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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
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
Emily Stone writes romance with substance. This story follows an enemies to lovers romance trope, but it is SO much more than that. Her characters feel very fleshed out, and you can understand the motivations of each one. Lexie, the female MC, struggles with her relationship to her father-now deceased- while being very close to her mother. Theo, meanwhile, was very close to her father (while being distanced from his own parents,) and there's the source of the conflict with the two in the beginning. Meanwhile, other characters like Lexie's sister, her friend, and people from work have their own relatable issues. This story ends with a happy-ever-after but arrives there in a realistic way. I love all the Christmas vibes (especially Christmas in July since I read in the heat of summer) and small travel descriptions. This was a fun book to read with some tough issues to think through. I look forward to Emily Stone's next work!
I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my own honest review. Thanks!
I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my own honest review. Thanks!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
Is this me finally defeating my reading slump? (Not fully out, please stay tuned)
There’s something rather deranged about reading a Christmas romance in the middle of a scorching summer that makes it the ultimate escapist reading session. While this book navigates different seasons, there is a certain holiday feel to it—which makes me eagerly count down the days until it becomes socially acceptable to countdown to Christmas (probably September).
I actually really loved the depth Emily gives her characters in this story. God, I sound like a broken record saying this, but the book is very much The Bolter in writing. Think—woman with abandonment issues who runs away from commitment & refuses to put down her roots because she’s distrustful of people. Then add the grumpiest yet lovably protective MC (with his own self-worth issues). What do you get? A match made in heaven. Oh—and the perfect book for anyone who doesn’t know what they’re doing with their life. Except with Christmas in July? It’s hard to explain.
If you resonate with any of those issues AND if you love traveling, I think you’re going to really like this one. I do think the romance felt a little rushed at first, and it was a bit undeveloped in a way that I couldn’t really justify the way they started. But! Emily’s writing is so good and chockful of “damn I felt that” statements; so much so that you and help but forgive the beginning for what it was. I’ve been seeing a lot of her books around the bookstores, and this was pretty much the affirming sign I needed to pick up her other books (which I heard were amazing!). Most of them are Christmas themed, but if that’s what it takes to pull me out of my reading slump, then so be it.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes
Emily Stone always knocks if out of the park with a heartfelt Christmas novel. I do love that Christmas is a brief moment with some significant to the MC. It allows us to get more of the characters throughout time, to really develop relationships and whatever drama there might be.
I did love how Lexie handled her issues throughout the year. It was clear that Stone does a great job writing adult characters. While Lexie ran away a lot from her past she knew where her faults were. She knew what worked and what didn’t for her life style and acknowledged at times that she might have to change.
I loved her respect and relationship with her mom and friend. It felt real, not wanting to hurt her mom by asking about her dad. And I loved the different trips we got to go on with Lexie as she worked for her dad’s company.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for the my review.
I did love how Lexie handled her issues throughout the year. It was clear that Stone does a great job writing adult characters. While Lexie ran away a lot from her past she knew where her faults were. She knew what worked and what didn’t for her life style and acknowledged at times that she might have to change.
I loved her respect and relationship with her mom and friend. It felt real, not wanting to hurt her mom by asking about her dad. And I loved the different trips we got to go on with Lexie as she worked for her dad’s company.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for the my review.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
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 received this advanced reader copy from #netgalley in return for my honest review.
Lexie grew up with an absentee father and memories of amazing Christmases spent around Europe. She now lives a fairly nomadic lifestyle and is currently a nanny at a ski resort in the Alps. But a call from her mother with the news that her father is dead comes as a shock and she makes the trip home. She is soon told that her father left her half of his travel business which sells the wonderful holidays she grew up with to the masses.
Bitter, heartbroken, and full of memories she meets Theo, the owner of the other half of the business and he hates her on sight. They are told they have to work together for one year and if, only if, the business turns a profit can they sell. The two eventually work together and learn more about each other.
For a book whose whole premise is the miscommunication trope, I should have hated this from the first word, and don't get me wrong I can't stand it. But the book kind of redeems itself, instead of some accidental revelation that makes everyone immediately change their tune, the two of them slowly get to know each other, get to know each other's side of the story, and grow to realize they compliment each other very well. Lexie resonated with me and I totally understood how she could hold onto so much anger and still remember the joy.
Lexie grew up with an absentee father and memories of amazing Christmases spent around Europe. She now lives a fairly nomadic lifestyle and is currently a nanny at a ski resort in the Alps. But a call from her mother with the news that her father is dead comes as a shock and she makes the trip home. She is soon told that her father left her half of his travel business which sells the wonderful holidays she grew up with to the masses.
Bitter, heartbroken, and full of memories she meets Theo, the owner of the other half of the business and he hates her on sight. They are told they have to work together for one year and if, only if, the business turns a profit can they sell. The two eventually work together and learn more about each other.
For a book whose whole premise is the miscommunication trope, I should have hated this from the first word, and don't get me wrong I can't stand it. But the book kind of redeems itself, instead of some accidental revelation that makes everyone immediately change their tune, the two of them slowly get to know each other, get to know each other's side of the story, and grow to realize they compliment each other very well. Lexie resonated with me and I totally understood how she could hold onto so much anger and still remember the joy.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
This was an incredibly cute book. We have travel, we have crying, we have laughing,we have Christmas in July.
I think I truly enjoyed this book because if the characters. Not only does the plot have to be strong, but the characters have to support it. I felt like each character was unique and was well rounded so we get to know each one and everyone these for a purpose. Lexie and Theo have depth, they communicate, learn from their mistakes and grow. Ange and Rachel have to be my favorites for the meddling and be authentically themselves, including the crying.
My main critique would be about flow. I was ready to meet Fran earlier on since she’s mentioned a few times and that Lexie would be doing something with her but then we experience time jumps because those things didn’t happen as we read them. I think the flow could have been better between multiple chapters because it felt a little choppy to me.
I received an eARC from Penguin Random House via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think I truly enjoyed this book because if the characters. Not only does the plot have to be strong, but the characters have to support it. I felt like each character was unique and was well rounded so we get to know each one and everyone these for a purpose. Lexie and Theo have depth, they communicate, learn from their mistakes and grow. Ange and Rachel have to be my favorites for the meddling and be authentically themselves, including the crying.
My main critique would be about flow. I was ready to meet Fran earlier on since she’s mentioned a few times and that Lexie would be doing something with her but then we experience time jumps because those things didn’t happen as we read them. I think the flow could have been better between multiple chapters because it felt a little choppy to me.
I received an eARC from Penguin Random House via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
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
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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:
Complicated
I initially requested this book based upon the author alone. Emily Stone is an auto buy author for me & I love her holiday themed books. A Winter Wish was no different- this may be my new Emily Stone favorite. This book deals with the grieving process, enemies to lovers, & estranged family. Having a difficult relationship with my father at the time of his death, I was able to identify with Lexie & Stone did an amazing job portraying the details & difficulties of this relationship. Although there is loss & grief in this book, it is a very fun, fast read. I will definitely reread this one during the holidays!
Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.