Christmas by the Book, Anne Marie Ryan
Christmas by the Book, Anne Marie Ryan
1 Rating(s)
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
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Christmas by the Book

Author: Anne Marie Ryan

Narrator: Esther Wane

Unabridged: 9 hr 43 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 10/12/2021


Synopsis

“A heartfelt and lovely Christmas tale for book lovers everywhere!”—Jenny Colgan, author of The Bookshop on the Shore
 
In small-town England, two booksellers facing tough times decide to spread some Christmas cheer through the magic of anonymous book deliveries in this uplifting holiday tale for book lovers everywhere.

Nora and her husband, Simon, have run the beautiful oak-beamed book shop in their small British village for thirty years. But times are tough and the shop is under threat of closure--this Christmas season will really decide their fate. When an elderly man visits the store and buys the one book they've never been able to sell, saying it's the perfect gift for his sick grandson, it gives Nora an idea. She and Simon will send out books to those feeling down this Christmas. Maybe they can't save their bookstore, but at least they'll have one final chance to lift people's spirits through the power of reading.

After gathering nominations online, Nora and Simon quietly deliver books to six residents of the village in need of some festive cheer, including a single dad of twins who is working hard to make ends meet, a teenage boy grieving for his big sister, a local Member of Parliament who is battling depression, and a teacher who's newly retired and living on her own. As the town prepares for a white Christmas, the books begin to give the recipients hope, one by one. But with the future of the bookshop still up in the air, Nora and Simon will need a Christmas miracle--or perhaps a little help from the people whose lives they've touched--to find a happy ending of their own....

About The Author

Anne Marie Ryan is a book editor at Hachette Children's Books in the UK, and has written and published children's books under several pseudonyms. She lives in London with her husband, two daughters, and an indifferent cat. Christmas by the Book is her first novel for adults.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Regina on December 02, 2021

Santa came early this year and delivered a spirit-lifting holiday-themed novel that’s entirely successful in being what it set out to be: a comforting Christmas story. Christmas by the Book (also previously published as The Six Tales of Christmas) works for many reasons: - It’s set in an independent......more

Goodreads review by Melissa (Semi-hiatus for Work) on October 31, 2021

Such a heartfelt sweet seasonal tale. In a small Cotswold village, Simon and Nora have been running a bookshop that Nora's mother started many years before. Things have fallen on hard times though, and this might just be the last Christmas they are able to keep the shop afloat due to crippling debt.......more

Goodreads review by Darla on February 16, 2022

Can giving away six Christmas books as random acts of kindness transform a village? Norah and Simon discover that their small gifts multiply after the books are delivered. Ever since I read How to Find Love in a Bookshop, I have been looking for a bookshop book like it. At last I have found it! The......more

Goodreads review by Christine on December 02, 2022

Believe it or not, this book is the first “bookshop book” this reader has ever read. Most of the bookshop books are deemed disappointments by many seasoned readers so I never took one up. Not until this one that was reviewed beautifully and positively by my trusted Goodreads friend Cheri. Boy, this......more

Goodreads review by La Crosse County Library on December 22, 2021

4.5 stars/5 stars The Stowford Bookshop has been on High Street in Stowford for over forty years. Nora grew up living above the thriving bookshop with her mother and cherishes many wonderful memories and traditions. Nora and her husband Simon inherited the bookshop, but are now facing a leaky roo......more


Quotes

“Snuggle in for the holidays with this heartwarming story about the power of Christmas, books, and friendship. Ryan does an excellent job of building a sense of place and exploring the community relationships, and handles tough topics (depression, loss, financial uncertainty) with a light, deft hand. Whether readers love stories about quaint English bookshops, Christmas, or small towns full of quirky characters, this book will surely warm the cockles of their hearts. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan and Elin Hilderbrand.”—Booklist
 
“A heartfelt and lovely Christmas tale for book lovers everywhere!”—Jenny Colgan, author of The Bookshop on the Corner 

"Christmas by the Book sparkles with love and generosity—this book will make you believe in Christmas miracles."—Nancy Thayer, author of Let It Snow

"Reading Christmas by the Book is like eavesdropping in your favorite bookstore. The novel not only reminds us of the role such a bookstore plays in our communities but how random acts of kindness can heal us all. Ultimately, the novel is a testament to what happens when the perfect book finds us at the moment we need it most. Delightful and hopeful, this novel is the perfect Christmas treat."—Amy Meyerson, author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays

“Like all of our most beloved Christmas stories, Anne Marie Ryan’s big-hearted Christmas by the Book weaves together a tale of hope, community, friendship and love. It is warm reminder that real miracles happen when everyday people show up for each other. Best of all, it is a celebration of books, the way they can bring us together, make us stronger, and remind us that we are not alone. I know reading Christmas by the Book will become a part of my own holiday tradition, and I bet it will become a part of your, too.”—Louise Miller, author of The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living and The Late Bloomers’ Club

"A gift for booklovers everywhere. This is a sweet love letter penned by a talented writer who understands the magic and power of books to bring comfort and joy to readers. You'll want to buy two copies of this lovely novel—one to keep, and one to share."—Susan Wiggs, author of The Lost and Found Bookshop

"A proper feel-good Christmassy read, with a charmingly cosy setting, plenty of nicely-drawn characters and a real sense of community, plus an inspirational message that all booklovers can get behind."—Jackie Fraser, author of The Bookshop of Second Chances