One Day in December by Josie Silver is a love story that will have you believing in love at first sight and then leave you in an emotional mess. The novel also looks at friendship and finding oneself through its cast of interesting characters. When the reader gets to the dramatic conclusion, the story is reminiscent of a classic movie.

Although the title might lead one to believe that the book is about one day in December, it actually takes place over the span of a few years. Silver uses the chance encounter to set the stage for the novel and then adds quite a few layers of character development that allows the characters to change and grow. I really enjoyed reading about Laurie and her struggles with her career. Her character is determined and head strong, which I found to be an engaging quality.

At first, I was worried about a love triangle, but it wasn’t like that at all. Because Laurie is one of those types of people who picks up the pieces and moves forward, so does the plot. The amazing friendship between Laurie and Sarah becomes the focus and it is so wonderful to read a story about women who have each other’s backs. This was my favourite aspect of the book by far.

Once the book comes full circle, the drama goes full tilt. The ending is something that you might find straight out of a movie like An Affair to Remember. The number of times that Laurie and Jack are close to finding each other and then don’t just gives me a Cary Grant/Deborah Kerr vibe. The message here is: love is something that will endure whatever is thrown at it.

If you are a fan of melodrama and love stories, I highly suggest giving One Day in December a read. The characters are well-developed, and the friendship between the two women is admirable. You will want to stock up on some tissues for the ending, trust me on that one!

Thank you Crown Publishing and Broadway Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Picture seeing the man of your dreams, the love of your life, through a fogged-up bus window and you can't leave to meet him. You both exchange glances and then spend the next year of your life in search for him. Just before the year is over, you find him, but he's dating your best friend. What do you do? This book takes place in a span of ten years, begging you to follow along and see if they ever get together in the end.

The best part about this book? It’s great to read all-year round, not just at Christmas! It’s utterly adorable with a perfect ending. All about finding love at first sight. This takes place in a span of ten years which is pretty cool! I wish there was a bit more detail in some of the years, but I understand that the book would be forever long. I still left feeling all warm and cozy with this read.

4/5 Stars

Sometimes, even if you know the outcome of a situation, you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. That's how I felt reading this book. This isn't your average "boy meets girl" romance, there is quite a journey involved taking place over ten years. It was fun to see the characters develop and quite a few pop culture references thrown in as well. In addition to romance, we even get family ties and friendship thrown in as well.

If you're looking for a light read taking place in England, told in alternating voices, then this the book for you.

I received this book from Net Galley for honest and impartial review

After I requested this book, I wondered why in the world I chose a cheesy romance novel. I debated not even reading it. But I did. And I have to say, I tried not to like this book and I still did. I still rooted for Laurie and Jack, and even Sarah and Oscar as the romantic foils weren't villains, but real, complex likable people. All the characters are well developed with issues and problems that aren't easily resolved except over time and with great love. Perhaps that's the best thing about this book: the hope that love can make us better people in all its forms. I'm very glad I chose to read this after all.

One Day in December is an emotionally intense and ultimately heartwarming novel about Laurie, a woman who feels an immediate connection with someone she sees on the street as she sits on the bus. Her journey and her voice are relatable as she wrestles with her feelings and whether or not to pursue them.. Both her and the reader must ask themselves about what it means to be "meant to be". I gobbled up the book in a weekend as I could not wait to see how Laurie's life turned out. Josie Silver's writing is so warm and engaging that it is a joy to curl up with this book. Reminiscent of David Nicholls' "One Day".

<i>One Day</i> is one of my favorite books that I'll never read again, and it has forever made me hesitant of books like this. Still, I like to remind myself that I am not cold and heartless and love love.

This book did not disappoint me in making me tear up and remember how much I like romance and love, and that time is just another factor of life. This book is both a comfort of romance tropes and fresh at the same time. It's both realistic and hopeful, having me praying a few times that what I feared would happen would. Laurie, though a journalist (sigh), grows up well over the 9 years of the book.
It would make a good holiday movie for sure - one that I'll read and watch over and over.

4.5/5 stars easily. If you need a good holiday romance book, this is yours for 2018.

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.