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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
No
Emily Stone is one of my must-read authors, and she didn’t disappoint in this winter’s novel. Classic enemies to friends, I really enjoyed these characters and the way they were pulled together. Worth a read.
The only thing that had me disconnected was the actual wishing jar (not a spoiler). It felt forced.
The only thing that had me disconnected was the actual wishing jar (not a spoiler). It felt forced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Lexie learns of her father’s death, she’s shocked to find he’s left her half of his successful holiday travel company, with the other half going to Theo, a handsome but moody executive. The will forces them to work together for a year before deciding the company’s future. Though Lexie plans to leave afterward, a work trip sparks undeniable chemistry between her & Theo. Despite their initial judgments, mixing business & pleasure proves complicated.
I felt like this story was repetitive. I liked all the different traveling & scenery, descriptions of other countries and their cultures/traditions, but the issues and internal battles just felt dragged out. In essence, I think this book could have been shorter. There were also a ton of characters, which I thought was unnecessary. Although the cover might make this seem like a holiday read, I wouldn't classify it as such... I will say that this might work for those who like the 'enemies to lovers' trope.
I felt like this story was repetitive. I liked all the different traveling & scenery, descriptions of other countries and their cultures/traditions, but the issues and internal battles just felt dragged out. In essence, I think this book could have been shorter. There were also a ton of characters, which I thought was unnecessary. Although the cover might make this seem like a holiday read, I wouldn't classify it as such... I will say that this might work for those who like the 'enemies to lovers' trope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia
I had read One Last Gift by Emily Stone and was excited to receive an ARC of her newest release.
Lexie has always felt abandoned by her father. He left her and her mom to marry a younger women and start a new family with her. Lexie drifted from him and never put much effort in when he would reach out. She is startled by his unexpected death and even more shocked to discover that her father left her half of his travel business.
This is a book that has some meat on its bones and isn't just a pure romance story which is not a bad thing. Just don't let the cover sway you.
Possible triggers: Sudden loss, parental loss, parental abandonment
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lexie has always felt abandoned by her father. He left her and her mom to marry a younger women and start a new family with her. Lexie drifted from him and never put much effort in when he would reach out. She is startled by his unexpected death and even more shocked to discover that her father left her half of his travel business.
This is a book that has some meat on its bones and isn't just a pure romance story which is not a bad thing. Just don't let the cover sway you.
Possible triggers: Sudden loss, parental loss, parental abandonment
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’ve been really looking forward to this book, I read three of Emily’s books around this time last year and absolutely loved them.
I really enjoyed the storyline and I loved Lexie & Theo - I do wish it was a bit more centred around Christmas but for the storyline I can see why it was spread out so much. This was a really lovely read!
I really enjoyed the storyline and I loved Lexie & Theo - I do wish it was a bit more centred around Christmas but for the storyline I can see why it was spread out so much. This was a really lovely read!
emotional
hopeful
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
Sometimes holiday books can be too sappy for me but this one wasn’t at all! Heartwarming and a great coming of age story. All the feels. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review
Christmas in July with A Winter Wish
“She’d never lose what she had here. Because these people were her home. And really, it didn’t get much better than that, did it?”
Despite not having a real relationship with her dad in years, Lexie is left half of his travel company when he dies, with the expectation of her running the company with Theo, who owns the other half, for at least one year. This year at the company brings with it snap judgements, several work trips, and lots of self-discovery.
I love Emily’s books. I love that they are always centered around the holidays, but at their core are so much more. And this was no exception. I loved that Lexie and Theo made several assumptions about each other at the beginning, but through working together, they find how similar they really are. I loved that through the company, Lexie is able to uncover other versions of her dad, most that don’t align with the person she knew, but that open her eyes to the man he was trying to be for her. With this, family is a major theme, both the family we are born into and the family we find and choose along the way. I loved that Lexie was able to finally feel at home with the people around her. And of course, I loved the celebration destinations…makes me want to start traveling more, especially to similar festivals and/or destinations!
A Winter Wish comes out October 15!
Thank you to Netgalley, Emily Stone, and Random House Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
“She’d never lose what she had here. Because these people were her home. And really, it didn’t get much better than that, did it?”
Despite not having a real relationship with her dad in years, Lexie is left half of his travel company when he dies, with the expectation of her running the company with Theo, who owns the other half, for at least one year. This year at the company brings with it snap judgements, several work trips, and lots of self-discovery.
I love Emily’s books. I love that they are always centered around the holidays, but at their core are so much more. And this was no exception. I loved that Lexie and Theo made several assumptions about each other at the beginning, but through working together, they find how similar they really are. I loved that through the company, Lexie is able to uncover other versions of her dad, most that don’t align with the person she knew, but that open her eyes to the man he was trying to be for her. With this, family is a major theme, both the family we are born into and the family we find and choose along the way. I loved that Lexie was able to finally feel at home with the people around her. And of course, I loved the celebration destinations…makes me want to start traveling more, especially to similar festivals and/or destinations!
A Winter Wish comes out October 15!
Thank you to Netgalley, Emily Stone, and Random House Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Anything Emily Stone writes, I will read! Get some tissues and get comfortable! This novel brought so much more depth than I expected from a holiday read.
Lexie leads a nomadic lifestyle but finds out her estranged father has passed away, leaving her his travel business.
Before leaving his family for his mistress, Lexie’s family traveled quite a lot. It became a Christmas tradition to travel the world. The abandonment she felt left her feeling angry and confused. Not only did he leave her his travel business, but he also stipulated that she run the business with a co-owner, Theo. Despite some push back on Lexie’s part, she and Theo grow closer together through a lot of deep conversation and travel.
Definitely add this one to your list! Also, if you haven’t read Always, In December by Emily Stone you should also add that to your TBR this holiday season! Thank you to Dell Romance and NetGalley for this advanced copy!
Lexie leads a nomadic lifestyle but finds out her estranged father has passed away, leaving her his travel business.
Before leaving his family for his mistress, Lexie’s family traveled quite a lot. It became a Christmas tradition to travel the world. The abandonment she felt left her feeling angry and confused. Not only did he leave her his travel business, but he also stipulated that she run the business with a co-owner, Theo. Despite some push back on Lexie’s part, she and Theo grow closer together through a lot of deep conversation and travel.
Definitely add this one to your list! Also, if you haven’t read Always, In December by Emily Stone you should also add that to your TBR this holiday season! Thank you to Dell Romance and NetGalley for this advanced copy!