I completely missed the memo that this was not going to be a heartwarming, holiday rom-com., but instead a complete gut-wrencher. If you are looking for a good cry, read this story. Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for an advanced copy to review.

This was a light, fun read. Who doesn't like a Christmas romance? I would recommend it to friends, but I think in a year, I won't remember it, as it doesn't stick out too much from other cheesy romances.

I picked this up hoping for a light, holiday read (think the movie Serendipity or One Day in December). This... was not. I had suspicions as I was reading but I kept thinking, no the author isn't going to...

But she did. And this was not light. Or a romance.

Rather it was about two people who had an odd meet-cute (which was fine) and then a strange relationship. From the beginning, Max seemed put off by Josie... and then he was inviting her to spend every day with him. It seemed strange (although it kind of makes sense by the end) and then it just got stranger. There was a clear failure to communicate (my biggest pet peeve) which is essentially the basis of the book.

Forget about the big things, Max let Josie believe he had a girlfriend when he didn't... and yet she still fell in love (after spending a few days with the guy?). The coincidences were too unbelievable. There was a lot that was so much of a stretch it was hard to buy into the book.

The structure of the book was strange too. It started with Josie's point of view... jumped to Max's for one section... and then back to Josie's for the rest (save for one brief chapter). I'm not sure that style worked. I was waiting for an alternating perspective (and didn't get it). I think if Max's section had been cut and shortened to be from Josie's perspective, it would have flowed better.

There were also pages of description of odd things (like a hotel lobby or the castle grounds) that went on and on... but then other things were just there. The book did a lot of telling what things were rather than letting the reader get immersed in it. Overall, it didn't work for me.

Always, in December follows the story of Josie and is all about loving and learning to let go. In the beginning of the book we are introduced to Josie, a young woman who seems to be very opposed to the Christmas season. Christmas Eve is the day Josie lost her parents to a horrible accident when she was only 9 years old and ever since Josie has written a letter to them and delivered it to the mailbox. On her way to the mail this year, Josie is out of sorts due to recently finding out that her long time boyfriend cheated on her. Because of this, Josie finds herself falling head over heels (literally) by running her bicycle into Max. From there, Josie and Max hit off a reluctant but beautiful relationship.

Alright, alright - I don't think there is much else I can say with out spoiling everything, so just know that this book is a WHIRLWIND of emotion. The pacing was interesting to get used to at first as it happens over the course of a year and we are constantly in different months.

I really love the themes of grief/loss for loved ones, learning when to let go/move on, and self growth. Overall, a really good book.

This is quite the tear-jerker. It is a meet cute story that doesn't end at all how you think it will. I did love that the story draws attention to the fact the Holiday season isn't always cheerful for everyone. Some have a very hard time during the holidays, and that's ok. If you're going in to this book expecting a fluffy holiday romance, that is not at all what you'll be reading.

This was such a cute read! Expected it to be cheesy, but boy was I wrong! This was amazing - so cute and fresh. Fell in love with both of the main characters and ultimately had my heart broken at the end. Great writing!

Always, In December will stay with me for a long, long time. This book was beautiful, heartfelt and gut wrenching all at once. One of my favorite aspects was the duel viewpoints between Max and Josie, swapping out every couple of months. The way their lives were intertwined makes you believe in fate- only to have fate rip a hole in your heart at the end. Well written, even if I had a huge lump in my throat by the final chapter.

Reviews posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

Well, that was Unexpected! Bring Hankies. Lots of them!

A chance for December romance.

Both Hopeful and Haunting.

The characterizations in this book are honest, real, and raw. The emotions it drew from me are intense and heartfelt. Emily Stone, you got me and got me good!

Josie and Max, you stole my heart. Max - you are totally Swoonworthy! It’s too bad that you were entirely fictional.

At this point in time, I have no words. I am in fact, mostly speechless.

This was one very memorable holiday buddy read with Kaceey that gave us quite a lot to discuss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine for the arc.

Published on Goodreads and Twitter.

This started out slow for me. I struggled to get into the story, but after the first 40 pages or so, I was finally hooked. I enjoyed Josie's point of view during her time with Max before Christmas. Again, when the story switched to Max's POV, I had a hard time feeling immersed. I liked the story and the writing, but I felt my attention wander.

I wish I could read this book again for the first time.
I requested a copy of this book because I thought it would be a good book to read in December and during the holiday season. It was that, but it was also so much more.
Every year at Christmas, Josie mails a letter to her parents who died in an accident many years ago on Christmas. On her way, she crashes her bike into Max. Come to find out, they are both avoiding the holidays for their own reasons so they decide to spend Christmas together. But then Max disappears without saying goodbye. Over the course of the next year, fate keeps bringing them back together in unexpected ways.
I was expecting your typical holiday rom com, and while it was that, this story also had so much depth. I loved that they kept finding each other as if it was truly meant to be. I loved the depth of each character and hearing about their stories. I did not see the ending coming at all. I loved this book for so many reasons and I hope you pick this up and read it!

Thank you #netgalley and #randomhouseballantine #ballantine for an advanced copy of #alwaysindecember in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my gosh, why didn't anyone warn me that this book was so sad?! I went into it not even having read the synopsis and was happily reading along until WHAM, it completely wrecked me. If you've read this you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Did it make me cry? Yes. Did I love it? Yes.

Josie has a particularly hard time at Christmas because her parents died during the holidays when she was younger. Add the fact that she's just broken up with her boyfriend and is most likely being made redundant, and everything is feeling pretty terrible right now.

She quite literally runs into Max, and to make up for hitting him with her bike she buys him a drink. Max is pretty surly (and with good reason) but the two of them end up spending the next few days together in a bid to ward off the loneliness of the season. Without saying goodbye Max leaves for New York, and the two of them don't see each other again for months. Their timing always seems to be off, but they keep bumping into each other, even in different countries...as if fate is trying extra hard to bring them together.

Oh this book tore at my heartstrings, and I loved every second of it.

While I enjoyed this book, I felt a bit misled by the description and the title. The book does begin and end in December but it spans the entire year between. Josie meets Max by chance, in December, as she mails her annual letter to her dead parents. Max and Josie begin a brief relationship only to have Max leave without saying goodbye or giving a reason.

Throughout the next year, Josie has several chance encounters with Max as she attempts to get over him and figure out her life. Each time she reconnects with Max, he appears to have a girlfriend and to have moved on from his time with Josie.

The ending is not what I expected and I didn’t love it. I felt like the whole year had been drawn out only to have an ending that felt rushed.

This holiday read has all the feels and I highly recommend it. Every Christmas, Josie mails a letter to her parents, who passed away many Christmas’ ago. While sending her letter, she accidentally collided into a complete (handsome) stranger, Max. From there, they spend the next few days together and connect immediately, only for Max to abruptly leave without saying goodbye...

On the way to post the annual letter to the parents she lost on Christmas so many years ago, Josie collides with a man getting out of a taxi parked in the bike lane. When the two begin talking Josie realizes she isn't the only one trying to avoid Christmas, Max seems to have his own issues with the holidays. Now that he is stranded in London for a few days he convinces Josie to spend Christmas with him exploring all over the city. Not expecting to fall for anyone after recently getting her heartbroken Josie starts to believe meeting Max might have been fate. But when she wakes on December 26th Max has left leaving only an apology note behind leaving her with no way to contact him. As the next year passes Josie and Max weave in and out of each other's lives in unexpected ways leading to a heartbreaking love story. Based on the cover alone you would assume this is another warm and fuzzy holiday read but reader be warned...this isn't that at all. If you are anti-holiday books this may be the perfect read for you but if you prefer your Christmas books to have more of a Hallmark feel, pick up another book. I'm not sure I've quite forgiven Emily Stone for breaking my little Christmasy heart yet. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Always in December, by Emily Stone, is not your typical holiday read. Josie always avoids the Christmas season and is unexpectedly spending it alone without her best friend this year. Sending her annual Christmas letter to her late parents she crashes into seemingly the one other person avoiding the holiday season, Max. Starting off barely speaking they end up spending Christmas together and Josie feels the stirrings of love-all to have Max just disappear. Heartbroken, fate intervenes and brings Max and Josie face to face in the most unlikely of places over the next year. However, Max had his reasons for disappearing. What unfolds is a heartwrenching story in December.

I absolutely loved this story but it is not a typical holiday book; if you are looking for something light and easy during the festive season this is not the book for you but it is one to be read. The characters are well developed, the scenery and narration descriptive and just a captivating story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐I absolutely loved this book. My one and only holiday book this year and it did not disappoint! The Notebook meets One Day in December meets Me Before You. All my favorite romcoms into one book. I definitely cried at the ending but it was worth it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was emotional for me at times, and I even teared up. So glad I took a chance and read this arc from NetGalley.

I read this together with a friend and unfortunately I didn’t care for it. I liked the part at the beginning when Josie and Max Met but I wasn’t rooting for them enough to really be invested in their stories. I was annoyed at the lack of communication on Max’s part and hated that he never was able to tell Josie. I did like the ending and how Josie was living her dream. But it wasn’ t enough to make me like the book.

I received an eARC of Always, in December by Emily Stone from Random House Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
4 stars! If you plan on reading this book, be aware it isn't a HEA. Josie meets Max in London. Then over a period of time, they meet randomly. The book was heartbreaking, heartwarming, and well written. It wouldn't hurt to have tissues on hand.

I chose this book thinking it would be a holiday romance type of story with angst and unrequited love and eventually a sappy ending that warms your heart. Well…not so much. There were some common tropes including boy meets girl. Girl falls in love with boy after spending a week together. Boy ghosts girl. Girl feels sad and abandoned by boy but moves on with her life. Boy and girl’s lives keep intersecting over the course of the next year. The big question is will they eventually get it together and communicate and live happily ever after together???

In the spirit of not giving anything away, I will just say that this book was not what I was expecting when I picked it up although it became predictably clear what was going to happen about midway through. I will also say, other authors like jojo moyes and Josie silver have succeeded in pulling off this type of women’s fiction. I just thought this book lacked heart. I didn’t really bond with the main characters. The romance part started off nicely but stalled. The plot focused too much on the MC’s memo, aunt Helen, and best friend. The love story development was sparse and lacked any real attachment. It rang hollow.
I wish it had focused more on the love triangle aspect between the MC, Oliver and Max.

The ending was just meh for me although I can see other readers reaching for tissues. I bumped it up to a 3 star because I was drawn in during the first half. Just didn’t like where the plot went in the second half.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.