This was such a good book, especially for a debut! But be aware…three-hanky alert!

Josie “literally” runs into Max on her way to post a Christmas letter to her parents (which she’s done for the past 20 years) who passed away when she was 9. Through sheer coincidence they end up sharing the holiday together as Max’s flight to NYC has been canceled. They have an intense connection, but Max leaves her with only a note as explanation. Over the next year, several times their paths cross unexpectedly.

This book is not your average rom-com. It has deeper, more serious themes including dealing with long-term grief, handling serious illness and determining how to move forward when it seems you’ve taken the wrong path. I loved both mains and the supporting cast as well, and also found this very well-written/handled, and while I did have a few instances of becoming frustrated with both Josie and Max, it ultimately left me with a story that will stay with me no doubt for quite awhile. Recommended.

Much thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse #Dell for providing me the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

"Always, in December" by Emily Stone is a romance centered around lost chances. In this novel, Josie is having an awful December. Her boyfriend cheated on her, she was let go from her job, and she always has to deal with the grief of losing her parents on Christmas Eve years ago. On her way to complete some errands, she literally runs into Max and sparks fly. However, she's left dumbfounded when he leaves days later without any attempt to stay in touch. Over the next year, they continue to run into each other but the timing never seems to be right. Without giving too much away, I must say the ending made me really sad but it was well-written.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is Emily Stone’s debut novel and a charming read. I expected the book to be a light Christmasy one to get me into the Christmas spirit, but it wasn’t. It was more about heartbreak and loss. Engaging dialog, heart-tugging and well-crafted relationship building.

Not sure what I expected, but this wasn’t it! It was more emotional than expected. Purchased for the library and added to my recommends list.

This story absolutely caught me by surprise. I never expected to feel as deeply as I did while reading this and go through such an emotional time with this book.

My one and only recommendation going into this book: have tissues on hand or you’ll end of tear-staining your shirt and pillowcase like I did.

I’m going to set up this review in bullet points since I’m fresh off of finishing this book and I’m not sure I’ll be able to adequately form a coherent review while I’m still deep in the emotions of this book.

•This book gave me big Emily Henry vibes. The writing style, the emotions... I was heavily reminded of my attachment to her books while I was reading this one and it was absolutely beautiful.

•There was constant tension through and it ebbed and flowed. You’d think you were getting closer to happiness and then all of a sudden it just dropped and you’re left just as heartbroken as before. And yet it was so good and you’re left wanting more.

•Such an imperfect love story that was so insanely beautifully written while being gut wrenching. The back and forth with such bad communication but made so much more realistic with it covering a large span of time.

•I call myself an easy reader to make tear up. If there’s a sweet scene or any emotional scene, I’m definitely known to tear up. But it is very rare for me to full on sob. This is one of 3 books in my life where I have legitimately sobbed from reading. I’ve rarely been this gutted while reading which I think was honestly just such a huge shock. Huge huge HUGE kudos to this debut author for eliciting such an intense reaction from me and what she wrote about and me rating it as highly as I am. This author is brilliant at writing lovable characters that you become so insanely attached to, and you won’t realize it... until you do.

•This is a story about grief, and while I’ve never experienced true grief like these characters, I feel like this opened a very small window into what it’s like. And so I say again... this author blew me away and is absolutely incredible.

***Trigger warnings: I do want to say that this book deals heavily with dealing with death of loved ones and grief, so go in carefully if these are triggers for you. I never ever give trigger warnings, but for this one I will.***

*Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book in an exchange for an honest review.

Tear my heart out again, Emily Stone. I’m ready to be hurt again by you. This book is AMAZING. Don’t let the cover or synopsis fool you…this isn’t your average rom com. This was so heart wrenching and emotionally exhausting. But it was also so warm and happy and all I want to do is forget I read it and read it again.

Not your typical traditional Christmas romance. Losses, new relationships, love, family, devastation are all elements of this book.

I found it a little slow going, but did not expect the ending to be as it was. Do not expect a real feel good story and keep your tissues close by. It was still an interesting Christmas book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something nontraditional to read for the holiday.

I received a copy of this book from Random House Ballentine and Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was exactly what I needed it to be. It was a fun, Christmas romance that left me feelings all of the feels by the end of it. This was not your typical fluffy romance book so it was a breath of fresh air. It also made me want to visit Edinburgh and London more than ever now! If you are looking for something cute for the holidays, I would recommend this book.

This was a great book! I really enjoyed the characters of Josie and Max. The characters' meet-cute was clever and different. The way they were pulled back together throughout the years was kismet. There's a plot twist that the reader likely expects from the start but the way it reveals itself was a shocker. I think the book feels like a meshing of several popular books I've read in the past few years (One Day in December, Me Before You) but I appreciate that about it.

Storygraph 9/20/21
This is my type of book. When they go on adventures together! Max is a mysterious man who accidentally crashed into Josie and he doesn’t say much but as the story grows we get to see more of his happy cute side. Josie is still trying to figure out what is happening in her life. From time to time Josie and Max bump into each other unexpectedly and they are both in love with each other, but are there things that are keeping each other apart. We get to see how they have impacted each other lives and the ending and beginning you can see the difference <3 Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

4.25/5 stars.

This book is difficult to review simply because I am still reeling from the ending. It is a cute romance, but it is not fluffy. Josie and Max are incredibly well written characters, as is every single side character in this book. I did not see the ending coming, although in hindsight, I should've. This book was described as "a devastating, romantic, life-affirming love story" and I can attest to the veracity of that claim.

Tissue rating: 2

Emily Stone graces her readers with a romance about destiny, faith, and the idea of soul mates in Always, in December. Engaging dialogue and characters you want to root for make this love story a cozy and lovable read.

Really liked this one. This one surprisingly had me in tears a few times! I could tell the author really put their heart and soul into this story.

Josie and Max were so perfect and flawed and the story was so well built.
Just perfect.

Always, in December was a breath of fresh air. To say I loved this book was an understatement! Most holiday books are light and airy and hopeful but this book was deep and makes you search your soul.

Josie was an A plus character and I loved her growth. I could feel her emotions coming off the page.

i requested this book because i loved the cover and the blurb, but i didn’t expect to love it so much. this is one of the most beautiful, emotional stories i’ve read. i don’t want to reveal much in my review, though, so i’m going to keep this short.

this is a love story, of course, and a very beautiful one, but it doesn’t have the ending we’re used to see. this doesn’t make the book less beautiful or amazing in my opinion. happily ever afters are different for every person, and this book shows it. josie and max met each other when they needed it the most, and i loved how life kept putting them together when they least expected it.

the book was easy and fast to read, and i couldn’t put it down unless i had another obligations. i know this book won’t be for everyone, but i recommend it still.

cw: grief, cancer

rating: 4 stars
steam: closer door.

This book was an emotional and powerful read! I loved parts of it and hated parts of it! Josie was very resilient and strong character. Not really a Christmas read in the traditional sense.

Wow, what a book! If you can read this and not catch all the feels I’d be amazed, and you should play professional poker!

Josie lost her parents 20 years ago, and was just told that her job is possibly being made redundant, so it’s understandable that she’s a bit upset and distracted while riding her bike through city center. She quite literally runs into Max, and this action starts a series of meetings over a year’s span.

It’s hard to go into any more detail without revealing spoilers so I won’t. This wonderful story will make you smile and cry and wonder at the plan fate has for each of us. Read it with a box of tissues handy.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First if all, grab the tissue box cause this books it’s gonna make you sob. This story revolves around Josie who meets Max after being dumped by her cheating boyfriend. She quite literally runs Max over with her bike lol and they end up spending Christmas together and develop friendship that’s on & off for a while. 3/5

Ok I’ll be the heartless soul to say it. Didn’t love the book. 2.5 stars generously rounded up.

The first part was alright from Josie’s POV, I was able to forgive Josie’s hair for constantly needing to be tucked. I warmed to the second part with Max’s POV. Was fully into it by the third part thinking we were getting to the heart of the storyline where certain things or actions are revealed or explained to lead to a climax and resolution... but that was milked to the very end. And then. And then. It was just sad. And depressing.

I’m glad I read this in September and not in December. I’m all for sadness now and then, but combined with the drawn out storyline, not much dialogue, I can’t say I’d recommend this. Too much vagueness and forced “miscommunication” to prolong the ending.

Feeling a tad Grinchish so I will say there were parts I did enjoy and I would try another book from this author in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Always, in December is a powerful read that evokes a myriad of emotions. I laughed and I cried while reading it. I was disgusted at times and amused at others. I felt like I was in the book. Josie is resilient, and an excellent example that resilient does not mean strong 100% of the time. This is a novel that will stay with me for a long time. It would make a wonderful movie!