A WINTER WISH ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. When Lexies estranged father dies, she is left half of his travel company in his will, although the owner of the other half was her father’s trusted colleague Theo. When Lexie finds out there is a clause, that the company must turn a profit in one years time to sell, she must decide how to proceed. This book was a cute, easy, hallmark style. The reason I’m not rating it higher was because I just felt I wanted more of a “winter” aspect to the book. Also, in the e book the travel agency focuses on adventures I would have loved to hear more of than the going back and forth between the characters. It was just okay, the book left me feeling indifferent. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

What is not to like?? This book was unique and heartwarming and I will definitely be looking into this author further!

A delightful holiday read about a woman named Lexie who finds she has inherited half a business after her father's estranged death. She is co-owner with a man she does not get along with, but as you can imagine, sparks fly.

I found this a nice light hearted holiday read and enjoyed the destination trips they took as she navigated her complicated grief. I found the characters lacking a bit of depth and complexity and the story lacking in some parts.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

An inheritance…family and friends…love and romance…secrets…I like the title…intriguing…a quick fun read. Realistic characters keep this story moving quickly...would make a great movie... Thanks Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for access to this early holiday read! This is my first Emily Stone novel, but I now want to go back and read her backlist. I really loved this!

Is this me finally defeating my reading slump? (Not fully out, please stay tuned)

There’s something rather deranged about reading a Christmas romance in the middle of a scorching summer that makes it the ultimate escapist reading session. While this book navigates different seasons, there is a certain holiday feel to it—which makes me eagerly count down the days until it becomes socially acceptable to countdown to Christmas (probably September).

I actually really loved the depth Emily gives her characters in this story. God, I sound like a broken record saying this, but the book is very much The Bolter in writing. Think—woman with abandonment issues who runs away from commitment & refuses to put down her roots because she’s distrustful of people. Then add the grumpiest yet lovably protective MC (with his own self-worth issues). What do you get? A match made in heaven. Oh—and the perfect book for anyone who doesn’t know what they’re doing with their life. Except with Christmas in July? It’s hard to explain.

If you resonate with any of those issues AND if you love traveling, I think you’re going to really like this one. I do think the romance felt a little rushed at first, and it was a bit undeveloped in a way that I couldn’t really justify the way they started. But! Emily’s writing is so good and chockful of “damn I felt that” statements; so much so that you and help but forgive the beginning for what it was. I’ve been seeing a lot of her books around the bookstores, and this was pretty much the affirming sign I needed to pick up her other books (which I heard were amazing!). Most of them are Christmas themed, but if that’s what it takes to pull me out of my reading slump, then so be it.

I was so excited to get this ARC as I’ve read all of her books and loved her last release, but this one fell flat for me. I felt like the characters were boring and the storyline was dull. I liked exploring the different facets of relationships and grief with the characters and there were some moments where I was invested, but overall I had to push through the story. It wasn’t a bad book, just not my favorite of hers. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone is a heartwarming holiday romance that blends emotional depth with the enchantment of the season. The novel follows Lexie and Theo, whose differences and mutual misunderstandings initially create friction, but as they navigate business together, sparks of undeniable chemistry begin to fly. The novel captures the tension and slow burn romance between the two, taking readers on a journey from icy disdain to passionate connection. The novel isn't just about romance, but also about themes of forgiveness and the importance of family and tradition. This book is a perfect read for those looking to be swept away by a story of unexpected love and holiday cheer.

I LOVED Always in December, but A winter wish was only OKAY for me.
I found myself skimming through to the end.

I initially requested this book based upon the author alone. Emily Stone is an auto buy author for me & I love her holiday themed books. A Winter Wish was no different- this may be my new Emily Stone favorite. This book deals with the grieving process, enemies to lovers, & estranged family. Having a difficult relationship with my father at the time of his death, I was able to identify with Lexie & Stone did an amazing job portraying the details & difficulties of this relationship. Although there is loss & grief in this book, it is a very fun, fast read. I will definitely reread this one during the holidays!

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start by saying how excited I was to be given the pleasure to read “A Winter Wish” ahead of the release date. Emily Stone has been an auto buy author for me over the years; I truly look forward to her winter/Christmas novels every year. With that said, I really enjoyed “A Winter Wish”.

Lexie has not had a relationship with her father in years, so when she finds out he has died, she doesn’t know what to feel or how to process the loss. She comes to find out that he has left her half of his holiday travel company, the other half going to his business executive, Theo. Lexie must find a way to run the company with Theo for a year before deciding what to do.

I’ll be honest, the first 30% of the book was slow moving and hard to form connections with the characters. But then came the hotel corridor! That changed everything for me.

Lexie and Theo’s chemistry was off the charts hot. I loved how their relationship formed slowly, how complex it was, and how we got to take Lexie’s grief journey with her. It was also heartbreaking and so relatable to see her relationship with her Dad and her half sister.

This was a beautiful testament to the grief process, and how different it might look for everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC; all opinions are my own.

What a cute and fast read. Ive read all of Emily Stone’s books and she’s an autobuy author for me now.

Much like Lexie from A Winter Wish, I have a complicated/non existent relationship with my father so the story line of feeling replaced and never good enough really resonated with me.

I loved the storyline and the character growth between Lexie and Theo.

Thank you Net Galley for the chance to read before October!

A Winter Wish is a sweet and fun read. I enjoyed the character development. I really enjoyed the owning a business together storyline.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Lexie vive feliz trabajando como niñera en diferentes países, no ha regresado a su pueblo natal desde hace años, pero una llamada cambia su vida y tiene que regresar al funeral de padre.

Lo único bueno que hizo el muerto por Lexie fue dejarle el negocio de viajes.


Al principio me cayó mal Theo con sus críticas a Lexie por no estar para el muerto, o sea el tipo no sabía que el muerto la abandonó y este la hacía sentir mal con sus comentarios.

También me cayó mal Angela, obligando a Lexie a hacer cosas quw no quería.

La historia de Lexie con el padre es asi: eran cercanos hasta los 7 años cuando engaño a su esposa y dejó embarazada a la amante (a quien amaba), se fue con la otra y se poco a poco se alejó de Lexie faltando a sus visitas hasta que su único contacto era por teléfono. Sólo intento acercarse cuando supo que tenía cáncer.
Con Rachel (la hija que tuvo con la amante) siempre estuvo atento e hizo todo por ella, mientras que para Lexie no hizo ni lo mínimo

Se puede definir al muerto con el siguiente dicho: Candil de la calle, oscuridad de su casa.

En general el libro es de como Richard era una buena persona con todos menos con su primera hija y como todos lo querían, ella tenía que perdonarlo, entenderlo y amarlo.
Odie como Lexie lo perdonó porque él era una buena persona que cometió el error de abandonar a su hija, pero apoyo a muchos y fue un excelente padre para Rachel. Si hay algo que no tolero es a los malos padres.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my gosh, what a cute and easy read that has me wishing I could fast forward through summer and get back to winter for these cozy, fun reads!

Thank you to Emily Stone, Random House Ballantine, and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my unbiased review!

I've read every Emily Stone book as she is a go to favorite. Always in December is one of my favorite holiday reads.
That being said, I'm a little sad that her latest A Winter Wish seemed to veer off her normal writing.

Lexie is a world seeking wanderer. Never to stay in one place for too long, she travels the globe taking off jobs. After her estranged father dies, she finds out he has left her half of his travel agency business, to be split with his business partner Theo, if after a year, they can turn a profit, she can either keep it or have to sell it.

Of course, fireworks ensue, despite the fact they're the usual enemies turned lovers.
Sounds like such a promising storyline, but unfortunately, A Winter Wish lacked substance and chemistry. The side characters were not compelling, and the travel agency setting seemed dated and not something I would generally think would be a main plot point given it's 2024.

I ended up skimming through to the end, and it pains me to say it, was almost a DNF.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

Theo and Lexie are forced into running a company together when Lexie's father passes away. A sweet irresistible novel about taking chances, changing minds and falling in love. Charming and unforgettable.

A Winter Wish is a celebration of love, family, and holiday rituals. Like the author’s other works, this is also a tender love story that features heartbroken people. In this case, Lexie’s estranged father (and Theo’s supervisor) has unexpectedly passed away. Lexie is stunned to find out that her father left her half of his travel company with the other half going to loyal employee Theo (who happens to be single, handsome, and seemingly holding a grudge against Lexie). Can the two of them work together to ensure the company’s success?

This was a sweet and enjoyable read and it was fun to read about the holiday destinations. Lexie and Theo have plenty of chemistry and, for the most part, communicate well despite having opposite visions for the travel company. While Lexie never expected to be part of her father’s company, she gets to know him in a different way and starts to connect with her half-sister as she works through her grief.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I love this cover and grew to like how each main character developed. The travel industry interests me and the concept the author created for a new romance to blossom worked well. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.