Member Reviews

This was a cute easy read for christmas, would definitely recommend for that time. The plot is a bit unrealistic as not manny people uses travel agencies anymore , but still made for a cute side. Like I said a easy read for something refreshing and cute

Was this review helpful?

Emily Stone is one of my favorite writers! A Winter Wish is now one of my favorites. A celebration of travel, traditions, love, good food, family, and work. I would recommend this book to my friends.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I have read every single Emily Stone book since her first publication (Always, in December). This book does not disappoint! I dare to say I enjoyed this book more than Love, Holly but nonetheless the story line between Lexi and Theo is fantastic. I love how the author is able to develop the characters, their nuances and eventual connection. Highly recommend this book to be added to your holiday reading list. Please see full review (@aguiluv)- Thank you Emily for a fantastic book!

Was this review helpful?

When Lexie unexpectedly inherits half of her late father’s travel business, the father who abandoned she and her mom, it throws her nomadic life into a tailspin. Lexie’s arrival raises Theo’s hackles because he’s worked side by side with Lexie’s dad to build the business and as the other inheritor he’s not thrilled by his new partner or her attitude.

Lexie and Theo must work together for a year before they can sell but can they find common ground in both business and life.

I love a good enemies to lovers story and the emotional depth Emily Stone brings to her writing made A Winter Wish a winner.

Was this review helpful?

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone was definitely a slow burn, so slow I had a hard time finishing it. Although I loved Ms. Stone's last novel, Love, Holly this novel just didn't have the engaging characters that made you want to spend time with them, or the touching moments that captured your heart. It fell flat for me. Thank you to the author publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book by this author, and what a gem! I adored traveling through Europe with the characters. This rom com has depth, which I always appreciate. I’ll be reading more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 For Lexie, Christmas has always been a season for wishing. When her estranged father dies and leaves her half of his company to run with his mentee, Theo, she wishes she could be anywhere but in the predicament she is in currently. Amidst the grief, the wanderlust, and the newfound business ownership, Lexie is feeling all of the feels…and wishing she finds hope and healing. A really fun and beautiful read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is posted is Goodreads and final review will be on instagram ahead of the publication day!

Was this review helpful?

2.5 Stars

It was an arduous task to finish this book. The pacing was terribly slow, there was much repetition of the underlying issues, and the storyline was not that engaging. I could only read a few pages, or a chapter at the most, before my interest waned. The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my least favorite literary devices. In this case, it was fueled by immaturity, unresolved anger/grief, and poor communication.

Lexie is a free spirit never settling longer than six months in any job or any place. When her estranged father bequeaths her with one half of his holiday travel company, this unexpected and unwanted legacy turns out to be a catalyst for healing and reevaluating her life choices. Theo is her business partner who brings his own baggage to the relationship which predictably has a rocky start and transforms over the course of the book.

The redeeming quality of this tedious read was the beautiful descriptions of the city of Bath (England) coupled with the innovative trip itineraries offered by the travel company. Overall, I respect the author’s efforts, but this novel was not a match for me.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Was this review helpful?

This was an unexpected emotionally charged book. I am not normally one for books that make me cry, but this one almost brought me to tears and I loved it. This story is one of forgiveness, hope, and love. It was a story that was so elegantly and eloquently written I felt all Lexie's feelings. I was right along with her in her struggle and rooting for her when she found her inner strength. There is a love story here, Theo was perfect for Lexie, but I feel this was more of a story about how families fail one another and how they love and forgive one another as well. I enjoyed this story and I know I will look for more from this author going forward. Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Just go ahead and get ready for a tug on your heart strings! This book has all the family drama and so much love and heartache wrapped up in a neat little bow.

Was this review helpful?

In A Winter Wish, Lexie is a constant traveler who goes wherever the wind takes her. When she receives news that her estranged father has passed, she has to face old hurts, resurfacing memories, and a half-sister she doesn’t know how to talk to. However, this nomad has just discovered that her father left half of his travel business to her with the stipulation that she work for the company for at least a year. Furthermore, the inheritor of the other half is Theo, a young executive at her father’s company who, upon first meeting Lexie, already seems to despise her. With an encouraging push from her mother, her best friend Fran, and the company’s personal assistant Ange, Lexie starts working for the company, despite Theo’s protests. As Lexie and Theo find themselves planning and taking part in various adventures, the two begin to learn more about each other and start seeing eye-to-eye, and Lexie’s wandering spirit starts to see the advantages of traveling with someone who challenges her. It also doesn’t hurt that the man is easy on the eyes!

Emily Stone has done it again with this beautifully heartwarming novel! Having read all of Emily’s previously published books, I can tell you that you don’t want to miss out on this one! I gobbled it up in one night, and I immediately want to go back and reread it again!

Some of the things I loved about this one:
✨ Rivals/Enemies-to-Lovers
✨ Opposites attract
✨ Found Family
✨ Encouraging and supportive family and friends
✨ The bonds of sisterhood
✨ Travel adventures in different countries
✨ The holiday wish jar tradition
✨ Different worldwide celebrations/festivals

Be on the lookout for this one in October!

Thank you Netgalley and Emily Stone for this eBook ARC!

Was this review helpful?

A Winter Wish is about Lexie, a young woman who is estranged from her father and after he died inherits his travel business. Theo is her father's employee who inherits the other half. This is a book about how your past can affect your future, but it doesn't have to. Lexie and Theo don't always see eye to eye. As they learn more about each other, they develop a relationship. Lexie will have to decide if this is something she wants for herself or if she wants to keep traveling and exploring new places by herself.

This was an enjoyable read, but at times I felt that Lexie read very immature for an almost 30 year old woman. I think some of that is portraying how her estrangement from her father affected her, but it times it was a bit much. I loved reading about the different festivals the travel company took their clients to and Lexie and Theo's travels.

Thank you Random House for this ARC. I would recommend adding this to your holiday TBR!

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this book, enemies-to-lovers are always my favorite and this one did not disappoint! I really liked how Emily handled each character's grief and acknowledged how complex it can really be.

Was this review helpful?

Wow this book me in the holiday mood. As it’s 102 degrees for me. But I’m ready for the holidays now. Loved the characters and the story line.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Emily Stone for the ARC of A Winter Wish!! It was such a cute and cozy read!! I can’t wait to reread it during the holiday season, it gave me the perfect combination of tension and flirty! And Theoooo… loveee him!! Can’t wait to read more by Emily Stone!!

Was this review helpful?

This book did not feel as much like Stone’s last novels, as I thought it had a bit more romance and a bit less of the emotional/grieving aspect. Both things are still there, but I felt like the proportions were flip flopped. That being said, it’s still a sweet book, and I really appreciated the recognition that people are complex, our relationships can be complex, and that can make grief complex. In this case, Lexie is trying to figure out how to feel about the death of her father who failed her in so many ways, and with whom she was estranged in the end. And to add to the pain, it seems like other people really liked him and had good relationships with him. Grappling with this felt realistic.

Was this review helpful?

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone is a heartwarming story with all the feels. This was a bit of a departure from her previous novels of which I’ve read them all but the emotional depth remains.

Lexie’s father has unexpectedly passed away and she’s not sure how to feel. They’ve been estranged for over ten years and she’s stunned to find out he’s left half of his travel agency to her and half to his business partner Theo. The will stipulates that Lexie and grumpy Theo must work together for a year and then decide to sell or keep the agency.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the idea of the travel agency booking trips that explored how other cultures celebrate the holidays. This was a slow burn, opposites attract romance, but also a story about found family and forgiveness. Another wonderful book by Emily Stone.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

The story was so fun! It was awesome to read it in the summertime for something different. It was very cozy and I loved all of the characters. I formed an attachment very early on that did not let go. This is a must for summer or fall 2024.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely adored this book. Emily is such a talented author; there isn’t a book I’ve read by her that I haven’t loved.
Lexie is someone who has gone through so much growing up and being estranged from her father. When finding out that her father left her half of the company he built it made me keep turning pages. I needed to know what ended up with Theo and Lexie and the company that was dropped in their laps. Theo and Lexie have a hard (enemies to lovers vibe) relationship from the jump but I loved the slow burn to their relationship!
There were a few times that it was a little too slow for my taste but once it picked back up it sucked me in!
Also, Ange was a hoot and a half! I absolutely loved her character!
Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Emily Stone for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone was a great Memorial Day weekend read for me with all the feelings of Christmas.
Where the complicated feelings of families divided by hurt and loss, become even more complicated than ever before by death.
Can a travel agency and time bring together a family torn apart? Can love and forgiveness be enough?
I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Emily Stone.
#AWinterWish
#EmilyStone
#NetGalley
#RandomHouseBookClub

Was this review helpful?