Baby, it's Cold Outside by Emily Bell

'If you come to Dublin, in ten years' time, I'll be there to meet you'

FATE PULLED THEM APART BUT NOT BEFORE THEY MADE A PROMISE.

TEN CHRISTMASES LATER, WILL THEIR WISH COME TRUE? . . .

As Norah battles through the bustling December crowds, she hears the notes of a song that transports her back to the most romantic week of her life.

After meeting on a blissful holiday, but knowing they had to part, a boy named Andrew made her a promise:

If they are both single on Christmas Eve in ten years' time, they will meet under the clock on Grafton Street, Dublin.

Norah has no idea if he will remember, but she has nothing to lose.

So, hoping for a Christmas miracle, she heads to Dublin. To that clock. And, maybe, to Andrew.

But it wouldn't be Christmas without a few surprises . . .

---

I'm not a massive romcom fan. I like them well enough, but I like them to be more com than rom, and a lot of them are not just predictable but badly predictable. There are so many out there where you look at the cover and you know exactly what's going to happen.

But I'd heard such good things about this one, I decided to try it. And I'm really glad I did. This is a sweet, gentle, beautifully described book. Both the winter in Ireland and the summer in Italy are so well described I felt as though I was there, living it along with the narrator.

I loved learning more about Norah and what happened in the ten years between her meeting Andrew and when we met her. I don't want to spoil the ending, so I won't say too much there, but I loved the tone of that second meeting ... it was exactly right for who Norah had become.

I really enjoyed watching her wander around Dublin and meet the locals, too. Emily described everything so beautifully, it was wonderful as an Irish person to follow along! I got some tips for next time I'm in Dublin, which was great.

All in all, I'm really glad I decided to try this, and I'd happily read another by Ms Bell. I think she'll be one to watch.

BE AWARE there is some loosely described adult fun time.

Baby, it's Cold Outside publishes on the 14th of October, 2021. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.