Winter Wish is a charming and heartfelt contemporary romance with an interesting twist—a compelling mix of business, travel, and family dynamics. The story centers around Lexie, a woman who is thrown into an unexpected situation following the death of her estranged father. The inheritance? Half of his holiday travel company, a successful business focused on cultural travel experiences. The catch? She has to run it for a year alongside Theo, a young executive who seems to have both a talent for the job and a strong dislike for Lexie.

The chemistry between Lexie and Theo is one of the book’s strongest suits. Their banter is sharp, and while they start off on the wrong foot, their mutual respect and attraction grow as they are forced to work closely together. The slow-burn romance is balanced well with the business elements of the story, so it doesn’t feel forced or overshadow the character development.
The writing is engaging and smooth, with a balance of humor, tension, and emotion. The pacing is well-executed, and while the premise might seem a bit familiar, the author manages to bring a fresh perspective to the enemies-to-lovers trope. There’s also an underlying theme of redemption and healing, as both Lexie and Theo confront their pasts and their evolving feelings for each other.
Winter Wish is a delightful read for fans of contemporary romance with a touch of family drama. The unique setting, combined with well-drawn characters and a romance that unfolds naturally, makes it an enjoyable escape for anyone looking for a heartwarming and slightly spicy romance. If you enjoy stories with rich cultural backdrops, complicated relationships, and a dash of humor, this book is definitely worth picking up.

“A Winter Wish”, also listed as “Home Again for Christmas”, is Emily Stone’s 2024 Christmas novel.
Lexie never stays in one place long. When she was younger her family would travel together but then her Dad left and had a new family. When she finds out her father has passed away she has mixed emotions. When she finds out he left her half of his travel agency, she doesn’t want anything to do with it. But life is not that easy - the other half was left to a grumpy guy named Theo who dislikes her at first sight. But if she walks away, Theo also loses his half.

They begrudgingly agree to work together for the one year required by the will. It is harder than Lexie thought it would be, especially when she starts to trust Theo, reconnects with her half sister, and learns how her view of the past may not be the full story.

This book and its main characters slowly developed to a satisfying end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advance copy of A Winter Wish.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. Sorry I waited until I could get it on audio for my review.

Emily Stone is an author I look for every holiday season, and I have greatly enjoyed her books. I felt like this one was a little long with not a lot happening though. And the third act breakup felt ridiculous. But I also could have read too much romance this month. I’d agree with the current Goodreads rating of 3.56.

I love Emily Stone! I have now read all of her books and love the way that she writes. It is always poised, captivating and sweet. I instantly felt connected to the FMC really liked how Emily depicted her. She felt warm and inviting.

I also really enjoyed the cozy setting of the book. It was a quick read for me, which was perfect for this time of year. I do not have much to say as I did finish this months ago and forgot to submit my review (pregnancy brain) but I did enjoy this title and have recommended it to multiple friends. Emily Stone is an author who's books stay with you for years to come.

This book, while it has a Christmas cover, is really not a Christmas, or even a winter book. It took place over the course of a year, and was so enjoyable. I would really love to work for this company in the book, but the characters were so great.

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and it is one of those stories that shows how little you may really know someone until they pass.

Lexie’s dad passes away and unexpectedly leaves her half of his travel company. Lexie is very bitter because her dad had already been absent from her life since leaving he left her mother and her when she was young. He started a new family and Lexie was not welcomed by his new wife, so she never got to know her half sister.

The other half of the traveler company was left to an employee named Theo and he is not happy with Lexie from the start. They seem to butt heads over everything, but it gives Lexie to encouragement to work at the company for a year even though Theo is not interested in selling. They slowly learn that they knew a very different man and began to get to know one another. It was an interesting experience for Lexie learn so much about her dad that she never knew. I enjoyed seeing Theo and Lexie fall in love despite occasional slow parts. A special thank to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me access to an advanced digital copy. I must disclaimer that this is not necessarily a Holiday story but occurs over a year with moments at Christmas time.

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone
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When Lexie’s father dies she learns that he has left her half of the share in his travel company. She has to run it for a year with Theo, who seems to despise her on sight.
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What I liked:
-I appreciated how agonizing the situation for Lexie was. She had been estranged from her father, due to her past interactions with him. So to learn that he made plans for her in his will was both frustrating and curious. She needs answers from a person who can no longer give them.
-So many emotions throughout this story. Throw in a half sister who seems to have gotten the best from a father you felt neglected you and there were a lot of tears.
-Then there was the rivals-to-lovers part of the story with Lexie and Theo. They have to work together to find success, yet there is a growing attraction.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sweet and emotional holiday tale, just like any Emily Stone story, this one will make you smile and pull at your heartstrings.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a sweet romance with likable yet flawed characters and an original plot. The story centers on Lexie who inherits half of a travel company when her estranged father dies - on the condition that she runs it with the other co-owner, Theo, for a year. They clash but sparks eventually fly.

The setup of the story was original and different, despite the travel aspect being a bit far-fetched. The writing was easy to follow and the banter was fun. This is also a closed-door romance but was written in a way that still made it seem spicy without the sex. Overall, it was a fun book that I enjoyed reading.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

Heartwarming story that I needed to read. Lots of feels for Lexie as she navigates her father’s death after so many years apart from one another. And Theo… he is a patient soul!

A big “thank you” to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group: Ballantine for an advanced read copy of this book.

Lexie is living life traveling around from one short term job to the next as a nanny. After receiving news of her estranged father's passing, Lexie is thrown into life changes she never expected. Not only has this spurred a reconnecting with her half sister but she also has been left with shared ownership of her father's travel company. With no desire to set down roots and a bad first impression of the company's other co-owner, Theo, Lexie returns to her old lifestyle only to be summoned back to help with the company's needs. Over time, she discovers she is skilled and passionate about the company her father started with her in mind. Lexie begins to think that maybe setting down roots isn't such a bad thing as a growing friendship and passion for Theo emerges as well.
This book was a nice post holiday read with touches of Christmas elements but it did not overly emphasize the holiday season. While I feel the character and life story of Lexie was detailed, I really wish there was more of a romantic and relational depth and development between Theo and Lexie.

Emily Stone’s A Winter Wish starts with an intriguing premise: Lexie, a free-spirited nomad, begrudgingly inherits her late father’s travel company and is forced to settle down to run it alongside Theo, her unexpected co-owner. The dynamic between Lexie and Theo had potential, and the small-town setting provided a cozy backdrop.

However, while the book is marketed as a festive read, it didn’t entirely deliver the Christmas magic I was hoping for. The story often felt repetitive, with the characters’ emotions and dialogue circling the same issues without much growth or resolution. Lexie and Theo could have been more fleshed out as individuals, as their depth seemed lacking, which made it harder to connect with their journey.

That said, there were cute and heartfelt moments sprinkled throughout, and the overarching theme of finding home—both in a place and in people—was touching. But overall, I wanted more complexity in the characters and a stronger sense of the Christmas spirit to truly immerse me in the story. If you’re looking for a light and easy read with a hint of holiday charm, A Winter Wish might be worth picking up, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The author did a great job of balancing the festive parts of the book with deeper issues.

This was a great story full of emotion, grief and loss, and huge life changes/decisions. I enjoyed that the characters felt realistic and their journeys - both separate and together - were emotional and kept me invested. Overall an enjoyable read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine, and Emily Stone for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is my first book by Emily Stone and it was so cute!! I really enjoyed the characters and the enemies to lovers trope! I also appreciated Lexie's feelings about her father and how she worked through the sad parts.

Overall this was a great read that brought up strong emotions in me! I will definitely look at this authors backlist to explore more of her work!

I recommend this book to any rom-com and women's fiction lover.

When an unexpected inheritance forces two total opposites to work together, Lexie must decide if Theo is going to push her out—or pull her in for the kiss of a lifetime—in this heartwarming holiday novel from the author of Always, in December and One Last Gift

When Lexie learns of her father’s death, she doesn’t know how to feel; they’ve barely spoken in the last ten years. And she’s even more confused when she discovers he’s left her half of his holiday travel company, a successful niche business specializing in trips that explore the holiday traditions of cultures all over the world.

Meanwhile, the other half of the company has been left to her father’s handsome but bad-tempered young executive, Theo. And the will stipulates that the two of them must find a way to run the company together for a year before they decide its fate.

Lexie intends to leave once the year is over, even though, as a wanderer herself, she finds the company’s mission more compelling than she first thought. And a work trip to sizzling Spain reveals a chemistry between Lexie and Theo that is impossible to deny.

There may have been some snap judgments made about each other. But mixing business and pleasure isn’t always a good idea.

This was a cute and generally enjoyable read, great for when you’re in the mood for a touch of holiday romance without too much weight.

Thank you Emily Stone, Dell, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Following the death of her estranged father, Lexie is surprised and slightly agitated that her father leaves her *half* of his travel company in his will. She is expected the help run the agency for a year, with Theo – an employee who is begrudgingly left the other half of the company. Neither Lexie nor Theo is happy about this situation, and it shows. A Winter Wish follows Lexie and Theo over the course of the year, running the business together and possibly finding a little more common ground than they initially expected.

The positives: A Winter Wish follows our characters all over the world; Austria, England, Ireland, Spain, Iceland, Italy, etc. The various settings and travels are interesting and fun to read about, and it helps move the book along in a pleasing way. Lexie’s special “wish jar” is a nice sentimental touch. The “enemies to lovers” trope feels very authentic and realistic here – it’s easy to believe Lexie and Theo as enemies, and their transition into lovers feels organic. All of Emily Stone’s books are tinged with sadness/loss, but also show life moving on in the wake of heartbreak. It’s a refreshing take when most other books on the market seem to be devoid of real sadness and tougher topics.

The negatives: Lexie had a complicated relationship with her father, while many people in his life loved him and only have positive things to say. Lexie continually grapples with seeing her father as someone who continually let her down while also helping and supporting so many others. While this feels like a raw and real feeling, it is beat to death in this book. Every meaningful conversation Lexie has (with any character) revolves around this exact same thing and it becomes tiring and repetitive. The pacing overall slows down considerably in the middle, and it becomes a little less enjoyable to read as it goes on.

Recommendation: If you’ve liked Emily Stone’s other books, I would recommend you read this one as well. Her signature writing style is unique and gripping. If you haven’t read any Emily Stone books before, I would not recommend that you begin with this one. Her other books are more enjoyable in entirety.

Emily Stone has given us another stellar romance that is both uplifting and poignant at the same time. Lexie and Theo are wonderfully written. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝔸 𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕎𝕚𝕤𝕙
𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲

This story is Christmas themed, but hits on abandonment, death, and parental issues pretty strongly. The emotions are pretty raw as the MC works her way through her feelings.

Strong judgments toward each other come and go as Lexie and Theo move forward, trying to figure out how to run a business together while having an aversion to each other. Aversion or attraction, which is it? Confusion ensues.

This story addresses serious issues but also has lighthearted parts and romance. I connected with Lexie right away. She is genuine and has raw emotions. All in all, it is a well-written book.

Lexie and Theo inherited a business from Lexies father after he passes. They must make a profit the next year to be able to sell it. The business is a travel company. Theo wants to keep the business but Lexie wants to sell it. What will they decide?