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.

This was a really cute holiday read! I love the combination of the holidays and travel especially including different events other countries celebrate. It was really fun to learn about in addition to the enemies to lovers vibe that was happening.

My FIRST Emily Stone book and as soon as I finished I went out to get her other two "Always in December" and One Last Gift! This was an absolute delight! Huge thank you to Emily, Netgalley & Dell Publishing for the eARC!

What to Expect:
⭐ Christmas charm
⭐ Enemies to Lovers
⭐ Forced Proximity
⭐ A story of loss, grieving and finding your calling along the way
⭐ An overarching story of two people who are strangers who have to find a way to work together to find a way to save the business

My thoughts:
I love a good holiday romance story! This one particularly hit home because it talks about Christmas AND TRAVEL! Two of my top favorite things. I know some folks are early fans of Emily and have some reviews saying it isn't comparable to past stories. I don't have that knowledge so I will give it from a new reader perspective.

I truly enjoyed that this story had more plot than romance. That the story as a whole serves up some healing after the loss of a parent, even when you're not close to them, it is still a loss. It includes a story of two strangers who have to work together to save a business that has both slow growth, internal issues and some foul play at the top of the business. They have to find common ground to keep things a float while teaching each other things along the way. Being forced to fix it together creates a friendship that leads to love. One of the truest love tropes of all time.

All in all I am excited to read the others this holiday season and enjoy learning more about Emilys writing journey!

Synopsis:
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.

while this was a well written Christmas story about a travel company in which her deceased father company is left to her and her father’s handsome but bad-tempered young executive, Theo. They can't stand each other. So the hate to love is what mad m enjoy it. Though tend to avoid books with dead father's for personally reasons.

3.5/5

Lexie lives a nomadic lifestyle, frequently moving and having insignificant temporary jobs to support her travels. Her estranged father Richard whom she has not spoken to for over a decade dies from a terminal illness and leaves 50% of his travel company R&L Travel to Lexie and his home to his other daughter, Rachel, from his second marriage. R&L is different from other travel companies, as its focus is creating memorable vacations around culture and local holiday traditions. Lexie wants to immediately sell the business, however the fine print of the will states she must co-run the company and turn a profit in the first year in order to sell it. The other half the business was to Theo, a frustrating yet attractive young associate who Richard mentored, the same guy who was rude to Lexie at the funeral. The book centers around the next year of running the business with a man she butts heads with, and the trips the lead, while exploring the concept of grief and challenging family dynamics, second families, estranged parents. While the book has a focus on holiday travel/cultural traditions, it did not feel like a Christmas book to me. That said, I love the reading about the travel and hope a company like R&L actually exists because those vacations sound amazing and so memorable! I liked the growth of Lexie as a character. The enemies to lovers and slow burn tropes served this book well, but a romance with a coworker who you co-own a business with sounds like a recipe for disaster in real life.

Many thanks to netgalley, author Emily Stone for this ARC!

This book ended up being a DNF for me. I couldn’t get into it right from the start, so I unfortunately decided to put it down. I know others loved it, so I think it was just me!

I am a fan of Emily Stone, so I was looking forward to her new book, A Winter Wish. I enjoyed many parts of this story-the travel being the highlight for me. But, I also thought the story was very on the surface. I would have preferred a deeper dive into some of the characters. Overall, it was a light easy holiday read. Thank you for the ARC!

I look forward to reading an Emily Stone book every Christmas holiday season, and this one was very good! Lexie's estranged father recently passed away, and he left her half of a travel agency to be shared with Theo, a grumpy male executive from the company. Her father's will stated that the two must work together successfully for a year before they decide the fate of the company. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Lexie, who has some abandonment issues to work through, and Theo. This was another emotional read from Emily Stone--I am already looking forward to her next one! Thank you, NetGalley, for the digital advance reader copy.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the travel agent main characters. While this book has a cute holiday cover, it was not the light fluffy holiday rom com I was expecting. There were some heavier topics like grief and parental abandonment that made it more serious at times. There was still plenty of heartwarming romcom moments though. I still really enjoyed the writing, the pacing, the scenery and the characters and will definitely be recommending this one.