Always in December, by Emily Stone

I wanted to kick off the holiday season with a Christmas read and thought this book would fit the bill. Always in December, by Emily Stone isn’t exactly what I expected, but an okay read nonetheless.

Every December, Josie writes a letter to her parents whom she lost on Christmas many years ago. On her way to mail the letter, she bumps into Max (well, hits him with her bike, lol). They end up hitting it off, spending the holiday together after he misses his flight, and then wakes up one morning to find him gone without so much as a goodbye or a number where he can be reached.Fate brings Josie and Max back together again several times over the course of the following year, but Max never lets on why he ever ghosted Josie in the first place. Fate has a dark sense of humor because when Max and Josie meet again for the last time, the unexpected happens.

Let me just start by saying that I didn’t hate this book, but I didn’t love it either. It was just okay for me. Because Josie and Max never really fleshed out their relationship, I never had an emotional attachment to them as a couple or anything else. Everyone told me to have my tissues on standby, but I never picked them up. I’m not saying my heartstrings weren’t pulled, I just had no emotional investment in the characters so I didn’t tear up as I originally anticipated.

Truly, this was a sweet story. A slow burn that sort of dragged on in parts, but was well written and enjoyable overall. I personally wouldn’t say this is a book everyone needs to read, by my opinion is just that…an opinion based on personal mood and preference. So many of my friends gushed over this one, so don’t let my personal experience with this book deter you from picking it up.

3.5 out of 5 stars.