Not Just for Christmas

by Cathy Bramley

Don't miss the festive and romantic new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Cathy Bramley - available now!

'No-one gives you the joy and magic of a second-chance romance like Cathy' MILLY JOHNSON

'A gorgeous hug of a book with all the festive feels anyone could ever want' PHILLIPA ASHLEY

'Tis the season for second chances...

When Lucy, Jack and Dylan meet on a beach in Devon, a friendship begins that will last a lifetime.

Over the next twenty years, Dylan rises to stardom and becomes a famous popstar, whilst Jack and Lucy take over the family farm and have a son, Sam - but then an accident changes everything.

And so, even with Christmas fast approaching, Lucy is feeling far from festive. Running Merrydown Farm singlehandedly was never in the plan, and she's exhausted.

On the other side of the world, Dylan is burned out and in need of a break - so when an invitation to spend Christmas with Lucy arrives, it seems like the perfect escape.

There's just one problem. It turns out Lucy didn't invite him...

Readers are loving NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS!

'The perfect Christmas read - cosy, emotional, romantic and full of heart' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Stunning. A beautiful festive read that I couldn't put down at all!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Fabulous from the outset - a page-turner from the start' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'I devoured this in two sittings!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'If I could give this six stars I would - I absolutely loved it' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'I couldn't put this down. It will be hard to begin another book!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Your favourite authors love Cathy Bramley

'Tender and emotional, just absolutely beautiful' JOSIE SILVER

'Heartbreaking and hopeful' SARAH MORGAN

'Bursting with warmth, emotion, vivid characters and the meaning of Christmas' SUE MOORCROFT

'You'll adore the lively cast of warm, relatable characters' RACHEL HORE

'Maggie was the perfect protagonist to travel the world with' CESCA MAJOR

'A warm, joyful and sweeping second-chance romance that will hit you with all the feels. Trust me, you'll want to spend time with Lucy and Dylan this Christmas' EMILY STONE

'Emotional and evocative, the perfect escapist read. I loved it' ALEX BROWN

'A wonderfully different and uplifting novel - thoroughly enjoyable' KATIE FFORDE

'A gorgeous story that swept me away. I loved it!' SOPHIE COUSENS

Genres: Christmas

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2026

About the author

Cathy Bramley is the author of the best-selling romantic comedies Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall, Conditional Love and The Plumberry School of Comfort Food. She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her family and a dog.

Her recent career as a full-time writer of light-hearted, romantic fiction has come as somewhat of a lovely surprise after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. However, she has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job!

Cathy loves to hear from her readers. You can get in touch via her website www.CathyBramley.co.uk Facebook page Facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor or on Twitter twitter.com/CathyBramley

Reviews

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First chapter I was like: oooo okay I can get into this. Second chapter: okay my heart, body and soul are invested, no one in my near radius talk to me because I am LOCKED IN!

The rest of the chapters were a blur of frenzied excitement as I got more and more absorbed into the story and stopped remembering the chapters I was tracking a day because I couldn’t put it down.

I think I might make reading Christmas books in July a new tradition. I dislike summer (summer lovers please don’t come for me) and reading a snapshot of my absolute favourite season in the world was a balm to my sweaty, summer loathing soul.

I swapped clammy nights, wasps (shriek!) baking sun and hot temperatures for Christmas traditions, first flakes of snow, comforting hot chocolates and cosy nights in and the vibes in this book were strong! Lucy is struggling on her own on the farm, whilst trying to make Christmas memorable for Sam without his dad. Dylan, a now very successful musician, is feeling adrift at the holidays and without inspiration, he finds himself back with his near lifelong friend Sam as they both continue to grieve the loss of Jack.

This story warmed my heart in more ways than one and I really fell for all the characters- Cathy Bramley really knows how to weave a story and her Christmas ones are amongst my very favourite. I have a new one to add to the list now and I may have to reread it again when December rolls around for sure.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Sue · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A chance meeting, an instant connection leads to friends for life. American Dylan, an up and coming musician meets Lucy on the beach and her Jack in the surf. Despite their different trajectories, they keep in touch, their friendship cemented by mutual respect. While Dylan climbs the charts Jack and Lucy take on a dairy farm in their native Devon and start their family.
The certainties are gone in an instant and a dreadful accident leaves Lucy on the farm, trapped into the life of a single parent. Dylan wants to help but he’s afraid to get too close.
When he receives an unexpected invite for Christmas he decides it’s time to let his career and stardom take a backseat for a while. He thinks Lucy really wants him to visit. Of course he’s wrong.
With all the meet cutes, cruel life events and redemption with the added bonus of the lead up to Christmas this heart warming novel will have you cheering by the end which of course is never really in doubt. It does not skate over the effect of grief, guilt the fear of trying to start to live again but it is an optimistic outlook.
It’s a great Christmas page turner and Cathy Bromley reliably brings it in for us to take a sigh of relief at the end.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this in two sittings in my garden, melting in 37°C heat.
Lucy, Jack, and Dylan meet on a Devonshire beach. This is the opening of chapter one. Chapter two gives us a snap shot of the next twenty years. I loved how this was done.
The rest of the book has us following Lucy with her son Sam, dealing with grief and trying to run Merrydoen Farm single handedly.
Dylan is now a famous musician who occasionally comes back yo the UK from America to visit Lucy and Sam.
Lucy is becoming despondent running the farm, while Dylan feels he needs a break from the relentless touring. When he gets an invitation inviting him to spend Christmas with Lucy and his godson, he jumps at the chance.
This was such an uplifting read dealing with grief and also moving forward and finding happiness.
The characters are so well written. I feel that I want to join the swimming club!
Cathy has certainly woven a great story.
I definitely needed tissues a couple of times.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Ann Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy - meets Dylan on the beach where she was sat reading. Dylan instantly besoted with her but she’s dating the love of her life Jack. She was sitting watching Jack surfing.

Jack - A born surfer with no fear , has inherited a farm from his parents in the most idyllic Devon. Jack was showing Dylan the ropes on how to surf.


Dylan visiting Devon from America destined for big things in the music industry. Worldwide fame is beckoning.

This is a wonderful love story exploring friendship, love and bereavement. It delves into how friends can love each other while suppressing those feelings for the greater good.

It covers some lovely emotive issues such as how achieving goals doesn’t always bring fulfilment and you can feel lonely surrounded by lots of people.

This author is completely new to me and it was fabulous from the outset. Page turner right from the start.


Would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

[Katrina McQuillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely stole my heart; it was an absolute beautiful love story that I couldn't put down. I fell head over heels for Dylan, whose incredible warmth and charm made him completely irresistible and impossible not to root for from the very first page. I also loved Sam, Lucy’s young son, whose secret matchmaking scheme of sending the unapproved holiday invitation serves as the catalyst for the entire story. However, Lucy drove me a bit mad—there were so many frustrating moments where I desperately wanted to reach into the book, shake her, and tell her to finally open her eyes to the perfect love story unfolding right in front of her, and to see what everyone else could! It is a beautifully cosy, emotionally addictive festive read that is full of holiday magic and deserves every single one of its five stars. A beautifully written 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance. I absolutely loved it 🥰

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Just for Christmas was a lovely heart warming book that really is ‘Not Just for Christmas’.
The story of Dylan, Jack and Lucy is well told from their first meeting on a Devon where their friendship began through letters to take us up to the present day. Even though Dylan is a world famous musician, Cathy Bramley clearly shows us how he has never forgotten his two friends and the relationship between them is shown brilliantly.
The Devon setting is a big part of the story and I especially loved the farm scenes. I know nothing about farming but the scenes all seemed realistic to me and I really felt for Lucy with her exhaustion and also the pressure to keep the farm going.
This was a beautifully written story about grief, family and second chances and although it is set in December and over Christmas, it would read perfectly well at any other time of the year too.
My thanks as always to the publishers and Net Galley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

When three people meet in unexpected circumstances many years ago, little do they know what an impact each of them have on each other. Many years later the three are now two, Dylan lives abroad and Lucy is struggling with day to day life and looking after her son. But can Dylan turn things around for Lucy. Hidden feelings, the sense of betrayal but wanting to do something to better her and her son's life, will Lucy be able to take that leap? This was such a beautiful story about love, loss and loving again after a loss. Many people go through this daily and I cannot ever imagine what that must be like but at the end of the day, you deserve to take time for yourself and be happy. You can only live one life and you must do what is right for you. I liked the characters and the way the story unfolded. It was a great read.

[Angela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 6 stars I would as I absolutely loved it. From the first chapter I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t put it down.

Lucy and Dylan meet on a beach while her boyfriend Jack is surfing. It’s almost like a sliding doors moment but all 3 become firm friends and stay In touch throughout the years as Lucy and Jack get married and Dylan’s career soars.

The characters were just brilliant and my heart broke for Lucy as she struggled with the farm and grief after Jacks death.

The setting also sounded beautiful and an idyllic area to live.

A fantastic heartwarming, cosy Christmas read that will make you feel every emotion possible.

Thanks to NetGalley, Cathy Bramley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Susanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I loved this. It’s hard to put into words my feelings on this book. From the start I loved Dylan, and his unlikely friendship with Jack and his crush on Lucy, who is already dating Jack. Such devastating circumstances mean Lucy is a struggling single parent and her best friend of 20 years- Dylan is the only one who can offer her a lifeline. The romance that had to wait two decades to happen.

I loved the unfolding story, the snippets of back story and the feeling both Dylan and Lucy were feeling but respected Jack and his memory too much to step over the friendship line…. Until they do!

A lovely novel which makes you believe that true love doesn’t have to be the right time or place, just the right person.

[Katie Peal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Not Just for Christmas is a lovely festive romance filled with friendship, second chances, family and plenty of Christmas spirit.

I really enjoyed the short chapters and the well-rounded, likeable characters. The story was easy to get invested in, and I found myself rooting for a happy ending.

A warm, feel-good festive read that’s perfect for getting you into the Christmas spirit.

[Sarah Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The setting was great, the characters were lovable and the story was beautiful. Had a few tears at parts.

[Mrs Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Oh I just loved this boom! What a great story, wonderful characters in a lovely setting. I just hated that I had to finish it!