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Most of this story is spent in the head and first-person voice of our protagonist Eva Glass and frankly, connecting with Eva is a challenge. She's struggling with her marriage, her friendships, and her working relationships. She's trying to forget what broke her heart three years ago. She's bottled herself up so tight she's losing herself and everyone she loves in the process. One Christmas Morning by Rachel Greenlaw is a Holiday and Romance Fiction Story with Magical Realism! Even though Eve is the main character, I loved how this wasn’t just her story. Through the different bodies Eve inhabits, we get an insight into the struggles of her best friend Hallie, and her assistant Diana. The MC is a workaholic, who's pushed away everyone in her life for work, because she's trying to distance herself from her immense grief at losing [redacted]. This book starts on a Christmas Eve where she is on the verge of losing everyone who matter to her.. and then on Christmas morning, she finds herself in a unique/twisted Groundhog Day situation. Every day when she wakes up (that is, on Dec 25 again and again), she wakes up in the body of a different friend or stranger. Each day gives her a new perspective on her current life, and on her failing relationships, and each day takes her further on the emotional journey to finding out what she truly wants out of life. The strength of One Christmas Morning lies in its well-developed characters, each possessing their own flaws, dreams, and desires. As the story unfolds, their relationships evolve in a refreshingly realistic manner, showcasing the complexities of human connections. Readers will find themselves emotionally invested in the characters' journeys, rooting for their growth and transformation.
Eva is about to open her new store which she has been preparing for the past three years. She is hopeful her work will help bury a heartbreak from one Christmas. This debut novel is a compelling combination of magical realism, romance, and seasonal storytelling. It is emotionally intense for a Christmas story, but the redemptive conclusion made living with the protagonist’s angst worthwhile.Eva is having Christmas, again and again. On the plus side lots of lovely meals and no calories. On the downside she seems to be condemned to waking up as a different guest of the Cornwall house party each Christmas morning until she can work out just what has gone wrong with her life. It is said that the people of Rosevear are lawless – that they steal from the ships that wash up on their shores. The islanders see it differently. They call it survival. A tiny niggle: There are four references made to a Coldplay song, without ever mentioning which song it was. Not all of us are Coldplay fans, nor do we know all Coldplay songs, nor can we be expected to Google Coldplay hits to figure out the song. Please, dear author, specify the song title at least once in the story if it has a key role in the narrative.
If you enjoy Groundhog Day kind of stories, this is a good one. While it takes the same trope of a day being repeated while the character makes some changes in their thinking and their choices, it adds a twist in the way the day is repeated. I'll not reveal the twist to you, but I will say that it adds a lovely novelty to a tried-and-tested formula.This book is so magical and I’m not sure I could love it any more than I do. This is a MUST read! It’s not just a Christmas read. It’s about second chances, self discovery, and love after heartbreak. Please add this to your tbr list! You will fall in love with this book! I’m look forward to reading more from Rachel Greenlaw! All in all, I don't think this is the kind of book I'd like at Christmas. I prefer happier and lighter reads, both of which are emotions present in this story only at a minimal level. But if you are a reader who likes introspective books during the holiday season, you will definitely like this one better.
In a series of events, Eva is forced to look at Christmas day from the perspectives of the people closest to her. I really have no major faults with the book itself, but there is one storyline that is really affecting me mentally because it revolves around the main character Eva’s pregnancy loss and the feelings surrounding her best friend’s pregnancy/IVF. This is just a topic that’s really hard for me to read about and I’m struggling to push through these parts. This is an absolutely adorable Christmas story about love, friendship, and redemption. Three years ago Eva Glass had a terrible heartbreaking experience. One that she would choose not to remember if it were up to her. Yet she has become angry and very bitter due to the circumstance. And as such she has become a workaholic working on opening her new store. Unfortunately, those around her have paid the price due to her pushing them out of her life. And that even includes her husband who only wants the best for her. This was a magical read full of emotion and warmth. Some readers might find the topics incredibly emotive but the magic of the plot helps to soften such sensitive subjects. By the closing, it is impossible to ignore the feelings of warmth and contentment… although this might have been down to re-living Christmas dinner so many times! Most of this story is spent in the head and first-person voice of our protagonist Eva Glass and frankly, connecting with Eva is a challenge. She's struggling with her marriage, her friendships, and her working relationships. She's trying to forget what broke her heart three yearsI’m so grateful for my advance copy of this beautiful book! It was so clever and magical and I really felt for Eva as the story progressed. To begin with I felt so frustrated by her choices but as I got to learn more about her and what she went through three years ago, I realised how these experiences were a catalyst for everything that followed. Such a moving and emotional book… I honestly cannot recommend this book enough.’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have read and loved the other groundhog type stories; so one with Christmas in the title had me full of anticipation of something good! In this captivating story, readers are introduced to a woman on a quest to find herself amidst the chaos of her everyday existence. Through her encounters with a diverse cast of characters, she learns valuable lessons about resilience, love, and the significance of second chances. Greenlaw skillfully crafts a narrative that not only tugs at the heartstrings but also prompts introspection and reflection. When Eva's world collapsed 3 years ago just before Christmas, she threw herself into work to try and forget - to anaesthetise herself from the pain. Unfortunately all she has done is push those closest to her away - her best friends Hallie and Kian, her work assistant Diana, and even her husband James. When James makes Eva come down to xxxx in Cornwall for Christmas, this could be Eva's very last chance with all the people she loves best. Fortunately the house is full of the memories of the wonderful time spent there with her beloved Grandmother, and due to the magic of the house, her Grandmother decides to show Eva what could happen if she doesn't change her ways. To this end, Eva relives Christmas morning several times, each time in a different body, and sees the life she is heading for if things don't change.
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