Much like the rest of Instagram, we’ve gone early with Christmas. From talk of putting the tree up in November (so what if it’s flaccid by December 2nd) to queuing Mariah Carey on the team Spotify every day at 4pm sharp, it seems like we all want to make the most of the run-up to the most wonderful time of the year. And who can blame us? 2020 was the ultimate Grinch, robbing us of all those precious moments, so why shouldn’t we go ham on the holidays this year!
Such was the power of our premature Christmas spirit that we were primed and ready to read festive fiction a month early. Anything by Mandy Baggot is the bonafide trademark of winter reads and One New York Christmas is no exception. Like balm for the soul, Baggot has penned just the remedy for our sad girl autumn mood.
The story follows broken-hearted Lara Weeks, who heads to NYC with best pal Susie for the trip of a lifetime. A festive break in the snowy Big Apple visiting the tourist hotspots, not to mention the shopping, seems like the perfect way for Lara to get over her ex-boyfriend Dan. Or maybe make him so jealous he begs for a second chance…
Enlisting the help of gorgeous actor, Seth Hunt, doesn’t quite go to plan, but there’s something about him that has Lara wishing for a different kind of happy ever after…
Keep on reading to get to the team’s book reviews!
Lareese says…
All aboard the hype train. Mandy Baggot’s One New York Christmas is a heart-warming festive romance with a healthy dash of realness. It’s not your quintessential Christmas read in the sense that it deals with some poignant subject matter from adoption to homelessness, but I think that’s exactly what propels the story forward and made for a poignant and hearty read. The characters are endlessly entertaining, relatable and likeable – I loved getting to know Lara and Seth and the supporting cast, and Mandy Baggot’s natural ear for dialogue made it feel a lot like you were tagging along for the journey.
If you’re looking for something to curl up with during the countdown till Christmas, treat yourself to a vicarious trip to the Big Apple via Mandy Baggot’s brilliant brain.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend it? Yes! Round off your 2021 reading list with this Christmas corker.
Danielle Says
My partner and I are heading to NY just after Christmas so I was extremely excited to get stuck into a cheesy festive read set in the city and this did not disappoint! Don’t get me wrong, this book covers so much more than just a romantic comedy storyline, it covers harder-hitting topics like homelessness, adoption, and the intricacies of relationships of all different kinds. My favourite part of the book was of course the wonderful descriptions of New York at Christmas, especially the Central Park Zoo where the two main characters meet. I know it’s cool to have nuanced, floored characters but I just fell in love with Seth and Lara, Seth is such a dish in my head if I wasn’t engaged I’d be looking for real-life him, and Lara for her feistiness and courage. Super cute book, chuck it in your basket and enjoy it in the lead up to Christmas day!
Rating: 4.5/5
Would you recommend it? For my fellow Christmas lovers
Darcey says…
Oh it sure feels like Christmas now! I’ve heard before about Mandy Baggot’s festive reads and how feel-good they all are, so I was pretty excited to start reading this one especially as it’s based in New York which is basically the most festive place ever this time of year. I really enjoyed getting to know Lara and Seth throughout this book and watching their romance slowly blossom, the narrative of Lara coming from a little village to being in the hustle and bustle of New York is a storyline I could read over and over again, it just always feels really relatable!
This book truly gives you those warm and fuzzy feels that you want at this time of year, it’s a festive rom-com read which looks at some more hard pressing topics like adoption, heartbreak and homelessness, but it’s the perfect balance throughout. Would definitely recommend for anyone after a festive read for December!
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend it? Yes for sure!
