I’m delighted to be sharing my thoughts about Let the Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson.
This beautifully written festive tale captures the true meaning of connection, kindness, and finding light when the world feels dark.
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- Category : Contemporary Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster UK
- Publication date : 23 Oct. 2025
- Language : English
- Print length : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1398547069
- ISBN-13 : 978-1398547063
Seven people, four days and a snowy Christmas on board a luxury sleeper train. This festive season getting away from it all takes on a new meaning…
The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas.
Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.
This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever?
Let the Bells Ring Out Review
OMG — what a magical story! Let the Bells Ring Out is the perfect read for this time of year, with a setting that captures the spirit of Christmas and characters who draw you in from the very first page … and something subtle that is anything but!
I loved how the atmosphere of the story shifts throughout. It begins with that frantic rush as our characters hurry to get to where they’re going, carrying with them a sense of stress and abandonment. Then comes the isolation of the train — strangers brought together, unsure of what lies ahead. Slowly, bonds form, friendships bloom, and we move from fear and uncertainty to celebration, warmth, and eventually the sadness of parting ways. Milly Johnson beautifully balances light and shade. I felt wrapped in emotional warmth amid that cold snowstorm.
I found it so easy to be pulled in emotionally by each and every character. They all have something internal they need to face — something to untangle and share before they can move on. And the isolation on the train is the perfect place for this to happen. This vulnerability draws them all together and helps us to understand them better.
Each character has something that helps another, and it feels as though fate has brought this particular group of people together. But this story is more than that – there’s another element entirely that blew my mind!
I finished the story feeling even more in awe of Milly Johnson and her ability to weave magic into human connection.
There are many ‘crackers’ (pun intended!) scattered throughout the story, but one quote that’s really stayed with me comes from Roo, in response to Elizabeth:
“I’m just wading through life trying to find a coat that fits.”
What a perfect explanation — and something I’m sure we can all completely relate to.
There’s another thing that I’ve become aware of thanks to this story – it’s something that helps me (we fairly recently had to say goodbye to our family dog of almost 17 years) and I’m very grateful to now be able to acknowledge when this happens. Thanks Milly (or maybe I should be thanking Jane …).
I’ve loved everything about this story. And think about it often. It sits firmly in my heart and tops every book I’ve read of Milly’s.
Let the Bells Ring Out is Milly Johnson at her absolute best — heartfelt, uplifting, and full of warmth. It’s a story about connection, courage, and the quiet magic of hope. A festive read that lingers long after the last page, reminding us that sometimes, the greatest journeys are the ones that bring us home to ourselves.
Author Info
Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. A Sunday Times bestseller, she is one of the Top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK, and has sold millions of copies of her books sold across the world. Same Time Next Week is her twenty-second novel. Milly’s writing highlights the importance of community spirit and the magic of kindness. Her books inspire and uplift but she packs a punch and never shies away from the hard realities of life and the complexities of relationships in her stories. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience, and celebrate love, friendship and the possibility and joy of second chances and renaissances. She writes stories about ordinary women and the extraordinary things that happen in their ordinary lives. Catch Milly on her website, Facebook author page, Intagram, X/Twitter
