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Always, in December
Always, in December: A Novel | Emily Stone
104 posts | 50 read | 26 to read
A chance encounter during the holiday season brings two people together as quickly as it tears them apart--until fate intervenes again (and again) in this romantic debut novel in the tradition of One Day in December. Every December, Josie posts a letter from her home in London to the parents she lost on Christmas night many years ago. Each year, she writes the same three words: Missing you, always. But this year, her annual trip to the postbox is enlivened by a bicycle collision with a handsome stranger--a stranger that she apologizes to by taking him out for a drink. Josie always thought she was the only one who avoided the Christmas season, but this year, Max has his own reasons for doing the same. As coincidence causes them to spend the holiday together, Josie thinks this might be the start of something new--only for him to disappear without saying goodbye. Over the course of the next year, they continue to bump into each other in places they'd never expect, from New York City to Edinburgh, and it turns out there's more to Max than Josie thought. But will fate bring them together, or will it tear them apart? A devastatingly romantic, life-affirming love story, Always, in December will stay with readers long after they've finished the last page.
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BooksNBowls
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Happy December everybody!! I‘m back from a bit of a hiatus, but I have been reading so prepare for a review dump! 😁 I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! ❤️❤️

Bookwomble Welcome back 👋😊 3w
TheBookgeekFrau Welcome back! 😊 3w
35 likes2 comments
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TheEllieMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

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kstadt929
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Pickpick

This was 10000% NOT the lighthearted holiday read I was hoping for 😅 but I loved it just the same ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ProudBookNerd I agree! What an ending. 2y
17 likes1 comment
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TLuvs
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Last holiday themed book of the year.

TLuvs A beautifully written realistic/contemporary fiction! Love, family, friends, loss, career, dreams... exactly what life does and doesn't give to people. I listened on audiobook and the narrator did fantastic! 2y
TLuvs I have read both books by this author and will absolutely read all that she continues to write! 2y
10 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Beck9lol
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I haven't been reading much this year. My great #litsypenpal has come to the rescue with some perfect holiday goodies. Books on point per usual, nutcracker salt n‘ pepper shakers (which I used for Christmas dinner but forgot to fill them), fun lip balms that I so desperately need, goodies for the pup, nutcracker notepad, and the best thing. It's a reading shawl! I love it all, @Litlady thank you so much!!!!Merry Christmas🎄and Happy New Year all!

Crazeedi Very wonderful!! 2y
Litlady Merry Christmas! 🌲🎅🏻🌲📚 2y
25 likes2 comments
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TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

I was looking forward to another Christmas rom-com, & while this starts off in the direction with Josie meeting Max by chance as the perfect distraction from a dreaded anniversary & the recent bad news on both the career and her relationship, but as the year progresses, & their chance encounters continue, Max‘s own secret changes the holiday tone into something my inner-Lurlene-McDaniel-obsessed-4th-grader approved of… but not much holiday spirit!

GondorGirl Okay, but my inner fourth grade is really intrigued now! 😅 2y
EclecticBookLover Oh wow, I read Lurlene McDaniel and I knew EXACTLY the direction this is heading in. I hope to finish it by the end of the year. I never read any of her books, but my friends did and we talked about them. 2y
TorieStorieS @GondorGirl Hahahaha! I hope you enjoy this then! I really did like the audio and was thoroughly hooked but I can see some feeling cheated out of something lighter! 2y
TorieStorieS @EclecticBookLover Hahahaha!! I remember forcing two of my friends to read her books and was shocked when they didn‘t immediately want to read all the rest of them like I did! I really had a different ending in mind for this one while listening so I understand its mixed reviews! 2y
47 likes1 stack add4 comments
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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

Geez not a holiday read that's for sure.

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CoffeeNBooks
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Panpan

While this one started with great potential, I feel like it spiraled downward quickly. It was not what I expected, and there were several things in the story that I think were written poorly. This is not a light, fun holiday read!

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Read4life
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That‘s a wrap on #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin for 2022. 2 DNFs & 22 read means all 24 are off my TBR shelf. Thank you, @TheAromaofBooks for hosting this. I‘m looking forward to participating in 2023.

britt_brooke Cute graphic! 2y
Read4life @britt_brooke Thank you. @chasjjlee shared it with me. 🤓 2y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Fabulous year!!! 2y
45 likes3 comments
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julieclair
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Pickpick

This book was not the fluffy light romcom I was expecting. There was some of that, but a much deeper range of emotions and challenges as well. I never read the book jacket comments before I start a book, as I am afraid of spoilers, so I really was unprepared. All in all, a good story and a worthwhile read, but there were a few too many coincidences in the plot to suit me. #SundayBuddyRead

TheBookHippie It was a BIG OY VEY for me........ So grateful to have you along for the adventure!! HA. 2y
Andrew65 Yes, this book wasn‘t for me as it wasn‘t what it was pretending to be. Well done on completing it. Like you I never read the blurb as have had books spoiled for me before reading that 🎄🎅🏼🎄 2y
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2y
peanutnine Great job! I still have to finish this one 🫣 2y
36 likes5 comments
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

Giving this book a pick because the writing was good & I was very vested in the outcome even though I saw some things coming early on & there was an abrupt plot jump I didn‘t like. It‘s more personal growth than holiday romance & explores themes of loss/grief (early on we learn the MC lost her parents at a young age at Christmas) so if that triggers you, especially during the holidays or you want something light & fun, I wouldn‘t choose this one.

DebinHawaii Thanks to @TheBookHippie for the always great #SundayBuddyRead discussions. 🤗 2y
60 likes1 stack add1 comment
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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

Oh My Goodness Gracious. This book. I‘m not going to give spoilers but this one is going to grab your emotions and run with them. So be fully prepared for that. I have a feeling this is an all in liked it or all in don‘t like it kinda read. This was my #doublespin #bookspin read! @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
54 likes1 comment
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Read4life
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Pickpick

Our #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD discussion is tomorrow. Definitely not what I expected when I started the book but I enjoyed the writing and the story definitely gave me all the feels. It was also my #DoubleSpin book for December.

#WinterReadathon #DoubleSpin BookSpinBingo #Adventathon #LitsyLoveReads

Andrew65 Interesting developments in this book! Well done ☃️☃️☃️ (edited) 2y
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
BookmarkTavern Congrats on your Double Spin! 2y
43 likes4 comments
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mcctrish
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Pickpick

Finished #sundaybuddyread last night. I can‘t wait until tomorrow because I have things to say!!! This was not what I was expecting and I continue to be amazed at how pacing out the reading for each sunday really impacts my reaction to the stories.

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Andrew65
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Mehso-so

Not sure how to rate this book. It was very well written but toward the end you have a big shock coming, that in no way the book or writing prepared you for, and it just came out of nowhere and was instant. 😢😭 Definitely doesn‘t leave you any feel good factor.

For that reason I have rated it So-So but can‘t say it was a poor book because it definitely wasn‘t, more about the reaction to what was written.

@TheBookHippie #SundayBuddyRead

DieAReader 🔥🔥🔥 2y
willaful That is my biggest book pet peeve. I ran across books like that all the time when I was a teen and just hate it so much! 2y
Andrew65 @willaful Yes can really turn you off a book or author. 2y
71 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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wanderinglynn
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Pickpick

I seriously hate this book. I am gutted. Absolutely gutted.

I briefly read the synopsis of this book & thought it was a holiday romance, maybe a little bit more serious than the typical holiday romance. But hey, not every romance needs to be totally light and fluffy as long as there's a HEA. I figured this was along the lines of Josie's Silvers One Day in December.

Well clearly, I should have read some reviews. Because I was wrong. So wrong.

wanderinglynn This book ripped my heart out a la Nichols' One Day. And now, I am sitting here, 9 days before Christmas, bawling my eyes out. Did I see the ending coming? Not at first but eventually. But I kept thinking, no, no, that can't be how this is going to end.
2y
wanderinglynn Now that my heart has been shattered into a thousand pieces, I'm going to go build myself a blanket fort, make a bucket load of tea, and surround myself with some of those fluffy, light romances that are so Hallmark-esque in their sticky sweet predictable, guaranteed HEAs, and try to staple my heart back together. 2y
See All 10 Comments
JenReadsAlot I was thinking about reading this soon.... maybe not?! I loved One Day but the feels! 2y
wanderinglynn @JenReadsAlot it‘s really well done, written beautifully. But be prepared. Like One day, this one has all.the.feels. 2y
Andrew65 Finished this last night and know how you feel 😢 I just didn‘t see that coming. Like you thought this would be a HEA. Not fair! 2y
peanutnine I've been putting off reading the last section of this one because I don't want to be sad lol 2y
wanderinglynn @Andrew65 right! Totally gutted. 2y
wanderinglynn @peanutnine I get that. I almost put it down but I just couldn‘t stop. 2y
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2y
65 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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kstadt929
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Next up! Hoping for a nice, quick, lighthearted holiday read ❤️🎄

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megnews
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Mehso-so

What the heck?! I was listening on audio while driving or I would have thrown across the room! I‘m mad at Emily Stone. Why would she do this to us? #sundaybuddyread

TheBookHippie 🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐 also Sundays conversation shall be goooooood 🤫🤫🤫🤫 2y
vlwelser 🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐 2y
49 likes2 comments
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vlwelser
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Pickpick
TheBookHippie Shhhhhhh 🤐🤫🤐🤫🤐 2y
CoffeeNBooks I'm ready to read this week's section, and optimistic that it ends well! 2y
CoffeeNBooks @vlwelser 😂 So no hints then? 🤣 I'll keep reading... 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
53 likes5 comments
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Andrew65
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Time to return to Always in December for the second section of the #SundayBuddyRead, ready for the discussion tomorrow. Chapter 11 - 20.

@TheBookHippie

#WinterReadathon
@DieAReader @Ghabi4Roses

DieAReader 📚🤓♥️ 2y
TheBookHippie ❄️🎄♥️ 2y
Jennifer3 I loved this one! 2y
Andrew65 @Jennifer3 It is a very enjoyable book. 2y
77 likes4 comments
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
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Just checking in friends! Why did I think I could read/listen to 16 books this month?! Because I'm delusional! 🤣 I'm about 40% through this one and can catch up on the week 1 questions. I'm nearly done with Madam and about 35% through The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke. I'm not collecting points but reading by twinkle light with a glass of wine & the pup nearby brings me joy. Happy Weekend!
@Andrew65
#sundaybuddyread @TheBookHippie

TheBookHippie 😂😂😂♥️🎄❄️ 2y
Andrew65 😂😂😂 Forget about how many books you are reading and just hve a lovely relaxed weekend of reading. ☃️☃️☃️ 2y
kspenmoll I always think I can read more than i do- take in too many challenges, etc. just do what you are doing! Read in a pub, read where & when it feels right. Just enjoy & live yr life- advice I frequently have to remind myself to follow!! 😀🎄☃️ love that you are reading by “twinkle light”! (edited) 2y
51 likes3 comments
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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

This book was just lovely and heartbreaking and just great. I‘m so glad that I picked it up. This is not a romance. I had no idea what this book was going to really be about. I loved Josie and Max and the way the story unfolded.

I‘m glad I saw in the goodreads reviews about this book making people cry. I of course didn‘t know why. And I was cleaning the bathroom today and choking up! 😭😭😭

#winterreadathon

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2y
kplovesbooks I've always wanted to pick this one up. But I don't do well with just romancy type books, so I never did. Your review makes me want to rethink this. 🤔 2y
Andrew65 I‘m part way through this one. Well done 🎄🎄🎅🏼 2y
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Laughterhp @kplovesbooks It definitely has relationships and romance in it, but it‘s not a cheesy romance and has substance! I‘d recommend it. 2y
AmyG Oh no, a “a crying book”. I am reading this for the #SundayBuddyRead and enjoying it. 2y
kplovesbooks @Laughterhp Good! It was the cheesy stuff I was afraid of! 2y
62 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Deblovestoread
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#WinterReadathonBingo. Week 1 - 4 corners

Most came from the tagged book but a few are from The Secret of Snow.

DieAReader Great job!🥳🥳🥳 2y
Andrew65 Brilliant, well done 🎄🎄🎄 2y
35 likes2 comments
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mcctrish
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Prepping for #sundaybuddyread or celebrating the end of Wednesday aka why can‘t it be Friday 🍷 ( when will I get a chip emoji?! )

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Deblovestoread
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Josie writes a letter every Christmas. Reading for #SundayBuddyRead and I‘m expecting a HAE which will bring joy.

#WinterReadathonDailyChallenge #Day7

DieAReader ♥️♥️♥️ 2y
Andrew65 Me too! 😁😁😁 2y
48 likes2 comments
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Aimeesue
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Not my usual type of read, but I'm a sucker for easy to follow audiobooks where the narrator has a British accent