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drama968's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Karen goes absolutely bonkers with another banger of a christmas novel
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity
kazza27's review against another edition
5.0
Libby went to university and worked really hard to gain her law degree, much harder than the group of people she lived with, who partied hard and became her close friends. However, something happened at the end of this period and she has avoided meeting up with them, for over 9 years. She cannot put it off any longer as Em one of the friends is about to have a baby and so Libby and her work colleague/boyfriend Max agree to call in at Archie’s large country house on the way home from a wedding.
Archie and Libby appear to have some unfinished business and things take an unexpected turn and the group become stranded on Archie’s estate but then the electricity is also lost and the group have to go into survival mode.
I was really surprised by this story from the cover and the introduction I thought I knew where the story would take me but I was very wrong, it is much darker than I had imagined, which kept me engrossed. The characters are really well developed and I wanted to find out for about their pasts. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to their university days and how this really builds the plot and the characters.
The setting of the large rural country house with the housekeeper and being cut of from the outside world really added to my enjoyment and the tension.
It has all the components of a really great Christmas read with an edge and some great twists, this was my first book by this author but I enjoyed it so much that I will be definitely reading more. If you like a Christmas romance with an edge this is for you. A really great read.
5 stars *****
Archie and Libby appear to have some unfinished business and things take an unexpected turn and the group become stranded on Archie’s estate but then the electricity is also lost and the group have to go into survival mode.
I was really surprised by this story from the cover and the introduction I thought I knew where the story would take me but I was very wrong, it is much darker than I had imagined, which kept me engrossed. The characters are really well developed and I wanted to find out for about their pasts. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to their university days and how this really builds the plot and the characters.
The setting of the large rural country house with the housekeeper and being cut of from the outside world really added to my enjoyment and the tension.
It has all the components of a really great Christmas read with an edge and some great twists, this was my first book by this author but I enjoyed it so much that I will be definitely reading more. If you like a Christmas romance with an edge this is for you. A really great read.
5 stars *****
thebookishmarie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Rape, and Stalking
jo_the_bookworm's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
smeets_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cosiedupwithabook's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
carleen_99's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
starrymess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent
bookswithemily's review against another edition
5.0
Christmas by Candlelight was such an entertaining read. The chapters alternate between the past and present day. In the past chapters, we read about Libby, the main character, and her housemates at university in 2014. She seems like a character who didn’t really fit in with her housemates although they were all good friends. In the present day (2023), Libby is attending a Christmas get together at her housemates mansion. She hasn’t seen them for a long time so there are some tensions between them. As Libby and her partner are wanting to leave, a massive snow storm occurs and leaves them all snowed in. This then leads to a power outage making them stuck for longer.
Initially, the book was focusing on a romance theme, although, when certain events happened, I could sense a slight thriller theme which was exciting. It got to about halfway through the book when secrets begin to be revealed and the truth was unravelled. It had me feeling all sort of emotions but the ending was amazing. I felt so sad to be leaving these characters at the end. I thought the characters were well developed and I could feel their personalities through the pages.
The book was written really well and I loved the setting. It was perfect for this friendship group, especially for Libby, to be stuck together to reminisce about the old times. The past and present chapters were integrated perfectly and the cliffhangers between the two were making me eager to read more. This is my first book that I’ve read from this author but I definitely want to read more. This is the perfect winter/Christmas read and I highly recommend this book. I absolutely adored it and Libby was a great main character.
Initially, the book was focusing on a romance theme, although, when certain events happened, I could sense a slight thriller theme which was exciting. It got to about halfway through the book when secrets begin to be revealed and the truth was unravelled. It had me feeling all sort of emotions but the ending was amazing. I felt so sad to be leaving these characters at the end. I thought the characters were well developed and I could feel their personalities through the pages.
The book was written really well and I loved the setting. It was perfect for this friendship group, especially for Libby, to be stuck together to reminisce about the old times. The past and present chapters were integrated perfectly and the cliffhangers between the two were making me eager to read more. This is my first book that I’ve read from this author but I definitely want to read more. This is the perfect winter/Christmas read and I highly recommend this book. I absolutely adored it and Libby was a great main character.
sarahannie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0