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?

I will never not read or love a book written by Stone!
A Winter Wish by Emily Stone was the perfect holiday romance!
Her stories are charming and fun, and their guaranteed to make you cry every time. I. Love. It.
This story hooked me right from the get-go.
Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and adored the whole story.
This is going to be a must read for many many readers.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House & Ballantine for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I absolutely adored Love, Holly last year and was so excited for this one. It didn't work for me like that one did. I think that there were so many feelings about Lexie and her dad, that made it hard for me to read because it hit close to home in a lot of ways. I also wasn't the biggest fan of how Lexie and Theo came together originally. I like enemies to lovers but there was some meanness there that made it hard for me to see past. While this wasn't my favorite from this author, I will definitely be reading her backlist and upcoming novels in the future.

This story just felt okay - for a Christmas story, over half of the book took place at different times of year which was slightly disappointing.
The chemistry between the two main characters felt lacking and I honestly didn’t care if they ended up together because of how forced it felt.
This felt more like a reconciliation journey between the fmc and her deceased father than it did a romance in my opinion.

Overall it wasn’t bad, just wasn’t necessarily memorable.

Thank you to Dell for the opportunity to read this book via NetGalley arc!

Stone is always a holiday story writer I look forward to reading. Always December is an icon.
A Winter Wish has a couple of my fav tropes. Forced proximity with grumpy business co-owner.
A wishing jar, a travel company and parental relationships wrapped in grief makes for a touching romance with surprising depth. Highly recommend for the seasonal reader. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I've read all of Emily Stone's holiday novels and unfortunately, this one was my least favorite. It didn't even seem like a Christmas book until the very end so if readers are looking for a book to get them into the holiday spirit, this might be a bit of a disappointment. I thought the plot was entertaining, but I didn't find either of the main characters very likeable.

Summary: When an unexpected inheritance forces two total opposites to work together, Lexie must decide if Theo is going to push her out—or pull her in for the kiss of a lifetime.

Thanks NetGalley and Dell Publishing for the early copy for me to read and review.

I love a Christmas romance, and I enjoyed Love, Holly last year. This year wasn’t as holiday focused but I did enjoy the banter and all the talk of travel.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Lexie and Theo meet a better her father passes away and leave her half his travel business, the other half going to Theo. The catch is they must work together for a year. A great read and some great places they visit inspire you to book a flight!

An enjoyable and easy read. I felt that the chemistry between the main leads was lacking, but Lexie’s character development was well done. The ending seemed too neatly put together and rushed but I would recommend this book for lovers of holiday romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballentine for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

stars for A Winter Wish. I didn't quite feel the chemistry between Lexie and Theo. I did notice that I have given each book I have read by Emily Stone three stars. I enjoy her books, but they don't leave a lasting impact on me. Good to get in the holiday spirit for me. I'll keep reading her future novels!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. A Winter Wish is available on October 15, 2024.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this arc.

Lexie's estranged dad passes from cancer and leaves her half of his travel business. Lexie is used to living on the go, with her life in 2 suitcases and no desire to stay in one place more than 6 months. The other half of the company goes to Theo. They got off on the wrong foot and didn't get along. Legally Lexie has to put a year minimum into the company before she can try to sell, but how can she run a business with someone who seems to hate her?

At first I actually really did not care for Lexie at all. She was harsh and cold, and couldn't seem to get sentences out. But as the story goes on her character develops and you find out why she was that way. I enjoyed this one. I liked all the travel and that the story took place over a year and not a few weeks.

4 stars for me.