DNF
I was so drawn to this book because of the cover and then the synopsis drew me in enough that I went ahead and requested it. Unfortunately just a few pages in and I knew that this was probably going to be a DNF for me. The writing style was just not for me. I've never read a story told in third person that read like it was being told in first person by someone who talks about themselves in third person. Does that even make sense?

I tried to push through but, frankly, the characters left me uninterested in reading to find out how their story played out.

1 star is for the cover!

DNF

I couldn't get into the story. The concept seemed really interesting Buy I couldn't relate to the characters.

I’ve never read a Christmas book before so I was really looking forward to reading Just for December when I was approved for an ARC. It had so much promise with a lot of my favourite tropes included. The Bavarian setting also had my interest and I was prepared to get in the mood for Christmas early. I did find it hard to get into and I felt like a lot of the first few chapters was setting the scene and trying to establish Evie as a very specific type of girl/character and while I understood her personality to an extent, I did find her difficult to take to as a main character. Overall I thought the book was good but isn’t one I could come back to and read again.

To be honest, I was hesitant about getting into this because of the ratings & I haven't really connected with the author's writing in the past. But color me surprise, how much I adored & liked this book!

This story completely took me by surprise. The heated banter & one-sided annoyance between Evie & Duke was the highlight for me. While Duke behaved like a fan-boy around Evie & her books, Evie barely gave Duke any glance. And boy, did this silly, childish banter turn out to be a fulfilling to read!

I loved Duke with my whole heart, he was such a sweetheart & down-to-earth person. Evie came across as a hard shell. These 2 easily they accepted their attraction to each other but when it came to actually take this thing further, Evie had to ruin it.
But all was forgiven when I read the LAST chapter. It was so unique & I appreciated it didn't cut to black after the grand gesture. I LOVED how a lil glimpse was shown following the grand gesture.

Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

I thought this was pretty cute and I liked the main characters. I appreciated all the name dropping, but it might make this book feel out of date relatively soon.

I really enjoyed this one! I haven’t read anything from Laura Jane Williams before, but after this one, and having bought a few (…yeah, I know! procrastinator!), I’m going back into my kindle and audio libraries and reading them straight away! This book was really good and so much fun! And, clean.

I loved the chemistry and witty banter between Evie and Duke. They had a great little “fight” at the start when sparks flew after she found out he, using his star power as the actor, had it written into her contract, as the author of the book the screenplay was based on, had to be present on-set, simply because he loved her books and wanted to meet her. She dropped her whole life to fly from the USA to Germany, sight of the filming, right before Christmas, because the actor decided he wanted to meet her, the author… and of course she was livid, but couldn’t get out of the contract.

The chemistry between the pair as the days go by, the fake dating that the production and PR teams think up to get over the bad press after they’re seen fighting in public, when things take a turn towards faking and feeling/being real - magnifique! The other crew, the cast, co-star Daphne, best friend Magda - the whole set of characters are all brilliant, the writing is brilliant, the storyline is genius, and the whole thing is so well done. I loved it and highly recommend it for everyone! I’d love to see this as a Christmas movie - actually made into one! (not just the plot of a book about a book turned movie during Christmas time…)

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon, and this is my honest feedback.

I think this book was good, but it felt like it was too drawn out. It’s definitely not a light and fluffy rom com. It’s romance with a lot of heavy issues like addicted parents, financial issues, insecurities, trauma, etc. I was interested in the overall plot, yet I was bored at times as well.

What to expect:
- dual POV
- actor + writer
- film set (abroad)
-enemies to friends to lovers

Unfortunately, I didn't finish this book. I found it very difficult to get into it. I think it was a mix of the writing style and the the main character. I just couldn't connect with her at all.

I wanted to love this book! But I didn't vibe with the writing and didn't connect with the main character at all. Sadly, it wasn't for me but the cover is gorgeous!

I received a complimentary copy from Avon Books UK and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Just for December is a fake dating and enemies to lovers romance set around Christmas . The book follows Evie Bird a romance writer whose latest bestseller is being made into a Christmas movie. The movie features Duke Carlisle a swoon worthy actor who is a huge fan of Evie Bird but she cannot stand him, The setting was brilliant and made me want to go to Germany and the plot was brilliantly executed. I absolutely recommend this book to romance readers and Christmas lovers.

I tried extremely hard to get into this book, it took me multiple tries. I wasn’t a huge fan of Evie at all which unfortunately killed the book for me. The blurb and the cover really drew me in but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

When best-selling author Evie has one of her books made into a movie, the only stipulation is that she needs to be on the set during filming. She meets the leading man, Duke, and her initial reaction to him was not one of warmth. Caught by the press in a heated discussion, the two are to begin a fake romance for the paparazzi to shed some favourable interest in the movie.

As the two participate in this fauxmance, they realize they have more in common than they originally thought. Evie and Duke both have backstories that have led to trust issues. While not every reader can relate to these stories, there are unfortunately some that will.

I found Edie to be rather rude much of the time although you could see more positive change in her as the story progressed. I don’t think that love solves all, and Edie still had a long way to go to manage her impulsive spending. It was suggested that she was working on it, but the reader was not updated in the last quarter of the book as to how Edie was doing with this.

Duke’s character was more interesting and I appreciated how this man enjoyed romance novels – so much that he had read all of Edie’s books. I loved the romantic moments that he created for Edie transforming her into someone more likeable.

I enjoyed the Christmas in Bavaria setting of the film. The author made it easy to picture Edie and Duke walking in these German market towns. The book also provided insight into the business behind the movie industry as well as the need for the enforcement of boundaries with the press.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Women’s Fiction or romance.

I received a DRC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

3.5 stars (rounded to 4)

DNF at 22%

Usually when I DNF a book it's because I'm not in the mood for it or because it's just not working for me. This was was because I flat out did not enjoy it and could only see it getting worse. The blurb on this one was fantastic, and I love the cover, but everything about the first 22% really irritated me. It was very info-dumpy, telling not showing, and just a lot of telling us that the female MC was so great and not like other girls because SHE didn't care about Hollywood and then telling us that the male MC was such a hopeless romantic. I could not take reading any more of this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an advance eARC of Just for December in exchange for an honest review. Just for December releases on November 24, 2022.

If you like Laura Jane Williams, you're probably going to like this one. It's a cute Christmas novel with a refreshing grumpy x sunshine, with Duke playing the sunshine role of the couple (tough, I must admit I still prefer the traditional formula. Call me old fashioned, but I'm a hoe for Mr. Darcy).

Duke was lovely, if a bit naive at times, but I struggled with Evie. I feel like she was very difficult, and the reasoning behind her personality wasn't properly addressed. She had no reason to be rude to the MC and honestly... This novel would probably be a lot sweeter if she just went to therapy. All in all, I love LJW writing, and I can't wait for her next book.

Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review

Just for December is not your typical festive romance. There's all the right component parts - the beautiful scenery, the dashing leading man and the feisty heroine who needs to love herself before she can love another. But the dynamic is very different to your classic chicklit romcoms.

Evie is a successful author, whose book has been adapted in a film starring heartthrob Cole. She's invited to attend the filming in Germany but whilst there, all is not plain sailing for the will-they-won't-they couple. Their PR people decide that a faux romance is just what is needed to boost the film's reputation, but even that is not enough to make Evie and Cole fall heads over heels.

In fact, it's a fairly bumpy road, and at times Evie comes across as fairly unlikable. This gives Just for December a different slant; it's not Evie who needs a man to rescue her but in fact the other way around.

I loved the idea of a reversed grumpy/sunshine trope where the female main character is the grumpy one. I really enjoyed the setting. The Bavarian town during Christmas seemed like the perfect setting for a Christmas romance. Unfortunately, I had trouble connecting with Evie. I felt that she was rude and judgmental. I just couldn't connect with her.

An almost cute lil Christmastime romance. If Hallmark produced Christmas movies rated PG-13, you'd get something similar to "Just for December"

If you're expecting a substantive book, this ain't it. It's a Christmas romance filled with improbable plot devices, contrived circumstances, and a main character that can't get out of her own way.

It's also written third person present-tense, a format I do not enjoy and very clouded my opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

I love LJW. I love the fake dating trope. LJW is the best romance writer out there at the moment. Match made in heaven - this book was everything <3

3.5 rounded to 4.

This book is a cute winter tale. It's got some Nottinghill vibes. I enjoyed the book and there wasn't any delay getting on with the fake dating story. They just jumped right in.

It was a cute story and just in time for the holiday season. I could practically see myself in the little German town they were filming in.

I enjoyed that the trope was that duke was the sunshine and rainbows and Evie was the grump. It's so nice to have it this way around !

Pick up your copy today for this fun loving banter romance!

Thank you to netgalley for this arc

This was absolutely not for me. I requested this ARC from NetGalley because the cover was lovely and the blur seemed interesting. Sadly, what I discovered inside did not live up to the lovely cover. Evie, the female protagonist, irritated me much. She was quite rude. Constantly. Without explanation. It got to the point that she came off as disrespectful, from my perspective. She is also quite judgmental. And she's not "like other girls," I guess.
Duke was a refreshing male protagonist in some ways since he enjoys romance novels, but it became a little too much. He was also weird.
The writing was very descriptive, yet there were certain dialogues or situations that added nothing to the narrative.
I ended up skipping pages.