I really enjoyed this story! I loved that even though each sister had their own romantic plot, what stuck with me in the end was how their sibling relationships grew so much.

It is refreshing to read a romance book about women in their 30s/40s. They faced realistic challenges that you don't always see in the genre.

The found family in the village might have been my favorite part! I love a cozy and supportive small town story. This is not the first Jenny Bayliss book I've read, and it definitely won't be the last!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of A December to Remember in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book from beginning to end. Three sisters with the same father but different mothers come together after years apart to go through their father's will which involves them looking for 30+ Monopoly houses and bringing the town's Winter Solstice back to life. Throw in some love, drama and lots of booze and a little holiday magic and you've got the perfect recipe.

This almost worked better as a spooky read with the lost treasures from their dad's shops and the power of the women in the town.

I've never highlighted so many passages in a book that either made me laugh or made very good points.

The “Summer Sisters” reunite after the death of their father to fulfill his final wishes and close out his estate. The sisters are bonded only through their unconventional father and memories of the one summer month a year they spent with him while growing up.

This tale of the three women and their quest to reinstate the Winter Solstice celebration was a lovely read about family and community, with a little romance to add some spice. Jenny Bayliss created the charming backdrop of a small town and its quirky denizens. This sweet holiday read will have you rooting for the sisters to find their back to each other as the entire town helps them complete their mission.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I adored this story! I enjoyed the small town feel and how this story really made me feel like I was right in the middle of winter at Christmas time. I loved the three sisters and how we got to see their relationship gradually change over the course of the story. Each of the sisters was battling their own issues within their own family as well as struggling with romantic relationships or finding new love. We learn early on in the story that their father passed away and that's what brought these women back together, but even though their father is no longer around you still feel his presence throughout the story. I could tell exactly what kind of man he was and how he affected each of his daughters. I had many emotions while reading this that included happiness, joy, frustration and sometimes sadness. There are a few content warnings to watch out for like the talk of abortion, infertility issues and addiction. I have read a few books by this author and I would consider this one of my favorites!

I enjoyed this book, the storyline was well thought out and character descriptions were thorough. I do think the ending felt a bit rushed but not that it didn't give closure to the storylines/characters. Look forward to other titles by this author.

Three estranged half-sisters are reunited when their father dies. It’s up to them to come together to save North Novelties & Curios and restore the magic of the winter solstice to the close-knit town of Rowan Thorpe. I had some trouble keeping the three sisters (Maggie (Marguerite), Simone, and Star (Heavenly-Stargazer Rosehip) straight because they're written in mostly the same voice. This was further complicated by the fact that there are so many side characters. This book lacked some of the Christmas charm for me because each sister had their own associated cast of side characters and trauma they were dealing with on top of having to throw together a huge town festival and sort through their late father’s estate. There was a lot going on and the book dealt with some deeper themes I wasn’t expecting— family legacy, death of a parent, displacement, identity, self-worth, stalking, drug addiction, IVF and motherhood. At the same time, I adored the setting and townspeople. It reminded me a lot of my own small town where everyone knows everyone. While they could be nosy and overbearing, they adopted the North sisters as their own and made sure their winter solstice celebration was a success. A December to Remember had all the cozy vibes. Hot cocoa, snow, small-town romance, and bird watching. While each of the sisters had their own romances, I appreciated that in the end, the story was more about their love for each other.

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley, the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Jenny Bayliss for an ARC of one of my most anticipated holiday reads!

Good start, too crass. I don't enjoy that, especially in a Christmas book. I didn't finish due to language so I can't give an honest review.

This book really surprised me - in the best way! I was expecting a light Christmas-y story, but instead was met with deep and imperfect family dynamics, a scavenger hunt through an antique store, a little bit of romance, and much more. Plus, the village of Rowan Thorp and all its residents was the perfect backdrop. It has all of the coziness and quirkiness of Stars Hollow! This book had some great winter holiday tie-ins, but I loved reading it even during the hottest month of the year.

I’ve heard lots of positive things about Jenny Bayliss’s other novels but this was my first and it did not disappoint. It was delightful and cozy. When their eccentric father passes away on one of his travels, half-sisters Simone, Maggie and Star are brought back together in their hometown of Rowan Thorp for the first time in many years. Their father has left their inheritance hinging on a scavenger hunt followed by instructions to revive their village’s winter solstice festival.

The beginning of the book was a little difficult for me because there were so many different characters and back stories for each. By the second half, I had the three sisters straightened out and could really enjoy the twists and turns as the sisters scramble to prepare the festival with generous help from the rest of the village.

I expected this to be more of a romance (of which there is some, to be sure), but the real story is about the estranged sisters rekindling their relationship. It is predictable overall but an enjoyable journey. I’d love to return to Rowan Thorp again!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

A cute, cozy Christmas romcom that wouldn't be out of place on the Hallmark network. Good setting, charming characters. A pleasure to read, gets you warmed up for the holiday season!

Very sweet book that is perfect for the holidays and lovers of the holidays!
Wanted to read this after reading The Twelve Dates of Christmas from Bayliss and this similarly did not disappoint. Found this through NetGalley.
First couple chapters were a little slow but nothing too sloggish and much needed to set up the scene. I did enjoy that while this was a romance book, it does focus heavily on the relationship between the three sisters and their journey of healing. Not in a way that made it hard to read, but just the right amount.

I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into with this book and only really only decided to read it because I have liked so many other books by Jenny Bayliss. I am glad that I put my trust in her hands because I found this book absolutely delightful. Three very different half-sisters who really only spent summers together growing up must work together to fulfill the instructions included in their recently deceased father's will. Set in a charming small British town and bursting with lovely characters (even the secondary characters felt so real and distinct) this book was wonderful to read even though it had me wishing it were winter and that there was a local Winter Solstice celebration I could attend. Granted I tend to wish for winter all summer long but this book made it even worse. I may have to reread it in December when I can curl up in a blanket with a glass of mulled wine,

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A December to Remember is a feel-good family holiday story. When their old man dies, three half-sisters need to come together to solve a puzzle in order to receive their inheritance. The three sisters, by different mothers, spent their early summers together, but have drifted and become bitter with each other over the years.

This is a Hallmark-type, feel-good family story. I enjoyed getting to know the girls and watch them work out their relationships with each other. Totally loved this one!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 out of 5. Jenny Bayliss is an interesting author for me. I should love her Holiday approach and want to love her books, but it always end up in the middle for me. Same thing happened here. They are good Holiday stories just not great. A good predictable but nice, in my category but not a must read or cry fest.

This one had some beautiful moments. The sisters relationship and how it evolved was beautiful. And the sprinkle of magic a well as the solstice holiday was fab, another one for the winter holidays not just Christmas. I want to host a solstice event now on the 21st! this seems fun. I usually have mixed feeling about epilogues but here I really enjoyed it and was very satisfied to get closure on the stories. I actually need a prequel because I want to hear so much more about their ancestors, Augusts and Prudence seem like badasses.

A good quote: you must embrace the cold days and long dark nights and learn to find the jo in them for there is much joy to be found

I was so happy to receive this newest book from Jenny Bayliss! I love her work; her books are always entertaining without having to have a ton of pomp and outrageous scenes. Set during my favorite time of the year, Christmas, three half-sisters (tied together through their dad) that don’t really get along need to complete some strange tasks in order to gain access to their inheritance from their dad. He wants all of the sisters to complete various challenges before they can learn what they inherited from him and the store he ran for years. Though naturally none of the sisters wants to do any of this with each other, they do and of course learn more about each other and connect in ways they did not anticipate.

This was a great heartwarming book for the holidays, with a dash of romance as well. Read this book to get you into the Christmas and winter swing, and for just general positive vibes.

I received this Arc from NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam in exchange for an honest review.

Augustus North had always been a wandering soul and a 'ladies man'. He owned the family business "North Novelties & Curios" which had been in existence for decades. Augustus passes away while living in his van in the mountains of Switzerland. In his will, he leaves instructions for his 3 daughters, Maggie, Simone, and Star. First, they must accomplish a scavenger hunt of sorts in his hoarder-like shop. Then, they must bring back the Winter Solstice celebration for the village (Rowan Thorpe). Each of the sister's has their own sub-plot throughout the book. Each of these plots was realistic to the characters ages and highly relateable.
I very much enjoyed this winter novel of sisters, community and legacy. Highly recommend.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley.

If you’re a fan of Jenny Bayliss, you’ll love A December to Remember. Taking the classic small town Christmas Hallmark formula, this novel adds in a twist; instead of a woman meeting a man, it’s more about three estranged sisters reuniting amid the magic of the Winter Solstice.

All three sisters are equally screwed up, thanks to their late father’s unconventional approach to parenthood. Now they must reunite to solve a series of riddles in order to fulfill his will. Although at times the book is a little cheesy, ultimately its strength lies on how these women come together for each other, their town, and the memory of their father.

Three stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

I really enjoy Christmas stories, so I was super excited to read this one. I just loved how grounded it was in the family, and not just the typical family, but how family can be found all around you. Romantic love is fabulous, and there is some great romantic love within this book; however, I loved the love between the sisters. Their bond was unique, but strong, so the building of their relationship was beautiful. This was a really engaging story, thought out, and well-rounded. I look forward to reading this every Christmas, and again this Christmas!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Bayliss and Penguin Group Putnam for a digital ARC of A December to Remember in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own (except for any quotations) and may not be reproduced.

“Wildly different half-sisters Maggie, Simone, and Star have hardly seen each other since their sprightly summers at Rowan Thorp, their eccentric father Augustus’s home. Known for the fruitful ways in which his bustling knick-knack shop kept the tired town afloat, Augustus was loved by all and known by none, not even his daughters.

Now, years later, the three estranged women are unexpectedly reunited at the reading of Augustus’s will. Maggie, Simone, and Star are shocked to find out that Augustus has engineered a series of hoops through which the three women must jump to unlock their inheritance—the last thing any of them want to do. But Maggie and Star desperately need the money. And who would Simone be to resist?

Through hilarious goose chases, community mishaps, and one heart-warming winter solstice celebration, love, hope, and reconciliation is in the air, if only the three sisters can let themselves grasp it.”

Jenny Bayliss delivers another heartwarming Christmas novel. She is an auto-read for my holiday reading needs!!

This is a perfect, wholesome, Hallmark-worthy read that is sure to get you into the holiday spirit!

The journey of Maggie, Simone & Star getting back to a sisterly relationship that they only had in childhood & reunited at their father’s funeral, was such a joy to follow. I don’t have a sister, but if I did, I would want hope that we would work to have a relationship like this trio.

I definitely recommend giving this book a read, especially if you enjoyed her previous title Twelve Dates of Christmas or if you’re just in the mood for a fabulous holiday read!!

4.5/5 Stars

Wonderfully developed characters, storyline is full of emotion, and the challenges they have to face together bring in an element of cheering them on. This is a really great holiday themed story but so much more on a “get in your feelings” level that can be read anytime. One of those books you’d want to see turned into a movie.