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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
I don’t know how to start this review. I tried to like the book. I tried so hard that even though I was already having anticipatory anxiety because I keep on waiting for the worst to happen, I still read it up to the last page. Still, the ending wasn’t one of the many scenarios I kept on playing in my head while reading this. It would have been nice because that only meant the entire book wasn’t predictable and kind of unique. But the ending was really bad and disappointing.
Maybe it wasn’t just my cup of tea? Maybe it was just categorized wrongly? But it wasn’t a holiday book and it wasn’t a romance one either. It didn’t feel Christmassy at all.
It didn’t have a happy ending. Not even when Josie finally went after her dream of being a photographer(a big applause for Josie’s overall character development)
The ending was a tragic one. And I wasn’t prepared for this kind of book. Because when I was looking for holiday romance books, I was expecting it be light, funny, it could even be cheesy, and all the Christmassy feels. But this book wasn’t any of those things.
I mean, it wasn’t that poorly-written. In fact, if I’m being honest, the writing was good, except for the few unnecessary details that were obviously just fillers. The story was unique. It’s just that, it was in the wrong category. And again, it’s one of the most important things for me because it sets my mood and what I should be expecting from the book I am reading.
Maybe it wasn’t just my cup of tea? Maybe it was just categorized wrongly? But it wasn’t a holiday book and it wasn’t a romance one either. It didn’t feel Christmassy at all.
It didn’t have a happy ending. Not even when Josie finally went after her dream of being a photographer(a big applause for Josie’s overall character development)
The ending was a tragic one. And I wasn’t prepared for this kind of book. Because when I was looking for holiday romance books, I was expecting it be light, funny, it could even be cheesy, and all the Christmassy feels. But this book wasn’t any of those things.
I mean, it wasn’t that poorly-written. In fact, if I’m being honest, the writing was good, except for the few unnecessary details that were obviously just fillers. The story was unique. It’s just that, it was in the wrong category. And again, it’s one of the most important things for me because it sets my mood and what I should be expecting from the book I am reading.
Why did I even finish this book? For the majority of the book, I was annoyed at Max's horrible communication skills and questioning whether I was truly meant to be rooting for Max and Josie. Did I miss something? The end makes it sound like they had this epic romance when they only had days together, days where Max didn't tell Josie anything real about his life. Plus the ending made me want to throw the book across the room.
I should have paid more attention to the comparison to Me Before You, which is very appropriate. Both books were emotionally manipulative with likeable female leads but horrible male leads.
I should have paid more attention to the comparison to Me Before You, which is very appropriate. Both books were emotionally manipulative with likeable female leads but horrible male leads.
This book DRAGGED until the end. Yes I was stirred emotionally by the plot twist and I get the book was setting up this huge tearful bomb but GAWD what boring characters and story lines.
emotional
sad
slow-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
Sobbing, and mad about it. 4 stars.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
<spoiler > i went into this knowing it was heartbreaking but i automatically thought that Max had something to do with her parents death or something else horrible so because i thought he wasn’t a great guy i never fully allowed myself to get invested in their relationship and want them to be together. in the few chapters before his death i guessed he had cancer but i truly didn’t expect him to die like that and for that to be the reason he didn’t commit to her. lol 3.5
lighthearted
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
What a Christmas read...While it was a romance, it was also a life-affirming book of a woman's journey to find herself. Well-written and descriptive, every character had their own story that made me feel connections to each. This book reminds me that happy endings are not always guaranteed but can change you in unexpected ways.
I love the missed connections trope and the lengths Max took to find Josie again over the years. While the ending was heartbreaking, I did love the resolution and how Josie grew, building courage and the strength to do things she wouldn't have done had she not met Max.
I love the missed connections trope and the lengths Max took to find Josie again over the years. While the ending was heartbreaking, I did love the resolution and how Josie grew, building courage and the strength to do things she wouldn't have done had she not met Max.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
it's been a little minute since i did a book review but wow, always in december by emily stone deserved one
i'll admit, the first ~100 pages were hard to get through and i considered 'dnf'ing the book a few times (sorry emily stone) but once i pushed through, things picked up SO quickly and i didn't want to put it down
synopsis ✨ every december, josie writes a letter to her parents telling them that she misses them. one day, on her trip to mail her letter she crashes (literally) into a handsome stranger who completely changes her life. they decide to spend the christmas holiday together despite their personal aversions to celebrating. after a few unexpectedly fun and unofficial dates, josie thinks that max may be the one, however, after spending christmas eve together, she awakes to see that max has disappeared without saying goodbye. over the next year, fate brings them together repeatedly for a brief moment until a dark secret manages to rip them apart yet again.
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 solely because i disliked the 3rd person pov writing style and the first 100 pages of the book didn't captivate me BUT if i were to rate the book on the last 300 pages, it would be a strong ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. the story was heartbreakingly beautiful and i couldn't wait to see what fate had lined up for max and josie
i'll admit, the first ~100 pages were hard to get through and i considered 'dnf'ing the book a few times (sorry emily stone) but once i pushed through, things picked up SO quickly and i didn't want to put it down
synopsis ✨ every december, josie writes a letter to her parents telling them that she misses them. one day, on her trip to mail her letter she crashes (literally) into a handsome stranger who completely changes her life. they decide to spend the christmas holiday together despite their personal aversions to celebrating. after a few unexpectedly fun and unofficial dates, josie thinks that max may be the one, however, after spending christmas eve together, she awakes to see that max has disappeared without saying goodbye. over the next year, fate brings them together repeatedly for a brief moment until a dark secret manages to rip them apart yet again.
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 solely because i disliked the 3rd person pov writing style and the first 100 pages of the book didn't captivate me BUT if i were to rate the book on the last 300 pages, it would be a strong ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. the story was heartbreakingly beautiful and i couldn't wait to see what fate had lined up for max and josie
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes