4.5 stars! Fun, festive and cozy New York city Christmas!
This story reads super fast.
Probably because I fell in love with the authors writing style instantly.
You know those books that really pull you in from the first page, and easily make you feel immersed in that world?
This is one of those.
No slow starts, and no dragging here!
As for the plot, I really thought it was great!
We have Evie, who has recently been given the chance to stay at the Plaza for Christmas in NYC, following a very disastrous video posted of her online.
We also have Noah, a football (soccer) player, whose career is on thin ice after an incident involving another player.
These two meet by chance, but then can’t seem to stop running into each other.
It turns out they each may be exactly what the other needs to boost their spirits this holiday season.
I love, love, love the New York City setting!
It feels like a warm, comforting Hallmark movie, and that is perfect for me.
There is a lot of sight-seeing, activities and adventures throughout the city- which really makes this book come to life.
As for the romance, it was cute!
I always adore a Christmas romance. I just think they have so much sweetness.
The progression of Evie and Noah’s relationship was nice to read about, and I liked the way that they were able to support each other while they were both dealing with serious life challenges.
I only had one tiny problem here. Which was that Evie tended to be a bit self-centered at times.
For example: What she called “borrowing” money from her flatmates. (without asking), but insisted it was not stealing. Or, asking a near stranger how much money they make, and then googling it in front of them when she doesn't get a response.
It is part of the overall story, and what I think is meant to be a “quirky” personality. But, I just wish she had been written to be more considerate of others, and to have better social manners.
I wouldn’t say that this has a huge impact on the overall enjoyability of the story though, especially given that she improves as the story progresses.
By the end, she learns the error in some of her ways, and starts trying to make amends. Which was very nice to see!
One thing I did appreciate about Evie, was her grief. She was very devistated following the loss of her mother, and was desperate for this holiday that they’d always dreamt of going on together.
I thought this was really sad, but also heartwarming and sweet. It added a level of depth to the story, and made me feel for her.
Overall, this is very warm, sweet and emotional. A great holiday read!
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK | One More Chapter, and author Julie Caplin, for providing me with the eARC of “Christmas on Fifth Avenue”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 23rd, 2025