Escape For Christmas – Phillipa Ashley

Published By: Penguin
Pages: 400
Released On: 07/11/2024

Sophie used to adore everything about Christmas. Hot chocolate and velvet bows, fairy lights and mince pies.

Until the December her fiancé jilted her.

Since then, Sophie opened Sunnyside Hotel, a quaint guesthouse nestled deep in the Cumbrian countryside. And, though it might be winter at Sunnyside, it’s never Christmas. Marketing her hotel to those who wish to avoid the festivities, Sophie is busy preparing for a season full of joy and laughter, but without the tinsel and mistletoe.

Yet, as she finds herself growing closer to her gorgeous neighbour, Brody, her heart begins to melt.

Will this Christmas bring the touch of magic Sophie needs to give love another chance?

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review and spot on the book tour.

Oh how I love a Christmas book and how I love a Phillipa Ashley Christmas book. I read this on the weekend I got my Covid and flu jabs, and they really flared up my chronic pain and so I was feeling rather sorry for myself, and so Phillipa came to my rescue, as she has done on more than one occasion over the years.

On the topic of not judging a book by its cover (I totally do), this is a beautiful, cosy, wintery cover and I loved it.

I couldn’t really relate to Sophie at first because I am a Christmas nut all year round, but it was interesting to read a Christmas book where the main character, at least on the surface, dislikes the season. But as the book goes on and you learn her reasons and her beliefs that she became a more familiar character and I really enjoyed going on this journey with her.

There are many characters: Sophie and her paying guests, Brody and his family, neighbours, people in the community, strangers, farm animals – you name it, you’ll find them in this book. And there isn’t a single wasted one. They all have their own purposes for being there but also help move Sophie’s story along.

I was having a hard time reading before this, nothing was really holding my attention for long, and so at 400 pages I was worried that, as much as I love her books, I would struggle to focus for that long. But I read it in less than 24 hours, it is so captivating and is a really lovely festive story, so it zoomed by.

I didn’t expect it to be so emotional. I’m not going to say what happened for fear of spoilers but about 60% of the way through something (not bad) happens, and I was in floods of tears just like the characters.

It’s not “just” (and I use that word reluctantly as I love the genre) a festive, cosy, loving romcom – although there is that too. It has so much to get your teeth into; it does touch on difficult topics such as affairs and relationship difficulties, secrets, lies and dishonesty, grief, illness, family tensions, and loneliness.

I have read several of Phillipa’s books over the years and this is by far my absolute favourite.