In a perfect world, my coffee would always be warm, my pillow always cool, and my holiday romances always written by Emily Stone.

In A Winter Wish, Emily Stone yet again returns to form (she never left form--to be clear). Lexie has never been close to her father so she's especially mixed up when he dies and leaves her half of his travel company, alongside Theo, his young, enterprising business affiliate. Theo is a boor and makes Lexie's life extremely difficult. She just has to get through a year (a stipulation of the will) working with Theo and then they can decide what to do with the company next.

If you've ever read Stone before, you'll recognize her trademark ability to bring real conflict and personal struggle into her stories. A Winter Wish is a deep look at the ways our pasts shape us (for good or bad) and the ways we work through grief. While Theo wasn't my favorite MMC, I loved the story we went through with Lexie. This is a great holiday romance for those looking for a bit more substance.

Unfortunately for me A Winter Wish was a DNF at 50%. It had two things I generally dislike in a romance: a male main character who is just immediately mean to the our female main character and even though we are in the POV of the FMC we don’t really get much about her emotions until they are discussed in dialogue. The main conflict for her is that her absent father has just died and she inherits part of his travel agency business. It’s a very complicated situation and yet the MMC is just so mean right out the gate and blaming her for how the will was written and like she didn’t talk to her father out of spite. I do think there is an interesting dynamic with how she got some of the worst of her father while others got the best but by 50% I was just annoyed. I didn’t want the two main characters together and that just isn’t what you want in a romance plot so DNF was my best option. I do think this could work for some people but it just wasn’t for me.

A Winter Wish is a heartfelt exploration of love, personal growth, and family struggles, though it’s not without its flaws. The story centers around Lexie, who inherits her father’s company after his death and is forced to work with Theo, a key employee. While their relationship starts off rocky, much of the book focuses on Lexie’s unresolved issues with her father and her strained relationship with her half-sister, Rachel.

Lexie, the book’s female protagonist, has a deeply rooted avoidant attachment style, and while her struggles with emotional intimacy are understandable, they dominate her character to the point where it can feel repetitive. I sympathized with her but found myself frustrated with her constant avoidance. Theo, on the other hand, felt bland and one-dimensional, leaving me more invested in the secondary characters—particularly Rachel. Her character arc, involving guilt over her father’s death, a strained relationship with her mother, and the fallout from her romantic struggles, would have made for a much more compelling story.

Despite these issues, the romance between Lexie and Theo does develop, albeit slowly, and the book offers a meaningful exploration of forgiveness, emotional healing, and the complexities of family. Overall, A Winter Wish is a touching read, but it may not resonate with everyone, particularly those looking for a more dynamic or balanced narrative.

This was a good read to get into the winter or holiday spirit. It does deal with some heavy themes that could be triggering to some people but I think the book has a great message.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the different countries that the characters visited. The imagery was great.

There was so much character growth in this book from almost all characters. It truly was beautiful to witness.

Lexie’s father left her and her mother when she was young and created a whole new family. When Lexie gets unexpected news regarding her estranged father’s death, she is faced with an inheritance and challenge of running his travel company with Mr. Grumpy Pants, Theo. They must successfully run it together for one year before they can cash in. One problem though, she doesn’t want anything to do with it and it’s Theo’s livelihood.

Lexie has so much to work through. She’s coming to terms with her father’s death and trying to reconcile who he was to her…and to everybody else. Including her sister, Rachel, who she’s had no relationship with. He was an entirely different father to each of them. I did really enjoy the side characters, her sister Rachel, Ange and her mom! You understood why Rachel was the way she was, and you really do root for her!

This was my first book by Emily and while I really enjoyed it, it was a little boring at times. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Theo and Lexie. They both had things to work through and just both felt a little immature. The ending was really sweet though and ties everything together with a sweet bow. ♥️

Side note-I loved the idea of the travel business and celebrating the world’s different traditions.

2 out of 5 pearls clutched. Lol It was pretty clean!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the copy in exchange for an honest review! 🩷

A Winter Wish
Emily Stone

🌟🌟🌟🌟
Emily Stone does it again!

After Love Holly and now A Winter Wish Emily is becoming a repeat Christmas read! Her books capture the heart of the season, while also capturing the importance of family, love, forgiveness and friendship.

I really enjoyed this book because I felt that the main characters were real and relatable, and you just wanted the best for them the entire time. I loved the traveling aspect of this book as well!

Emily Stone’s latest novel offers a heartfelt journey of self-discovery with a side of romance, though the latter takes a backseat in this compelling story. When Lexie’s estranged father passes away, he leaves her half of his travel company, with one condition: she must partner with Theo, whom she can’t stand, for a year to make the business profitable before they can sell it. Initially resistant, Lexie soon finds herself enjoying both the work and Theo’s company. Alongside her growing attachment to the business, she embarks on a touching journey to mend her relationship with her estranged half-sister, Rachel. While the romance between Lexie and Theo lacks chemistry and feels secondary, the novel shines in its exploration of Lexie’s personal growth and her other relationships. The travel elements add a vibrant backdrop, making this a satisfying read despite its departure from Stone’s usual tearjerker formula.

It’s hard for me to like holiday romances. For years, I’ve been searching for one that I would actually enjoy and not find icky or cringy. A Winter Wish was that book. This is the first Emily Stone book that I’ve actually read, but I’ve been familiar with her other novels for quite some time. I like and appreciate the way that she incorporates real life with elements of romance. It keeps things realistic and I think it brings a breath of fresh air to the genre. While this is a holiday story, I think that it could be enjoyed any time of the year.

**Why I enjoyed the book:**
I loved The Winter Wish by Emily Stone because it beautifully delves into themes of love, loss, and second chances, pulling me in with its emotional depth. The snowy, festive setting was so vividly described that it felt like stepping into a magical winter wonderland. There were so many amazing winter and/or Christmas themed books I read from October to December and this was one of many I cuddled in with lots of fluffy pillows, cozy blankets, and my favorite hot beverage: coffee with a little hot chocolate powder and a splash of coffee cream.

**Summary of the book:**
*The Winter Wish* tells the story of Evie, who returns to her hometown after a broken engagement, trying to piece her life back together. Surrounded by the holiday season’s warmth, she reconnects with Jack, an old friend, and uncovers feelings they’ve both buried. Together, they take on a local project, and Evie finds herself at a crossroads—choosing between the life she thought she wanted and the chance for something entirely new.

This was a four star read for me. I have read and consumed other books by Emily Stone and can assure readers you don't want to miss any of her novels!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Stone, and Random House Publishing House-Ballantine for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure!

Emily Stone does it again! Thank you to every for this early gifted copy of A Winter Wish by Emily Stone.

I swear to you, she is the only Christmas author that I will read. Her books capture the heart of the season, while also capturing the importance of family, love, forgiveness and friendship.

I really enjoyed this books because I felt that the main characters were real and relatable, and you just wanted the best for them the entire time. I loved the traveling aspect of this book.

Looking forward to whatever Emily writes next!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book. Emily Stone knocked it out of the park with another emotional story set during the holidays that makes you reflective on your past choices and wonder if you knew what you thought you knew when you made the decisions you made. Complicated? Yes, whenever a family is involved it is. Lexie's dad passed away. She hasn't spoken to him in ten years, but she went to the funeral, more for her mom than anything else, but all of a sudden she finds out that she has inherited a piece of his travel agency and must work with his protege. It's her dream job, but she doesn't recognize it at first. She must overcome the obstacles that she places in her own way and those that have been ingrained in her past. There are romantic aspects to this book, but there are also stories about how family and friends coexist and thrive through the holidays.

I saw many mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed this! It gave me great holiday vibes, but mostly I loved that it was an emotional read. While Lexie was struggling over her emotions from the passing of her estranged father, she found comfort in someone she wasn’t expecting to. The romance between Lexie and Theo was really sweet. Their banter was really funny - classic enemies to lovers! I now want a wish jar for myself. I think it was such a cute idea. I think many of us can relate to dysfunctional family dynamics. And for many others, how tricky it is to have divorced parents as a kid. I was glad with the happy ending 🩷 A great read for the winter season!

Sadly, I found this book quite forgettable. I loved the last three books and look forward to reading the latest Emily Stone Each Christmas. I had a hard time caring about the characters. I also didn’t love how the enemies to lovers trope played out.

This was an outlier for me as I typically enjoy Stone's books. I thought the main characters were really whiney and childish. The side characters were strong but there were a few additions that seemed unnecessary (what was Mike's real roll?) Overall, not my favorite of hers.

Yes I know it is New Years Eve but ya girl is still out here reading holiday books and tbh ZERO regrets!

Lexie has always been a free spirit who loves to travel. I hen she learns of her estranged father’s death, she doesn’t know how to react. It’s only made worse when she learns that her half of his travel company - with a catch that she must run it with a man she’s never met, Theo. They butt heads immediately but slowly find a way to work together.

This is a beautiful story of love, loss, grief, and growth.
I’ve read a number of books by @emstonewrites but I think this is my favorite one yet! Big thanks to @netgalley and @dellromance for the ARC!

Lexie’s estranged father dies and leaves her half of his travel company; the only catch is that she has to work together with Theo for a year to make the business profitable or they can’t sell it. And of course, Lexie and Theo can’t stand each other. At first, Lexie tries to be a partner in name only, but she gradually begins to enjoy running the company more and more (and to enjoy Theo’s company more and more). Along the way, she also works to repair her relationship with her estranged half sister Rachel. While I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t Emily Stone’s usual tearjerker, and I wasn’t invested in the romance at all (it almost felt like a side plot in Lexie’s journey of self-discovery). Theo and Lexie just didn’t seem to have a lot of chemistry, and I was more interested in her other relationships and the travel aspects of the book. That being said, I still really enjoyed the book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dell Publishing for the opportunity to read this book! ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

There's something about an Emily Stone book during the holiday season, so I saved this one for just that. With that said, it really can be enjoyed all winter, as the title suggests.

After the death of there father, Lexie unexpectedly inherits half of his travel business. The catch, however, is that the other half goes to Theo - someone who she doesn't see eye-to-eye with after her estranged relationship with her father. Lexie is forced to face the past, navigate her complicated grief, and figure out a new business, but at least she gets to do so while traveling!

Unfortunately, this one was not my favorite. I felt like it fixated a lot on the past and her relationship with her father but at a slow pace. Her relationship with Theo developed but wasn't fully believable - their connection building was kind of lost in the other storylines of the business and her father's death. It was overall good, but I have enjoyed some of her other holiday books much more.

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Happy holidays!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I love a hallmark movie book to end the year. I was intrigued by the overall premise of the book but ultimately it was an average story for me. That said, i found the travel aspect fun and interesting. Trigger warning : death of father

3.75 stars.

A Winter Wish is not unlike Emily Stone's other Christmas novels but it is somehow uniquely its own. I have had a love/hate relationship with Emily Stone because I did not enjoy Love, Holly when I read it last year but it has become an unintentional annual tradition for me to end the year with an Emily Stone and I don't find myself stopping that anytime soon.

This was exactly what I wanted it to be. It gave me the itch to travel (which I already have in spades), the desire to spend a New Year's Eve with a loved one and their loved ones, and the urge to practice grace with others. I find that each of Stone's novels does its best to bring me to tears and she is almost always successful. What I love most about her writing is that she has the ability to combine despair and joy within one story so (seemingly) easily.

Most importantly, I found Lexie and Theo's relationship very believable and I am always interested in a rivals to lovers dynamic. A Winter Wish was sweet, heartwarming, and full of spirit. I can't wait to revisit it during another holiday season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really appreciated the travel agency setting of this book. Much like many of Emily Stone‘s other Christmas novels, this one centers around grief and loss about the holidays. I really appreciated hearing more about the different trips that Lexi and Theo went on. I liked learning more about Lexi‘s father as a complicated character. However, I felt the Insta love aspect of this novel didn’t quite work as well as I would have liked. I did enjoy it, but I probably won’t remember it in another month or so however, I will continue to read or listen to any and all books that Emily Stone publishes in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.