Kitty Wilson is a 'new to me" author, so reading the blurb was what attracted me to the story. I mean, who doesn't love a Christmas Romance story?
This was a beautifully crafted story about a woman and man, each with their own insecurities and losses, but with so much to give to the world, and possibly each other, if they could be brave enough to chance it.
Despite coming from a family of means, Belle Wilde is determined to make it, by herself in this world. She has her love of Shakespeare, and a lifelong project she needs help to launch, but there is no way she wants to take money from her parents, especially since her famous father doesn't really rate her chances at anything in life.
Christmas is looming and faced with a jobless festive season, she goes about thinking of the cheap and cheerful gifts she could bring home when she unexpectedly bumps into Rory, an old acquaintance from student days.
Now, Belle, she loves Christmas. Rory? Not so much,
After the loss of his wife in December a few years previously, Christmas has lost its sparkle for him.
Somehow, after finding out about Belle's secret project, he finds himself entwined in her life every day of that festive month, as she slowly teaches him how to love Christmas, and quite possibly other things, again.
Each chapter of the book is set on a different day in December and I loved it all!
Belle's goddaughter, Marsha is a firecracker of a five-year-old, and I absolutely loved Angela, cancer-stricken mum of Rory, with spunk to match that of Belle's!
Filled with a real slow burn of a romance, building a casual friendship up into something rarely found in relationships, this was a lovely read that I have to admit made me shed a tear of sentimental happiness at the end, too!
I'd love to read a bonus chapter, a year on. What is happening in the world of Belle and Rory? Is Marsha still crazy but oh-so-cute? Did Angela's Secret Santa tradition keep on going? How is that Shakespeare project progressing? And, what is happening with Belle and Rory?
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.75 rounded up
Belle and Rory are well defined characters but there isn’t a lot of chemistry. I would have loved some flirtatious dialogue especially since all of the angst and burn doesn’t hit until very very late in the days. Readers would benefit from having a prologue or insights to their connection from Uni earlier on and there is a quite a bitter of inner monologue thoughts vs showing.

At the same time, I enjoyed getting to know them and their struggles, seeing them really build their friendship, and meeting the important people in each other’s lives!

As a romance, I was disappointed. If you go into it know this is more a friend-com with some cheeky liners that works itself into a HEA, it would actually be a perfect summer beach read or light hearted December book!

This is a day by day account of how Belle and Rory go from being friends to being in love- and it's set in the Christmas season which adds a special touch (even though I read it on one of the hottest days of the year). Belle's hasn't had success at much of anything but now she's hopeful that she'll be able to bring Shakespeare to school children. Rory hasn't recovered from the death of his partner Jess in a car accident and is coping with his mom's cancer. These two knew each other years ago but they never paid attention. Now though, they find themselves helping one another and thus themselves. They are good characters you'll root for. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A fine read.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was amusing, sweet and heartwarming. It held my interest and was hard to put down. I enjoyed this book and would read more books by this author.

Such a heartwarming book!
Both Belle and Rory are going through personal things and are brought together due to her new career. Aside from their differences, essentially one being Belle's love for Christmas and Rory's dislike of it, they make it work. I loved seeing their interactions with each other and especially Rory letting his guard down. This book was a slow burn, second chance meet but so good. I recommend it if you are looking for a new romance book!

So far this is my favorite Christmas romance for 2021 (I know it's August, I'm reading a bunch for NetGalley!)

Belle is a bit scattered but has a big heart, an encyclopedic knowledge of Shakespeare and a spotty track record when it comes to jobs and dating. Her parents are horrible and mostly the reason why she is insecure.

Belle's father is a celebrity chef with a bit of a PR problem and he hires Rory as a reputation manager. Turns out Rory went to university with Belle. So they start talking and Belle takes on the role as Rory's Christmas Elf to help him enjoy the holiday season. She's a delight and I was totally caught up in her joy for Christmas and her love for the people who matter to her. Her goddaughter Marsha is the perfect sidekick for some of these adventures.

I loved the story being told from December 1 - December 31. It made the instalove romance come across as more realistic. Plus it gave us both Belle and Rory's point of view.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

Two people. One month to fall in love.
Belle Wilde loves December. Yes, she’s just lost her job and Christmas is not a good time to find yourself ‘financially challenged’. And yes, her parents are still going on about the fact that she really should have it all together by now. But Belle believes that in December, magic can happen.
Rory Walters hates December. Whilst it looks like his life is together, he’s still reeling from a winter’s night five years ago when his life changed forever. Now back at home, he’s certain that this will be yet another Christmas to endure rather than enjoy.
But as midnight on 31st December draws closer, Belle and Rory’s time together is coming to an end. With a little help from a Christmas miracle could Belle find the one thing she really wants underneath the mistletoe?
Ahhhhhh this book was lovely! I loved the story and the characters because they were real, flawed with all that that encompasses. I wont spoil the story just be aware that its full of Christmas and will make you want it to be the run up to Christmas! There will be tears, anger and laughter but most of all there will be love.....................or will there?

Who doesn’t love a feel good Christmas Romance? I really enjoyed reading this (in August)!

It is written in chapters during the month of December and from the point of view of both characters, Belle and Rory. It is beautifully written and really flows well.

Rory comes back to England due to his mum’s diagnoses of breast cancer. He and Belle were friends at Uni many years ago so she wants to help him through this difficult time.

Belle doesn’t have the greatest relationship with her family, loses her job and is struggling financially. She is keen to teach children all about Shakespeare but needs help to get one foot in the door!

Belle loves everything Christmassy. Rory doesn’t! Can they possibly find a common interest?

As with all romances this builds and then there are doubts on both sides. Will they both take a leap of faith and take a chance on each other?

The book ends on New Years Eve and left me with a big smile on my face after laughing through the last chapter. I could picture it as if I was there. What a perfect ending.

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc. Really happy to discover a new author as I have never read anything from Kitty before.

This book follow Belle and Rory as they navigate their past, current familial issues, and trauma they have both faced in their past. The story chronicles their love story over the span of December and the holiday season.

I had trouble truly connecting with the characters of Belle and Rory. It took most of the book for me to understand their motivation, history, and drive. I wish we would have been introduced to their backstories much sooner in the book. I also struggled with the dialog as I felt like it read a bit choppy to me.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review

I think I was expecting more from this story then I had. The whole story is based throughout the month of December. I think it could have more to it. It didn’t take me long to read but it also didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat either.

I am a sucker for everything and anything Christmas related and this is no different! It was a good story from different perspectives and I loved how each chapter was a day in December. I did feel like the first 10 days kind of dragged on a bit but overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced read.

Christmas books are my guilty pleasure. This one is going to be so popular! It has everything I look for in a sweet treat Christmas book! There are likable, fun characters who develop beautifully as the story goes on. There is hope and magic in the air and it was just such a feel good experience!

2.5 stars --

Every Day in December shares a story of two individuals, Belle and Rory coming together around all things Christmas. The characters complimented each other -- Belle and her free spirit whimsical self and Rory with his responsible even-keel demeanor, At the end of every day in December, they realize they're great for each other and that their time together brought out the best of them.

Despite, the cutest of the story - I thought the characters lacked chemistry, and the dialogue dragged.

I usually knock out romance books in a few hours and this one took a few days/weeks to read. I just wasn't bought it to the characters and had to force myself to finish the read. I appreciated certain aspects of the book -- how the author tied in serious themes of grief and resilience, cancer and illnesses, family (or better yet, dysfunctional family) and followed these characters in overcoming these various obstacles.



Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for sending me ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Since it is a Christmas holiday book I really thought it would be light and fun. Instead, I felt weighed down but all their personal midlife crises for the first 12ish days.

So Rory comes back home after 5 years and reunites with Belle again for the first time since uni. Rory is only back in town because of his mom who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer so they both know that they cannot act upon their feelings. Belle is going to take this month to help Rory appreciate Christmas once again and he helps her get her career jump started. It's a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers book and it has both perspectives which I love. I feel like I could have enjoyed this more if I wasn't sitting in a hot car in the middle of summer reading a Christmas book and if the story focused a bit more on their relationship.

For Belle December is the best month in the year, she loves Christmas and everything it has to do with it. But this December finds her unemployed, without savings and nowhere near where she wanted to be.

Rory is back home after five years away, he never wanted to return since this place is filled with painful memories for him, but his mother needs him there and he just need to endure being back for a month.

Belle and Rory knew each other while they were in university but didn't keep it touch since he left. While he is back they begin a tentative friendship while they help each other. Rory wants to help her achieve her dream and is happy to get her in touch with a friend that can make it a reality. Belle is determined to make him love Christmas.

They spend a lot of time together and it is very sweet to see them being in each other's life. I really enjoyed the moments they spend doing Christmas things.

I liked how Belle was with her friend and how she was supporting her.

The romance was slow burn, very slow to be honest. I would have liked to see them become a couple sooner.


*I received an ARC from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Loved the characters, loved the storyline, loved the every day in December format and adored the Shakespearean focus. Just perfect for me.

Every Day in December is a unique spin on the standard romance book - and I loved it! A great read no matter if you like romantic books or not.

This is a refreshing and modern romance with a shakespearean flavour! I absolutely adored this book. This novel isn't a fluffy and simple love story but a relatable and believable story dealing with loving again after a loss. I enjoyed how the book's characters had real flaws and personal issues which really gives this book more depth to it. The Shakespeare touch was just lovely and I loved how it gives a nod to another true great romantic writer!
Belle, Rory and all the other characters really make this book. They're so well created that I found myself completely immersed in their world. The Christmas setting just added to the book's charm.
I also let out a little squel at the end of the book! This is the perfect romatic read.

I read a few reviews before requesting this book and when I saw that each chapter was a day in December I had to pick up this book. I had previously read books with this kind of style and I really enjoy reading them. I had just gotten through a couple of not-so-great books so to read this one was like a breath of fresh air. I love a simple slow-burn romance to relax and unwind with at the end of the day. Would recommend this one! Maybe better to read it a little closer to Christmas.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's Christmas in the summer!
Every Day in December is a super simple, cute story with a strong structure. If you read the blurb, you know exactly what this story is about, and if you know the genre, you know exactly how it will end. But it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. The Shakespeare references elevated it, and not at all in a pretentious way... They just set it apart from being the same old story we've all read a hundred times, and it really worked with the way Kitty Wilson wove it into the fabric of the story, so it wasn't just gratuitous quotations or a story line, but it also was mirrored in the actions of the story itself.