Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan | Book Review

This is a spoiler-free review of Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan.

You will like Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery if you’re looking for a cosy Christmas book with plenty of spirit and a great story that keeps you hooked.

Set in a harsh coastal winter, it’s the perfect book to read under blankets, drinking a warm hot chocolate. There are even recipes at the end.

It has an almost whimsical feel, with exotic characters from across the globe whose lives converge on the small seaside village of Mount Polbearne.

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery has:

• lavish decorations
• a pet puffin
• freezing cold weather
• wrapped-up villagers
• drama
• secrets
• more Christmas baking than you can imagine
• romance
• reunions
• a Christmas fayre· 

This Christmas chick lit is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.

What is Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery about?

Polly lives with her boyfriend Huckle in a slightly dilapidated lighthouse. She runs her own business – the village bakery – something she always dreamed of. Despite the cold, hard work, lack of signal, money worries and early starts, she loves Mount Polbearne.

It’s never going to be plain sailing in a coastal village though.

Polly avoids planning her future because she’s too busy, too skint, and a little afraid. Just a few weeks before Christmas, her best friend Kerensa makes a huge announcement, which throws their cosy, stable lives into question.

Alongside the drama, Polly heads to her bakery every morning to serve up delicious pastries and bread to the villagers. There’s nothing nicer at this time of year, when it’s freezing or raining outside, to imagine a warm, delicious-smelling bakery to visit.

What I loved about it

Jenny Colgan is great at writing heart-warming stories with realistic characters. It’s not all tinsel and joy, there’s drama and curveballs that get in the way.

At first, I was only reading a chapter every couple of nights while the scene was set. Then, after the first hundred pages I zoomed through until the end. Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery is easy to read while also being interesting and gripping.

One of my favourite bits of the book is Polly’s quirky pet puffin. He’s super-cute, has a personality and backstory and always turns up at the right time.

Jenny Colgan writes such incredible, vivid settings. You can feel the blustery wind, see the crashing waves and smell the freshly baked bread. You truly get lost in the book. There’s a strong sense of community spirit because you even get to know the secondary characters, and care about their happy endings.

I loved the twists and turns, the romance and the Christmas luxury thrown in courtesy of Polly’s rich friends, Kerensa and Ruben.

The ending is everything you could want from a feel-good Christmas story. There’s no such thing as too cheesy at this time of year!

Snapshot summary

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery is light, feel-good and festive.

One-line review of Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery

A satisfying story which immerses you in the dramas of a winter wonderland seaside town.

Star rating

I’m giving this book 3/5 stars.

If you like Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery, you will also like…

A good book always leaves you wanting more. I’d recommend Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop, and Christmas at the Island Hotel, both also by Jenny Colgan.