An inheritance forces Lexie and Theo to work together for a year. Both have their own personal feelings of resentment and distaste for the other. This book has Christmas themes in it, but it takes place over the entirety of that year. I have enjoyed every book I have read by Emily Stone and this one did not disappoint. I will read everything she puts out.

thank you to Dell and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

4 stars!! This was such a sweet story and it did a good job of telling the story of Lexie navigating her father's death. They didn't necessarily have the relationship that she wanted them to have, so it was tricky for her to figure out how she should react to the situation. I'm glad she met Theo along the way even if they didn't get off to a great start at first.

I've been reading only christmas books in the last weeks of the year. This one was good, but not my favorite.

I liked reading about Lexie's thoughts and feelings about being abandoned by her dad and where her running away tendencies came from. However, I couldn't completely get behind the romance aspect of the book, it didn't seem natural at all and there wasn't much chemistry.

Another thing I didn't enjoy, is that the timeline goes over the spam of a year, so we actually don't get the holiday feels you get from reading a book that is only written during December for example.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Cute, cozy holiday read. Started a bit slow but I did love the travel premise. I didn’t quite feel invested in the romance though. The chemistry didn’t feel super believable for me.

*I saved this book to read in December, I apologize for the delayed review*

I love Emily Stone's books, so I of course was looking forward to A Winter Wish. It wasn't my favorite of hers, but it was still an enjoyable read for the end of the holiday season. I'd say this. one is more "winter" than Christmas, so I think it could be enjoyed any time during the winter months.

Lexie's dad passes away and leaves her half of his travel company. The other half goes to Theo, and Lexie has no idea where he came from or how her dad knows him. They have to run the company together for a year before they can sell it (which Lexie wants to do, Theo does not want to sell).
Let me add that Lexie is not a fan of Theo for the first part of this book - so bring on the enemy chemistry.

I liked Lexie's character, as she was dealing with quite a bit. She traveled a lot, never really staying in one spot for longer than 6 months, so running the company for a year was pretty daunting for her. Especially since she had to run it with this random man, Theo. AND deal with the death of her dad, which is extra hard as she hasn't really talked to him in 10 years and she has a lot of misunderstandings and questions about their relationship and things he did in the past. I think she grew a lot during the book, and learned a lot about herself and her dad.

There were a few parts that were a big slow, but overall I enjoyed this one. Can't wait for her next book!

Emily Stone has been my go to holiday author the last few years. However, this one just fell flat for me. I didn’t connect with the characters or the storyline. The concept of the story was interesting but the execution did not work for me. Her writing was good, there were some emotional moments, and the theme of loss was present throughout the book, but it didn’t feel right or as real as her other books.

This was fine but it felt like other books I’ve read before. There was nothing really unique about it and I could not get invested. This felt very surface- I needed more emotional investment. Unfortunately, for me this was a miss.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book. I begrudgingly rated this 3 stars. I felt the plot moved so slowly. I get it, you and your Dad didn’t have a great relationship. I expected more lightheartedness but felt the book focused more on the guilt and sadness. Not a light holiday read in my opinion.

This was such a lovely holiday read. I appreciated the emotional depths of the story (it even made me cry) and loved all the love - not just romantic but also platonic and familial. A great addition to Christmastime!

“𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

Thank you Dell Romance and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of A Winter’s Wish!

Emily Stone has a way of writing beautiful and real stories about life, love, family, relationships, hope, and the heaviest of all, grief. Like her others, this story starts at Christmastime and moves forward throughout the year before concluding at the following Christmas. While I liked the premise and growth of the characters in this one, I’m not sure what it was that made it not as enjoyable as her others. Perhaps it was the profanity which felt more common and even harsher as compared to previous books.

Content warnings include a parental death, cancer, profanity, and really only one romantic scene, however I’ve noticed that this has gotten less fade to black/closed door with each release. Also, with this being an advanced readers copy, I found several editing errors, so hopefully these have been resolved prior to publication. Despite feeling underwhelmed and less connected with this one, she is still an autobuy author for me.

Love, Holly was the only book I had read by Emily Stone prior to reading A Winter Wish. I found Love, Holly to really pull at my emotions and I found A Winter Wish to have the same effect. I had a hard time getting into it, especially with it starting off with the passing of Lexie’s estranged father who abandoned her and her mother. It seemed like it was going to be a downer, especially for a holiday read. Lexie’s father owned a travel agency and once he passed, he bequeathed the business to Lexie and his business partner, Theo. This book is about making amends with the mistakes our parents can make and the lifelong effect they can have on their children. But it is also about love and travel. Lexie lives more of a nomadic lifestyle and the inheritance of the travel business makes her stay still and not only take on a new job but also learn more about her father and why he left her half his business. Lexie must also deal with Theo, her grumpy business partner, who is also grappling with why they must share the business. A company he loves and wants to grow, but one that Lexie would prefer to sell and not be involved. The relationship between Lexie and Theo was the best part of the book. It was definitely a slow build and not an electric, instant love connection. However, I liked that it was more of a real life/ normal relationship path if you will. Both characters had their own little journeys with their parents/life choices and found love in the process. The addition of the travel experiences they go on with R & L Travel were icing on the cake. I love to travel and make memories, so I really enjoyed this aspect. While this book was a bit more emotional than I wanted for a holiday read, I still loved it. I will absolutely read more Emily Stone books in the future.

Enemies to lovers
Emotional
Father issues / abandonment issues
Grief and acceptance

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone

🧳This was a wonderful book to the end year with!

🎆While aptly titled “A Winter Wish”, it covers a calendar year, so it didn’t feel overt Christmas.

🧳For anyone who loves to travel or has that sense of wanderlust, this was such a fun read as the premise for the setting surrounds lots of travel!

🎆The characters definitely have an enemies to lovers vibe.

🧳This was not just your light and fluffy romcom. This has a lot more serious topics and self realization moments. It was beautifully redemptive

I’m finally free of this book!!! FINALLY!!!

This book was the most boring holiday book I have ever read. The plot was so repetitive and the conflicts felt like the same ones just in a slightly (and I mean the tiniest change) in context. Theo and Lexie are fine together, but this book just was not it for me overall.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy!

I love it when a book finds you and just feels fulfilling the whole time. Emily Stone is just one of those authors — I finish her novels just feeling so deeply satisfied. “A Winter Wish” is yet another of those fantastic books. I finished it in a day. Filled with family and self-discovery and yes a little romance along with sadness and heartache. So true to life and all of its many facets. Loved this one.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Emily Stone didn't disappoint with this emotional story about grief, family, and second chances. I loved the traveling aspect of this book, reading about traditions in different parts of the world.

Emily Stone's A Winter Wish is a heartwarming holiday romance that blends travel, family, and a slow-burn love story.
When Lexie's estranged father leaves her half of his holiday travel company, she must co-manage it for a year with Theo, her father's sharp but temperamental young executive. Specializing in trips that immerse travelers in cultural celebrations around the world— from Spain's Tomato Festival to Christmas markets-the company's mission resonates with Lexie, despite her initial reluctance.
Though Lexie and Theo clash at first, their shared travels and efforts to honor her father's legacy reveal a surprising chemistry. Alongside their romance, the story shines through Lexie's evolving bond with her sister and a cast of vibrant supporting characters, adding warmth and depth.
Stone's vivid depictions of cultural traditions make the story feel like a festive adventure. With its heartfelt exploration of relationships and a unique focus on celebration and community, A Winter Wish is a charming holiday read that celebrates the ties that bring us together.

This story is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant holiday novel that swept me off my feet and filled my heart with warmth. From the very first page, Stone crafts a story that not only celebrates the magic of the winter season but also delves into the deeper, more poignant aspects of love, loss, and the power of hope.

The novel follows our main character who, amid the bustle of the holiday season, is facing personal struggles and emotional hurdles that feel all too real. It's a delicate balance between joy and sorrow, and Stone handles this with such grace and authenticity. The character's journey—of self-discovery, healing, and learning to let go—feels raw and real, and it resonated with me long after I finished the book. It's one of those rare stories that captures both the sadness and beauty that can coexist during the holidays, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, there's always a flicker of light waiting to guide us through.

Stone’s writing is gentle yet powerful, and she captures the complexities of human relationships with a tenderness that is hard to put into words. The secondary characters are wonderfully fleshed out, each with their own struggles and joys, creating a world that feels rich and lived-in. Their interactions with the main character feel genuine, and I found myself rooting for all of them to find the peace and happiness they so desperately needed.

Ultimately, *A Winter Wish* is more than just a holiday romance or a seasonal read. It’s a story about healing, forgiveness, and the quiet strength that can emerge from even the most difficult moments. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve closed the cover, a reminder that the true magic of the season is found not in perfect moments, but in the messy, beautiful way we navigate life’s challenges together.

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted ARC!

Emily Stone writes the best holiday books with heart. This one is another 5 star read. I fell in love with the characters and couldn’t wait to see how the story unfolded. Brought tears to my eyes several times. Loved it!

Thanks to Dell for my copy of A Winter Wish by Emily Stone.

Unfortunately, this was a big miss for me. Emily Stone's prior books have been huge emotional tearjerkers that were such great heartwarming books but this was just disappointing.

Lexie was so immature and annoying that I'm not sure why I continued reading. And honestly I felt like every chapter we had to rehash her dad issues.

Read her other books and skip this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Need a slow burn holiday read? This one will do! I had to grab my tissues more than once even if some of the moments were a bit predictable. I loved Evie so much but found the MMC, Dan, kinda annoying. I wanted her to get her happy ending no matter what though. I found it to be the perfect mix of romance and holiday magic.