Book Review: The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

My dear bookish friends!

My favourite time of year is finally here – and with it my chance to shout about all the lovely Christmas books out there! The Twelve Dates of Christmas was the first one I read this Christmas season and not only because of that is it one that stayed with me – I also buddy read it with my dear friend Candyce (do check out her blog here!) and we both fell in love with the characters and the story. What is happening in that story, you ask? Well, let me tell you…

The Blurb

‘Tis the season for finding romance in this hilarious and uplifting holiday read

When it comes to relationships, thirty-four-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say “Bah, humbug.” The sleepy town of Blexford, England, isn’t exactly brimming with prospects, and anyway, Kate’s found fulfillment in her career as a designer, and in her delicious side job baking for her old friend Matt’s neighborhood café. But then her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Twenty-three days until Christmas. Twelve dates with twelve different men. The odds must finally be in her favor . . . right?

Yet with each new date more disastrous than the one before–and the whole town keeping tabs on her misadventures–Kate must remind herself that sometimes love, like mistletoe, shows up where it’s least expected. And maybe, just maybe, it’s been right under her nose all along. . . .

My Review

If you are anything like me, you want your holiday reads to have a cozy, festive, love-is-in-the-air kind of feel to it. With The Twelve Dates of Christmas you are getting exactly that! I’m so glad this was my first Christmassy read of the season – it got me in the right mood when other people were not thinking of Christmas for a while yet!

Kate has kind of given up on the idea of finding love, until her best friend signs her up to a dating agency’s Christmas special: The Twelve Dates of Christmas. While reluctant at first, Kate soon starts to give the whole thing a chance – and finds herself in the middle of one disaster after the next. I absolutely loved the dates Kate went on. They were ranging from hilarious to heartbreaking, to cringey and shocking, and one turned out more surprising than the next. Will Kate find love on her twelve dates, or was love never really as far away as she always thought..?

I loved our main character here. Kate is so sweet – a kind, supportive family-person who holds her friends and family dear. I especially loved her relationship with her dad and her friendships with Matt and best friend (yes, the one responsible for the disastrous dates!). This book doesn’t just offer a great main character, but also a wonderful cast of side characters that are all different and unique.

Another thing I absolutely loved was the setting in the small English town. The descriptions of the Christmas decorations, Matt’s bakery (I could almost smell the out-of-the-oven goodies!), the little snow-filled streets – all of it made me feel so cozy and festive, just what I want from a book like this. I would definitely move to Blexford if I could!

Of course, this book isn’t one where you don’t expect what’s going to happen in the end. But when I picked this up I wasn’t exactly expecting a mystery filled with secrets. While the ending might, in a way, be predictable, it is just what I was hoping for and made me so happy! And also, the dates Kate went one made up in terms of unpredictability! You really don’t see any of it coming!

The Twelve Dates of Christmas is the perfect book for you if you are looking for a cozy, festive, funny and romantic read that will leave you feeling all warm and happy. If you are still looking for a holiday read this year, I would highly recommend this!

5 stars from me, and I can’t wait for more books by the author!