A Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan – Review

A Christmas mission…

Mirren’s beloved great-aunt Violet is seriously ill. Her one Christmas wish is to be reunited with a long-lost hand-illustrated book from her childhood, a challenge Mirren gladly accepts to give Violet some much-needed festive cheer.

An enchanting journey…

With no sign of the cherished volume online, Mirren falls into the fascinating world of rare books. From London to snowy Hay-on-Wye and Edinburgh’s cobbled streets, she chases leads from bookshop to bookshop—and bumps into mysterious, charming Theo, who, unbeknownst to her, is searching for the same book for reasons of his own…

The start of a new chapter?

As the two join forces to track the book down before time runs out for Violet, will Mirren find her Christmas miracle—and maybe even a kiss under the mistletoe… ?

Purchase Link: A Christmas Book Hunt

Jenny Colgan is one of my all-time favorite authors. I have read so many of her books over the years, especially her Christmas books, so reading this one felt like a natural part of my December traditions. I always know I am stepping into a warm, uplifting world when I start one of her stories.

My reading experience was just as cozy and comforting as I expected. Jenny Colgan has this way of creating a bookish world that wraps around you completely. Even though this is a shorter story compared to her others, it never felt short or rushed. It felt full, layered, and emotionally complete. The journey had the richness of a long novel, and I found myself sinking into the atmosphere in that familiar Jenny Colgan way that feels like softness for the soul.

The story follows Mirren as she sets out on a hunt for a very specific book at the request of her great aunt Violet. What I love about Jenny Colgan’s storytelling is that she often sends her characters on these quiet but transformative quests. They meet people they never expected to meet, experience moments that reshape them, and discover parts of themselves that only reveal themselves when life nudges them out of their familiar routines. Every stop along Mirren’s journey had a purpose, and every challenge carried a little lesson. It made the whole story feel intentional and tender.

The characters were everything I adore about Jenny Colgan’s writing. They are flawed in relatable ways, yet so endearing that you feel like they could be your best friend or someone you want to know. Mirren was wonderfully human and easy to root for. Her openness and her willingness to try, even when the journey was uncomfortable or inconvenient, made her feel real. I was proud of her more than once.

Aunt Violet’s presence was also so heartwarming. Even though she is not physically with Mirren on the book hunt, the pieces of her life that Mirren uncovers along the way made her feel present throughout the story. And I loved that this book wove together Mirren’s discoveries with glimpses of Violet’s past in such a meaningful way.

The meet-cute companion that joins Mirren was charming and imperfect in the best way. Even though his motives were not always clear, he had such goodness at his core that I found myself hoping for the best. Jenny Colgan always gives her romances the perfect amount of uncertainty to keep me holding my breath, even when I know the general direction the story will go.

One of my favorite touches was the way each bookstore felt like a character of its own. Mirren travels from shop to shop across London and Scotland, and every place has its own personality. Some are dusty, some are bright, some feel ancient, and others feel like hopeful beginnings. The shopkeepers felt connected to their spaces, but the spaces themselves had a life of their own. It was such a lovely bookish detail.

The tone of the story felt lightly Christmassy even though Christmas is not the main focus. The warmth, nostalgia, family connection, and sense of doing something meaningful for someone you love gave the book a festive spirit. It captured the emotional side of the season in a really soft and beautiful way.

My final thoughts are simple. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. Especially if you love cozy, heartfelt stories that combine a gentle romance with personal growth, bookish magic, and a journey that quietly changes the characters. Jenny Colgan writes exactly the kind of comforting stories I want in December, and this one was no exception.

Jenny Colgan (born 1972 in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland) is a writer of romantic comedy fiction, sci-fi and has written for the Dr Who line of stories. She writes under her own name and using the pseudonyms Jane Beaton and J. T. Colgan.