5/5 stars: Bayliss has once again brought all the cozy holiday feels, in particular winter solstice, with her newest British Holiday novel that weaves in the POV's of estranged half-sisters. As always Bayliss' characters are complex yet incredibly likable and the descriptions of the village and it's inhabitants are priceless. Bayliss also manages to not only deliver plenty of swoony romantic vibes and delightful dry, witty British humor but effortlessly balances the heavier topics in the book. Take care; Check the CWs. So cuddle up with your favorite hot drink and grab your coziest blanket and settle in with one of the seasons best books.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Decided to get a head start on holiday books since my reading has been so murder focused lately! This follows a group of estranged sisters brought together by the death of their Santa Clause-esque father. It’s got small town charm, a winter solstice festival, cozy romance… so yes, it’s a Lifetime Christmas movie in novel form and I know I’m not the only one into that kind of thing.

Cozy, charming, delightful.

I especially loved that this is a book set at Christmas focusing on three sisters instead of the usual romantic couple. The North Sisters only saw each other in the summers when they visited their eccentric bohemian father. As they became adults, they grew apart and have been estranged for years. Upon Augustus' death, they have to come together to settle his estate.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I am required by law to disclose this in my review.

Such a good read! This book was like a warm magical hug. I truly felt transported to Rowan Thorp Village. I couldn't put this book down and read it in 2 days. I had to find out what was going to happen. I fell in love with the three main characters and was rooting them on. Read this for a feel good story that takes some twists and turns but is absolutely magical. Four and 1/2 Stars for me. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

Thank you Putnam for the advance copy!

A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss is simply lovely. Following the death of their father, the North sisters - all extremely different in their own way - are sent on a scavenger hunt and then a mission to restart the town’s Winter Solstice festival in order to get their inheritance.

It is a story of family, of sisters, of love, romance and of community. A December to Remember is surprisingly funny, full of shenanigans and soaked in charm.

Read if you like:
• holiday books
• family drama
• cheeky fathers
• charming small towns
• holiday festivities

Spice rating: 🌶️ (closed door)

This was such a heartwarming little story that felt like snuggling up in a warm cozy sweater.

I enjoyed watching the 3 sisters, with very different personalities, find their ways to each other. All three sisters faced different this throughout their lives and pretty much had to manage on their own. To see them come together was so sweet.

Enjoyed this little gem of a book!

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Don't go into this thinking it's a Christmas book. Yes it's December but it's more about winter solstice. It might be.a December to remember but for me, it's not a book to remember. I had a hard time getting to know the sisters, and there were so many side characters, I completely lost interest in the villagers. Each sister has her own love interest but nothing about them really pulled me into the story. This was more a cozy mystery without the mystery. I do like this author and will continue to read her but it's definitely my least favorite of her so far.

Maggie, Simone, and Star all have one thing in common and that is their dad. These half sisters all get together at their dad's place for one month out of the year. They all had a good time in Rowan Thorp while they stayed there for a short period of time. Their dad, Augustus, runs a unique knick-knack shop in town and everyone loves him.

In present times, the sisters do not see each other or contact each other very often as they are all living their own lives. Unfortunately, Augustus passes and this brings all the sisters together as he makes it a point that ALL three sisters must be at the reading of his will. In order to receive their inheritance, the sisters must go through his requests where they uncover a lot of who he really was.

Since it's been years, do the sisters even get along? Can they work together to accomplish all of the Augustus' requests in the will?

This story was cute, but I just couldn't really get into it in the beginning. I enjoyed the overall story and I liked how the book told each of the sister's stories. It was a bit holiday-ish, but not overly.

I was lucky to get an ARC for this magical and heart warming book. It was everything I didn’t know I needed. I read it in 3 days and stayed up far too late last night to finish it because I couldn’t put it down.

A book about 3 “Summer” sisters who are forced back together by the loss of their father but connected by magical and curious requests of his will. In a town that makes you wish you lived there with people who take pride in their community and their people.

A book of love, loss, friendship, life’s hardships, family dynamics and a touch of magic weaved throughout. Maggie, Simone and Star could not be more different but through their curious adventure and untangling of their pasts, they realize they are more alike than they knew. You will fall in love with the town, the community and the sisters with each page.

Add this to your Winter TBR, you won’t regret it. Comes out September 26th!

The setting of this book was lovely!
Sisterhood and family disfunction are some of my favorite things to read about, and this book tells about it so beautifully. Many difficult topics are covered in this book, but it is done in a delicate way that I very much appreciated. A cozy read!

(I would add a content warning for Miscarriage, Cancer, Infertility, Abortion, and drug use mentions.

4.5 stars – Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for this digital advanced copy of A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss, in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out Sept. 26, 2023.

Last December I read my first Jenny Bayliss book, A Season for Second Chances, and I adored it, so I was delighted to learn I was approved to read her newest novel.

A December to Remember follows three estranged half-sisters who share a father, the eccentric Augustus North. Maggie, the oldest, runs a grocery shop in their hometown of Rowan Thorp. Simone, the middle child, is a strong-willed physical therapist in London. Star, the youngest, is a free spirit finding her way. When they learn their father has passed, they reunite in Rowan Thorp for his funeral and the reading of his will. To receive their inheritance, including the sale of Augustus’ curios shop, they will have to work together to complete a few tasks he had set for them.

Despite reading this in the height of summer, it completely put me in the holiday spirit. The story doesn’t specifically revolve around Christmas, but the solstice, which provides its own brand of magic. The plot left me feeling as festive as ever.

In the best way possible, reading this was like listening to a “sleep story” you’d find on a meditation app. I felt like I was there in the cozy curios shop, in a small countryside town that’s covered in a blanket of snow. In short, it calmed me to my core. I would love to live in that world, which is the main reason I love Jenny Bayliss’ writing. She’s the queen of cozy holiday reads.

One of my favorite elements of the story was Star’s mission to “find magic everywhere she goes.” It’s such a lovely thought, and it’s something I’d like to apply in my own life. Additionally, the strained relationship between the adult siblings is something I found relatable and realistic. It’s difficult to maintain relationships when you grow up and apart.

This is a book I would buy as a gift for someone who loves cozy reads around the holidays. It’s light on romance but heavy on vibes. I plan to read the rest of Jenny Bayliss’ books. Is it December yet?

3.5🌟 This book kicked off my holiday reading and definitely got me in the Christmas spirit! Although not directly centered on Christmas, this book follows the 3 North sisters as they are tasked with throwing a winter solstice celebration in their dad’s hometown after his passing.

I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the sisters— they all had different moms and would spend 1 month together each summer with their dad. They have very different personalities, and I liked seeing the challenges and the victories of them working together.

This book had a lot of themes that I love— family, love, small town community banding together, not so secret love.. it really was a feel good story. It took me longer than expected to get through it, hence the 3.5🌟 - it wasn’t demanding me to find out what was going to happen next, but I would still recommend adding this one to your holiday TBR especially if you’re a fan of Jenny Bayliss!

I really enjoyed "A December to Remember"! Half sisters Maggie, Simone and Star, also known as the "Summer Sisters", have come back together in their Dad's small hometown for his funeral. Their father left them a scavenger hunt and list of tasks they have to complete together to unlock their inheritance. It was such a cute story mixed with infertility, mid life struggles and family secrets. The book could have been about 100 pages shorter, but I still highly recommend.

I went into this one thinking it was gonna be just another Christmas book. It surprised me in being more of a winter-y one instead, revolving around three half-sisters who are reviving the village’s winter solstice festival. Maggie, Simone, and Star couldn’t be any more different and only saw each other in the summer which they would spend with their fair weather father.

The book opens up at their father’s funeral, and they’re all dealing with the loss in their own way. His will brings them together and helps heal old wounds they’d sustained over the years and they even find romance along the way. It was a very enjoyable book.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

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! I loved "A Season for Second Chances" so I was really excited to try this one by Jenny Bayliss.

Simone, Maggie, and Star couldn't be more different. They all have different mothers, but the same quirky, unusual father. They grew up differently but spent summers together. After time apart, they are a bit estranged and haven't seen each other yet as busy adult life got in the way. After their father passes, they are tasked to work together to reinstate the Winter Solstice Festival in their town of Rowan Thorpe.

This lovely, cozy story will pull at your heartstrings as these sisters work things out with life, love, kids, jobs, and everything in between. It is a story of friendship, sisterhood, and a community coming together. The setting was just lovely and the perfect backdrop for a winter story. I'm officially ready for cold weather now!

Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and the author for this ARC!

4,5 stars! Cute, cute, cute! This is a hallmark movie about sisterhood and I am here for it. Estranged sister come back to their small town to throw a winter solstice celebration.

The main star of this book is relationship between the sisters. They are so different and the way they learn to support and love each other is just so beautiful. They all have their own problems, but come together nicely. This really isnt a holiday romance book, but more about family, belonging and heritage.

Yes, there is romance, but its subtle and more grown up. The sisters are in their late 30s/early 40s and are dealing with appropriate hurdles when it comes to love. Infertility, a past of toxic relationships, loving after loss, new relationships while parenting adult children are just some of the themes. It was just fitting and a nice change compared to other romance books.

Also the way the winter solstice is depicted here 🙌 immaculate. Cozy, woodsy vibes, home decoration and all about community.

Overall this was a perfect christmas book for anyone wanting something a little different. Very cute, very easy to read.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Did I read my first December romance in August? Did this book make me want to start celebrating the Winter Soltice? Yes & yes.

Jenny Bayliss’ A December to Remember is a story of sisterhood & community & it all happens when the father of three distant sisters dies & his will stipulates that they spend time together doing two things before they can secure their inheritance.

Focusing on sisterhood, this book shows how people can come back together & how vulnerability is a big part of what allows that to happen.

Each sister also has a romantic relationship they’re working through / starting in the book.

This book addresses quite a lot of serious topics & throughout it all is the community of Rowan Thorp which the sisters are becoming more enmeshed in. The town is adorable, the antiques store is some place I’d like to visit & I love how inclusive it is. That’s maybe my favorite part of the book—watching the various residents’ contributions to their town & to the winter Soltice.

I’d recommend this to anyone wanting a sweet story of sisters coming back together & allowing others in, of relationships that they’re choosing to make stronger.

3.5⭐️. Out 09/26.

CWs: Cancer. Father was absent. Infertility. Miscarriage. Abortion reference. Former boyfriend is stalking a sister on page; former boyfriend’s drug use.

[ID: Jess’ white hand holds the ebook in front of a roll top desk, a Van Gogh sunflower print, a vase of flowers & a yellow wall.]

A December to Remember was such a great book! I think this is my new favorite winter read. The plot follows three estranged sisters who are fulfilling their dad's wishes to get access to his will. They have to first find a bunch of monopoly houses in his shop and then plan and run a Winter Solstice party. The various challenges bring the sisters together and we really get to see what they are all about. It really works on so many levels. I found myself laughing and crying right along with them. I do not think there is anything about this story that I did not enjoy other than the awful bossy sister Simone., but even she comes around in the end. This book is awesome, read it!

I received a copy of this from netgalley in exchange for a review.

I thought this was going to be a Christmas romance, but although it had some romance to it, the overall story was one of three drastically different half-sisters whose father they only barely knew just passed away and in his will gave them two tasks to accomplish together. For the sisters, Maggie, Simone, and Star, who previously spent a month each summer together while children, and who have since grown apart - to the point where there is actual anger between some of the sisters for things that have happened, this seems like it might be an impossible task.

I ended up really enjoying the stories of how the sisters came to get along with one another and learn to love each other again, with the help of their deceased father and the small, tight-knit community in which he owned a curio store and other property. Each sister had their own personal troubles that they ended up working through successfully with the help of each other, and they, along with everyone in the town, were able to successfully complete the tasks their father set for them in his will, to bring back the winter solstice celebration in the town.

I kind of loved the town most of all as a character. I for one would love to visit there.

💫eARC Review💫

“Three bickering half sisters.
One unique antiques shop.
The coziest holiday season of their lives”

Augustus North’s funeral kicks off this “more than a Hallmark channel” holiday book. He’s gone to live in his camper van in the sky.

His three estranged daughters, a bunch of hippies, townsfolk, friends and lovers from all over the world, and a (possibly) 70 year old? cat in attendance. And then comes the “will reading”, an eccentric practice in itself with even more eccentric demands of his daughters:

He wants them to work together to pull off a Winter Solstice event reminiscent of yesteryear. Which might not be a problem for some sisters except that these three are estranged, very estranged.

Having been raised full time by their mothers (each has a different one) and spending only 4 weeks each summer together in Rowan Thorp during their childhoods, there is a lot of work to be done to pull off a feat this big.

Step 1, find the monopoly houses hidden in Augustus’s shop…

Featuring:
Maggie - a struggling single mother of 2 and the oldest North sister.
Simone - an acerbic physiotherapist with a chip on her shoulder. She’s a middle child for sure.
Star - everyone’s (except for Simone’s) favorite hippie wild child, rounding out the trio. (Read the full book just to find our Star’s whole name, I beg you).

With a cast of supporting characters that will make you laugh out loud, anecdotes about the North family, a keen eye towards sibling bonds, and an exploration of small town charm set in the English country, Jenny Bayliss expertly weaves a story that is equal parts heartwarming and exploratory with the holidays as a theme but not a focus.

With an eye towards community, family bonds, and growth and a full cast of strong women this is WAY MORE than a Christmas Romance. In fact - Christmas morning is nowhere to be read. If you know me you know I LOVE a sister book, banter and good one liners, small town charm, UK settings, and a touch of romance. If you do too check this one out!

Thank you @netgalley @gpputnamsons & @jennybayliss for the opportunity to read in advance !