This one was cute. I adored the town and the shop. I liked that Augustus had this big plan for the sisters to gain their inheritance.
I really liked Maggie. I think as an older sibling I related to her and how she is the glue that holds the sisters together.
I loved how they worked together and bonded over this "scavenger hunt".

A cute, cozy and fun holiday read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I've read Jenny Bayliss before and so when I started this book, it felt like a warm comforting hug because I felt familiarity. I felt it in a good way though!

I absolutely fell in love with this book! My introduction to Jenny Bayliss was through "Meet Me Under the Mistletoe," which set my expectations high for this one. And let me tell you, it not only met those expectations but exceeded them! The story revolves around three sisters who, after their eccentric father's passing, embark on an adventure he has planned for them through his will.

One aspect I adored about this book was how it was narrated from the perspective of each sister. It gave me insight into their unique mindsets and lives. Each sister faces her own personal challenges while also navigating the provisions of their father's will. What truly captured my heart was the bond these sisters rekindled, and I must say, it was refreshing to read a story that went beyond romance. While there were three romantic plots intertwined, the focus remained on the evolving relationship and the love shared among the sisters.

I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions while reading this book—I cried, laughed, and smiled along with the characters. The vivid descriptions made it easy for me to imagine myself right there with the sisters, living their journey. I wholeheartedly recommend "A December to Remember" without hesitation!

I want to express my immense gratitude to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jenny Bayliss for providing me with an ARC of "A December to Remember."

Jenny Bayliss’ books are ones I’m excited to read every holiday season. She captures the fun side of small villages and the importance of community in all of her books and it makes everything so cozy. This is my second time receiving an ARC for her books, and even though it’s 90 degrees, I long for the start of winter and the build of Christmas. One other thing I love about her books is that Christmas/the holiday season is not such a heavy focus or setting in her book and plays a part in the plot.

A December to Remember had all of those above aspects I love about these books and a really interesting sister dynamic. Maggie, Star, and Simone only spent one month together every summer with their distant dad but after he passes away, he reunites them and challenges them to work together to bring back the villages winter solstice celebration.

Each sister has their own issues in their lives that they are hesitant to open up on but as time goes on, they soon learn they can trust their family and those around them to support and help them. This story shows that we don’t fully understand what someone is going through and sometimes you need to offer to help someone because they won’t ask for help.

This was a cozy read and one that I think many will love to read during the holiday season. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

(I will post a similar review to my Bookstagram bookishlyshan Closer to publication)

I received a free copy of, A December to Remeber, by Jenny Bayliss, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Simone, Maggie, and Star, are half sisters, they all have the same dad, who was never really in their lives, when he dies he leads them on a scavenger hunt. Simone, Maggie and Star, are as different as sisters can be, they never really got along until they have to organize a winter solstice and find the pieces of the scavenger hunt. This is a nice Christmas read about family.

Oh boy, this was a disappointment. I loved Bayliss' other books so was excited for this one. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. It felt ultra corny and tried to do too much from too many POVs. Initially, I was excited because it's about 3 sisters (I am 2 of 3 sisters). SO- I was like WOAH this is scary accurate. BUT, the characters felt one dimensional and the writing wasn't nearly as good as her previous books- I found myself skimming towards the end,

Thank you @netgalley for sending me an ARC of A December to Remember in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the way this book was narrated by all three sisters so that the reader got a glimpse into each sisters mindset and life. I think it’s because there was so much going on, there were multiple deep topics covered and it was more of a heavier read than I’m used to in a Christmas book.

***Thank you to Netgalley, Jenny Bayliss and Penguin Group for the ARC*** Views are my own.
Release date: 09.26.2023

This is the third Christmas book I've read this week and lemme tell you, I am here for it. The previous two I read were romcoms and as much as I love those, I needed something different.
Plot: Three estranged sisters are suddenly reunited after the passing of their father and must do as he says in his will in order to get their inheritance. This is a feel-good book that reminds you how important family can be. I like that each chapter is a different sisters POV.

A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5. What a lovely book! I love Christmas books and was so happy to receive this ARC from @netgalley ! When the patriarch of the North family passed away leaving his treasures to his 3 mostly estranged daughters, they must work together through activities he’s planned to bring them together to finalize his will and wishes. This book made me want a cozy blanket with tea! I love small town, holiday books and this one had romance, heart, family dynamics, another chefs kiss by @jennibayliss can’t wait for you all to read this! Somehow she has a way of moving the book along but at the same time making you stop and smell the roses along the way. My favorite quote, “My life goal is to feel contentment; to me that’s the one thing worth striving for” it resonated with me so much in this book!

I enjoyed the plot and vibes of this book. It really made it feel like Christmas was happening in summer which I enjoyed because I prefer the cold over the heat.

“A December to Remember” made me wish it was already Christmastime (and not the beginning of summer)! I think that I needed this spark of heartwarming whimsy and captivating quirkiness right about now. It’s certainly the kind of cozy book that can whisk you away for countless hours.

As a sister myself, I really appreciated the focus on these three half-sisters as they navigated the loss of their father and how to come to terms with everything that was happening in their lives. It was real as well as magical, and I love stories like that. The setting was fully realized and so well-described. I could completely envision it!

Grateful to Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts..

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the copy of A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss. What a fantastic book! I was captivated by the story of 3 estranged half-sisters who must compete in a series of challenges to access their inheritance from their eccentric father.

The book is narrated by the three sisters so that the reader gets a glimpse into each sisters life. Each sister has their own personal problems they are trying to navigate while learning to work together to meet the stipulations of the will.

A December to Remember is a whimsical heartwarming story about love, family and the support of a fantastic community. I highly recommend this book. My absolute favorite holiday book by Jenny Bayliss.

Jenny Bayliss has created a delightfully quirky novel centered around the relationships of three sisters after the death of their father. Their father and their family dynamic is different than most. All three of the sisters have different mothers and while one lives in the same village as her father, she only sees him for four glorious weeks during the summer. As the girls grew, they grew apart and in their late thirties and forties they have to come together to solve a series of their fathers challenges in order to earn their inheritance and their sisterhood bonds. The oldest, Maggie, is always picking up the slack and can't seem to ask for help, even when her own life is falling apart. Simone, the middle sister is very self-reliant to her own detriment and to the detriment of her marriage if she can't heal from many failed IVF procedures. Star, or Heavenly Stargazer Rosehip, is a lovable character that makes a lot of mistakes and can't see her own worth. As they search their father's shop for clues they learn a lot about each other and themselves in a magical village at Christmastime. I am a sucker for Christmas books, especially quirky ones set in England, so this novel felt perfect to me. The cover art is gorgeous, which adds an extra layer of deliciousness to this book. It makes you want to grab a mug of steaming hot chocolate and snuggle in for a cozy read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely ADORED this book! My first Jenny Bayliss book was “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe” so I definitely had high expectations for this book! And it truly met every expectation that I had and then some! This book is about three estranged sisters who begin building a relationship after their quirky father leaves them an adventure to go on through his will after he passes away.

I absolutely loved the way this book was narrated by all three sisters so that the reader got a glimpse into each sisters mindset and life. Each sister has their own personal trials they are going through while also trying to navigate the stipulations in their fathers will. I adore the relationship that these sisters build back and I’m honestly so happy to read a book that isn’t solely based on romance. While this book did have three romantic plots, I enjoyed that it was more about the relationship and the love that the sisters begin to have for each other!

I found myself crying, laughing, and smiling throughout this book and could truly imagine that I was there in the book with the sisters! I would recommend this book over and over!

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jenny Bayliss for an ARC of “A December to Remember”❤️❤️

I picked this up because Jenny Bayliss's "Twelve Dates of Christmas" is one of my all-time favourite Christmas books, and please, this book was SO GOOD and SO WHOLESOME 😭 I think this became my favourite book by Jenny Bayliss ❤️ this book focuses on 3 estranged sisters who build back the sisterly relationship they lost after childhood.

The book is narrated by all three sisters, each of whom are going through various troubles in their careers and/or relationships. They've been estranged for years and going at life alone, but when they're brought together to fulfil the last will of their dead father, they build back their bonds and become stronger than ever 🥲🥲 All three romantic plots were also so wholesome 😭 the hea's were so perfect. Istg, this book felt like drinking warm coffee ❤️

TWs - death of an estranged parent, death of spouse (past), stalking by an ex (past and on-page), drug addiction (secondary character, aka aforementioned ex), failed pregnancies from IVF (past and talked about on-page)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Three sisters are reunited in their charming hometown over the tragic loss of their father. This whimsical story is set in December, and the entire town comes together to support these sisters as they begin to process their father's curios shop and plan the Solstice event. This was a really sweet read- I loved learning about each sister and their past. Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this free ecopy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Very cute rom com, perfect for someone who really isn’t into romance overall. I always love a good lighthearted book centered around a holiday. In this one you have three estranged half sisters, coming together to solve a puzzle (maybe more of a challenge than puzzle?) put together by their late father.

Augustus North has written out a will that requires his offspring to work together to sort through his curiosities shop, and then to put together a winter solstice event for the town- working together to reunite them as well as the town.

The story has many layers, each sister has her own problems and insecurities to deal with, so not only do they solve the biggest issue but they use each other to work through their own personal difficulties.

I especially enjoyed the winter solstice event details, it makes me want to put together my own traditions this winter. I mean, I’m already going to have to get rich so I can set up my own monopoly house will, right? Might as well be fully invested!

This is a perfect holiday read for those readers who don’t necessarily want ANOTHER Christmas themed romcom. Still fun and festive, but new. I appreciate the advanced readers copy from Jenny Bayliss, Penguin Book/Putnam and NetGalley! Will definitely be picking up a finished copy upon release.

A December to Remember is a sweet story of estranged sisters. While this is an enjoyable read I did find it to be a bit predictable. It tends to move slower as well. This is a good read, but definitely not one of my favorites from this year.

I love this authors writing. It’s captivating in all the right ways. Not to mention perfect for this this season.

Augustus North is a rolling stone. He has three daughters (Maggie, Simone, Star) by three very different women. Growing up, his daughters were only together for the summer months when they lived with their dad. Each daughter is wrapped up in their own lives and really have no idea of the others lives.

Augustus passes and his daughters are left with a series of challenges that they must complete together in order to collect their inheritance.

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This is definitely a feel good, Hallmark-y, Christmas read in ALL the best ways. You become very invested in their stories.