I picked up this book pretty blind, definitely expecting something more like a Hallmark movie. What I got was something I didn't know I needed. If you love holiday books but you're ready for something a little deeper than the traditional rom-com, pick this one up!

Always in December will give you all the emotional feels from the very start. Loved this adorable chick lit book and was so sad when it ended.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

This was such a lovely book. Perfect for the holiday season, it envelops you with its warmth, humor, and romance. I loved it and plan to read it again and again.

Oh how I loved this story so much! Grab the tissues and get cozy because you will be hooked on this story from the very beginning. I can't wait to read more from Emily Stone.

A heartbreaking story so beautiful I had to keep reading until I finished. This book was so well written I didn’t even realize I had read most of the night to finish it. A story that will stick with me for days. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Did I cry in the pick up line at my kids school at the end of this novel? Yes, yes I did. The whole novel I had this sense of foreboding that something was coming that would get me. There were little hints peppered throughout starting pretty early, and it gave me anxiety while reading. Thankfully I enjoy books that get my emotions going! I loved that Max and Josie couldn't escape fate and ran into each other repeatedly throughout the year in the most insane places. I believe in fate, so this wasn't a stretch for me, but I can see people having issues with these portions of the book. I personally loved it and would recommend this book to people who love novels set during Christmastime, but also have more depth than they normally do.

I really liked this book. Every once in a while I crave a sweet love story and Max and Josie’s fulfilled that craving. This is the perfect story to get into the holiday spirit. Always, in December will make you feel romantic and hopeful about the holiday season all while falling in love with Josie and Max. The only critique I have for this book has to do with the storyline revolving around a secret untold. As a reader, it can feel frustrating to know that one piece of information could change the outcome of the storyline. I understand that this is a creative choice and I still really enjoyed the book. I recommend anyone who loves Christmas and love stories to pick this one up! 3.7/5 stars from me.

A cute story but a little formulaic. Characters were not as well developed as I would like. The premise was good but it did not follow up. Many will like it but it was not to my taste.

I read this book in one weekend. I really enjoyed the story overall. I had an inkling of the outcome but that still didn't prepare me. I am usually not an emotional reader. But this one got me at the end, even though I kind of guessed how it would go. Have some kleenex ready to go. LOL! I really enjoyed the locations in the book as well. AND, I'm very happy the author added in Part 6. It really gave proper closure to it all.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not the warm, fuzzy holiday novel I was expecting based on the cover. But a heartfelt story about grief thats characters sucked me in and tugged at my heartstrings. I read over the course of a day so that should tell you all you need to know.

This book starts off endearing the reader to Josie, a woman living in London who's just been dumped by her boyfriend and who dislikes December. It's during this time of year, when at the age of nine, her parents passed away unexpectedly in a car accident. Every December, she still sends them letters. This year, while on her way to post them, she ends up getting into an accident on her bike. While brushing herself off from the accident, she meets Max, a man who seems to be the perfect partner for her in every way.

The rest of this novel chronicles their ups and downs as a couple and chance meetings over time as Josie tries to determine what she really wants in love and life. The writing is evocative, delicate, and emotional. I enjoyed it right up until the end. I usually don't have a problem with teary endings to books, but this one's cover, with its romantic illustration, seemed to promise romance, so I was upset that it didn't have the usual HEA. Unfortunately, the well-written descriptions and romantic scenes are lessened for me now, with the heartbreaking ending that seemingly came out of nowhere. While I do appreciate that women can live a full life without love, the love was the main storyline here. It was literally the main plot throughout the whole book, so the rather abrupt ending, which took that love story away, seemed disingenuous.

Oh, my heart. Without spoiling it, this book is so absolutely moving I just couldn't put it down. A book about loss so beautifully written. I highly recommend it.

Oh, I don't where to start. This one took me a while. I wanted to sit with the characters for longer than the story intended. By the time I came to the end, I'd cried tears and smiled. This story was equal parts cozy and heartbreaking. Emily Stone has done something beautiful here.

3.5 stars

First things first, I would not call this a romance. There is a love story in this book, but it doesn't qualify as a true romance novel. So be warned of that first, as it looks like a romance and I have seen it categorized as a romance. It's not.

Really this is mostly a story about grief and living with grief and moving on with life in spite of bad things happening. I'm sure many will find it to be a tearjerker. It sounds like a feel good Christmas romance, but that's not really what it is.

Josie lost her parents when she was young, and ever since, she never enjoyed celebrating Christmas. But then she (literally) runs into Max, a man stranded in London over the Christmas holiday. And they spend a magical few days together. But when those days are over, what's next for them?

I was totally hooked for the first third of the book. But I grew a little tired of it as the story moved into the second half. Max has a secret that he needs to tell Josie. And on multiple occasions he begins to tell her only to get interrupted. This happens SO many times, and I grew tired of that same plot device being used over and over again.

I won't spoil anything about the end, but I was disappointed. I'm not disappointed in what happened at the end, as I suspected earlier in the book what would happen at the end. But I didn't like HOW it happened. The whole ending felt far too rushed. It was not satisfying for me as a reader, especially after investing in the whole story.

Much of this book was highly readable and I flew through it so quickly. I liked Josie and Max, but I didn't love everything about how the story came together.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for sending me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was well written with good character development. However, I was so disappointed in the ending that I wish I had not read the book.

Always, in December by Emily Stone gave me major One Day vibes. This book definitely isn't your typical lighthearted holiday fare. With Josie and Max, we see them connecting at various points in their lives at Christmastime, though the timing isn't quite right until it just might be.

It's a story that deals with heartbreak and possibility and love, but it isn't a Hallmark-style romance. As Josie Silver says, "Keep tissues nearby!"

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

This book was not what I was expecting. I totally expected a happily ever after but wow, was this story a tearjerker. I am not sure how I really feel about it.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin House and Emily Stone for the eARC!

Every year on Christmas, Josie Morgan writes a letter to her parents who she tragically lost one Christmas night many years ago. On her walk to the mailbox, she collides with a boy named Max Carter - who changes her life every year after. By coincidence, they end up sharing Christmas together and Josie is hopeful that this new found romance might be something worth keeping around. That is until Max leaves her without saying goodbye the next morning. Over the next year, fate ends up bringing them together on several different occasions making one wonder if it was destined to be this way. Why was this happening? We come to find out the devastating and real reason Max had no choice but to leave on the morning he left Josie. Even with every ounce of his being, wanting to have stayed.

I would had given this 5 stars but I felt that the first half of the book was a bit slow and it really didn't start picking up until about half way through. Then I sped through the rest of it and it was beautifully written. It was heart-wrenching, romantic, sad and everything in between. If you are expecting a HEA with this, grab your tissue box. I was crying like a baby after I was finished with this book. The last few chapters tugged on every heart string I have.

You know when you watch a Christmas movie and wind up crying? This is that but in book form. The cover was deceiving. I thought I was going to read a happily ever after. I did not! It takes a lot for a book to make me cry. But this one succeed. I liked it, just glad I didn’t wake up Christmas morning to read it!

I enjoyed this holiday read. In general as I was reading I felt that it was a little slow and part of the storyline could be edited down, but the ending was worth it! Loved it and it was a great feel-good story to put me in the holiday mood. I will definitely recommend it.