Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy of “A Winter Wish” by Emily Stone. This enchanting holiday novel centers around Lexie, a free spirit with a deep-rooted love for travel, an affinity she inherited from her father. However, Lexie's constant desire to move from place to place also hints at her struggle with committing to one location. When she learns of her father's passing, she is surprised to discover that he has left her half of his beloved holiday travel company, with the other half going to Theo, a handsome yet stern young executive who worked closely with her father. Despite her initial reservations, Lexie decides to give the business a year before making any decisions about her future. As she navigates the challenges of running the company and working alongside Theo, unexpected twists and emotional hurdles emerge. Will Lexie choose to stay, or will her wanderlust pull her away once again? This heartwarming story is perfect for readers looking to embark on a festive and romantic holiday journey.

A Winter Wish was a story that brought out some deep emotions within me. It was very introspective of self, reflective of the connections around us, and a beautiful, healing journey to learn to say goodbye. My heart grew heavy reading throughout this narrative, but it ended feeing light and free. 3.5✨

I wouldn't say this is an overtly festive holiday novel, but I do think it features a sentiment that I'd argue we all feel throughout the winter season and its holidays: nostalgia.

A very heavy feeling of nostalgia, that brings a bit of blues. A wistful feeling that includes loss, grief, loneliness, and regrets. Lexie faces all these feelings as she loses her estrangered father. It's like grieving him twice over-- first as the man who was once a dad but abandoned her, and second as the the man who was simply her distant father who passed away. It's strange because I can't directly relate to Lexie's loss but I had such a difficult time reading through the heaviness wrought from her loss. It was a very emotional read, and I had to take several steps back at times. I am glad I always returned because by book's end there is also a cathartic sense it brings about, one of reconciliation and healing.

Perhaps, that is the true festive sentiment to be found during the holidays.

This is not always a happy read, but it's a healing read. It's a read letting you know you aren't alone in all those conflicting feelings that arise in consideration of the complexity of family and self. It's a story that allows us to redefine who we are, how we choose to remember our loved us, and how we chose to move forward. If you find comfort in this, this book will definitely be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

Enjoyed this book a lot ! However it was a little easy to catch on with the end of the book however over all good read

I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers romance. The initial antagonism that Lexie and Theo feel for each other, largely because of misconceptions and misjudgments about each other, soon morphs into a wary acceptance and then friendship, and the exploration of Lexie's issues because of her father's abandonment, contrasting with Theo's experience of her father's acceptance and encouragement, brings a good tension to the development of their relationship. Lexie's relationship with her half-sister also provides depth to the story as Lexie struggles with the 'different dad' that Rachel experienced as she grew up. Mike makes a good antagonist who points up Theo's better nature, and Ange's character lends some humor to the story, too. The love story doesn't seem to precipitous but has a nice arc, and the happy ending provides a satisfactory conclusion to an engaging story.

Thank you to NetGalley and  Random House  for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Stone’s A Winter Wish is a heartwarming holiday romance that deftly blends the festive spirit with personal growth and emotional healing. When Lexie inherits half of her estranged father's holiday travel company, she finds herself reluctantly paired with Theo, the company's other half and her father’s young, brooding executive. The stipulation in the will forces Lexie and Theo to co-manage the business for a year, a period that promises to challenge their initial antagonism and ignite a deeper connection.

As Lexie grapples with her grief and the unexpected legacy left by her father, she starts to see the value in the travel company’s mission and in Theo himself. Their journey together, marked by travel to various holiday destinations, offers both romantic tension and opportunities for personal introspection. The story's exploration of family dynamics, healing, and self-discovery provides depth beyond the typical holiday romance.

Stone’s novel combines the charm of a holiday setting with a thoughtful narrative about dealing with past regrets and finding unexpected love. The book's blend of festive cheer and meaningful themes creates a cozy yet emotionally resonant read, ideal for fans of character-driven romance and those looking to escape into a world of travel and redemption.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕤𝕥:
Lexie, estranged from her father, is shocked to inherit half of his successful holiday travel company after his death. The other half goes to Theo, her father's handsome but ill-tempered executive. The will requires them to run the company together for a year before deciding its fate.

Initially planning to leave after the year, Lexie finds herself drawn to the company's mission and to Theo. A work trip to Spain ignites undeniable chemistry between them, but mixing business with pleasure proves complicated.

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
🎄 Christmas romance
😒 Adversaries to lovers
🧲 Opposites attract
❤️‍🩹 Healing and grief
✈️ Travel destinations

𝕊𝕚𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕒𝕣 𝕍𝕚𝕓𝕖𝕤:
📚 𝗪𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗠𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀
📚 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗱

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Emily Stone does a great job writing cozy holiday romances that will also have you reaching for your tissues. In one hand, 𝗔 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗵 is a light winter romance, and on the other it digs deeper; dealing with grief, acceptance, healing, and self-discovery.

I loved Lexie and Theo; from their brokenness, to getting to know one another, to falling in love, I was fully invested in their relationship development. I also really enjoyed the holiday destinations (and really the whole of R&L Travel), as well as the festive setting.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (𝟰/𝟱)

Thank you to NetGalley & Dell, a division of Penguin Random House for the advanced digital copy of “A Winter Wish”

This book would appeal to those who enjoy traveling frequently and exploring new places. There are some difficult family dynamics the book navigates through as well. I do love a Christmas book, and extra points to this one for making a true celebration of Christmas in July!!

A wonderful little romance novel that really appealed to the traveler in me! Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for an advance reader copy. I most enjoyed this one.
The story is that of Lexie ( who at times I wanted to shake til her teeth rattled ) and Theo who I quite liked. Lexie’s estranged father left her part of his travel agency asking her to be involved in the business for one year after which it was left to Theo and her to continue running or disband/sell. Need less to say there were lots of clashes between the characters on this journey.
What I actually enjoyed most was the concept of the agency and the trips they hosted that were described in the book. I think this aspect will appeal to a lot of women interested in travel!
The book in typical romance fashion had a wonderful ending but I couldn’t help thinking over and over - just be honest about your feelings and this will be much easier.
I think this book is a romance novel that also has wider appeal outside that genre due to its unique premise. It feels like a great holiday read to me.

I have relied on Emily Stone for the past few years to give me a holiday read with substance to offset the "Hallmark movie" lightness of some of my other festive reads. This year's entry, A Winter Wish, contains the festive depth that I've come to expect from this fantastic author. Lexi and Theo each inherit half of a travel agency after the death of Lexi's father. Lexi and her dad had a complicated, distant relationship and it was heartwarming to see Lexi reconnect with her dad a bit after his death as she works with Theo to run his travel agency. It was entertaining to watch Lexi and Theo work together (even if it killed them) as stipulated in the will. I also loved the chance to armchair travel along with these characters!

Perfect for fans of grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and those seeking a meaningful read that's dressed in tinsel. Emily Stone has become one of my favorite holiday traditions!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing (Ballantine, Dell) for the opportunity to escape with Lexi and Theo in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this story about accepting regret in our choices and trying to redeem that. There are two sides to every story and it looks like the father could have tried harder, but he was also in a position that was so hard with the second wife.

I plan to share this book a day or two before publication. I will come back to update this post when I plan that month.

While this is a perfect cozy Christmas story, it’s also ideal for all year round! A very sweet, comfy feel good, travel romance full of adventure and slow burn tension, this book has something for every romance reader! I really enjoyed the characters, and the complex family dynamics that both were dealing with. I think their flaws made them more real. I also enjoyed the relationship they were trying to form with each other, and all the ups and downs they dealt with. This was overall a great read!

“I make a wish, every Christmas, and I write it down on a little piece of paper, fold it up, and put it in a jar.”
🫙 🫙🫙🫙🫙
This is my first novel by Emily Stone and I’m looking forward to reading her other works. A Winter Wish is an enemies to lovers winter time romance. Lexie loves to travel and it was fun hearing about all her different adventures. She is estranged from her father who passes away and leaves half his business to her and another employee, Theo. Lexie and Theo must keep the business for a year before deciding what to do with it. During this year you will travel with them through many emotions and find that wishes do come true!
Triggers: cancer, death, divorce, abandonment, family issues, grief, forgiving
A Winter Wish by Emily Stone will be available on October 15, 2024!
Thank you, Random House Publishing-Ballantine, for providing me this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Winter Wish is a sweet. rom-com dealing with complicate grief, identity, and of course love. When Lexie's estranged father dies leaving her half of his travel company, she is forced to revisit the past that she has been avoiding. She is forced to look at herself and the relationships in her life in a new way rather than running from the reality of her emotions. Through this journey, she also work with Theo who now owns the other half of the company. I found this book enjoyable, sweet, and making me want to get out my passport and experience the world more. While it is a holiday book, it takes place throughout the course of a year and felt more like a travel book with a hint of holiday, which I enjoyed.

thank you to netgalley, dell publishers, and emily stone for the arc of a winter wish!

i really enjoyed this one! i liked lexies growth throughout the book, and i thought that her and they had good chemistry and banter, but i just didn’t connect with the story or characters that much, but that’s okay, i still enjoyed it!!

lexie and theo have to work together to run lexie’s estranged fathers company after he passed away. a quick read and good for fans of:

❄️workplace romance
❄️enemies/rivals to lovers!!!

thank you so much for the arc! ⭐️

When her father dies and leaves a company behind, Lexie meets the people who replaced her in her father's life and finds out if his legacy is worth saving. The chemistry between Theo and Lexie is pretty good and the encounters between Lexie and her estranged half sister are well played. I enjoyed the story and could see it turning into a series

A Winter Wish is an emotional read about family, second chances, and learning to accept others...and yourself. While this isn't a light fluffy holiday read I do think it's the perfect book to cozy up with this winter. 4 stars.

A Winter Wish is a delightful & emotional holiday read. I went into this thinking it was going to be another lighthearted holiday romcom, but this offered so much more. It handles the topic of grief and figuring out your identity while also being an enemies to lovers romance. I thought Stone handled the heavier subject matter with sensitivity while also making it feel genuine. Stone did a great job balancing both elements of the story.

Lexie was a complicated character. She's traveled a lot and has a difficult relationship with her parents. I found her journey to be emotional and relatable. I think a lot of readers will connect to her. Theo was a sweet man that I couldn't help but fall for. I liked how their relationship developed from enemies to friends to lovers. It was gradual and paced nicely. This is a slow burn romance filled with a plethora of swoon worthy moments in between (these are holiday themed of course!).

I enjoyed the side characters and the idea of the holiday traveling company. The company is totally something I would try.

A wonderful holiday romance filled with heart and humor. A must read!

A Winter Wish
By Emily Stone
Tentative Release Date Oct 15 2024

When Lexie finds out that her estranged father has not only passed away but also left half of his company to her she is at a total loss. He walked out of her life when she was 7 and pretty much never looked back. So why would be leave her part of the company?
She decides this just isn’t for her and she would like to get out. Unfortunately there is a one year clause with a possibility of up to five years that she has to be involved before she can sell. Too bad the other owner, Theo, seems to hate her from their first meeting.

I absolutely loved Love, Holly that came out last fall and was so excited the receive this book this year.

I didn’t have a quick connection with the characters and the story lulled at some spots but the ending wrapped everything up in a nice bow. Though the book does revolve around Christmas and wishes the entirety of the book isn’t only during the holiday season. You do get a full year through.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for this advanced reader copy!

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone was just kind of so-so for me. I didn’t feel like there was much plot or that much of anything happened. There didn’t seem to be much chemistry between Theo and Lexie. I was rooting for them to get together, but their relationship just kind of fell flat. There was one chapter, 31, that was told from Theo’s POV, which was totally weird. Why have the entire book written in third-person, single-POV (Lexie’s), then just one random chapter during the third-act breakup told from a different POV? And speaking of third-person, single POV… it should 100% be outlawed in romance books, and that’s a hill I’ll die on. Anyway, I felt that this book was more about Lexie coming to terms with her deceased father than romance.

I received a copy of A Winter Wish from NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone
Stars: 4
Spicy: PG-23

Perfect if you like:

Grumpy Irishman
Travel romances
Complex family relationships
Forced Proximity

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the second year in a row I’ve been lucky enough to score an ARC of Emily Stone’s Christmas romance. Last year I read Love, Holly and I did indeed love Holly AND Stone’s writing. I was looking forward to A Winter Wish because I love a good old-fashioned forced-proximity-at-the office romance. Plus this one featured a travel company where the two main characters get to plan trip itineraries. Kind of a pipe dream of mine.

Lexie is a free-spirited traveler who never stays too long in one place. Being somewhere for more than six months makes her itchy. But then right before Christmas, she finds out her father has not only passed away but he has left her half of his travel agency. The other half belongs to Theo, a handsome but slightly grouchy Irishman who has worked with her dad for the last five years. These two are going to have to run the company for a year, together, and if they make a profit, they can sell it and move on. But it means that Lexie is going to have to stay in Bath and work alongside Theo. And even though they don’t start off on the right foot, they find they might just have a lot in common…besides amazing chemistry.

The heart of the book is Theo and Lexie’s love story, but it is also about growing up and making peace with the past. It’s about learning to forgive your parents and embrace the possibility of relationships that you didn’t think were possible. It’s about asking yourself the tough questions and finding your happiness where you can. I love the depth Stone creates for her characters and I was just invested in Theo and Lexie as I was with Lexie and Rachel or Theo and his parents.

A Winter Wish comes out in mid-October and I would highly recommend you put it on your holiday TBR. It is the perfect book for a cozy chilly Sunday afternoon.