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The Christmas Cupid
Zoey Beake is having a bad December. She’s just been dumped, she’s had an extremely dodgy haircut that even the biggest woolly hat can’t hide, and then a tragic accident – involving an elf outfit, stilts, and a red double-decker bus labelled ‘The Santa Express’ – leaves her dead.
But then Zoey is given a second chance at life. Sent back to the start of December, if she can match six couples by Christmas Eve her life will be saved. Which gives her the perfect opportunity to win her boyfriend back too…
Can Zoey find love in time for Christmas?
But then Zoey is given a second chance at life. Sent back to the start of December, if she can match six couples by Christmas Eve her life will be saved. Which gives her the perfect opportunity to win her boyfriend back too…
Can Zoey find love in time for Christmas?
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2022
215 people are currently reading
926 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Joyce
23 books141 followersI'm a writer of romantic comedies who lives in Manchester with my husband and our two daughters. I've been scribbling down bits of stories for as long as I can remember, graduating from a pen to a typewriter and then an electronic typewriter. And I felt like the bee's knees typing on THAT. I now write my books on a laptop (which has a proper delete button and everything).
You can keep up to date with my books by subscribing to my newsletter. The newsletters are packed with book news, exclusive content and giveaways. Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/310b4ee4365f/jenni...
You can keep in touch with me on Twitter and Instagram (both @writer_jenn) or by liking my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jenniferjoycewrites
You can keep up to date with my books by subscribing to my newsletter. The newsletters are packed with book news, exclusive content and giveaways. Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/310b4ee4365f/jenni...
You can keep in touch with me on Twitter and Instagram (both @writer_jenn) or by liking my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jenniferjoycewrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
November 30, 2022
Sort of a waste of a really cute premise. Whatever her name was gets plowed over by the Christmas bus and gets a chance for a re-do if she can match up half a dozen couples before her expiration date rolls around again. Unfortunately it’s halfway through the story before the matchmaking even begins and very little effort is spent by the lead even making said sparks fly. They are either the one who got away, a current crush or happy accidents that happen almost instantly and the details are left completely off page. I wanted to get to know the couples and was prepared for some slapstick sort of delivery while whatshername attempted to play Cupid. Instead we spent a whole lot of time pining over her real douchecanoe of a boyfriend she’s trying to keep from dumping her (while an obvious rebound guy is waiting in the wings) and hear all about how “quirky” she was with her mismatched wardrobe and unfortunate haircut. Bah humbug.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
October 16, 2022
3.5 rounded up.
A British woman gets a second chance at life and love in this holiday story that sees Zoey being hit by a bus on Christmas Eve and being tasked with matching six couples in order to get her life back. This story gave me lots of Drop Dead Diva vibes and I enjoyed it for the most part but I did really wish Zoey had figured out sooner that she deserved more than the toxic relationship she had with her boyfriend. Good on audio, this was a light-hearted holiday rom com with some fun moments (ie the escape room scenes). Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
A British woman gets a second chance at life and love in this holiday story that sees Zoey being hit by a bus on Christmas Eve and being tasked with matching six couples in order to get her life back. This story gave me lots of Drop Dead Diva vibes and I enjoyed it for the most part but I did really wish Zoey had figured out sooner that she deserved more than the toxic relationship she had with her boyfriend. Good on audio, this was a light-hearted holiday rom com with some fun moments (ie the escape room scenes). Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 14, 2022
I enjoyed this Christmas book from Joyce but was frustrated by the protagonist. There are so many obvious signs in this plot but she remains completely oblivious and blind-sighted by what she thinks she really wants.
I liked the fantastical element that the writer introduces in this plot, with the idea of Zoey reliving the whole of December after a freak accident kills her. However, this opportunity to live again come at the cost of match-making six new couples, creating festive happy every afters for would-be singletons. Easy, right? Not when you have a protagonist who cannot see what is right in front of her.
Before Zoey’s accident, she had recently split up with her boyfriend. Remembering how upset she was, Zoey uses this second chance as a way of being the Perfect Girlfriend. Except, it’s hard to be the Perfect Girlfriend when the boyfriend is completely useless. Sean is like a giant kid and I found myself growling at the pages when Zoey remains desperate to please him. Missing obvious clues that they aren’t suited together, Zoey instead wastes her energy (and precious calendar days) trying to keep the relationship going. It was so disappointing.
On the other hand, I was curious to see who Zoey would be able to match-make. She goes to great lengths to make dates and I liked the variety of couples that are created. It was quite entertaining to see how some of her match-making attempts were completely thwarted and I thought the way that Zoey was alerted of a new couple was a unique idea from Joyce.
There are plenty of Christmas feelings in this book – as you would expect! From Santa’s grotto to Christmas markets, Joyce has tipped everything festive into the pages of the story. I love it! It made me yearn for December and I enjoyed sharing the excitement and anticipation with Zoey, even if the looming Christmas day meant something different with her couple-task to complete. Furthermore, the hot chocolates described sounded divine – totally what I would look for at a market. Even the baked goods sound yummy, although it often felt like all the characters did was eat and drink sugar. It felt a bit overwhelming at times, to be honest.
Biscuits, chocolate and all things sweet aside, this was a nice story to read, even if Zoey did frustrate me with her tunnel vision. I found her to be quite a dense character and really disliked how much time she invested in her “relationship” with Sean. She deserved so much better and I wished it didn’t take as long as it did for Zoey to reach this realisation.
If you are after a Christmas read, this has it all in the story. I enjoyed the escapism the book provided, particularly with the chance of doing something again and spreading a bit of Christmas happiness. It was a sweet ending and Joyce has created a story with enough festive cheer to last me for several weeks.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the fantastical element that the writer introduces in this plot, with the idea of Zoey reliving the whole of December after a freak accident kills her. However, this opportunity to live again come at the cost of match-making six new couples, creating festive happy every afters for would-be singletons. Easy, right? Not when you have a protagonist who cannot see what is right in front of her.
Before Zoey’s accident, she had recently split up with her boyfriend. Remembering how upset she was, Zoey uses this second chance as a way of being the Perfect Girlfriend. Except, it’s hard to be the Perfect Girlfriend when the boyfriend is completely useless. Sean is like a giant kid and I found myself growling at the pages when Zoey remains desperate to please him. Missing obvious clues that they aren’t suited together, Zoey instead wastes her energy (and precious calendar days) trying to keep the relationship going. It was so disappointing.
On the other hand, I was curious to see who Zoey would be able to match-make. She goes to great lengths to make dates and I liked the variety of couples that are created. It was quite entertaining to see how some of her match-making attempts were completely thwarted and I thought the way that Zoey was alerted of a new couple was a unique idea from Joyce.
There are plenty of Christmas feelings in this book – as you would expect! From Santa’s grotto to Christmas markets, Joyce has tipped everything festive into the pages of the story. I love it! It made me yearn for December and I enjoyed sharing the excitement and anticipation with Zoey, even if the looming Christmas day meant something different with her couple-task to complete. Furthermore, the hot chocolates described sounded divine – totally what I would look for at a market. Even the baked goods sound yummy, although it often felt like all the characters did was eat and drink sugar. It felt a bit overwhelming at times, to be honest.
Biscuits, chocolate and all things sweet aside, this was a nice story to read, even if Zoey did frustrate me with her tunnel vision. I found her to be quite a dense character and really disliked how much time she invested in her “relationship” with Sean. She deserved so much better and I wished it didn’t take as long as it did for Zoey to reach this realisation.
If you are after a Christmas read, this has it all in the story. I enjoyed the escapism the book provided, particularly with the chance of doing something again and spreading a bit of Christmas happiness. It was a sweet ending and Joyce has created a story with enough festive cheer to last me for several weeks.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2023
A cute book about Christmas but sadly not a favourite. Zoey has an ultimatum to turn back time if she matched 6 couples before Christmas. She thinks she’s failed until she realises she’s the last couple of the six with someone who has been right under her nose the whole time. Just a feel good Christmas story which many will enjoy.
September 18, 2022
Once again Jennifer Joyce has written an amusing Christmas book, that so long as you suspend your belief in reality at one rather key point, it completely and utterly believable.
Zoey is given a second chance at December, and has been told she has to create 6 new couples in order to survive the accident that that kills her first time around. But that is easier said than done, especially as she is determined to save her relationship with Scott, which very early on was frustrating me.
I just wanted her to see the obvious, but she seems rather oblivious, and instead is trying to match make all sorts of people, and as a result there are a lot of festive group activities. Oh and she works in the Santa's grotto department of a toy store, so there is Christmas all around in this book.
And I loved it, so festive, and fun, and has a wonderful cast of characters to get to know. I really enjoyed getting to know Zoey's colleagues, as well as all the festive activities they get up to, from the quizzes, to the karaoke. And the Christmas market was lovely too.
And then there is the Bake Shop which does the most delicious sounding cupcakes, and plays are rather key part to the story, not that I'm saying what that is! But the sweet treats certainly had my stomach rumbling.
A really enjoyable and entertaining Christmas story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Just hope I don't have to wait as long as I did for this book, for the authors next book.
Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Zoey is given a second chance at December, and has been told she has to create 6 new couples in order to survive the accident that that kills her first time around. But that is easier said than done, especially as she is determined to save her relationship with Scott, which very early on was frustrating me.
I just wanted her to see the obvious, but she seems rather oblivious, and instead is trying to match make all sorts of people, and as a result there are a lot of festive group activities. Oh and she works in the Santa's grotto department of a toy store, so there is Christmas all around in this book.
And I loved it, so festive, and fun, and has a wonderful cast of characters to get to know. I really enjoyed getting to know Zoey's colleagues, as well as all the festive activities they get up to, from the quizzes, to the karaoke. And the Christmas market was lovely too.
And then there is the Bake Shop which does the most delicious sounding cupcakes, and plays are rather key part to the story, not that I'm saying what that is! But the sweet treats certainly had my stomach rumbling.
A really enjoyable and entertaining Christmas story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Just hope I don't have to wait as long as I did for this book, for the authors next book.
Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
September 7, 2023
This pains me to write this but this book was nothing that I expected. The main character drove me nuts. Between her "perfect boyfriend" and the focus on winning him back, I wanted to reach out, hug her and say, girl, move on. It was super frustrating.
the plot however was unique and I liked it. Zoey is hit by a bus but is given an opportunity to live again if she pairs up 6 couples. These parts of the novel were where the author succeeds the most. I just wanted to have less of Zoey's groveling and "perfect for Scott". I also have 0 interest in Scott who was obnoxiously deeming to Zooey incl. fat shaming and making her feel like she had to change who she was in order to BE the onefor him.
I like the growth by the end but it took awhile to get there for me :( again, this might just be a me thing. Perhaps wrong timing for me to read the novel but it just needed a little more then what I got.
Thank you to the publisher for the arc in return for an honest review. I so appreciate the opportunity
the plot however was unique and I liked it. Zoey is hit by a bus but is given an opportunity to live again if she pairs up 6 couples. These parts of the novel were where the author succeeds the most. I just wanted to have less of Zoey's groveling and "perfect for Scott". I also have 0 interest in Scott who was obnoxiously deeming to Zooey incl. fat shaming and making her feel like she had to change who she was in order to BE the onefor him.
I like the growth by the end but it took awhile to get there for me :( again, this might just be a me thing. Perhaps wrong timing for me to read the novel but it just needed a little more then what I got.
Thank you to the publisher for the arc in return for an honest review. I so appreciate the opportunity
October 14, 2022
I love a good Christmas book - and this one fits the bill!
Zoey has a fabulous job - she works in a toy shop! At Christmas time, she dresses up each day as an elf and keeps the queue for Santa's grotto happy and moving. However, on a personal note, December has been a disaster - dumped by her boyfriend, sporting a wonky and far too short fringe and handed the job of walking on stilts in the shop's parade, she comes a cropper. All is not lost though, when she is given the chance to re-live the month over again - surely this time round she can at least save her relationship? All she has to do is true-love match six couples - how hard can it be?
I've read Jennifer Joyce's books for several years and I know from social media just how much she loves Christmas; her little elf's antics have entertained me each December so she is the perfect author to read for the festive season. This is a tale packed with a fine cast of well-crafted characters and all the little extra details which make the reader smile - Zoey's outfits provided many a giggle and there is so much more. Delightfully funny and very enjoyable, this is a novel I'm very happy to recommend and give all five sparkly stars!
Zoey has a fabulous job - she works in a toy shop! At Christmas time, she dresses up each day as an elf and keeps the queue for Santa's grotto happy and moving. However, on a personal note, December has been a disaster - dumped by her boyfriend, sporting a wonky and far too short fringe and handed the job of walking on stilts in the shop's parade, she comes a cropper. All is not lost though, when she is given the chance to re-live the month over again - surely this time round she can at least save her relationship? All she has to do is true-love match six couples - how hard can it be?
I've read Jennifer Joyce's books for several years and I know from social media just how much she loves Christmas; her little elf's antics have entertained me each December so she is the perfect author to read for the festive season. This is a tale packed with a fine cast of well-crafted characters and all the little extra details which make the reader smile - Zoey's outfits provided many a giggle and there is so much more. Delightfully funny and very enjoyable, this is a novel I'm very happy to recommend and give all five sparkly stars!
December 12, 2022
I’m sick of people writing silly women who are oblivious to arsehole men. Such a shame because the premise of this was so awesome.
September 11, 2022
I know there has to be character growth, because that is the whole point of a novel, after all, but I was so annoyed at how long it took for the main character in this romance to figure out what was going on with her "perfect boyfriend" that I wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her hard.
Otherwise, this was a pleasant enough romance, though I had no idea that calling someone a banana was the same as saying they were silly. Perhaps it is regional to the UK, or it is the author's own device. But each time one was called a banana, I took me out of the story a bit.
Other than that, it was a pleasant enough romance, as the main character had to find six couples to get together before Christmas or she would die.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Otherwise, this was a pleasant enough romance, though I had no idea that calling someone a banana was the same as saying they were silly. Perhaps it is regional to the UK, or it is the author's own device. But each time one was called a banana, I took me out of the story a bit.
Other than that, it was a pleasant enough romance, as the main character had to find six couples to get together before Christmas or she would die.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
December 20, 2022
great premise but omg aren't we well past the time writing women who are completely oblivious to their shitty boyfriends? this read like a 2008 romance novel
September 11, 2022
Publisher description: ‘Laugh-out-loud funny… Everything you want in a Christmas book and more!’ Jaimie Admans Zoey Beake is having a bad December. She’s just been dumped, she’s had an extremely dodgy haircut that even the biggest woolly hat can’t hide, and then a tragic accident – involving an elf outfit, stilts, and a red double-decker bus labelled ‘The Santa Express’ – leaves her dead.
But then Zoey is given a second chance at life. Sent back to the start of December, if she can match six couples by Christmas Eve her life will be saved. Which gives her the perfect opportunity to win her boyfriend back too…
Can Zoey find love in time for Christmas?
I love a good Christmas Romance in books and movies (thank you Hallmark) especially one that is funny and involves second chances. Unfortunately this one left me feeling disappointed. When Zoey gets a second chance to pair up six couples and live after a run in with a double decker bus she is determined to fix her failed relationship with Scott.
What I liked:
Christmas theme and all the enjoyment and romance of Christmas we see in novels and movies.
Zoey setting up people for romance. She really needed to focus on other people to bring them together.
Zoey and another male character and there friendship growth.
Zoey taking advantage of this do over to spend time with friends and family.
All of the characters were average people living average lives. No unsuspecting millionaire or famous person.
What I didn’t like:
Zoey spending so much time trying to be the perfect girlfriend to keep her boyfriend. He had dumped her before Christmas and was seen with a new girl a few days later.
Fat shaming by boyfriend. Eat the cake Zoey with no guilt. Life’s short
There was so much time spent with Zoey being a doormat to her boyfriend and holding in her feelings and wants and needs. I wish that hadn’t taken so long to resolve.
I will most likely try another book by the author as I like the premise and the characters, when not being a doormat, as this was the first book I read by this author.
I was given an ARC through Net Galley to give an honest review of the book
But then Zoey is given a second chance at life. Sent back to the start of December, if she can match six couples by Christmas Eve her life will be saved. Which gives her the perfect opportunity to win her boyfriend back too…
Can Zoey find love in time for Christmas?
I love a good Christmas Romance in books and movies (thank you Hallmark) especially one that is funny and involves second chances. Unfortunately this one left me feeling disappointed. When Zoey gets a second chance to pair up six couples and live after a run in with a double decker bus she is determined to fix her failed relationship with Scott.
What I liked:
Christmas theme and all the enjoyment and romance of Christmas we see in novels and movies.
Zoey setting up people for romance. She really needed to focus on other people to bring them together.
Zoey and another male character and there friendship growth.
Zoey taking advantage of this do over to spend time with friends and family.
All of the characters were average people living average lives. No unsuspecting millionaire or famous person.
What I didn’t like:
Zoey spending so much time trying to be the perfect girlfriend to keep her boyfriend. He had dumped her before Christmas and was seen with a new girl a few days later.
Fat shaming by boyfriend. Eat the cake Zoey with no guilt. Life’s short
There was so much time spent with Zoey being a doormat to her boyfriend and holding in her feelings and wants and needs. I wish that hadn’t taken so long to resolve.
I will most likely try another book by the author as I like the premise and the characters, when not being a doormat, as this was the first book I read by this author.
I was given an ARC through Net Galley to give an honest review of the book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2022
Quirky Zoey Beake finds herself in a peculiar situation and ends up travelling back in time with the job of setting up 6 new love matches. While this should be the priority, as it could give her a second chance at life, she consumes herself with the idea of saving her relationship with man child Scott.
This story was good, but i endured a mixture of emotions while reading that i can only explain in a bullet point pros and cons list.
PROS:
- The christmas vibes. Zoey’s job as an elf in a toy shop gave me all the “ELF” feels while reading. I think the way Jennifer Joyce described the main characters workplace gave me great imagery. I could literally picture the toy shop in my head! I enjoyed the other christmassy places like the market, and the christmas karaoke, and the famous hot chocolate stand!
- The christmas cupid match-making Zoey was doing. Although most of her attempts were duds, it was cute to see her finding a match for her best friend who was in a toxic relationship, as well as the couple on the bus. Small actions of kindness like giving up your seat can have great results!!
- Her relationships with the people she cares about and the lengths she would go to sacrifice their happiness for her own. ie, giving eloise good advice instead of steering her towards annie, while knowing it could result in a heart and save her life.
CONS:
- The entire Scott storyline. It was so painful to read how Zoey was trying to save such a toxic relationship. It was so clear as a reader he was cheating on her the entire time. He was a man child. He clearly only went on the dates to steer the bake shop girl away from milo and didn’t care to spend the extra time with his GIRLFRIEND. I wanted to shake zoey and tell her what i could see. I guess this storyline could be relatable to readers but to me, i was just frustrated at how poorly the sweet protagonist was being treated by 30 year old man who can’t use a dishwasher.
Anyways, this was a cute christmas novel and I did enjoy it aside from the scott storyline. I genuinely think i would have enjoyed this more if she was a single gal matching up people and then stumbling upon love with one of her coworkers in the end but im sure others would feel a connection with the part that i didn’t enjoy. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a hallmark christmas vibe!
This story was good, but i endured a mixture of emotions while reading that i can only explain in a bullet point pros and cons list.
PROS:
- The christmas vibes. Zoey’s job as an elf in a toy shop gave me all the “ELF” feels while reading. I think the way Jennifer Joyce described the main characters workplace gave me great imagery. I could literally picture the toy shop in my head! I enjoyed the other christmassy places like the market, and the christmas karaoke, and the famous hot chocolate stand!
- The christmas cupid match-making Zoey was doing. Although most of her attempts were duds, it was cute to see her finding a match for her best friend who was in a toxic relationship, as well as the couple on the bus. Small actions of kindness like giving up your seat can have great results!!
- Her relationships with the people she cares about and the lengths she would go to sacrifice their happiness for her own. ie, giving eloise good advice instead of steering her towards annie, while knowing it could result in a heart and save her life.
CONS:
- The entire Scott storyline. It was so painful to read how Zoey was trying to save such a toxic relationship. It was so clear as a reader he was cheating on her the entire time. He was a man child. He clearly only went on the dates to steer the bake shop girl away from milo and didn’t care to spend the extra time with his GIRLFRIEND. I wanted to shake zoey and tell her what i could see. I guess this storyline could be relatable to readers but to me, i was just frustrated at how poorly the sweet protagonist was being treated by 30 year old man who can’t use a dishwasher.
Anyways, this was a cute christmas novel and I did enjoy it aside from the scott storyline. I genuinely think i would have enjoyed this more if she was a single gal matching up people and then stumbling upon love with one of her coworkers in the end but im sure others would feel a connection with the part that i didn’t enjoy. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a hallmark christmas vibe!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
The Christmas Cupid is a story that intrigued me from the first time I saw the synopsis last year, but time got away from me. I was happy to finally get around to reading it this year. Zoey Beake is having a tough time lately. She was dumped by her live-in boyfriend, got a rather ugly haircut and finally was hit by a red double-decker bus labelled ‘The Santa Express’ on Christmas Eve. When she wakes up, or at least thought she woke up, she was greeted by her deceased grandmother. She tells Zoey she has a second chance at life. She is sent back to the beginning of December and is given a task. She must match six couple by Christmas Eve and her life will be saved. Zoey takes the challenge, but also decides that it will give her the opportunity to win back her boyfriend. Will she be able to find 6 love matches by Christmas?
This was a fun story that had a couple of drawbacks for me. I really liked Zoey. She has a great personality, she's fun loving, smart, helpful and a great friend, so why does she want to be with a man who treats her like a doormat. He is rude, spoiled, demanding and doesn't want to do anything but play video games. Zoey works at a toystore, so at Christmas they run a Christmas Grotto with toys, mechanical elves, trains, and eventually Santa. Her workmates are a lot of fun and I love how well they worked together. There is some festive fun, a parade, some trivia, an escape room, parties etc. that Zoey spends time making matches and kowtowing to her boyfriend. I don't want to say much else about the story, but there are several happy ever afters because of Zoey's interference. If it wasn't for her own relationship, I would have probably given this one 4.5 or 5 stars. There is just enough Christmas Magic to make this a fun Christmas read.
This was a fun story that had a couple of drawbacks for me. I really liked Zoey. She has a great personality, she's fun loving, smart, helpful and a great friend, so why does she want to be with a man who treats her like a doormat. He is rude, spoiled, demanding and doesn't want to do anything but play video games. Zoey works at a toystore, so at Christmas they run a Christmas Grotto with toys, mechanical elves, trains, and eventually Santa. Her workmates are a lot of fun and I love how well they worked together. There is some festive fun, a parade, some trivia, an escape room, parties etc. that Zoey spends time making matches and kowtowing to her boyfriend. I don't want to say much else about the story, but there are several happy ever afters because of Zoey's interference. If it wasn't for her own relationship, I would have probably given this one 4.5 or 5 stars. There is just enough Christmas Magic to make this a fun Christmas read.
October 19, 2022
If I had a chance to go back a month to redo some of my life I would never have requested this book. This is a book I’ll actively be telling my friends not to read. The month Christmas books come out on NetGalley is one of my favorite times of year - it means it’s almost Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movie season. This book was so bad it made me want summer again.
I thought this had potential based on the description on NetGalley, but from start to finish it was just awful. Zoey was unrelatable and unlikeable. I kept trying to think of the Grotto as the department store from Elf with Zooey Deschanel appropriately as the lead, and that was the only thing that got me to the end. The whole premise of her dying by falling off stilts into a bus’ path at a Christmas parade because she saw her ex boyfriend with another girl just made me not root for her the whole time. I just couldn’t get over how much time she spent trying to “fix” her relationship only to in the end very predictably end up with the sweet quiet boy she works with who ends up saving her life. It was just bad overall and it could have been done so much better.
I also hated that the grandma wasn’t her Virgil or her spirit guide throughout, it just seemed like the details there made no sense. I would have loved her to be able to interact with the grandma, or even just at the end speak to her and have her tie a pretty little bow.
Just all in all, this was a bad book with a terrible story and characters I didn’t want to see succeed. I got about 70% of the way through it in the first seating and then forgot that I didn’t finish it because I was that eager to get it over with.
I thought this had potential based on the description on NetGalley, but from start to finish it was just awful. Zoey was unrelatable and unlikeable. I kept trying to think of the Grotto as the department store from Elf with Zooey Deschanel appropriately as the lead, and that was the only thing that got me to the end. The whole premise of her dying by falling off stilts into a bus’ path at a Christmas parade because she saw her ex boyfriend with another girl just made me not root for her the whole time. I just couldn’t get over how much time she spent trying to “fix” her relationship only to in the end very predictably end up with the sweet quiet boy she works with who ends up saving her life. It was just bad overall and it could have been done so much better.
I also hated that the grandma wasn’t her Virgil or her spirit guide throughout, it just seemed like the details there made no sense. I would have loved her to be able to interact with the grandma, or even just at the end speak to her and have her tie a pretty little bow.
Just all in all, this was a bad book with a terrible story and characters I didn’t want to see succeed. I got about 70% of the way through it in the first seating and then forgot that I didn’t finish it because I was that eager to get it over with.
November 7, 2022
The Christmas Cupid by Jennifer Joyce
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Zoey Beake is having a bad December. She’s just been dumped, she’s had an extremely dodgy haircut that even the biggest woolly hat can’t hide, and then a tragic accident – involving an elf outfit, stilts, and a red double-decker bus labelled ‘The Santa Express’ – leaves her dead.
But then Zoey is given a second chance at life. Sent back to the start of December, if she can match six couples by Christmas Eve her life will be saved. Which gives her the perfect opportunity to win her boyfriend back too…
Can Zoey find love in time for Christmas?
My Opinion
Well this was an interesting Christmas book - an enjoyable light-hearted read. As the book progresses I found myself wishing that Zoey would pull herself together and just see that she deserved so much better than Scott - will she work it out before it is too late?
A festive rom-com, with some entertaining attempts to play cupid. My only previous book by Jennifer Joyce was a festive novella, so it was nice to read a full length novel. Throughout this book there were some lovely descriptions of festive cupcakes, you have been warned.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Zoey Beake is having a bad December. She’s just been dumped, she’s had an extremely dodgy haircut that even the biggest woolly hat can’t hide, and then a tragic accident – involving an elf outfit, stilts, and a red double-decker bus labelled ‘The Santa Express’ – leaves her dead.
But then Zoey is given a second chance at life. Sent back to the start of December, if she can match six couples by Christmas Eve her life will be saved. Which gives her the perfect opportunity to win her boyfriend back too…
Can Zoey find love in time for Christmas?
My Opinion
Well this was an interesting Christmas book - an enjoyable light-hearted read. As the book progresses I found myself wishing that Zoey would pull herself together and just see that she deserved so much better than Scott - will she work it out before it is too late?
A festive rom-com, with some entertaining attempts to play cupid. My only previous book by Jennifer Joyce was a festive novella, so it was nice to read a full length novel. Throughout this book there were some lovely descriptions of festive cupcakes, you have been warned.
Rating 4/5
October 9, 2022
Zoey is one of those quirky characters who sees the best in everyone, and ends up with others taking advantage of her. In the spirit of Christmas, she’s involved in an accident but given a second chance at life. The only proviso being that she must bring six new couples together.
We follow Zoey through her second-chance December as she does her best to set up these new relationships. From the outset it’s evident that the biggest leap will be her accepting the truth about her man-child boyfriend and taking a risk on the lovely Milo from work.
From start to finish, I wanted to shake her for being so dense. I was annoyed at her so-called friends who all seem to know what’s going on but say nothing. I was annoyed by her reluctance to see the reality of her relationship. I was annoyed by her stubbornness in not taking that leap earlier. To spend so much of a Christmas book annoyed is not a recipe for success.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this before publication, and now it’s time to get back to reading something a little less irritating.
We follow Zoey through her second-chance December as she does her best to set up these new relationships. From the outset it’s evident that the biggest leap will be her accepting the truth about her man-child boyfriend and taking a risk on the lovely Milo from work.
From start to finish, I wanted to shake her for being so dense. I was annoyed at her so-called friends who all seem to know what’s going on but say nothing. I was annoyed by her reluctance to see the reality of her relationship. I was annoyed by her stubbornness in not taking that leap earlier. To spend so much of a Christmas book annoyed is not a recipe for success.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this before publication, and now it’s time to get back to reading something a little less irritating.
December 10, 2022
I adore the premise of this book - it was unique and different!
Our MC, Zoey, gets hit by a bus on Christmas Eve and is brought back as a “Christmas cupid” she has to match 6 couples in order to change the future and not get hit.
I loved this premise, it was fun to watch her try to match her friends and even random people on the bus or during her work. I loved the bickering between Zoey and her friends.
I couldn’t stand her obsession with Scott and the “perfect girlfriend points.” I wish less time was devoted to that because it was an extremely toxic situation and it wasn’t necessary to spend so much time detailing their interactions. The growth Zoey goes through regarding her relationship with Scott by true end was superb, but it took too long to get there in my opinion.
I wanted more of MILO. I was screaming at zoey throughout the entire book - YOUR 6TH COUPLE IS YOU HOMIE.
It was a fun, sweet read I would definitely recommend.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Our MC, Zoey, gets hit by a bus on Christmas Eve and is brought back as a “Christmas cupid” she has to match 6 couples in order to change the future and not get hit.
I loved this premise, it was fun to watch her try to match her friends and even random people on the bus or during her work. I loved the bickering between Zoey and her friends.
I couldn’t stand her obsession with Scott and the “perfect girlfriend points.” I wish less time was devoted to that because it was an extremely toxic situation and it wasn’t necessary to spend so much time detailing their interactions. The growth Zoey goes through regarding her relationship with Scott by true end was superb, but it took too long to get there in my opinion.
I wanted more of MILO. I was screaming at zoey throughout the entire book - YOUR 6TH COUPLE IS YOU HOMIE.
It was a fun, sweet read I would definitely recommend.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 29, 2023
This book was incredibly engaging and I could not put it down. While the ending was predictable, it was exactly what I hoped for in a Christmas story - cozy, comedic, and relatable.
I loved the way Joyce set up the environment of Christmas in London and the scenes at the Christmas Market gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings that I can't get enough of this time of year. It made me crave a mug of hot chocolate next to the Christmas tree while reading it.
I also liked the dynamic between the friends and family members in the story. Joyce does a good job of expositing the way the relationships are the start of the story and describing how the stress of the holidays (and working retail) affects those relationships. I appreciated the relatability of trying to manage everyone's expectations during the holiday season while working a high stress job.
Overall, this book is an enjoyable way to decompress with some Christmas cheer.
I loved the way Joyce set up the environment of Christmas in London and the scenes at the Christmas Market gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings that I can't get enough of this time of year. It made me crave a mug of hot chocolate next to the Christmas tree while reading it.
I also liked the dynamic between the friends and family members in the story. Joyce does a good job of expositing the way the relationships are the start of the story and describing how the stress of the holidays (and working retail) affects those relationships. I appreciated the relatability of trying to manage everyone's expectations during the holiday season while working a high stress job.
Overall, this book is an enjoyable way to decompress with some Christmas cheer.
October 13, 2022
What I Say:
Jennifer Joyce certainly knows how to write a festive Rom-Com! The way she writes is full of quirky characters and sometimes sweet, sometimes hilarious but always lovely moments.
The Christmas Cupid sees Zoey being given a second chance to live the month of December but she has a mission. She has to make 6 love matches before Christmas Eve. Zoey is also focused on stopping The Terrible Row she and her boyfriend have right before Christmas. She thinks if she can become the Perfect Girlfriend, she can fix things at home and avoid a holiday break-up.
Zoey throws herself into match-making and waits for the magic to happen.
I adored (most of) the characters we meet here. Zoey, Milo, Franciska and Eloise especially. I loved being in and around the Manchester Christmas markets as I've been several times and can picture it and smell the gorgeous fragrances of the festive season! I really want a raspberry ripple hot chocolate now!
This book is a Christmas must-read! It's perfect! 10/10
Jennifer Joyce certainly knows how to write a festive Rom-Com! The way she writes is full of quirky characters and sometimes sweet, sometimes hilarious but always lovely moments.
The Christmas Cupid sees Zoey being given a second chance to live the month of December but she has a mission. She has to make 6 love matches before Christmas Eve. Zoey is also focused on stopping The Terrible Row she and her boyfriend have right before Christmas. She thinks if she can become the Perfect Girlfriend, she can fix things at home and avoid a holiday break-up.
Zoey throws herself into match-making and waits for the magic to happen.
I adored (most of) the characters we meet here. Zoey, Milo, Franciska and Eloise especially. I loved being in and around the Manchester Christmas markets as I've been several times and can picture it and smell the gorgeous fragrances of the festive season! I really want a raspberry ripple hot chocolate now!
This book is a Christmas must-read! It's perfect! 10/10
October 17, 2022
The Christmas Cupid
by Jennifer Joyce
Earc
Publish Date 14 October 2022
Zoey is given a second chance at life after been hitten by a Santa Christmas bus but she has a task to keep this life and get 6 couples together by Christmas eve. She restart the month of December can she change her awaited fate? After Zoey's accident, she remembers her boyfriend and her split up after her reincarnation and her incarnation what happens is she's trying to be the perfect girlfriend.
Will Zoey achieve this before she loses her life?
#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #romance #christmas #seasonal @HQStories
by Jennifer Joyce
Earc
Publish Date 14 October 2022
Zoey is given a second chance at life after been hitten by a Santa Christmas bus but she has a task to keep this life and get 6 couples together by Christmas eve. She restart the month of December can she change her awaited fate? After Zoey's accident, she remembers her boyfriend and her split up after her reincarnation and her incarnation what happens is she's trying to be the perfect girlfriend.
Will Zoey achieve this before she loses her life?
#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #romance #christmas #seasonal @HQStories
October 19, 2022
I really enjoyed The Christmas Cupid. It was so full of festive cheer and laugh out loud moments. I did spend most of the time wanting to shake some sense into Zoe though. How anybody could be that blind to what was happening in their life is beyond me. In spite of that she was a hugely likeable character. The ending was so romantic and satisfying. I'd the biggest grin on my face by the time I'd finished. This is a definite must read for the festive season.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader's Copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader's Copy.
October 10, 2022
Fairly decent Christmas themed romcom. Personally I could have done without all the outfit and “quirky” clothing descriptions. Zoey was pretty blind to her own horrible boyfriend, but I liked that she got some sense in the end. Overall a satisfying read.
December 18, 2023
Really good story about getting a second chance to do over the month of December.
The protagonist is a young woman who is a clerk at a toy store and due to circumstances beyond her control on Christmas Eve she travels back in time to December 1st to live the month of December over again.
The narrator does a great job also.
Worth taking the time to read it.
The protagonist is a young woman who is a clerk at a toy store and due to circumstances beyond her control on Christmas Eve she travels back in time to December 1st to live the month of December over again.
The narrator does a great job also.
Worth taking the time to read it.
January 14, 2025
*I listened to this book via the everand app
This book was strange. Our FMC is distraught at the beginning of the Book. She's just broken up with the love of her life. And then, she dies in a tragic accident on Christmas Eve.
Or does she? She's offered a chance to go back in time and live provided she can make 6 love matches by Christmas.
This book was strange. Our FMC is distraught at the beginning of the Book. She's just broken up with the love of her life. And then, she dies in a tragic accident on Christmas Eve.
Or does she? She's offered a chance to go back in time and live provided she can make 6 love matches by Christmas.
December 11, 2022
3.5 stars.
January 11, 2023
Enjoyable tale of Christmas and matchmaking.
November 16, 2023
3.5 🌟 - audiobook narrator has the best voice so A+ for that. The story was cute but a little predictable and sometimes that’s what you need
December 11, 2023
Cute. 3.5⭐️
December 21, 2024
2.5/5 I could have predicted everything about this book.
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