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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Rating: I really liked it!
Pub Date: Oct 15
Thanks, @dellromance, for the arc! I enjoyed this book a lot. It was the book that wrapped up Christmas in July for me, and I thought it was perfect for it. It’s not really a Christmas book because it takes place all year long, but there are cozy Christmas/winter elements that I loved.
This book was a mix of family drama, romance, and a bit of self-discovery. It didn’t shatter me like other books by Emily Stone, and I was totally fine with that, lol.
After Lexie finds out her semi-estranged father has passed away and left her half of his business, she has to take a break from her nomadic life and relocate to Bath to fulfill the orders of his will. She meets Theo, the other co-owner and together they are like oil and water. Theo idolized her father, whereas Lexie only knew that he abandoned her as a child. There were a lot of complexities to the story, and I felt a lot of conflicting emotions based on everyone’s dynamics, but in the end, I really found myself just lost in this story and I enjoyed it!
I also really loved the travel aspects. It’s official: If a book has traveling in it, I will love it.
*goes to look for flights to Bath*
Pub Date: Oct 15
Thanks, @dellromance, for the arc! I enjoyed this book a lot. It was the book that wrapped up Christmas in July for me, and I thought it was perfect for it. It’s not really a Christmas book because it takes place all year long, but there are cozy Christmas/winter elements that I loved.
This book was a mix of family drama, romance, and a bit of self-discovery. It didn’t shatter me like other books by Emily Stone, and I was totally fine with that, lol.
After Lexie finds out her semi-estranged father has passed away and left her half of his business, she has to take a break from her nomadic life and relocate to Bath to fulfill the orders of his will. She meets Theo, the other co-owner and together they are like oil and water. Theo idolized her father, whereas Lexie only knew that he abandoned her as a child. There were a lot of complexities to the story, and I felt a lot of conflicting emotions based on everyone’s dynamics, but in the end, I really found myself just lost in this story and I enjoyed it!
I also really loved the travel aspects. It’s official: If a book has traveling in it, I will love it.
*goes to look for flights to Bath*
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Lexie's father left her and her mom when she was 7 to start a new family with his mistress and their child. She grew up being let down time and again and stopped talking to him 10 years ago. Now, she works at whatever job lets her keep from setting down roots and convinces herself she's happy like that. Except her dad passed away and left her half of his travel company, a company built around the trips they used to take before he left. Bad enough that she's forced to participate in running the company for a year, she also has to do it with handsome but grouchy Theo, who is quick to let her know he very much dislikes her.
It's a story that would have been solved in a few pages if anyone had just spoken up and said what they were thinking and then listened to the other side of the story. But then we wouldn't have gotten to read about Lexie and Theo slowly opening up to the possibility of more. And it's not just between the main couple; things would have been so much easier for everyone if only there had been the most basic communication. It's almost a warning of how wrong things can go if you bottle things up and don't speak to others about your feelings for them.
Aside from that, Stone does a great job of letting you slowly discover all the facets of the characters as they navigate some complicated dynamics and emotions. I appreciate how much importance is put into accepting that there are always two sides to every story and things might not be as simple as you might think.
It's sweet and romantic and you get to experience pretty much all of the emotions. You'll also walk away with a major desire to travel and experience everything the world has to offer.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the romantic read!
It's a story that would have been solved in a few pages if anyone had just spoken up and said what they were thinking and then listened to the other side of the story. But then we wouldn't have gotten to read about Lexie and Theo slowly opening up to the possibility of more. And it's not just between the main couple; things would have been so much easier for everyone if only there had been the most basic communication. It's almost a warning of how wrong things can go if you bottle things up and don't speak to others about your feelings for them.
Aside from that, Stone does a great job of letting you slowly discover all the facets of the characters as they navigate some complicated dynamics and emotions. I appreciate how much importance is put into accepting that there are always two sides to every story and things might not be as simple as you might think.
It's sweet and romantic and you get to experience pretty much all of the emotions. You'll also walk away with a major desire to travel and experience everything the world has to offer.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the romantic read!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked the idea of this book - it would have been a super cute “enemies” to lovers romance, but it was missing some key aspects for me that unfortunately has the romance side of the story fall super flat.
I really loved the idea of the travel company, i think there was such a special opportunity to build chemistry and romance between the two characters, but I didn’t feel that at all.
There was 0 tension built and the build up, in my opinion, wasn’t super entertaining. Due to that i didn’t find my self rooting for them, i got to the point where i really didn’t care if they got together or not.
I felt that for a holiday romance, it lacked a lot of holiday aspects / that cozy feeling you get when reading a holiday romance..
It had potential and i loved the FMCs growth, but overall it wasn’t my favorite.
I really loved the idea of the travel company, i think there was such a special opportunity to build chemistry and romance between the two characters, but I didn’t feel that at all.
There was 0 tension built and the build up, in my opinion, wasn’t super entertaining. Due to that i didn’t find my self rooting for them, i got to the point where i really didn’t care if they got together or not.
I felt that for a holiday romance, it lacked a lot of holiday aspects / that cozy feeling you get when reading a holiday romance..
It had potential and i loved the FMCs growth, but overall it wasn’t my favorite.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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:
Yes
I have relied on Emily Stone for the past few years to give me a holiday read with substance to offset the "Hallmark movie" lightness of some of my other festive reads. This year's entry, A Winter Wish, contains the festive depth that I've come to expect from this fantastic author. Lexi and Theo each inherit half of a travel agency after the death of Lexi's father. Lexi and her dad had a complicated, distant relationship and it was heartwarming to see Lexi reconnect with her dad a bit after his death as she works with Theo to run his travel agency. It was entertaining to watch Lexi and Theo work together (even if it killed them) as stipulated in the will. I also loved the chance to armchair travel along with these characters!
Perfect for fans of grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and those seeking a meaningful read that's dressed in tinsel. Emily Stone has become one of my favorite holiday traditions!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing (Ballantine, Dell) for the opportunity to escape with Lexi and Theo in exchange for my honest review.
Perfect for fans of grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and those seeking a meaningful read that's dressed in tinsel. Emily Stone has become one of my favorite holiday traditions!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing (Ballantine, Dell) for the opportunity to escape with Lexi and Theo in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No