Always, in December

I originally requested an advanced copy of this book because I was in the mood for a light Christmas romance. Tis almost the season, right?! 

But that's not the book I got.

Always, in December has a quick and brief romance between Josie and Max, but this is more of a story about missed opportunities and grief - particularly how it stays with you, despite the years that pass. Not a light and fluffy read, to be sure. 

The story heavily relies on the fact that readers accept the idea of a quick but lasting bond between two strangers. This couple are together for a few days and then spend most of the book apart, only meeting accidentally a couple of times over the following year. This first third of the book was sweet and their initial awkwardness was endearing, but readers are told rather than shown this chemistry between Josie and Max. The rest of the book felt overly drawn out, culminating in an ending that didn't sit well with me.

Here's a rundown of my feelings for this book:

What I liked:

- initial Christmas-y feel

- how the couple first meets

- the descriptions of the beautiful locations

What I didn't like:

- the story is told in the third person which made me feel disconnected from the characters and their emotions

- requires readers to believe in Insta-love

- the story relies heavily on the lack of communication trope with several near misses that could have easily been explained in 2 minutes if Josie and Max had just had a quick chat. Instead, things are drawn out and became frustrating

- the abrupt twist that didn't give readers time to digest it and bypassed the opportunity for some in-depth emotion. It felt like a contrived emotional Hail Mary than the tear-fest I think it was expected to be

I'm feeling particularly cranky about Always, in December and think my initial expectations for a lighter, Christmas romance impacted my feelings for it. I'm in the minority with my feelings for this book but I think others may find this book to be a better fit.

Disclaimer: My thanks to Random House Ballantine for my advanced copy provided in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Emily Stone

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell

First Published: October 12, 2021

Opening Lines: Josie stood in the doorway of her flat, under 

the mistletoe that Bia had insisited they hang "just 

in case," and stared mutely at the box Oliver was clutching.

Book Description from GoodReads: It started with a letter. It ended with a love story.

From London to Manhattan, from Edinburgh to the English countryside, this stay-up-all-night read is impossible to forget...

Josie Morgan never looks forward to December. It's always a reminder of the life she lost, twenty years ago. Now, she always switches off the radio when Christmas music comes on. She always wants to tear down the tinsel her flatmate insists on pinning up. And she always posts a letter she knows will never be read.

Max Carter never expected to find himself stranded in London just days before Christmas. He never expected it would be so hard to say goodbye to a woman he hardly knows. Then again, he never expected to fall in love.

But, this December, when Josie's letter leads her to Max, a chance encounter will change their lives in the most remarkable way. And their story is only just beginning ...