Book Review: Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop

by Jenny Colgan

The Christmas Bookshop #2

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Your most delightful holiday read: the sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller The Christmas Bookshop, from beloved Scottish author Jenny Colgan.

Christmas comes early—far too early—to McCredie’s little Old Town bookshop in Edinburgh. It’s summer, but an American production company has decided that McCredie’s is the perfect location to film a very cheesy Christmas movie. After all, who can resist the charmingly narrow historic street with its Victorian grey stone buildings and warmly lit shop windows?

Carmen Hogan, the bookshop’s manager, is amused and a bit horrified by the goings-on, but the money the studio is paying is too good to pass up. She uses the little windfall from filming to create new displays and fend off a buyout offer from an obnoxious millionaire who wants to turn McCredie’s into a souvenir shop selling kilts made in China and plastic Nessies. Still reeling slightly from a breakup, Carmen’s not particularly looking forward to the holidays. But just as snow begins to fall and the lights of Christmas blink on, all sorts of lovely new possibilities present themselves…for McCredie’s bookstore, and for Carmen herself. 

My review:

After falling in love with The Christmas Bookshop, I couldn’t wait to dive into its sequel, Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop. Once again, Jenny Colgan draws us into the life of Carmen, who is still working at the charming Edinburgh bookshop. However, when things seemed to finally settle into a happy ending for her, life takes a turn for the worse.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster. Carmen faces financial struggles, family conflicts, and self-esteem issues, making her journey feel raw and relatable. At times, I suffered alongside her and even found myself frustrated—especially with her inability to stand up to her sister, Sophia. Sophia can be outright mean, and I longed for Carmen to find her voice and stop pitying herself. That said, this portrayal of messy family dynamics felt realistic, and that’s one of the things I appreciate most about Colgan’s writing. Life isn’t always a perfect happily-ever-after, and this book doesn’t shy away from that truth.

Initially, I found it hard to fully connect with the story. Perhaps I was a bit burned out from reading too many Christmas romances, or maybe Carmen’s pity-party phase made it difficult to root for her right away. But once I got into the rhythm, the story unfolded beautifully.

Oke is a standout character for me. He’s such a unique male lead—different from the typical romantic heroes—and his relationship with Carmen feels genuine and full of promise. I couldn’t help but root for them and hope their love lasts.

While I enjoyed the book, I have to admit I’m still not a fan of Sophia and Pippa. They always seem to have something rude or cutting to say. I kept wishing for them to face some consequences for their behavior and show growth, but that resolution didn’t come. Perhaps that’s reserved for future installments?

In the end, Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop delivered everything I love about Jenny Colgan’s work: heartwarming relationships, a realistic portrayal of life’s challenges, and the perfect sprinkle of Christmas magic. While it wasn’t an easy read at first, it’s a story that lingers in your mind long after you close the book.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Recommended for: Fans of heartfelt holiday stories that don’t shy away from life’s messiness.