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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know how I feel about this book! I loved it and hated it at the same time! I get it, don’t get me wrong but damn could they have any some actually time together?! And did she really need to lose a third person around Christmas?! however, I did have a good cry during this book, which was nice.
If you are looking for a feel-good story that takes place at Christmas time, keep looking. This is not it. This book is saturated with tragedy and profoundly sad. I also found the writing cringe-y. :(
Always, in December, Josie sends a letter to someone she knows can never read it. It's not just the snow makes December cold for Josie, but the haunting memories of the life that was taken away from her two decades ago. And to top it all off, she's just discovered her boyfriend cheated on her and she's being made redundant after the new year. Right now, all the bright lights and festive music just remind her how alone she is.
Max knows what it's like to feel alone. Finding him stuck on his own in London just days before Christmas, he's surrounded by people celebrating but feels completely alone.
But this year, on Josies' usual trip to the postbox, her and Max collide and knock each other off course in the most remarkable ways. They've got a chance to rewrite their stories ... and this is only the first chapter of theirs.
"Well, maybe you're not going to find yourself.
Maybe you're going because you've finally found yourself."
Always, in December is a completely charming story that spans two Christmases, three countries and plenty of heartbreaks. A story about fate, about second changes and of course about love. Reading this felt like sitting by an open fire with a hot chocolate on Christmas Eve, just with a lot more tears.
I fell in love with Josie and Max instantly - I felt their spark from the moment they crashed into each other, always more like a warm bonfire than fireworks. There was a playful chemistry, a deep understanding between them that jumped off the pages. Of course, sometimes I just wanted to smash their heads together too - at times there were so many things that could be solved if they just talked properly, some deeply painful miscommunications that felt like something from a cheesy hallmark romance but I was still so invested in them all the same.
The other characters were wonderful, the whole supporting cast played their parts perfectly but I especially adored Josies' family, their private traditions and the way the shamelessly and openly loved each other.
Now, be warned this isn't just a cute festive romance - it will break your heart many times over, and deals with hard issues like illness, death, grief and cheating in some devastating ways. But even in light of all this, it has a beautiful, life-affirming glow to it and we get to see our characters go on personal journeys of self-discovery, acceptance and truly learning what makes them happy in life.
A perfect story for fans of P.S I Love You and One Day, I can definitely see this debut novel sitting on the shelf of classic contemporary romances.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was gifted an advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review as part of a book tour.
Max knows what it's like to feel alone. Finding him stuck on his own in London just days before Christmas, he's surrounded by people celebrating but feels completely alone.
But this year, on Josies' usual trip to the postbox, her and Max collide and knock each other off course in the most remarkable ways. They've got a chance to rewrite their stories ... and this is only the first chapter of theirs.
"Well, maybe you're not going to find yourself.
Maybe you're going because you've finally found yourself."
Always, in December is a completely charming story that spans two Christmases, three countries and plenty of heartbreaks. A story about fate, about second changes and of course about love. Reading this felt like sitting by an open fire with a hot chocolate on Christmas Eve, just with a lot more tears.
I fell in love with Josie and Max instantly - I felt their spark from the moment they crashed into each other, always more like a warm bonfire than fireworks. There was a playful chemistry, a deep understanding between them that jumped off the pages. Of course, sometimes I just wanted to smash their heads together too - at times there were so many things that could be solved if they just talked properly, some deeply painful miscommunications that felt like something from a cheesy hallmark romance but I was still so invested in them all the same.
The other characters were wonderful, the whole supporting cast played their parts perfectly but I especially adored Josies' family, their private traditions and the way the shamelessly and openly loved each other.
Now, be warned this isn't just a cute festive romance - it will break your heart many times over, and deals with hard issues like illness, death, grief and cheating in some devastating ways. But even in light of all this, it has a beautiful, life-affirming glow to it and we get to see our characters go on personal journeys of self-discovery, acceptance and truly learning what makes them happy in life.
A perfect story for fans of P.S I Love You and One Day, I can definitely see this debut novel sitting on the shelf of classic contemporary romances.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was gifted an advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review as part of a book tour.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love everything but the ending (spoiler: just have a story without something heart wrenching just once PLEASE)
emotional
sad
fast-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
Emily Stone does it again. A beautiful story filled with love, friendship, family, beauty, and all the feelings you could ask for. I can't say anything more without spoilers - but know that there will be tears!
Read this book as my annual “bad holiday book” because it looked cheesy. By the end, I was crying. Figures.
This one hit me in a really unexpected way. Josie and Max crashed into each other’s lives and their story is beautiful, frustrating, emotional, heartbreaking and wonderfully uplifting. I was engaged right from the start and the book made me laugh and cry and love the characters which to me is the sign of a great reading experience. (5 ⭐️)