Belle is Xmas personified! December is her favourite month and despite having no money and her family are not the best she survives with the love and support of her best friend. Rory has known Belle for years but circumstances return him back to her life and he hates Xmas but Belle wants to ignite his love for Xmas again.
Sometimes a book comes along that makes you laugh and cry within a matter of pages and my little stone heart cracked reading this.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I just loved Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson. Each chapter focuses on a day of December (covering the 31 days of December) this book follows the budding relationship between Rory and Belle. Definitely a feel good Christmassy read.

Firstly, I really loved that this book was set over the course of a month. As the name would suggest, it follow that characters through each day in December and this is how the chapters are set up.

I absolutely loved Belle Wilde. She was such a fun and crazy character but in the best way. She was really likeable and I instantly took to her which is really important for me.

Belle and Rory’s story is a really fun one as they start to reconnect after knowing each other a bit years ago. One of them loves Christmas while the other one not so much.

I really loved the Shakespeare aspect of the book, something which was quite different to others I have been reading lately.

What a delightful holiday read! This story of friendship and healing set during the holiday season is refreshingly humorous and heartwarming. Two former acquaintances who are both dealing with troubles of their own spend most days in December together, helping each other to find their way back to happiness.

Belle Wilde begins this story with her life in a bit of a mess. She has lost her job, her celebrity father is involved in a scandal, and she owes money to her roommate. In the midst of this, she runs into Rory Walters, a man she knew in college who seemingly has his life together. But Rory's life is not as a great as it seems. He hates Christmas because of a tragic event that occurred five years prior. Belle decides to distract herself from her own problems by trying to convert Rory to someone who loves Christmas. Meanwhile, Rory decides to assist Belle in finding a career that will bring fulfillment. They form a friendship throughout the month of December that has the potential to develop into something more, but they both resist taking it further for good reasons.

The structure of the plot flows quite well. Every chapter is a different day in December, and the point of view alternates between Belle and Rory. The alternating point of view allows the reader to understand each character's actions and motivations, even though they are often frustrating due to them misjudging each other. The pacing is perfect and free of boring lulls in the action. The author uses many holiday traditions in the plotline, making this a fun holiday read.

The best thing about this book is the characters. They are both very likeable. Belle's struggle to find her way financially and emotionally is believable and relatable. Her desire for her family's approval is a universal feeling that most readers understand. Rory's past tragedy and current situation invite sympathy and compassion from the reader. All of the secondary characters are also likeable. They add humor and charm to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a perfect holiday romance with just enough charm and warmth. It is like watching a good Hallmark movie!

I had a really hard time getting into this one. I really wanted to like it but I never felt connected to the characters or the setting. I ended up putting it down about half way through and don’t really plan to pick it up again. Thank you netgalley for my free copy.

What a perfect title for this book as every chapter is a different day in December, which I LOVED! I also loved reading from both Belle and Rory's perspectives, as it made me fall even more in love with each of them (and their baggage!). From the sledding with Marsha to the Christmas delivery at Alison's office, the trip to see The Winter's Tale and even the salt dough snowmen (which I had to look up and now I'm obsessed with and want to make some for Christmas!), I loved it all. This book will warm even the coldest of hearts at Christmas!

4.5 stars

Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson was an absolute delight. I had read a few meh books before it and was starting to get frustrated, but this one had me hooked instantly. It was funny, touching, wonderfully wintery and festive, and I loved the range of relationships from the friends-to-lovers romance between Belle and Rory, to Belle’s relationship with her best friend and goddaughter, to Belle’s complicated relationship with her family.

I loved Shakespeare-loving Belle; she was aware of her flaws and was working on them. Her struggles with her job and her family were so believable and relatable, and I appreciated how she wanted to prove herself and make something of herself, and do it on her own terms. I rooted her on from beginning to end and I enjoyed watching the friendship between her and Rory blossom into something more. Rory was dealing with his own heavy issues - grief, worry over an ill family member, coming back home after a long time away - and I loved how these two helped each other and supported each other.

If you’re looking for a sweet, heartfelt, laugh-out-loud funny festive romance, be sure to add this one to your TBR if you haven’t already!

This fell flat for me. I know people will love it, though I just found it quite repetitive and boring. Cute concept that could’ve been done better

Belle and Rory met at university, now years later Rory is back in the UK and reconnect with Belle. Rory hates Christmas but Belle’s love of the festive season is infectious they decide to spend every day in December together to see if Rory can discover his Christmas spirit.

This is a slow burn warm festive story. I have enjoyed Kitty Wilsons previous novels and this was no exception.

I love a narrative that spans a certain length of time, so Every Day in December was a hit for me here. Every date was also clearly laid out, so I never had any confusion as to when in the book it was.

The book is dual narrative, which was also well laid out so there was never any question of who was speaking when.

I loved the idea of spending a month proving how wonderful Christmas is. It was a lovely read in the lead up to the festive season, a kind of modernisation, and loose retelling, of A Christmas Carol.

Belle is a Shakespearean expert, so the quips and quotes that appeared throughout the book were wonderful, and all fit fantastically into the narrative.

Quite a few tough topics, like breast cancer and the Me Too movement, are dealt with here. I felt they were written with great care and respect to those affected.

Did not finish at 30%. Started and finished 3 books beforeI gave up. I felt the story wasn’t moving and couldn’t, connect with the main characters.

This was the perfect book to set the Christmas mood. It got me smiling so much as it was such a heartwarming love story that also touches some deep issues. It's safe to say I now want to spend at least one Christmas in Bristol and Bath!
I truly connected with both Belle and Rory. They're both amazing characters. And even though the time span this story develops in is rather short, both characters have great growth. I must confess I didn't quite like Belle in the beginning but ended up loving her as I got to know her more and more. I love her passion for Shakespeare. And reading it rekindled the love I have for him that somehow was dormant. I love her resilience and her ability to find joy and make situations unforgettable. As for Rory, he was such a sweet man! I love his relationship with his mother! And Belle and Rory together are just so cute!
I only wish we had had an epilogue or a few more scenes of them being together. But aside from that, I enjoy this book thoroughly and highly recommend it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good holiday read and I wanted until after Halloween to pick this one up so I was sure I was in the right headspace! I feel like it tacklers real world problems while pushing the reader to believe in the holiday spirit! Perfect Christmas read IMO!

This book follows the growing friendship between Belle and Rory. Belle has lost her job and is a disappointment to her family. Rory lives in Australia, but is home for the month of December of a family emergency. Belle loves Christmas, Rory is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Although their paths had crossed many years ago, they had not clicked, at all. Meeting again, they realize that their initial impressions were not accurate. Deciding there was more to each other than they thought, they begin to spend time together, getting to know one another. Will they act on their developing feelings, or will they remain friends. Follow this pair as they spend every day in December together.

Belle and Rory were just adorable, and great main characters. The connection between them was heartwarming. I enjoyed that we got to follow the characters over the month to see how each of them was helping the other to heal and reach their potential. Of course neither one thinks the other is attracted to them, so they are able to build a strong friend relationship, always a great start to something else. Both of them have some baggage and insecurities that they need to deal with to move forward. We get both Rory's and Belle's POV. I love Belle's chapters, as her inner voice is hilarious. I like seeing not only how their relationship develops, but how they grow as individuals. All of this is wrapped up in Christmas cheer. I enjoyed reading about the different festive activities and events they saw and participated in around Bath and Bristol. I also enjoyed Belle's love of Shakespeare and how she tried to make it accessible to the children in her community. This is a book full of Christmas Cheer, Friendship, Guilt, moving forward, but also illuminating that not everyone has a Merry Christmas. I recommend this to those who are looking for a Festive story with a bit of meat to it.

I loved this book. A must read for any chick lit / rom com fan. Believable characters and a true to life plot what more could you want? Every day in December is written from both Belle and Rory’s perspectives. A story of Christmas, love, loss, self love and best friends it is the perfect book to read in the run up to the festive period. Highly recommended and a story I would definitely read again in the future. It would make a great Christmas film.

This book was so amazing - it was packed with love, loss, friendship & Christmas

Really likeable characters & a great storyline

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.
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Listen, I think as a book reviewer it is a bit of a challenge to read "off" season. In this case, I am reading Every Day in December in October. My nails currently have pumpkins and Frankenstein's on them lol. I just want to say that before I start my review.

This title was a pleasant read. It was perfectly vanilla with - in my opinion- a little bit of sparks....but not nearly enough for me.

If we are being honest. I think I would have enjoyed this more as a Hallmark Christmas movie. Sorry, not sorry.

What does that mean? I'm going to say 31/2 stars leaning toward 4. Don't rush to read....but it is perfectly pleasant.

Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson was a sweet book that I enjoyed reading. I like books surrounding Christmas and this one was no different. I enjoyed the build up of the main relationship between Belle and Rory and liked the Shakespeare tie in.

How I loved this book, its just gorgeous in its storytelling.

And there is even what all romances and Christmas books could do with a wonderful big gesture that makes you smile!

And there is Belle who is hoping to help Rory rediscover if not a love of Christmas, then less of a fear of the season, while Rory is back in the UK for his mum's health diagnosis, and isn't expecting to fall into Belle's orbit, who he knew at uni.

These are characters that it took me a few chapters to get an understanding of, and to be sure I did like them and gelled with the story. But once I did I was whizzing through the pages.

Each chapter focuses on a day in December, and it is such a great way of presenting this story and we get chapters or part chapters from the focal point of both Belle (with her Shakespeare and Christmas obsessions) and Rory (who is reputation manager and easily his most tricky at the moment is Belle's father).

Ah Belle's father, what a horrible, truly despicable man he is with rather outdated views when it comes to women and sex ('d rather not say more but rest assured he is only spouting opinions, rather than any graphic scenes of the nature he is referring to).

Whereas Marsha, Belle's little god-daughter is just amazing, I loved every scene she is in, her also enjoyed the dynamics between her mother Luisa and Belle, who seem so different but get on so well.

And then there is Rory's mum Alison who brings so much life to every scene she is in, and the pair of them shopping for nightwear is certainly a memorable scene, that is having my laugh just recalling it now.

This is just an all around feel good book for this Christmas reading season, and shows that the author is capable of writing more than just about my favourite Cornish Village School! I really look forward to seeing what other ideas she has for books going forwards.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Between you and me, I actually started reading this whilst wearing some Christmas socks. Hey, why not?! I thought I would need this boost to get me in the Christmas mood. After all, we are several weeks before the festive season really begins. But, fear not. Wilson has bucket loads of Christmas spirit in this book, having me reaching for eggnog and cutting up the yule log in preparation!

So, on a more serious note, this is a good Christmas read. I don’t think you can get a book any more Christmassy than this one. Covering every day of December (that’s 31, for those of you starting to count), this book follows the growing friendship between Belle and Rory. Although they have had a connection in the past, circumstances throw them together to realise that, actually, their initial impressions were far off-base. Acknowledging that there is more to the other person, Rory and Belle start to spend a lot of time together. With the month getting closer to Christmas Day, you cannot help but wonder whether Rory and Belle will remain in the friend zone or act on their true feelings at last?

I really liked this book because the characters of Rory and Belle are so likeable. They both have their own demons to cope with but I enjoyed the fact that each character is determined not to be defined by them. Be it in terms of employment, financial independence or even relationships, both Rory and Belle are grafters. The 31 chapters switch between Rory and Belle’s perspectives, so you do get a real connection with their feelings and attitudes. Furthermore, it was lovely to see the developing friendship from different angles and watching these emotions evolve over what is quite a short period of time.

Belle really stood out as a character for me because of my Shakespeare bias! Wilson has done her homework here because Belle is a proper Shakespeare buff. Not only does every chapter begin with a significant Shakespearean quote (relevant to the developing plot), but Belle herself is trying to get her Elizabethan project off the ground. Having studied every single play in minute detail, I applauded Belle’s work and her enthusiasm for a topic that is generally considered rather dull and difficult. Watching Belle share her knowledge and love with others was great to see and honestly, if she were a real person, I would definitely be hunting down her services!

Whilst it was clear how the story would end, it was lovely to watch the two characters come together and change over the story. I admit, I did find the ending a bit abrupt, anticipating a cheeky little Epilogue to fully close off the story. This was absent and I think I felt a bit bereft with not knowing what happened next to all the characters. This is my only criticism of the book and I think the story would have benefitted from this final conclusion to show for sure what happened next between Belle and Rory. Instead, I had to be satisfied with what my imagination could offer…

This is not a full romance story, but more of an exploration of how two characters come to rely on one another. Over the month, romantic feelings do develop yet, this does not dominate the plot. Instead, Wilson focuses on the influence of family, Belle’s career and Rory’s traumatic past. This, I think, makes the book even better as a festive read because, whilst the Christmas spirit is everywhere, the characters have to work for their happy ever after.

I liked this Christmas read and highly recommend it. I have already read several festive books this year and I think Wilson’s narrative is one of my favourites so far. So, if you are yet to plan which books to read this December, this novel should make it on your list. After all, with the month in the title, when else should you read it?!

With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.