One Day In December by Josie Silver a five-star read filled with missed opportunities so don’t be a fool and buy this book so you don’t miss your opportunity. This is one of those books/films that become a firm favourite and one you will pick up at every opportunity when you need a pick me up, when you need a time out, this book will be the one you will pick up its filled with emotion and drama, anguish and heartbreak, but most of all its just got the most captivating and compelling story. When my non book friends ask me to recommend a book, I struggle as I read so many god books and it’s a personal choice about what story you will enjoy, the level of heat people like and a multitude of other thoughts that run through my head in that moment, but now I know what I will be recommending to everyone, it will be this book. No matter the genre you love, this book will give you something. It gave me chills as well as smiles of joy and sadness, Laurie, Jack and Sarah have a way with their story and the web they have weaved, and Josie Silver has a way of catching you up in that web, ensuring you will stay and read and become the pray rather than run away. Thank you Josie Silver for a great and compelling read.

Wonderful holiday romance and couldn't put this book down until I knew how it ended! One snowy night on a London bus, Laurie locks eyes with Jack and falls instantly in love. She spends a year searching and obsessing over him until....her best friend, Sarah brings him home as her boyfriend. It's a tortuous situation and while both Laurie and Jack feel the connection, neither can admit to the truth. And Sarah is so completely fabulous that you cant even resent her. Laurie spends years wasting her love on someone unattainable and we follow her journey in finding herself and love, The scenarios feel very real and you sympathise with all the characters. Overall a lovely romantic treat that isn't always predictable but will leave you with that happy ending!

This was a pleasant, undemanding read, ideal for light summer reading. It was a fairly simple, predictable story, which I confess I speed read in parts. It was reasonably well written, and will probably appeal to the under 30s, rather more than it did to me. Personally I prefer a more involving and complex story in which I can lose myself , and can’t wait to get back to when I have to put it down.
This would probably provide a good basis for a screenplay for a romcom-type movie.

A pleasant, nicely written but predictable love story where girl eventually gets boy. Although I did enjoy reading this I could put it down at any time, the plus point is that it is very easy to pick up again and start reading again. It is a good romantic, escapist novel but not a story that will stay with me for long.

The story is told from two points of view, Laurie's and Jack's (bus boy) and what follows is years of their lives as they both embark in separate journeys and relationships whilst trying to keep their own friendship together.
This is a book all about the feels!

"I'm lost. Lost in his words, and his arms, and in what might have been."

As the years progress there is a sense of an emotional rollercoaster but what's refreshing is that Josie hasn't made it overly dramatic just to get a rise from the reader. It comes across as 'real' and the struggles that each character faces aren't just brushed over for the sake of a happily ever after. Whilst reading I was wondering to myself just how I would react if I had been placed in similar situations, would I remain calm, defiant or somewhere in-between?

What this story presents us with is a lot of missed chances and an unconventional romance that quite honestly I challenge you not to well up at.

Ok I know I'm known to cry when reading books but this novel was just so unexpected but so very 'British'. This is a tale of love, loss and friendship, of opportunities and find oneself whilst feeling so utterly lost.

"I hold him, and he holds me, and for the first time in years, there's nothing missing at all."

One Day in December is a captivating, swoon worthy story that is both beautifully heartbreaking and wonderfully up-lifting. After reading it I was left with a sense of peace and hope.

All I can say is please read this novel! And on a side note a film version of the book wouldn't be such a bad thing either.

What a totally and utterly adorable read, loved every minute of it even though I was determined not to enjoy it as I'm not a lover of romance novels, but this was so much more, some great characters and a lovely story came together great, without all the soppy stuff, well soppy stuff done very well. This is another great read by Josie, bring on her next one, I'm patiently waiting with my Kindle at the ready

I enjoyed this book - it was an easy reading romance although quite lengthy. It was not as captivating as it could have been as it alluded to the ending straight away, I would have preferred a bit more suspense.

Thanks for allowing me to review this

I LOVED this book right from  the start!  I expected it to be a bit like 'One Day' by David Nicholls, and be about the same single day in December spanning the decade - but it wasn't.  It was written either from Laurie or Jack's point of view and jumped weeks / months at a time.  Because of that every chapter was really important - to compare it to an album, it was all killer and no filler!

I have to say I  guessed roughly what the ending would be - but wondered how the author would get us there without the main protagonists hating each other or being complete sh*tbags to each other.  It twists and turns dramatically - and I don't want to give too much of the story away (I loathe reviews that do that) - but it really did keep me enthralled.  So much so that my husband thought I may have fallen asleep / drowned in the bath - but actually I was just lying in lukewarm water wanting to finish the book before I got out! (Apologies for the visuals that may have created.......)

Laurie was a great central character, and I really liked her and was rooting for her from the start.  She was a lot younger than me - but that didn't stop me enjoying the book. The ending of the book is wonderful - and in fact the last few chapters did have me weeping for many different reasons (good job I was in the bath!) 

I've read that the author wanted to write a Christmassy novel that would be the literary equivalent of festive films like 'Love Actually' or 'The Holiday' - and she has most definitely succeeded.  However I also think One Day In December would make a fabulous film............

I wasn't sure how to shoe horn this into my 2018 Reading Challenge - so, I am taking a bit of a flyer on 'A book from a local author'! In the book Laurie's parents live in a village in the suburbs of Birmingham (as do I) and her Dad is an Aston Villa fan (as am I).  People aren't often written as Villa fans unless there is a local connection - so my fingers are firmly crossed that Josie Silver is local(ish!).  Her bio says she lives in a small Midlands town - so hopefully within 20 miles of Alvechurch and that can count as local!!

If I were you I would definitely pre order this ready for a festive read this Christmas.

I really enjoyed this story and I liked the way it jumped between the 2 characters of Jack and Laurel. The story follows their friendship over a decade and how there lives intertwine. I don't want to say too much without giving away the story! The novel moves at a real pace and the characters are well rounded and you really get inside their heads. I for one could definitely feel a great affinity with Laurie.

A good read for fans of books like One Day and The Versions of Us.

I loved this book! What happens when your ideal man happens to meet your best friend first? It was a great story of the love between friends and the sacrifices you make for that relationship. The love story was touching and the dual point of view added real insight to the characters . I really cared about Laurie and Jack and was willing them to find their happy ending. I’ll definitely read more books by this author.

Although this is a well written book I found it slightly too young for my taste and also a bit predictable. Jack, Laurie and Sarah have a tangled love story to untwine. I found Sarah's personality a bit full on and somewhat unbelievable.
Thanks Net Galley for a review copy.

I had forgotten what the book was about by the time I actually got it and when I read the description, it seemed very similar to "One Day" by David Nicholls. It also seemed aimed at a younger audience - maybe teenagers, which is fine but that's not exactly what I wanted. However, all my worries went away when I started reading. The structure is similar to One Day but instead of one day of each year, this book jumps days or months, essentially paraphrasing Laurie's life. There's no hard and fast rule on how long has passed since each section which made the story feel a lot smoother, especially a lot had happened. I really, really appreciated that the story keeps jumping, it's like we get all the fun parts without the boring parts in between. The main characters, and all of the characters behave like real people and it's so easy to fall in love with them very quickly. Also of note was the way the author wrote so authentically of so many different experiences. More than once, I thought "this isn't what I expected from a romance book" but then, it's debatable on whether it's a romance at all. It's certainly got a lot of love in it but more than that, it's a lovely way to grow with this characters, it's more about them than their love lives.

I really really loved this. It's a gorgeous book, perfect for winter and I can't wait to reread it over and over.

Well, this is really not my usual sort of read; no blood, no bodies, not detectives, but I absolutely loved it. Not your traditional love story despite the predictable ending. This one keeps you frustrated with every twist of the plot. I was entranced, cried a good few tears and would recommend it to anyone in need of a good feel-good tale

A really enjoyable read loving the friendship between Lu and Sarah and after Jack comes into the mix things get complicated but it funny at times but also very emotional in parts and things eventually work out for them all to make for a perfect ending I'm sure reader's of all ages will love this book

Wow I loved this book. A great easy read. Good for holiday reading, maybe Christmas holiday reading. The plot is great and different to lots of other books like this. The characters are very likeable and it’s very quick and easy to read, I was gripped from the beginning and didn’t want to put it down.. I loved all the little twists and turns and didn’t see them coming. It made me smile and laugh and cry.. highly recommend you go and read it.

This really is a Love Actually tale and a cosy uplifting Christmas read. Jack and Laurie were always destined to be together but how. Although the ending is predictable, the journey to it isn't and one can identify with most of the characters and situations but I did find it was slightly long winded and sometimes frustrating, particularly the dynamics between Laurie and her best friend Sarah, especially when the latter went off in a primadonna huff. It is well written with good descriptions and easy to read and a real romance with a feel good ending. .

I really loved this little gem of a book. In fact i would go as far as saying its one of the best i have read this year. Told from the perspectives of Laurie and Luke, a story of love at first sight, missed chances and finding out the man of Lauries dreams is now her best friends boyfriend. It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming.... i didnt want it to end. Beautifully written and i completely devoured this magical story. Would recommend to all. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read in return for an honest review.

I really didn’t expect this story to grip me as much as it did. It’s a recognisable tale of love, romance and friendship along with the twists and turns and bumps in the road that makes this book so readable. Each character had depth and warmth, from the lovable Laurie to laid back Luke. All in all, a brilliant summer read

This is a lovely book and one I will remember. The author captured the love story between friends perfectly.
The kind you are willing them to tell each other how they feel with every page you turn.
One day by David Nicholls is my all time favourite but this could equally become a contender.
I will 100% be recommending this as a beautiful novel to read and devour in 24 hours like I did!

I absolutely loved this book. There ard some touching moments within the book, that are beautifully written. I struggled with wanting to read more of the book whilst save a couple of chapters because i didn't want it to end. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been able to read this story.