First I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this book.

This was my first Emily Stone book and although I didn’t love it I enjoyed it and it will not be my last book from her.

I found the main character Lexie to be both relatable and also incredibly frustrating at the same time. Her feeling for her father were so relatable for anyone who has gone through it. You can understand where she is coming from and why she feels the way she does.

But she also makes a lot of decisions that I found frustrating. Her constant running and avoiding conversations made me think incredible frustrated at the same time.

I think the side characters in this book were great. I loved her mom, Racheal, Ange and Harry.

I also found the romance and the enemies to lovers troupe move so quickly. It one minute they hated each other and then poof…they didn’t. It happened a little quickly for me.

Overall, it was a cute book. And I will definitely be going back and reading her other novels.

3.5/5 stars rounded to 3 for this review.

Review will be posted on 12/6/24

Lexie's father has unfortunately died and Lexie is processing this differently than expected as they haven't talked in ten years. She finds out her father left her half of his travel agency company. At first, Lexie feels resentment and doesn't want anything to do with this, especially after meeting Theo, the executive, who owns the other half of the company. As more time passes, Lexie learns more about her father through her interaction with the company, its employees, and of course, Theo. As she processes all this, she starts to understand her father in a way she couldn't before and feelings start growing for Theo. Emily Stone delivers a heavy holiday tale in A Winter Wish.

My favorite aspect of A Winter Wish was all the gorgeous holiday settings. The travel agency specializes in holiday trips to beautiful European destinations, so hearing all about that and the different traditions was my favorite part of the novel. However, I feel that the relationship between Lexie and Theo fell a little flat at times. It didn't have that spark that I was hoping for. I know that Stone's holiday novels are always a little heavier than the usual fare, but this one felt especially heavy at times. Many triggers in the novel, such as cancer, difficult relationships with a parent, death of a family member, etc. It weighed down the story at times. If you like a heavier story during the holiday season to balance out all the fluff, give this one a try.

Emily Stone can do no wrong when it comes to holiday romances! Her stories always pull on my heart strings and makes me FEEL, I love her ability to write a moving story during the holiday times that will make us readers feel grateful and happy, I definitely recommend

This was a cute winter novel. It explored the themes of grief, especially in complicated family dynamics. It was a bit slow moving and had a lot of miscommunication but had some nice moments. I particularly liked the travel descriptions.

Emily Stone knows how to write the cozy feel good books! I can always count on her for a beautiful Christmas read! I loved Lexie and Theos banter and was so excited to receive an early copy of this book!

Thanks NetGalley!

Another amazingly written novel by Emily Lord. The plot was unique and didn’t go where you would’ve thought it’d go. The characters tension was spot on and had you wanting more. Perfect winter read.

Such an emotional book, Emily Stone really knows how to hurt me. The MCs began as enemies then proceeded the force proximity in the workplace all the while Lexie struggled with her father’s abandonment.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my copy of A Winter Wish by Emily Stone in exchange for an honest review. It published October 15, 2024.
Since 2021, Emily Stone’s winter books have been an absolute highlight of my Christmas reading. My heart gets absolutely crushed, and I just adore how the characters go through really tough things. This was shaping up to be along with its predecessors, grief at Christmas is not easy—I’m experiencing it for the first time. However, it didn’t hit like the other books did.
I found that I didn’t love Lexie and found it hard to root for her. The romance seemed forced, and honestly, I would’ve loved if the book itself was more about the sisters’ relationship and falling in love with getting to know each other. I know that most holiday books are about falling in love, but I am here for a good sisters book, relationship between friends, parents, siblings, etc.
I did enjoy the traveling, and the writing is solid as ever, and I’ll be first in line to read the next book.
I will mention that there is a lot of strong language and one sex scene that can easily be skipped over if you’re sensitive to things like that, as I am.

3.5 rounded up! This ended better than it started, plus I think Christmas themed stories deserve a little more leeway since the genre as a whole can be a little ridiculous. But this was cute - the main female character got a little annoying towards the end, and none of the laws/finances made any sense, but if you ignore that it's a sweet holiday tale.

When Lexis learns that her estranged father dies unexpectedly, she also learns that she is now co-owner of his travel company and must run it for a year. If the company makes a profit, they can sell - if they wish. If it does not, she must co-run it for another 5 years. Unfortunately, the co-owner Theo (not knowing the backstory between Lexie and her father) does not like Lexie. There is a lot of tension. But unexpected feelings occur when they take a joint trip for the company and things don't always go as they seem.

Emily Stone does it again! This is a super cute, fun Holiday read!

Thanks so much to Dell for the gifted copy of this book!

Emily Stone is my go-to for emotional Christmas romances, and this was my most highly anticipated holiday read of the year! A WINTER WISH was a little hard to get into for me - the main characters fell a little flat and the story just dragged - making this my least favorite of Emily's books. However, I will keep coming back for more of her books because I absolutely love her writing and storytelling in general!

This was a lovely holiday romance. All of my favorite Christmas activities and the family banter was so well written.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was another Christmas DNF for me. I don't think the main characters were likeable and the chemistry wasn't there. I also don't think it was a Christmas book.

I hope others love it.

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone
This is the story of coming to terms with ones past grievances and trying to find a place for oneself in this world.
Lexie, one the main characters has struggled from a young age, when her father left her and her Mom to start a new family.
So when she receives notice that her father has died, and he has left her half ownership of his travel business alongside Theo, who had been working for Lexie's dad for years.
Both Lexie and Theo had trust issues and disappointments in their lives which had to be dealt with, and they also had to figure out, how to communicate about their new roles.
Between the two of them, they finally figure out a lot, both about themselves and the company, and what the future might look like.
Another story with a lot of great characters and story-lines.
I now have read four of her books and enjoyed them all.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for a copy of this book

First off I’d just like to say that there is just something about Emily stones covers that will sell me every time. Great book. Great story. Great characters. Great cover. ♥️

I wanted to love this because I adore Stone’s books. But this one unfortunately didn’t hit the mark for me. I will still read everything she writes, this just wasn’t a favorite like Always, in December or Love, Holly.

I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

After Lexie is informed of her father's death, she is so confused when she is at the will reading and learns that she gets half of the company her dad started. Especially since she's barely talked to him over the course of the last ten years. She also learns that the other half of the company is going to a young executive from the company, Theo, who seems just as surprised. Her father's will states that they must run the company together for a year and then decide what to do with the company. The traveler that Lexie is doesn't want to stay, but decides to do so, and in turn starts to learn more about Theo. Will Lexie and Theo decide to sell the company after the year is up, or will they continue to run it together?

Emily Stone knows how to write a good love story! Although this one was very slow to begin with, it quickly got better and it was very cute! If you want a cute winter read that is a slow burn, this one should do it!

3.5!

This was my first Emily Stone book (thank you NetGalley!), and I thought it was a solid lighthearted romance. The cover makes it seem like a Christmas book, and while there were certainly some holiday scenes throughout, I’d call this “holiday-adjacent” overall, as much of the novel takes place throughout the remainder of the year. However, I enjoyed the characters and the “enemies to lovers” slow burn romance. All in all a solid romance, but nothing that completely knocked my socks off.

sooo this was pretty meh - it was basically not Christmas-y at all! it was just a normal romance that happened to start at Christmas time and then just went along the course of the year. Lexie was about as interesting as cardboard. Theo was definitely lovable and I did really enjoy the banter, it wasn’t too forced which can be hard to pull off with enemies to lovers. I am going to try another (hopefully more Christmas-y) book by this author because I’ve heard really good things. thanks to @netgalley for the gifted digital copy

Emily Stone’s “A Winter Wish” tells the story of Lexie Peterson, a woman navigating life after the death of her estranged father, Richard. As she confronts her grief, Lexie also builds new relationships and comes to terms with her past, particularly her complicated feelings toward her father and his legacy.
When Lexie was seven years old, her father left her and her mother for another woman. He remarried and had a daughter named Rachel. Over the next fourteen years, Richard repeatedly failed to meet Lexie’s expectations, canceling plans or simply not showing up for important events, including her twenty-first birthday dinner. This pattern of disappointment eventually leads Lexie to cut ties with him entirely, vowing never to speak to him again.
However, when Lexie’s mother informs her that Richard has passed away, Lexie learns that her father has left his travel business, R&L Travel, to her and Theo, his co-worker and close friend. Although Lexie wants nothing to do with her father’s affairs, the will stipulates that they must run the business together for one year and make a profit before deciding its future. Reluctantly, Lexie agrees to take part, even though she has no interest in carrying on her father’s legacy.

Theo, on the other hand, views Richard in a more positive light. Having been disappointed by his own family in Ireland for his unconventional career, Theo found a mentor in Richard, who encouraged his passion for travel. Richard’s belief in him shaped Theo's life, and he holds onto the memory of his late mentor fondly. When Theo meets Lexie, however, he struggles to understand her deep resentment toward Richard. The two clash almost immediately, and their strained relationship becomes the central dynamic of the novel.

Stone excels at writing about grief and trauma, weaving these themes throughout the novel with subtlety and nuance. Lexie’s abandonment issues are a key part of her character, reflected in her reluctance to settle down or form lasting attachments. She keeps her life in constant motion, never fully unpacking, symbolized by her most prized possession—a wish jar. Every December, she writes a wish and hopes it will come true, offering a sense of ritual and hope amidst her emotional turmoil.

While the familial drama is at the heart of the story, the romance between Lexie and Theo takes a backseat, and its development feels somewhat forced. Their relationship evolves quickly, from mutual disdain to passionate attraction, and the reader is left with a sense of whiplash as their dynamic shifts dramatically. At times, the “will they, won’t they” tension feels contrived.

One of the novel's most intriguing aspects is R&L Travel itself—the company that serves as a conduit for much of the story’s conflict and character development. Unfortunately, Stone doesn’t explore the travel aspect as deeply as one might hope. Lexie’s secret Santa event in Vienna, for example, is mentioned briefly but never explored in depth. The opportunity to delve into the people the company helps, the destinations they visit, and the emotional connections formed through travel is mostly glossed over in favor of the romance. This missed opportunity ultimately weakens the novel, as it focuses too much on the romantic subplot rather than the more unique aspects of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for an ARC in exchange for an honest review