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FESTIVE READS: Santa, Please Bring Me a Boyfriend by Sophie Ranald


Genre: Christmas | Contemporary | Romance

Released: 7th October 2022

Publisher: Bookouture 


It's November and in London, Christmas has already started. Carnaby Street is full of lights, Oxford Street is full of excited shoppers and everybody is busy making plans. 

But Rowan isn't feeling it this year - her daughter is a teenager now and isn't in the mood for milk and cookies anymore, the temp job she took while her dream job was on hold is becoming less temporary and now her ex, the father of her daughter, is getting married and leaving her trailing behind. But at least she has one constant in her life - her friends. And they've come up with a plan - their very own advent calendar, one delivery every day that will make her happy and maybe get her back in control of her life. 

Rowan and Clara can't wait to see what happens - and neither can Alex, the delivery driver who has suddenly become very invested in watching this Christmas Mystery unfold …

"Christmas suddenly felt full of excitement and promise - and I knew that my friends would enjoy the journey as much as I would. But I don't think any of us realised just how bumpy the ride would be."

Sophie Ranald is indisputably feelgood royalty - and this book is just another reason why. This festive story is not just about learning to love Christmas, but learning to love yourself all over again. 

This story about a potential budding romance between two strangers invested in a Christmas Mystery is sickeningly sweet and romantic, and despite you thinking you know exactly how it's going to unfold their relationship but the electricity between them sparks in the most unexpected and beautiful ways. And as much as we're all here for a love story - it's so much more than romance. The love between Rowan and her friends is mesmerising - women all taking care of each other and showing the real love that friends can have for each other, and even showing the love that remains after something ends. 

Rowan, Clara, Alex and her wonderful friends were amazing - they ran the story, the plot and growing alongside them - they were endearing, funny and painfully relatable. At first I didn't think me and Rowan were going to get on - I thought she had the potential to be a little annoying and way too focused on her dating life (or lack thereof) - but underneath it all she's just a person who wants to love someone. 

When we're not walking in a winter wonderland, Ranald talks about important issues that women face all year round, not just at Christmas - the struggles of women in the workplace, the balances and sacrifices they're expected to make and the assumptions placed on them.

Heartfelt, funny and fabulously festive, Sophie Ranald delivered a wonderful story all wrapped up with a big shiny bow. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review. 


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