Book Review for Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb

 

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb

Published: November 19, 2024 by William Morrow Paperbacks

Genre:  Historical Fiction

 

Taken from Goodreads:  ’Tis the season! The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally and Bridget Jones’s Diary, in the latest heartwarming historical novel from Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, bestselling authors of Meet Me in Monaco and Three Words for Goodbye.

December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue in the tradition of her late father and grandfather’s beloved Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must move 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, two old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—find themselves reunited for the festivities. A single mother, typist at the BBC, and aspiring reporter, Olive leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, despite self-doubts. When a chance encounter with the Queen presents an exciting opportunity, Olive begins to believe her luck might change. 

Jack, a grief-stricken widowed chef originally from New Orleans, accepts a last-minute chance to cook in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. When he bumps into a long-lost friend, an old spark is reignited.

Despite personal and professional heartache, Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmas seasons and they find themselves growing ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret. 

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, Olive decides to reveal the shocking truth of her secret, which threatens to tear her and Jack apart forever. Unless Christmas has one last gift to deliver… 

 

My Thoughts:  Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres.  Christmas with the Queen is so perfect.   I love that the Queen is not the main character in a book although her name is in the title.   Olive is the main character.  Jack, a friend from the past, is the second main character.  Olive and Jack have a history from the war days.   They were friends a time ago and have reconnected while spending time with the Royal Family. 

Olive is the perfect mother for Lucy but she has been keeping a secret.  Seeing Jack again makes it all so real for her.   She must decide what is best for Lucy and take a risk to find a love that was lost. I really enjoyed seeing Olive make strides in a man run world, make friends with the Queen, and find her way to happiness.  

I enjoyed the look into the royal family and their Christmas traditions.  The talk of all the food that is served, the trips taken, and the relationships of Elizabeth and Phillip brought me right into the Royal world.     I could hear Elizabeth’s voice as she gave her speech to the countries. I loved visiting Australia with Phillip and Elizabeth.   As the corgi’s and children ran underfoot while she tried to reel them in and rule, I could not help but think how normal that seemed.    I felt like I was right beside her and living life with her.

This book is so wonderful.  I enjoy a good Christmas story.  Christmas with the Queen is the perfect seasonal book rich with history. 

Thank you Tall Poppy Writers for a copy of the book vie NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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