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How to Stuff Up Christmas
'Tis the season to be jolly. Unless you've found an intimate picture of another woman on your fiance's phone...
Eve is heartbroken after discovering her fiance is cheating on her. Being surrounded by the joys of Christmas is more than Eve can bear, so she chooses to avoid the festivities by spending Christmas alone on a houseboat in Pangbourne. Eve gets an unexpected seasonal surprise when handsome local vet Greg comes to her rescue one day, and continues to visit Eve's boat on a mission to transform her from Kitchen Disaster Zone to Culinary Queen.
But where does Greg keep disappearing to? What does Eve's best friend Daisy know that she isn't telling? And why is there an angry goose stalking Eve's boat?
A hilarious and heart-warming novel about Christmas, catastrophes and cooking, containing exclusive Christmas recipes, from the talented Rosie Blake.
Eve is heartbroken after discovering her fiance is cheating on her. Being surrounded by the joys of Christmas is more than Eve can bear, so she chooses to avoid the festivities by spending Christmas alone on a houseboat in Pangbourne. Eve gets an unexpected seasonal surprise when handsome local vet Greg comes to her rescue one day, and continues to visit Eve's boat on a mission to transform her from Kitchen Disaster Zone to Culinary Queen.
But where does Greg keep disappearing to? What does Eve's best friend Daisy know that she isn't telling? And why is there an angry goose stalking Eve's boat?
A hilarious and heart-warming novel about Christmas, catastrophes and cooking, containing exclusive Christmas recipes, from the talented Rosie Blake.
324 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2015
112 people are currently reading
953 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Blake
7 books388 followersRosie is a writer, vlogger and amateur Mum. She loves to chat and write about love, sex, dating and relationships. She has written features for Cosmopolitan, The Lady, The Sunday People, Reveal and Best Magazine. She has appeared on ITV, Sky and Channel 4.
Her first romantic comedy HOW TO GET A (LOVE) LIFE was published in 2014. Atlantic Books published HOW TO STUFF UP CHRISTMAS in 2015 and HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND in 2016. Her latest book THE HYGGE HOLIDAY is out in September 2017 with Sphere, an imprint of Little Brown. Rosie is represented by Clare Wallace at the Darley Anderson Agency.
Rosie wishes to continue writing romantic comedies, persuade Julia Roberts to be her best friend and discover the world’s greatest Black Forest Gateaux recipe.
Her first romantic comedy HOW TO GET A (LOVE) LIFE was published in 2014. Atlantic Books published HOW TO STUFF UP CHRISTMAS in 2015 and HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND in 2016. Her latest book THE HYGGE HOLIDAY is out in September 2017 with Sphere, an imprint of Little Brown. Rosie is represented by Clare Wallace at the Darley Anderson Agency.
Rosie wishes to continue writing romantic comedies, persuade Julia Roberts to be her best friend and discover the world’s greatest Black Forest Gateaux recipe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
December 17, 2020
I don't really know why the book was called this. The main character didn't actually stuff up Christmas at all. I found this story had already been done a million times over. I didn't even like the dog very much, and I love dogs. It was a very generic boring story. It wasn't for me.
December 27, 2018
Een heerlijk cheesy kerstboek waar je de nodige twist en turns al van kilometers ziet afkomen. Maar net zoals kerstfilms, horen dit soort boeken ook bij deze tijd van het jaar.
November 9, 2015
Ahhh, such excitement! I have waited so long for Rosie Blake's next book - I've loved her first novel, "How to Get a (Love) Life" and really, the publication date of her second novel, "How to Stuff Up Christmas", couldn't come quick enough. Let's start with the cover of this book - isn't it gorgeous? So Christmassy? It was love at first sight, me and the cover, really. Then the blurb - so promising! And after reading it, can I say that it lived up to my expectations, this dreaded second book? Oh, how it did...!
I'm going to tell you what I loved about this book. I've already told you about the cover. Then there was Eve - so normal and so exceptional, so believable and likeable. Her reactions were so natural and genuine, and she behaved just like I would behave and react to things, jumping to conclusions, hiding, avoiding, and it all felt so genuine! I loved her from the very beginning and I kept my fingers crossed for her, no matter if she was in a custody battle about a dog or when she was trying to mend her broken heart.
The other characters. First of all, Marmite and the wild geese - they were fantastic, so brilliantly described and they all had me in giggles, especially the last scene with goose in it - really, Rosie? Really???
Eve's family - they were brilliant family, together with Eve's two other sisters, and I love all the scenes that involved one or all of them with Eve. And I loved their Christmas - they always spent it together, they had their own traditions and they really made a big thing out of Christmas - so just as it should be! And Eve's colour - blind dad was hilarious! Him and his outfits had me in giggles more than once.
Greg and his secrets - I have to admit that I guessed this secret pretty early, though I thought it is another person, but nevertheless, it didn't ruin the story for me, oh no, it just made me fell for Greg and his situation. He was a brilliant vet, just like a vet should be - really thinking about his patients and not only about his profit. And he can cook!
There is a great bunch of colourful characters to love or to love to hate. The pottery group, with Minnie and her jealous husband on the top, Eve's friends, and her ex - boyfriend Liam - they are all so expressive, strong characters with personalities and I truly cheered them on or booed them.
The dialogues. This book had the best opening scene that I've ever read. This conversation between Eve and her parents is going to stay with me for ever, as well as all their other conversations - I'd love to find myself in the same room with them all, sit in a corner and with delight hear and watch them. All the other one - liners, dialogues just seemed so realistic, they were sharp, clever and witty.
The writing style. It just flows and takes you with on a fantastic, funny, but also moving, journey. I didn't want to put this book down!
The setting. No matter where we were, and Eve was a very mobile person, the descriptions were brilliant and brought all the places to life. Especially the scenes on the boat made me long for a holidays on such a boat - minus the geese, of course.
I had my suspicions about the owner of the intimate parts of body on Eve's boyfriend phone, but I really couldn't believe in this what I believed. I thought it impossible and I wasn't sure how I am going to react if my suspicions are going to come true. But thanks god, or rather thanks Rosie, she has saved the book, as it turned out my suppositions were false. I was so relieved, people, you've no idea!
What was very gutsy in my opinion was repeating the scenes - some chapters were told from Eve's point of view and then the next chapter was told from Greg's point of view. It was the same scene and the same dialogues, and as much as it was interesting and it was great to see how both of them were perceiving the same situations, after some time it felt too much and too flat, and too... yes, repetitive.
The icing on the cake were the great recipes at the beginnings of the chapters! So tasty, mmm...! Well, yes, not all of them did Eve manage to cook but she was coming there!
"How to Stuff Up Christmas" is a wonderful, funny, light and heart - warming book that I enjoyed immensely. It was for sure worth all the waiting! I laughed, I cheered the characters on, I wanted to clap them on their backs or bang their heads on the wall, I sighed with frustration and I rolled my eyes, and at the end I was so, so happy and full of warmth inside...! Rosie Blake has written a wonderful, heart - warming, festive story that I'd be re - reading, no matter if in winter or summer, because it's a book that made me feel so good. I loved everything in this story and I am already looking forward to Rosie's next book - she's climbing to the top of my favourite author list, with her heart - warming writing, hilarious scenes, witty one - liners and unique plots. Keep them coming, Rosie!
Copy provided by publisher in exchange for a review.
December 3, 2015
Last year, Eve's Christmas was perfect, with her boyfriend, Liam proposing. But, after discovering an intimate photo on Liam's phone and discovering he's been cheating on her, Eve will be spending this Christmas alone.
Eve can't stand the thought of spending Christmas at her family home - the scene of last year's proposal - so she takes herself away to take a month-long pottery course, residing on a houseboat moored on a river in the village. There, she meets local vet Greg, who teaches her to cook while escaping his own troubles at home. But who is he escaping from and why does he have to continually dash off?
I've been itching to read How To Stuff Up Christmas and I'm so glad I finally got the chance to. I was immediately drawn into Eve's story and wishing bad things to happen to her ex and, as lovely and funny as Eve's family is, I could understand why she wanted to get away and be on her own this Christmas. There are too many memories of last Christmas, which have been tainted by Liam's betrayal. Eve chooses a pottery class as a distraction and an excuse to get away and I loved the scenes at the class with the mix of characters attending the classes. I also loved the scenes with Eve and local vet, Greg as they strike up a friendship with the hint of something more. The only problem is Eve is still hung up on Liam and Greg has problems of his own, but I was hoping the two would get together as they made a great pairing and have wonderful chemistry. Greg is such a fabulous hero; handsome without being arrogant and so patient and caring.
And then there's Eve's family, who I mentioned are lovely and funny. Harriet is a brilliant older sister to Eve and I liked the bond between them, especially as we see more of it towards the end of the book. But my favourite character of all was Eve's dad, especially when paired up with her mum. They're completely different characters but they work so well together and created some fantastic laugh-out-loud moments for me. I would read a whole book dedicated to Eve's mum and dad's daily life!
I loved the setting of the book, which mostly takes place in Pangbourne, a gorgeous-sounding village that's gearing up for the festive season. It sounds so quaint and tight-knit and I wanted to jump into the pages and join Eve on the boat with her adorable dog, Marmite. Another element of the book I liked were the recipes at the beginning of some of the chapters, especially the recipes for the more simpler dishes, which added another element of humour. Eve isn't the greatest cook to begin with and I liked how food and cooking was a running theme within the book, igniting a spark of friendship between Eve and Greg and bringing them closer together.
How to Stuff Up Christmas is a gorgeously festive romantic comedy with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and, despite the devastating beginning for Eve, a good dose of romance.
Eve can't stand the thought of spending Christmas at her family home - the scene of last year's proposal - so she takes herself away to take a month-long pottery course, residing on a houseboat moored on a river in the village. There, she meets local vet Greg, who teaches her to cook while escaping his own troubles at home. But who is he escaping from and why does he have to continually dash off?
I've been itching to read How To Stuff Up Christmas and I'm so glad I finally got the chance to. I was immediately drawn into Eve's story and wishing bad things to happen to her ex and, as lovely and funny as Eve's family is, I could understand why she wanted to get away and be on her own this Christmas. There are too many memories of last Christmas, which have been tainted by Liam's betrayal. Eve chooses a pottery class as a distraction and an excuse to get away and I loved the scenes at the class with the mix of characters attending the classes. I also loved the scenes with Eve and local vet, Greg as they strike up a friendship with the hint of something more. The only problem is Eve is still hung up on Liam and Greg has problems of his own, but I was hoping the two would get together as they made a great pairing and have wonderful chemistry. Greg is such a fabulous hero; handsome without being arrogant and so patient and caring.
And then there's Eve's family, who I mentioned are lovely and funny. Harriet is a brilliant older sister to Eve and I liked the bond between them, especially as we see more of it towards the end of the book. But my favourite character of all was Eve's dad, especially when paired up with her mum. They're completely different characters but they work so well together and created some fantastic laugh-out-loud moments for me. I would read a whole book dedicated to Eve's mum and dad's daily life!
I loved the setting of the book, which mostly takes place in Pangbourne, a gorgeous-sounding village that's gearing up for the festive season. It sounds so quaint and tight-knit and I wanted to jump into the pages and join Eve on the boat with her adorable dog, Marmite. Another element of the book I liked were the recipes at the beginning of some of the chapters, especially the recipes for the more simpler dishes, which added another element of humour. Eve isn't the greatest cook to begin with and I liked how food and cooking was a running theme within the book, igniting a spark of friendship between Eve and Greg and bringing them closer together.
How to Stuff Up Christmas is a gorgeously festive romantic comedy with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and, despite the devastating beginning for Eve, a good dose of romance.
January 10, 2016
2.5
:( I really wanted to like this book. There were just some aspects of it that made me come away not feeling so great about it.
1) why would you take a dog out of vindictiveness, even though you don't really like the dog :(
2) there was never a real "punishment" for the supposed "friend" roo-roo.
I would have liked to read that the main character confronted user face to face and roo-roo had to deal with what she did publicly (I felt she got away Scott free).
3) I would have liked and epilogue of maybe a year down the track for things to tie up nicely. e.g. what happened with roo-roo and her relationship with Greg.
:( I really wanted to like this book. There were just some aspects of it that made me come away not feeling so great about it.
1) why would you take a dog out of vindictiveness, even though you don't really like the dog :(
2) there was never a real "punishment" for the supposed "friend" roo-roo.
I would have liked to read that the main character confronted user face to face and roo-roo had to deal with what she did publicly (I felt she got away Scott free).
3) I would have liked and epilogue of maybe a year down the track for things to tie up nicely. e.g. what happened with roo-roo and her relationship with Greg.
January 4, 2023
3.5 stars!
This was the perfect book to read between Christmas and New Year, snuggled up on the sofa eating your Christmas chocolate. It’s a very easy read, with minimal angst, a little bit of intrigue and a whole lot of humour.
Eve is looking to escape her family for Christmas after her fiancé cheated on her, and so rents a narrowboat in Pangbourne, a small sleepy countryside village, and signs up to a pottery class for the whole month of December. She meets some interesting characters in Pangbourne, the most being Greg, a vet who lives in the village and after rescuing Eve on her first morning in the village, decides he’s going to teach her to cook. As Eve and Greg get to know each other, they realise they both have secrets, but love how simple it feels to spend time together. Will they trust each other enough to open up?
Eve was desperate to getaway from her London life, to run away from the memories she’d created with family the previous Christmas, but the more time she spent in the country, the more she enjoyed the quiet village. I really enjoyed watching her grow up and learn more about herself and get over the heartbreak. I was dubious at first about Greg, but thankfully it all paid off in the end. The characters in the village were eccentric to say the least, but it was still a very enjoyable Christmassy story.
This was the perfect book to read between Christmas and New Year, snuggled up on the sofa eating your Christmas chocolate. It’s a very easy read, with minimal angst, a little bit of intrigue and a whole lot of humour.
Eve is looking to escape her family for Christmas after her fiancé cheated on her, and so rents a narrowboat in Pangbourne, a small sleepy countryside village, and signs up to a pottery class for the whole month of December. She meets some interesting characters in Pangbourne, the most being Greg, a vet who lives in the village and after rescuing Eve on her first morning in the village, decides he’s going to teach her to cook. As Eve and Greg get to know each other, they realise they both have secrets, but love how simple it feels to spend time together. Will they trust each other enough to open up?
Eve was desperate to getaway from her London life, to run away from the memories she’d created with family the previous Christmas, but the more time she spent in the country, the more she enjoyed the quiet village. I really enjoyed watching her grow up and learn more about herself and get over the heartbreak. I was dubious at first about Greg, but thankfully it all paid off in the end. The characters in the village were eccentric to say the least, but it was still a very enjoyable Christmassy story.
November 2, 2019
Not my favourite Christmas novel I've read this year but still worth reading. I know personally I have dealt with similar things in this book and I don't think some of the reactions in this were normal behaviour but that's just me. Obviously if you read a book like this within a few chapters you can usually guess the ending as they always have a happy ending, but even though the ending was obvious they way to it wasnt and that was refreshing. I liked the characters and easy to read. Put me even more into a Christmas mood the more I read especially with the recipes mixed in the book.
October 3, 2017
Another lovely story from Rosie. Probably a bit early to read it in September/October but still a lovely story. Wanted to reach in and hug Eve, telling her it would be okay in the end (and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end)
December 11, 2020
I really loved this book and it's definitely a 'keeper' to be re-read and enjoyed again. It was everything you want from a festive chick-lit novel and made me feel all warm and cosy!
I shall definitely be looking for more Rosie Blake books to lose myself in.
I shall definitely be looking for more Rosie Blake books to lose myself in.
August 1, 2025
Nice read. Wanted more at the end but did enjoy.
December 19, 2019
My first & definitely not my last Rosie Blake book. I think we've all been in this kind of situation before & could relate to poor old Eve. Loved the ending, the Christmassy cover & am looking forward to trying out some of the recipes.
November 19, 2015
3.5 stars!
I have been eagerly awaiting the next novel by Rosie Blake after reading her debut last year. I have to admit I hadn't enjoyed How To Get A (Love) Life as much as I had hoped so was crossing my fingers that How To Stuff Up Christmas would be a real treat.
How To Stuff Up Christmas follows the tale of rather unlucky in love Eve who is devastated after finding rather saucy pictures of another woman on her fiancé's phone. Understandably, the last thing she wants to do is be surrounded by joviality - a girl needs some time to recover. So, deciding to forefit a family Christmas for a few weeks on a houseboat, Eve does just that, taking her trusty sidekick Marmite (her dog) and little else, she settles into life on the river. What she doesn't count on is bumping into local vet, Greg, who sends her plans of having a quiet Christmas into meltdown. After all, who doesn't want to spend time with a hunky vet who can cook...?
I wanted to love this book sooooooo much and it started out well - I found myself smiling at some of the conversations and eager to find out what Eve was going to get up to, however as the plot progressed I felt like there just wasn't enough of...anything. There were aspects of the plot that were well executed but others felt underdeveloped - especially the 'secret' that Greg is keeping. There were chapters told in alternating voices, often once Eve and Greg had spent time together we saw the same events from Greg's perspective, this ended up feeling a little repetitive - sure, it was interesting to see how he felt about it, but it didn't add all that much to the plot at all - the reader can infer from the way he behaves around Eve in 'Eve's chapters' how he is feeling. It felt like the space that these chapters took up in the book could have been saved for more important issues.
As I alluded to above, the 'secret' that Greg is keeping felt far too under-explored and when we find out the why and the how, it all felt rather rushed. It would have been a great chance to bring some real emotion and tension into the plot. The same can be said for when Eve discovers the who and what and why of the naughty photo on her fiancé's phone. It was all very quick and last minute and again I would have loved a little more development of that area of the plot.
The 'love' element felt a little stilted - it felt like the chemistry between the two main love interests was a bit of an effort and they had barely said a word to each other or learnt about each other in the slightest before they were deciding a kiss was too much and they could never see each other again.
Greg was a really intriguing character and I was just desperate to know so much more about him. Why was he a vet? What drove him to want to be a vet? What was his previous relationship like? Etc etc. It feels like these are the things I wanted to know about him in order to be able to feel like he was a really tangible character. Answers to these questions would have added to the plot too, I feel.
Also, some of the humour felt very forced and a little cliche. Rosie has quite a slapstick sense of humor which comes across especially when things happen to Eve. Some of them made me cringe a little rather than laugh out loud but maybe that's just me having an awful sense of humour!
Having said all the above there were certain parts of this book I really really loved. The relationship between Eve's mum and dad was truly brilliant. Their constant teasing of each other and the way they conversed was really fun to read about. Especially when her dad is being criticised for his interesting clothing choices. Marmite was a fab character too, bringing some really cute moments to the story. And, of course, the delectable recipes at the beginning of some of the chapters had me salivating at the thought of a slab of gingerbread or a lovely peppermint cream.
How To Stuff Up Christmas was an enjoyable read and one that I picked up and devoured in a few sittings. There was a real festive feel to the novel which is what you always want in a Christmas book and as Eve wandered through the little village and spied the Christmas lights hanging from shop windows and the promise of freshly baked mince pies, I felt all warm and cosy and totally festive.
I have been eagerly awaiting the next novel by Rosie Blake after reading her debut last year. I have to admit I hadn't enjoyed How To Get A (Love) Life as much as I had hoped so was crossing my fingers that How To Stuff Up Christmas would be a real treat.
How To Stuff Up Christmas follows the tale of rather unlucky in love Eve who is devastated after finding rather saucy pictures of another woman on her fiancé's phone. Understandably, the last thing she wants to do is be surrounded by joviality - a girl needs some time to recover. So, deciding to forefit a family Christmas for a few weeks on a houseboat, Eve does just that, taking her trusty sidekick Marmite (her dog) and little else, she settles into life on the river. What she doesn't count on is bumping into local vet, Greg, who sends her plans of having a quiet Christmas into meltdown. After all, who doesn't want to spend time with a hunky vet who can cook...?
I wanted to love this book sooooooo much and it started out well - I found myself smiling at some of the conversations and eager to find out what Eve was going to get up to, however as the plot progressed I felt like there just wasn't enough of...anything. There were aspects of the plot that were well executed but others felt underdeveloped - especially the 'secret' that Greg is keeping. There were chapters told in alternating voices, often once Eve and Greg had spent time together we saw the same events from Greg's perspective, this ended up feeling a little repetitive - sure, it was interesting to see how he felt about it, but it didn't add all that much to the plot at all - the reader can infer from the way he behaves around Eve in 'Eve's chapters' how he is feeling. It felt like the space that these chapters took up in the book could have been saved for more important issues.
As I alluded to above, the 'secret' that Greg is keeping felt far too under-explored and when we find out the why and the how, it all felt rather rushed. It would have been a great chance to bring some real emotion and tension into the plot. The same can be said for when Eve discovers the who and what and why of the naughty photo on her fiancé's phone. It was all very quick and last minute and again I would have loved a little more development of that area of the plot.
The 'love' element felt a little stilted - it felt like the chemistry between the two main love interests was a bit of an effort and they had barely said a word to each other or learnt about each other in the slightest before they were deciding a kiss was too much and they could never see each other again.
Greg was a really intriguing character and I was just desperate to know so much more about him. Why was he a vet? What drove him to want to be a vet? What was his previous relationship like? Etc etc. It feels like these are the things I wanted to know about him in order to be able to feel like he was a really tangible character. Answers to these questions would have added to the plot too, I feel.
Also, some of the humour felt very forced and a little cliche. Rosie has quite a slapstick sense of humor which comes across especially when things happen to Eve. Some of them made me cringe a little rather than laugh out loud but maybe that's just me having an awful sense of humour!
Having said all the above there were certain parts of this book I really really loved. The relationship between Eve's mum and dad was truly brilliant. Their constant teasing of each other and the way they conversed was really fun to read about. Especially when her dad is being criticised for his interesting clothing choices. Marmite was a fab character too, bringing some really cute moments to the story. And, of course, the delectable recipes at the beginning of some of the chapters had me salivating at the thought of a slab of gingerbread or a lovely peppermint cream.
How To Stuff Up Christmas was an enjoyable read and one that I picked up and devoured in a few sittings. There was a real festive feel to the novel which is what you always want in a Christmas book and as Eve wandered through the little village and spied the Christmas lights hanging from shop windows and the promise of freshly baked mince pies, I felt all warm and cosy and totally festive.
August 22, 2016
How To Stuff Up Christmas is a brilliant novel that is both hilariously funny and incredibly heart-warming, I enjoyed reading it so much!
Eve recently split up with her fiancé after she accidentally spotted a rather incriminating photo on his phone. After spending a couple of months feeling heartbroken, Eve realises that she can’t face spending Christmas with her family this year as there will be too many reminders of how happy she was the previous Christmas when she and Liam got engaged. Eve considers lots of options for her break but in the end she rents a narrowboat for a month so that her dog, Marmite can go with her. She also signs up for pottery classes to keep her occupied while she’s away.
Greg is a man of mystery for quite a lot of the novel. He is obviously a lovely man, he’s a vet with a heart of gold who not only wants to do the best for the animals he cares for but he shows real kindness to their owners too. Greg has something in his private life that he doesn’t want to talk about and it’s weighing heavily on him.
Greg and Eve meet when he comes to her rescue, there is obviously a mutual attraction between them but they’re both wary of getting involved. They become friends and Greg helps Eve learn to cook. At some points in the novel the story is told from Eve’s point of view and then in the next chapter there is the same scene told from Greg’s perspective. It was great to see how they were both really feeling, and it really showed how they were putting their guards up to protect themselves from getting hurt. It made me want to climb into the novel and tell them to give each other a chance, I was willing them to get together!
I loved Eve’s friendship with Daisy. The way they were together at work finding ways to run rings around their boss, the way Daisy supports Eve through her break up with Liam. It’s the kind of friendship we’d all love to have; the kind of friend who’ll forgive you for giving them food poisoning! I spent the novel hoping that Daisy didn’t know anything that could hurt Eve, it was worrying because sometimes even your best friends can let you down.
The closer it got to Christmas the more I was willing Eve’s broken heart to heal faster. Her family have always made a big deal of Christmas, like most families they have their traditions and they stick to them every year. Eve’s family really don’t want her to go away for Christmas and her mum especially doesn’t want to face the fact that she really isn’t planning on being there. It made me sad to think that Eve, who had always had such wonderful, big happy Christmases could feel they were completely ruined by Liam. It made me hate Liam even more for what he’d done!
There are some brilliant characters in this novel. I especially loved Eve’s colourblind dad and all his wacky outfits, and I nearly spat my drink out laughing when we met Minnie at the art course and she describes to Raj what she’s making in the pottery class! I just wasn’t expecting her to say what she did, it’s hysterical! I have to mention the crazy geese too, they were funny (and also a little bit terrifying!).
I also loved the recipes at the start of some of the chapters; the recipes always relate to food that is mentioned in the chapter. I thought it was brilliant how in amongst recipes for chocolate biscuit cake and gingerbread were recipes for making a Pot Noodle and beans on toast – this made me laugh so much. It just said so much about Eve’s ability to cook!
This is such an enjoyable novel and I highly recommend you buy it! It’s heart-warming, it’s hilarious, it’s just a perfect book to curl up with on these cold autumn/winter nights!
This is such an enjoyable read. This is the first novel I’ve read by Rosie Blake but I’ve already bought her previous book, How To Get A (Love) Life and hope to read it very soon.
Thank you to Corvus for very kindly sending me How To Stuff Up Christmas.
How To Stuff Up Christmas is out today and available on Amazon.
Eve recently split up with her fiancé after she accidentally spotted a rather incriminating photo on his phone. After spending a couple of months feeling heartbroken, Eve realises that she can’t face spending Christmas with her family this year as there will be too many reminders of how happy she was the previous Christmas when she and Liam got engaged. Eve considers lots of options for her break but in the end she rents a narrowboat for a month so that her dog, Marmite can go with her. She also signs up for pottery classes to keep her occupied while she’s away.
Greg is a man of mystery for quite a lot of the novel. He is obviously a lovely man, he’s a vet with a heart of gold who not only wants to do the best for the animals he cares for but he shows real kindness to their owners too. Greg has something in his private life that he doesn’t want to talk about and it’s weighing heavily on him.
Greg and Eve meet when he comes to her rescue, there is obviously a mutual attraction between them but they’re both wary of getting involved. They become friends and Greg helps Eve learn to cook. At some points in the novel the story is told from Eve’s point of view and then in the next chapter there is the same scene told from Greg’s perspective. It was great to see how they were both really feeling, and it really showed how they were putting their guards up to protect themselves from getting hurt. It made me want to climb into the novel and tell them to give each other a chance, I was willing them to get together!
I loved Eve’s friendship with Daisy. The way they were together at work finding ways to run rings around their boss, the way Daisy supports Eve through her break up with Liam. It’s the kind of friendship we’d all love to have; the kind of friend who’ll forgive you for giving them food poisoning! I spent the novel hoping that Daisy didn’t know anything that could hurt Eve, it was worrying because sometimes even your best friends can let you down.
The closer it got to Christmas the more I was willing Eve’s broken heart to heal faster. Her family have always made a big deal of Christmas, like most families they have their traditions and they stick to them every year. Eve’s family really don’t want her to go away for Christmas and her mum especially doesn’t want to face the fact that she really isn’t planning on being there. It made me sad to think that Eve, who had always had such wonderful, big happy Christmases could feel they were completely ruined by Liam. It made me hate Liam even more for what he’d done!
There are some brilliant characters in this novel. I especially loved Eve’s colourblind dad and all his wacky outfits, and I nearly spat my drink out laughing when we met Minnie at the art course and she describes to Raj what she’s making in the pottery class! I just wasn’t expecting her to say what she did, it’s hysterical! I have to mention the crazy geese too, they were funny (and also a little bit terrifying!).
I also loved the recipes at the start of some of the chapters; the recipes always relate to food that is mentioned in the chapter. I thought it was brilliant how in amongst recipes for chocolate biscuit cake and gingerbread were recipes for making a Pot Noodle and beans on toast – this made me laugh so much. It just said so much about Eve’s ability to cook!
This is such an enjoyable novel and I highly recommend you buy it! It’s heart-warming, it’s hilarious, it’s just a perfect book to curl up with on these cold autumn/winter nights!
This is such an enjoyable read. This is the first novel I’ve read by Rosie Blake but I’ve already bought her previous book, How To Get A (Love) Life and hope to read it very soon.
Thank you to Corvus for very kindly sending me How To Stuff Up Christmas.
How To Stuff Up Christmas is out today and available on Amazon.
May 17, 2016
Enjoyable story, based around Eve who is heartbroken, and can't face another family Christmas. Especially as after last Christmas, her boyfriend had proposed to her, and she just doesn't want to deal with the memories while they are still raw.
Having always been quite artistic, she decides the best thing for her to do is to get away for December, to avoid Christmas this year, so she enrols onto a month long pottery course in the little town of Pangbourne. And then as finding affordable accommodation, that accepts dogs (Marmite), she rents a houseboat for the month.
Local vet Greg just happens to pass the boat a few times, when things have gone a bit out of control for Eve, catching her in hilarious situations, and slowly a friendship grows between them, and he teaches her how to follow a recipe and cook. Based on having seen what a disaster Eve is in the kitchen, I was very happy Greg was helping Eve out.
However its clear that Greg was hiding something, and although we occasionally got a chapter from his point of view, it takes a while for it to be revealed, and not what I was thinking. I couldn't decide if I liked the Greg chapters, as often it was showing the exact incident we have just seen but from his point of view, which felt slightly repetitive but it did give a bit of insight into his thoughts, so was helpful.
At the starts of some chapters there are recipes. Some of them are incredibly simple, such us for Pot Noodle, which made me laugh and also showed just how unaware of cooking Eve really is, to much more complicated recipes towards the end, as she grows in confidence. However my favourite recipe and one that is at the level of what I feel comfortable, is for Chocolate Biscuit Cake, and still hours after reading that bit of the book left me really wanting some!
There is an entertaining relationship between Marmite the dog, and the goose the often stalks the pathway by the houseboat. Neither being really friendly towards each other. I don't really recall a goose featuring that much in a book before but this one is very comical, and if Dickens is to be believed a seasonal animal.
With lots of funny bits, as well as a good storyline, How To Stuff Up Christmas is a great Christmas book, without making you feel Christmassy. It feels far more like a book that just happened to be set in December, more than your marginally more typical festive read. However it is still a really enjoyable book, and one I was very happy to read.
Thank you to Corvus Books for this review copy. This was my honest review.
Having always been quite artistic, she decides the best thing for her to do is to get away for December, to avoid Christmas this year, so she enrols onto a month long pottery course in the little town of Pangbourne. And then as finding affordable accommodation, that accepts dogs (Marmite), she rents a houseboat for the month.
Local vet Greg just happens to pass the boat a few times, when things have gone a bit out of control for Eve, catching her in hilarious situations, and slowly a friendship grows between them, and he teaches her how to follow a recipe and cook. Based on having seen what a disaster Eve is in the kitchen, I was very happy Greg was helping Eve out.
However its clear that Greg was hiding something, and although we occasionally got a chapter from his point of view, it takes a while for it to be revealed, and not what I was thinking. I couldn't decide if I liked the Greg chapters, as often it was showing the exact incident we have just seen but from his point of view, which felt slightly repetitive but it did give a bit of insight into his thoughts, so was helpful.
At the starts of some chapters there are recipes. Some of them are incredibly simple, such us for Pot Noodle, which made me laugh and also showed just how unaware of cooking Eve really is, to much more complicated recipes towards the end, as she grows in confidence. However my favourite recipe and one that is at the level of what I feel comfortable, is for Chocolate Biscuit Cake, and still hours after reading that bit of the book left me really wanting some!
There is an entertaining relationship between Marmite the dog, and the goose the often stalks the pathway by the houseboat. Neither being really friendly towards each other. I don't really recall a goose featuring that much in a book before but this one is very comical, and if Dickens is to be believed a seasonal animal.
With lots of funny bits, as well as a good storyline, How To Stuff Up Christmas is a great Christmas book, without making you feel Christmassy. It feels far more like a book that just happened to be set in December, more than your marginally more typical festive read. However it is still a really enjoyable book, and one I was very happy to read.
Thank you to Corvus Books for this review copy. This was my honest review.
December 24, 2015
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
Before I say anything else, I must comment on how wonderfully Christmassy that cover is! It's glittery and just lovely! Definitely has that stand out factor with some of the other Christmas covers out there.
Anyway onto the book itself. I had previously read Rosie's debut How to Get a (Love) Life and really enjoyed it's lightheartness, so was eager to read Rosie's next book.
How to Stuff Up Christmas is again a very enjoyable, lighthearted (although sad in places) story that once again had me laughing and gave me a form of escapism. Eve is also looking for an escape, her now ex-boyfriend Liam cheated on her and Eve doesn't want to be around at Christmas with all the memories of last year. Eve decides to get away from it all by going on a pottery course over Christmas in Pangbourne and ends up staying in a gorgeous little houseboat. But Eve might be in for an unexpected surprise this Christmas.
The village of Pangbourne and the boat that Eve stays on, sounded so picturesque and idyllic. I may not live in a city as such, but I would love to live in a village that of Pangbourne where everyone knows each other by site and is peaceful and tranquil- apart from the geese you come across.
Eve is a lovely character and I do feel sorry for her at times, but she also frustrated me when it came to Greg. I think I say this for many novels like it, I just want to shake her (gently) and tell her to listen to her heart and not her head. If this didn't happen though then we wouldn't get the funny story that is How to Stuff Up Christmas, so frustrations aside, Eve makes this a joy to read.
As with every chick lit/romance story, there is a little bit of predictability, but this never deters me as the story is always still enjoyable.
I loved the little recipes throughout the book and how they featured in each chapter. Eve's sudden penchant for cooking has made me want to pick up on my culinary skills (I say that lightly). It was a lovely added extra.
Another wonderful, funny and lighthearted read to read this Christmas from Rosie and I look forward to her next story.
Before I say anything else, I must comment on how wonderfully Christmassy that cover is! It's glittery and just lovely! Definitely has that stand out factor with some of the other Christmas covers out there.
Anyway onto the book itself. I had previously read Rosie's debut How to Get a (Love) Life and really enjoyed it's lightheartness, so was eager to read Rosie's next book.
How to Stuff Up Christmas is again a very enjoyable, lighthearted (although sad in places) story that once again had me laughing and gave me a form of escapism. Eve is also looking for an escape, her now ex-boyfriend Liam cheated on her and Eve doesn't want to be around at Christmas with all the memories of last year. Eve decides to get away from it all by going on a pottery course over Christmas in Pangbourne and ends up staying in a gorgeous little houseboat. But Eve might be in for an unexpected surprise this Christmas.
The village of Pangbourne and the boat that Eve stays on, sounded so picturesque and idyllic. I may not live in a city as such, but I would love to live in a village that of Pangbourne where everyone knows each other by site and is peaceful and tranquil- apart from the geese you come across.
Eve is a lovely character and I do feel sorry for her at times, but she also frustrated me when it came to Greg. I think I say this for many novels like it, I just want to shake her (gently) and tell her to listen to her heart and not her head. If this didn't happen though then we wouldn't get the funny story that is How to Stuff Up Christmas, so frustrations aside, Eve makes this a joy to read.
As with every chick lit/romance story, there is a little bit of predictability, but this never deters me as the story is always still enjoyable.
I loved the little recipes throughout the book and how they featured in each chapter. Eve's sudden penchant for cooking has made me want to pick up on my culinary skills (I say that lightly). It was a lovely added extra.
Another wonderful, funny and lighthearted read to read this Christmas from Rosie and I look forward to her next story.
May 5, 2017
I am a big fan of Christmas books, even more so the ones that I read after Christmas as it makes me feel the joy and happiness that Christmas always brings. Eve is so excited as this will be her first Christmas as an engaged couple but that is until she find out that the man she planned to spend the rest of her life with has cheated on her, quite a few times right under her nose.
So when Eve decide that she will be getting away for Christmas this year, she knows that it will throw up problems everywhere, especially with her family. Taking her dog and escaping to a small town where no one knows her problems seems like the best idea but it also means that she will have to go back to her life sometime.
Being a vet was never what Greg originally had planned but sometimes life throws you into a situation then you just have to roll with it. Greg isn't looking for new relationship, what with his mother and her health, he hardly has any time for a personal life. When he saves Eve from the swan which seemed to be taking up residence on the front of her house boat, he is captivated by the women who needed his help. It doesn't take long before, Greg is teaching her how to make some easy dishes making her turn into a new woman able to cook a meal and not someone who needs to be looked after.
Although whilst being away from her normal life, Eve is starting to forget about the troubles and issues back home. But as her time in this small piece of happiness is coming to an end, Eve isn't sure what she wants or who she wants in it. Then again, sometimes it is a time for Christmas miracles as they are the best surprise yet.
I loved Marmite, he is one of the sweetest and funniest dog's I have read about. Throw in a crazy swan that seems to want to get the best of him, it is one of the craziest books I have ever read in that sense. I loved the recipes that were included in the book, it gave the book a little extra to the already brilliant story.
How To Stuff Up Christmas is an amazing novel which is perfect to read at anytime of the year, preferably Christmas! With its joy, happiness and festive theme it is a perfect wonderland novel.
Three Words
Joyful, Humorous and Memoriable.
So when Eve decide that she will be getting away for Christmas this year, she knows that it will throw up problems everywhere, especially with her family. Taking her dog and escaping to a small town where no one knows her problems seems like the best idea but it also means that she will have to go back to her life sometime.
Being a vet was never what Greg originally had planned but sometimes life throws you into a situation then you just have to roll with it. Greg isn't looking for new relationship, what with his mother and her health, he hardly has any time for a personal life. When he saves Eve from the swan which seemed to be taking up residence on the front of her house boat, he is captivated by the women who needed his help. It doesn't take long before, Greg is teaching her how to make some easy dishes making her turn into a new woman able to cook a meal and not someone who needs to be looked after.
Although whilst being away from her normal life, Eve is starting to forget about the troubles and issues back home. But as her time in this small piece of happiness is coming to an end, Eve isn't sure what she wants or who she wants in it. Then again, sometimes it is a time for Christmas miracles as they are the best surprise yet.
I loved Marmite, he is one of the sweetest and funniest dog's I have read about. Throw in a crazy swan that seems to want to get the best of him, it is one of the craziest books I have ever read in that sense. I loved the recipes that were included in the book, it gave the book a little extra to the already brilliant story.
How To Stuff Up Christmas is an amazing novel which is perfect to read at anytime of the year, preferably Christmas! With its joy, happiness and festive theme it is a perfect wonderland novel.
Three Words
Joyful, Humorous and Memoriable.
December 18, 2015
When news came out that Rosies second book was due christmas and in paperback, I was overly excited. Firstly i adore Rosie, she seems such a lovely person, her twitter page is a must to follow, you'll never fail to smile whilst reading tweets! So yes, i pre-ordered this book the moment I could. It was tourture to wait. I kinda expect books to just come when i order...
So How to Stuff Up Christmas, was released in November. I got it and I wanted to keep it until Christmas. It was going to be my first christmas book to read, and it was, with exactly a week to go till the big day, I stayed up till v.late just so i could finish it, totally worth being late for work the next day.
The book is about Eve, who discovers her fiance Liam, is cheating on her, is the worst possible way, via text, on his phone (lets ignore that part!). Its cruel. So with christmas coming up, Eve can't fast the festivties with her family and sets her mind on doing something alone. I gota give it to Eve, I would never be brave enough to up and go away at christmas on my own. Let alone live on a boat! But she does and its wonderfull.
I love everyone in the book (except Liam and Ro-Ro!) but yeah, Marmite was just the most adorable dog ever and the geese part was just hilarious. I did love Daisy too, she was so innocent and wanted everyone happy so i felt for her towards the end, although i did think it was her all along. The relationship between Eve and Greg, made me smile, it was great to see them grow and stuff. I was sometimes annoyed with Greg for hiding his secret but I can totally understand it. I just think its a typical man thing. They're brave.. la te da!
Ooh and i really really loved Harriet. The big sister, she was ace. Kicked butt. I kinda hope my sisters think i'm like that but yeh they dont'. She was great. I want a big sister like Harriet.
Seriously if you want a book that will make you laugh and feel all kinds of crazy emotions and get you in the mood for christmas, then this book is it. There are also some cracking christmas receipes throughout (i'm going for the mulled wine one!).
Can't wait for Rosies next book!
So How to Stuff Up Christmas, was released in November. I got it and I wanted to keep it until Christmas. It was going to be my first christmas book to read, and it was, with exactly a week to go till the big day, I stayed up till v.late just so i could finish it, totally worth being late for work the next day.
The book is about Eve, who discovers her fiance Liam, is cheating on her, is the worst possible way, via text, on his phone (lets ignore that part!). Its cruel. So with christmas coming up, Eve can't fast the festivties with her family and sets her mind on doing something alone. I gota give it to Eve, I would never be brave enough to up and go away at christmas on my own. Let alone live on a boat! But she does and its wonderfull.
I love everyone in the book (except Liam and Ro-Ro!) but yeah, Marmite was just the most adorable dog ever and the geese part was just hilarious. I did love Daisy too, she was so innocent and wanted everyone happy so i felt for her towards the end, although i did think it was her all along. The relationship between Eve and Greg, made me smile, it was great to see them grow and stuff. I was sometimes annoyed with Greg for hiding his secret but I can totally understand it. I just think its a typical man thing. They're brave.. la te da!
Ooh and i really really loved Harriet. The big sister, she was ace. Kicked butt. I kinda hope my sisters think i'm like that but yeh they dont'. She was great. I want a big sister like Harriet.
Seriously if you want a book that will make you laugh and feel all kinds of crazy emotions and get you in the mood for christmas, then this book is it. There are also some cracking christmas receipes throughout (i'm going for the mulled wine one!).
Can't wait for Rosies next book!
December 11, 2015
*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Yay, Rosie Blake is back!!! I really enjoyed her debut novel How To Get A (Love) Life, so I was excited for this one. I think the title is genius and I just adore the cover. The blurb is very intriguing.
The story follows Eve. She is in a bad place at the beginning of the story, heartbroken! To get away from it all, she decides to rent a houseboat in Pangbourne. Eve is a lovely character, very likeable and so much fun to follow around.
The way she meets Greg, the vet, for the first time is actually hilarious. All the scenes and moments are funny, vivid and bubbly. Rosie’s writing flows perfectly and the descriptions are spot on.
Greg is great, I liked him from the start. He hides something from Eve, which made him mysterious for her. We got to read about his side of the story as well. It made me understand him better and it explained a lot.
The way things move on between them was not as I expected. They had a strong connection from the start they way it all developed just didn’t seem authentic for me.
All the other characters/animals ;) in this story are great as well. From Eve’s best friend Daisy, her parents to her dog Marmite. They were all wonderful and added a beautiful spark to the story.
How to Stuff Up Christmas is a wonderful festive and Christmassy read. I loved the recipes in the story and it was all put together so nicely. This story is full of heart-warming and magical scenes, a Christmas Must-Read!
Rating: 4.5/5
Yay, Rosie Blake is back!!! I really enjoyed her debut novel How To Get A (Love) Life, so I was excited for this one. I think the title is genius and I just adore the cover. The blurb is very intriguing.
The story follows Eve. She is in a bad place at the beginning of the story, heartbroken! To get away from it all, she decides to rent a houseboat in Pangbourne. Eve is a lovely character, very likeable and so much fun to follow around.
The way she meets Greg, the vet, for the first time is actually hilarious. All the scenes and moments are funny, vivid and bubbly. Rosie’s writing flows perfectly and the descriptions are spot on.
Greg is great, I liked him from the start. He hides something from Eve, which made him mysterious for her. We got to read about his side of the story as well. It made me understand him better and it explained a lot.
The way things move on between them was not as I expected. They had a strong connection from the start they way it all developed just didn’t seem authentic for me.
All the other characters/animals ;) in this story are great as well. From Eve’s best friend Daisy, her parents to her dog Marmite. They were all wonderful and added a beautiful spark to the story.
How to Stuff Up Christmas is a wonderful festive and Christmassy read. I loved the recipes in the story and it was all put together so nicely. This story is full of heart-warming and magical scenes, a Christmas Must-Read!
Rating: 4.5/5
November 10, 2015
Eve finds out her fiance is cheating on her in the most horrible way. To get away from the heartbreak she finds a pottery course and leaves London to live in a wonderful houseboat in Pangbourne. She takes her dog with her for company. Fortunately she isn't very lonely because she meets Greg, a local vet. He's teaching her how to cook and they're having a great time together. Only there's something Greg isn't telling Eve. What is it? And what are Eve's friends at home keeping from her? Eve's Christmas will definitely be very different from the one she had the year before...
Even though Eve has been hurt and is sad because of her breakup How to Stuff Up Christmas is fun. There are some fabulous scenes that made me laugh out loud. I loved reading about the difficult situations Eve manages to get herself into. Combined with the quaint setting and some wonderful, simple recipes this book has all the right ingredients to be a very enjoyable Christmas read.
Greg and Eve are both likable main characters. They have a strong connection from the start. Another fabulous main character is Eve's dog Marmite. He has such a fun personality and his actions kept making me smile. I always like it when a pet has such an important role to play in a story. Rosie Blake managed to capture the right Christmas spirit. I loved the good food, cozy atmosphere, creativity, real winter weather and plenty of heartwarming scenes.
Even though Eve has been hurt and is sad because of her breakup How to Stuff Up Christmas is fun. There are some fabulous scenes that made me laugh out loud. I loved reading about the difficult situations Eve manages to get herself into. Combined with the quaint setting and some wonderful, simple recipes this book has all the right ingredients to be a very enjoyable Christmas read.
Greg and Eve are both likable main characters. They have a strong connection from the start. Another fabulous main character is Eve's dog Marmite. He has such a fun personality and his actions kept making me smile. I always like it when a pet has such an important role to play in a story. Rosie Blake managed to capture the right Christmas spirit. I loved the good food, cozy atmosphere, creativity, real winter weather and plenty of heartwarming scenes.
December 8, 2016
Right OK so first off this is my first book by Rosie Blake and I'm happy to say it won't be my last I've already added her other book to my to buy pile! So as "tis is the season " I decided to give the book ago a nice easy christmas read in mind and I got just that and not only that I've found a new author that I love! So the book centers around ironically Eve who's recently split up with scumbag cheating fiance and is finding it rather difficult to get into the Christmas spirit,broken hearted and in need of a get away(much to her parents distain) she grabs marmite(her adorable morkie) travels to Pangbourne and rents out a live in boat and signs up for a pottery class. The last thing she expects however is to meet Greg the village vet who is well rather perfect If I'm honest , they start out as friends as Greg teaches her how to cook and as she starts to find herself again and let go of the past a romance as predicted starts to bloom but it isn't without complications and its misunderstandings. The book is humorous(the goose expecially) warm and I couldn't put it down i recommend this i know I'll be buying more from Rosie I loved this ☺
December 13, 2015
I love a good Christmas book and this was a lovely, seasonal read, one that I really enjoyed. A lovely feel-good story about how it's not really always the end of the world when things go a little tiny bit tits-up, this was the perfect pick me up at a stressful time of year - a prefect respite from the madness of present wrapping and tree decorating.
Eve is a lovely character - she made me laugh out loud in some places, and want to cry in others, as she tries to overcome the pain of her first Christmas without her boyfriend, with the help of Daisy (her BFF) and Greg (foxy vet guy). What evolves is a lovely, feel good story with some likeable characters - it didn't blow me away, if I'm totally honest, but it's a lovely Christmassy read and it definitely gave me a chance to chill out! The recipes included are also quite fabulous - some of which I am keen to try out - and yes, I am a better cook than Eve!
How to stuff up Christmas is out now and you can get it here:
Eve is a lovely character - she made me laugh out loud in some places, and want to cry in others, as she tries to overcome the pain of her first Christmas without her boyfriend, with the help of Daisy (her BFF) and Greg (foxy vet guy). What evolves is a lovely, feel good story with some likeable characters - it didn't blow me away, if I'm totally honest, but it's a lovely Christmassy read and it definitely gave me a chance to chill out! The recipes included are also quite fabulous - some of which I am keen to try out - and yes, I am a better cook than Eve!
How to stuff up Christmas is out now and you can get it here:
December 12, 2017
Oh dear. Would have benefitted from a good editor!
Pepper the cat and the whole he/she issue??? No-one else notice that? On one page female by the next male. The Sister (I can't be bothered to look up her name) "thinking about things on the train driving down", next minute she's leaving by driving off from the car-park?
Sorry to sound picky but it just ruins the flow and smacks of laziness.
Also - and this is not picky, just plain unacceptable - the absolutely atrocious punctuation throughout the whole book.
I gave it 2 for keeping me mildly entertained through a bad day but it seriously needed work. I had my doubts as to whether to bother finishing it. Probably shouldn't have.
Pepper the cat and the whole he/she issue??? No-one else notice that? On one page female by the next male. The Sister (I can't be bothered to look up her name) "thinking about things on the train driving down", next minute she's leaving by driving off from the car-park?
Sorry to sound picky but it just ruins the flow and smacks of laziness.
Also - and this is not picky, just plain unacceptable - the absolutely atrocious punctuation throughout the whole book.
I gave it 2 for keeping me mildly entertained through a bad day but it seriously needed work. I had my doubts as to whether to bother finishing it. Probably shouldn't have.
February 5, 2022
Gosh it was bad -
Poorly written and poorly edited. Hallmark storyline with odd humour and “suspense” - who was the woman in the hat? The two chapters where the author attempted to write the scene from a different character’s perspective reminded me of the types of exercises set for primary school English lessons.
Avoid!
Poorly written and poorly edited. Hallmark storyline with odd humour and “suspense” - who was the woman in the hat? The two chapters where the author attempted to write the scene from a different character’s perspective reminded me of the types of exercises set for primary school English lessons.
Avoid!
December 2, 2015
So sad to have finished reading!
Review coming soon.
Review coming soon.
February 27, 2021
Light fluffy and a perfect christmassy read
November 28, 2015
Absolutely adored this. Everything in a rom com you'd want plus a few surprises. Perfect Xmas read
December 29, 2025
So this was a cute book. Not my favourite but great to end the year in a bit of a festive note.
It was a really nice, fast read, I read it in like two seatings I’m pretty sure. The writing was really fun, fast paced and entertaining.
The characters were nice and well written, Eve was a fun main character and I really felt for her and everything she went through. I loved Greg as a love interest and I was really interested in him and his family. The side characters were great. I liked both of their families, Eve’s parents were thee cutest, I enjoyed their scenes together and their quirks so much and they felt very real. And I loved the whole cast in the ceramics class, Mimi and Raj and Danny... And of course Marmite!! I mean how could you not adore him?
And I really enjoyed the setting. The small town and the boat and the ceramics house… the whole thing felt really cozy and like the perfect getaway.
I would say I just wanted more from the story? Like I wanted more from the love story, from the secret with Greg, from the fallout with Liam…
I thought Eve and Greg were cute but I just wanted more scenes with them together. I felt like they barely knew each other when they kissed and I honestly don’t think they even knew each other that well in the end? Maybe I’m crazy but I don’t think they interacted with each other that much, so I wasn’t that invested in the romance. Same thing with Greg’s secret, I was really interested in him and his family, and I wanted to see more, I wanted to feel more emotion and see more of what they were going through.
And when Eve finds out who the mystery “vagina” is I thought she was soo calm, especially after the secret was kept the entire time, I wanted more of a reaction, it felt like there was barely any fallout or consequences.
And I liked the writing but there were some choices I didn’t love, like the chapters where we see the same scene from both of their perspectives. I wish we had spent that time expanding on their relationship instead of repeating the same thing, you know?
Also I was a bit put off by the way the author talked about women at times. Especially as someone that studies and works in fashion, most women I know are very nice and I always have a hard time and raise my brow when media portrays all women in fashion as the stereotypical mean, superficial girls.
Anyway, it was a nice, cute book. Not my favourite but not my least favourite either. It was a fast paced light read, good palette cleanser and nice to read during Christmas.
It was a really nice, fast read, I read it in like two seatings I’m pretty sure. The writing was really fun, fast paced and entertaining.
The characters were nice and well written, Eve was a fun main character and I really felt for her and everything she went through. I loved Greg as a love interest and I was really interested in him and his family. The side characters were great. I liked both of their families, Eve’s parents were thee cutest, I enjoyed their scenes together and their quirks so much and they felt very real. And I loved the whole cast in the ceramics class, Mimi and Raj and Danny... And of course Marmite!! I mean how could you not adore him?
And I really enjoyed the setting. The small town and the boat and the ceramics house… the whole thing felt really cozy and like the perfect getaway.
I would say I just wanted more from the story? Like I wanted more from the love story, from the secret with Greg, from the fallout with Liam…
I thought Eve and Greg were cute but I just wanted more scenes with them together. I felt like they barely knew each other when they kissed and I honestly don’t think they even knew each other that well in the end? Maybe I’m crazy but I don’t think they interacted with each other that much, so I wasn’t that invested in the romance. Same thing with Greg’s secret, I was really interested in him and his family, and I wanted to see more, I wanted to feel more emotion and see more of what they were going through.
And when Eve finds out who the mystery “vagina” is I thought she was soo calm, especially after the secret was kept the entire time, I wanted more of a reaction, it felt like there was barely any fallout or consequences.
And I liked the writing but there were some choices I didn’t love, like the chapters where we see the same scene from both of their perspectives. I wish we had spent that time expanding on their relationship instead of repeating the same thing, you know?
Also I was a bit put off by the way the author talked about women at times. Especially as someone that studies and works in fashion, most women I know are very nice and I always have a hard time and raise my brow when media portrays all women in fashion as the stereotypical mean, superficial girls.
Anyway, it was a nice, cute book. Not my favourite but not my least favourite either. It was a fast paced light read, good palette cleanser and nice to read during Christmas.
January 15, 2018
Feel free to take a look at my book review blog!
http://lovebooksactually.blogspot.co....
Ok, I know it's January, the Christmas music is no longer playing in all the shops and the Christmas decorations are down and packed away in the loft, (sob!) no more eating chocolate for breakfast and binge watching your favourite festive films but who says you cannot keep reading Christmas books!? I say festive reads are for life.. Not just for Christmas!
This is my first book for 2018 and also my first book by Rosie Blake. I really enjoyed this book and so happy knowing that I have a few of her books lined up in my 'to be read' pile.
This book focuses on two characters, Eve and Greg. Each chapter changes between them both which I really love in a book. I found that some scenes are repeated but I really like to read both the female and male point of view.
I really liked the character Eve, who works at an Estate Agents with her best friend Daisy. Eve is heartbroken after finding out that her fiancé (Liam) cheated on her. After a messy breakup, arguing over the parental rights to their dog (Marmite) and it nearing Christmas (a year ago since Liam proposed, them wearing matching Christmas jumpers in their love bubble) she decides to put herself on a pottery course and take herself and Marmite to stay on a houseboat in Pangbourne for a few weeks in December.
You meet Greg who is the local Vet at Pangbourne, straight away he comes across as such a loveable male character. After coming to Eve's rescue on the boat they soon hit it off, I wanted to jump into the book give Eve a big hug and tell her to forget loser Liam and yay to Greg! Greg visits Eve many times on her boat, and after reading his side of a scene you know he deliberately goes her way on the off chance of running into her. (awwww!)
Eve is a terrible cook, usually letting Liam do all the cooking during dinner parties and after food poisoning her friends she decides to try again and learn how to cook on the houseboat, with Greg's help she becomes more confident, baking lots of Christmas goodies. I loved that some chapter's of the book started with a different recipe with all things Christmassy, Christmas cookies, fruit loaf and Christmas pudding! Yum!
Although some things aren't what they seem, Greg keeps having to disappear and Daisy is acting strange keeping something back from Eve. This book kept me guessing right until the end, I did try to guess a few times, convinced I knew the truth and getting it wrong, so the last few chapters I was gripped!
This is a must read whatever the season! I really hope Rosie Blake brings out a follow on from this one, would love to catch up with all the characters!
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Ok, I know it's January, the Christmas music is no longer playing in all the shops and the Christmas decorations are down and packed away in the loft, (sob!) no more eating chocolate for breakfast and binge watching your favourite festive films but who says you cannot keep reading Christmas books!? I say festive reads are for life.. Not just for Christmas!
This is my first book for 2018 and also my first book by Rosie Blake. I really enjoyed this book and so happy knowing that I have a few of her books lined up in my 'to be read' pile.
This book focuses on two characters, Eve and Greg. Each chapter changes between them both which I really love in a book. I found that some scenes are repeated but I really like to read both the female and male point of view.
I really liked the character Eve, who works at an Estate Agents with her best friend Daisy. Eve is heartbroken after finding out that her fiancé (Liam) cheated on her. After a messy breakup, arguing over the parental rights to their dog (Marmite) and it nearing Christmas (a year ago since Liam proposed, them wearing matching Christmas jumpers in their love bubble) she decides to put herself on a pottery course and take herself and Marmite to stay on a houseboat in Pangbourne for a few weeks in December.
You meet Greg who is the local Vet at Pangbourne, straight away he comes across as such a loveable male character. After coming to Eve's rescue on the boat they soon hit it off, I wanted to jump into the book give Eve a big hug and tell her to forget loser Liam and yay to Greg! Greg visits Eve many times on her boat, and after reading his side of a scene you know he deliberately goes her way on the off chance of running into her. (awwww!)
Eve is a terrible cook, usually letting Liam do all the cooking during dinner parties and after food poisoning her friends she decides to try again and learn how to cook on the houseboat, with Greg's help she becomes more confident, baking lots of Christmas goodies. I loved that some chapter's of the book started with a different recipe with all things Christmassy, Christmas cookies, fruit loaf and Christmas pudding! Yum!
Although some things aren't what they seem, Greg keeps having to disappear and Daisy is acting strange keeping something back from Eve. This book kept me guessing right until the end, I did try to guess a few times, convinced I knew the truth and getting it wrong, so the last few chapters I was gripped!
This is a must read whatever the season! I really hope Rosie Blake brings out a follow on from this one, would love to catch up with all the characters!
December 14, 2020
How to Stuff up Christmas centres on Eve, recently heartbroken and sick of the sight of Christmas, she decides to spend it alone rather than with her overbearing family. Nestled on a houseboat on the Thames in Pangbourne (near Reading) she wants to get through the festive season in one piece. While staying there she meets local vet Greg, whose mysterious personality intrigues her. But while Greg seems to be hiding something, so does Eve’s best friend Daisy, and the last thing she needs this Christmas is any more drama!
Two things I loved about this book; firstly it was set right around the corner from where I live which was excellent! And secondly the recipes which started some of the chapters gave the book a warming and friendly feel. It becomes clear early on that Eve can’t really cook but as it was Christmas, and a lot of the storyline focussed on family, the recipes gave it a homely feel which is exactly what I want from a Christmas book!
The relationship between Eve and Greg was quite safe and so this book was basically the equivalent of a Hallmark movie but if that’s what you want from a Christmas book, then this one’s for you! The storyline was quite predictable. but I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing, its unsurprising plot just made the book comforting as there was nothing unexpected.
All in all my favourite character was Daisy – as the best friend sidekick, she provided Eve the support she needed while also adding some complexity to the characters. I think there are probably a lot of readers who’ve had to deal with heartbreak at Christmas like Eve, so they’ll appreciate this storyline!
I don’t think you should read this book if you don’t like slushy romance, but as that’s pretty much my favourite genre, I loved it! The storyline was relatively safe but with enough familiarity and appeal to make the story comforting and likeable. This is nothing groundbreaking but it’s exactly what you need from a Christmas book!
Two things I loved about this book; firstly it was set right around the corner from where I live which was excellent! And secondly the recipes which started some of the chapters gave the book a warming and friendly feel. It becomes clear early on that Eve can’t really cook but as it was Christmas, and a lot of the storyline focussed on family, the recipes gave it a homely feel which is exactly what I want from a Christmas book!
The relationship between Eve and Greg was quite safe and so this book was basically the equivalent of a Hallmark movie but if that’s what you want from a Christmas book, then this one’s for you! The storyline was quite predictable. but I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing, its unsurprising plot just made the book comforting as there was nothing unexpected.
All in all my favourite character was Daisy – as the best friend sidekick, she provided Eve the support she needed while also adding some complexity to the characters. I think there are probably a lot of readers who’ve had to deal with heartbreak at Christmas like Eve, so they’ll appreciate this storyline!
I don’t think you should read this book if you don’t like slushy romance, but as that’s pretty much my favourite genre, I loved it! The storyline was relatively safe but with enough familiarity and appeal to make the story comforting and likeable. This is nothing groundbreaking but it’s exactly what you need from a Christmas book!
February 4, 2022
Yes I enjoyed this book but here is where I am going to do a spoiler so if you have not read it do not read on. So the book started off a little slow till Eve decided to go and live on a narrowboat on the Thames, nothing wrong in that but Pangbourne, that is only down the road from me. My ears pricked up, this could be good. Well the author got the station right though I'm not sure how Eve got to Whitchurch Bridge unless she too the footpath along the river which cuts off the village. The bridge and sports centre were right but I did not now the river bank was a common or that you could moor a boat there for a length of time but then this is fiction. This parts about who Eve got around made me smile especially when the goose came into it. Just face the dam thing up they will run away don't be scared of a big bird. I did wonder what was going on with Greg and like how they went out for a trip on the Thames to Goring. The fact Greg said there was only one lock at Goring to go through mad me think I missed something because you have to go through Pangbourne lock first to get there. As I said t is fiction so forgiven on that. The there was RoRo's wedding at Didcot!!! Why in the world would you pick that place it is the pits and on the list of the worst places in the UK to live and I am mystified as to where the nice house and church were nearby. Oh well it is fiction if only Didcot was but that palace is real like Panbourne and Whitchurch. The story behind here break up to Liam was interesting but she should have kept the Picture for RoRo and Liam to show them and who in there right mind stays at a wedding if the ex turns up like that. Anyway good story ending could have been a little better, made me what to know what happened next.
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