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Christmas Every Day
10 hours, 27 minutes
When Jenny inherits her estranged grandmother’s cottage in Sherwood Forest, she has nothing to lose - no money, no job, no friends, no family to speak of, and zero self-respect. Things can only get better...
Her grumpy, but decidedly handsome new neighbour, Mack, has a habit of bestowing unsolicited good deeds on her. And when Jenny is welcomed into a rather unusual book club, life seems to finally be getting more interesting.
Instead of reading, the members pledge to complete individual challenges before Christmas: from finding new love, learning to bake, to completing a daredevil bucket list. Jenny can’t resist joining in, and soon a year of friendship and laughter, tears and regrets unfolds in the most unexpected ways.
Warm, wise, funny and utterly uplifting, what one thing would you change in your life before Christmas comes around?
When Jenny inherits her estranged grandmother’s cottage in Sherwood Forest, she has nothing to lose - no money, no job, no friends, no family to speak of, and zero self-respect. Things can only get better...
Her grumpy, but decidedly handsome new neighbour, Mack, has a habit of bestowing unsolicited good deeds on her. And when Jenny is welcomed into a rather unusual book club, life seems to finally be getting more interesting.
Instead of reading, the members pledge to complete individual challenges before Christmas: from finding new love, learning to bake, to completing a daredevil bucket list. Jenny can’t resist joining in, and soon a year of friendship and laughter, tears and regrets unfolds in the most unexpected ways.
Warm, wise, funny and utterly uplifting, what one thing would you change in your life before Christmas comes around?
Audible Audio
Published September 17, 2019
1903 people are currently reading
2743 people want to read
About the author
Beth Moran
24 books944 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Beth Moran initially worked as a biochemist and then taught antenatal classes before becoming an author. She loves to write contemporary women`s fiction set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she lives with her family
Beth Moran initially worked as a biochemist and then taught antenatal classes before becoming an author. She loves to write contemporary women`s fiction set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she lives with her family
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 982 reviews
January 18, 2023
I loved this awkward cute Christmas story. 😍 It would make a perfect Christmas hallmark movie!! 👍
September 20, 2019
At the office Christmas party, Jenny is a bag of nerves. Her boyfriend and one of the partners of the law firm she works at is looking like he’s about to propose to her. Unfortunately, things don’t go quite as expected and Jenny ends up leaving the party and the company for good and moving to her Grandmothers old cottage in Sherwood Forest that has been empty for many years since she died.
The cottage is semi-detached and the bloke, Mack, who lives alone next door doesn’t seem happy to see her. He looks grumpy, moody and put out and he’s enjoyed having the house next door stood empty as he values his privacy. After the revelations with her ex-boyfriend, Jenny is off men and them trying to help her out. Mack might be moody but he is also not about to let someone struggle to do things he can do easily, this only gets Jenny’s back up.
Jenny is also struggling for money, the place needs lots of work and she has no job or savings. To help her out the local bakery owner gives her a few hours work a week and pays her in food, she also unwittingly becomes the nanny for one of the local mums too.
As well as all of the above there is also the unusual book club where they agree to read a book but never talk about it. They meet once a month and each decides something they are going to do before Christmas, they discuss how well their task is going at every meeting. This collection of friendly, kind and full of hope members all have their own stories to tell, plus their hopes and dreams to share too.
This is the third book by Beth Moran I have read and if you are a fan or Rom-Coms I suggest you get reading her books. I simply adored this book and all the fabulous characters. Jenny was pig-headed, stubborn, yet supportive and kind too. She saw the best in people and so is at a loss when it looks like someone wants her out of the cottage. She is also clumsy as hell and Mack often had to rescue her from the floor.
The plot is beautiful and the setting comes across strong, imagine living in Sherwood Forest, out in the wild, being at one with nature. Although being isolated isn’t much fun when you think someone is following you.
The only thing I will say is don’t expect this to be a ‘Christmas book’ as it isn’t. I do understand why it has been called Christmas Every Day but it is more of a reference in the story that actual events in the book.
This is a humorous book that has some of the most delightful characters I have ever met. It is warm, inviting and a whole lot of fun from beginning to end.
The cottage is semi-detached and the bloke, Mack, who lives alone next door doesn’t seem happy to see her. He looks grumpy, moody and put out and he’s enjoyed having the house next door stood empty as he values his privacy. After the revelations with her ex-boyfriend, Jenny is off men and them trying to help her out. Mack might be moody but he is also not about to let someone struggle to do things he can do easily, this only gets Jenny’s back up.
Jenny is also struggling for money, the place needs lots of work and she has no job or savings. To help her out the local bakery owner gives her a few hours work a week and pays her in food, she also unwittingly becomes the nanny for one of the local mums too.
As well as all of the above there is also the unusual book club where they agree to read a book but never talk about it. They meet once a month and each decides something they are going to do before Christmas, they discuss how well their task is going at every meeting. This collection of friendly, kind and full of hope members all have their own stories to tell, plus their hopes and dreams to share too.
This is the third book by Beth Moran I have read and if you are a fan or Rom-Coms I suggest you get reading her books. I simply adored this book and all the fabulous characters. Jenny was pig-headed, stubborn, yet supportive and kind too. She saw the best in people and so is at a loss when it looks like someone wants her out of the cottage. She is also clumsy as hell and Mack often had to rescue her from the floor.
The plot is beautiful and the setting comes across strong, imagine living in Sherwood Forest, out in the wild, being at one with nature. Although being isolated isn’t much fun when you think someone is following you.
The only thing I will say is don’t expect this to be a ‘Christmas book’ as it isn’t. I do understand why it has been called Christmas Every Day but it is more of a reference in the story that actual events in the book.
This is a humorous book that has some of the most delightful characters I have ever met. It is warm, inviting and a whole lot of fun from beginning to end.
September 14, 2019
This book was so cunning... I could have never ever dreamt that something with the sweetest cover would play such a game with me. And I was the one who read wicked thrillers. Do you know what it did? IT PULLED ME IN WITH THE FIRST LINE!! AND I FELL FOR IT HOOK LINE AND SINKER.
Jenny had moved to the countryside after major issues at work (read one lying bastard of a boss and a betraying sister). A ramshackle cottage was what waited for her. Trying to get some DIY done on the house, she found herself to a nanny of 5 boisterous kids. Neighbor to a cankerous man Mack, she soon learned to traverse the dips of her life to find the high of living it once again with renewed spirit.
This beautiful story by author Beth Moran was what I would call a home. It took me into its loving arms and made me feel as if I belonged in its pages. The characters were warm and whacky. The situations made me laugh.. The loving book club was out of control. The house was broken down with rats in the shed. But the neighbor was so dreamy. A good compensation I would say!!
I loved Jenny; she brought life to this story. She bared her emotions to me when things overwhelmed and bewildered her. Her humor was like like a spark, caught me unawares. The friends she made were real, same issues as you and me My eyes followed her as she swept through the pages.
Romance was a bit dimmed but I didn't mind that. (read I am off romance and I hate love). The rest of the book sure uplifted my world weary soul. I enjoyed it completely. Humor and friendships with a dash of love, perfect for a cozy afternoon.
Jenny had moved to the countryside after major issues at work (read one lying bastard of a boss and a betraying sister). A ramshackle cottage was what waited for her. Trying to get some DIY done on the house, she found herself to a nanny of 5 boisterous kids. Neighbor to a cankerous man Mack, she soon learned to traverse the dips of her life to find the high of living it once again with renewed spirit.
This beautiful story by author Beth Moran was what I would call a home. It took me into its loving arms and made me feel as if I belonged in its pages. The characters were warm and whacky. The situations made me laugh.. The loving book club was out of control. The house was broken down with rats in the shed. But the neighbor was so dreamy. A good compensation I would say!!
I loved Jenny; she brought life to this story. She bared her emotions to me when things overwhelmed and bewildered her. Her humor was like like a spark, caught me unawares. The friends she made were real, same issues as you and me My eyes followed her as she swept through the pages.
Romance was a bit dimmed but I didn't mind that. (read I am off romance and I hate love). The rest of the book sure uplifted my world weary soul. I enjoyed it completely. Humor and friendships with a dash of love, perfect for a cozy afternoon.
September 7, 2019
This was one of those books that while enjoyable (mostly) just didn't blow me away. 🙈 The first 30% was good, but then I started to lose interest. 😫 The story felt unnecessary drug out. 🆘 That said, I loved Jenny, and I loved how the small town embraced her so thoroughly. 💕 Mack on the other hand fell flat. 👎 He came across very cardboard cutout to me, and the romance between him and Jenny was lackluster at best. 📦 So yea, a mixed bag for sure...
December 4, 2021
With her life falling apart, Jenny decides to move into her late Grandmother's cottage in Sherwood Forest. When she arrives at the cottage, she finds her key does not work in the front door and the grounds are so overgrown, she can't even get to the back door. She resorts to spending her first night in a shed on the property. With no friends, no job, and no money, Jenny has no choice but to roll up her sleeves and tackle the mess in the cottage. Having a grumpy neighbor who is not happy to have someone moving in next door does not help matters.
I picked up this book on audible and was expecting the usual Hallmark type Christmas story where the heroine clashes with the hero, slowly becomes friends, then falls in love. This story took a big turn into the unknown when Jenny is befriended by the local diner owner and invited to her Book Club meeting. Suddenly, with an argument and a food fight over which book they will discuss next month, this book did not feel like a Hallmark movie. The members make a pledge to do bucket list type things to improve their lives. Jenny joins in and the book takes an interesting turn.
This was certainly not what I expected. Actually, this isn't a Christmas story at all. After the book club meeting, I was totally hooked. This is a "feel good" book that was very entertaining. You get some laughs, a little romance, and a few tears. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Helen Keeley. She does wonderful work with the various characters. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
I picked up this book on audible and was expecting the usual Hallmark type Christmas story where the heroine clashes with the hero, slowly becomes friends, then falls in love. This story took a big turn into the unknown when Jenny is befriended by the local diner owner and invited to her Book Club meeting. Suddenly, with an argument and a food fight over which book they will discuss next month, this book did not feel like a Hallmark movie. The members make a pledge to do bucket list type things to improve their lives. Jenny joins in and the book takes an interesting turn.
This was certainly not what I expected. Actually, this isn't a Christmas story at all. After the book club meeting, I was totally hooked. This is a "feel good" book that was very entertaining. You get some laughs, a little romance, and a few tears. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Helen Keeley. She does wonderful work with the various characters. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
October 18, 2023
A small town romance with Christmas vibes and a hot grumpy neighbour who is an actual cinnamon roll? Say less!🥹🎄
Really enjoyed Jenny and Mack’s story!💕
There were some twists and turns, most of them you can kind of see coming. But all in all it was a really cute story.
Really enjoyed Jenny and Mack’s story!💕
There were some twists and turns, most of them you can kind of see coming. But all in all it was a really cute story.
November 27, 2021
Christmas 2021: Naughty
DNF at 25%
No one loved Bridget Jones's Diary more than I did, in both book and movie format. But I regret that it seems to have inspired a whole sub-genre of chick lit wherein the heroine is a complete nitwit who is always doing the most idiotic things and yet the hunky hero somehow finds this charming and irresistible.
I didn’t get too far into this one but it had a real BJD vibe going already; I was bored and it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with Christmas.
DNF at 25%
No one loved Bridget Jones's Diary more than I did, in both book and movie format. But I regret that it seems to have inspired a whole sub-genre of chick lit wherein the heroine is a complete nitwit who is always doing the most idiotic things and yet the hunky hero somehow finds this charming and irresistible.
I didn’t get too far into this one but it had a real BJD vibe going already; I was bored and it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with Christmas.
November 10, 2021
5 Stars!
I loved this so much! A holiday story that wasn't truly a holiday story, but still fabulous.
I always download a Christmas audio to listen to while I wrap, cook, etc. and while this one wasn't heavily focused on the holidays, I didn't care. It was witty, poignant, and romantic. I enjoyed the main protagonist and her crushing reasons for moving into her deceased grandmother's cottage. I also enjoyed the broody neighbor who slowly got under her skin and helped her out of, and through, a number of debacles. But mostly, I loved this village that surrounded Jenny and became her true friends and support system. This is where the story showed some wonderful depth and poignancy. I even got a little misty-eyed. Jenny touched and was touched by each of these women, and as they revealed more of themselves, the story became even richer. But still, since I'm a romance reader at heart, I loved the slow-burn romance with the lovely Mac.
Overall, the strong writing was fun and the characters were wonderfully imperfect. Now that I've discovered this author, I'm excited that she has a backlist I can tackle.
December 6, 2021
Dnf 62% This was actually pretty sweet but just too long and not really about Christmas.
December 15, 2025
I could not finish this book, Im so disappointed, the boo started off so well, then went off the rails.
November 18, 2021
Bij ok. Šedevrs nav, bet nav arī slikti. Skaidrs, ka man un autorei ir atšķirīgas izpratnes par to, kad cilvēks skaitās iztukšītī. Pēc manas loģikas galvenā varone nevarēja finansiāli izvilkt gadu, maksimums - divus mēnešus. Bet ko gan es saprotu? Brīžiem arī bišķi neadekvāti rīkojās, bet nu ok - tas tā kā atbilst viņas dzīves pieredzei. Ja nebūtu tās pārsaldinātās beigas, būtu labāk. Bet patīkami, ka stāstījums nebija sasteigts, ieliekot to gada rāmī, nevis liekot cilvēkiem no iepazīšanās līdz altārim aizskriet 2 nedēļās (jo tieši tik ilgam laikam viņai vajadzēja pietikt naudai, pēc tam jau jāmeklē naudīgs vīrs utt.).
December 25, 2019
Lovely story
December 8, 2019
You know a book has gotten under your skin, when you realise the dream you were having includes some of the characters from what you were reading, somehow morphed into family members. If was a weird and oddly vivid dream, but once I remember I don't have anyone in the family with five children, I realised it must have been due to reading this before I went to bed.
Given that almost never happens to me, I think you can see how much I was enjoying what I was reading.
The writing is fabulous, as is the story, I loved seeing Jenny develop, and watching her try to turn her life around, after she flees to her grandmothers cottage in the Forest, despite never having met her grandmother.
And its not in a great state but its all Jenny has, that and a reclusive new neighbour, Mack, who its hard to tell if he actually likes or hates Jenny initially but leads to some amusing moments.
There is so much to enjoy with this book, it is really hard to know where to start. There is a large amount of story fitted in, and the threads from the other book club members are a mix of heartbreaking and inspirational while also amusing and give hope to all about possible new love.
Although I understand where the title came from, I will say I felt it slightly misleading as it really didn't feel like what I want a Christmas book to be, with very little festive feeling being generated. But that is on me, and if I ignore that small thing - then the book is utterly brilliant.
What I do know is this may have been my first book by Beth Moran, but it certainly won't be my last. I am very keen to read more as the quality was great and I really enjoyed myself reading it.
Thank you to Boldwood and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily
Given that almost never happens to me, I think you can see how much I was enjoying what I was reading.
The writing is fabulous, as is the story, I loved seeing Jenny develop, and watching her try to turn her life around, after she flees to her grandmothers cottage in the Forest, despite never having met her grandmother.
And its not in a great state but its all Jenny has, that and a reclusive new neighbour, Mack, who its hard to tell if he actually likes or hates Jenny initially but leads to some amusing moments.
There is so much to enjoy with this book, it is really hard to know where to start. There is a large amount of story fitted in, and the threads from the other book club members are a mix of heartbreaking and inspirational while also amusing and give hope to all about possible new love.
Although I understand where the title came from, I will say I felt it slightly misleading as it really didn't feel like what I want a Christmas book to be, with very little festive feeling being generated. But that is on me, and if I ignore that small thing - then the book is utterly brilliant.
What I do know is this may have been my first book by Beth Moran, but it certainly won't be my last. I am very keen to read more as the quality was great and I really enjoyed myself reading it.
Thank you to Boldwood and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily
December 12, 2021
A sweet Christmas rom com (albeit more community/friends, less romance) with The Holiday vibes.
December 4, 2019
Beth Moran continues to be one of the most surprising authors I have encountered. Brilliantly readable yet grounded with a welcome depth, Christmas Every Day explores relationships forged and lost, families chosen and grafted by lineage and romance all around the restoration of a crumbling old house.
I was immediately smitten with the first person narrative as I am every time I seep into one of Moran's stories. She has an inimitable magic and you feel that you are sitting across from Jenny: who is at once vulnerable and strong, lonely and kind.
There is a quiet sadness to Jenny and readers will feel protective of her moments of overwhelming loneliness as she attempts to reconcile her new life and restoration with recent heartbreak.
Add in an absolutely sumptuous hero named Mack and the deep female friendships borne of a book club, this literary-infused rural treat is the antidote to the (although amazing and I love them to death!) Hallmark fare of the season.
If you want a Christmas book grounded in authentic experience and featuring a love story that slowly blooms rather than explodes at the town hall Christmas tree lighting ceremony, then this is the experience for you.
I highly recommend Beth Moran's writing to everyone I know and as a lover of Christmas set stories, Christmas Every Day was a quiet and oh so literary confection that will be an annual read for me from now on...
I was immediately smitten with the first person narrative as I am every time I seep into one of Moran's stories. She has an inimitable magic and you feel that you are sitting across from Jenny: who is at once vulnerable and strong, lonely and kind.
There is a quiet sadness to Jenny and readers will feel protective of her moments of overwhelming loneliness as she attempts to reconcile her new life and restoration with recent heartbreak.
Add in an absolutely sumptuous hero named Mack and the deep female friendships borne of a book club, this literary-infused rural treat is the antidote to the (although amazing and I love them to death!) Hallmark fare of the season.
If you want a Christmas book grounded in authentic experience and featuring a love story that slowly blooms rather than explodes at the town hall Christmas tree lighting ceremony, then this is the experience for you.
I highly recommend Beth Moran's writing to everyone I know and as a lover of Christmas set stories, Christmas Every Day was a quiet and oh so literary confection that will be an annual read for me from now on...
October 30, 2019
***I received a free ecopy from the published via NetGalley in exchange for a review***
Ok, so first things first - this isn't a Christmas story. It is told over the period of a year, starting at Christmas one year and finishing the next, but really it isn't even Christmas adjacent.
The story itself featured a bunch of tropes I generally enjoy, including one of my faves - unlikely friends brought together by a common interest (in this case book club) - but there were some things about the writing that I didn't like (for instance, the way chapters often ended with statements like "but the next day would be even worse", which just kind of got on my nerves).
I gave this one 2 out of 5 stars - having taken a half star off because of it not being Christmassy.
In short, this is a sweet story, but if you're after a Christmas cosy I'd skip it.
*content warning* infant loss and terminal illness
Ok, so first things first - this isn't a Christmas story. It is told over the period of a year, starting at Christmas one year and finishing the next, but really it isn't even Christmas adjacent.
The story itself featured a bunch of tropes I generally enjoy, including one of my faves - unlikely friends brought together by a common interest (in this case book club) - but there were some things about the writing that I didn't like (for instance, the way chapters often ended with statements like "but the next day would be even worse", which just kind of got on my nerves).
I gave this one 2 out of 5 stars - having taken a half star off because of it not being Christmassy.
In short, this is a sweet story, but if you're after a Christmas cosy I'd skip it.
*content warning* infant loss and terminal illness
September 9, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, publisher, and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Jenny is betrayed by her twin sister who stole the man she was to be married to, Jenny decides to make a change in her life and move to a small village in the English countryside. Will she be able to stay in her grandmother's cottage, make friends and love again all by Christmas? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good romantic comedy. If you enjoy romantic comedies, be sure to check this book out when it officially comes out to bookstores and wherever ebooks are sold on September 17, 2019.
When Jenny is betrayed by her twin sister who stole the man she was to be married to, Jenny decides to make a change in her life and move to a small village in the English countryside. Will she be able to stay in her grandmother's cottage, make friends and love again all by Christmas? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good romantic comedy. If you enjoy romantic comedies, be sure to check this book out when it officially comes out to bookstores and wherever ebooks are sold on September 17, 2019.
December 23, 2020
Jenny has had a tough life so far and decides her best option is to escape to a cottage she inherited, in a secluded town she knows nothing about. She arrives there at Christmas time with no family, no friends, no job, and no money. To top it all off, the cottage turns out to be in quite a dilapidated condition. Over the span of a year, one experiences Jenny's journey of self-fulfillment, trust, and friendship. While I didn't always agree with Jenny's decisions, I did find myself rooting for her the whole way.
I really enjoyed this story by a a new-to-me author and will likely read more of her books.
I really enjoyed this story by a a new-to-me author and will likely read more of her books.
January 25, 2020
Any day is the perfect day to read this heartwarming story.
The characters are fun and full of life, people you'd love to have as your neighbors.
This charmer is a winner from first page to ending .
Pub Date 17 Sep 2019
I was given a complimentary copy. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The characters are fun and full of life, people you'd love to have as your neighbors.
This charmer is a winner from first page to ending .
Pub Date 17 Sep 2019
I was given a complimentary copy. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
November 27, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ it was OK. I feel like it had more potential. I was left a little disappointed in the end.
September 22, 2019
I absolutely adore this book! his is a beautiful, feel-good, heart-warming and absolutely charming story, with a fabulous cast of character’s each with their own story to tell, I love the journey Jenny goes on it really captures your attention from page one. I love Ms Moran’s way with words, I’ve not read any of her work before – that will be rectified, the writing is strong and clear it flows so seamlessly.
The story open’s with a briefest look into what happened at the office Christmas party, where Jenny’s life was turned completely upside down, her life is in turmoil after the events of the party and her heart is broken and closed off to the world. Some may say her life was destroyed and in a way it was but the life she soon finds for herself in her little cottage is far better then the one she thought she wanted.
After the unforgettable events of the party, which turned everything topsy-turvy, Jenny has nothing, little money and no where to live, she moves into her late Grandmother’s cottage in the middle of Sherwood Forest which has been practically derelict for years. The cottage she soon finds is in a right old mess as her grandmother was a wee bit of a hoarder – junk shop would be the more accurate description, as she tries to clean the cottage she meets the mysterious, ruggedly attractive and very nice smelling Mack who lives next door – let us say that they don’t exactly get off on the right foot, a fair amount of growling and grumbling on both sides follows but he is a thoroughly decent chap and quite a handy one to have around.
She finds herself running out of money, she gets a job in the local café – unfortunately that is only paid in soup and sandwiches, that leads to not only a nannying job for one of the customers but finding herself in the middle of a book club with a bunch of squabbling women – honestly the five children she looks after are nothing compared to the book club members. But this is no ordinary book club they have decided to instead read a book but have decided to do undertake induvial challenges for Christmas.
Jenny is fabulous character, she has seen and been through a fair amount, the heart-break at the Christmas party was just a part of what she has been through in her life, everything from breakdowns, being cast aside by her family in favour of her much more pleasing sister and then finding herself homeless no wonder she is so guarded now and so determined to prove not just to others but to herself that she can survive on her own. I really like her, i like her determination, her resilience, jenny is one of those characters who think they are worthless and inept but in actually fact she is so much stronger then she gives herself credit for and I really love how through the story the real jenny comes out and we see her go from the insecure young woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders to the strong woman she becomes who is surrounded by people who genuinely care for her.
I really loved this book, I loved how it is pretty deceiving you come into this book thinking it’s going to be a sterotypical sweet little Christmas story, but oh how wrong you would be. It had me fooled too; Firstly, I wouldn’t class this as a Christmas book at all, the ‘Christmas everyday’ is more about the theme of the story and the plot. Secondly; as sweet and charming as this is there is a fantastic sub plot which really grabs your attention – in fact the whole book does – but there are some really unexpected moment’s where I sat there and went, “Well, I didn’t see that coming”
Overall a really gorgeous story.
The story open’s with a briefest look into what happened at the office Christmas party, where Jenny’s life was turned completely upside down, her life is in turmoil after the events of the party and her heart is broken and closed off to the world. Some may say her life was destroyed and in a way it was but the life she soon finds for herself in her little cottage is far better then the one she thought she wanted.
After the unforgettable events of the party, which turned everything topsy-turvy, Jenny has nothing, little money and no where to live, she moves into her late Grandmother’s cottage in the middle of Sherwood Forest which has been practically derelict for years. The cottage she soon finds is in a right old mess as her grandmother was a wee bit of a hoarder – junk shop would be the more accurate description, as she tries to clean the cottage she meets the mysterious, ruggedly attractive and very nice smelling Mack who lives next door – let us say that they don’t exactly get off on the right foot, a fair amount of growling and grumbling on both sides follows but he is a thoroughly decent chap and quite a handy one to have around.
She finds herself running out of money, she gets a job in the local café – unfortunately that is only paid in soup and sandwiches, that leads to not only a nannying job for one of the customers but finding herself in the middle of a book club with a bunch of squabbling women – honestly the five children she looks after are nothing compared to the book club members. But this is no ordinary book club they have decided to instead read a book but have decided to do undertake induvial challenges for Christmas.
Jenny is fabulous character, she has seen and been through a fair amount, the heart-break at the Christmas party was just a part of what she has been through in her life, everything from breakdowns, being cast aside by her family in favour of her much more pleasing sister and then finding herself homeless no wonder she is so guarded now and so determined to prove not just to others but to herself that she can survive on her own. I really like her, i like her determination, her resilience, jenny is one of those characters who think they are worthless and inept but in actually fact she is so much stronger then she gives herself credit for and I really love how through the story the real jenny comes out and we see her go from the insecure young woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders to the strong woman she becomes who is surrounded by people who genuinely care for her.
I really loved this book, I loved how it is pretty deceiving you come into this book thinking it’s going to be a sterotypical sweet little Christmas story, but oh how wrong you would be. It had me fooled too; Firstly, I wouldn’t class this as a Christmas book at all, the ‘Christmas everyday’ is more about the theme of the story and the plot. Secondly; as sweet and charming as this is there is a fantastic sub plot which really grabs your attention – in fact the whole book does – but there are some really unexpected moment’s where I sat there and went, “Well, I didn’t see that coming”
Overall a really gorgeous story.
January 18, 2022
First things first, don’t go into Christmas Every Day thinking it will be a light and happy Christmas romance. While this book spanned a year from Christmastime of one year to Christmas time of the next year, it isn’t Christmas-y at all. There is no holiday feeling whatsoever from this book. Also, this book is full of angst. It is an emotional journey full of self-discovery, emotional pain, and the start of healing. The romance is very minimal.
I really liked the small town and that the residents really embraced Jenny. I liked the book club and the eclectic group of people brought together to form a friendship through the book club.
I didn’t really care for the fact that the ending didn’t wrap up the small side stories throughout the book and that it didn’t provide any closure with primary plot points such as Jenny’s family stuff. Spoiler alert. It all ends with a kiss. I feel like I invested a lot in getting through this entire book and was cheated by the lack of ending. An epilogue was definitely needed here.
This book felt unnecessarily long in places, but I liked a lot of the story. The author was intentionally vague in places and made it intentionally confusing, so the flow was chaotic at times. There were also a lot of characters and it was a bit confusing at times between all the book club members.
The narration fluctuated between good and okay. I felt that the narrator had inconsistent voices and had inappropriate emotion and inflection at times. I think that if I read this book instead of listening, I will probably end up having a totally different experience.
This book was included with my audible membership, so I didn’t have to use a credit. I won’t listen to this book again. I might read it one day, but it isn’t a priority.
I really liked the small town and that the residents really embraced Jenny. I liked the book club and the eclectic group of people brought together to form a friendship through the book club.
I didn’t really care for the fact that the ending didn’t wrap up the small side stories throughout the book and that it didn’t provide any closure with primary plot points such as Jenny’s family stuff. Spoiler alert. It all ends with a kiss. I feel like I invested a lot in getting through this entire book and was cheated by the lack of ending. An epilogue was definitely needed here.
This book felt unnecessarily long in places, but I liked a lot of the story. The author was intentionally vague in places and made it intentionally confusing, so the flow was chaotic at times. There were also a lot of characters and it was a bit confusing at times between all the book club members.
The narration fluctuated between good and okay. I felt that the narrator had inconsistent voices and had inappropriate emotion and inflection at times. I think that if I read this book instead of listening, I will probably end up having a totally different experience.
This book was included with my audible membership, so I didn’t have to use a credit. I won’t listen to this book again. I might read it one day, but it isn’t a priority.
December 16, 2020
I really enjoyed this.
This book had everything. The characters were all very likeable. Even the side characters were all so fleshed out and I loved how unique they all were! There were a lot of side characters but I never got them mixed up. This had many different storylines and I found them all interesting. It was about the main character cleaning a cottage she inherited, her job, her friends, her family and her love life! It was funny and reminded me of a Sophie Kinsella book at times.
This reminded me of Gilmore girls in many way:
-the main character is a mix of Lorelei and Rory
-the love interest is a grump but always saves the day
-small town
-weird fun cast of characters
-family drama
The side character I love was Jamie I thought he was a really random fun character! I also loved when they went to the wedding.
The only strange thing was that this book didn't have any Christmas vibes since this book spans a full year!
This book had everything. The characters were all very likeable. Even the side characters were all so fleshed out and I loved how unique they all were! There were a lot of side characters but I never got them mixed up. This had many different storylines and I found them all interesting. It was about the main character cleaning a cottage she inherited, her job, her friends, her family and her love life! It was funny and reminded me of a Sophie Kinsella book at times.
This reminded me of Gilmore girls in many way:
-the main character is a mix of Lorelei and Rory
-the love interest is a grump but always saves the day
-small town
-weird fun cast of characters
-family drama
The side character I love was Jamie I thought he was a really random fun character! I also loved when they went to the wedding.
The only strange thing was that this book didn't have any Christmas vibes since this book spans a full year!
September 22, 2019
3.5 stars
Cute story, but nothing overly groundbreaking. I called the twists from a mile away and they weren't really that twisty in the first place. I loved the development of the friendships in this book and the book club's idea of choosing a goal to accomplish. Some parts of that are particularly meaningful and the mud run brought a tear to my eye (sounds strange, but you'll have to read it to see why). I didn't completely buy the attraction between Mack and Jenny, and they didn't even seem to be that good of friends with all of the secrets that were between them. Yet it was still heartwarming to see the attraction grow.
I have loved Moran's books in the past and will continue to read them.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Cute story, but nothing overly groundbreaking. I called the twists from a mile away and they weren't really that twisty in the first place. I loved the development of the friendships in this book and the book club's idea of choosing a goal to accomplish. Some parts of that are particularly meaningful and the mud run brought a tear to my eye (sounds strange, but you'll have to read it to see why). I didn't completely buy the attraction between Mack and Jenny, and they didn't even seem to be that good of friends with all of the secrets that were between them. Yet it was still heartwarming to see the attraction grow.
I have loved Moran's books in the past and will continue to read them.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 25, 2019
Started reading this on my Kindle by accident, thinking it was something else, and got suckered in straight away! A fun, thoughtful com-rom which prioritises friendship and life building over romance -- part of what I enjoyed about the romance parts was that it was so grounded in a friendship and that even when the heroine was confused about where it was all going, she valued the friendship deeply.
The main character has had such a rough deal, I was completely there for her building a life for herself, learning to be a good friend and to love herself. It's also funny and has a dark edge to it -- like Fleabag, with a happy ending! Plus an awesome book club that owns up to not wanting to hang out for the book reading party any more...
The main character has had such a rough deal, I was completely there for her building a life for herself, learning to be a good friend and to love herself. It's also funny and has a dark edge to it -- like Fleabag, with a happy ending! Plus an awesome book club that owns up to not wanting to hang out for the book reading party any more...
December 10, 2021
What a CUTE story! I loved so much about this: the heroine's growth, the FRIENDSHIPS and their importance highlighted, the quirky village, the grumpy-and-broody cinnamon roll neighbor, the way Jenny learns to stand on her own feet and become the heroine in her own life, the hilarious antics of the children in the story, the secondary romance that happens within a friend group (and the baking that goes with it). I saw the setup of one of the main plot "surprises" a long time coming but was still hooked and pleased when it was all revealed.
This is my first book by Beth Moran, and I'm looking forward to reading more!
I enjoyed the audiobook and narration, too.
This is my first book by Beth Moran, and I'm looking forward to reading more!
I enjoyed the audiobook and narration, too.
December 21, 2022
CW: Elderly woman in heroine's friend circle develops cancer, stillbirth mentioned in grandmother's diary, mental/emotional breakdown.
Single POV, heroine.
Some very funny moments early on had me laughing out loud but it's actually a serious book, focusing on the heroine's emotional healing/growth after a series of painful incidents. Don't be deceived by the cover; this is not a book with lots of seasonal, Christmassy vibes.
Single POV, heroine.
Some very funny moments early on had me laughing out loud but it's actually a serious book, focusing on the heroine's emotional healing/growth after a series of painful incidents. Don't be deceived by the cover; this is not a book with lots of seasonal, Christmassy vibes.
December 27, 2022
What the hell!?! Thank goodness I was scooping every single ‘Christmas rom com’ up off Amazon to read in December because this gem was among them. It made me laugh and cry and I loved it. I think this book was deeper than the majority of the books I scooped up this December…. And I will now be searching any other books by Beth Moran.
December 14, 2023
I wanted a fun, light Christmas-y book in December. This was not that. It's not even about Christmas or takes place during Christmas. (Unless you count a Christmas themed wedding in July??)
I wanted to DNF a few times while annoyed with the very obnoxious main character, but kept thinking it would get better.
If you want a story about a girl down on her luck trying to make friends in a new town while also trying not to fall for the "grumpy" neighbor who helps her fix up the shack she inherited..... Then run. You'll love it. Screams cheesy Hallmark with a little Bridget Jones vibe.
Just not what I was expecting for a book with a cover that gives Christmas romcom tropes.
I wanted to DNF a few times while annoyed with the very obnoxious main character, but kept thinking it would get better.
If you want a story about a girl down on her luck trying to make friends in a new town while also trying not to fall for the "grumpy" neighbor who helps her fix up the shack she inherited..... Then run. You'll love it. Screams cheesy Hallmark with a little Bridget Jones vibe.
Just not what I was expecting for a book with a cover that gives Christmas romcom tropes.
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