Emily Stone writes books which t tend to bring up strong emotions in me, Always, in December anyone? That was a cry-o-rama for me. So thankful for Kleenex, just saying. I enjoy her characters, how they are dealing with tough issues, and find comfort from those in their lives whether that be a longtime friend, family member, or someone they have just met. I was so excited to get a copy of A Winter Wish. I adore the cover. Seriously, how cute is that?

Lexie is shocked when her estranged father passes away and leaves her half of his holiday travel business. Even more shocking is that he leaves the other half of the company to Theo, a young executive who worked for him. You know there is going to be angst. I knew there was going to be chemistry and with a holiday travel company involved, I knew there were going to be fabulous trips mentioned. The trips mentioned in this book did in fact sound fantastic!

While I enjoyed the characters and the enemies to loves trope but sadly, I didn't love this one. I so wanted to do so. This is not a bad book by any means. I found it to be quite enjoyable, but there was a little bit of a spark that was missing which would have garnered a higher star rating from me.

What worked for me was how the author showed Lexie's feelings about her father, the estrangement, feeling abandoned, while wanting to learn the ropes. She had a way with people such as the woman traveling alone for the first time, which I appreciated.

While A Winter Wish was enjoyable and a worthwhile read, I didn't love it. We can't love them all, but I will still be on the lookout for any new books that Emily Stone writes as I have loved the other books, she wrote that I have read.

I've been positively wrecked by this author's previous books and so of course she has been an auto buy author for me since Always, in December And I couldn't wait to dive into A Winter Wish.

A fun, enemies to lovers premise - Lexie is left half of her estranged father's travel company, the other half going to his collegue turned friend Theo, the will indicating they have to run the company together for a year. The two get off on the wrong foot, but when forced proximity enters the chat on a work trip, can they deny their chemistry anymore?

All in all this book was fine. It didn't pull at my heartstrings and have all the feels that I was eexpecting from this author. There were a number of what felt like unresolved story lines (the half sister, both of their mothers, Theo's closeness with her father, her relationship with her father etc.) It felt like the book was fairly surface level all things considered, and I'm a little bummed i didn't need to break out the tissues.

The romance felt believable and I did love rooting for Lexie and Theo throughout the book but overall I was hoping for more. While this one overall missed the mark for me, that doesn't mean I won't be first in line for the next one!!


Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Lexie is working as a nanny in the Alps when she gets the news that her estranged father passed and she needs to return to the UK. Lexie has had a complicated relationship with her father for many years after he left her and her mother for the woman he had an affair and daughter with, starting a lifetime of letdown. Lexie is shocked when Richard's will is read and she has inherited half of his travel company, with the other half going to his employee Theo. Lexie and Theo must work together for one year in order to be able to sell off the company, and things aren't off to a great start when the two clash over their differing perceptions of the late Richard. However, as the year goes on and Theo and Lexie start to realize they're more alike than they realize, their partnership might just extend beyond business.

I really liked this book! Emily Stone writes such cozy stories that are centered around the festive season, with a splash of romance, but their central plot tends to be more about finding oneself and confronting difficult emotions, and this was no different! I loved Lexie's journey of acceptance towards her father, her sister, and herself as she navigated inheriting Richard's travel company and returning home from her far-flung adventures. I loved how Lexie and Theo's relationship grew and how they really came to understand each other. This was a sweet story and though it wasn't solely focused on the romance or Christmas itself, it's very cozy and I'd recommend it for the festive season!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine/Dell for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a heartwarming holiday read! Lexie inherits half of her estranged father’s travel company and has to work with grumpy Theo to keep the company afloat. They are complete opposites with a shared love of travel. The tension comes right off the page and keeps you reading to find out when they finally give in to the chemistry. There are multiple Christmas travel spots highlighted throughout the book as part of Lexie’s journey learning about what her father has built with his company, which I love and want to visit every single spot!. There’s enemies to lover. There’s love. And there’s self discovery! A great combination of tropes. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Winter Wish was such a heartwarming, emotional journey that completely pulled me in. Lexie and Theo's story is a beautiful blend of love, loss, and finding your way through the unexpected. The tension between them is palpable from the start, and I loved watching their dynamic shift from barely tolerating each other to something much deeper.

What stood out to me was how travel played such a magical role in their journey. Through planning trips and exploring Europe together, their walls slowly came down, and it was such a joy to witness. Lexie's struggle with her father's abandonment hit hard, and her path toward accepting his faults and finding forgiveness really tugged at my heartstrings. His letter to her!! Aww!

That said, Lexie's habit of running away from conflict did get a bit frustrating at times, but I appreciated how the secondary characters like Fran and Ange added layers to her growth. By the end, I was proud of how far Lexie had come. If you love slow burn, emotional romances - you know Emily Stone won't let you down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I have read all of Stone's novels and this one was my least favorite. It didn't feel particularly original, the characters were bland, there was almost zero chemistry between Theo and Lexie, and the pacing was almost unbearably slow. I did enjoy all of the descriptions of the different cities and trips throughout the book, but that wasn't nearly enough to carry this story for 350 pages.

Thank you Random House #partner for my copy of A Winter Wish and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy! #dellromance #randomhouse #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #AWinterWish #emilystone


𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐀 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐌𝐞𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝟱★

I patiently wait all year for a new Emily Stone book. When it comes to holiday themed books, she is my go-to author. I have fallen in love with the characters in every one of Emily Stone’s books, and this one was no exception. A Winter Wish hit especially close to home for me as someone who recently lost their father. While I had a very close relationship with my father, I still felt such a strong connection to Lexie throughout this book. This book, like all of the rest of the books by this author, was so heartwarming!

After Lexie finds out about her father’s death, she isn’t sure how she feels. The two have not spoken much over the last decade, and to top things off, she has just found out that she’s inherited half of his holiday travel company. The other half belongs to Theo, a young executive who worked with her father. The will stipulates that Lexie and Theo must find a way to ru the company together for one year before they decide what to do with it. Set on selling as soon as the year is up, Lexie slowly starts to find the company and its mission more appealing than she anticipated. On top of that, working with Theo isn’t as bad as she thought it would be. What will happen to the company after the year is up?

I definitely shed some tears with this one, which seems to be a theme with Emily Stone books! If you’re in the mood for a cozy winter read, this is the book for you!

🎄Opposites Attract
🎄Enemies to Lovers
🎄Heartwarming
🎄Complex Family Dynamics
🎄Self-Discovery
🎄Wish Jar

🎧I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, which was narrated by the talented Meg Travers. I felt like Travers was just perfect this book. I knew as soon as I saw her name as the narrator for this audiobook, that I had to grab this one on audio. Travers did such an amazing job bringing Lexie and the rest of the cast to life. I would highly recommend this one on audio.

Posted on Goodreads on October 14, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around October 15, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on October 15, 2024
**-will post on designated date

A Winter Wish follows nomad Lexie who has just learned she inherited half of her late father's holiday travel company. Lexie is shocked to learn this as she did not talk to her dad for several years before he died. The other half of the company is left to senior employee, Theo. Lexie wants to sell the company and Theo wants to keep is. What will happen next?

I really enjoy Emily Stone's novels and A Winter Wish was no exception. This book is perfect for the upcoming holiday season. Our main character Lexie sees tremendous personal growth in this novel and I found myself cheering for her throughout her self discovery process. While Theo was guarded for a majority of the book, he was still very swoon-worthy. I enjoyed the concept of the travel company as well. If you're in need of a holiday read, add this to your TBR.

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

I wanted to love this book with its beautiful cover, but the story was lacking depth. Everything just felt blah, & I don’t think the main characters had great chemistry. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emily Stone for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Winter Wish coming out October 15, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read another book by this author and really enjoyed it. Her writing is fun. I think the beginning wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t enjoy how they met and it just kept getting worse for me. It just didn’t work for me. I don’t know why Theo was such a jerk when Lexie’s father just died. It was like he was expecting to inherit the whole company and it seemed very entitled to me. I liked the traveling to different places aspect of the book. I enjoy a good enemies to lovers but it just didn’t work for me. I’ll read other books by this author!

I always look forward to Emily Stone's holiday books. They are the perfect blend of festive and emotional. This book was a bit of a disappointment, but I still enjoyed it. I had a difficult time relating to the main character, but I do appreciate Stone's ability to write complex characters. Overall, it might not be my favorite, but it's a solid read for the upcoming holiday season!

I always look forward to Emily Stone’s holiday books and while this wasn’t my favorite of hers, because it is very hard to top Always in December, this was still a nice holiday read that I’ll likely go back and read again in the coming years because I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and all things Christmas romance.
Lexie is shocked to have inherited half of her father’s travel business since she had very little to do with him for the past 10 years after he left her and her mom and started another family. But she herself has never settled down, so the travel bug is in her genes so the niche business he started based on something they did when they were still a family-seeing the holiday traditions around the world is something she connects with.
Unfortunately, the other half of the company has been left to Theo, her fathers young and good looking executive who’s been his right hand for the past 5+ years and helped the company grow into what it is and the will stipulates that they must find a way to run the business for a year before they are allowed to do anything with it. At the end of the year, they can decide what they want to do. He wants to keep it. She wants to sell it. Can he change her mind? Can they fight through the feelings hey have developing for each other as they spend more time together?
The various locations were spectacular and the food sounded amazing. I wasn’t completely sold on the chemistry between the two main characters but it was enough that I was rooting for them to finally get together.
Thanks to Dell and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I love Stone’s emotional novels with more “rom” than “com.” Her latest is delightful and I enjoyed the traveling aspects with so many different locations. She always does such a good job of telling heartbreaking tales in an upbeat and hopeful way. I love her smart writing and the way she draws readers into the characters she’s created. Put this on your Christmas reading TBR!

Lexie has found out her estranged father has died and left her half of his travel agency business. She doesn’t want to be tied down to a corporate job, even if she loves to travel. The other half owner is grumpy Theo, who doesn’t want to sell the business he worked so hard to create with her father. Can the two work together for a year to come to a mutual decision?

Sadly, this story fell flat for me. I felt like the characters and storyline both lacked depth, and I wish more of the book revolved around Christmas/winter/the holiday season.

In A Winter Wish, Lexie inherits half of her father’s thriving holiday travel company. The other half goes to Theo, a charming but grumpy executive required to co-manage the business for a year.

Although Lexie plans to leave after that, she becomes drawn to the company’s mission– and Theo.

All of Emily Stone’s Christmas novels are good, but this particular one is a bit lighter in tone, making the romance feel more festive. The travel themes, cultural celebrations, and Christmas in July party also make it uniquely fun.

The cover is super cute, the title is fitting.

Though the book started off a bit slow for me, I did overall enjoy this holiday read. It had tenderness and growth. There was discussion of loss and found family. It wasn't insta-love for me for either main character but as they grew and got to know each other I found myself liking them more.

I think this book would be a good cozy up by a fire with a Glühwein or hot cocoa read.

Rounding up to a 4 star.
Grab your copy tomorrow 10.15.2024!

Thank You to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the E-ARC. You know your reading a Emily Stone book when it takes place during Christmas, some sort of tragedy happens/happened, and you will ugly Kim K cry. Lexie has just lost her dad and gets thrown into a unwanted situation. Not gonna lie Lexie was hardheaded and annoying at times but she finally got it together and what can I say about Theo. I love that this is not a romance story but of two individual people working thru their issues and then maybe coming together.

A WINTER WISH
4.5⭐

PLOT
Lexie learns that her father with whom she has barely spoken in the kat 10 years and has died leaving her 1/2 of his travel company business and the other half to a young man Thei who worked for her father and they must work together for a year before she can get her share.
Lexie wants to leave but as she starts working she enjoys herself and company of Thei but can wanderer Lexie finally be able to put down her roots.?

MY THOUGHTS
This was a heartfelt emotional and a festive read all mixed in one.
Emily has incorporated topic of grief which affects different people differently so well along with self discovery.
Loved Lexies character development the most.
If you are looking for feel good yet a deep emotional read them check this one out .

I know this is meant to be a romcom with the forced proximity, enemies to lovers trope but it's really just as much about family and finding yourself. Lexie's father, who left when she was a child and built a new family, has just died and left her his travel company. Sort of. She's got to work with Theo who inherited half as well and seems quite insufferable for a year before the company can be sold. Lexie's never settled down-she's worked low level jobs since uni. Now though, this tests her and it gives her an opportunity to get to know her half sister Rachel, who knows the answer to something their father did. This hops around to several European spots, although the focus is on the Lexie-Theo dynamics, not the places they visit. And Ange, Ange is a treat. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good characters and storytelling make this a good read.

A Winter Wish was the balm I needed to read during my job search. I love traveling and look forward to returning abroad in the future. Until then, novels such as Emily Stone's #AWinterWish afforded armchair traveling.

Upon learning that her father died, Lexie returns to her childhood home. While things looked the same, her father had left years ago. Now co-owner of her father's company, Lexie didn't want anything of his. He walked out on the family, so why should Lexie mange his affairs?

Quick to spar with Theo, the co-owner of R&L, Lexie was ready to leave Bath behind and return to the Alps. A stipulation in the will required the partners co-own the company for at least a year before making decisions. Will this predicament turn into a silver lining or has Lexie's jar capped on chasing her dreams?