Book info

• Title Keeping a Christmas Promise
• Author Jo Thomas
• Year 2022
• Genre Romance

Twenty-five years ago, Freya and her three best friends created a bucket list. The future seemed bright and full of hope... But now they are travelling to Iceland in memory of the friend they've lost, determined to fulfil her dream of seeing the Northern Lights at Christmas. They didn't count on an avalanche leaving them stranded! Handsome local, Pétur, comes to the rescue, showing them how the community survives the hard winter. With Christmas approaching, Freya and her friends throw themselves into the festivities, decorating and cooking for the villagers using delicious local ingredients. But will they manage to see the Northern Lights? And can Freya's own dreams come true, this Christmas?

Thoughts

The setup and premise of this book is mad - these friends must know that their dear departed friend would not want them to put their lives in danger just to see the Northern lights on that particular day. But if you ignore that, you’ve got a nice festive tale of people stuck together, learning about each other’s lives, opening up to each other, and of course, falling in love. The added elements of a culture that is drifting away, plus the climate issues, alongside all the food notes, make a comforting read.

Rating: 3 / 5