It's a Wonderful Night - Jaimie Admans || Netgalley Review

One night will change their lives forever… Georgia Bailey is closing up her little charity shop in Oakbarrow when she gets a mysterious late night call from a stranger, threatening to jump off the town’s bridge. Something about the man’s voice is faintly familiar but all she can do is stay on the line and after talking for hours, losing sense of time passing, coax him back from the edge. The next morning, Georgia walks to work, buys a festive latte from Leo (who she’s had a crush on for months!) at the local coffee shop, and is shocked when she suddenly recognizes the voice from last night… A heartwarming festive love story that reminds us that even in the darkest of times, hope is always just around the corner!

Review

I am still rounding up the last of the festive reads and this one ticked all the boxes.

We meet Georgia Bailey as she is working late into the night just before Christmas as a manager of a charity shop getting her festive window displays all ready, its rather late when the phone rings and concerned its her father or a telemarketer she answers.

What she didn't expect was someone who was looking for the helpline, you see the charity she works for is called One Light and it deals with those who are struggling with their mental health and are in their darkest moments. When she answers that phone to a young man who currently sees no way out, despite her telling him he has the wrong number, she can't put the phone down and run the risk of making him feel worse than he already does.

Leo, is the owner of a local coffee shop “Its a wonderful Latte” and yes, I do want to visit and drink all their festive coffees thanks, I mean I could even be tempted by the mince pie one – and I do not like mince pies. However, despite the smile he wears everyday, not is as it seems with him and when things start to fall in place Georgia finds herself desperate to help Leo.

With a bit of festive spirit can she help bring “Its a wonderful Latte” back to life, and even the whole high street of Oakbarrow? It was once the most wonderful place to be at Christmas with its toyshop that people travelled from miles to visit, its pub that people visited from Mulled drinks and the highlight – the Christmas tree which was decorated by Georgia's Dad.

This read could not be more festive if it tried, but also in parts it was heart wrenching, and yes, I did sob as it drew to a close. It was beautifully written and tackled a deeper issue in a way that did it both sensitively and eloquently. I felt it was addressed in a way that as a reader it didn't drown you in it but it was an underlying narrative that had you concerned, I also felt that it informed the reader and served as a reminder on mental health.

Deeper subjects aside – the characters were well written and I found myself rooting for them, wanting to meet them in real life and visit Oakbarrow as well. It really all felt real and I had a serious craving for coffee as a read this. Its a wonderful night was a wonderful read. It had coffee (we all know how I love a coffee shop read dont we), humor and real deep true life love. A perfect read for over the festive period to curl up with next to a fire whilst its cold outside, this story will warm you from the inside.