What's the deal with Max? You won't know until the end of this novel which I, surprisingly, found both frustrating and disappointing. Josie has disliked Christmas since her parents were killed when she was a child but this year is especially hard - she's been cheated on by her boyfriend Oliver and is being forced into a lateral move at work-and then she literally runs into Max. They have a wonderful few days and then poof- he's gone and he more or less ghosts her until they meet again in Manhattan, where she's moved with Oliver after taking hum back. We see a bit of Max's life and then Poof- we're back in the UK at the wedding of Josie's friend and Max is a plus one. No more from me on the plot. This is meant to be emotional and romantic but I had issues with the secret and how everyone handled it as well as with everyone's behavior (except for Josie's grandparents). That said, I realize I'm the odd one out and that others will no doubt find emotional. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

To say Christmas is Josie’s favorite time of the year would be a huge stretch. As Josie does every year, she writes and sends a letter to her parents. This year she is later than usual and rides her bike at breakneck speed to the nearest post. She literally runs into Max. What develops is a fling; romantic, fun and then over. Over the years, they keep running into each other and denying chemistry and fighting time.

I really wouldn’t characterize this as a romance, and I think anyone expecting a traditional romance, might be hugely disappointed. This is a love story, a story about finding yourself and recognizing that special someone, taking chances, and holding family and friends close, taking chances and growing up. While I guessed early on what was going to happen, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of reading this story. I could compare it to a few books, but in doing so I would give away too much. This is not your lighter Christmas read! Warning: tissues might just be needed! Look forward to reading this author again.

Thanks to Ms. Stone, Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? That’s one question that came to mind as I read this lovely book.

December was always painful for Josie, as it was when she lost both her parents. Keeping with her holiday tradition, she was heading to mail her yearly letter to her parents when she crashed into Max. Max was in a dark space himself, but they decided to follow fate and celebrate the holiday together. This brief encounter made an impression on both Josie and Max, and over the course of the year, their paths continued to cross as they experienced many ups and downs in their lives.

The widget for this book sat in my inbox for quite some time. I wasn’t sure about it. I mean, the cover gave me some sad feels. Then I read a review by my friend, Tanya, and she convinced me that this book would absolutely reduce me to tears, but it would also warm my heart. I can confirm that both those things happened, and I will admit, the experience was worth all the tears.

In my opinion, Always, in December was a story of grief and loss wrapped up in a love story. Josie felt the loss of her parents all the time, but even more so during the holiday season. The problem was that her grief was keeping her from moving her life forward. She kept to safe choices, and in doing so, sacrificed many of her own wants and needs.

Max was dealing with his own issues, but one thing he realized during his journey was how important it was to seize the day. He encouraged Josie to reach for her dreams, not to accept less than her worth, and to take chances. Though her path was not straight, it was gratifying to see Josie take the steps necessary to move her life forward.

This was a painfully beautiful story, which reminded me to live in the moment. It also pushed me to answer my opening question, and yes, it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. Even when our loved ones are gone, we can hold them in our hearts and remember all the ways they made our life better.

Let me start by saying that Always, in December is not a romance novel. I fear that it is being marketed as such, or at least labeled as romance by Goodreads users, and that will lead to some damning (and unfair) reviews. Calling it a romance will garner certain expectations (I’m being purposely vague here) and I’d hate to see that because Always, in December deserves all the love.

"I never thought I’d see you again, but I’m so happy that our paths were destined to intertwine."

Josie is at a crossroads. She’s just broken up with her boyfriend and she’s being laid off from her job (or given the option to take a less-than-desirable lateral move). To make matters worse, it’s Christmas, the season Josie dreads every year because while everyone else is bustling about, shopping, filled with merriment, Josie is filled with memories of her parents who were killed in an accident on Christmas Eve. While out mailing a letter to her beloved parents, her Christmas tradition, she quite literally runs into Max. And that collision, that chance encounter, sets into motion a series of events that will change both their lives.

I fell in love with both Josie and Max’s stories – because this is so much more than their story together – from the very start. Right away I had the feeling that I would come to love these characters and I wasn’t wrong. From their first meeting in London, and those magical few days spent together that seemed so promising, to a chance encounter months later in New York City, to a reunion of sorts in Scotland, Josie and Max’s paths continued to cross fleetingly before circumstances separated them again.

While Josie’s issues were more outwardly obvious – grief that she has carried into adulthood, career dissatisfaction, a cheating boyfriend – Max’s were less so and I appreciated the way Stone doled out small bits of information along the way. The more that is revealed, the more his past behavior makes sense. I savored every page as their stories – both separately and together – played out. Their interactions over the course of the year never felt contrived, but more serendipitous.

The secondary characters felt purposeful and Josie’s doting grandparents, in particular, were delightful. (I adored Memo and Grandad!) They all added a richness to the story, a bit of comic relief, and at least one of them truly surprised me.

Josie was a heroine who was easy to love, to relate to, and want the absolute best for. She had been shaped by loss in her childhood and Stone did an incredible job of showing how that resonated in Josie’s adult life. Her journey presented her with options that pushed her out of her comfort zone, if only she was brave enough to take them.

Let me reiterate that Always, in December is not a romance novel, but it is a love story. One that was poignant and engaged my every emotion. Always, in December was a remarkable debut novel and I can’t wait to read what comes from Emily Stone next.

Every year, Josie writes a letter to her parents who were killed in an accident on Christmas Eve. As she is biking to send this year's letter, she plows into a grumpy man named Max, as he is getting out of a taxi. This all leads into a whirlwind romance that lasts a few days before Max leaves one morning without a goodbye, leaving behind only a letter.

Throughout the next year, they keep finding each other through strange coincidences. Each of them realizes they fell in love with the other over that small period of time, but circumstances, and miscommunications keep them apart.

I had a hard time getting into the story, mainly because they were actually together for such a short period of time, and then spend most of the book apart, except for a few instances here and there. The ending hits you out of nowhere, and there is no HEA here. It's probably my own fault for making assumptions about the book that I shouldn't have, but I like my romances to end happily.

The book was well written, just wasn't my cup of tea, unfortunately.

Thanks to Random House Publishing for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I keep going back and forth between 3 ⭐️ and 4 ⭐️. This is a story about love, loss, friendship and taking risks. I couldn’t put it down. You kind of know what’s coming so you want to hurry and find out. The parts I didn’t love I can’t really talk about or it will give important details away. I think a lot of people will like this book so definitely give it a read. I’m glad I read it but I will never read it again.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy.

Definitely was interested in this one based on the fact that it was categorized as a Christmas Romance. That’s definitely not what it is though. A better category might be womens fiction! Also every time the author used the nickname “Jose” gif Josie I read it was “José”. It kept throwing me.

This story was not what I was expecting. It was better. Josie met Max when she ran him down on her bicycle. They spend a few days over Christmas together - with him egging her on to be more adventurious and do a job that she likes instead of just for a paycheck. Then he disappears with just leaving a note. Time passes and she runs into him again and it's awkward. More time passes and she runs into him again and spends some time with him and his "friend" Erin. She doesnt really know if they are together and is afraid to ask. He does introduce her to a man who helps stear her into the career she loves.

I can't say more about the plot without giving spoilers. What I will say is this is definitely a romance - Not really conventional but still a romance. I literally could not put the book down. I was up until 2 in the morning finishing it. It was funny at times, sweet at times and heartbreaking at times. You will not read this book without having a good cry. But please read it. You won't regret it.

I got this book from NetGalley and am giving an honest review

Josie isn't unfamiliar to loss or heartbreak. But an unexpected encounter with Max, makes her think maybe her luck has turned around. Only for him to disappear just as things between them were getting comfortable.

This story made me believe in fate and then absolutely shattered my heart in a billion little pieces. I loved the beautiful encounters that Josie and Max happened upon. I loved how Max made Josie feel. I love that she started to follow her dreams and live a life she could love and be proud of.

I am not okay. This story will sit with me for a very long time. 😞😭❤️

3.5/5 stars but rounded up to 4.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book until the end. I was hooked all the way through. I don't know if I would categorize it as a romance per say but has romance elements to it. I feel like Josie and Max weren't even given a shot. From their first "run in" meeting I was rooting for them to be together, yet circumstances kept drawing them apart.

This is a story about grief and had some really great messages about missing those you have lost. I feel like it leaned more towards that than romance - which I was hoping for. I won't give spoilers but I will say that the ending left me pretty upset. I don't understand why it had to end that way! I will say it is not a HEA in the least bit.

I felt the writing was good and for the most part the story flowed well and it did enjoy it. I think if it had more romance I would have rated it a 5.

I bear some responsibility for absolutely despising the ending to this book had I read its description more carefully but I stand by my opinion that the ending was still abrupt rather than poignant. I muddled through this book and didn't really care for any of it so you can forgive me for being put over the edge when the ending was just so !!!!!. Hope you have more luck!

Always, in December comes out next week on October 12, 2021, and you can purchase HERE.

Josie stood in the doorway of her flat, under the mistletoe that Bia had insisted they hang "just in case" and started mutely at the box Oliver was clutching.

I went into this book expecting a light hearted romance, which I did not necessarily get, but I till did really enjoy it. There's always something special and charming to me about a book that takes place in the UK during the holidays and so I really enjoyed the setting and timing of this book. I enjoyed both Josie and Max's characters and their development, though Max taking so long to speak up really got to me and made the ending feel a bit rushed. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC. This review will contain some spoilers.

Josie Morgan has just found out her boyfriend of two years has cheated on her leading her to break up with him. Then she's told her position at work is being eliminated. All of this around Christmas when she already struggles because her parents died on the holiday twenty years ago. Even with all that is going on Josie decides to still send the letter to her parents she puts in the post every year. As she bikes to send it she literally runs into Max Carter. Max is also avoiding the holiday due to undisclosed reasons. This begins their story.

Max leaves Josie with no explanation after a few days of happiness together. They continue to run into each other in unexpected places all over the globe. And they never communicate! I found it hard to like Max because he never gets to say anything. Josie interrupts him every time he tries to talk to her in NYC and again in Edinburgh. Even when the story is told from Max's POV the story never reveals what is really going on with him. It's hard to root for a character when I don't know anything of depth about him. I think the reader getting to know what is happening with him personally would help even if Josie doesn't learn about it until the end. It would have helped the jump to his POV feel more reasonable. Combined with the trope of the main characters never communicating it felt flat to me. As another reviewer stated Josie deserved more. She was so well developed as a character and Max felt like an after thought.

This book should not be marketed as an uplifting, Christmas time, love story. It has elements of those things, but it's not the whole picture. Having the idea in my head that the book was supposedly a light romance to find it was not made me annoyed with the story. With different marketing and a little more foreshadowing I think I would have rated this higher.

DNF, but jumped ahead to read the ending.

I mean, you go into a Romance expecting (1) romance and (2) a happily ever after. Not so with ALWAYS IN DECEMBER. Geez. I don't even know what to say here.

Josie and Max spend a week together during which they sleep together. Then they continually run into each other periodically over the following years. Other than that one week, their relationship feels like a fairly immature friendship, punctuated by lots of awkwardness. I just felt no chemistry between these two.

And that ENDING. No HEA with this one, my friends.

Sadly, ALWAYS IN DECEMBER was a total miss for me.

Always in December is tragically beautiful - emphasis on the tragic. The age old saying is never judge a book by its cover and maybe it’s true because this book’s cover and description are misleading. I came into this novel not knowing much about it, but based on the description, cover, and category was expecting a christmas time romance with maybe a bit of angst, but it missed that mark. It handles much more serious topics and was very emotionally taxing - personally not what I was expecting or looking for so I wasn’t able to enjoy it quite as much as I was hoping to. For what it is, the novel is written very well, albeit a bit verbose at times. If you are up for a whirlwind of emotions and heavy topics, give this book a whirl but it’s just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow I just finished this and have the biggest book hangover! The last 10% of don't forget the Kleenex!

Josie and Max meet on the streets of London. Both alone on Christmas decide to spend the holiday together. They have the most wonderful time and feelings definitely caught, until Josie woke up on the day after Christmas to see Max has left leaving behind nothing but an apology letter. While they never think they will reunite, a couple months later in New York they run into each other, but unfortunately Josie went back to her ex boyfriend Oliver. Can Josie and Max ever meet in the same place and both be single again? Or will their few nights on Christmas be the only time they have together?

I ate this book up! This is a clean romance, from multiple POV's and missed connections. While it can be considered a Christmas romance, only about half of it is set during Christmas. We also get a ton of different settings which I love. Do not miss out on this gorgeous story!

I had to give myself time to take a few deep breaths and process this book before I could write my review. If you're looking for a sweet Christmas Hallmark-esque type of book - don't pick this one up right now, but do pick it up when you're ready to have a box of tissues handy.

I adored the story of Josie and Max - eagerly turning the pages to see what the next part of their adventure held, when would fate bring them into each other's orbit again? I was not disappointed, page by page, chapter by chapter, I fell in love with book and all the characters - can there be another book, please?!

I laughed, I got mad at Max, and then Josie, and I cried (oh, how I cried!). If you love a good emotional, suck you in,
lose track of time and reality (trust me, I read into the wee hours of the morning when I should have been sleeping), type of book - definitely pick this one up.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I did enjoy most of this book right up until the big surprise that happened at the very end. It was very unexpected and had me questioning the whole thing. Everything was going smooth and then it happened when I least expected it.

I definitely wasn’t expecting something sad for a Christmas story though. This was a good book still, I liked the writing style and the characters. I just wouldn’t call this a romance either. This was a four star rating mostly because of the shocking ending. Sorry I can’t say what happened without spoiling the plot but it is like you run into the wall at a certain point.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review this. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book and thought it had good characters. I don't want to give any spoilers but this story is much more complicated than a fun Christmas romance. I did enjoy Max and Josie's story though and I do recommend it.

One of the ways to tell if a book hit the mark is how long it stays with you after you have finished reading it. I found that while I read what seemed like a simple romance of right guy at the wrong time, there was a pull to keep reading to uncover the mystery behind Max. I admit I made several guesses and they were all wrong. At the end, the story stayed with me for several days as I thought about the characters, the motivations for their actions, and how it would have changed the story if they had changed what they did. Though a "light" read, this book was deeper than expected.