I know a lot of people hear instant-love and automatically write a book off but I really hope you'll give this one a chance. I would describe the initial "love at first sight" as more of a "wow, I feel an attraction/connection with you" but they can't even speak to each other because one is on a bus and the other is outside at the stop. Then, just as quickly, the bus is gone, resulting in a missed opportunity for both Laurie and Jack. To me, this was believable.

Time goes by and despite Laurie's attempts, she's never able to track down her mystery bus man. During this initial set up we get to know Laurie and her best friend Sarah and I immediately loved both of them and their friendship. You see, the author deftly explores female friendship along with the story's inherent dilemma of what happens if the love of your life shows up as your very best friend's new boyfriend. I know this may sound similar to Something Borrowed  by Emily Giffin but it's really nothing like it. Silver has put her own spin on a familiar storyline, taking me down so many unexpected paths that I couldn't stop reading! And I didn't.  I read this in one sitting, laughing, crying and in the end slowing down because I didn't want it to end.

3.5 stars

This book reminded me so much of the movie Something Borrowed.

A few things to start with. I really enjoyed the author’s voice. Her humor, characters and overall feel of the novel was right up my alley. I can see the author going far, and will be keeping my eye out for her next novel.

The reason I’m rating this novel the way I’m rating it is wholly based on how the plot made me feel. The story is based on the idea of love at first sight between Laurie and Jack. The trouble with that was the timing, it was way off – ten years off. That’s one of the issues I had with this story. Laurie’s pining and her forced proximity to Jack and Sarah was killing me. If I would have been Laurie, I would have packed my bags and moved out/on. It was a cruel and unnecessary punishment that she put herself through, and I would not have stood for it.

Over the course of ten years, Laurie and Jack were being drawn together and ripped apart by life and multiple untimely situations. Missed opportunities and silence when just one word would could have changed everything drove me mad with a broken heart for Laurie and Jack.

I’m all for second chances if the couple meets each other after 10 years for the first time again. But in One Day in December the couple lived in the same city, spent quality time together, and shared a best friend/girlfriend. That’s too much of closeness for my liking and a recipe for disaster or at least a broken heart.

There were many times I wanted to put it down and be done with it.

Knowing that the couple would go through this kind of heart ache until the very end of the book was not something I was looking forward to. But I wanted to see them get their HEA. I NEEDED a HEA!!! And Laurie and Jack needed one too.

Of course the author had me tearing up with an amazing ending. An amazing conclusion that had my heart go all gooey and warm.

This was a lovely novel. I like how a chance meeting turned into more. Even though parts of the plot are a bit messy, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The characters are real people who you want to root for. I recommend picking it up for a fun, winter read.

I loved this book! Couldn't put it down and cried at the end. Josie's characters are so human, real and flawed. We are rooting for the two destined lovers to get together, but, like the characters in the book, not at the expense of the others who will be pained. I loved all of the twists and turns that the storyline contained and cannot recommend this romantic drama enough.

Jack and Laurie make eye contact at a bus stop one day in December. She can’t make it off the bus and he can’t make it on in time. She looks for him and finally meets him later the next year as her best friend’s new boyfriend. This story takes place over 10 years. I have such a love hate obsession with books that take place over years. They tend to be ones that stay with me. They have more real life experiences than most books that only take place during a short time. One Day in December was no exception. It showed life's ups and downs and how we grow as humans over time.

I would say my biggest issue with the book is that sometimes the dialect and slang had me confused what I was even reading about. I expected some of it because I'm reading about a book that takes place in a different country than I'm from. There was enough that I stopped and noticed it happened frequently. I also wish that there was a little more to the end of the story. I was happy with it, but after everything I would have liked to see more.

Reading One Day in December was a journey. Overall, I had a good time. The main and secondary characters were real and complex. This story took me through the full range of emotions. It really makes you think about life.



I voluntarily read an early copy.

A nice story with lots of twists and turns. It was a little long- maybe one twist too many? Overall I liked it, but I don’t think I’d recommend it to someone unless I was sure of their reading preferences.

Oh my. One Day in December is truly one beautiful story. This tale of love between Laurie and Jack is practically a lifetime in the making. Who would have thought a single look from a bus on a cold snowy December night would start a series of events that neither ever thought they could come back from? Not this reader. I was convinced these two would forever have their timing wrong. That every obstacle put in their way, and there are way too many to count, would always be there to prevent any kind of love from taking root. And I will admit right here that my stomach was in knots more than once as the book continued to put Jack and Laurie always just a bit out of reach from each other. But I will also say that every bit of angst was necessary and worth every time I needed to put the book down in order to avoid what might occur next.

Josie Silver does an amazing job at providing that wonderful British humor that can diffuse any difficult situation and it is practically a godsend many times during this 9 year journey. I found myself literally laughing out loud at Laurie and her bestie Sarah and their crazy times while living in their flat. Told in Laurie and Jack's POVs, both have that signature dry wit that is embellished by the people around them and the antics they can't help but be a part of. These lighter times are the perfect counter to the more delicate scenes and ones that pack that brutal emotional punch.

What I loved most was that even with the passing of time, the almost imperceptible spark between Jack and Laurie still remained and gave me the hope that their paths would finally lead them back to one another. But it is a painful journey for the most part, despite the times of perceived happiness and I honestly did not know how it might all turn out.

But there was no way not to fall in love with these characters and their truly wonderful story and for those reasons, I couldn't give One Day in December anything less than huge 5 stars!

Although I enjoyed much of the human connection of the three-character relationship triangle with realistic banter, humor and drama, I brought my review star rating down a notch as I felt the story came to be too drawn out and predictable. I was no longer cheering for Jack and Laurie to find their happy ever after.

WOW, WOW and WOW! LOVED this book! It took me less than 24 hours to virtually inhale it!!! Once I started there was no time for anything else in my life!

This is a brilliant piece of chick lit that easily captures the heart and leaves you wanting more. The story spans from 2008 to present day and starts with Laurie James, a 22 years old, living with her best friend Sarah in London and working a dead end job at a hotel having recently finished uni. She is just starting adulthood with dreams of being a writer for a magazine. While stopped briefly on the bus during the Christmas rush, she spots a young man standing outside and falls instantly in love. He looks up and sees her too but before either has any time to react, the bus pulls out and she is left to wonder who he is and how will she ever find him again? She confides in Sarah about “bus man” and the two of them look high and low every time they’re out with hopes of finding him again. Months pass yet Laurie still can’t seem to forget this mystery man she has fallen in love with. It’s now Christmas a year later and they are hosting a party at their flat. Sarah has recently started dating a guy and is eager for Laurie to meet him at their party. She has high hopes of Laurie’s approval and of Laurie and him being good friends. When Jack O’Mara steps through the door and their eyes meet, she realizes that Sarah’s boyfriend is ‘bus man’ and the heartbreak and self-deception begins.

The story flows exceptionally well and is plot driven. The author takes advantage of the time span and isn’t afraid to jump months between significant plot developments. The characters are brought to life. We grow to care about each one in their own way = flaws and all. The reader is given an ongoing dose of heartache with splashes of hope and longing that make way for other emotional moments but in a romantic comedy kind of way. With flavours of When Harry Met Sally, this is a book that will warm your heart and take you back to the days of your first love.

A huge thank you to Crown Publishing and Josie Silver for an opportunity to read this ARC. I will definitely be reading more books from this author!

This book is just what I was in the mood for! A cozy romance with likable characters who you're rooting for (this, unbelievably, is not always the case within this genre). This book is a literal daydream (I think) everyone has when they're on vacation: you lock eyes with an attractive stranger, envision your future life together, and then part ways. This book takes that fantasy and pushes it further into fantasy-land (but enjoyably so!) to take readers on the journey of what happens next. A total joy to read, would be a perfect read for a cold winter day when you need a little warmth within :)

I enjoyed this contemporary romance, despite having some issues with certain plot points. Overall, a fun, light read. Please see my review at the attached link.

Laurie sees a man outside of her bus window one day. There are no words, no actions, only intense eye contact but that is enough to make her fall head over heels in love with a stranger. She years for him, she can't stop thinking about him, she dreams of the time they will meet again. Then one day her best friend and roommate, Sarah, introduces her new boyfriend, Jack, to Laurie. Sarah is anxious for Jack and Laurie to meet. She hopes they will hit it off - if only she knew that her boyfriend is the man from the bus. The man that Laurie has been dreaming about.... and he is dating her roommate. UGH!

Bring on the angst, the heartbreak, the not wanting to hurt anyone, the wanting to be happy and the quest for the happily ever after. This book follows Laurie, Sarah and Jack through ten years of their friendship. Through their love for each other, their friendship(s), their lovers, their unrequited feelings. This is not a typical love story. It's a slice out of three people's lives. The story is told through Laurie and Jacks perspectives. The reader is privy to their secret thoughts and feelings. This book has heart. I like that these people cared deeply for each other and as a reader, I cared about them.

I found this book to be addictive. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen to these characters. This is a great book to curl up with a blanket with. My only complaint with this book is that I wanted an epilogue. When the book ended, I thought "Come On!". I wanted just a little bit more time with these characters. I found this book to be engaging, fun and a very enjoyable read. It has a little bit of everything: friendship, loss, grief, new beginnings, forgiveness, heartache, and love.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

A really enjoyable book. Once I started, I didn't want to put it down. The ending was fun and I had to reread it. Though that might be because by the time Jack and Laurie make it together, it's only a page!!! All that, and only a page!

This book caught me off guard. I don’t typically read in the romance genre and am not quite sure why I chose this book, but it’s a delightful diversion in the midst of election turmoil and angry politics. The author addresses the question, do you believe in love at first sight?

I loved the simplicity of this story, the small cast of characters and the development of their relationships over ten years. Yes, it’s a love story but it’s not really a romance novel. Sarah and Laurie become best sisters when they’re randomly assigned to the same room in college, and I say sisters instead of friends because that’s the relationship that develops which is sorely tested when they both fall in love with the same man. It’s a coming of age story of young adults, trying to identify mates who are more than just lovers and to parse out what makes the lasting romance between two forever friends like Laurie’s parents enjoyed. How do you find that person who is your 100%.

It’s a quick, entertaining yet thoughtful read. I complain that I can never remember how a book ends. That won’t be the case with this one! Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this in prepublication.

In her early twenties near the Christmas holidays, Laurie spots a man waiting on the street below from the top deck of a London bus. They make eye contact and have an inexplicably strong connection. Despite her inner voice telling her otherwise, Laurie doesn't get off the bus, and she and her best friend Sarah spend the next year searching London for the mystery man. She finds him the following Christmas when Sarah introduces him as Jack, her boyfriend. The rest of the book follows Laurie and Jack over the next several years, becoming close friends while dancing around the fact that they shared such a special moment as strangers when they first met.

A blurb described this as mix of 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Love Actually..' The vibes it gave me were more of David Nicholls' 'One Day.' The book often jumps through time fairly quickly, and it was because of this that I initially did have trouble believing that Laurie and Jack were as close friends as they said they were. That feeling faded throughout the book, especially as these two and their significant others are really the only characters that are purposely fleshed out. I'm a sucker for the "following-friends-over-time" plot, and while all of these stories usually have something about them I don't like, what drew me in with 'One Day in December' were some very beautiful observations in the writing. While not descriptive or particularly vivid, the writing has lovely stream-of-consciousness points about life.

The story is predictable, but it has a simple sweetness that is perfect for the upcoming holiday season. If you love your emotional rom-coms and stories that take place over long periods of time, check it out!

*A link to a blog review will follow shortly.

4.5 STARS - This romantic dramedy is perfect for fans of When Harry Met Sally, Me Before You and Notting Hill. Readers heart strings and funny bone will be equally pulled/tickled as they witness the sometimes tumultuous and complicated love life of Laurie James and her ‘bus boy’ – a man who catches her eye and heart in one brief encounter on a December afternoon. They experience love at first sight but are unable to meet in person at that moment, so their connection haunts both of them until they are suddenly thrown together and unable to act on their feelings.

The story has likeable, believable characters and is a slow-burn kind of read since the story is told, via different points of view, over a decade. The timeline and POVs are woven together well and I enjoyed getting a bird’s eye view of the interconnected relationships of these friends and lovers. Normally, I’m not a huge romance reader – I find them often to have quite an ‘ode de fromage’ feel but this light-hearted romance touches on some serious topics and how it handles its complicated relationships makes it more than a simple romance.

One Day in December is a wonderful, escapist-type read (and a Dewey Divas and Dude pick!) that I read in just over one day. While it is a romantic dramedy, the addition of its deeper moments about friendship, love, loss, regret and missed opportunities make it a book that will appeal to many different readers.

Favourite Quote: "You tread lightly through life, but you leave deep footprints that are hard for other people to fill."

One snowy day in December 2008 Laurie made eye contact with a man outside her bus. Their instant connection could be described as nothing less than love at first sight but a whole year of searching for him lead to nothing but disappointment. Well, that is until she meets him again, when he's introduced to her as her best friend's new boyfriend.

Over the next ten years, Laurie and Jack circle around each other both as friends and sometimes as something more, but always with those first moments of instant love as a cloud over them.

One Day in December made me cringe with anxiety, yell at the characters, and finally accept that their journey was long but it was theirs.

Ah, Laurie and Jack! A tale of angst and missed opportunity.

Being very honest, I wasn't in the mood for this when I started reading it because I didn't know what to expect. However, about four chapters in, I was charmed. Laurie is so great and the book has this subtle sense of humor that had me chuckling a few times. Definitely not a romcom but it helped keep things from getting too angsty.

My main issue with this book is wondering how to categorize it. It doesn't feel like romance really, more like women's fiction. But it's told from a dual POV so it doesn't really fit that either. And Jack's POV is needed because he's not easy to like for several parts of the book. Luckily Laurie is awesome so I never got discouraged.

I honestly wasn't sure how this book would end but I was please even if it felt a little rushed. I could also maybe have used a little more romance between the main characters. But I suppose the whole point is there multi-year journey and all of the turmoil they endure before they can be together. You're heart will definitely bleed for both of them.

I thought the writing was very well done, good pacing, great character development. I'm quite glad I read it. Just be warned that this is not a traditional romance novel and all should be well. It will satisfy a bit of your Christmas fix but I don't necessarily consider this a holiday novel.

I read this book almost in one day! I loved the writing style of Josie Silver and how she made these characters so real with very complex feelings and emotions. I loved all of the characters in the book, not only Jack and Laurie but also Sarah. This books is the definition of "it's complicated;" it tugged on my heart strings hard at certain moments, but also made me smile and laugh. I only wish that there was an epilogue! Definitely a great read. **ARC provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own**

Wow. What an amazing romantic book. Josie Silver has written such a touching and beautiful love story.