What a fun book! This is not your typical rom-com. Yes, there are meet-cutes, and yea there are the standard features of a best-friend, a misunderstanding between the main characters, exes who get in the way … BUT Clare Swatman gives it a fresh spin with a Sliding Doors-esq tale.

Main character Bea is fleeing London for New York. In one version, she goes and in the other she stays. The book alternates storylines with each chapter. As we moved through and the two lives were crossing over, I had a little bit of a hard time keeping track of which version I was in. However that was easily solved by me just writing it down!

Swatman is a great writer, and while the concept is not a new idea, she absolutely made it her own. I was never bored and stayed engaged throughout, especially with the supporting cast of characters. Really she could pick any of Bea’s friends and write a whole book about them!

I hate to say it but I didn’t love Bea. Without giving any spoilers I wished she was a stronger woman, more independent, and absolutely more aware of her actions. That being said, I admired her dedication to her family.

I adored Bea’s BFF Mia, and friends Michael and Henry. I’d lean on the strength of friendships and family as a major theme of this book; another being the importance of staying true to yourself.

My major takeaway is that perhaps dreams are what we make them, and not the other way around.

I’m not big into romance books and first gravitated toward this because I love Christmas. Unfortunately, other than the timelines each taking place in December, it’s not really a Christmas book. But I’m glad I read it and definitely want to read more from the author.

*I received a free, digital copy of Last Christmas as part of a readalong from Boldwood Books. All opinions are my own.