Scan barcode
zetty91's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
2.5
This story had potential but I found it poorly written. There was not a single point of conflict that couldn’t have been overcome with a brief conversation. The writing (especially in the first third) was very repetitive, which is common in a romance but this was overly so. The ending was also unnecessarily cruel. It seemed to be thrown in for the sake of shock factor and added absolutely no sense of realistic resolution to the story. I really hate that kind of twist and ending, which ultimately made me seriously dislike the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
karyan1's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Cancer, Car accident, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy
emmehooks's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
As a queer person who avoids Hallmark-style straight people romance, I had LOW expectations for this book.
Was I in love with the girl meets boy and they fall in love after 3 days storyline? Nah. Was I sold by all the coincidental meetings and their love/hate/forbidden love dynamics? No. Did it conform to my stereotyped expectations? Mostly.
That being said, I did get teary eyed at the end of the book. It was written well and the emotional aspects are relatable in a lot of ways. If you like straight romances and Hallmark-sequence tragedy with a silver lining, you’ll probably like it.
Was I in love with the girl meets boy and they fall in love after 3 days storyline? Nah. Was I sold by all the coincidental meetings and their love/hate/forbidden love dynamics? No. Did it conform to my stereotyped expectations? Mostly.
That being said, I did get teary eyed at the end of the book. It was written well and the emotional aspects are relatable in a lot of ways. If you like straight romances and Hallmark-sequence tragedy with a silver lining, you’ll probably like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Infidelity
martamae77's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
hannahglenn's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Car accident, and Death
Moderate: Fatphobia and Infidelity
Minor: Suicide
hudonnoodles's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I came for a light and fun Holiday read and left having to put the book down to sob. I was not prepared for this in any way and loved it.
The entire book has a melancholy feel as it explores death and grieving while living and loving. A beautiful heart wrenching love story.
The entire book has a melancholy feel as it explores death and grieving while living and loving. A beautiful heart wrenching love story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
jaelh's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
jhankin8's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Sexual content, Medical content, and Death of parent
thrillofthepage's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Happy Tuesday! After feeling less than stellar last week I have a couple reviews to catch up on.
First up is Always, in December by @emstonewrites. I knew going in that this book would be emotional, but wow. I cried…a lot. Stone knows how to write characters you fall in love with and feel invested in. I absolutely adored Josie and Max, Memo, Bea, all the people we met. Well, I didn’t like Oliver because he was a jerk 😂 The relationships between our characters are authentic and moving. I was fully committed to seeing how each relationship would play out and how the story would end.
Several people have mentioned that they are waiting until December to read this one. Yes, December is mentioned in the title, but it isn’t wholly set during that month. In fact, the story starts off at Christmastime and then moves on throughout the following year. I think this is a perfect book to read any time of year. Especially if you’re feeling extra emotional.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration of Heather Long was superb. She really brought the characters to life and conveyed so much emotion. I truly felt like I knew Josie, Max, Oliver, Bea, and Memo. If you like fiction audiobooks then I highly recommend this one!
TW: loss of a parent, grief, infidelity, and others that you should DM me about if curious.
First up is Always, in December by @emstonewrites. I knew going in that this book would be emotional, but wow. I cried…a lot. Stone knows how to write characters you fall in love with and feel invested in. I absolutely adored Josie and Max, Memo, Bea, all the people we met. Well, I didn’t like Oliver because he was a jerk 😂 The relationships between our characters are authentic and moving. I was fully committed to seeing how each relationship would play out and how the story would end.
Several people have mentioned that they are waiting until December to read this one. Yes, December is mentioned in the title, but it isn’t wholly set during that month. In fact, the story starts off at Christmastime and then moves on throughout the following year. I think this is a perfect book to read any time of year. Especially if you’re feeling extra emotional.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration of Heather Long was superb. She really brought the characters to life and conveyed so much emotion. I truly felt like I knew Josie, Max, Oliver, Bea, and Memo. If you like fiction audiobooks then I highly recommend this one!
TW: loss of a parent, grief, infidelity, and others that you should DM me about if curious.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness
kiercarnahan's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
THIS. BOOK.
1. Do not read this expecting a warn, feel good, Christmas story. It is not that.
2. You will most likely expecting all 5 stages of grief while reading this.
3. You will be absolutely GUTTED by it. Like In Five Years gutted.
4. It will potentially be your best book of the year.
Honestly not even sure where to start with Always, in December. Once I started it, I had to finish it so I stayed up late reading which resulted in me going to bed wrecked, in tears. The story of Josie and Max will take hold of you and whip you around. It does start at Christmas time and end back in December of the following year but it isn't a Christmas story. The story skips forward months at a time, tracking Max and Josie. I really don't want to say much else because you just need to read it for yourself.
1. Do not read this expecting a warn, feel good, Christmas story. It is not that.
2. You will most likely expecting all 5 stages of grief while reading this.
3. You will be absolutely GUTTED by it. Like In Five Years gutted.
4. It will potentially be your best book of the year.
Honestly not even sure where to start with Always, in December. Once I started it, I had to finish it so I stayed up late reading which resulted in me going to bed wrecked, in tears. The story of Josie and Max will take hold of you and whip you around. It does start at Christmas time and end back in December of the following year but it isn't a Christmas story. The story skips forward months at a time, tracking Max and Josie. I really don't want to say much else because you just need to read it for yourself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent