News: Reader Reactions To Theodora Quirke
Caroline Smailes
‘Not only is it a beautiful read in itself, the issues contained within resonated in many ways & possibly helped me better approach an inevitably tough Christmas ahead. Thank you for sharing. Its depth, heart & humour make it a must read novel, a festive message worth sharing’ Johnny Vegas
‘I’m just so in love with Caroline Smailes’ writing. I laughed, I cried, I’m in the festive spirit and I definitely believe in St Nick’ Carrie Hope Fletcher
‘From someone born and bred in a working class scouse family- I feel represented by Theo Quirke’ @Urban Bookworm
'It has aspects of It’s A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol but with more swearing and Northern humour. The shining light of this book is the belief that no matter how bad things get, they will get better. It is the perfect story for Christmas, especially this year' @The Publishing Post
'This is vintage Caroline Smailes – quirky offbeat, magical, shot through with dark humour and yet ultimately uplifting and moving. A bewitching and unique tale I’ll be gifting far and wide this Christmas’ @sophieglorita
'I've said it many times before, Caroline Smailes is MAGIC! And Theodora Quirke proves it. The best book I have read this year! 12/10 (my highest rating EVER!)' @Tishylou
'A Christmas delight from start to finish' @The Little Contemporary Corner
'With a lot of laughs, a little heartbreak, some villainous behaviour, and some plotting and scheming, The Unwrapping of Theodora Quirke was a brilliant story of love and friendship, and a lot of Christmas spirit’ @GeordieDeeDee
'Caroline’s writing is special, it grabs a hold of you and seeps into your skin' @VictoriaLovesBooks
'Yes it’s Northern, yes it’s gritty, yes it’s sweary and London gave up on me and on the book as a result. I guess I've something to prove' Liverpool Echo
'It had me in tears at some parts but laughing out loud at others!' @Coffee Break
'This is a brilliant, warm and witty take on the tale of visiting Christmas past' @Janet Emson
'This glorious book, caused me to howl with laughter one minute and sob buckets the next, it is utterly hopeful and wonderful and you will truly miss out on an exceptional read if you don’t get a copy' @The Fallen Librarian
‘A perfect festive (but not too festive) book to curl up with right now, and remind ourselves to appreciate the true value of our own miracles during these crazy times’ @Emma’s Bookery
‘The Unwrapping Of Theodora Quirke explores the fragility that a person is left with after a great loss, and whilst some pages journey through the darkness of grief, others bring a sense of hope. Add into that the hilarity that comes naturally to Smailes and you have a story that speaks straight to your heart and resonates with the soul!’ @Kirsty Marie
'It wasn’t what I expected and it’s not a Christmas love story like most Christmas themed books, but it's because of this that it stands out from the crowd and offers something different. If you liked A Christmas Carol and enjoy films about St Nick – NOT Santa, then this is a book for you!' @This Hannah Reads
‘An endearing and hopeful read; if there’s only one book you’re planning to read during the festive season, make sure this is it’ @mrscookesbooks
'I normally read the romantic Christmas stories, so reading this funny quirky book made an awesome refreshing change.' @bookpage5
‘From someone born and bred in a working class scouse family- I feel represented by Theo Quirke’ @Urban Bookworm
'It has aspects of It’s A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol but with more swearing and Northern humour. The shining light of this book is the belief that no matter how bad things get, they will get better. It is the perfect story for Christmas, especially this year' @The Publishing Post
'This is vintage Caroline Smailes – quirky offbeat, magical, shot through with dark humour and yet ultimately uplifting and moving. A bewitching and unique tale I’ll be gifting far and wide this Christmas’ @sophieglorita
'I've said it many times before, Caroline Smailes is MAGIC! And Theodora Quirke proves it. The best book I have read this year! 12/10 (my highest rating EVER!)' @Tishylou
'A Christmas delight from start to finish' @The Little Contemporary Corner
'With a lot of laughs, a little heartbreak, some villainous behaviour, and some plotting and scheming, The Unwrapping of Theodora Quirke was a brilliant story of love and friendship, and a lot of Christmas spirit’ @GeordieDeeDee
'Caroline’s writing is special, it grabs a hold of you and seeps into your skin' @VictoriaLovesBooks
'Yes it’s Northern, yes it’s gritty, yes it’s sweary and London gave up on me and on the book as a result. I guess I've something to prove' Liverpool Echo
'It had me in tears at some parts but laughing out loud at others!' @Coffee Break
'This is a brilliant, warm and witty take on the tale of visiting Christmas past' @Janet Emson
'This glorious book, caused me to howl with laughter one minute and sob buckets the next, it is utterly hopeful and wonderful and you will truly miss out on an exceptional read if you don’t get a copy' @The Fallen Librarian
‘A perfect festive (but not too festive) book to curl up with right now, and remind ourselves to appreciate the true value of our own miracles during these crazy times’ @Emma’s Bookery
‘The Unwrapping Of Theodora Quirke explores the fragility that a person is left with after a great loss, and whilst some pages journey through the darkness of grief, others bring a sense of hope. Add into that the hilarity that comes naturally to Smailes and you have a story that speaks straight to your heart and resonates with the soul!’ @Kirsty Marie
'It wasn’t what I expected and it’s not a Christmas love story like most Christmas themed books, but it's because of this that it stands out from the crowd and offers something different. If you liked A Christmas Carol and enjoy films about St Nick – NOT Santa, then this is a book for you!' @This Hannah Reads
‘An endearing and hopeful read; if there’s only one book you’re planning to read during the festive season, make sure this is it’ @mrscookesbooks
'I normally read the romantic Christmas stories, so reading this funny quirky book made an awesome refreshing change.' @bookpage5
‘The author’s writing is just magical, she is able to write about characters who feel so real that you are emotionally attached to each one. To be able to make me laugh one minute and then sob the next shows you how talented she is to get a reaction out of readers like that’ @Bookish Reads and Me
‘A genre-defying Christmas book’ @Sparkles Books
'I don’t know how the author came up with such an original idea for a story but coupled with her trademark brilliant and sweary voice it makes for a winning combination' @Short book and Scribes
'There were some phrases that were so real to me that they made me stop in my tracks – thoughts about fear, about expectation and what we miss out on if we don’t have faith in ourselves. The terror of realising you’ve had a life half lived' @Urban Bookworm
‘Crossed between A Christmas Carol and The Grinch who Stole Christmas, Caroline Smaile's latest novel, The Unwrapping of Theodora Quirke, is a festive story about redemption and coping with loss, is a book full of hope and is exactly what we need for 2020's festive period' @Jessica Patient.