Book Review: Midnight At The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

December 13, 2024

Last year, on the way to Iowa for Christmas, Eli and I listened to the first book in this little series and thought it was sweet and charming. This year, we decided to listen to it on the way to our Thanksgiving because we were also celebrating Christmas with Eli’s family and it felt fitting. Just like the first one, this book was sweet, but unlike the first one, this one had a little more depth to it. Not that the first book wasn’t deep, but this seemed to have a little more. We had a little more conflict, but not so much that it caused anxiety. I am currently feeling like I do not need to add any more conflict to my life, so I am reading soft and fluffy books, and this fit the bill.

We follow the story of Carmen, who has been running a book shop in Edinburgh for the past year, and they needed a little extra income, so they allowed a Hollywood film crew to shoot a movie ( that is for sure a hallmark Christmas movie ) inside the shop over the summer. It is the perfect set, and ( like the books are ) is a bit of a love letter to the beauty of the city. This book jumps around in time during the calendar year because, when we left her story last year, she was in a happy and healthy relationship with her dreamboat of the boyfriend, Oke. Things fall apart shortly after the new year, and we get to follow both Carmen and Oke’s side of the falling out and the ( spoiler ) falling back together.

Overall, I recommend this book, and even more so listening to it because of the talented reader that was hired to do so. Get ready for sisterly conflict and love, adoration of sweet nieces and nephews, a sultry nanny, and a swoon worthy new apartment.