One Day In December // Book Review

About The Book
Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable love story. What follows for Laurie, Sarah, and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming, and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3RBLkYS

My Rating


Unfortunately, this book has a lot of my pet peeves when it comes to romance novels. I wanted a cute, winter love at first sight romance, with a few obstacles. However, this wasn’t a traditional romance, and they weren’t actually together for much of the story. Also, only some of the novel is based at Christmas time, so keep that in mind.

In the book we follow Laura, who, one December day, is instantly drawn to a young man she sees out of the bus window. She spends a year searching for who she calls bus boy. Then, her best friend introduces her to her new boyfriend, Jack, whom, as you could’ve guessed, is bus boy.

Thus years of pining follow, as the two try their best to move on from their connection. But does this actually work? No, because throughout the book, there is seriously this emotional pool between them. As the reader, I would get so frustrated that they just wouldn’t admit their feelings and attempt to be together.

“If anyone ever asks if I’ve ever fallen in love at first sight, I shall say yes. For one glorious moment on the 21st of December 2006.”

The biggest con is that we watch them try, and fail, to fall in love with other people. Or in Jack’s case, randomly hook up with other women. For being a romance novel, I wanted them to actually be together, which isn’t the case. We never get to actually view them as a couple, which is frustrating to me.

However, the books most redeeming quality is the writing. I loved Josie Silver’s writing style. Although the plot wasn’t my favorite, and I didn’t really enjoy 75% of the book, the writing is what kept me reading, and I would probably pick up more of her books in the future.

Overall, the one thing that is desperately missing from this book is an epilogue. If you were going to give me an almost 400 pages romance novel without actually any romance. I’m gonna need an epilogue so that I get a tiny glimpse of the love interests actually being together. Nevertheless, I did like the message that home isn’t a place, but a person, which is a very romantic sentiment.

Sorry, if this review was a little bit spoilery. I didn’t know how to write it without adding my actual thoughts, which could be considered spoiling the book. But, if you are a fan of book reviews usually spoiler free ones give my blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny


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Paige C.
10 months ago

I loved your review so much!
You initially expressed some reservations about the writing style, which is so relatable, but you also highlighted the intriguing elements that kept you engaged, like the characters’ complex relationships. This post talked about both the good and bad aspects, which is uncommon.
This review is so well-structured and thoughtfully composed. Thank you!