A lovely December read. This would be the perfect cold winter afternoon read. Loved the format of each chapter being a day and the fact it was told from both points of view. We got to know both characters well. Lots of love.y Christmas activities along side people healing from pain and past heartache. Belle has a fantastic bond with her god daughter, showing her that adults can love and value children and sh3 provide the perfect reason for getting out and about and having fun. A great read.

I loved the format of having a new chapter for each day in December. It made following the story so easy.
I love the story of Belle and Rory’s reconnecting friendship after not seeing each other for years. Friends to lovers troupe is definitely a favourite. I didn’t like the way Belles family treated her, and do think she should have cut them off a long time ago.
A slow burn romance but it kept me hooked all the way through.

Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson is a slow burn transformative friendship that slowly morphs into more.

Belle has a passion for Shakeaspeare, but works dead end jobs while working on her Shakespeare project adapting the plays and sonnets for schools. She is the daughter of a celebrity chef, a man who dimisses and ignores her, while favouring her younger sister.

Her old university classmate Rory is grieving the loss of his girlfriend Jessica five years previously, and has escaped to Australia. He's been living a solitary life, eschewing any relationships because he feels he's cheating.

Their paths cross again when Rory, a reputation management consultant, returns on family business, and is hired by Belle's father to fix his reputation after 'Me Too' complaints.

Rory can't help but feel drawn to Belle, but you see the push/pull of his growing feelings towards her as he feels the guilt and pain of his loss. Belle, whose relationships have always been short term losers, drawn to the kindness, consideration and general solidity of Rory, but she too is feeling the push/pull as she feels unworthy of real love but can also recognise Rory's pain.

It's a slow burn story, yet none of the writing feels like its laboured or boring. Wilson avoids the trap most writers fall into of pages and pages of reptititve unneccessary internal monologues vs what could be a shorter dialogue between two characters to reveal the information needed to drive forward the story. When she does apply inner monologues its enhaces the story. If anything its wonderful to see what is going on Belle and Rory's heads while they are interacting with each other, and how drawn they are to each other but not wanting to mess up their burgeoning close friendship.

It's beautiful to watch them slowly come together and challenge each other's outlook and also perceptions of each other. Back at university Rory just assumed Belle was the drunk party girl who never came to class and was confident. Belle thought Rory was a bit of a stuff shirt, fueled mostly because Jessica was the complete opposite in personality to Belle - more together. Yet as they inteact with each other, they learn more about their backgrounds and each other's depths.

What made this book refreshing was wathcing their growth in action and how they boost each other. It was just a masterclass in communication. One of my favourite scenes was seeing a more matured Belle not run away but gently call in poor behaviour. She recognises how to stand her ground while leaving space for the other person even when she was hurt and upset.

Reading Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson is like being slowly warmed up on a cold day. I loved this book so much I bought a copy of my own AND the audiobook (which was brilliantly narrated by Katy Sobey and Joe Jameson).

Thank you to One More Chapter/Harper Collins and Netgalley.

This story was everything I needed right now!! The main female lead who is adventurous and appears to be carefree falling for the sweet guy that needs help breaking out of his shell. The family dynamics, job situation, and life stages across her friend group were so relatable! My favorite Christmas trope of reteaching someone to love Christmas again was exacuted perfectly and had me in tears! If you love Christmas romance I 10/10 recommend.

I love all Christmas books, and this was no exception. I really enjoyed the format of one chapter for each day of December told by each of the main characters, Belle and Rory. It’s such a sweet story, a slow burn romance in which you can’t help but be rooting for these two. The great descriptions of the setting in Bristol makes you feel as if you are there too. I highly recommend adding this one to your Christmas reading list. Kitty Wilson is a new author for me but one I’ll be following for more. Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley, too
For my copy of this book, here’s my honest review:

It’s years since first they met
In many ways they’re opposites …. yet . . .
Together they help support each other
And maybe learn new love to discover?

Belle Wilde is the eldest daughter
Of parent who don’t praise her - but ought to.
They’ve never seemed to say anything good
About her but they definitely should.

Her father is infamous and a bully, too.
Belle visit them only when she needs to do.
But Christmas i her favourite time of year
Maybe for once it will bring them all good cheer?

December is the month that Rory hates
It includes for him some tragic dates.
He’s returned home from Australia fair
To help with his mother’s care.

These two met at Uni years ago
Then their lives took very different paths and so
When they meet up again they never knew
Just what it all could lead to!

The days of this December and what transpired
Which starts when Belle is summarily fired.
No job, no savings what can she do?
Read the story and you’ll discover it, too!

The story goes at quite a slow pace
But then again, life isn’t necessarily a race.
As these two each other get to know
Will love between them start to grow?

Get ready for when fun and laughter abounds
Especially on days when Martha comes around.
This five year old imp is cute and bright,
Helping to spread Christmas seasons delight.

It is a story of lives, the good and bad
With times of joy and happiness but also sad.
With only a month to discover
Just what they mean to one another.

Thanks to Harper Collins, One More Chapter and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Unfortunately I seem to be in the minority here as I DNF the book. I got 22% of the way in to it and found I just didn't care. I wasn't keen on the characters and it just didn't appeal. Sorry.

My first book by Kitty Wilson and my first Christmas read of the year. Started off a little slow but then picked up. I liked the alternating pov’s between Rory and Belle. Nice supporting characters as well in Luisa, Marsha (loved her) and Rory’s mum (hilarious). A good way to get into the festive mood (a few months early 😀 3 ⭐️.

I have to admit I did struggle somewhat with this book, the beginning was certainly too slow and the writing didn't flow all that well for me. The book did, however, gather pace and there were a few entertaining highlights but all a little predictable. I found the first half of the book was superfluous but the second half could have carried on a little further, not sure if it was because I was reading this book in August and wasn't in the mood for something Christmassy, this doesn't usually bother me, but I felt it just felt a little flat.

I plan on reading this from the library and writing a review in November or December. As I live in Texas, the temp is still 100+ degrees some day and the idea of a novel set in a wintery December, isn't on the table right now. I love the cover of this, and I am excited to be able to recommend it to customers of the bookstore I work at during the holiday season.

Thank you so much for the review copy.

‘The course of true love never did run smooth’
(A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Act 1, Scene 2)

I absolutely adore Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson. This love story follows two friends, with rich histories apart, who reconnect to experience the joy of the holidays. Rory and Belle are such realistic characters, flawed but perfect and uncertain but certain on what the hearts wants - THEY just work!

Belle, loves Shakespeare, after being taught the beauty of the plays and sonnets in her youth Her life goal is to instill that level of enthusiasm in kids today through interpretation and on-hands learning. Rory, is a PR / Crisis Management Advisor, caters to the rich and famous in crisis mode publicly. Home for the holidays after five years away, Rory stumbles upon Belle as he's hired to help her famous father. Together, they navigate "why" he's been away, their families and soon discover whats possible when we look forward rather than back.

This book weaves beautifully hilarity and serious topics such as grief and forgiveness. The chapters are labels as the days in December, reading like a Diary from both, Belle and Rory. You'll not only fall in love with them but the entire cast of characters. I need an epilogue - one year later!!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the complimentary copy.

This was a fabulous Christmas tale, brilliantly written. Kitty Wilson has a lovely writing style and the story really sang. There was so much depth to the story from Rory's heart-breaking history and current problems through to Belle's unhappy family relationship. The secondary characters also added additional interest in exactly the right way. What i particularly liked having read lots of Christmas books, was that Kitty came up with new Christmas traditions and activities that were all very original. She also drew a beautiful picture of Bristol and I've now got an urge to go and visit the city in December. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait to read more from this author.

Love Christmas? Love a contemporary romance? Then you’ve found your next read! Kitty Wilson’s festive novel is jam packed with feel good energy, love and romance, enough to light up the darkest of days, convincing the bah humbugs amongst us (me included!) to be a little less Scrooge and a lot more like the novel’s protagonist Belle Wilde. As someone who considers herself allergic to anything Christmas related I have no idea why when it comes to reading material, from August onwards, any book with the word December or Christmas in the title, or any cover depicting a festive snowy scene automatically catches my eye and I have to read it. Every Day In December is the first book I’ve read by this author and her first standalone novel.

What a brilliant introduction to this author’s writing which is cozy, comforting, humorous, romantic, uplifting and definitely chrismassy! In no time at all Kitty Wilson had me cocooned in my own Christmas bubble full of mulled cider, mince pies, glittery baubles and sparkly lights, not to mention gaudy festive jumpers, the lyrics to Last Christmas echoing in my ears. Told from the perspective of our romantic hero and heroine Rory and Belle, the reader is taken on an enchanting journey through every day in December as this couple reconnect, having first met years ago at uni. Each chapter is headed by a quote from the Bard, a literary figure who features heavily in Belle’s everyday life. Always relevant to the course of events unfolding I thought this was a nice touch.

The characterisation is divine; born to be Wilde, Belle, a woman obsessed by all things Shakespearean is an utter delight, a complex mix of the socially awkward, unlucky in love, devoid of any self belief but someone who takes her role of spreading the joy and love of Christmas (and the bard’s plays and sonnets) very seriously indeed. Can she convince Rory that Christmas is a period to embrace and enjoy rather than loathe? I can’t say I’m a fan of Shakespeare but through Ms Wilde’s overflowing enthusiasm,Kitty Wilson convinced me to reassess my dislike/indifference towards this most famous of playwrights. Whilst the season of goodwill holds no appeal for Rory, who has reason to shy away from anything festive related, haunted by a ghost from Christmas past, with Belle in the immediate vicinity that could very easily change. As far as romantic heroes go, Rory is cute, kind, thoughtful and considerate and he can even throw some shapes on the dance floor! He’s practically perfect in every way! I love a storyline where the two main characters compliment one another, each one providing that missing something that will hopefully make them whole again. It might not be immediately obvious to these two but in my opinion Belle is the gin to Rory’s tonic! (I couldn’t think of a suitable Christmas analogy that didn’t sound weird!)

The whole cast sparkles. Little Marsha is a twinkling starlet from the beginning, a cross between a mischievous imp and a heaven sent angel whose energy, enthusiasm and pleasure she finds in the simplest of things matches that of her godmother Belle. She made me smile, laugh and is oh so adorable, if slightly precocious. You wish you could sweep her up into a massive hug, her joy so incredibly infectious and heartwarming. Her mother Luisa is a brilliant role model all round, the sort of best friend every girl/woman should be lucky enough to have. She is a perfect blend of the fiercely loyal, brutally honest and fun loving and I want her as my friend too! Nick Wilde puts me in mind of TV celebrity chef Keith Floyd and in keeping with the christmassy theme he’s the equivalent of the pantomime villain. Booing and hissing at his scenes is purely optional though! Alison, Rory’s mother is as stoic and doting as they come, always acting with her son’s best interests and happiness at heart. Without divulging why, she’s the reason Rory has returned from Oz, giving Belle and Marsha a run for their money in the humour stakes and the kind of mother Belle can only dream of.

This irresistible Christmas romance captivated my heart quicker than a snowflake melting on my tongue. I loved this winter’s tale and can imagine the closer to Christmas you read this the more magic and charm it will possess. An ideal gift for any bookworm in your life. With only 127 days to go until the big day I’m going to keep on channelling those Belle Wilde vibes!

My thanks as always to the publisher OMC and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

It may only be August but Every Day In December was a perfect start to my festive reading. I'm ready to put my Christmas tree up now. I just adored it. All the Christmas feels. Belle and Rory were just adorable, the connection between them was heartwarming. Everyone needs a Rory and Belle. Each chapter is a day in December, so the story just captured my attention and I couldn't stop. I love Bath and Bristol and now I really want to re visit and do all the Christmas activities, celebrating Christmas in so many different ways. Tyntesfield House is top of my list. It sounded beautiful. A story about love, friendship and Christmas. The Shakespeare theme within was also fabulous. So much passion for Shakespeare, it was woven into the story so well. Such a unique element to the story, it made me want to re read Shakespeare. An emotional, feel good beautiful festive story. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars only because I’m not sure if publishing a. Christmas story in August makes sense. I requested the ARC because it sounded adorable which it was however I think I’ll reread again when it’s colder out and there’s snow on the ground.

Grumpy/Sunshine trope...old friends turned lovers...slowwwwww burn (not enough romance at times)

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read an advance copy of 'Every Day in December' in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a lovely, cozy read! Christmas is still a while away, but this story was fun and heartwarming, definitely getting me into a festive mood already. I could easily empathise with both Belle and Rory's personal issues, so I'd say the dual POV was very well done. I also do love me some slow-burn romance, and this one hit all the right spots for that.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book because it kicked off my holiday reads for 2021! I'm not going to lie, this book honestly took me a while to get through and to start (probably because it is still Summer and there is quite a lot of time until Christmas is here), BUT it was a heartwarming story. I ended up requesting an ARC because I love slow burn romances especially when two characters are able to reconnect after not being in contact for a while. Rory and Belle are two very complex characters and being able to see them overcome their challenges together was so heartwarming. Belle is someone who is always positive and happy and loves christmas while Rory is the complete opposite because of what happened to his wife during December a few years back.
This is definitely a story that would be great to read around the holidays as it filled with Christmas, friendship, love, family, etc. It is definitely a SLOW burn and you have to be in the mood to read something related to the holidays. I loved that we were able to see how different both Rory and Belle were, but how alike they also were. They both struggle with their own insecurities and things/people they have lost, but are able to work through it. I HATED the way Belle's family treated her, but admire her persistence to want to create her own life/work hard despite coming from a wealthy family. This book embodies what the holidays are all about and it makes you feel happy and mushy despite the struggles the characters are going through. This is the first book I have read by Kitty Wilson and I would give it a 3.5/5. I will check out her other books in the future because I was really surprised by her style of writing and enjoyed it. I wish this book was a bit fast paced as some parts fell short for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of Every Day in December in exchange for an honest review!

This would be such a great read during the holiday season! Reading this in the middle of summer doesn’t have the same Christmas vibe as it would in December. Regardless, I did enjoy this book. I think Belle was such a likeable character. Her positive attitude, her goal to make those around her smile, and her general love of Christmas were just a few things that resonated with me.

Her relationship with her family was one of the parts I struggled with throughout the book. Her family was horrible to her and she constantly felt that she wasn’t good enough for them and didn’t live up to their standards. It was heartbreaking to see her hold back and keep her mouth shut in order to not upset her family, making her feel as if she was the problem. She does stand up for herself towards the end of the book, but it was still a painful experience to see her family treat her so poorly.

I enjoyed the story being told from two different characters, Belle and Rory. I think Belle’s friendship and relationship with Rory was genuine. I think they compliment each other very well. I’m a big fan of the friends to lovers trope and I think the author did a good job of building that friendship between the two before taking it further. I loved how they both did things for one another without expecting anything in return. They just wanted to see each other smile, which was really heartwarming.

While the book itself took its time, showing how the two interact with each other over the course of the month of December, the ending felt too rushed. I think the big apology could have been a bit more exciting than it was. The ending just fell flat for me, which was a bummer as I really enjoyed the rest of the book.

Overall, I think this would be a great read around the Christmas season and I would recommend it!

This is a lovely festive read. It is a little slow to start, but it is a slow burn romance so it seems appropriate.
I love Belle's excitement over Christmas, it made me feel very festive, even though I was reading this in August. I think that it would be even better nearer to Christmas. It's a perfect book for curling up with on a cold day.
There were some sad subjects that featured in the book. It was still a lovely and sweet read though.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

I loved this book! It was heartfelt & sweet. I enjoyed the style it was written in, with each chapter a day in December from the first through the thirty-first. I also like how it was told from both Belle & Rory's point of view. I enjoyed Belle wasn't your typical romance novel heroine. She's a bit of a mess but really smart with her idea for sharing Shakespeare with children. Rory isn't the typical romance hero either as he has his own issues. I highly recommend reading this book to see how their story goes.

Thanks to the publisher, author, & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review