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Christmas with Cary
You never forget your first love.
Molly's spent every Christmas she can remember surrounded by her family. But this year is different. This year, Molly's all alone in a strange town. She's left her family behind, and she's not sure where she can call home any longer.
All Molly has with her are a few clothes in a suitcase, and a collection of her old friend's Cary Grant films. Except, there's one more thing she's brought along - the whole reason for her Christmas visit.
In her possession is a small, crumpled piece of paper, and on it is written the address of the love of her life.
Molly and Cary have had many chances over the years, but somehow life kept getting in the way and they always ended up apart once more. Yet Molly has never forgotten the first man she gave her heart to, and now she has one last chance to win him back.
But will Cary welcome her home, or will he tell her what she dreads to hear - that they've had their chance, and it's all too late. That's if she can even find him...
A lovely, festive story about hope, forgiveness, and never giving up on love - however long it takes.
Molly's spent every Christmas she can remember surrounded by her family. But this year is different. This year, Molly's all alone in a strange town. She's left her family behind, and she's not sure where she can call home any longer.
All Molly has with her are a few clothes in a suitcase, and a collection of her old friend's Cary Grant films. Except, there's one more thing she's brought along - the whole reason for her Christmas visit.
In her possession is a small, crumpled piece of paper, and on it is written the address of the love of her life.
Molly and Cary have had many chances over the years, but somehow life kept getting in the way and they always ended up apart once more. Yet Molly has never forgotten the first man she gave her heart to, and now she has one last chance to win him back.
But will Cary welcome her home, or will he tell her what she dreads to hear - that they've had their chance, and it's all too late. That's if she can even find him...
A lovely, festive story about hope, forgiveness, and never giving up on love - however long it takes.
376 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2025
22 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 8, 2020
A gorgeous Christmas book with snow, romance, families and Cary.
Molly's mother is permanently critical of Molly's life choices, but when a face from the past turns up at her dad's funeral Molly decides it is finally time to make some changes.
Cary has been in her life since she was five years old, but fate has kept them apart over the years. Molly spends all of Christmas week reliving her past memories of Cary while watching actual Cary Grant films.
This is a heartwarming and uplifting romance that will definitely make you smile.
Molly's mother is permanently critical of Molly's life choices, but when a face from the past turns up at her dad's funeral Molly decides it is finally time to make some changes.
Cary has been in her life since she was five years old, but fate has kept them apart over the years. Molly spends all of Christmas week reliving her past memories of Cary while watching actual Cary Grant films.
This is a heartwarming and uplifting romance that will definitely make you smile.
December 23, 2020
This book wrapped itself around me like a pair of warm comforting arms and refused to let go until I’d finished. Bearing in mind it is the run up to Christmas I managed to put life on hold and read snatches here and there. I was that desperate to find out what happened to Molly and Cary and if the villains of the piece, her family, got their comeuppance. However, I was very disciplined (for me) and I didn’t zoom the end of the book because I was enjoying every minute of it and wanted to savour it all. Even the sad bits; (won’t say any more). I was rooting for Molly from the moment she had her eureka moment and set off with ‘a few clothes in a suitcase, and a collection of her old friend's Cary Grant films’ to find her lost love. What more does a girl need- except: Hope. Determination. Dreams. It helped that the story was centred around Christmas but it would be enjoyed whatever time of year a reader downloaded it. As it says in the blurb, this is a ‘story about hope, forgiveness, and never giving up on love - however long it takes.’ I guarantee that you won’t give up once you start reading either. Possible one of Ms Booth’s best novels to date. Gorgeous cover, too, which had me totally hooked.
November 3, 2020
At 57, Molly looks back at a life full of wrong choices and missed opportunities – but at long last, she’s found the courage to try and change things, with one last brave and desperate attempt to put things right. That’s how she finds herself alone in a snowy East Yorkshire village as Christmas approaches, hoping that she hasn’t left it too late to turn her life around, to find the love of her life, and to have one last chance at happiness.
Bravery is something that’s always eluded her – she’s lost it along the way, trapped in a loveless marriage, with a husband and son who’ve made her feel worthless and incapable of making life decisions of her own, and a mother who’s failed her too. And when her hopes are dashed once again, and it looks like she’s destined to spend a lonely Christmas, she has plenty of time to reflect on all those moments when her life could have changed course – while working her way through a dear old friend’s collection of Cary Grant movies, with bitter regret at the way she’s allowed her life to come to this.
But the village of Ferringham slowly works its magic – as the snow falls, and she finally finds the courage to light the log burner in her rented bungalow, she tentatively begins to make new friends, and to experience the kindness of strangers. She has a small Christmas tree with sparkling lights, she has some company, she plans her own kind of Christmas dinner and rediscovers her love of baking: she still yearns for the relationship she allowed to slip away, but there’s always a faint glimmer of hope. And maybe Ferringham will be the key to a different future, somewhere she can be happy – even if a life with Cary remains out of her grasp.
But then… and no, of course I’m not going to tell you any more. But I do have to tell you how very much I loved this book. At times it’s sad and poignant, and some of those key moments in Molly’s life will bring a tear to your eye as they did to mine – I really loved her, and every time she hurt I felt it so deeply too. But it’s also wonderfully uplifting and joyous, gloriously Christmassy, overflowing with love – and those tears of frustration about Molly’s every disappointment turn into tears of real joy.
Sharon Booth is a really superb storyteller. All the characters in this book are beautifully drawn, real and believable, as is every emotional touch – and the village setting is wonderful in every little detail. I loved the way the chapters were tied in with the films she watched – not in the least contrived, and really cleverly done – as Molly reflects on all those pivotal moments when she could have changed the course of her life, while pursuing the possibility of a brighter future.
It might be a shorter read at just under 180 pages, but the story has all the depth and development you could possibly hope for – I thought it was simply perfect, and absolutely everything I wanted it to be. Without question, this was one of my favourite Christmas reads this year – don’t miss it, whatever you do, because you’re going to love it too.
Bravery is something that’s always eluded her – she’s lost it along the way, trapped in a loveless marriage, with a husband and son who’ve made her feel worthless and incapable of making life decisions of her own, and a mother who’s failed her too. And when her hopes are dashed once again, and it looks like she’s destined to spend a lonely Christmas, she has plenty of time to reflect on all those moments when her life could have changed course – while working her way through a dear old friend’s collection of Cary Grant movies, with bitter regret at the way she’s allowed her life to come to this.
But the village of Ferringham slowly works its magic – as the snow falls, and she finally finds the courage to light the log burner in her rented bungalow, she tentatively begins to make new friends, and to experience the kindness of strangers. She has a small Christmas tree with sparkling lights, she has some company, she plans her own kind of Christmas dinner and rediscovers her love of baking: she still yearns for the relationship she allowed to slip away, but there’s always a faint glimmer of hope. And maybe Ferringham will be the key to a different future, somewhere she can be happy – even if a life with Cary remains out of her grasp.
But then… and no, of course I’m not going to tell you any more. But I do have to tell you how very much I loved this book. At times it’s sad and poignant, and some of those key moments in Molly’s life will bring a tear to your eye as they did to mine – I really loved her, and every time she hurt I felt it so deeply too. But it’s also wonderfully uplifting and joyous, gloriously Christmassy, overflowing with love – and those tears of frustration about Molly’s every disappointment turn into tears of real joy.
Sharon Booth is a really superb storyteller. All the characters in this book are beautifully drawn, real and believable, as is every emotional touch – and the village setting is wonderful in every little detail. I loved the way the chapters were tied in with the films she watched – not in the least contrived, and really cleverly done – as Molly reflects on all those pivotal moments when she could have changed the course of her life, while pursuing the possibility of a brighter future.
It might be a shorter read at just under 180 pages, but the story has all the depth and development you could possibly hope for – I thought it was simply perfect, and absolutely everything I wanted it to be. Without question, this was one of my favourite Christmas reads this year – don’t miss it, whatever you do, because you’re going to love it too.
December 17, 2020
I have found with Sharon Booth that some of her books hook me right in and others, well not so much! This was definitely one of those books that hooked me in. I was instantly on Team Molly and was rooting for her and a happy ending right from the start. I won't give anything away but there is a lovely twist towards the end that I guess I should have seen coming but totally did not that made perfect sense once it was revealed!
December 28, 2020
Molly and Cary grew up together, have been in love but never seemed to get their timing right to be together. Now middle-aged, Molly has decided to leave her husband and family and find Cary, to give them one last chance. She rents a cottage in the small village where she thinks he now lives and tries to track him down but to no avail. Still, she likes her new place and the people who live there, but she really needs to find Cary.
Ms. Booth always delivers good stories and this is no exception. It's a little different from most Christmas romances, but that only makes it interesting. Spending my Christmas with Cary was a wonderful decision as I really enjoyed this second-chance romance.
Ms. Booth always delivers good stories and this is no exception. It's a little different from most Christmas romances, but that only makes it interesting. Spending my Christmas with Cary was a wonderful decision as I really enjoyed this second-chance romance.
November 5, 2020
A very relatable story of love and redemption ( with the backdrop of beautiful Yorkshire ) that left me uplifted and fulfilled. Sharon Booth does it again and grants us with a story that is heart-warming and very deep, with relatable characters and a final revelation that I certainly didn't expect! Superb.
November 15, 2020
Wonderful!!
Another cracker from Sharon! Snuggle up and enjoy this lovely warm and scrummy Christmas story. It was a pleasure to read and made me feel warm, fuzzy and christmassy! Loved it
Another cracker from Sharon! Snuggle up and enjoy this lovely warm and scrummy Christmas story. It was a pleasure to read and made me feel warm, fuzzy and christmassy! Loved it
November 21, 2024
A hug in a book.
This was lovely story about Molly and her childhood sweetheart Cary. Life keeps getting in the way of their happy ever after. I forgot that it isn't actually Christmas yet , while I was inside this beautiful story
This was lovely story about Molly and her childhood sweetheart Cary. Life keeps getting in the way of their happy ever after. I forgot that it isn't actually Christmas yet , while I was inside this beautiful story
November 17, 2020
Such a charming story, I totally enjoyed reading it!
I love Cary Grant movies, and this was as heartwarming and endearing as the man himself!
I love seeing old flames reconnect, and the suspense of the story kept me utterly entertained throughout.
I love Cary Grant movies, and this was as heartwarming and endearing as the man himself!
I love seeing old flames reconnect, and the suspense of the story kept me utterly entertained throughout.
December 14, 2025
I am really enjoying Sharon Bolton’s writing and characters. I really enjoyed this and some parts were incredibly sad but love always wins out in these stories and a great Christmas read
November 4, 2020
Having read (and loved) every single one of Sharon's books, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of this on my Kindle and was hooked from the first page. I was instantly on Molly's side, rooting for her to make some pretty enormous decisions about her future ... and her past.
I could feel her trepidation as she moved into her holiday cottage facing Christmas alone and was delighted as she overcame each hurdle and started to find herself again.
I'm not giving anything away when I say this is about seeking a second chance with Cary - the one who got away - and, over the course of the book, we find out more about Cary and Molly's past and why they didn't quite make it. This is beautifully fed into the present-day storyline and is really easy to follow.
Cary is named after the movie star of old, Cary Grant, and I wondered if my lack of familiarity with him or his films might hinder my enjoyment or understanding of the story but it absolutely didn't. The chapters are all named after films and very cleverly linked but you absolutely don't need to know the films to follow this touch of brilliance. On an aside, I may now need to seek me out some Cary Grant films as he sounds divine!
Back to the book, though, it really is a delight. It's such a beautiful and moving story and I did have tears in my eyes at several points, hoping that Molly would finally get the Christmas she deserved. As to whether she does, you'll have to read it to find out but I would definitely encourage to you to read it. It's an absolutely gorgeous warm hug of a book.
I could feel her trepidation as she moved into her holiday cottage facing Christmas alone and was delighted as she overcame each hurdle and started to find herself again.
I'm not giving anything away when I say this is about seeking a second chance with Cary - the one who got away - and, over the course of the book, we find out more about Cary and Molly's past and why they didn't quite make it. This is beautifully fed into the present-day storyline and is really easy to follow.
Cary is named after the movie star of old, Cary Grant, and I wondered if my lack of familiarity with him or his films might hinder my enjoyment or understanding of the story but it absolutely didn't. The chapters are all named after films and very cleverly linked but you absolutely don't need to know the films to follow this touch of brilliance. On an aside, I may now need to seek me out some Cary Grant films as he sounds divine!
Back to the book, though, it really is a delight. It's such a beautiful and moving story and I did have tears in my eyes at several points, hoping that Molly would finally get the Christmas she deserved. As to whether she does, you'll have to read it to find out but I would definitely encourage to you to read it. It's an absolutely gorgeous warm hug of a book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews