Another book I wasn't the biggest fan of! There are a lot of romance reads, that take place in December, that are hit or miss and this one just didn't capture my attention. It was predictable like most romance reads, but there wasn't anything truly pulling me in and making me want to keep going. The writing was bland and uneventful.

This was a perfect holiday read. I loved the story line and the characters both. It was just exactly what I was looking for in a December read!

Josie struggles with Christmas but thanks to her friends and her boyfriend, Oliver, she thinks this time the season may just be a bit happier. That is until she realizes what a jerk he really is and now is facing the holiday alone. As she thinks of the upcoming holiday there is one thing she must do and sets off on her bike to drop off her traditional letter to her parents. She thinks of the past and how much she misses them and she’s so swept up in her memories that she doesn’t pay attention to her riding and the traffic until it’s too late and she has collided with a stranger and she ends up on the ground. Max doesn’t know what to make of this but Josie is insistent on making it up to him by buying him a drink.

Max isn’t really very cheerful since he’s missed his flight but Josie thinks that the best they can do is spend the day together and make the most of a holiday both seem to not be very happy about. As the pair get to know each other, sparks start to fly and Josie is almost ready to think that this could be the best Christmas but then after a night together, Max disappears without a word. Chance continues to bring them into each other’s sphere but will the two every be able to sort out what happened and what do they want from each other?

This was a sweet romance but it did make me cry so have some tissues nearby just in case. I believe this was Emily Stone’s first novel but I would definitely read another book by her.

Thank you netgalley & the publisher for sending me this arc. Holy moly this one punched me right in the feels at the end. I had no clue it was going to take such a heart wrenching turn. Beautiful holiday read

Not your typical Christmas, warm and fuzzy romance. I actually won't call it a romance. It's about love, loss, discovery .
The book really centers around Josie's relationship with her grief, and the processing of it in its many stages.
I am undecided how I really feel about this book. It's not my typical Christmas read, it's deep, emotional and won't be forgotten. I do think Josie is in a better place at the end of the book than when we met her in the beginning.

Publication date 12 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was received as an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Dell through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was waiting for a book like Always, In December. If a hallmark movie was a book, it be this one. Everyone suffers from loss in some way, shape, and form. In the case for Josie it's in December visiting her parents' memorial writing a note that says "Missing you, always." This December, Josie meets Max who suffers the struggle of loss himself which leads to a romantic bond that'll change Josie's life forever. Even after Max, disappears it was refreshing to see the mental and emotional change in Josie having a new lease on life, later to reconnect with Max in many places for the adventure of a lifetime. It was so refreshing to read a book such as Always, in December because it takes you away on a positive, romantic journey that pushes all the negative realistic aside for a moment. These are the books I will always fall in love with, EVERYTIME no questions asked.

A romantic adventure of a lifetime that brings hope, and joy to readers worldwide. This book deserves 5 stars.

I did find that this book was misleadingly positioned as romance from its cover and would compel readers to pay deep attention to the fact that it is NOT A ROMANCE

It is, however, a sensitive look at grief and how it ripples through the holidays. There is a wonderful sense of place and some charming moments extolling the different kinds of love from friendship to romantic to familial .

I really enjoyed this one!! I was a bit annoyed at Josie through some of it because she acted like Max left her after a year long relationship and that kept her from being happy, but other than that I thought this was great.

It was extremely emotional and really focused on the idea of living life to the fullest and not being afraid to go after what you love which I thought was amazing. I loved Josie’s relationship with her grandparents and the movie quotes were so fun!

As heartbreaking as this was, it was totally worth it!

My dislike of this book is a case of - it's not you, it's me. I am not a fan of Nicholas Sparks type romances

I loved this book. It was lovely and gut wrenching all at the same time. Josie's letter to her parents made my heart sad each year, but I thought it was wonderful that she kept the tradition and connection alive. A great holiday read that keeps faith going regarding the goodness of people and love.

This was SO, SO sad! I really enjoyed it, but I am not sure "enjoyed" the right word? It was a very good read. It wasn't my first by this author, and I hope it's not my last, either!

Another one that isn’t your typical romance. Lots of loss and heartbreak mixed in with your Christmas. Downer. But I still liked the story, regardless. Looking forward to the authors new book coming soon!

it gave me the feels and i was hooked. this book had an effect on me and i really enjoyed this very much.

The first book that I’ve read by author Emily Stone. We read as a video book club pick and had a great discussion. Also, I just love the cover.

Have your tissues ready for this romantic albeit heart wrenching love story. Oh my. I couldn’t have possibly loved Always, in December more than I did.

Let me start by saying this book reads much more as women’s fiction than romance. There is a love story here but SO MUCH MORE as well. There is much depth and emotion that I wasn’t expecting. It also may appear as a holiday read, but I’ll be the first to tell you that it 100% can be enjoyed any time of the year.

This story unfolds from Josie and Max meeting on a cold night in December. Both have unique life circumstances underneath the surface and this chance happening was not expected on either end. The story develops around their relationship with each other and elements to their lives personal lives. And all I can say it’s one big emotional, heartbreaking ride. Do not except a feel-good, fluffy read here.

With exceptional writing and storytelling, this book was a memorable read that I can’t sing enough praises for! Highly recommend!!

Many thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy.

Note that I thought this was a romance going in!

This should be shelved as women's fiction or general fiction, because it does not meet the criteria for a romance. That being said, if you're looking to get your heart punched, this will deliver. Please be in the mood for a good cry when you read this. London vibes were lovely, though!

This was a sweet story that I definitely plan on revisiting this holiday season. I was honestly hooked from the start, what can I say, I'm a sucker for the UK during the holiday season. It's so romantic!! But holy shit, I was NOT expecting this to be such a tearjerker!!! Color me destroyed..but I liked it lol! We all need a good romantic cry every now and again.

This book will break your heart just to put it back together and then break it all over again. My heart ached for Josie at almost every turn of the page - what an unfair hand she is dealt time and time again.

Reader beware: Despite the title having the word "December" in it, this is not a holiday read. Come here looking for beautiful words put to paper, but not for a lighthearted Christmas romcom.

It’s been months since I read the ARC of this novel (thank you NetGalley) and I’m still reeling from the ending. While I enjoyed the writing style and the book as a whole, I was not expecting the ending and was thrown for a loop. Don’t let the deter you from reading this though, I honestly enjoyed it and I hope to read more from Emily Stone.

It took a bit for me to get into the book, probably about halfway through. Once I caught onto the fact that there must be something serious keeping Max from staying with Josie I had to read until the end, of which was of course heartbreaking, tearjerking, and devastating. It's worth reading until the end. This isn't an emotionally light or funny book but I would still recommend it for a winter read.