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A December to Remember
Author: Jenny Bayliss
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: September 26, 2023

A December to Remember is written by one of my favorite authors, and she did a great job with this charming tale of magic, fantasy, mixed families, love, and understanding. The story centers on three half-sisters, Maggie, Simone, and Star, who share a father who is lovingly known as a “randy” local Gandolfi-ish magic man and raconteur, Augustus. To say Augustus was not a traditional father would be a massive understatement. But he DID invite all three daughters for one month each summer to stay with him and experience his magical lifestyle. When he dies, his legacy to them is a challenge that they must solve together. This is the gist of the story: three unlikely and different half-sisters must work together to hunt for “treasures” and, once found, reintroduce a winter solstice festival. It is an enchanting story with lots of (mostly talked about) sex (especially by the deceased Dad’s many girlfriends) and how similar these sisters are in real life. It seems like Dad left the best life lessons to his girls when he is not there to fix things for them, and they realize that their affections are genuine. This will be a huge hit. It’s so sweet and charming; I lovingly consider it a wizarding (he wasn’t really a wizard), incredible Hallmark-ish family story with some unusual characters. So, technically, it's a lot better than Hallmark. Please read it. #magic #antiquities #ADecemberToRemember #riddles #charms #sisters #family #love #future #smallTownEngland #Christmas #hope #Holiday #romance #Fiction #womensFiction #wintersolstice #empowerment @netgalley @putnambooks #jfputnamsons#book #bookstagram #bookreviewer @jennibayliss #jennybayliss
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Putnam Books, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: September 26, 2023.

The epitome of the perfect cozy read to get you in the mood for family togetherness and Winter!

I absolutely adored the characters and their growth as they came together to complete their father's wishes. The mystery of the shop, tender-hearted romances, and quaint town made this a five star read for me!

I loved how relatable each person in the book became, the more I got to read about them. It gave me Stars Hollow vibes, with the town rallying to support the sisters as they each overcame personal obstacles for the perfect happy ending that made me want to give the book a hug!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read this digital advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Thank you for the chance to read this early! This is the story of 3 estranged sisters (share the same father, but have different mothers), who come together after their father dies. There’s a lot of family drama (and side characters) that they have to work through along with the stipulations of their father’s will. A fun holiday read!

I found this book enjoyable but just a tiny bit trite. However, the comedy included more than made up for that. Lots of one liners and just funny quotes from all the characters. It would be nice to read about the other townspeople here outside of the North families.

Overall a very cozy and comfortable read.

i got about halfway before i couldn't keep up with the brit of it all. i don't usually read UK authors

This was a cute Christmas story with not a lot of substance. I really enjoy her writing but I've found her books to be pretty forgettable

This book takes us on a journey of a dad, 3 sisters and a close knit community. The title A December to Remember is the perfect depiction of this book. This book is less about Christmas and more about family, community and love. It is emotional, inspiring, uplifting and joyful. I wasn’t sure about this book towards the middle. However, by the end of the book I loved the characters, the community and adored the family.

There is sapphic representation and some heavy topics within the book that were well done in my opinion. However, due to the heavy topics check trigger warnings beforehand.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Jenny Bayliss for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!

This was a beautiful story of three estranged sisters whose father recently passed away. Their father had set up a scavenger hunt for them in hopes of bringing them all back together. 

Their father also put into his will that they had to restore the town’s Winter Solstice festival. They had to work together in order to completely inherit the estate. 

I love seeing these sisters get close again even with everything going on in their lives. 

This is a perfect winter story to read by a cozy fireplace. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is the definition of cozy. If you have read any of Jenny Bayliss’ work, then be prepared for another work of art! Such a joy to get to know The North Women. I highly recommend and will most definitely be adding this to my physical book shelf upon release!

What a delightful read! This is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter night under a blanket with a cup of tea and a warm fire or candle burning.

It’s a story of three sisters and the changes to their lives brought on by learning about the strange inheritance from their father, who they only saw in his village in the summer when they were growing up. One of the charges of his will is to set up a winter solstice festival, and a lot of the plot happens as they try to quickly make the event happen in the little village.

I adored the quirky villagers and their sense of connection and community. (The crochet group was hilarious.) The sisters were all so unique and it was interesting to see how their relationships changed over the course of the book. It got a little tricky at times with so many villager names to remember who was who, but overall easy to follow.

The story is about sisters, family, friendships, heartache, trust, community, and also the winter season! It’s funny (I laughed out loud at times), sweet, and has a little bit of a mystery and a love story here and there. Her descriptive writing makes it easy to picture the little village and the wonderment of winter.

It was a joy to read and I recommend it, especially around the winter solstice!

Thank you to the author (Jenny Bayliss), the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

I was so happy to receive this newest book from Jenny Bayliss! I love her work; her books are always entertaining! Save this one for when you are ready to cuddle up by the fire and fall in love with a small town in the UK and three sisters! It was everything I didn’t know I needed. I can never resist a Christmas book, no matter what time of year it is.

Four stars. Wonderful characters and plot. I love Jenny's work. Will be recommending and reading anything in the future from this author. Thank you for the title.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this early copy.
This story centers around three half sisters whose father passes away. He was an eclectic man, a wanderer of sorts, and posthumously he sends them on a journey for their inheritance. Each sister has their own story and it was nice to learn about each character and see how even after death their father was able to bring them together.
It had great family and relationship vibes, I just wish it had more Christmas vibes since it appeared to be marketed this way.

This is a great book to get you in a cozy space. It has all the vibes-snow, holiday celebrations, food, romance and reuniting with family. Perfect to get you in the holiday spirit.
This story follows three North sisters, Maggie, Star and Simone, who gather together for the reading of their fathers will. They all have different mothers and only saw each other for 3 Weeks every summer growing up as their father, Augustus, was a traveling collector who then came back and brought his treasures to his curio store. In his will, his last request is that they work together to through a Winter Solstice Festival in order to get their inheritance. The sisters, who are all very different, and are going through some very different things in their lives, have to figure out how to put aside those differences and work together to honor their fathers last wishes. There were lots of side characters and the town itself was one! I really enjoyed seeing the what the festival ended up becoming, but it was even more about the evolution of their relationships.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I thought this was an absolute cozy wintery delight of a book. Probably my favorite of this author’s. Yes, it was a sweet holiday read, but it also dealt with grief, infertility, financial struggles and family trauma. I really loved each sister and enjoyed seeing their strained relationships with each other get better and stronger, especially Simone and Star. The town and people of Rowan Thorp were absolutely adorable and how they came through for the sisters time and time again was so beautiful. The Women’s Institute, in particular, were an absolute HOOT. The romances were very sweet and I loved how each partner really loved the sisters for who they truly were while also pushing them to be the best versions of themselves. My only complaints: I would have liked more backstory or just story on their dad since he was the whole reason they were doing the winter solstice and also with how his absence in their lives clearly affected them. Maybe a few flashbacks or something. Also, there were a few times I thought it was a bit slow moving and overly detailed when it didn’t need to be. Overall though, really heartwarming, funny and cozy wintery read that I definitely recommend!
TW: infertility, death, addiction

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

A December to Remember is a book about 3 sisters coming together after their father’s death. The sisters didn’t grow up together as they all had different mothers, however they would spend 4 weeks together during the summer with their father. They’re forced to work together to search for hidden monopoly houses and then to plan a winter solstice for the town. During this time together, they reconnect, mend hurt feelings, learn more about their father, find new love and strengthen existing love! She addressed topics of infertility, abandonment issues and everyday life struggles of adulthood. I enjoyed this story and loved the message behind it. The characters were unique in their own ways and brought depth to the storyline. I would recommend this book to friends.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this is my first read by this author and i was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book. it will be released soon and is a great holiday read. it is about three estranged half-sisters, and unfortunately it takes the death of their father to bring them back together. drawn back to the small town that they used to always spend together each summer with him for his funeral, they start to plan the greatest winter solstice event to carry out their father's dying wish. there is definitely a lot of family drama as each of them are going through their own personal issues, but it was nice to see them come together and try to be there for each other. thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC. i enjoyed this book and will look for other books by this author in the future.

If you can’t wait until it’s cold enough to curl up under a blanket & read your favorite book while snow falls outside, then 'A December To Remember' is a must-read!

Meet the North sisters. Their father, Augustus North, was always driven by wanderlust, just like generations of Norths before him. He journeyed far and wide, amassing a collection of antiques for his charming curio shop. When Augustus passes away, he leaves his daughters with a unique task: if they want their inheritance, they must resurrect the Winter Solstice Celebration in the quaint village of Rowan Thorpe. Maggie, the eldest North sister, has called Rowan Thorpe her home her entire life, and is currently concealing her impending eviction from everyone she knows. Simone, a city-dwelling physiotherapist, yearns to become a mother. In her pursuit, she finds herself drifting away from her partner. And then there's Star, a wanderer like her father, with no place to truly call home.

This book transported me straight to the heart of Rowan Thorpe and filled me with the magic of the holiday season. It exudes a warmth and coziness that never feels superficial. I loved witnessing the sisters' reconnection with each other and with their charming village. A December To Remember' warmly welcomes you into its world.

I love all of this author's books they feel like finding a perfectly warm soft sweater. She is able to broach large topics like infertility, loss of loved ones, grief with such care that it still makes you feel warm and cozy! Even though I read this in summer I feel like it is a great book for the holidays while not being overly Christmasy.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This magical story of family and finding where you belong will tug at your heartstrings and put you in the holiday spirit.

The story follows three estranged sisters - Star, Simone, and Maggie as they navigate the aftermath of their father’s passing. Their father, Arthur, was incredibly old fashioned and left his antique shop and properties to the three sisters. However, to access them they need to work together and fulfill two quests.

I really enjoyed reading about each sister’s story as the POV changed throughout the book. Star is a bit of a hippie and after getting out of a bad relationship, has no place to stay and no job to support herself. Simone and her wife are struggling to have a baby. And Maggie, the oldest, is being evicted and is juggling two kids, a small business, her wayward sisters, and Joe - her much younger boyfriend.

Seeing these sisters come together was a lot of fun and I found the book to be very humorous.

Thank you, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.