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A review by josefiend
One Day in December by Josie Silver
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.25
This is a very sweet read and I practically inhaled it over a 48 hour period. The narrative moves quickly and I never lost interest in where the story was going.
It does touch on some more serious topics which helped ground the character arcs, although I’m not entirely sure if the structure of the story really worked with the heavier moments. The entire story is told through different chronological vignettes, and though this style helps with pacing, I think it can be hard to follow a character’s emotional progression. There’s also far too much telling instead of showing, which works against the “snapshots in time” structure.
What I found most disappointing was the ending — it feels like we keep climbing and climbing towards a conclusion and then suddenly, the story just ends. It’s just over. We spent so much time reveling and wallowing in the dramatic lows that we really feel deprived of experiencing that final, ultimate high. I was so excited and thirsty for that satisfaction that I truly felt robbed when I turned the page to find it empty.
It’s especially upsetting when the ending is rushed in a romance novel and it’s why this one in particular isn’t given a higher rating.
It does touch on some more serious topics which helped ground the character arcs, although I’m not entirely sure if the structure of the story really worked with the heavier moments. The entire story is told through different chronological vignettes, and though this style helps with pacing, I think it can be hard to follow a character’s emotional progression. There’s also far too much telling instead of showing, which works against the “snapshots in time” structure.
What I found most disappointing was the ending — it feels like we keep climbing and climbing towards a conclusion and then suddenly, the story just ends. It’s just over. We spent so much time reveling and wallowing in the dramatic lows that we really feel deprived of experiencing that final, ultimate high. I was so excited and thirsty for that satisfaction that I truly felt robbed when I turned the page to find it empty.
It’s especially upsetting when the ending is rushed in a romance novel and it’s why this one in particular isn’t given a higher rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Child death and Infidelity
Minor: Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Vomit