Christmas with the Queen: Book Review
It's that time of year again! The holiday reading season is upon us, so it's time to curl up with a good holiday book and hot cocoa amidst the tree's twinkling lights. But what if I told you there's more to Christmas than just holly jolly holiday romcoms? In the charming new holiday historical fiction novel Christmas with the Queen, authors Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb transport readers to a time of royal intrigue with a love story and a dash of holiday magic. Set in 1950s England with WWII-era flashbacks, this historical fiction takes readers on a journey through many holiday seasons with a twist - the presence of Queen Elizabeth herself. Dive into this heartwarming tale and explore the power of love and forgiveness during the most wonderful time of the year.
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Quick Look
- cringe-free holiday fiction
- multi-POV, dual timeline
- miscommunication trope
- grief, loss, and complicated relationships
- closed door romance
Pub Date: November 19, 2024
Thanks, @WilliamMorrowBooks, for the advanced access!
Publisher's Synopsis
December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue the tradition of her late father’s Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must evolve with the times, and the queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change.
As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—are unexpectedly reunited by the occasion. Olive, a single mother and aspiring reporter at the BBC, leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, but even a chance encounter with the queen doesn’t go as planned and Olive wonders if she will ever be taken seriously.
Jack, a recently widowed chef, reluctantly takes up a new role in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. Lacking in purpose and direction, Jack has abandoned his dream to have his own restaurant, but his talents are soon noticed and while he might not believe in himself, others do, and a chance encounter with an old friend helps to reignite the spark of his passion and ambition.
As Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmases, they grow ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret that threatens to destroy everything.
Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, there is one final gift for the Christmas season to deliver…
My Review
After reading (and loving) Last Christmas in Paris a few years ago, I've been eager for the next Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb collaboration. I nearly wept with joy when I heard it would be another holiday historical fiction novel. Holiday historical fiction novels are hard to come by, especially good ones!
Told from two different perspectives over multiple timelines, Olive and Jack's story is fraught with miscommunication and missed opportunities. Though the miscommunication trope isn't my favorite, this somehow worked for me. The long-standing friendship and Jack's recent loss made the will they/won't they feel believable. We witness the two characters mature throughout the book, and as they change, so does their relationship. And like their previous work, Beck and Gaynor find a way to incorporate romance and passion without explicit scenes, making them some of my favorite historical romance authors.
One of the things I loved most about this book was Queen Elizabeth II. Not only did the authors do a great job bringing the young monarch to life, giving her a voice very similar to The Crown, but they also shed light on her state of mind that first Christmas after her father's death. I've always been fascinated with the British monarchy, so stepping into the home, heart, and mind of the Queen was an extra special treat. I already want another Christmas with the Queen story!
Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was seeing how, over time, the new monarch embraced changing technology and public sentiments. Olive's burgeoning success with the BBC further explored this, making it more of a feminist read than I expected. Olive and Her Majesty were both portrayed as ground-breaking women, reflecting the changes women in Western society were experiencing.
Jack's character story is a bit more complex. We were given much more about his history before meeting Olive, which gave context to the rest of his story arc. It also made me more sympathetic to him as a leading man, knowing what he's lost and gained along the way. I was a bit disappointed to hear him described as a white man from New Orleans, particularly when references to his grandfather alluded to a Creole background. I would have much preferred for him to be of color, but I understand that a black man working in her Majesty's kitchen in the 50s is unlikely. Though the authors do a great job incorporating the history and culture of New Orleans, his story seems a bit whitewashed.
My Rating
Gaynor and Beck have done it again! They've written a wonderfully romantic holiday historical fiction book that any historical fiction fan will enjoy (as long as the miscommunication trope isn't a problem). Olive and Jack's story is sweet and filled with love, longing, and discovery. Best of all, it's set during a fascinating time of change and growth, particularly for women. Overall, I highly recommend Christmas with the Queen to readers who want holiday fiction that isn't overly sappy, cringey, or Hallmarkish. This book has the perfect amount of holiday cheer, plus the added bonus of history and romance.
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