A Very London Christmas (Love in London #2), by Sara Madderson

A Very London Christmas by Sara Madderson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Sara Madderson’s “A Very London Christmas” certainly attempts to wrap readers in a festive embrace, complete with sparkling lights and — sometimes — cosy corners of London. However, as enchanting as the premise might sound, the execution left me cold. While marketed as a heartwarming seasonal read, it’s more akin to a tin of biscuits that looks promising but offers only the plainest, already-crumbling, and dry selection once opened.

The most glaring issue is the utter superficiality of the characters and plot. Operating on a schematic level, the people populating Madderson’s London feel less like real individuals and more like archetypes hastily thrown together.

Additionally, there’s a complete lack of innovation here. Every twist, from misunderstandings to the eventual conclusion, feels plucked from genre clichés. That said, I reluctantly admit a few redeeming qualities. I appreciated the absence of the typical third-act breakup — a trope overused to death in romances. Madderson avoided it, which felt refreshing amidst the otherwise predictable fare.

Still, these positives can’t outweigh just how hollow the reading experience is. While serviceable as a bit of forgettable fluff, “A Very London Christmas” fails to either uplift or inspire.

Two out of five stars feels fair.


Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam




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