The gorgeously festive Meet Me Underneath the Mistletoe is a heartwarming story excellent for curling up subsequent to a roaring hearth and embracing what the vacation season is basically all about: slothing about the home in Christmas pjs for 5-7 working days.
So, get better from the chaos of procuring, gift-wrapping and rearranging the Christmas tree (relatable), and plonk your self on the couch with this fictional cracker and a smorgasbord of Boxing Day leftovers.
Hold studying to learn how crew Zoella rated the December learn…
The blurb
A winter wedding ceremony of previous mates ought to be the occasion of the yr. Gathering close to their former college for a lavish, week-long celebration, it’s an opportunity for Nory Noel to reunite together with her finest mates. However now of their thirties, that group has lengthy since drifted aside.
Nory suspects she’ll spend the week wrestling into spanx, and dodging questions on her non-existent plus one. Solely her fearless, fabulous finest buddy Ameerah can persuade her to go.
On the venue of a surprising Kent fortress, it’s not lengthy earlier than personalities conflict and previous tensions start to bubble up. Nory finds herself slipping away – and unexpectedly crashing into Isaac, the fortress’s gardener and her former college rival.
Nory and Isaac have extra in frequent lately than they ever thought doable. However as she steals extra time away from the festivities to spend with Isaac, he reveals an astonishing secret about his household’s previous. Nory is aware of she alone may help proper this incorrect – however uncovering the reality would possibly imply pushing Isaac away as soon as extra.
Lareese’s Evaluation
Bah humbug alert, I don’t normally gravitate in direction of fluffy Christmas reads however kudos to Jenny Bayliss as a result of this one has totally surpassed by expectations. It’s a lot greater than only a predictable festive story, which I’m all right here for if there’s a superb story there to go together with it. Meet Me Underneath the Mistletoe is sort of a modern-day Girl Chatterley’s lover, with all of the elements of a 5-star modern learn: mates to lovers, attention-grabbing friendship dynamics, attention-grabbing couple dynamics, highschool reunion vibes, the lot! I additionally beloved that Elinor (Nory) owns a bookshop – books about books > books about every part else. In truth, if I owned a secondhand bookshop like Serendipitous Seconds, I too would discover it onerous to half with my fave treasured first editions, identical to Nory. MMUTM is a good cosy winter learn for this time of yr that balances humour with heavy matters comparable to grief, adultery, classism, racism to call a number of, and though not fairly as all-out festive as some readers would possibly anticipate given the title, the snowy fortress setting and chef’s kiss forged of characters greater than makes up for it. You’ll see!
Score: 4/5
Would you advocate it? 100% that is the simple breezy December learn everybody deserves.
Lily’s Evaluation
Firstly issues first, I didn’t anticipate this storyline! I used to be anticipating a lightweight, fluffy, tacky love story. Nevertheless, it’s a lot greater than that. Jenny Bayliss writes an attractive festive story. Expressing how, even throughout Christmas time, life isn’t a neat little line. It may go up and down in numerous methods, can shift, and get minimize brief.
Meet Me Underneath the Mistletoe takes place across the festive season, however primarily talks a few friendship group dynamic, and the way life retains going even after the lack of somebody shut. I really like some of these storylines, particularly throughout Christmas time. As a result of it’s a smooth reminder that it’s not at all times a simple, enjoyable, comfortable time for all. However don’t get me incorrect, there’s nonetheless a warmness to this e-book that gives that cosy festive coating to make it a hearty breezy learn!
A humbling, witty, unhappy, festive story. The place every chapter was a present that stored on giving!! I extremely advocate it to these on the market that beloved the Christmas movie ‘Final Christmas’ or ‘PS. I Love You’.
Score: 4/5
Would you advocate it? YES! Such a stunning e-book, the proper December learn.
Danielle’s Evaluation
This e-book isn’t Jenny’s first foray into Christmas literature and by god, I hope it’s not her final! This e-book encapsulated the cosiest Christmas settings just like the fortress and London, however my favorite needs to be Nory’s second-hand e-book store. I beloved the idea of matchmaking books to prospects and I particularly loved this facet as our final Zoella Guide Membership choose of the yr! It truly is a pleasure to select books we expect our viewers will take pleasure in and I hope you’ve been fulfilled and impressed tucking into the ZBC reads in 2022.
This e-book simply captures Christmas completely, personally, I’m tremendous near my household however I do know SO many who will not be and the best way Nori surrounded herself with discovered household was stunning. In the event you love Nancy Meyer’s or Nora Ephron’s motion pictures like You’ve Acquired Mail then you definately’ll love this e-book, fully basic and splendidly described. I’d advocate to anybody searching for a festive learn.
Score: 5/5
Would you advocate it? I’ve already lent it to my mum!
