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A Merry Irish Christmas
An Irish Christmas romantic comedy with all the Hallmark vibes 🍀❤️🎄 A surprise visit home, an unexpected houseguest, a Christmas she'll never forget... ☃️
Mary hasn’t told her family that she’s coming home for Christmas. After breaking up with her boyfriend just before the holidays, she decides to surprise them and get a last-minute flight home. But when she arrives in Ireland after a long journey, she discovers her family have had the same idea, and gone to New York to surprise her.
To make matters infinitely worse, they’ve done a house swap with grumpy (but sexy) New Yorker Evan , who makes it clear he doesn’t want her, or her Christmas cheer, around.
Mary is determined to keep the festive spirit alive, so she proposes that she and Evan each get one day where the other has to do things their way. But can Evan put aside his grouchiness to embrace a proper, Irish Christmas? And how will Mary cope with a day of sulking and moody walks on the beach?
One thing’s as the temperature drops outside, things start to heat up inside the McBride house. Maybe it’ll be a merry Christmas after all …
A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy full of Irish charm and festive romance, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Catherine Walsh.
Praise for Clodagh
‘Beautifully written, funny and warm, Murphy has done it again’ Joanna Bolouri
‘A wonderful story of romance, sisterhood and community with a really strong will they/won’t they vibe’ BookMadJo
‘Once again, I loved my trip to Halfpenny Lane and I adored this book. I cannot wait for another visit’ Herding Cats
‘Sweet and funny, this second chance romance was a fun read’ Reviews in Heels
‘If you haven’t started this series yet there is still time to book your trip to the theatre – you don’t know what you are missing’ Kirsty’s Book Reviews
‘This is a lovely series and although it can be read as a standalone, reading the first in the series will add to the enjoyment’ Books, Life and Everything
Mary hasn’t told her family that she’s coming home for Christmas. After breaking up with her boyfriend just before the holidays, she decides to surprise them and get a last-minute flight home. But when she arrives in Ireland after a long journey, she discovers her family have had the same idea, and gone to New York to surprise her.
To make matters infinitely worse, they’ve done a house swap with grumpy (but sexy) New Yorker Evan , who makes it clear he doesn’t want her, or her Christmas cheer, around.
Mary is determined to keep the festive spirit alive, so she proposes that she and Evan each get one day where the other has to do things their way. But can Evan put aside his grouchiness to embrace a proper, Irish Christmas? And how will Mary cope with a day of sulking and moody walks on the beach?
One thing’s as the temperature drops outside, things start to heat up inside the McBride house. Maybe it’ll be a merry Christmas after all …
A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy full of Irish charm and festive romance, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Catherine Walsh.
Praise for Clodagh
‘Beautifully written, funny and warm, Murphy has done it again’ Joanna Bolouri
‘A wonderful story of romance, sisterhood and community with a really strong will they/won’t they vibe’ BookMadJo
‘Once again, I loved my trip to Halfpenny Lane and I adored this book. I cannot wait for another visit’ Herding Cats
‘Sweet and funny, this second chance romance was a fun read’ Reviews in Heels
‘If you haven’t started this series yet there is still time to book your trip to the theatre – you don’t know what you are missing’ Kirsty’s Book Reviews
‘This is a lovely series and although it can be read as a standalone, reading the first in the series will add to the enjoyment’ Books, Life and Everything
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2025
442 people are currently reading
1009 people want to read
About the author
Clodagh Murphy
17 books248 followersClodagh (rhymes with Yoda) is an Irish writer of romantic comedies. She lives in Dublin with a large circle of imaginary friends.
You can find Clodagh on Facebook too:
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You can find Clodagh on Facebook too:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
November 18, 2025
In a Nutshell: A romantic comedy filled with the Irish festive spirit. Forced proximity trope. A good balance of comedy and emotions, though it never gets too intense. Nice characters, though a few are a bit too pushy. Sweet romance, with a teeny bit of steam. A heartwarming read with only a few misses and eyerolls. (Coming from this Grinch, consider this a compliment.) Recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🎄 Mary, to a great extent. A sweet and caring girl who is modern and traditional at once. One thing I especially appreciate is her financial sense. Nice to see a romcom character display awareness of monetary limits.
🎄 Evan. Love that he isn’t a typical grump, though the blurb declares him as such. I wish his POV had more chapters. It would have been great to know him and his thoughts better.
🎄 The “romance”. Given the short time period of the story (it lasts just about ten days or so), I appreciate how the pair doesn’t go flinging vows of lifetime commitments by the end of the book. The development of the relationship feels like that between two consenting adults, and it contains a good amount of banter and understanding. Not insta, not too slowburn.
🎄 The comedic crossover fiasco(s) – predictable but still funny.
🎄 The use of the two locations: small town Dingle and big city New York. The contrast as well as the vibes of both locations were palpable in every scene. (Also, isn't the name ‘Dingle’ perfect for a Christmassy story? I love that this is an actual place name!)
🎄 The blurb doesn’t state that Evan is a fairly successful actor. (Thank heavens for that! I am not a big fan of celebrity-outsider romances so I might have missed out on this book.) But this feature is used well in the plot, and while Evan’s popularity gets a proper place in the storyline, it doesn’t restrict Evan’s depiction only to his fame and fortune. We genuinely get to see the man, with all the ups and downs of celeb-hood forming only a part of his character development.
🎄 The use of forced proximity: quite nicely done. I enjoyed how genuine the interactions felt, and how each character had enough scenes to themselves despite the shared home.
🎄 The Irish Christmas food – sounds so scrumptious! Gotta find me some Kimberly biscuits! 😋
🎄 Fast-paced. No frivolous scenes, no stupid third-act breakups.
🎄 The “main character in your life” dialogue – loved it! Won't ever forget it!
Bookish Okays:
🍀 The remaining characters are a fair mix of adorable and stereotypical. Mary’s mom Sheena is an amazing character, and the rest of her family, coming in barely a couple of scenes, also sounds cute. There are several other secondary, non-family characters, quite a few of whom are one-noted. The character development is relatively weak for most of the cast, as they appear only to the extent of their limited roles.
🍀 The Irish Christmas celebration is fun to read, with some comments about potatoes and the inclusion of local traditions. But I am very surprised that even an Irish Christmas book has no reference to church or Christmas Eve mass, and all the Irish characters spend Christmas Eve in the local pub. Further, there is mention of taking down the Christmas tree somewhere at the end of December. Who does that!? Traditional Christmas season lasts till the feast of the Epiphany. I wish the religious aspects also had found at least a little place in this story, considering that the main location was Ireland.
🍀 The house swap idea is used decently in the plot. But I don’t see how a person can throw a party in the swapped house and invite outsiders without the original owner’s permission. Fictional license, perhaps?
Bookish Nays:
🌊 I like to picture the characters in my fictional picks. So I was quite stumped at the minimal physical description of the lead characters. We get generic words like ‘hot’ for Evan and ‘cute’ for Mary. But we don’t know their age, their height, their facial features, or even their hair. (Mary’s “long, blonde hair” is mentioned for the first and only time at the 61% mark!) It was very tough for me to visualise them.
🌊 You might think that the cover would help in the above issue. But honestly, despite its cuteness, the cover art represents neither the story nor the characters well. Evan has no beard; not even a stubble is mentioned! And Mary seems to have brown hair on the cover. This isn't the first time I have seen a Boldwood Books cover be totally inaccurate about the characters’ physical features.
🌊 Mary’s insistence on Evan’s mixing with others in the neighbourhood, even though he had clearly come in search of some privacy and quiet, was somewhat irritating. The way she made him commit to various things under duress wasn’t right or fair. I don’t like such bulldozing behaviour in real life, so I struggle with it in fiction as well.
🌊 Most of the story was minimally steamy and mostly closed door, but there was one extended scene that went dangerously close to third base. This scene spoiled the otherwise cute vibe of the story for me. This might not bother those more comfortable with spicy scenes. Also, Mary’s repeated thoughts about Evan’s distractive physique were a bit annoying.
Overall, despite the somewhat mixed skew of my feedback, I did have a lot of fun reading this book. The ‘Yays’ are really strong, and the ‘Okays’ have relatively minor bothers. So I am pretty happy with my first Christmas read of the season.
The author has revealed that she is working on a new book set in Dingle, featuring another member of the McBride family. Given the majorly satisfying feels of this book, I’d not say no to more of the McBrides.
Recommended to romcom lovers who would enjoy a fun festive story with an Irish flavour and who wouldn’t overthink while reading.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Boldwood Books for providing the DRC of “A Merry Irish Christmas” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Thanks also to my GR friend Karly whose enthusiastic review put this on my radar. I am very picky about romcoms these days, but this was a fun choice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
When her boyfriend breaks up with her just a few days before Christmas, Mary McBride longs for a morale boost with her loving family back in Dingle. So she books a last-minute flight from New York to Ireland, hoping to surprise her family. When she reaches home, she discovers that her family had the very same idea, and they have gone to New York to surprise her. Worse, they entered into a house-swap agreement, and Mary has to handle the grumpy Evan Prentiss, who wants his temporary house all to himself and with no Christmas cheer at all. But they soon realise that they both don’t have any choice, and have to contend with each other’s presence until the flight back home. Mary is determined to make the best of the festive season. Will Evan the Grinch spoil her fun? Or can he truly embrace a hearty Irish Christmas?
The story comes to us mostly in Mary’s third-person POV, with a few scenes coming from Evan’s perspective.
Bookish Yays:
🎄 Mary, to a great extent. A sweet and caring girl who is modern and traditional at once. One thing I especially appreciate is her financial sense. Nice to see a romcom character display awareness of monetary limits.
🎄 Evan. Love that he isn’t a typical grump, though the blurb declares him as such. I wish his POV had more chapters. It would have been great to know him and his thoughts better.
🎄 The “romance”. Given the short time period of the story (it lasts just about ten days or so), I appreciate how the pair doesn’t go flinging vows of lifetime commitments by the end of the book. The development of the relationship feels like that between two consenting adults, and it contains a good amount of banter and understanding. Not insta, not too slowburn.
🎄 The comedic crossover fiasco(s) – predictable but still funny.
🎄 The use of the two locations: small town Dingle and big city New York. The contrast as well as the vibes of both locations were palpable in every scene. (Also, isn't the name ‘Dingle’ perfect for a Christmassy story? I love that this is an actual place name!)
🎄 The blurb doesn’t state that Evan is a fairly successful actor. (Thank heavens for that! I am not a big fan of celebrity-outsider romances so I might have missed out on this book.) But this feature is used well in the plot, and while Evan’s popularity gets a proper place in the storyline, it doesn’t restrict Evan’s depiction only to his fame and fortune. We genuinely get to see the man, with all the ups and downs of celeb-hood forming only a part of his character development.
🎄 The use of forced proximity: quite nicely done. I enjoyed how genuine the interactions felt, and how each character had enough scenes to themselves despite the shared home.
🎄 The Irish Christmas food – sounds so scrumptious! Gotta find me some Kimberly biscuits! 😋
🎄 Fast-paced. No frivolous scenes, no stupid third-act breakups.
🎄 The “main character in your life” dialogue – loved it! Won't ever forget it!
Bookish Okays:
🍀 The remaining characters are a fair mix of adorable and stereotypical. Mary’s mom Sheena is an amazing character, and the rest of her family, coming in barely a couple of scenes, also sounds cute. There are several other secondary, non-family characters, quite a few of whom are one-noted. The character development is relatively weak for most of the cast, as they appear only to the extent of their limited roles.
🍀 The Irish Christmas celebration is fun to read, with some comments about potatoes and the inclusion of local traditions. But I am very surprised that even an Irish Christmas book has no reference to church or Christmas Eve mass, and all the Irish characters spend Christmas Eve in the local pub. Further, there is mention of taking down the Christmas tree somewhere at the end of December. Who does that!? Traditional Christmas season lasts till the feast of the Epiphany. I wish the religious aspects also had found at least a little place in this story, considering that the main location was Ireland.
🍀 The house swap idea is used decently in the plot. But I don’t see how a person can throw a party in the swapped house and invite outsiders without the original owner’s permission. Fictional license, perhaps?
Bookish Nays:
🌊 I like to picture the characters in my fictional picks. So I was quite stumped at the minimal physical description of the lead characters. We get generic words like ‘hot’ for Evan and ‘cute’ for Mary. But we don’t know their age, their height, their facial features, or even their hair. (Mary’s “long, blonde hair” is mentioned for the first and only time at the 61% mark!) It was very tough for me to visualise them.
🌊 You might think that the cover would help in the above issue. But honestly, despite its cuteness, the cover art represents neither the story nor the characters well. Evan has no beard; not even a stubble is mentioned! And Mary seems to have brown hair on the cover. This isn't the first time I have seen a Boldwood Books cover be totally inaccurate about the characters’ physical features.
🌊 Mary’s insistence on Evan’s mixing with others in the neighbourhood, even though he had clearly come in search of some privacy and quiet, was somewhat irritating. The way she made him commit to various things under duress wasn’t right or fair. I don’t like such bulldozing behaviour in real life, so I struggle with it in fiction as well.
🌊 Most of the story was minimally steamy and mostly closed door, but there was one extended scene that went dangerously close to third base. This scene spoiled the otherwise cute vibe of the story for me. This might not bother those more comfortable with spicy scenes. Also, Mary’s repeated thoughts about Evan’s distractive physique were a bit annoying.
Overall, despite the somewhat mixed skew of my feedback, I did have a lot of fun reading this book. The ‘Yays’ are really strong, and the ‘Okays’ have relatively minor bothers. So I am pretty happy with my first Christmas read of the season.
The author has revealed that she is working on a new book set in Dingle, featuring another member of the McBride family. Given the majorly satisfying feels of this book, I’d not say no to more of the McBrides.
Recommended to romcom lovers who would enjoy a fun festive story with an Irish flavour and who wouldn’t overthink while reading.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Boldwood Books for providing the DRC of “A Merry Irish Christmas” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Thanks also to my GR friend Karly whose enthusiastic review put this on my radar. I am very picky about romcoms these days, but this was a fun choice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
December 8, 2025
This was so FUN 🤩
Like the movie ‘The Holiday’? You’ll LOVE this 🙌🏽
This was an Irish Christmas romantic comedy with all the Hallmark vibes🎄 When Mary’s boyfriend breaks up with her just a few days before Christmas, she longs for a proper family Christmas back home in Ireland. Hoping to surprise her family, she books a last minute trip home only to find that her family have had the same idea 💡 To make matters worse, they’ve agreed to a house swap with a grumpy New Yorker.
Enter: Evan - BA HUM BUG - he wants nothing to do with Mary or her Christmas cheer…
Will her determination and Irish charm win him over? 🎄
This was a romcom, heavy on the comedy, full of festive Irish charm and traditions 🥔 It was such an enjoyable story to read, and despite the third person narrative, I felt full immersed in it. While most of the story was told in third person from Mary’s POV, there were a few scenes told from Evan’s perspective providing a nice balance to the book.
Mary was an instantly likeable character. The first few chapters created a genuine and relatable character which only developed as the story continued. I loved how funny, lighthearted and festive she was - just reading her inner monologues put me in a good mood.
Evan was a loveable grump. He certainly played the part well at the beginning but as the story unfolded he opened up more and I was surprised/impressed at the depth of his character. Although, I would have loved to read more of his POV to get to know him better.
I absolutely loved both characters but I feel like I was only just getting to know them 😢 I wish it was longer. Or, even better: a sequel 🙌🏽 🙏🏼 💖 ✨
I appreciated the authenticity of the romance between these two. Given it was a short book, set over a short period of time, the depth of their relationship seemed realistic. Another reason why I would love a sequel - to see where their relationship goes…
Overall, this was a VERY enjoyable and entertaining Christmas read. I loved both settings - NY and Dingle - and felt they both fitted in with the holiday vibes. One of my favourite things about this book was the comedy and Irish charm. I just wanted MORE 📖 🙇🏻♀️ ❄️
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Like the movie ‘The Holiday’? You’ll LOVE this 🙌🏽
This was an Irish Christmas romantic comedy with all the Hallmark vibes🎄 When Mary’s boyfriend breaks up with her just a few days before Christmas, she longs for a proper family Christmas back home in Ireland. Hoping to surprise her family, she books a last minute trip home only to find that her family have had the same idea 💡 To make matters worse, they’ve agreed to a house swap with a grumpy New Yorker.
Enter: Evan - BA HUM BUG - he wants nothing to do with Mary or her Christmas cheer…
Will her determination and Irish charm win him over? 🎄
This was a romcom, heavy on the comedy, full of festive Irish charm and traditions 🥔 It was such an enjoyable story to read, and despite the third person narrative, I felt full immersed in it. While most of the story was told in third person from Mary’s POV, there were a few scenes told from Evan’s perspective providing a nice balance to the book.
Mary was an instantly likeable character. The first few chapters created a genuine and relatable character which only developed as the story continued. I loved how funny, lighthearted and festive she was - just reading her inner monologues put me in a good mood.
Evan was a loveable grump. He certainly played the part well at the beginning but as the story unfolded he opened up more and I was surprised/impressed at the depth of his character. Although, I would have loved to read more of his POV to get to know him better.
I absolutely loved both characters but I feel like I was only just getting to know them 😢 I wish it was longer. Or, even better: a sequel 🙌🏽 🙏🏼 💖 ✨
I appreciated the authenticity of the romance between these two. Given it was a short book, set over a short period of time, the depth of their relationship seemed realistic. Another reason why I would love a sequel - to see where their relationship goes…
Overall, this was a VERY enjoyable and entertaining Christmas read. I loved both settings - NY and Dingle - and felt they both fitted in with the holiday vibes. One of my favourite things about this book was the comedy and Irish charm. I just wanted MORE 📖 🙇🏻♀️ ❄️
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 7, 2025
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Cute!
Mary decides to fly home to Ireland for Christmas when things end with her boyfriend. Unknown to her, her family plans a similar surprise visit to New York. The result: Mary is home, and her family is in NY.
As if that’s not enough, the family home is now occupied by a grumpy New Yorker, Evan, who wants nothing to do with her or Christmas. Can the two of them find a way to make Christmas memorable?
The story comes in Mary’s third-person POV with a few chapters from Evan’s POV (also in the third person).
My Thoughts:
This is a short and cute book you can finish in a single sitting. The descriptions are very well done. I could visualize the Irish setting, the weather, and cozy dinners.
The FMC is easy enough to like. This made the book enjoyable since we get most of the story from her perspective.
The MMC is a proper grump in the beginning, but he proves himself to be a sweet guy. Just how it should be. I did wish he had more chapters to balance the narrative.
There are many side characters, though my favorite has to be the mom. She pretty much runs the book, though her scenes are limited. There is also a bit of stereotyping, but given that those characters appear only once throughout the book, I didn’t mind it too much.
So far, the book seems to be a standalone, which means a subplot has been left open. Maybe there will be another book for that one. It’s not related to the main characters, though.
Given the timeline, this is no slow burn. It is insta-love. However, I don’t remember them actually saying the word, so that’s something. There’s a teeny bit of spice, but mostly closed door. The banter is fun, which I enjoyed.
The ending is nice and hopeful, but I do miss not having an epilogue. The only way to make up for it is to complete the subplot in another book.
To summarize, A Merry Irish Christmas is a lighthearted, cozy, and cute romance with some determined side characters added to the mix.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #AMerryIrishChristmas
One Liner: Cute!
Mary decides to fly home to Ireland for Christmas when things end with her boyfriend. Unknown to her, her family plans a similar surprise visit to New York. The result: Mary is home, and her family is in NY.
As if that’s not enough, the family home is now occupied by a grumpy New Yorker, Evan, who wants nothing to do with her or Christmas. Can the two of them find a way to make Christmas memorable?
The story comes in Mary’s third-person POV with a few chapters from Evan’s POV (also in the third person).
My Thoughts:
This is a short and cute book you can finish in a single sitting. The descriptions are very well done. I could visualize the Irish setting, the weather, and cozy dinners.
The FMC is easy enough to like. This made the book enjoyable since we get most of the story from her perspective.
The MMC is a proper grump in the beginning, but he proves himself to be a sweet guy. Just how it should be. I did wish he had more chapters to balance the narrative.
There are many side characters, though my favorite has to be the mom. She pretty much runs the book, though her scenes are limited. There is also a bit of stereotyping, but given that those characters appear only once throughout the book, I didn’t mind it too much.
So far, the book seems to be a standalone, which means a subplot has been left open. Maybe there will be another book for that one. It’s not related to the main characters, though.
Given the timeline, this is no slow burn. It is insta-love. However, I don’t remember them actually saying the word, so that’s something. There’s a teeny bit of spice, but mostly closed door. The banter is fun, which I enjoyed.
The ending is nice and hopeful, but I do miss not having an epilogue. The only way to make up for it is to complete the subplot in another book.
To summarize, A Merry Irish Christmas is a lighthearted, cozy, and cute romance with some determined side characters added to the mix.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #AMerryIrishChristmas
December 28, 2025
A week before Christmas.
New York.
Mary McBride works at a recruitment agency, and this year she's not going to Ireland to spend Christmas with her family but with her boyfriend Greg and his family in the States.
When his ex girlfriend Juanita suddenly appears at his door, after calling off her wedding in San Salvador, declaring she made a terrible mistake, that she can't live without him, the love of her life, and Greg says exactly the same, she just leaves his house humiliated and heart broken.
How could she be so stupid?
She knew Greg still had feelings for his ex!
And now all the low cost flights to Ireland are sold!
But her friend Gina and coworker reminds her she hasn't spent her year bonus she received, so she can buy an expensive one to Ireland and be with her family for Christmas.
After everything is set, she's calling her mother Sheena to tell her the good news, but decides to make it a surprise, just to see all her siblings delightful faces when they open the door and she's there!
Ireland.
Kerry.
The village of Inch on the Dingle Peninsula, at her parents house.
When she arrives the house is in the dark, but both cars are still there.
She enters using her key, but something is wrong.
The place looks empty, abandoned!
Where could they be?
Not having eaten all they she goes to the fridge, full of the wrong food and lots of beer!
Someone opens the front door and she's faced with a very tall man, with a mask, dressed all in black!
First she thinks he's a burglar and tells him she's going to call the police, but it so happens he's Evan Prentice, an american star of the new Spider-Man TV series, hidden away from the paparazzi after a scandal with his ex girlfriend.
They did a house swap and are now in New York, wanting to surprise her too!
All her family, brothers, sisters and niece, they cross-wired over the Atlantic!!
He wants her to leave, but she has no place to go, and he lets her stay just the night.
Evan knows he's being a jerk and the bad guy, to keep Mary out of her house at Christmas, but he went there to be alone!
Mary thinks he's hot and gorgeous, but also grumpy and hostile.
What is she going to do?
The next day she convinces him she'll keep herself out of his way, eat in her room, the food her mother left is enough for two and there's more in the pantry, and reluctantly he agrees.
It will be a Christmas without her family, but she has all her friends and the places she loves.
But her mother doesn't want them to be in the same house and spend Christmas alone.
She already talked to her best friend Carmel O'Sullivan and she wants Mary and Evan to go together to their Christmas dinner.
He doesn't want to, and the things she says to convince him are absolutely hilarious, and when everything else fails she says he'll be the one to tell Sheena.
And he's not able to say no to her, hurting her feelings and accuses Mary to always promising to stay out of his way but she never does!
So she makes a list for the remaining days, where both of them will be, so they could avoid each other, and goes Christmas shopping leaving him alone.
Evan is surprised to realise he doesn't want her to stay out of his way, she is cool, beautiful, funny and he enjoys sparring with her.
When she comes back he's nice and friendly to her, and says they'll eat together from now on.
He's good company and warm, when he stops being grumpy and Grinch like, and she likes this Evan a lot!
He enjoys the Christmas dinner, the dive in the freezing water in the ocean the same morning, to learn how to do soda bread, binge watching Christmas movies, making out with Mary in the sofa, Evan is a very good kisser, and the next step, (no spicy scenes, closed doors).The talks in between, finding out they love many of the same things!
But there's his ex girlfriend looming over them when they return home to New York.
There will be some tears, another cross-wired, but this is an HEA!
My first book by this funny author!
New York.
Mary McBride works at a recruitment agency, and this year she's not going to Ireland to spend Christmas with her family but with her boyfriend Greg and his family in the States.
When his ex girlfriend Juanita suddenly appears at his door, after calling off her wedding in San Salvador, declaring she made a terrible mistake, that she can't live without him, the love of her life, and Greg says exactly the same, she just leaves his house humiliated and heart broken.
How could she be so stupid?
She knew Greg still had feelings for his ex!
And now all the low cost flights to Ireland are sold!
But her friend Gina and coworker reminds her she hasn't spent her year bonus she received, so she can buy an expensive one to Ireland and be with her family for Christmas.
After everything is set, she's calling her mother Sheena to tell her the good news, but decides to make it a surprise, just to see all her siblings delightful faces when they open the door and she's there!
Ireland.
Kerry.
The village of Inch on the Dingle Peninsula, at her parents house.
When she arrives the house is in the dark, but both cars are still there.
She enters using her key, but something is wrong.
The place looks empty, abandoned!
Where could they be?
Not having eaten all they she goes to the fridge, full of the wrong food and lots of beer!
Someone opens the front door and she's faced with a very tall man, with a mask, dressed all in black!
First she thinks he's a burglar and tells him she's going to call the police, but it so happens he's Evan Prentice, an american star of the new Spider-Man TV series, hidden away from the paparazzi after a scandal with his ex girlfriend.
They did a house swap and are now in New York, wanting to surprise her too!
All her family, brothers, sisters and niece, they cross-wired over the Atlantic!!
He wants her to leave, but she has no place to go, and he lets her stay just the night.
Evan knows he's being a jerk and the bad guy, to keep Mary out of her house at Christmas, but he went there to be alone!
Mary thinks he's hot and gorgeous, but also grumpy and hostile.
What is she going to do?
The next day she convinces him she'll keep herself out of his way, eat in her room, the food her mother left is enough for two and there's more in the pantry, and reluctantly he agrees.
It will be a Christmas without her family, but she has all her friends and the places she loves.
But her mother doesn't want them to be in the same house and spend Christmas alone.
She already talked to her best friend Carmel O'Sullivan and she wants Mary and Evan to go together to their Christmas dinner.
He doesn't want to, and the things she says to convince him are absolutely hilarious, and when everything else fails she says he'll be the one to tell Sheena.
And he's not able to say no to her, hurting her feelings and accuses Mary to always promising to stay out of his way but she never does!
So she makes a list for the remaining days, where both of them will be, so they could avoid each other, and goes Christmas shopping leaving him alone.
Evan is surprised to realise he doesn't want her to stay out of his way, she is cool, beautiful, funny and he enjoys sparring with her.
When she comes back he's nice and friendly to her, and says they'll eat together from now on.
He's good company and warm, when he stops being grumpy and Grinch like, and she likes this Evan a lot!
He enjoys the Christmas dinner, the dive in the freezing water in the ocean the same morning, to learn how to do soda bread, binge watching Christmas movies, making out with Mary in the sofa, Evan is a very good kisser, and the next step, (no spicy scenes, closed doors).The talks in between, finding out they love many of the same things!
But there's his ex girlfriend looming over them when they return home to New York.
There will be some tears, another cross-wired, but this is an HEA!
My first book by this funny author!
December 30, 2025
Overall Rating: 3.5🌟
🎄☃️♥️What to Expect ♥️☃️🎄
➳ Christmas Rom-Com
➳ House swap (Forced proximity)
➳ Ireland Setting
➳ Hallmark Feelies
➳ Festive Moments
~My Thoughts✎𓂃📝
In line with my push to get into the Christmas spirit this year, I figured trying out a light-hearted Christmas Rom-Com would further help my cause. And I did enjoy this, but I admit I also got easily bored with it.
Initially, I was drawn to this for the Ireland setting and references to one of the best holiday movies out there—The Holiday; but this just didn’t have the magic I was searching for. Indeed, it was a decently quick read, entertaining at times, and light/stress-free. However, I could not overlook a few things:
1) The grumpy/sunshine trope: I am just not a fan.
2) One of the main characters was an actor for a well-known movie franchise and that just felt weird to me.
3) Honestly, it was too predictable with way too many familiar tropes which = boring!
I honestly think in my case, this would have worked better had it been a movie…something I could throw on in the background, guilt-free, and just vibe to.
I am not giving up! I’ll remain on the lookout for other Christmas books that may win me over! Though I can’t say I recommend this one, I’d advise checking out In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
December 31, 2025
5☆ Festive , Heart-warming and Cosy Read
This book gave me all the festive feels.
From wrong place, at the wrong time, to sizzling chemistry, to fun traditions and yummy food, humour and warmth i enjoyed every bit of this book.
Oh and i so wanna party with Mary's Mum!
I really, really want more! I would love to follow more of Evan and Mary's story. It ended just right! But I didn't want to let them go just yet!
If your looking for a Heart-warming festive irish romance, then this is most definitely the book for you! It isn't a gooey festive read, but it definitely gives you all the feels!
A big Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley, for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This book gave me all the festive feels.
From wrong place, at the wrong time, to sizzling chemistry, to fun traditions and yummy food, humour and warmth i enjoyed every bit of this book.
Oh and i so wanna party with Mary's Mum!
I really, really want more! I would love to follow more of Evan and Mary's story. It ended just right! But I didn't want to let them go just yet!
If your looking for a Heart-warming festive irish romance, then this is most definitely the book for you! It isn't a gooey festive read, but it definitely gives you all the feels!
A big Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley, for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
August 4, 2025
5 stars! Cozy Irish Christmas read? Sign. Me. UP.
This was like a warm hug, but in book form! I LOVED IT.
Mary has recently had rough breakup and decides to do the only thing she knows will make her feel better- travelling back to Ireland to surprise her family for Christmas.
The problem? She arrives to find their family home empty- except for a complete stranger who informs her that they’ve done a house swap.
This stranger, Evan, turns out to be American celebrity- who has also gone through a recent split. He wants to be alone, and he wants absolutely nothing to do with this holiday season.
It is up to Mary to change that by giving him a proper Irish Christmas, and they may just heal both of their hearts in the process.
Perfect if you like:
- Hallmark style stories
- Cozy Christmas romance
- Celebrity romance
- Forced proximity
This was just great. It is cute, sweet, wholesome romance. What more could I ask for?
I love Mary and Evan together.
I think they are SO cute, and I loved how much they bonded.
Their individual stories were both interesting and heartbreaking at the same time. I felt so bad for them, but It was so healing to see them bring each other so much comfort and healing.
I also have to mention how beautifully this was written!
I was able to read this with so much ease, as it flows perfectly. I can always appreciate a story that is simple- without being too basic. This is that exactly.
Really gorgeous book overall! I will be re-reading this closer to Christmas, and it is certainly one of my new favorite holiday romances.
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and author Clodagh Murphy for providing me with the eARC of “A Merry Irish Christmas”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 4th, 2025
This was like a warm hug, but in book form! I LOVED IT.
Mary has recently had rough breakup and decides to do the only thing she knows will make her feel better- travelling back to Ireland to surprise her family for Christmas.
The problem? She arrives to find their family home empty- except for a complete stranger who informs her that they’ve done a house swap.
This stranger, Evan, turns out to be American celebrity- who has also gone through a recent split. He wants to be alone, and he wants absolutely nothing to do with this holiday season.
It is up to Mary to change that by giving him a proper Irish Christmas, and they may just heal both of their hearts in the process.
Perfect if you like:
- Hallmark style stories
- Cozy Christmas romance
- Celebrity romance
- Forced proximity
This was just great. It is cute, sweet, wholesome romance. What more could I ask for?
I love Mary and Evan together.
I think they are SO cute, and I loved how much they bonded.
Their individual stories were both interesting and heartbreaking at the same time. I felt so bad for them, but It was so healing to see them bring each other so much comfort and healing.
I also have to mention how beautifully this was written!
I was able to read this with so much ease, as it flows perfectly. I can always appreciate a story that is simple- without being too basic. This is that exactly.
Really gorgeous book overall! I will be re-reading this closer to Christmas, and it is certainly one of my new favorite holiday romances.
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and author Clodagh Murphy for providing me with the eARC of “A Merry Irish Christmas”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 4th, 2025
August 25, 2025
My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Super cute and clean, I really liked this one!!
Mary is surprising her family by flying home from NYC to Ireland for Christmas after a bad break up. All she wants to do is feel loved and cared for by her awesome family.
Her family knowing Mary couldn’t come home for Christmas had the same idea… they have basically crossed paths in the sky.
Now Mary is stuck in her childhood home with a grumpy stranger who her parents have house swapped with. Evan has made it clear he doesn’t want company and he’s here to hide away from his super famous life and his own bad breakup…
But can Evan put aside his grumpy pants to embrace a proper Irish Christmas with Mary who is determined to have a good time now shes home.
Things might just heat up more than they bargained for!!!
Awww I loved this, it was so cute. To all my “keep that door closed up tight” girlies you will be pleased to know that this author has nailed the cute, romantic, comedic but door very much closed up to perfection.
First of all I really liked the story, for anyone who is not usually a RomCom reader (and I better stop saying that cause I have read more romcoms this year than I think I ever have) you may not know that they are quite predictable. But I liked that we kind of knew where this was headed… the way that it got there was a little bit unique and I really loved the Irish setting.
We had bad breakup jerks (boy and girls) who broke our FMC and MMC hearts. We had grumpy hot dude, and happy cute girl meet in a hilarious way!! We had small town vibes and big town lights. Snow and Christmas and references to yummy foods that I know I have never eaten. We got a holiday esk kinda house swap vibe and a cast of great secondary characters, from Mary’s family, to Evan’s friends and neighbours.
I really liked Mary from the get go and she isn’t one of these girls that takes all the shit but gives none back. She is funny and fun but also not just gonna be treated like crap. Even though she kind of does get treated that way in the beginning.
What I liked about Evan was that he wasn’t grumpy the whole time… so we don’t have to read almost the whole book to get him to thaw out a bit and not be a jerk… he’s actually never really a jerk just a heartbroken dude who is in hiding. And Mary thaws his stone cold heart pretty quickly which is cute.
There is the mandatory romance but its mostly just that… very kissy but when we get down to the “deed” it slams that door shut and we have to use our imagination (which works just fine thank you) and no gross bodily fluids are discussed. I am very much in favour of the zero spice books and it was one of the main reasons I picked this up and it was great.
Overall, this was a cute Christmas romcom and I recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for something light and funny and a bit cute. Also if you are into full on erotica look elsewhere… this is not for you. This one is also not massively long a lot of these books are like 500 pages but this one comes in under 300 and it was long enough to make you wish for a bit more. I liked that as well.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for a nice Christmas romance.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the Author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Mary is surprising her family by flying home from NYC to Ireland for Christmas after a bad break up. All she wants to do is feel loved and cared for by her awesome family.
Her family knowing Mary couldn’t come home for Christmas had the same idea… they have basically crossed paths in the sky.
Now Mary is stuck in her childhood home with a grumpy stranger who her parents have house swapped with. Evan has made it clear he doesn’t want company and he’s here to hide away from his super famous life and his own bad breakup…
But can Evan put aside his grumpy pants to embrace a proper Irish Christmas with Mary who is determined to have a good time now shes home.
Things might just heat up more than they bargained for!!!
Awww I loved this, it was so cute. To all my “keep that door closed up tight” girlies you will be pleased to know that this author has nailed the cute, romantic, comedic but door very much closed up to perfection.
First of all I really liked the story, for anyone who is not usually a RomCom reader (and I better stop saying that cause I have read more romcoms this year than I think I ever have) you may not know that they are quite predictable. But I liked that we kind of knew where this was headed… the way that it got there was a little bit unique and I really loved the Irish setting.
We had bad breakup jerks (boy and girls) who broke our FMC and MMC hearts. We had grumpy hot dude, and happy cute girl meet in a hilarious way!! We had small town vibes and big town lights. Snow and Christmas and references to yummy foods that I know I have never eaten. We got a holiday esk kinda house swap vibe and a cast of great secondary characters, from Mary’s family, to Evan’s friends and neighbours.
I really liked Mary from the get go and she isn’t one of these girls that takes all the shit but gives none back. She is funny and fun but also not just gonna be treated like crap. Even though she kind of does get treated that way in the beginning.
What I liked about Evan was that he wasn’t grumpy the whole time… so we don’t have to read almost the whole book to get him to thaw out a bit and not be a jerk… he’s actually never really a jerk just a heartbroken dude who is in hiding. And Mary thaws his stone cold heart pretty quickly which is cute.
There is the mandatory romance but its mostly just that… very kissy but when we get down to the “deed” it slams that door shut and we have to use our imagination (which works just fine thank you) and no gross bodily fluids are discussed. I am very much in favour of the zero spice books and it was one of the main reasons I picked this up and it was great.
Overall, this was a cute Christmas romcom and I recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for something light and funny and a bit cute. Also if you are into full on erotica look elsewhere… this is not for you. This one is also not massively long a lot of these books are like 500 pages but this one comes in under 300 and it was long enough to make you wish for a bit more. I liked that as well.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for a nice Christmas romance.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the Author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!
September 3, 2025
Ok this was super cute. Cross The Holiday with a hallmark movie and you get this adorable romance that is perfect for the holiday reads but would also be a fun read anytime of year as it's short and light and full of festive moments. And the steam factor is minimal for those that like closed door romance.
Mary decides at the last minute to surprise her family and fly back home to Ireland for Christmas after she breaks up with her boyfriend and is shocked when she gets there and theyre not there. She's even more surprised to find out they felt bad about her being alone for the holidays and flew to New York to see her! She can't change her ticket so she decides to stay but then things get even stranger when she finds out her mother has done a house swap and a stranger will be staying in the family home where she is and not only that, but he is a famous celebrity who is just trying to hide out and have a quiet Christmas there where he hopes no one will know him and her family is in his swanky apartment in New York 1 mean, what else could you want from a holiday story? You've got grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers. ALL the holiday vibes, small town Irish setting and lots of yummy food and festivities.
If you need a book with love, friendship and Christmas spirit, look no further.
Thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Mary decides at the last minute to surprise her family and fly back home to Ireland for Christmas after she breaks up with her boyfriend and is shocked when she gets there and theyre not there. She's even more surprised to find out they felt bad about her being alone for the holidays and flew to New York to see her! She can't change her ticket so she decides to stay but then things get even stranger when she finds out her mother has done a house swap and a stranger will be staying in the family home where she is and not only that, but he is a famous celebrity who is just trying to hide out and have a quiet Christmas there where he hopes no one will know him and her family is in his swanky apartment in New York 1 mean, what else could you want from a holiday story? You've got grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers. ALL the holiday vibes, small town Irish setting and lots of yummy food and festivities.
If you need a book with love, friendship and Christmas spirit, look no further.
Thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
August 29, 2025
Netgalley Review
💭 THOUGHTS 💭
The writing was light and kept me engaged from the beginning right through to the end. I read it in a couple of days, always looking forward to picking it back up at each reading session.
The chapters were long and occasionally split which meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. I liked that on a couple of occasions you got to see Evan's point of view. It actually helped to make him an even more likable character.
There was a good pace to the story and a good flow between the chapters. I happily sat and read the story for long periods of time, desperate to know what was going to happen next!
The characters were excellent. I enjoyed reading about the main two characters and wanted them to have happy endings. They had both been hurt and it was nice to see them work things through together.
I enjoyed the side characters too. It made for a nice cosy, festive read. There were a couple of unsavoury characters, but actually their personalities were drowned out by the overall love of the family and friends surrounding the main characters.
Lastly the settings. It was mainly a character focused story, but there were some lovely festive details added which gave the cosy feel to the story.
Overall it was a lovely festive read, full of love, friendship and Christmas spirit. I recommend.
💭 THOUGHTS 💭
The writing was light and kept me engaged from the beginning right through to the end. I read it in a couple of days, always looking forward to picking it back up at each reading session.
The chapters were long and occasionally split which meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. I liked that on a couple of occasions you got to see Evan's point of view. It actually helped to make him an even more likable character.
There was a good pace to the story and a good flow between the chapters. I happily sat and read the story for long periods of time, desperate to know what was going to happen next!
The characters were excellent. I enjoyed reading about the main two characters and wanted them to have happy endings. They had both been hurt and it was nice to see them work things through together.
I enjoyed the side characters too. It made for a nice cosy, festive read. There were a couple of unsavoury characters, but actually their personalities were drowned out by the overall love of the family and friends surrounding the main characters.
Lastly the settings. It was mainly a character focused story, but there were some lovely festive details added which gave the cosy feel to the story.
Overall it was a lovely festive read, full of love, friendship and Christmas spirit. I recommend.
December 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ this was a cute holiday rom com and it was even better that it took place in Ireland! It was a quick whirlwind romance, but I appreciated that they weren’t saying I love you after only a week. Thanks NetGalley for a copy!
September 12, 2025
did i read a Christmas book in summer? yes.
did i enjoy it as if i was experiencing the Christmas holidays? also yes.
as someone who spends all her time during winter watching Christmas movies, this book felt the exact same way!!! I loved the cliche of the story where he hates Christmas and the idea of her - that turn into them falling in love together. The grumpy x sunshine trope was very well done to me, and the Christmas aspect of the book was well put together.
I liked how both main characters (Mary and Evan) begin to be really soft and gentle to each other. It made the story flew by, and i really enjoyed reading this book!
I would recommend it to anyone who would love an easy and quick read during the winter. It is perfect for an afternoon read when it's cold on a sunday. :)
Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review!
did i enjoy it as if i was experiencing the Christmas holidays? also yes.
as someone who spends all her time during winter watching Christmas movies, this book felt the exact same way!!! I loved the cliche of the story where he hates Christmas and the idea of her - that turn into them falling in love together. The grumpy x sunshine trope was very well done to me, and the Christmas aspect of the book was well put together.
I liked how both main characters (Mary and Evan) begin to be really soft and gentle to each other. It made the story flew by, and i really enjoyed reading this book!
I would recommend it to anyone who would love an easy and quick read during the winter. It is perfect for an afternoon read when it's cold on a sunday. :)
Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review!
December 7, 2025
This was a fun holiday romcom set in Ireland over the holidays. When Mary’s boyfriend’s breaks up with her right before Christmas she decides to surprise them by going home to Ireland . Her family does a house swap and plans to surprise her by coming to New York for Christmas. When Mary arrives at her childhood home she finds a stranger staying there and as they say the rest is history. There are some challenges along the way but in the end it all works out.
December 29, 2025
Das hat alle Erwartungen komplett erfüllt und bekommt daher 5 Sterne. 🤭😅 Voller Klischees und das Ende ist am Anfang natürlich schon klar, aber ich wollte eine gute Zeit, eine süße Geschichte mit netten Menschen und ner Prise Humor und hab genau das bekommen. Yay. 😍🎄☃️
December 15, 2025
Simple, sweet and hard to put down. Perfect lighthearted, holiday romcom-like Sunday read.
December 15, 2025
This was predictable but cute. It did make me hunt down chocolate Kimberly biscuits in England so merry Christmas to me ☘️🎄
December 13, 2025
This was a sweet story, easy to read, romance without explicit descriptions & what seemed to be, genuinely nice people! I will get to Ireland one of these days.
January 7, 2026
Loved it.
Read
September 25, 2025Please please please tell me this is the first book in a series, as I really need to read more of these characters. Very specifically this book was giving me Marian Keyes, Walsh family vibes and feel like Sheena who is Mary's mum is going to be pivotal to everything.
I adored Sheena whenever we saw her, and she certainly has the gift of the gab, and clearly loves her children.
I also feel like this would make a fabulous festive movie, there is a brilliant meet cute, close proximity possible romance, elements of The Holiday (the house swap), characters who want to surprise loved ones, only for it to backfire slightly and a whole lot more.
I found this to be a wonderfully fast book to read, it seemed like the pages were going past without any effort from me, while I was enjoying every last word of this.
Set between New York and a small Irish town, this is pure enjoyment this festive season. There are friends to be met, a really lovely Christmas Day, and a slow burn romance, which I was definitely rooting for.
This was an incredibly enjoyable book to read and I'm definitely keen to read more from the author, and hopefully this family too.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I adored Sheena whenever we saw her, and she certainly has the gift of the gab, and clearly loves her children.
I also feel like this would make a fabulous festive movie, there is a brilliant meet cute, close proximity possible romance, elements of The Holiday (the house swap), characters who want to surprise loved ones, only for it to backfire slightly and a whole lot more.
I found this to be a wonderfully fast book to read, it seemed like the pages were going past without any effort from me, while I was enjoying every last word of this.
Set between New York and a small Irish town, this is pure enjoyment this festive season. There are friends to be met, a really lovely Christmas Day, and a slow burn romance, which I was definitely rooting for.
This was an incredibly enjoyable book to read and I'm definitely keen to read more from the author, and hopefully this family too.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
August 15, 2025
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
I devoured this book in one sitting—I simply couldn’t put it down. It’s the kind of story that feels like a warm hug: quick to read, lighthearted, and filled with joy.
The pages are brimming with cozy holiday vibes: shopping in New York City during Christmastime, soft sweaters, big festive meals, laughter, and just the right touch of romance. The banter sparkles, the character arcs feel satisfying, and the ending is perfectly heartwarming.
I especially enjoyed the glimpse into Irish traditions, particularly during the Christmas season—it even inspired me to try making soda bread!
If you’re looking for a book that will leave you smiling, laughing, and curled up under a blanket by the glow of the Christmas tree, this is one you won’t want to miss.
I devoured this book in one sitting—I simply couldn’t put it down. It’s the kind of story that feels like a warm hug: quick to read, lighthearted, and filled with joy.
The pages are brimming with cozy holiday vibes: shopping in New York City during Christmastime, soft sweaters, big festive meals, laughter, and just the right touch of romance. The banter sparkles, the character arcs feel satisfying, and the ending is perfectly heartwarming.
I especially enjoyed the glimpse into Irish traditions, particularly during the Christmas season—it even inspired me to try making soda bread!
If you’re looking for a book that will leave you smiling, laughing, and curled up under a blanket by the glow of the Christmas tree, this is one you won’t want to miss.
September 6, 2025
A Merry Irish Christmas
Clodagh Murphy
Publication date: September 6, 2025
5/5 stars
I loved this book! Mary is disappointed to be missing Christmas in Dingle with her family, but also excited to be spending the holiday with her boyfriend and his parents. When her boyfriend breaks up with her last minute, she decides to fly home to Dingle to surprise her parents only to find out they had the same idea! Evan, a grumpy actor trying to hide from the limelight, is at her parent’s house after agreeing to a house swap with him.
This is such a cozy, well written book! I felt like I was watching a movie while reading it and didn’t want to put it down.
Thank you Clodagh Murphy, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Clodagh Murphy
Publication date: September 6, 2025
5/5 stars
I loved this book! Mary is disappointed to be missing Christmas in Dingle with her family, but also excited to be spending the holiday with her boyfriend and his parents. When her boyfriend breaks up with her last minute, she decides to fly home to Dingle to surprise her parents only to find out they had the same idea! Evan, a grumpy actor trying to hide from the limelight, is at her parent’s house after agreeing to a house swap with him.
This is such a cozy, well written book! I felt like I was watching a movie while reading it and didn’t want to put it down.
Thank you Clodagh Murphy, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
September 7, 2025
A Merry Irish Christmas was a hug in the form of a book. It's such a lovely chick lit read, definite Hallmark movie vibes (but a little spicier) I loved Mary and Evan and hope to see them again soon. While reading this book you got the sense of the hassle and bustle of a New York Christmas and the cosy, homely feeling of an Irish one. With a strong supporting cast, some laugh out loud moments and some absolutely swoon worth moments, Evan and Mary's story will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend reading this book under a cosy blanket with a hot drink.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader's Copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader's Copy.
December 11, 2025
Ahh this book fell so flat for me :/ the romance felt rushed and lacked any connection or spark to fill me in. I felt like they didn’t even really acknowledge each other until like 65% in? And switching to his POV for only like 3 or 4 chapters was so random and unnecessary. It was less than 250 pages so a quick read, but maybe it needed more to add more character and charm and Christmas magic? ⭐️⭐️
December 18, 2025
Irish Christmas
This was a cute, quick rom-com. A little too much profanity for my liking. The spice level was very warm, but not vulgar. If not for those two things, I would give a higher rating. The story was very good. Played out like a Christmas movie in my mind. There were no twists or surprises that I didn’t see coming, but I still enjoyed it, and would recommend without hesitation.
This was a cute, quick rom-com. A little too much profanity for my liking. The spice level was very warm, but not vulgar. If not for those two things, I would give a higher rating. The story was very good. Played out like a Christmas movie in my mind. There were no twists or surprises that I didn’t see coming, but I still enjoyed it, and would recommend without hesitation.
November 10, 2025
Just finished my first book from this author and I loved it. A very cute Christmas story based in Ireland for most of the book. It only took me a couple of days to finish this book and it had definite Hallmark vibes which I love. Has romance but closed door which I appreciate. I would recommend this book and will look forward to reading other books by this author.
November 6, 2025
This was the first book that I’ve read by this author, and it was a cute festive read set between New York and Ireland, so the Irish humour and festivities kept the book alive. It’s worth a read at this time of year if you like a Christmas romance.
December 10, 2025
In movie speak this book is Notting Hill meets The Holiday, but with little chemistry between the two main characters. The cozy christmassy world was enjoyable to visit but the relationship seemed forced. I don’t believe those two would have gotten together if they met in a different way.
Though if you’re just looking for a quick christmassy airplane read. This is a good choice and even better? it’s on kindle unlimited
2 1/2 stars
Though if you’re just looking for a quick christmassy airplane read. This is a good choice and even better? it’s on kindle unlimited
2 1/2 stars
December 13, 2025
A Christmas rom com set in Ireland? Yes please! This one was so much fun because the characters didn’t fall into any of the annoying tropes. They quickly decided to make an awkward situation work, and became friends, before the prerequisite “more than friends” came about! Loved it!
December 19, 2025
This book reminded me of the Holiday and I absolutely loved it. The perfect book for the Christmas season with just the right banter, romance, warm and cozy Christmas book set in Ireland. I loved this ❤️
October 15, 2025
You can’t go wrong with Hallmark meets The Holiday in Ireland. Just a short and sweet holiday read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-ARC of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-ARC of this book.
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