2.5 stars (rounded up)

This book was fine but not as whimsical as I expected. The curio shop was not actually magical it was unfortunately only filled with some valuable antiques they sold for cash (of course). And the seemingly ageless cat that had always been at the shop/family ancestral home was never explained. And the book was mostly about the three half sisters cleaning out the dusty old shop and reconnecting with each other while completing a scavenger hunt and party planning as were the rules of the will their weird old dad left them. But the focus was more on other stuff I didn't particularly care about like having babies and property law. It was also very long and had POVs from all three sisters. If it was more tightly written and didn't dedicate so much to, like, housing and leases and focused more on the whimsy it would've been better, I think.

Also, it starts with a FUNERAL because it's Christmas (or winter solstice, whichever). Of course.

I am a mood reader at heart. I really tried with this one, but it just wasn't for me. That does not mean that someone else will not love it!

Sweet and endearing story about 3 sisters. Perfectly atmospheric and a cozy Christmas read. Very enjoyable novel.

This story had a weird setup but once it got going, it was amazing. I laughed at some of the most amazing people descriptions and found myself constantly texting my friend little quotes telling her this book needed to be on her TBR pronto. The characters were the fantastic and the town made me want to go live there. I hope somewhere this is a place that behaves this way for its residents.

#arc
#netgalley
#adecembertoremember

This is such a cozy winter read- exactly what you look for from Holiday Queen Jenny Bayliss! Three sisters (Maggie, Simone, and Star) are not on great terms, but are brought back together by their father’s passing. What ensues is them working together for the first time in ages to get their inheritance, and family, back. I liked this and the small town setting- it reminded me of a lower stakes, Christmas Inheritance Games. Primarily women’s fiction, this book does have some romance and a ton of love, including found family. I recommend this story with a hot chocolate and Hallmark playing in the background. It’s a holiday success for me!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

This is my fourth book by Bayliss, and I have grown to expect her stories to be charming and heartwarming, featuring great quirky characters. A December to Remember lived up to all my expectations, and I was so happy I got to know the North sisters.

The North sisters had not seen each other much in recent years, but were reunited for their father's funeral. They reconvened in the town where they summered with their father and reveled in being "the summer sisters". Though they only spent one month a year together, they relished those days. Then they grew older and grew apart. Not to worry because their father had plans to rebuild the bond between his girls. His last will and testament came with some interesting stipulations which would force the girls to work together.

Needless to say, completing these tasks was no easy feat, but each arduous day brought Maggie, Simone, and Star closer to each other. The other perk was that that challenges were fun to watch.

The dynamic and growing bond between the North sisters was my favorite part of the story, but there were many other things to enjoy. There were sweet romances, personal growth, interesting history, a magical cat (?), a winter festival, and the most charming town packed with fantastic residents.

I expect many people will want to move to Rowan Thorp once they read this book. Besides the town sounding utterly picturesque, it is inhabited by some of the most warm and wonderful people. I loved the way they rallied, time and time again, for the North sisters. I adored the idea that if you called, they would come. It made me all warm and fuzzy for sure.

Bayliss has once again captured my heart with her latest book. The trifecta was achieved - I laughed, I swooned, I smiled, and I was left feeling rather happy and festive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.

I really look forward to books by Jenny Bayliss because they have the right amount of atmosphere to transport me to the Christmas spirit. This book was a bit different than her prior work as it focused on three sisters but I found that to be such a wonderful story. Truly a great read.

A sweet and funny story of three sisters rediscovering their love for one another while trying to complete tasks left to them by their father. You don't need to wait until winter to read this one, it's so atmospheric it will take you there even in the height of summer.

3.25/5 stars! The cover of this book was so cute. I liked the premise of the story, but it felt a little too heavy on the women's lit angle and a little light on the romance for my tastes. The sisters were strong and spunky but they didn't feel super individual to me. I did find it to be a sweet read and it ready pretty quickly for a book over 400 pages.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a good story about sisterhood, the bonds made in childhood and how to reconnect after their father dies and sets them a challenge they need to complete together to be able to receive their inheritance which 2 of the sisters desperately need. There is romance but it mostly focuses on the sister’s relationship together and the romance is secondary but cute. Also the town the book is stet in is the cutest and I love how they band together to help Maggie not lose her home and business which was awesome. The end result of the challenge their father gave them was to resurrect the solstice festival which they accomplish by the seat of their pants and with all the help from the townspeople. A very heartwarming story and a perfect read for the holiday season.

Thanks to Putnam and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A December to Remember is exactly the cozy, warm tale to get to in the holiday spirit and warm your heart. I love Jenny Bayliss' books, because they are full of well constructed characters, and have this overarching wintry vibe. This book is no different.

As their father's last wish, three estranged sisters have to work together to revive a community festival in this small English village. The small town is Gilmore Girls-esque, where everyone is connected to one another and residents have the perfect mix of skills and talents to come together and make this winter solstice festival a success. I loved how the sisters slowly worked their way back to one another and rekindled their relationships.

There are several heavy topics that readers should note beforehand. This book is emotional but not maudlin or overwrought. I wanted good things for all of the characters and loved the ending. My only criticism is that it felt a bit long; some of the middle chapters could have been trimmed a bit just to keep things moving. But I'll take a little extra time in a Jenny Bayliss world any day, rather than too little!

This is the PERFECT holiday story!! As always, Jenny Bayliss' writing and storytelling are topnotch. Her books always have so much love and friendship, reading them is like a warm hug from an old friend. You will not want to miss out on this one!!

Three feuding half-sisters reunite at their late father's quaint antique shop. In a heartwarming holiday season, they discover their inheritance comes with quirky challenges they'd rather avoid. Yet, as they navigate comical escapades and small-town surprises, love begins to bloom, revealing the true meaning of family.

This took me a little bit to get into. There’s a lot of detail in the beginning and it was confusing which sister was which. Among the sisters, Maggie stood out as my favorite, and her connection with Joe motivated me to keep reading. The book offers a mix of romance, humor, heartfelt conversations, and touching relationships. However, I found Bayliss' other Christmas novel, "The Twelve Dates of Christmas," more enjoyable.

Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Perfect for you if you like:
Family reconnecting
Multiple main characters
Heartwarming village celebrations

Similar to:
A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
The Switch by Beth O-Leary (not a holiday story)
Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon (not a holiday story)

⛔️fade to black romances
⚠️explicit language, sexual content, death of father, infertility

The three sisters come together for their father's will reading. They used to get together in the summer when growing up (they had different moms and he didn't marry any of them), but they've drifted apart over the years. They find out that they have to complete some challenges in order to get their inheritance.

I liked the story and the characters. I thought it flowed well and it kept my interest.

I was hesitant to read this book based on the premise, but wholeheartedly enjoyed every bit of it. Is it predictable? Yes, at times, but overall it just feels like a warm blanket on a cold day.

Meet three very different sisters born to the same father. Each lived with and raised by their mothers but they spent one month every summer together at their father’s home in Rowan Thorpe. When he passes away and leaves a scavenger hunt with requirement to restart the town’s winter solstice, the sisters fighting needs to stop long enough to work together. It is a heartwarming story about how important family and community really is in our lives as well as forgiveness. I think that has been lost in general lately, so I really clung to the rekindling in this book. It has the perfect holiday setting with some romance for each sister. It is the perfect book to get you in the mood for the holidays.

A big thank you to NetGalley & GP Putnam & Sons for ARC copy.

In order to get their estranged father’s inheritance, half sisters Maggie, Simone and Star must work together through a series of challenges to bring back the town’s Winter Solstice festival. This felt like a classic British holiday read that leaned heavier on the women’s fiction side. I loved seeing the three sisters reconnect and work through real-life problems all while navigating their own romantic relationships.

The premise of this book is good!
I just thought it felt a little slow at time.

Overall, not a bad read. Would recommend if you liked her previous books!!

This was a lovely book! I enjoyed the story of these 3 sisters coming together. Even though the terms of their eccentric father's will forced them together, they made the best of it. The writing and character development were good, as well as the descriptions of village life.

This was a slow-burn holiday read for me. Set in England, three estranged sisters withe 3 different mothers come together for their father’s funeral. For such an absentee father, the step-sisters are able to ultimately find a way to bridge their divide and come together to grant his dying wish. The pace was a bit too slow for me, but overall this was an enjoyable, cozy, winter read.

Thank you #NetGalley for thr ARC

She’s done it again. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Jenny Bayliss is the queen of the holiday novel. This book is like drinking hot cocoa in front of a fire after a long day of sledding. It is so warm, inviting and nostalgic.

The story follows the three North sisters after their father (a philandering Albus Dumbledore-like character) dies and sends them on a hunt for hidden monopoly pieces and eventually tasks them with reinstating the town’s winter solstice celebration before they can recieve their inheritance.

The sisters, Maggie, Simone, and Star; all have different moms and only spent one magical month together with their father each summer. Each sister has their own issues: whether it’s struggling with a pregnancy or grabbling with the next steps of a relationship, and Bayliss handles each of these issues masterfully while also keeping the entire story hopeful.

I have loved all of Bayliss’ books and they’ve all been such different stories, but the charm, wit, and heart carry through each of them. I loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Five easy stars. I’m a Jenny Bayliss fan girl for life!