Book Review: Last Christmas by Clare Swatman

I’m excited to be welcoming Clare Swatman back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Last Christmas.

‘Bea was always early for everything. Even, it turned out, when she was running away from her life.’

As Christmas approaches, Bea Preston has a choice.

Looking up at the departures board in Heathrow airport, her flight to New York boarding soon, she knows that getting on that plane changes everything. Her life in London has grown stale, her relationship with boyfriend Dom has run its course, and New York has always been her dream. But it’s a risk – she’ll miss her parents, her friends, her job.

What if Bea could live both lives? In one she goes back home for Christmas, and in another she heads to the Big Apple. Would her fate remain the same, or can one decision really change everything?

In a grand sliding-doors love story that spans oceans, years and lives, Clare Swatman’s unforgettable tale of fate and friendship is perfect for all fans of Jojo Moyes, Beth Moran and Ruth Jones.

*****

Bea is running from her life. Standing at the airport, she faces a choice – to stay or to go?

Having become a big fan of Clare Swatman, I felt excited to be asked onto the blog tour for her latest novel, Last Christmas.

The premise for this novel is one I find so intriguing as it looks at these moments and decisions that have the potential to change the rest of your life. Of course, you can only know the outcome for the decisions that you make. However, this book follows Bea and shows alternative realities – one showing what happens if she stayed in her current life and the other showing her life if she’d left.

Bea felt real. She made good choices, some bad mistakes and had so many relatable moments. AJ and Dom made strong male leads and are both different, likeable and frustrating in their own ways. The rest of the supporting cast were equally strong. We all need a Mia.

The setting between London and New York was great. It made me want to revisit the Big Apple as I was there for my honeymoon near Christmas many years ago (during the timeline of this novel). It made me feel nostalgic. I loved the festive feel this novel built, even if the story had reached a heavier moment.

There are some strong themes in this book (some I found hard to read about and could empathise with more than I’d like,) including ones of miscarriage, grief,  mental heath, dementia and betrayal but I feel they were all presented with a lot of sensitivity. They made for some really sad moments mixed in with ones of love, laughter and above all, life affirming.

This novel shows us how both the big and small decisions can send us in directions we never thought possible. It also shows that sometimes, regardless of our choices, destiny will have its own plan. Even though it’s set at Christmas, it goes way beyond a festive read.

Last Christmas is a beautifully written novel with characters and a story that will stay with you way after you’ve finished it.

About Clare Swatman –

Clare Swatman is the author of seven women’s fiction novels, which have been translated into over 20 languages. She has been a journalist for over twenty years, writing for Bella and Woman & Home amongst many other magazines. She lives in Hertfordshire.

Say hello to Clare on Facebook, X, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

Last Christmas was released by Boldwood Books on 27th August 2024. Click here to buy on Amazon and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.