A Reluctant Christmas Novel

by J C Williams, Chris Devon (Narrator)

Adam Catchpole is a successful sci-fi author.

Well, he was a successful sci-fi author, which is a more accurate statement because his book sales are sinking faster than a piece of Martian rock in a pond.

As such, his mortgage is in arrears, Stacey, his girlfriend, has deserted him, and he can’t afford fuel for his overpriced Porsche.

Facing eviction and a trip to the job centre, Adam’s agent suggests he might consider writing books for another popular genre, such as spicy romance or Christmas novels. But the problem is that he’s relatively useless with anything considered romantic (as Stacey would confirm), and he hates Christmas.

Still, if he wants to put food on the table, he settles for the lesser of two evils and attempts to write the perfect, if not reluctant, Christmas novel.

Well, that’s the plan, at least. Because, like many timeless festive classics, things often don’t quite go as originally planned....

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook

9 pages, Audible Audio

Published February 13, 2025

Reviews

[Sheila Mckie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan-tas-tic

Loved this book. Christmas being my fave time of the year. But I was pleasantly surprised when the lonely heart attack club popped up. I read these books a while back. Love that the stories intertwined. Highly recommended 👌

[Boosmummy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read that I picked up after seeing the title. Great characters and well written, really enjoyed it.

[d.j.Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart Warming

I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this book. I brought it as I wanted a feel good Christmas book in reserve in case I needed some nonsense. Having been deeply disappointed in the latest Jack Reacher I turn to ‘A Reluctant Christmas Novel’ and loved every page.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! There were parts that made me laugh out loud and play on repeat. There is so much heart and soul in this book I think it may very well have gone on my 'must read every Christmas ' list. it's brilliant!

[Roksolana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very predictable story with sudden plot twists that solve all the characters' problems. There's some charm to the characters surrounding the main one, and the book is quite funny

[Michaela Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, haven't laughed out loud this much in a very long time.

[Shelly Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one I will definitely re-read every Christmas!!

[H. Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining bit of fun!

[Mary Ann Kapacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpected gem.

What a fun book! It starts out kind of a downer but it becomes so much fun. I loved that Adam learns to solve his own problems. The secondary characters are memorable and add so.much to the story.

[Sam Agnew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Reluctant Christmas Novel" by J.C. Williams is a heartwarming, feel-good story perfect for the holiday season. Adam, a successful sci-fi author struggling to make ends meet, is hesitant to write a Christmas novel. As he navigates this unfamiliar genre, he gets involved with his local community and learns the true meaning of Christmas.

Carol Adams, his down-to-earth neighbour, gives him a nudge: "If you want to experience the sentiment, come out and smell the fresh air occasionally." She's great, and her no-nonsense attitude is just what Adam needs. I relate to his frustrations with Christmas shopping - parking, trolleys with stuck wheels, charity collectors...

The characters are lovely, with warm folks in the local community. The book highlights Isle of Man quirks at Christmas, like shipping costs making online shopping pointless. I didn’t realise this and it was interesting to learn.

I like Chris Devon, the audiobook reader. Williams' books feel semi-autobiographical, portraying the Isle of Man at Christmas authentically.

Adam's relationships with his family and friends are interesting, especially with his sister Helen. He becomes a bus driver for the Lonely Heart Attack Club, a group of old people who go on day trips, which leads to some sweet moments.

Little Evie encourages him to write a Christmas novel, and her mum and Adam begin dating. But there's sadness too - Adam's guilt over his dad's death, especially in chapter 20 when he reflects on how his dad died and tells his dad to watch him reading the book to Evie's school. It is nice to see him better himself as he progresses through the book.

The finale with Santa's Training School for Christmas Elves turned into a play - it was a nice ending.

[Bodies in the Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read / listen to very few self-published novels, but this one was on the Audible Plus catalogue and looked like a good one to try while doing the Christmas housework.

It did not let me down. The main character is a generally good-natured fantasy author who is haunted by a very specific ghost of Christmas past and this year, to make matters worse, his agent has told him he’ll have to write a new genre for his next book, as he’s saturated his market. She suggests romance, and specifically a Christmas novel - both filling him with horror and dread.

A series of comic accidents leads to his being roped into the local theatre company’s Christmas pantomime, through which he makes friends, finds a family, and ultimately comes to terms with the terrible guilt he’s been carrying around for the catastrophic Christmas when he was 8 years old.

I found myself chuckling away throughout this quirky romance, and am very glad it came up in my Audible suggestions.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two chapters in I was very close to adding my first book to a DNF file! I didn’t really like the main character and just couldn’t get on with it. However, looking at the reviews and everyone raved about it, so I thought I’d give it a few more chapters and see how I felt!

I am so glad I did, lol of a sudden I found myself caring about Adam and wondering what would happen next. Although quite practical, I was invested in waiting to see when and how Adam would figure it out, after making a huge mess of everything!

The other characters are all lovely, Evie is a great little character (in every sense of the word), and the lonely heart attack group are amazing! Who doesn’t love octogenarians cliff jumping 😂

In the end this was a very good book that a really enjoyed and I’m so glad I gave it chance!

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully Different Christmas Tale

I absolutely loved A Reluctant Christmas Novel. The storyline is delightfully different than the standard Christmas story. Curmudgeonly sci-fi author Adam Catchpole is advised by his agent to try writing a Christmas novel to improve his struggling circumstances. The problem? Adam doesn't like Christmas! His neighbor encourages him to get involved with other people to improve his knowledge of that "special Christmas feeling." Watching the twists and turns Adam goes through as he turns his life around and rediscovers the joy of Christmas makes for a very entertaining and satisfying book.

[Louise Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Every year I fancy reading a Christmas book in December and most times, the ones I pick have been the usual twaddle. This was not! This was totally different, it had me laughing and sometimes a little cry, and filled me with wholesome good cheer but not smaltzy. I listened to the audio book and the narrator was excellent too!

[Carole I Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and charming

Loved the characters and storyline, with helpings of Christmas cheer and wonderfully descriptive scenes, and with a touch of local colour. Adam was weird and special and true to Christmas books, as the ending was lovely.

[Mrs A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, the Story was nice and festivly predictable, but the writing style bugged me a bit. Just too many words and descriptions in places they weren't necessary, and over explaining a bit sometimes.

[Jess Firlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was free, it was adorable, and it had the clumsiest, least suave protagonist that was (unfortunately) utterly relatable.

I wish I ended up with half as much luck as he did, but I can accept things turning out better than anyone ever could have expected during the holiday season lol

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was enjoyable enough, although it won't set the world on fire. It focuses on changing some one from the grinch to someone who truly understands the meaning of christmas. A nice story wittily told.

[Germana Paolella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good christmas book! it's nice and cozy, but it's not as predictable and repetitive as most of christmas books. it's insightful and funny at times, and the romance part isn't boring at all. It's a one of the kind for this genre. the narrator of the audio version is pretty good

[Addie Palethorpe-Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read

Found the beginning a little slow to start with but I’m glad I kept going, I really enjoyed it, i hope there is another book to follow

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! Joyful, sad, poignant, depressing, regretful, tragic, encouraging, hopeful, redemptive, friendship, sentimental - everything I could want in a novel about Christmas ... in August!

[Susan Marie Ballain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I was a fun quirky kind of book! The characters were great and the storyline was excellent! 5 ⭐️

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Christmas read of 2025. I love that Williams surprised me at least three times! Surprising readers of Christmas books is not an easy task!

[SUSAN F GALLAGHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 Books at once

Two stories beautifully entwined and on task for the Christmas message! I loved it and will read more of this authors books‼️

[Lizi Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

q1

[Susan Pelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

more of a 4.5 read for me. a little slow at start.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Light-hearted humour without being cringy, and poignant in parts.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Matt Haig-esque

[Tracy Fulcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very positive story about life’s up and downs good and bad and turning it around! Also about putting yourself out there. Would make a lovely little Christmas adaptation

[Mahayana Dugast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author in crisis making a total {redeeming} fool of himself: Fun and heart-warming.