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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
emotional
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
A Winter Wish
By: Emily Stone
4 stars
Thank you PRH Audio for this gifted audiobook and Dell for this eARC!
Having read Love, Holly earlier this year, I was so excited to get the ARC of A Winter Wish! Emily Stone does an amazing job of writing winter-time books without shoving Christmas down your throat. Winter is just a subtle background to the overall story and for that, I am grateful!
The story follows Lexie, a late 20’s traveler who doesn’t settle down in one place for long as she learns of her father’s death. She has an estranged relationship with her father who left her and her mother when she was young to remarry and have another child with. All her life, Lexie has struggled with her feelings on her father, this man who was once the world to her who left her feeling less than when he left for his new family. After his funeral, she learns that her father has left her his traveling company, R&L Travel, but she has to split it with his associate, Theo. The catch is, she has to stick to it for a year or she loses any potential income, forcing her to take a step back from her traveling lifestyle and stay put to try and make a go at his company her father started. The problem lies not only with staying put, but with this man Theo who she doesn’t know, but clearly doesn’t like her.
Lexie grapples with the version of her father that she knew, while learning who he was to not only Theo, but her half sister, Rachel. She battles with loving this company her father made, that mirrors her own values while trying to truly process that her father is now dead and they had so much unresolved between them. I loved that throughout the story we learn more about Lexie and Theo’s backstory, and through their forced relationship, they begin to work through their grief and learn to trust one another. Their chemistry was at first very prickly and eventually they heat up over the course of months until they’re unable to resist one another.
While the blossoming romance was a wonderful part of the story, I wish we got more from Lexie’s evolving perspective of her father and he relationship with her half sister. At times I felt bad for Lexie for being forced into this position, being told as a grown woman that she HAS to do this for a year while also being manipulated into situations by his assistant, Ange, such as her booking a trip and not telling her Theo was there. Sort of forcing her hand at times. I guess for the overall plot it worked but in real life I would be furious?
It’s a wonderful read for anyone looking for:
-Overcoming a parental loss
-Reconnecting with yourself
-Slow-burn romance
-Travel
-Wintertime reads
By: Emily Stone
4 stars
Thank you PRH Audio for this gifted audiobook and Dell for this eARC!
Having read Love, Holly earlier this year, I was so excited to get the ARC of A Winter Wish! Emily Stone does an amazing job of writing winter-time books without shoving Christmas down your throat. Winter is just a subtle background to the overall story and for that, I am grateful!
The story follows Lexie, a late 20’s traveler who doesn’t settle down in one place for long as she learns of her father’s death. She has an estranged relationship with her father who left her and her mother when she was young to remarry and have another child with. All her life, Lexie has struggled with her feelings on her father, this man who was once the world to her who left her feeling less than when he left for his new family. After his funeral, she learns that her father has left her his traveling company, R&L Travel, but she has to split it with his associate, Theo. The catch is, she has to stick to it for a year or she loses any potential income, forcing her to take a step back from her traveling lifestyle and stay put to try and make a go at his company her father started. The problem lies not only with staying put, but with this man Theo who she doesn’t know, but clearly doesn’t like her.
Lexie grapples with the version of her father that she knew, while learning who he was to not only Theo, but her half sister, Rachel. She battles with loving this company her father made, that mirrors her own values while trying to truly process that her father is now dead and they had so much unresolved between them. I loved that throughout the story we learn more about Lexie and Theo’s backstory, and through their forced relationship, they begin to work through their grief and learn to trust one another. Their chemistry was at first very prickly and eventually they heat up over the course of months until they’re unable to resist one another.
While the blossoming romance was a wonderful part of the story, I wish we got more from Lexie’s evolving perspective of her father and he relationship with her half sister. At times I felt bad for Lexie for being forced into this position, being told as a grown woman that she HAS to do this for a year while also being manipulated into situations by his assistant, Ange, such as her booking a trip and not telling her Theo was there. Sort of forcing her hand at times. I guess for the overall plot it worked but in real life I would be furious?
It’s a wonderful read for anyone looking for:
-Overcoming a parental loss
-Reconnecting with yourself
-Slow-burn romance
-Travel
-Wintertime reads
I absolutely love Emily Stone's writing. I don't usually like 3rd person POV but her writing always weaves together thoughtful plots, deep emotional characters, and even glimpses of some steamy moments that create a magical holiday romance.
A Wishful Wish is more of a self-discovery journey for Lexi, our FMC who inherits half of her estranged father's company. She & her father did not mend their relationship and it was a shock to her that he passed in the first place. Without giving any spoilers away, she must run the company alongside the other owner, Theo in a workplace enemies-to-lovers type of story with some holiday vibes. And while there is an element of romance with Theo, it's really through working with him that Lexi discovers more about her father. Lexi starts coming to terms with who her father was and realizing how his absence in her life and his choices impact how she lives her life. Can she accept his choices and let go of resentment?
There are some side characters like Lexi's half-sister Rachel & the meddling office leader Ange, who help move the story forward. I really appreciated Rachel's presence in this story and how she gave a window to the other side of Lexi's father.
I enjoyed the love story between her and Theo. I felt sad for both of them at times and was rooting for them in the end. This was a very slow burn where I wish we had more heat between them earlier on but overall I enjoyed their romance.
Overall, this was a really cute story that tugged all the right emotions and fit nicely into the holiday romance season.
A Wishful Wish is more of a self-discovery journey for Lexi, our FMC who inherits half of her estranged father's company. She & her father did not mend their relationship and it was a shock to her that he passed in the first place. Without giving any spoilers away, she must run the company alongside the other owner, Theo in a workplace enemies-to-lovers type of story with some holiday vibes. And while there is an element of romance with Theo, it's really through working with him that Lexi discovers more about her father. Lexi starts coming to terms with who her father was and realizing how his absence in her life and his choices impact how she lives her life. Can she accept his choices and let go of resentment?
There are some side characters like Lexi's half-sister Rachel & the meddling office leader Ange, who help move the story forward. I really appreciated Rachel's presence in this story and how she gave a window to the other side of Lexi's father.
I enjoyed the love story between her and Theo. I felt sad for both of them at times and was rooting for them in the end. This was a very slow burn where I wish we had more heat between them earlier on but overall I enjoyed their romance.
Overall, this was a really cute story that tugged all the right emotions and fit nicely into the holiday romance season.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lexie has inherited half of a travel agency from her estranged father and she has to work with Theo, who made a horrible first impression. They have a year to work together before they can sell.
This is the first Emily Stone book I have read. I really enjoy her style of writing. This book is a singular POV from Lexie with one chapter from Theo's standpoint. Enemies to lovers with a tiny bit of spice.
Lexie was a good FMC. She is obviously struggling with her father's death as they didn't really speak for many years. Lexie does seem to scare easily on things due to her past. Theo is sort of a mysterious MMC. I think the book does focus on the romance but it is really Lexie's story to tell. I felt a good connection to the other characters as well such as Lexie's half sister, Rachel, and her friend, Fran.
All in all, this book was a nice delightful read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.
This is the first Emily Stone book I have read. I really enjoy her style of writing. This book is a singular POV from Lexie with one chapter from Theo's standpoint. Enemies to lovers with a tiny bit of spice.
Lexie was a good FMC. She is obviously struggling with her father's death as they didn't really speak for many years. Lexie does seem to scare easily on things due to her past. Theo is sort of a mysterious MMC. I think the book does focus on the romance but it is really Lexie's story to tell. I felt a good connection to the other characters as well such as Lexie's half sister, Rachel, and her friend, Fran.
All in all, this book was a nice delightful read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.
emotional
hopeful
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
This was cute! I didn't connect as much with this book as I did with [b:Always, in December|57565808|Always, in December|Emily Stone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633452379l/57565808._SY75_.jpg|89188027], so this won't top my list of Emily Stone works, but I imagine lots of people will be especially moved by Lexie's journey with losing her dad.
*Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!*
*Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!*
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Yes
slow-paced
I jumped blindly into this book and I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed this book, it was an easy quick read. I do wish we got more conversation and communication between Theo and Lexi. But I loved the healing and the come to terms with loss within this book a lot. A fuller/ better review to come!