What do you think?
Rate this book
Christmas With You
Christmas With You was previously published as A Season to Remember . Now with two poignant new stories added.Tucked away in the Irish countryside, the Sugar Loaf Lodge is opening its door for the festive season. With snow falling on the mountains outside and warm fires roaring inside, it's the perfect place for guests to celebrate the happiest time of the year. But what if you've just had your heart broken? Or discovered that the man you're married to has lied to you? What if a secret from your past has finally come back to haunt you?For some of the guests arriving at the Sugar Loaf Lodge, Christmas is looking far from tranquil. But can they find the magic and romance of the season within the walls of this beautiful hotel?
400 pages, Paperback
Published October 19, 2017
259 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Sheila O'Flanagan
95 books1,209 followersAs you can see, a Dubliner all my life. My parents owned a grocery shop in the Iveagh Markets, in the Liberties area of the city and I guess city blood runs through my veins.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 6, 2020
This finishes off the books that I had on the go at the turn of the new year – a collection of short stories all set at the Sugar Leaf Lodge. I find these books generally hard to go wrong with, when I pick up one of this genre I’m usually just looking for a warm and happy journey and this one did precisely that. It was nice how the different short stories revolved around different groups of people who were booked in at the Sugar Leaf Lodge over the same Christmas period, so there were several shared scenes from different points of view but at the same time separate stories as to how these people ended up at the lodge. It’s beautiful how there are so many different reasons that one might want to get away to a hotel at Christmastime (rather than spending it at home), and I thought the description of the Christmas package was beautiful as my one experience of being in a hotel in the UK on Christmas day was less than ideal to say the least (literally room only, the restaurant wasn’t open, we couldn’t get gas at the station next door etc.).
Short stories can be a bit of a hit-and-miss for me, but I think here having the common thread helped a lot. There were moments of “oh, I remember this scene from the first story!” occurring throughout the book, which was nice, but at the same time I didn’t necessarily have to keep track of all the characters (as with all collections of short stories there are many characters) and could just go with the flow. The one that I didn’t particularly like was the one with the ghost, it seemed to come out of the blue when I was least expecting and it took awhile for my mind to switch into that mode and by that time the short story had ended. I was hoping for some unexpected ending (thinking about how Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle managed to throw a curveball at me in the last chapter, which has stayed with me for so long), but was not to be the case with this one.
Still, an enjoyable festive read that gave me the happy feels that I was after during the holiday season, but none of the short stories were particularly memorable. Also gave me a feel of the author’s style of writing, which I like. I have a couple more of her full-length works on my TBR and I’m looking forward to getting around to reading those. 3.5 stars, 4 on Goodreads as if someone specifically asked me about this title I’d probably say some nice things, but doesn’t come anywhere close to the top of my list if asked to recommend a book of this genre.
Short stories can be a bit of a hit-and-miss for me, but I think here having the common thread helped a lot. There were moments of “oh, I remember this scene from the first story!” occurring throughout the book, which was nice, but at the same time I didn’t necessarily have to keep track of all the characters (as with all collections of short stories there are many characters) and could just go with the flow. The one that I didn’t particularly like was the one with the ghost, it seemed to come out of the blue when I was least expecting and it took awhile for my mind to switch into that mode and by that time the short story had ended. I was hoping for some unexpected ending (thinking about how Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle managed to throw a curveball at me in the last chapter, which has stayed with me for so long), but was not to be the case with this one.
Still, an enjoyable festive read that gave me the happy feels that I was after during the holiday season, but none of the short stories were particularly memorable. Also gave me a feel of the author’s style of writing, which I like. I have a couple more of her full-length works on my TBR and I’m looking forward to getting around to reading those. 3.5 stars, 4 on Goodreads as if someone specifically asked me about this title I’d probably say some nice things, but doesn’t come anywhere close to the top of my list if asked to recommend a book of this genre.
January 3, 2018
A light lazy Christmas read. Some nice short stories but nothing too memorable and a bit too sentimental for my taste.
December 21, 2017
No disappointment with sheila!
December 25, 2025
A nice and cosy Christmas read
December 10, 2020
A book of interlinked short stories set at Christmas time at Sugar Loaf Lodge in the Irish countryside. The magical setting of snow falling sets the scene for a magical Christmas. I enjoy people watching so I enjoyed the stories about the reason why all the families, couples, singles and groups of friends have decided to spend their Christmas away from home and how some found romance or comfort or healing or happiness being there.
December 28, 2022
I picked up the Kindle version of Christmas With You because I wanted to read something light that had a Christmas theme. It was also on sale and had great reviews. I had never read Sheila O'Flanagan before and was a little afraid this would be a sappy, boring book, but my fears were unfounded. It does have its sappy moments, but you have to expect a certain amount of that in a Christmas story, and despite those sappy moments, I had a lot of fun reading Christmas With You.
This is really a collection of short stories, but they all take place at the same location - The Sugar Loaf Lodge - at Christmas time. Each story is about a person, couple, or family that decides to spend their holiday away from home for a variety of reasons. There are divorces, affairs, bored housewives, boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, and friendships. There are secrets and even a bit of a ghost story. The ghost story surprised me because it was a total change from the stories that came before and after it, but it worked in this collection because it added another layer to the overall story.
Although this is a collection of short stories, in each one there are references to someone who was a character in another of the stories. For example, several of the stories mention a character noticing a woman in a pink dress and high heels. The people who notice her theorize about why she looks angry or sad and why she keeps looking at the door to the lobby and checking her phone. We know her story, and some of the characters were close but missed the mark.
One fun thing about this collection is the peek we get into the minds of different characters and their opinions about other people they see at The Sugar Loaf Lodge. A running theme throughout the book is the expectations that come with Christmas. All of the characters decide to break with the tradition of spending the holiday with family and friends, having tables full of homemade food, and all the other things we've come to expect in the Christmas season. Each character's reason for breaking with tradition is different, and "listening in" on their thoughts about why other people at the lodge are not at home is interesting.
Christmas With You was a very enjoyable read. Next time I want something light and easy to read, I very well may reach for something else by Sheila O'Flanagan. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants something fun to read and enjoys a cozy Christmas story.
This is really a collection of short stories, but they all take place at the same location - The Sugar Loaf Lodge - at Christmas time. Each story is about a person, couple, or family that decides to spend their holiday away from home for a variety of reasons. There are divorces, affairs, bored housewives, boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, and friendships. There are secrets and even a bit of a ghost story. The ghost story surprised me because it was a total change from the stories that came before and after it, but it worked in this collection because it added another layer to the overall story.
Although this is a collection of short stories, in each one there are references to someone who was a character in another of the stories. For example, several of the stories mention a character noticing a woman in a pink dress and high heels. The people who notice her theorize about why she looks angry or sad and why she keeps looking at the door to the lobby and checking her phone. We know her story, and some of the characters were close but missed the mark.
One fun thing about this collection is the peek we get into the minds of different characters and their opinions about other people they see at The Sugar Loaf Lodge. A running theme throughout the book is the expectations that come with Christmas. All of the characters decide to break with the tradition of spending the holiday with family and friends, having tables full of homemade food, and all the other things we've come to expect in the Christmas season. Each character's reason for breaking with tradition is different, and "listening in" on their thoughts about why other people at the lodge are not at home is interesting.
Christmas With You was a very enjoyable read. Next time I want something light and easy to read, I very well may reach for something else by Sheila O'Flanagan. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants something fun to read and enjoys a cozy Christmas story.
December 14, 2017
I'm a big fan of Sheilas books and this one was a lovely feel good Christmas story.. Really enjoyed it
December 12, 2020
Christmas with you reminds me of love actually, except it’s better written and not so misogynistic. There is romance in it, but I wouldn’t call it a romance novel. Rather, it’s a series of inter-related vignettes that take place at the Sugar Loaf Lodge in the Wicklow Mountains and Ireland over a Christmas holiday. Some of the vineyards have a happy ending, but many others are bitter sweet.
The story begins with Neil and Claire who have restored and all the state that had been owned and abandoned by an English Earl after his youngest daughter died there. It had fallen into disrepair, but Neil and Claire fixed it up and turned it into a luxury hotel that had been successful until the recession hit. As Christmas approached, they were worried that they might be foreclosed upon if bookings did not pick up. Suddenly, the fun begins raining and every room is booked.
Each chapter of the book tells the story of a different guest room or suite and the people who are staying there. As the book progresses the characters may interact, sometimes my name and sometimes by simply referring to them buy dress or character trait.
I really just loved the way the stories wealth together and the fact that it wasn’t all happy. It really was a delightful book. It reminded me a bit of Nick Hornby’s writing. I will be searching out some non-holiday writings by this author.
The story begins with Neil and Claire who have restored and all the state that had been owned and abandoned by an English Earl after his youngest daughter died there. It had fallen into disrepair, but Neil and Claire fixed it up and turned it into a luxury hotel that had been successful until the recession hit. As Christmas approached, they were worried that they might be foreclosed upon if bookings did not pick up. Suddenly, the fun begins raining and every room is booked.
Each chapter of the book tells the story of a different guest room or suite and the people who are staying there. As the book progresses the characters may interact, sometimes my name and sometimes by simply referring to them buy dress or character trait.
I really just loved the way the stories wealth together and the fact that it wasn’t all happy. It really was a delightful book. It reminded me a bit of Nick Hornby’s writing. I will be searching out some non-holiday writings by this author.
December 16, 2019
Christmas With You was my first experience with a Sheila O'Flanagan title. I went to the bookstore in the mood for a Christmas read, and I thought this one sounded interesting, so I went ahead and picked it up. Unfortunately, it ended up not being at all what I was expecting, and I don't think I'd be in a rush to pick up one of this author's books in the future.
While I liked the idea of it being about a lavish hotel in the countryside, and the various people who choose to spend their Christmas holiday there, I didn't find the actual story that interesting. The way it was written as a bunch of short stories with an interconnected theme didn't really work for me in this sense, and I found it extremely confusing trying to keep track of which characters were which when they made guest appearances in the later chapters.
I also have to say that I picked this up expecting a heartwarming holiday read, and it really wasn't. Most of the stories are more on the dark and depressing side, and I quickly got tired of reading about affairs, and the heart break they end up leaving behind.
While I enjoyed the setting, and a few of the characters throughout the story, overall this one was a miss for me, and I won't personally be recommending it. It left me confused throughout most of the story, the depressive overtone of the various stories didn't really work for me, and I was left wanting more when I did finally work my way through to the end.
Final Rating: 2/5
While I liked the idea of it being about a lavish hotel in the countryside, and the various people who choose to spend their Christmas holiday there, I didn't find the actual story that interesting. The way it was written as a bunch of short stories with an interconnected theme didn't really work for me in this sense, and I found it extremely confusing trying to keep track of which characters were which when they made guest appearances in the later chapters.
I also have to say that I picked this up expecting a heartwarming holiday read, and it really wasn't. Most of the stories are more on the dark and depressing side, and I quickly got tired of reading about affairs, and the heart break they end up leaving behind.
While I enjoyed the setting, and a few of the characters throughout the story, overall this one was a miss for me, and I won't personally be recommending it. It left me confused throughout most of the story, the depressive overtone of the various stories didn't really work for me, and I was left wanting more when I did finally work my way through to the end.
Final Rating: 2/5
December 10, 2021
Een heerlijk kerstboek. De verhalen zijn niet altijd even vrolijk in de zin dat het soms ook gaat over ex-partners of overleden partners. Toch zijn de verhalen zelf niet treurig. Ze hebben allemaal toch iets positiefs in zich. Ook vind ik het leuk dat in elk hoofdstuk een andere gast van het hotel aan bod komt. Ook is het leuk dat sommige gasten weer terugkomen in de verhalen van de anderen. Ik vind het leuk om in december een kerstverhaal te lezen om in de sfeer te komen. Toch wacht ik denk ik de volgende keer tot een iets later moment in de maand. Door allerlei dingen ben ik nu nog niet zo met kerst bezig. Al hebben we ons huis al wel in kerstsfeer gebracht. Toen ik in dit boek bezig was, bedacht ik mij dat ik weer wat meer boeken van Sheila O’Flanagan en mijn andere favoriete schrijfster moet gaan lezen, omdat het van die heerlijke boeken zijn. Ik hoop dat mij dat volgend jaar gaat lukken.
December 10, 2024
Nestled in the serene Irish countryside, Sugar Loaf Lodge becomes a picturesque backdrop for a collection of interconnected short stories set against the enchanting ambiance of Christmas. As delicate snowflakes swirl gently from the heavens, they transform the landscape into a winter wonderland, setting the stage for a heartwarming holiday experience.
Each narrative unfolds the unique reasons families, couples, individuals, and groups of friends have chosen to escape their everyday lives and embrace the magic of Christmas in this tranquil retreat. The stories explore themes of love, healing, and the pursuit of happiness, revealing how some guests unexpectedly discover romance and comfort among newfound friends. For someone like me, who delights in the intricacies of human connections, these tales of joy and togetherness resonate deeply, capturing the essence of what it means to find solace and connection during the holiday season.
Each narrative unfolds the unique reasons families, couples, individuals, and groups of friends have chosen to escape their everyday lives and embrace the magic of Christmas in this tranquil retreat. The stories explore themes of love, healing, and the pursuit of happiness, revealing how some guests unexpectedly discover romance and comfort among newfound friends. For someone like me, who delights in the intricacies of human connections, these tales of joy and togetherness resonate deeply, capturing the essence of what it means to find solace and connection during the holiday season.
March 1, 2018
I normally love Sheila O'Flanagan's books but I've got mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I liked the idea of having a set of short stories united by the time and place of action where each room tells a different story. And I absolutely love how the characters intertwined and how it all rounded neatly at the end of the book. On the other hand, reading those stories made me extremely sad. I realize there supposed to be a hint of happy end in each of them, some strong hope for better tomorrow, yet to me it wasn't uplifting at all so I could not catch a festive spirit from my reading. Which is a bit of disappointment as I expected to feel all Christmassy with this book. To be fair, I didn't feel THAT sad after I finished the book, it just the whole thing didn't quite meet my expectations.
January 6, 2021
It's Christmas, pleasant but that is about it. The book is really a number of short stories brought together because all the people stay at the same hotel. I was irritated by the ghost - out of the blue and wished that I knew more about the people in each chapter instead of quick snippit mostly back story of how they came to be there. The format of the book meant it was easy to put down and pick up - the disadvantage I forgot who people in earlier chapters were when they were mentioned because I hadn't invested in their story.
February 1, 2018
I always like Sheila O'Flanagan's books. This was no exception!
The hotel is set amongst the hills and valleys in Wicklow, Ireland.
The story involves many guests who for one reason or another have chosen to get away from their traditional homely Christmases.
I loved how each character came to life and we learned of their troubles and hopes which needed sorting. Sheila does this beautifuly and I love this book and highly recommend it.
The hotel is set amongst the hills and valleys in Wicklow, Ireland.
The story involves many guests who for one reason or another have chosen to get away from their traditional homely Christmases.
I loved how each character came to life and we learned of their troubles and hopes which needed sorting. Sheila does this beautifuly and I love this book and highly recommend it.
December 16, 2017
Comforting Read
I really enjoyed reading about all the People who visited Sugar Loaf Lodge for their Christmas. Christmas can be a stressful time and the people came to the Hotel definitely enjoyed themselves, no Cooking or In- Laws to worry about.
I'll be looking at more of Sheila's books in the future.
I really enjoyed reading about all the People who visited Sugar Loaf Lodge for their Christmas. Christmas can be a stressful time and the people came to the Hotel definitely enjoyed themselves, no Cooking or In- Laws to worry about.
I'll be looking at more of Sheila's books in the future.
December 18, 2017
A truly heart warming collection of festive stories that will make you want to cosy up and read.
I loved how each chapter focused on different characters yet the other characters somehow appeared in the stories of the others.
I could vividly imagine The Sugar Loaf Lodge And it’s surroundings. I would love to spend a Christmas in a place like this.
I loved how each chapter focused on different characters yet the other characters somehow appeared in the stories of the others.
I could vividly imagine The Sugar Loaf Lodge And it’s surroundings. I would love to spend a Christmas in a place like this.
February 16, 2025
Enjoyable short stories about the people who are celebrating (or not celebrating) Christmas at the Sugar Loaf Lodge, including the owners, and a resident from a distant past - Louisa's story was my favourite.
Similar to Maeve Binchy, but more realistic and modern - Louisa's story being an exception.. 😄
Similar to Maeve Binchy, but more realistic and modern - Louisa's story being an exception.. 😄
December 27, 2017
I found it very disappointing. Reading 3 Christmassy books was my plan. It was to end with what I hoped would be the most beautiful. I guessed and I was wrong. I placed it somewhere between maudlin and depressing. Never given Sheila O’Flanagan such a poor rating.
December 15, 2018
3,5/5 stars! Enjoyable Christmas novel consisting of shorter stories of how the guests came to the hotel this is set at. They often interlink and you get to see the other guests in each others’ stories. Not over the top spectacular but a very satisfactory read.
November 1, 2019
I am so sorry Sheila but I found this book so confusing . It was as a series of chapters with one common theme, that of the hotel at Christmas. To me it was disjointed and I couldn't get into the story. My personal view only
December 17, 2020
I have to admit to this being my first ever Christmas romance and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the collection of stories all woven around the gorgeous Sugar Loaf Lodge. A very sweet read to get you in the Christmas mood.
January 9, 2021
Even though the author stated, and doesn't believe in ghosts, my favorite character was Louisa. I wanted to know everything about her. I'm saddened she crossed over so soon after being discovered. Over all, I enjoyed the short stories. Characters very well developed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2021
I’ve actually read this book before, I didn’t realise this book was previously titled A season to remember.
I much prefer Sheila’s full story books rather then short stories like this book was.
An ok quick read but not one of her better books
I much prefer Sheila’s full story books rather then short stories like this book was.
An ok quick read but not one of her better books
December 24, 2023
This book wasn’t really my cup of tea. This book has several mini stories that link the characters throughout. I didn’t like this book because there was no plot or development of the story line and it felt really disappointing. I wouldn’t read a book with this format again.
January 1, 2018
Feel good, gentle book
This was very easy to read, lots of memorable characters. A real feel good book that left me with a warm, cosy feeling, thank you
This was very easy to read, lots of memorable characters. A real feel good book that left me with a warm, cosy feeling, thank you
December 24, 2020
‘It doesn’t matter where I fell in love with him. That’s just a detail after all. The key issue is that fall in love I did. With a thud that could have been felt on the other side of the world.’
December 18, 2021
Just okay
Read
December 24, 20212.5
January 5, 2022
A lovely, gentle book. Perfect for this time of year.
Read
November 11, 2022Loved this book the ghost bit very moving.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews