this series so much and this was perhaps my new favourite book from it. Utterly fabulous and incredibly festive.
Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
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