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Countdown to Christmas
Chloe can't wait for Christmas . . . to be over! Her son Ruben is staying with his dad this year and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays all together. Her only nod to the season is the advent calendar Ruben left her, to help count down the days till he's home again.
But then an heir hunter gets in touch, telling her there's a plot of land in Canada she may be entitled to. Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? They're offering to pay for her flights . . . and Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'
Suddenly, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .
This Christmas is full of surprises!
But then an heir hunter gets in touch, telling her there's a plot of land in Canada she may be entitled to. Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? They're offering to pay for her flights . . . and Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'
Suddenly, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .
This Christmas is full of surprises!
368 pages, Paperback
Published October 12, 2023
About the author
Jo Thomas
50 books459 followershttps://www.facebook.com/pg/JoThomasA...
Hello, I’m Jo Thomas. I write romances about food, love, family and fun and believe every story should have a happy ending. Welcome to my world.
Hello, I’m Jo Thomas. I write romances about food, love, family and fun and believe every story should have a happy ending. Welcome to my world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
December 31, 2023
Utterly predictable and as sweet as all the maple syrup they produce and cook with, but perfect for this time of year.
October 16, 2023
This is my first Christmas read of the year, and oh my goodness, I just loved everything about it!
I am quite a softie and often have a tear at the end of a romance book but this is the first time I have full on cried in the first chapter!
Single mother Chloe’s 12 year old son Reuben is going to New York for a month to spend Christmas with his dad and his new family. Chloe is distraught but tries to hide it. That was my heart strings tugged to snapping point!
I just loved the setting of the little Canadian town Chloe travels to, to check out a potential inheritance of a piece of land from a distant relative. But it is such an important piece of land for the town how can she bring herself to sell; even though the money would mean so much for her and her son.
The descriptions of the snowy town, the diner run by heavily pregnant Bea, the handsome owner of the hardware story, the turkey who likes to follow Jo! There is a wonderful community spirit and all the residents give her a warm welcome, and the feeling of belonging she is searching for. But she only has a few weeks before she must go back home for Reuben and leave this all behind.
I adored Reuben’s advent calendar which he personally made for his mother with little positive messages in each pouch. Simple things like ‘sing like no one is listening’. Such a lovely idea and as the weeks went on, many of the towns folk wanted to know what Reuben’s message of the day was!
Jo’s description of the maple trees and how special they were to the community, as they would harvest the sap to make maple syrup. That is something I have learned from this book. The people in this village love their maple syrup so much they include it in everything - both sweet and savoury recipes! There are a few recipes in the back of the book to try. You’re going to need maple syrup of course.
I absolutely loved Jo’s last book, Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe and didn’t think she could top that but I think she has. She is now an auto read author for me.
I am quite a softie and often have a tear at the end of a romance book but this is the first time I have full on cried in the first chapter!
Single mother Chloe’s 12 year old son Reuben is going to New York for a month to spend Christmas with his dad and his new family. Chloe is distraught but tries to hide it. That was my heart strings tugged to snapping point!
I just loved the setting of the little Canadian town Chloe travels to, to check out a potential inheritance of a piece of land from a distant relative. But it is such an important piece of land for the town how can she bring herself to sell; even though the money would mean so much for her and her son.
The descriptions of the snowy town, the diner run by heavily pregnant Bea, the handsome owner of the hardware story, the turkey who likes to follow Jo! There is a wonderful community spirit and all the residents give her a warm welcome, and the feeling of belonging she is searching for. But she only has a few weeks before she must go back home for Reuben and leave this all behind.
I adored Reuben’s advent calendar which he personally made for his mother with little positive messages in each pouch. Simple things like ‘sing like no one is listening’. Such a lovely idea and as the weeks went on, many of the towns folk wanted to know what Reuben’s message of the day was!
Jo’s description of the maple trees and how special they were to the community, as they would harvest the sap to make maple syrup. That is something I have learned from this book. The people in this village love their maple syrup so much they include it in everything - both sweet and savoury recipes! There are a few recipes in the back of the book to try. You’re going to need maple syrup of course.
I absolutely loved Jo’s last book, Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe and didn’t think she could top that but I think she has. She is now an auto read author for me.
October 26, 2023
Jo Thomas is one of my go to feel good authors-I truly believe that her books should be available on prescription from your GP because her books always seem to make the world a better place for me. This last month has been really tough with a lot of stress and anxiety especially in work as we had the “visit” that all schools dread so my reading mojo disappeared and the one thing I have to do everyday to keep my mental health on track was put on the back burner. But as soon as I took Countdown to Christmas off the bookshelf, I could feel that tension start to evaporate and the more I read the more relaxed I felt. It was just like slipping into a warm bubble bath with an ice cold glass of Chablis and I didn’t want it to end!
If you’re looking for a Christmas book with romance, good food and a sense of belonging then Countdown to Christmas needs to be on your radar. Chloe and her son Reuben are beautifully drawn, realistic characters and their journey is an engaging experience. I’ve never been to Canada but have always wanted to go and Jo Thomas has made that dream a reality for me as I really felt I was there in the freezing cold wilderness with Chloe as she travels out of her comfort zone to discover the missing parts of her family tree. For me, the romantic connection between the characters is always secondary to how the women in Jo’s books find themselves and the places that they truly belong.
Countdown to Christmas is a stunning book and definitely one of my favourites. The combination of relationships and food is always a sure fire winner for me and I came away craving pancakes and bread and butter pudding plus a determination that one day I will set off on my dream holiday to Canada. But until that day comes, thank you Jo Thomas for transporting me to a place where friendship and family collide to create the perfect festive experience. A highly recommended Christmas treat-just add a warm cosy fire and maple syrup pancakes!
If you’re looking for a Christmas book with romance, good food and a sense of belonging then Countdown to Christmas needs to be on your radar. Chloe and her son Reuben are beautifully drawn, realistic characters and their journey is an engaging experience. I’ve never been to Canada but have always wanted to go and Jo Thomas has made that dream a reality for me as I really felt I was there in the freezing cold wilderness with Chloe as she travels out of her comfort zone to discover the missing parts of her family tree. For me, the romantic connection between the characters is always secondary to how the women in Jo’s books find themselves and the places that they truly belong.
Countdown to Christmas is a stunning book and definitely one of my favourites. The combination of relationships and food is always a sure fire winner for me and I came away craving pancakes and bread and butter pudding plus a determination that one day I will set off on my dream holiday to Canada. But until that day comes, thank you Jo Thomas for transporting me to a place where friendship and family collide to create the perfect festive experience. A highly recommended Christmas treat-just add a warm cosy fire and maple syrup pancakes!
December 7, 2023
A feel good holiday read featuring a single mom who's alone for the holidays when her son goes to stay with his dad and his new family for Christmas, leaving her a series of notes to read as she counts down the days to Christmas.
Chloe gets a surprise phone call saying she's inherited a property in a small town in Quebec, Canada and with nothing better to do she jumps on a plane to check it out and figure out how she's related to the former owner.
I loved that this was set in Canada (and Quebec no less!). There's tons of small town community spirit and LOTS of insights into the Maple Syrup industry as Chloe befriends the locals and helps them save their village from being broken up by the sale of the property she inherited.
Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like It happened on Christmas by Chantel Guertin or authors like Sarah Morgan and Beth Moran. This was a surprisingly delightful and festive read by a new to me author. Definitely recommend!
💋Steam level: kissing only
Chloe gets a surprise phone call saying she's inherited a property in a small town in Quebec, Canada and with nothing better to do she jumps on a plane to check it out and figure out how she's related to the former owner.
I loved that this was set in Canada (and Quebec no less!). There's tons of small town community spirit and LOTS of insights into the Maple Syrup industry as Chloe befriends the locals and helps them save their village from being broken up by the sale of the property she inherited.
Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like It happened on Christmas by Chantel Guertin or authors like Sarah Morgan and Beth Moran. This was a surprisingly delightful and festive read by a new to me author. Definitely recommend!
💋Steam level: kissing only
November 23, 2023
I seem to be in the minority here but this book really frustrated me. There was a lot of repetition, for example two pages side by side had two separate characters explaining what the advent calendar was to other people... A description which multiple other characters had also said throughout the book before then. I also in detail know how they make maple syrup now for the same repetitive reason. I really wanted to love this but it just grated on me unfortunately. Felt very cliche in places and I just struggled to connect with any of the characters. What I did like was her relationship with her son and their interactions as well as when she was exploring the town.
November 6, 2023
For me Jo Thomas is a bit inconsistent in terms of how much I like her books and this one was a 3.0 raised to 3.5 by the end, okay but not great.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Quite early in the story it is revealed that Bea is pregnant by the man whose land Chloe is going to inherit (because there was no will and she has been tracked down by heir hunters). Maybe the rules are different in Canada but as biological relatives Bea's offspring would inherit, even if there is no will, even if they were not married. This makes the entire story nonsensical.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Quite early in the story it is revealed that Bea is pregnant by the man whose land Chloe is going to inherit (because there was no will and she has been tracked down by heir hunters). Maybe the rules are different in Canada but as biological relatives Bea's offspring would inherit, even if there is no will, even if they were not married. This makes the entire story nonsensical.
October 23, 2023
The Blurb :
Chloe can't wait for Christmas . . . to be over! Her son Ruben is staying with his dad this year and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays all together. Her only nod to the season is the advent calendar Ruben left her, to help count down the days till he's home again.
But then an heir hunter gets in touch, telling her there's a plot of land in Canada she may be entitled to. Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? They're offering to pay for her flights . . . and Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'
Suddenly, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .
My Thoughts :
We meet Chloe, home alone at Christmas after her 12 year old son Ruben has flown to New York to be with his dad and new family.
Not knowing want to do with herself for the festive period, and all she has to look forward to is opening an advent calendar everyday that Ruben has made for her. Chloe receives a phone call from an Heir hunter, telling her she has inherited some land in Canada.
He offers to pay for Chloe’s flight and accommodation to go and visit and check it all out.
After Ruben’s latest note tells Chloe to just say yes!. She goes off on her adventure to Quebec, Canada.
Chloe finds herself staying in a log cabin in the town of Foret d’Esprit. Where she is cold and lonely but soon Chloe starts to listen to Ruben’s notes from the Advent Calendar and branches out of her comfort zone with the help of handsome store owner Theo, as Theo tells Chloe all about the production of Maple Syrup right there in the forest, soon she falls in love with the idyllic place and the rest of the community, she even loves Ike the friendly turkey who follows her around.
Chloe puts herself at the heart of the community with helping out pregnant Bea at the diner, making delicious maple syrup pancakes, organising the christmas activities, searching the snowy forest for Christmas trees, spotting the local moose and her young and generally falling in love with this magical place.
When another distant cousin gets put into the mix also claiming part of the land, Chloe soon has to fight for her new friends and their community.
Can Chloe help keep the sparkle and maple syrup chain alive in Foret d’Esprit or will they soon have to give up their beautiful maple forest!?.
Jo Thomas has a way of telling a story that pulls you in to every page and makes the characters come alive. Beautiful surroundings and scenery that has been the perfect escapism.
Right after finishing the book I went online and ordered some proper Canadian maple Syrup to have on my pancakes.
This by far has to be one of the best books I have read by Jo Thomas. Looking forward to more soon.
Chloe can't wait for Christmas . . . to be over! Her son Ruben is staying with his dad this year and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays all together. Her only nod to the season is the advent calendar Ruben left her, to help count down the days till he's home again.
But then an heir hunter gets in touch, telling her there's a plot of land in Canada she may be entitled to. Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? They're offering to pay for her flights . . . and Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'
Suddenly, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .
My Thoughts :
We meet Chloe, home alone at Christmas after her 12 year old son Ruben has flown to New York to be with his dad and new family.
Not knowing want to do with herself for the festive period, and all she has to look forward to is opening an advent calendar everyday that Ruben has made for her. Chloe receives a phone call from an Heir hunter, telling her she has inherited some land in Canada.
He offers to pay for Chloe’s flight and accommodation to go and visit and check it all out.
After Ruben’s latest note tells Chloe to just say yes!. She goes off on her adventure to Quebec, Canada.
Chloe finds herself staying in a log cabin in the town of Foret d’Esprit. Where she is cold and lonely but soon Chloe starts to listen to Ruben’s notes from the Advent Calendar and branches out of her comfort zone with the help of handsome store owner Theo, as Theo tells Chloe all about the production of Maple Syrup right there in the forest, soon she falls in love with the idyllic place and the rest of the community, she even loves Ike the friendly turkey who follows her around.
Chloe puts herself at the heart of the community with helping out pregnant Bea at the diner, making delicious maple syrup pancakes, organising the christmas activities, searching the snowy forest for Christmas trees, spotting the local moose and her young and generally falling in love with this magical place.
When another distant cousin gets put into the mix also claiming part of the land, Chloe soon has to fight for her new friends and their community.
Can Chloe help keep the sparkle and maple syrup chain alive in Foret d’Esprit or will they soon have to give up their beautiful maple forest!?.
Jo Thomas has a way of telling a story that pulls you in to every page and makes the characters come alive. Beautiful surroundings and scenery that has been the perfect escapism.
Right after finishing the book I went online and ordered some proper Canadian maple Syrup to have on my pancakes.
This by far has to be one of the best books I have read by Jo Thomas. Looking forward to more soon.
November 20, 2023
A very cosy read and I was on the edge of my seat during the race! I will definitely read more Jo Thomas. My only criticism is that I needed more romance.
December 14, 2023
Another lovely festive read. Highly recommended.
October 19, 2023
The writing was light yet immersive. Every time I put it down I looked forward to picking it back up again. It was also quite informative. I haven't read about Maple syrup making before so that was something new for me! There were lots of different elements to this story, plus plenty of emotions which together made for a great read.
The chapters were fairly long. It meant that you were able to get a good chunk of the story before moving on. I liked the way that some of the chapters were labelled, counting down to Christmas and the return of the main character's son. It kept you on track with what was happening and helped with the flow of the story. You always knew where you were without too much thinking involved!
The characters were lovely. I enjoyed reading about the main character and her adventures. It really gave me something to think about. I like that added element to a story, it makes it stay with you.
The supporting characters were also interesting and gave the story different layers and something for the reader to again think about. I loved the cooperative village life and how everyone worked together for the survival of the village as a whole.
There were some emotional parts to the story which added depth and kept my interest. I wanted to see how everything worked out in the end! I wasn't disappointed.
Lastly the settings. I loved being transported to a forest in Canada and learning about traditional village life in the Maple syrup industry. As I mentioned above, I haven't read about it before so it was nice to learn alongside the main character.
Overall a fantastic story and one that I highly recommend you read this Christmas!
The chapters were fairly long. It meant that you were able to get a good chunk of the story before moving on. I liked the way that some of the chapters were labelled, counting down to Christmas and the return of the main character's son. It kept you on track with what was happening and helped with the flow of the story. You always knew where you were without too much thinking involved!
The characters were lovely. I enjoyed reading about the main character and her adventures. It really gave me something to think about. I like that added element to a story, it makes it stay with you.
The supporting characters were also interesting and gave the story different layers and something for the reader to again think about. I loved the cooperative village life and how everyone worked together for the survival of the village as a whole.
There were some emotional parts to the story which added depth and kept my interest. I wanted to see how everything worked out in the end! I wasn't disappointed.
Lastly the settings. I loved being transported to a forest in Canada and learning about traditional village life in the Maple syrup industry. As I mentioned above, I haven't read about it before so it was nice to learn alongside the main character.
Overall a fantastic story and one that I highly recommend you read this Christmas!
September 16, 2023
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Ruben is going to stay with his dad in New York until new year and leaving his mom alone at home.
Chloe Rubén’s mom wants Christmas to be over as she can’t stand the thought of celebrating without him and the only thing keeping her going is her son’s advent calendar. Then Chloe receives a surprise call and is told she may have inherited some land in Canada. Is it a scam? She decides to take a chance following the message she receives in the advent calendar telling her to say yes.
She finds herself living in a log cabin in the middle of a forest that produces Maple Syrup. The villages community are worried for their future. Will Chloe help secure the villages future or will they lose everything they have worked had to keep going?
Ruben is going to stay with his dad in New York until new year and leaving his mom alone at home.
Chloe Rubén’s mom wants Christmas to be over as she can’t stand the thought of celebrating without him and the only thing keeping her going is her son’s advent calendar. Then Chloe receives a surprise call and is told she may have inherited some land in Canada. Is it a scam? She decides to take a chance following the message she receives in the advent calendar telling her to say yes.
She finds herself living in a log cabin in the middle of a forest that produces Maple Syrup. The villages community are worried for their future. Will Chloe help secure the villages future or will they lose everything they have worked had to keep going?
December 18, 2023
While I was reading this book, I made myself a series of short notes in the form of bullet points so I thought I’d use them as the basis of my own little countdown!
8 – Sleigh rides, snow covered forests, ice-skating and cosy cabins. You’ll find all of these in this book so it will tick all the boxes if you like your Christmas books with a hefty covering of snow!
7 – Community. The community of Foret des Espirits sounded just lovely. This is a small and close knit community who look out for each other and with the weather the way it can get in Quebec, that is absolutely essential!
6 – Belonging. I suppose this is also linked to community. With Chloe’s life changing and her son growing fast, she really wanted to find somewhere she could belong. And while she didn’t visit Quebec with that intention, she quickly realised it was somewhere she might just get that sense of belonging.
5 – Family. Family plays a big role in this book with many different kinds of family portrayed. Chloe and her son Ruben are a close knit unit and always have been but he does still have contact with his dad and now his dad has a new family. IT’s all about the different ways people can be family and although blood relations are important, found family is just as important.
4 – Ruben’s calendar. I loved Ruben’s calendar! He knew his mum would miss him while he was away and the calendar had little challenges for her to do each day, to remind her to have fun even though they were apart. They were simple things like asking someone how their day was going, having a foot bath, saying ‘yes’ to something or singing out loud. It was so thoughtful. The community were soon as keen as Chloe to see what each day would bring and so was I!
3 – Food! If you’ve read any Jo Thomas books before, you’ll know that food always plays a key role. My mouth was watering at the thought of those fluffy pancakes dripping with maple syrup. I have a sudden urge for poutine as well which I enjoyed so much when I was in Canada last year. I think there is a shop not far from me which sell it actually, must investigate. And then there’s load of Christmas baking too such as Christmas puddings, chocolate logs and gingerbread. I could almost smell the warm spices hanging in the frosty air.
2 – Recipes. And talking of food, don’t miss the recipes at the end of the book including Jo Thomas’s go-to recipe for pancakes. Maple syrup features in a few of the recipes and I might just have to give the bread and butter pudding a go too!
1 – Love. Of course, love in its many forms is at the heart of this book and Jo Thomas doesn’t disappoint with a gorgeous heart-warming romance in Countdown to Christmas as well as including love for family and friendships too.
So there you have it, my own countdown of the things I enjoyed in Countdown to Christmas. There are still a few days to go before the big day so if you are still looking for a book to enjoy as you countdown the days, you could give this one a try.
8 – Sleigh rides, snow covered forests, ice-skating and cosy cabins. You’ll find all of these in this book so it will tick all the boxes if you like your Christmas books with a hefty covering of snow!
7 – Community. The community of Foret des Espirits sounded just lovely. This is a small and close knit community who look out for each other and with the weather the way it can get in Quebec, that is absolutely essential!
6 – Belonging. I suppose this is also linked to community. With Chloe’s life changing and her son growing fast, she really wanted to find somewhere she could belong. And while she didn’t visit Quebec with that intention, she quickly realised it was somewhere she might just get that sense of belonging.
5 – Family. Family plays a big role in this book with many different kinds of family portrayed. Chloe and her son Ruben are a close knit unit and always have been but he does still have contact with his dad and now his dad has a new family. IT’s all about the different ways people can be family and although blood relations are important, found family is just as important.
4 – Ruben’s calendar. I loved Ruben’s calendar! He knew his mum would miss him while he was away and the calendar had little challenges for her to do each day, to remind her to have fun even though they were apart. They were simple things like asking someone how their day was going, having a foot bath, saying ‘yes’ to something or singing out loud. It was so thoughtful. The community were soon as keen as Chloe to see what each day would bring and so was I!
3 – Food! If you’ve read any Jo Thomas books before, you’ll know that food always plays a key role. My mouth was watering at the thought of those fluffy pancakes dripping with maple syrup. I have a sudden urge for poutine as well which I enjoyed so much when I was in Canada last year. I think there is a shop not far from me which sell it actually, must investigate. And then there’s load of Christmas baking too such as Christmas puddings, chocolate logs and gingerbread. I could almost smell the warm spices hanging in the frosty air.
2 – Recipes. And talking of food, don’t miss the recipes at the end of the book including Jo Thomas’s go-to recipe for pancakes. Maple syrup features in a few of the recipes and I might just have to give the bread and butter pudding a go too!
1 – Love. Of course, love in its many forms is at the heart of this book and Jo Thomas doesn’t disappoint with a gorgeous heart-warming romance in Countdown to Christmas as well as including love for family and friendships too.
So there you have it, my own countdown of the things I enjoyed in Countdown to Christmas. There are still a few days to go before the big day so if you are still looking for a book to enjoy as you countdown the days, you could give this one a try.
October 12, 2023
This book really touched me. It read so easily and found myself fully emersed in the story that I could almost taste the maple syrup and smell the coffee. I loved how brave Chloe was, she was facing a Christmas alone as her son was spending it with his dad in another country, and she took that brave step to do something different, it would have been so easy to stay home and wallow and ignore the phone calls from the heir hunter, or just to say yes and give permission to sell, but she took that step and went on her own adventure, so brave. I totally empathised with her and how she wanted to keep everything the same, give her son the same happy memories as she had as a child, and turn a blind eye to the fact that neither of them are happy and they are alone.
Going to Canada and finding out about her long lost family was eye opening, and I was so happy that she found family, both blood and other wise. I loved all her exploring and seeing the Canadian winter for the first time, I really felt like I was there. I loved how she stepped in and helped out in the cafe, even without really knowing anyone, just helping as it's the right thing to do, and how her British touches really helped others too. But over all I have to say that the advent calander that Ruben left for her was the best. I loved how it helped her and pulled the community together and how they all came to the cafe to see what was in the calander for that day and they all embraced what it said to do, they all gained from that, and it helped Chloe still feel close to her son.
Seeing everyone come together at the end was great and it really brought a tear to my eye. I loved it from start to finish.
Going to Canada and finding out about her long lost family was eye opening, and I was so happy that she found family, both blood and other wise. I loved all her exploring and seeing the Canadian winter for the first time, I really felt like I was there. I loved how she stepped in and helped out in the cafe, even without really knowing anyone, just helping as it's the right thing to do, and how her British touches really helped others too. But over all I have to say that the advent calander that Ruben left for her was the best. I loved how it helped her and pulled the community together and how they all came to the cafe to see what was in the calander for that day and they all embraced what it said to do, they all gained from that, and it helped Chloe still feel close to her son.
Seeing everyone come together at the end was great and it really brought a tear to my eye. I loved it from start to finish.
August 11, 2023
Countdown to Christmas by Jo Thomas is an excellent contemporary romance that has heart, hope, and holiday cheer.
This is such an adorable, sweet, and warm Christmas romance that I loved. It could easily be turned into a TV movie for the holidays.
The concept of Rueben’s Advent calendar incorporated into the narrative, while Chloe finds her heart, strength, purpose, a sense of belonging, and a home was just perfect. Taking a chance, helping others, and just saying ‘Yes’ were other concepts wrapped up within this book.
An excellent cast of characters (Chloe, Theo, Reuben, Bea, Ike, Hagrid, and the whole town honestly), beautiful landscapes, and maple…maple….maple surely make this a book that anyone will enjoy.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/12/23.
This is such an adorable, sweet, and warm Christmas romance that I loved. It could easily be turned into a TV movie for the holidays.
The concept of Rueben’s Advent calendar incorporated into the narrative, while Chloe finds her heart, strength, purpose, a sense of belonging, and a home was just perfect. Taking a chance, helping others, and just saying ‘Yes’ were other concepts wrapped up within this book.
An excellent cast of characters (Chloe, Theo, Reuben, Bea, Ike, Hagrid, and the whole town honestly), beautiful landscapes, and maple…maple….maple surely make this a book that anyone will enjoy.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/12/23.
September 17, 2023
Chloe's son Rueben is off to New York to stay with his dad for the Christmas holidays. He leaves her a homemade advent calendar counting down the days till he returns.
As far as Chloe is concerned, Christmas is cancelled.
An heir hunter phones Chloe telling her she owns some land in Canada. Can this be true? There is only one way to find out. So Chloe heads off to Canada on an adventure.
For me, this has to be Jo's best book yet.
Full of warmth and joy. I love the way Chloe is accepted into the community, and she, in turn, runs the diner, supports the girls' ice hockey team.
Ike the turkey is hilarious.
It is a very snowy and cold setting, not sure I'd want to live there.
A perfect Christmas read with some romance. Loved it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review.
As far as Chloe is concerned, Christmas is cancelled.
An heir hunter phones Chloe telling her she owns some land in Canada. Can this be true? There is only one way to find out. So Chloe heads off to Canada on an adventure.
For me, this has to be Jo's best book yet.
Full of warmth and joy. I love the way Chloe is accepted into the community, and she, in turn, runs the diner, supports the girls' ice hockey team.
Ike the turkey is hilarious.
It is a very snowy and cold setting, not sure I'd want to live there.
A perfect Christmas read with some romance. Loved it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
The book was very twee.
It was very repetitive with so much exposition. The main character mentioned or thought about missing Reuben dozens of times. The countless mentions of the calendar and maple syrup became boring.
Very two dimensional characters, all so nice and helpful, very dull.
The plan to divide the land was nonsense as was the race, especially when who were the legal heirs hadn’t been decided.
Canadian immigration rules must be very lax if a 40 year old British woman and her son can just move there indefinitely and work in a dinner.
The inner monologue of Chloe agonising (a lot) how her ex didn’t love her enough to stay came out of nowhere as they were previously described as friends with benefits. No depth to any emotion.
The analogy of cheese on toast melting to describe sexual excitement made me laugh, don’t think it was intentional.
Overall, not for me. Would have happily watched a 90 minute Christmas movie and loved to have seen the scenery, not ploughed through a novel.
It was very repetitive with so much exposition. The main character mentioned or thought about missing Reuben dozens of times. The countless mentions of the calendar and maple syrup became boring.
Very two dimensional characters, all so nice and helpful, very dull.
The plan to divide the land was nonsense as was the race, especially when who were the legal heirs hadn’t been decided.
Canadian immigration rules must be very lax if a 40 year old British woman and her son can just move there indefinitely and work in a dinner.
The inner monologue of Chloe agonising (a lot) how her ex didn’t love her enough to stay came out of nowhere as they were previously described as friends with benefits. No depth to any emotion.
The analogy of cheese on toast melting to describe sexual excitement made me laugh, don’t think it was intentional.
Overall, not for me. Would have happily watched a 90 minute Christmas movie and loved to have seen the scenery, not ploughed through a novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2023
I loved this book. It certainly gives you all the festive feels. It’s such a lovely story that I found myself totally engrossed in as soon as I started reading it. Great characters both human and feathered and a narrative so descriptive you can almost hear the crunch of the snow, smell the pine and taste the maple syrup. Definitely a book to enjoy cosied up with a hot chocolate. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK Transworld Publishers and the author for the chance to review.
December 22, 2023
4.5 stars
This author really has a knack at creating characters that you love and understand. I love that her families aren’t atypical but really modern and relatable. I loved the Canadian setting and it really made me want to go there. I loved this
This author really has a knack at creating characters that you love and understand. I love that her families aren’t atypical but really modern and relatable. I loved the Canadian setting and it really made me want to go there. I loved this
December 19, 2023
Such a lovely heartwarming Christmassy read from Jo.
December 27, 2023
Not my usual style but so wholesome 🫶🏻 3.5 ⭐️
February 6, 2024
A Review to follow
February 27, 2024
Such a cute cosy read which I devoured in a day.
September 19, 2023
Christmas books are one of my favourite things I look forward to about the season, this Jo Thomas story is a great example of why, full of warmth, love, joy, fantastic Christmas spirit, it’s just perfect Christmas comfort. It’s such a beautiful story that will melt your heart, warm it back up and fill it full of festive cheer, fabulous
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 28, 2023
This was a delightful read that I didn't want to put down.
I felt for chloe having to spend christmas without her son and think she showed a great sense of adventure in hopping on a plane to Canada.
The snowy little town where she ends up is delightful. I wanted to visit and soak up the atmosphere myself. I wanted to hang out in the diner and be served pancakes.
The story was once of romance, but in a gentle way that didn't take over the book. There were other storylines that were just as endearing. It kept my attention all the way through.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC to review. All views are my own.
I felt for chloe having to spend christmas without her son and think she showed a great sense of adventure in hopping on a plane to Canada.
The snowy little town where she ends up is delightful. I wanted to visit and soak up the atmosphere myself. I wanted to hang out in the diner and be served pancakes.
The story was once of romance, but in a gentle way that didn't take over the book. There were other storylines that were just as endearing. It kept my attention all the way through.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC to review. All views are my own.
December 6, 2023
Oh to live in a romantic Christmas story
December 26, 2023
Cringe and predictable af (I loved it)
August 20, 2023
This took me a little while to become engrossed however once I got settled into the story of Chloe, who is feeling lonely as her son Ruben is spending Christmas with his dad in New York and finds herself exploring a small Quebec town which relates to a very unexpected inheritance. I found myself loving the wonderful community she finds herself amongst and the setting sounded so peaceful and warm despite the snowy landscape. This oozes positivity especially with Rubén’s special advent calendar which the town adopts and the food Chloe was making sounded delectable - it certainly had me craving maple syrup! This is a delightful and uplifting winter read with wonderful characters and a gorgeous setting. 9/10
October 24, 2023
Every time I read the latest Jo Thomas book, I come out saying it’s my new favourite. Well, this time, Countdown to Christmas absolutely is my new favourite without a shadow of a doubt. There was not one thing about this book that I didn’t love.
If you are looking for a book to get you in to the Christmas spirit, this is the book you need. It is brimming with Christmas cheer, spilling over with it, it is oozing out of the sides like cream from the perfect cake. Want a book sprinkled with everything you love about Christmas? Jo Thomas has set aside the sprinkler and hosed this book with every single thing you could possibly want in a Christmas book. It is sweeter than the maple syrup that features on almost every page. What could be more perfect than Christmas spent in a remote forest community in the heart of snowy Canada with sleigh rides, ice skating, Christmas trees, festoon lights and hot chocolate at every turn? Absolutely nothing, of course, this is the ideal Christmas book.
Aside from all the Christmas cheer though, I loved the underlying story of this novel and the characters through which it plays out. Chloe is a single parent who faces spending Christmas without her beloved son who is the centre of her world and I am not sure I have ever related so hard to a character at this time in my life. The book is about what constitutes family and what makes a place feel like home, and about sometimes being brave enough to step out of your comfort zone and make a drastic change to improve your life. It’s about leaps of faith, believing in yourself and the idea that Mums are also people in their own right, with the same personal dreams and desires as anyone else. All of this is so relevant to me right now that I was really touched by the story and almost moved to tears in places and even inspired by Chloe’s story. There is much more that you can ask from a novel than that.
I know there are certain people who write off romance novels as superficial, easy to write fluff and others who will say Christmas romance novels are formulaic and twee. Those people could not be more wrong. These books have as much to say as any other novel if you come across ones by writers as skilled as Jo Thomas and they often deal with very real life issues. There is nothing wrong with a book that transports people to an idyllic location and provides people with some escapism and a bit of Christmas cheer, especially when they might be struggling in real life. There is a reason that this genre sells in its millions and this book is the perfect example, providing all of the above in spades. It was just what I needed to read at this difficult juncture in my life and I loved every minute of it. Thank you, Jo, for what you gave me in this book. I am sure others will get just as much pleasure from it.
If you are looking for a book to get you in to the Christmas spirit, this is the book you need. It is brimming with Christmas cheer, spilling over with it, it is oozing out of the sides like cream from the perfect cake. Want a book sprinkled with everything you love about Christmas? Jo Thomas has set aside the sprinkler and hosed this book with every single thing you could possibly want in a Christmas book. It is sweeter than the maple syrup that features on almost every page. What could be more perfect than Christmas spent in a remote forest community in the heart of snowy Canada with sleigh rides, ice skating, Christmas trees, festoon lights and hot chocolate at every turn? Absolutely nothing, of course, this is the ideal Christmas book.
Aside from all the Christmas cheer though, I loved the underlying story of this novel and the characters through which it plays out. Chloe is a single parent who faces spending Christmas without her beloved son who is the centre of her world and I am not sure I have ever related so hard to a character at this time in my life. The book is about what constitutes family and what makes a place feel like home, and about sometimes being brave enough to step out of your comfort zone and make a drastic change to improve your life. It’s about leaps of faith, believing in yourself and the idea that Mums are also people in their own right, with the same personal dreams and desires as anyone else. All of this is so relevant to me right now that I was really touched by the story and almost moved to tears in places and even inspired by Chloe’s story. There is much more that you can ask from a novel than that.
I know there are certain people who write off romance novels as superficial, easy to write fluff and others who will say Christmas romance novels are formulaic and twee. Those people could not be more wrong. These books have as much to say as any other novel if you come across ones by writers as skilled as Jo Thomas and they often deal with very real life issues. There is nothing wrong with a book that transports people to an idyllic location and provides people with some escapism and a bit of Christmas cheer, especially when they might be struggling in real life. There is a reason that this genre sells in its millions and this book is the perfect example, providing all of the above in spades. It was just what I needed to read at this difficult juncture in my life and I loved every minute of it. Thank you, Jo, for what you gave me in this book. I am sure others will get just as much pleasure from it.
December 27, 2023
As I sit here on Christmas Eve writing this review, the countdown to Christmas 2023 is well and truly coming to a close but that doesn’t mean you still can’t read Christmas books and you can’t go far wrong with the latest book from Jo Thomas - Countdown to Christmas. This had the honour of being my first Christmas read of the year and from the minute I saw that fabulously festive cover I knew I was in for a real treat. Jo now publishes two books a year, one in summer and one in winter and dare I say it but it’s the Christmas books that really capture my heart as she does Christmas stories so very well. Not that I don’t enjoy her summer stories but there is something magical in the way she writes about the most wonderful time of the year.
Jo encapsulates a moment to perfection and gets you in the mood for the festive season. I love how she has such varied settings for her stories and I always feel as if I have whisked away to another country when in reality I am sat curled up on my couch. This time around we are taken to Quebec in Canada, to a small isolated town named Foret des Espirits as we accompany Chloe on a fabulous journey full of warmth and human understanding with spectacular descriptions of the landscape, the food and of course there is plenty of humour along the way and I was there for every minute of it absolutely adoring this story from beginning to end.
It’s 24 days to Christmas and for Chloe it’s a strange time as her son Reuben is flying to New York to spend Christmas with his dad and his new baby sister. Chloe hates the thoughts of being away from her son and is anxious about trying to get through a month without him. Reuben has made an Advent calendar for Chloe with unique gifts for her to find as she opens one each day. This is such a lovely touch throughout the book and provides Chloe with the solace and comfort she needs at times when she wavers on the journey that she undertakes. It really does become the gift that just keeps giving.
No one likes being away from loved ones at a time that is meant for families and coming together to celebrate but something very unexpected as cropped up for Chloe. She receives news that she has inherited a parcel of land from a very distant cousin of her fathers. Her parents have passed away so she is the sole beneficiary as she is the only blood relative to a man named Harold. Everything she usually loved at this time of year has been taken away from her so she decides to bite the bullet and travel to Canada to investigate further and see can the land be put up for sale. She wants all this sorted by the time Reuben returns home. Little does she bargain on quite a story waiting for her in Canada and the people she meets there will transform her life in many different ways.
Right from the moment Chloe steps foot in the isolated snow covered town surrounded by woodland and specifically maple trees, I felt as if I was there alongside her. There was an air of magic about the place and I could visualise the trees, the snow, the log cabins and feel the cold and chilly air. A funny scene with a turkey named Ike sets the tone for plenty of humour to come but there is also a lot going on in the village who have been left devastated by the death of Harold as his land had the sugar shack where the maple syrup that is collected and then bottled. Chloe soon learns that the town works as a co-operative with everyone working together to harvest the maple syrup and in turn all the profits are shared around. But all this is under threat now that Harold is gone and all Chloe wants to do is get back to England as soon as possible.
I could see where Chloe was coming from. She was totally out of her comfort zone and all this had been sprung on her. I mean who wouldn’t want to sell and get out of there as soon as possible? Yet the town has a history and a heritage that can’t be forgotten and the people who live there rely on the syrup for their income and how can years and years of tradition just be gone like that? Chloe certainly had a tough decision to make and I felt there was only one clear cut solution but can the townspeople convince her otherwise and what happens when another unexpected arrival comes to the town who in turn has their own ideas about what should happen?
The reader can really feel the sense of community in the little town as they always rally around for one another but Chloe keeps things secret for awhile as to why she is there until she can suss things out. To be honest, this gave me a slightly uneasy feeling whilst reading simply because I was worried for Chloe that when she revealed why she was really there that Theo whom she first met at his hardware store and had quickly become friends with. Well that he would become very angry with her and turn against her and I didn’t want that to happen because deep down Chloe is a really good person but she does have to look out for herself and her son. But she had so much pressure on her because the town needed the land but yet by selling it her future would be secure. She certainly was in a conundrum and as she learns more about her family connections to the town she struggles even further.
I loved Theo as a character. He was very attractive and was there to help everyone in any way he could most notably Bea who runs the local dinner and is having difficulties keeping things going now that she is pregnant with twins. I loved how Chloe stepped in with the running of the diner and here once again the authors wonderful way of bringing food in her stories comes into play. My god were the descriptions of pancakes and taffy and all things maple syrup just mouth watering. I could see Chloe becoming more confident and assertive as she settled into a routine in the town but she did have to hold back ever so slightly as long term plans did not involve a piece of land in Canada. But as the days passed she threw herself into so many events and again the author’s imagination ran riot with a tree lighting ceremony, carols, Christmas Fair and sap run to name but a few and it all just added to the festive atmosphere and warmth that exuded from every page of this fantastic story. Chloe starts to do things she might not have wanted to which turn out to be quite fun. She is trying to do her best for the community, and she is making a difference but there is plenty sent in her direction to thwart plans and I feared that a happy ending would not be at all in sight or achievable.
A Countdown to Christmas had so much going on it but at no time did it feel overloaded. There were lots of twists and turns and surprises and to be honest I was gutted to reach the end. It has a romance that gently simmers, a stunning setting, brilliant characters, hidden secrets and vibrant terrific writing that will leave you wanting much more. It has definitely been one of my reading highlights of the last several months and it’s a story that I hope many readers will readily lose themselves in. I’ve already checked out what Jo has in store for us in 2024 and Love in Provence and Christmas in the Swiss Alps sound like we are in more wonderful writing from a very talented author.
Jo encapsulates a moment to perfection and gets you in the mood for the festive season. I love how she has such varied settings for her stories and I always feel as if I have whisked away to another country when in reality I am sat curled up on my couch. This time around we are taken to Quebec in Canada, to a small isolated town named Foret des Espirits as we accompany Chloe on a fabulous journey full of warmth and human understanding with spectacular descriptions of the landscape, the food and of course there is plenty of humour along the way and I was there for every minute of it absolutely adoring this story from beginning to end.
It’s 24 days to Christmas and for Chloe it’s a strange time as her son Reuben is flying to New York to spend Christmas with his dad and his new baby sister. Chloe hates the thoughts of being away from her son and is anxious about trying to get through a month without him. Reuben has made an Advent calendar for Chloe with unique gifts for her to find as she opens one each day. This is such a lovely touch throughout the book and provides Chloe with the solace and comfort she needs at times when she wavers on the journey that she undertakes. It really does become the gift that just keeps giving.
No one likes being away from loved ones at a time that is meant for families and coming together to celebrate but something very unexpected as cropped up for Chloe. She receives news that she has inherited a parcel of land from a very distant cousin of her fathers. Her parents have passed away so she is the sole beneficiary as she is the only blood relative to a man named Harold. Everything she usually loved at this time of year has been taken away from her so she decides to bite the bullet and travel to Canada to investigate further and see can the land be put up for sale. She wants all this sorted by the time Reuben returns home. Little does she bargain on quite a story waiting for her in Canada and the people she meets there will transform her life in many different ways.
Right from the moment Chloe steps foot in the isolated snow covered town surrounded by woodland and specifically maple trees, I felt as if I was there alongside her. There was an air of magic about the place and I could visualise the trees, the snow, the log cabins and feel the cold and chilly air. A funny scene with a turkey named Ike sets the tone for plenty of humour to come but there is also a lot going on in the village who have been left devastated by the death of Harold as his land had the sugar shack where the maple syrup that is collected and then bottled. Chloe soon learns that the town works as a co-operative with everyone working together to harvest the maple syrup and in turn all the profits are shared around. But all this is under threat now that Harold is gone and all Chloe wants to do is get back to England as soon as possible.
I could see where Chloe was coming from. She was totally out of her comfort zone and all this had been sprung on her. I mean who wouldn’t want to sell and get out of there as soon as possible? Yet the town has a history and a heritage that can’t be forgotten and the people who live there rely on the syrup for their income and how can years and years of tradition just be gone like that? Chloe certainly had a tough decision to make and I felt there was only one clear cut solution but can the townspeople convince her otherwise and what happens when another unexpected arrival comes to the town who in turn has their own ideas about what should happen?
The reader can really feel the sense of community in the little town as they always rally around for one another but Chloe keeps things secret for awhile as to why she is there until she can suss things out. To be honest, this gave me a slightly uneasy feeling whilst reading simply because I was worried for Chloe that when she revealed why she was really there that Theo whom she first met at his hardware store and had quickly become friends with. Well that he would become very angry with her and turn against her and I didn’t want that to happen because deep down Chloe is a really good person but she does have to look out for herself and her son. But she had so much pressure on her because the town needed the land but yet by selling it her future would be secure. She certainly was in a conundrum and as she learns more about her family connections to the town she struggles even further.
I loved Theo as a character. He was very attractive and was there to help everyone in any way he could most notably Bea who runs the local dinner and is having difficulties keeping things going now that she is pregnant with twins. I loved how Chloe stepped in with the running of the diner and here once again the authors wonderful way of bringing food in her stories comes into play. My god were the descriptions of pancakes and taffy and all things maple syrup just mouth watering. I could see Chloe becoming more confident and assertive as she settled into a routine in the town but she did have to hold back ever so slightly as long term plans did not involve a piece of land in Canada. But as the days passed she threw herself into so many events and again the author’s imagination ran riot with a tree lighting ceremony, carols, Christmas Fair and sap run to name but a few and it all just added to the festive atmosphere and warmth that exuded from every page of this fantastic story. Chloe starts to do things she might not have wanted to which turn out to be quite fun. She is trying to do her best for the community, and she is making a difference but there is plenty sent in her direction to thwart plans and I feared that a happy ending would not be at all in sight or achievable.
A Countdown to Christmas had so much going on it but at no time did it feel overloaded. There were lots of twists and turns and surprises and to be honest I was gutted to reach the end. It has a romance that gently simmers, a stunning setting, brilliant characters, hidden secrets and vibrant terrific writing that will leave you wanting much more. It has definitely been one of my reading highlights of the last several months and it’s a story that I hope many readers will readily lose themselves in. I’ve already checked out what Jo has in store for us in 2024 and Love in Provence and Christmas in the Swiss Alps sound like we are in more wonderful writing from a very talented author.
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