While this isn’t necessarily my type of book, it is a good read for fans of all those Hugh Grant/British romcoms. In my mind it was a long meander toward the inevitable.

Somewhat unrealistic, a lot unfair to certain characters, and very frustrating. But still manages to be fun, funny, and enjoyable.

Imagine sitting on a bus looking out and falling in love at first sight, but just when that feeling hits you, the bus pulls away. For Laurie, that’s exactly what happened—and then Laurie proceeds to search for her mystery man for a year...to no avail. She even had her bestie/roommate, Sarah, help in the search. Sarah, just going on the description Laurie gave her, truly wants Laurie to find her dream man!! Then about a year later Sarah and Laurie host a Christmas party and Sarah is ecstatic to introduce Laurie to her new man, who end up to just the guy Laurie has been searching for!!! The mystery man is Jack and is Sarah’s official boyfriend, which of course crushes Laurie, but she adores Sarah and she’s happy her friend found a great guy! From that point, I was literally on the hook to find out how this unexpected love triangle was going to end up!!!

I absolutely devoured this novel! I connected with Josie Silver’s writing style immediately, but the fantastic storyline is what made this book unputdownable! The characters were relatable and endearing—even when you knew some situations would lead to disaster, you still couldn’t help but love the characters. One Day in December is a full 5 star novel that I have will be telling everyone to put on their TBR list! I promise you will love this book as much as I do! I am so excited to see what Josie Silver comes out with next!

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful romcom! Part Love Actually, part My Best Friend's Wedding it was the perfect cure for my latest book hangover. I was looking to jump into the pages of a great story and this was perfect!

Not for me. I really wanted to like this book but just didn't. I only read half. I usually don't give up on a book, especially when I've gotten past the very beginning. Didn't find it romantic that after a brief glimpse first, she basically pines after her best friend's boyfriend. It got two stars because I liked the characters mostly and the writing.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Laurie and Jack fall in love at first sight and then immediately lose each other. Eventually, their lives intersect but both are connected to other loves.

Sweet novel. Predictable, but satisfying.

One Day in December is an entertaining and fun love story, with empathetic characters and a plot that draws you in right away. The story is narrated by alternating characters who first "meet" as they catch a fleeting glimpse of one another through a bus window. Readers are taken on a delightful ride as we embark on a journey to find out whether the two will ever meet and be together. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed One Day by David Nicholls, and the film, Love, Actually. My only complaint is that it was a bit too long.

I just finished an absolutely delightful book.!
It’s a wonderful love story full of great characters. It takes you through a decade of friendship and love among the friends.
I had read that this book leaves you smiling and it is true. Even though the ending took a long time in happening, it was worth the wait.
Don’t miss this book!!

A fun and funny romcom novel. When two strangers lock eyes on a bus, but never get to speak to one another, they can't stop thinking about the missed opportunity. Until they meet a year later and discover a love triangle worthy of the silver screen. Told through a handful of days spanning a couple years, this novel will keep you reading to find out what happens next. Think One Day by David Nicholls, only happy. The perfect beach read for the off season.

DNR/DNF

I absolutely loved the first few pages. I was very intrigued by the concept of the book and really looking forward to reading it.
The “ meat” of the story started and it was just profanity filled. I really despise profanity using the Lord's name in vain for no reason at all. I may just be considered a little uptight, but I will not read a book that has to resort to that kind of language for no discernible reason. It was just a conversation between two girls and not necessary nor did it add to the conversation.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One Day in December takes place in London over the course of almost a decade. The story progresses in chronological order following a chance encounter between Laurie and a guy she sees at the bus stop. One Day in December reminded me so much of a romantic movie (in a good way), and it was a delightful and charming book. It was filled with British slang, which I enjoyed. I am looking forward to seeing what Josie Silver comes out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC of this book, and for the opportunity to read it and give an honest review!

I found this book to be charming and delightful. I suppose it's a romance novel, but if so it's a the top of the genre with excellent, intelligent writing and a multi-faceted story. It managed to avoid many of the cliches I think of as being common in romance novels (which, to be honest, I don't usually read--I've been told I underestimate how good they can be); most of the characters behaved like mature adults in the many years this story spans. All the relationships--and why various characters entered into them and quit them--were very well explained and rang true. The only thing that left me a bit baffled was Sarah's rather extreme reaction to a revelation right before her best friend Laurie's wedding; it seemed to me that Sarah was unfair to Laurie and that Laurie was too forgiving of her friend's overreaction, but this is not so much a criticism of the book as of the characters, whom I generally found very appealing. All in all, I'd highly recommend this book even if you aren't typically a romance reader. It's really quite wonderful! Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of the book.

You may know from the beginning how this tale will end, but you'd never guess what would happen in the middle. This is a light-hearted tale that will hold your attention through all the near misses these two "star-crossed lovers" have as they bumble through relationships and life.

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @crownpublishing for providing this free copy in exchange for my honest review
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This book was so cute and a great romantic dramedy to end my summer (even with December in the title). The characters went through typical ups and downs, love and loss, and plenty of wine! I enjoyed following along with Laurie and Jack over the period of a decade and seeing how they kept coming back to each other even when the timing wasn’t quite perfect. I cheered for them, I got angry, and even teared up a bit.
I’m a big fan of chick lit so this book hit the mark for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So great! It's not too often a story like this comes along. I was captivated from the start. This story follows the tale of Laurie who is in her twenties who thinks she had a chance encounter with "the one". If only she could find him again. This heavy-hearted tale takes us along for the ride as Laurie and her friends' learn about themselves as they come into their own in adulthood. It's was very easy to identify with the feelings of the main characters. I cheered for Laurie and felt heavy-hearted the whole time, longing for her to have her happy ending.

I loved this so much! This is a great story about that serendipitous love that you see in the movies. I really enjoyed how you get intertwined into their lives over the course of the years... I was invested in the story. 10 years was a tad long—but it was needed to tell the story. Great book!

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.***

4.5 stars

One Day in December, by Josie Silver, is a romance with a sense of fate, fraught with bad timing and missed opportunities. Laurie and Jack lock eyes through her bus window and something passes between them. She spends the next year searching everywhere she goes for him, but she doesn’t cross paths with him until he’s introduced as her best friend Sarah’s new boyfriend. We follow Laurie and Jack through 10 years of life and love, riding the highs and lows of the bond between them, hoping they can finally get it right.

The thing that most impressed me about this book was Silver’s writing. It was excellent. The tale she’s woven is layered and emotional. She’s put a lot of thought in her characters and their development. The story is as much a romance as it is about family and growing up and figuring out what you need in your life, and what sacrifices you’re willing to make to be happy. I personally loved that Silver took 10 years to tell their story.

I really liked Laurie. She’s kind and thoughtful and caught in an incredibly difficult situation. There were times I well and truly liked Jack—like during the incredible break up scene with Sarah—and other times I hated his selfishness and negativity. I admit that I struggled with the number of women in and out of his life. I think he does the most growing of any of the characters in the book, though. I never truly warmed to Sarah. She was more self-involved than I would have liked and for I while I hated her. All of that said, these 3 characters together made for a great story that went beyond a love triangle and explored their friendships as well. Also, I liked Oscar a lot at first, and I loved the way he loved Laurie. I hated his mum and how he expected Laurie to do things his way. It broke my heart that he wouldn’t be more flexible.

If I could change one thing, despite the adorable way our couple finally came together, it would be that we got just a tiny bit more from the ending. An epilogue would have been perfect. I just wanted to see more of Jack’s and Laurie’s happiness and togetherness. That said, if you’re looking for a charming story with heart and a little angst, this is a great choice. I adored it.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Laurie didn't until her eyes met Jack's one day as her bus stopped where he was standing on the street. It was one of those moments of connection, and he tried to catch the bus, but it sped off before he could get on. She spent the next year looking for "Busboy" until she was shocked when her best friend, Sarah, presented him as her new boyfriend.. I love books that make me think what would I do in that situation.. I thought this was going to be just a light love triangle, but it turned out to be so much more. Josie Silver expertly tells a story of friendship, love, relationships, loss, heartbreak and how timing plays such a factor in our lives. The story is seamlessly told over the course of a decade from Laurie's and Jack's point of view. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be so glad you read this book.

The characters in this book really drew me in. Alternating perspectives allow the reader to see both sides of the story unfolding, creating a greater emotional connection throughout. The love story is intense, but believable. Loved it!

One Day in December could read as yet another romantic fiction story about missed opportunities and lost chances. But Silver makes it so much more than that, bringing so many other elements into the mix like friendship, loyalty and wrong choices prompted by heartbreak.
A beautifully written novel that threatens to warm your heart while simultaneously drawing tears.