Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop

A Novel

By: Jenny Colgan

Narrated by: Eilidh Beaton

Your most delightful holiday listen: 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.

©2023 Jenny Colgan (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Narrator Eilidh Beaton wraps listeners in a warm Christmas blanket while introducing the delights of an Edinburgh holiday.... Every character becomes a person listeners will want to meet. From the tacky businessman Jackson McClockerty to Carmen's sister's roguish 'manny,' Rudi, no one escapes Beaton's attention. Beaton perfectly evokes Carmen's four nieces and nephews, in particular, officious Pippa and earnest Phoebe, who serve as sibling foils. Carmen's many worries sound both funny and heartfelt. The story, whose plot rises and falls like Edinburgh's hilly streets, is both a paean to the city and a nod to how its contemporary inhabitants find meaning during the Christmas holidays." (AudioFIle)

Such a sweet story!

I needed something light and fun. This was perfect! I love Jenny Colgan’s books. The bookshop series is adorable.

The details of the bookstore, and the town of Edinburgh surrounding it

I love this book. I wish you could go on and on and on.I wish there were more in the series.

Another wonderful Jenny Colgan story

I really enjoyed the warmth in this story. So nice to see the characters developing

Lovely christmas story

Good reader, different voices. I could really see the scenes in my head. Edinburg in its finest settings.

Sweet Christmas story.

Easy to listen to. Sweet story. Nice setting in Edinburgh. Perfect for the Christmas season.

I want to visit this bookshop!

It took forever to get to the happy ending even though there were many moments of delight along the way. I was very nervous that it would never happen! I was hoping the old poet would share a new poem, surreptitiously to be found amongst the stacks. I loved the descriptions of Edinburgh, but it sounds unbelievable so I’m just going to have to visit there, but maybe not at Christmastime. Summer would be good!

I love this story

I loved the continuation of Carmen's story with the resolution in her family and her personal growth.

A book about a bookstore

An ordinary romance, but the book’s main character, the bookstore, is a fascinating character. Pleasantly written. The book plays on the difference between the outsiders image of a perfect Edinburgh, and insiders who have a city that is good and bad, but essentially a great city.

What a satisfying follow up.

What a Christmas treat it was to get more Carmen. One of my top favorite stories to help ease into the joy of Christmas. Highly recommend listening to book 1 first but this works as a stand alone also.

Great Christmas Story

I really like the narrator and how she changed her voice of each character. The story was told with some emotion but not too overwhelming. I loved the story!