I confess I have never read a Jenny Colgan book before, so I am incredibly grateful to Alainna Hadjigeorgiou at Hodder for sending me a copy of Jenny’s latest release, Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop.
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is published by Hodder in paperback on 24th October and is available for purchase here.
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop
Carmen has always worked in her local department store. So, when the gorgeous old building closes its doors for good, she is more than a little lost.
When her sister, Sofia, mentions an opportunity in Edinburgh – a cute little bookshop, the spare room in her house – Carmen is reluctant, she was never very good at accepting help. But, short on options, she soon finds herself pulling into the snowy city just a month before Christmas.
What Sofia didn’t say is that the shop is on its last legs and that if Carmen can’t help turn things around before Christmas, the owner will be forced to sell. Privately, Sofia is sure it will take more than a miracle to save the store, but maybe this Christmas, Carmen might surprise them all…
My Review of Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop
Carmen is drifting through life, outstaying her welcome in sister Sofia’s home.
What a smashing read Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is. It plunges the reader right into the heart of Edinburgh and transports them to the Brazilian rain forest so that reading the story feels both entertaining and escapist.
Jenny Colgan’s sense of place is vivid and convincing. It really feels as if you’re there in the Edinburgh bookshop, because the descriptions are so real and with all the senses catered for, from the taste of vegan sausage rolls, to the aroma of Spoons’s room, through the freezing temperatures in Mr McCredie’s home within the bookshop, to the sound of bagpipes murdering Christmas songs and the sight of Carmen’s window displays. All these aspects are incorporated with humour and a sharp eye for observation so that they create a rich background to the story.
The characters also add to the humour, with the banter of direct speech, and the implication of what is not said every bit as important as what is spoken. Even the children Eric, Phoebe, Jack and Pippa enhance the lighter moments and I loved their inclusion which is a real testament to Jenny Colgan’s skill as normally I loathe reading about children, but here they are remarkably funny – often darkly so.
Carmen is the star of the story and what works so well is the fact that she is often selfish, quick tempered and snappy, making her relatable and realistic. The dynamics between Carmen and Oke add drama and Carmen’s relationship with Rudi is not only witty, but surprisingly affecting. We all need Rudi in our lives and I rather fell in love with him.
Aside from a charming, heart-warming and uplifting plot in Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop there are so many fantastic references to authors from the past as well as contemporary ones, that I not only thoroughly enjoyed this narrative, but have many others to discover too.
I thought the themes in the story were just lovely. Jenny Colgan shines a caring, yet scalpel sharp, light on family relationships, sibling rivalry, community and true friendship and on the way our high streets become taken over by uniform and poor quality material which prices out those trying to make an honest living. There is, of course, romance in the story, but it is not the main focus as Carmen learns what, and who, is really important in her life. Consequently, these aspects add up to a smashing read that embodies the true meaning of Christmas.
I thought Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop was the kind of book simply calling out for a roaring fire, a snowy afternoon and a mug of hot chocolate as the perfect accompaniment to while away a few hours in the company of people whose lives feel authentic and true. It’s great fun.
About Jenny Colgan
Jenny Colgan (born 1972 in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland) is a writer of romantic comedy fiction, sci-fi and has written for the Dr Who line of stories. She writes under her own name and using the pseudonyms Jane Beaton and J. T. Colgan.
For further information, visit Jenny’s website, follow her on Twitter/X @jennycolgan and find Jenny on Facebook and Instagram.
English (US) · 