Let The Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson

 

Seven strangers are stranded together during a snowstorm. Luckily, they're on a luxury train and want for nothing. Each has issues they are dealing with in their personal lives. As they get to know each other, walls begin to tumble, and they find friendship and support among the other passengers.

One thing you can always guarantee from Milly Johnson is an uplifting story, after tugging at the heartstrings a little bit, involving a range of realistic characters. Let The Bells Ring Out offers all this, combined with a little bit of Christmas magic. If you've read I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day then you will know what to expect from this novel. Figgy Hollow even gets a brief mention. All the characters are new, apart from Brian, the voice of BBC Radio Brian.

It's December 23rd, and seven people are all making their way to various locations in the north when an unexpected snowstorm blows in. Their only hope of reaching their final destination is a short trip on a private train to a railway station with suitable connections. Unfortunately, the storm is so severe that the train becomes stranded in the middle of nowhere. The only staff on board are the driver and a guard, who both go to seek help, leaving the seven passengers alone on the train.

The Yorkshire Belle is no ordinary train; it belongs to a millionaire and is the height of luxury. As the strangers begin to make themselves at home, we learn all about their personal lives. As a reader, you are immediately sympathetic towards some of the characters, such as recently widowed Jane and Elizabeth, off to get engaged to someone she doesn't love. Uncertainty surrounds some of the others, particularly Tim, who is extremely prickly, despite being Santa at corporate events. 

With no end in sight for the storm, the stay on the train extends through to Boxing Day, giving everyone the chance to relax and learn more about each other. Each person has a reason not to be looking forward to Christmas, with many of them seeing no way out of their current situation. As they begin to share their problems, they are able to put things into perspective. A problem shared is a problem halved rings true, and as you would expect, by the end of the book, everyone can see light at the end of the tunnel. 

This is a wonderful festive read, filled with charm, a little bit of mystery, a lot of hope, and a sprinkle of magic.

Let The Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson will be published on 23rd October 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for a review copy.

Author Details

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. 

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.