Today I want to share my thoughts on two lovely books that I read over the Christmas and New Year period. Both feature Christmas but can be read at any time of year.
It’s A Wonderful Night by Jaimie Admans
It’s A Wonderful Life is such a lovely Christmas film so when I saw this book I had to buy it. The novel follows Georgia Bailey, who manages a charity shop and one night she gets a call from a suicidal man on a bridge who has mistakenly called the shop instead of the helpline. Georgia knows she should give him the correct number but she finds herself talking to him instead. The next morning Georgia goes to buy a coffee and she hears a man talking and realises it’s the man from the night before. She knows she can’t let on that she knows so she resolves to find a way to help him. This is such a gorgeous novel – it doesn’t shy away from the severity of depression and grief but it also manages to remain a feel-good novel, which is an incredible balancing act. I loved the way the main street in the town is like a character in its own right and I felt like I had been there. I was willing Georgia and Leo on in their quest to bring this town back to life. There is so much love and joy in the novel and I very much enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading more by Jaimie Admans in the future!
The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale
I bought this book when it was first published and then I borrowed the audio book from the library so I could part read and part listen. I adored this book. It’s such a magical novel and it really took me back to feeling like I did as I read books as a child. I loved the characters in the book – particularly Cathy and Kaspar, I was rooting for them all the way through. There is so much in the novel that made me feel nostalgic and melancholy but I was so enchanted by the magic running throughout it too. I really did enjoy this book and I’ll certainly be reading more by this author in the future too.
I loved the Toy Makers, I felt it had a Night Circus vibe!
The Toymakers is such a gorgeous novel, isn’t it? I actually haven’t read The Night Circus as yet but it’s definitely on my list for this year. 🙂
I’m sure you will love night circus if you enjoyed the toy makers!!
It sounds like a very interesting twist on the original story, Hayley. And I like it when books can deal with difficult topics and not shy away from them, but also draw you in, if that makes sense. Glad you enjoyed this.
That does make sense and I agree – I think it’s hard to deal with tough issues in a lighter fiction novel so I appreciate it when it’s done well. Thank you 🙂
I so need to do some mini reviews?
These sound good!
Caryl
I started doing more mini reviews last year and it really helps me keep up with reviews so it makes me more inclined to review all the books I read rather than mainly ARCs.
I like the idea for both of these. Glad you enjoyed them.
The Toy Makers is a magical read and I really wish more people would read it and talk about it. It deserves so much more attention ❤
It’s such a gorgeous, magical novel – I knew I would enjoy it but I didn’t realise just how much I would love it. It definitely deserves for more people to read it, I’ll be recommending it to anyone who’ll listen. 🙂
These covers are absolutely adorable! I love anything described as “magical”. I feel like these would make me really happy!
Ash @ JennReneeRead
Both of these books are such lovely reads, and The Toymakers really is a magical book. I hope you get to read it and that you love it as much as I did. 🙂
These covers are absolutely adorable! I love anything that’s described as “magical” and I feel like I would absolutely love these.
Ash @ JennReneeRead
These both sound pretty tempting; I’m glad It’s a Wonderful Night was done well as that could have been a tricky balance.
I really enjoyed them both and will definitely read more by both authors in the future.
Both books sound delightful, Hayley, and now I want to read them too! Wonderful reviews!
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