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!

Festive, heartwarming, with charming characters and more depth than your usual holiday read. Look forward to recommending as holidays approach!!

Loved this! Fun, festive, heartwarming, with great characters and some depth. Great holiday read! Will definitely be recommending for holiday reads!

This book is pure delight! I loved this author’s past books & this one did not disappoint. I loved learning about these three sisters & having them find their way back to each other after their aloof father passes away. I also liked how the main characters weren’t in their twenties!! Hooray for interesting & complicated characters in their late thirties, early fourties! This is one novel I will recommend

This enchanting book is the perfect companion for creating a cozy, heartwarming atmosphere. It encapsulates all the quintessential elements—snow, holiday festivities, delectable food, romance, and the joy of reuniting with family, making it an ideal choice to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit.

The narrative unfolds around three remarkable North sisters—Maggie, Star, and Simone. Bound not by blood, but by their father Augustus, they reunite for the reading of his will. These sisters, each with different mothers, shared only three brief summer weeks growing up, as their father was a roving collector who would return with treasures for his curio store. In his final wishes, Augustus tasks them with a unique challenge: orchestrating a Winter Solstice Festival to secure their inheritance.

These sisters, with their distinct personalities and navigating various life challenges, must find a way to set aside their differences and collaborate to honor their father's last request. Amidst a cast of vibrant side characters and a charming town that feels like a character itself, the true magic lies in the transformation of their relationships.

While the development of the festival is a captivating journey in itself, the heart of the story lies in the beautiful evolution of the bond between the North sisters.

I absolutely loved this story! This is the first book I have read by Jenny Bayliss but I can tell you after this book it won't be the last. This book has a little bit of everything. If you like families reuniting, small town romance, celebrating Christmas, and wraps you in a big hug then this is the book for you. I HIGHLY recommend this book for the holiday season!


Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Jenny Bayliss always delivers light easy December reads, full of family and community trials and triumphs. I look forward to these seasonal reads as they get me in that holiday/wintery mood and this one doesn't disappoint along those lines. The best parts of the story are around the enchanting town, the bickering sisters, the meddling but well meaning townsfolk, as they plan a winter solstice celebration at the request of their beloved deceased father. Loved the setting of the grocery, Augustus’ curio shoppe and his garden. This isn’t my favorite Bayliss book but was a satisfying easy read.

A 3,5 rating for me. Super cute story of 3 estranged half sisters who are brought together after their father's death. The sisters return home to Rowan Thorp (what a cute name for a town) - for the reading of their father's will. They have been tasked little challenges to be completed with each other as a family. This book is about finding your family again, reconnecting relationships, the small town romances and Christmas holiday celebrations, The story gives off all the holiday winter vibes and this is my second book that mentions a Winter Solstice Festival - I wonder if this a celebration on the other side of the world that I don't know about. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Jenny Bayliss did it again with another cozy holiday story with a side of romance. I love the details about the antique shop and how homey the town felt. All 3 sisters dining their way back to each other in their own ways was wonderful. If you loved Twelve Dates of Christmas this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of this book.

A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss is the holiday book you did not know you really needed. Three very different half sisters come together at the father, Augustus’ home for his funeral, and to fulfill his last requests of them to be given their inheritance. They have not seen each other in many years and we walk with them on their journey to find each and other and find themselves.

This fascinating character driven story was thoughtful, interesting, and delightfully explored what it means to a be a sister. The sisters were so different and I loved watching them find common ground, change and grow. I felt like I saw a little of me in each of them.

The story spoke to my heart and I know want to travel to Rowan Thorp. (Please don’t tell me it is imaginary) I recommend A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

Three half sisters must work together in order to claim their family inheritance from their estranged father. The sisters are all very different and facing major personal struggles that they slowly begin to share with one another. It's a heartwarming, holiday read that tackles a lot of major issues, and as a bonus it comes with planning a seasonal festival in a small idyllic town.

I found the story to be a little slow at times. I think a lot of chapters could have been cut or shortened. The opening funeral took up nearly five chapters - -which was a lot. I didn't connect with Augustus at all and I didn't necessarily understand the daughters' connections to him or feel a genuine loss. Everyone he knew loved him, but as a reader I didn't like him all that much.

The sisters didn't seem to have their own unique voices and I could really only tell them apart by their names (not dialogue or actions). The overall pacing of the story was a little off and I think maybe there were too many main characters that the story followed (three sisters, spouses, children, romantic interests, townsfolk) -- which might have worked better if the characters had their own voices.

That said, I'm genuinely a HUGE Jenny Bayliss fan and have absolutely loved her previous books. The previous ones were more romance focused so maybe that is why I just didn't connect with this on the same level.

I loved this book!! The story of sisters finding their way back to one another and their charming hometown was holiday perfection. It was dreamy and cozy but also had great substance in it's relational story telling. If you loved Bayliss's Twelve Dates of Christmas or A Season for Second Chances, you'll love this book!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary fiction📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A cozy winter read with a side of romance.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Holiday reads
Small town
Hallmark vibes
Relatable characters
Found family
Scavenger hunts
Heavy topics
Heartwarming stories

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Three sisters were in their late 30s-40s

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
A little slow at times

A December to Remember is the definition of cozy!!! Set in a charming town with quirky residents and an old shop full of treasures. Yes, please! I have read some of the author’s previous books but I think this one has been my absolute favorite so far! It is the perfect holiday book to get you ready for the upcoming holiday season!

This wintry, women’s fiction novel was an enjoyable tale. I adored the premise of 3 half sisters coming together for the reading of their father’s will only to discover that they have to complete a certain number of obstacles to receive their inheritance. The sisters’ history of spending one month together each summer while staying with their father was the foundation for their complicated relationship as adults, and I appreciated the journey these three go on to grow closer and work through past issues. The setting is lovely and captivating, and I only wish this book had a smaller page count, and it really would have tightened the writing and produced a more compelling read. As is, I did find myself wandering in concentration at times and easily putting this down without an urge to pick it back up for days at a time. Overall, a satisfying read, though.