Published By: Pan
Pages: 416
Released On: 26/10/2023
It’s three days before Christmas and starting to snow when high-flier Libby and her new boyfriend reluctantly attend her university reunion on the way back from a wedding in Yorkshire.
Hosted by Archie Templeton – the heartbreaker of their group – at his grand family estate, the night is a great success until they go to leave: the road is now impassable and they’re given a bed for the night.
At first, being snowed in together is fun as the old friends wait in high spirits for the farmer to clear a path. But as hours pass with no news, everyone grows restless.
Then the power goes out . . .
Hunkered down together by candlelight, they reminisce about old times – and tensions soon start to rise. Secrets from the past begin to unravel and Libby is confronted with a truth she has long tried to deny.
*****
Thanks to Pan for the gifted proof of this title in return for an honest review and spot on the book tour.
Another Christmas bool? Don’t mind if I do!
I’ve only read a couple of Karen’s books before, but what I have read, I have thoroughly enjoyed.
I liked the use of different time periods. Whilst my time at University was very unlike Libby’s, there were certain elements that brought up a memory. I didn’t particularly enjoy my time at Uni as a whole, but bits of it were nice, and I think that’s what Karen has captured well, the positives, and the not-so-nice moments. It also provides the perfect backdrop for the present scenes.
I did find myself a little conflicted at times. The people of 2014 did not seem to be the same people of 2023, and I know that’s the whole point, to see the change, and that was fine on the whole, but it took me a little time for it to gel. Especially as, for me, nine years doesn’t seem like enough time to be warranting a huge reunion – but that could just be me. I thought I would struggle with the flicking back and forth, but it works. You get enough of the history to see how it has influenced the present, but enough of the present to see the evolution of the characters.
Like I say, it took me a little while to really get into it, but when you do, you’re swept up in this nostalgic rollercoaster of a story. It’s warming, and overall friendly. Yes, there’s the ups and downs of a long-term friendship started at a time when you’re still finding yourself; there’s conflicts and arguments, fallings out and makings up, secrets and lies and truths, loves and likes and dislikes and hatreds. It’s full on, multi-layered, and fun.
Some of the characters are easier to love than others, and whilst the main character of Libby was absolutely fine, I think I liked the secondary characters a bit more. They felt a bit more rounded and more interesting characters for me. Again, I’m not saying Libby wasn’t, but she felt more of an outsider, on the periphery of everything, which I suppose is what she’s meant to be within the story, but I felt the other characters shined brighter for me. The bad weather almost feels like an additional character, and it felt like a touch of genius on Karen’s part.
It isn’t an easy to read, not a happy-go-lucky story, all sunshine and flowers and whatnot. I like books like that, don’t get me wrong, but this shows a bit more reality. It’s very human in all its ugliness.
I love the reminiscing between the friends. Some ugly things come out but it feels very healing and therapeutic. And I’m quite nosy, so I loved delving into their pasts and their present lives, it was really interesting.
I don’t think this overtakes my favourite of Karen’s books – Midnight in the Snow – because that was so surprising that I absolutely loved it. But this is still up there with the books of hers I’ve read before. She has a very good talent of mixing romance with comedy and mystery and thrill, and it’s fabulously balanced. She manages to find the perfect point between realism and escapism.
It isn’t the biggest Christmassy Christmas book. Yes, it is set around Christmas and whatnot, and I see the connection, and it’s not a negative, but old Mrs Claus here likes her Christmas books to be Christmas on steroids, and this misses that slightly for me.
Overall, I would say this is as good as I was expecting from her. She’s definitely an author we can rely on for well-layered, strong, detailed, heartwarming, questioning, interesting, and entertaining stories, and I’m glad I got the chance to read an early copy of it. It is definitely one I’ll be recommending this festive season.
Books By Your Bedside 