Book review: The Christmas Express by Isla Gordon

I cannot believe I've been reading this author for 10 years almost to the day (even if her books were published under a different name at the time 👀), but I'm so happy that she's still writing festive rom coms as they've always been some of my absolute favourites! And her latest one takes place in Canada, the most magical place in the world. 🍁

About The Christmas Express

A group of friends lost touch after a feud nearly 5 years ago. But when one of them, Bryn, gets married all the way in Canada she invites her former friends to the wedding in the hopes of mending the broken relationships. 

What she hasn't told them, however, is that it won't be a quick flight from London. Once they arrive in Canada they have to take a cross-country train to Vancouver. Meaning they'll spending four days (and nights!) in close proximity of one another with no escape. 

Not only that, but Bryn's ex-girlfriend Ember also ends up on the same train. She believes Bryn's been sending her clues in social media messages to say that she's holding a torch for Ember and so she wants to see in person if there's still something there. 

Needless to say, the journey is anything but relaxing despite the idyllic Canadian landscape they are travelling through. As tensions rise, the group of ex-friends are forced to own up to mistakes from the past to try to clear the air before the day of the wedding, or risk ruining it entirely...

My review

I lived in Canada for a year and it will forever be one of my favourite places in the world. It's such a stunning country and I completely understand why author Isla Gordon set her latest Christmas novel there. I mean, what can possibly be more festive than snowcapped mountains and frozen waterfalls?! 

That's why my favourite parts of The Christmas Express were actually the ones that didn't take place on the train. I loved the little excursions the characters went on when they stopped at a town long enough to explore. I wish they'd had more time outside so as readers we could be truly transported to the stunning setting (instead of being confined in a train alongside conflicting emotions and rising tension). 

Because despite the seasonal delights in the novel – from cosy carol singing to a celestial carriage for stargazing – there is a lot of bickering amidst the ex-friends that makes this novel more of a drama than a comedy. Thankfully, though, there's still plenty of romance to befit the "rom" part of romcom, including a memorable moment in the sleeping cabins.

(Also, I noticed at least one easter egg mention of a previous book title by the same writer, which I thought was a very fun addition for those readers who have been with her since the beginning.) 

The Christmas Express is not as laugh-out-loud funny as you might expect from Isla Gordon. However, the unique setting and beautiful landscapes certainly make this a suitably festive read. So grab a steaming cup of your hot drink of choice, and settle in for a journey through beautiful snowy scenery, ex-lovers rekindling, and a group of former friends discovering what – and who – is truly important in their lives. 

The Christmas Express by Isla Gordon is published by Sphere (an imprint of Little, Brown) and you can now buy your copy from your favourite local book shop!


Disclaimer: This book was gifted to me, but this has not impacted this honest review.