One Day in December by Josie Silver

Reading One Day in December is a like a getting a warm hug on a chilly winter day.  It warmed our hearts and left us feeling like we just experienced something very special.  

One Day in December by Josie Silver

Brenda’s review

I have been talking about a few books I have read lately that have not been my normal and One Day in December was definitely one of them.  This sister does not have a romantic bone in her. My poor husband.

One Day in December is warm, captivating, unforgettable and quirky love story not only between couples but within a friendship as well.  It’s a story of friendship, loyalty, and missing chances that left us questioning if they really were.

Sometimes I think I am more romantic when it comes to friendships.  I envied the relationship our main characters Laurie and Sarah had. Both characters were so different from each yet similar in some ways.  

One of the things that makes this story so great is how it is told over a long period of time.  We really get the chance to connect to the characters and see them develop, change, and experience different things.  The dynamic between the characters seemed realistic and was heartwarming and truly special.

One Day in December made for one of the best group discussions we have had.  We received a group kit with discussion questions and it had some of the best questions we have yet used.  You can find them online as well. The questions are very thought-provoking, easy to answer and really related to the theme, insight and emotions we felt towards the story.

We highly recommend this one and think it is one to put on your do not miss list.  If you get the chance to read it in a group we suggest taking it as its one of the best stories to discuss.  You could always join the Traveling Friends. This is one I am definitely going to suggest they read.

Norma’s review

Smashing, engrossing & devouring!

Wow! I absolutely LOVED this book! Laurie, Sarah & Jack were great characters!

Random amusing line:
“I squint, trying to duck my head to see what he’s reading ….”

Oh my, I think all of us book lovers can relate to that sentence. I know that I have done that very same thing so many times!

ONE DAY IN DECEMBER by JOSIE SILVER is a fabulous, brilliant, heartwarming and delightful story that completely stole my heart and consumed my thoughts. It took me less than 24 hours to read this book because once I started reading it I absolutely could not put it down. It had me totally absorbed, entertained, and interested in the storyline right from the very first page.

The way that this story was told and presented was actually much more than your typical love story. It was such a powerful and moving story that had so much heart and warmth flowing through the pages of this book that I absolutely could not get enough of. I’m actually kind of a little disappointed that the story was over. It definitely left me yearning for more but in a good way though.

JOSIE SILVER delivers an engaging, intriguing and beautifully written tale of love, friendship, hope, longing, loss and regret that flowed so perfectly. I was wholly impressed with Josie Silver’s writing style and how perfectly she interweaves the passage of time and storyline with the perspectives of Laurie and Jack. I have totally invested in these characters lives and was definitely hoping for a happily ever after for them.

It was one of those books that were definitely an all-consuming read for me and the perfect winter escape.

Lindsay’s review 

Charming.   Witty. Endearing.  Refreshing. Heartwarming.

I do not generally read romance, but when Brenda and Norma offered the Traveling Sisters the opportunity to read this title, I thought I would take a chance and try it out.  I am SO GLAD I did! This is not your typical love story.

This novel follows Laurie who believes she has found “the one” when she happens to look through the window of the bus she is on and makes magical eye contact with a handsome stranger.   She doesn’t believe in love at first sight, yet she feels an unexplainable intense connection to this man as her bus drives away. Along with the help of her best friend Sarah, Laurie spends the next year scouring the city in the hopes of reuniting with this handsome stranger.   Over a year later, Laurie does reunite with this man, named Jack, although it is not in the way she had hoped…..

This book spans over a decade in which we follow the ever-changing relationship dynamic between Laurie, Sarah and Jack.  The author, Josie Silver, does an outstanding job with character development. I was completely invested in their lives and I simply adored Laurie.   The pace and flow of the story was perfect which is impressive considering the many time jumps throughout the plot. I loved the ‘New Year’s Resolution’ sections – they were a brilliant addition to the novel.

From Nikki’s review

One Day in December is an absolutely delightful read. It’s the story of friends, fate, what-ifs, navigating adulthood, and all the roads taken and not taken. Picture Laurie on a bus having a love-at-first-sight moment with a young man. A connection. A click. That once in a lifetime feeling. And the bus drives away. Laurie is left to ponder, stress, agonize over this moment and this man. She spends months and months looking and hoping to find her Bus Boy. And one day she does. But not at all under the circumstances she imagined.

Told from both Laurie’s and Jack’s perspectives, One Day in December takes the reader through the years of their lives, keeping the reader on edge and engaged the entire time. The characters are well developed and relatable, and I found myself completely connected to the story. This novel is a wonderful mix of heartwarming moments, heartbreaking moments, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Norma’s Stats:
Cover: I love everything about this cover from that beautiful design to the embossed snowflakes!
Title: Appealing, intriguing, and such a meaningful and fitting representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, beautiful, impressive, engaging, captivating, and fluid.
Plot: Warming, sweet, comical, thought-provoking, engrossing, perfectly-paced, enjoyable and extremely entertaining. I adored this storyline!
Ending: A touching and emotional ending that I was extremely satisfied with that left me with that warm fuzzy afterglow feeling. If a book produces that feeling from me then it is a splendid read indeed!
Overall: This book was beyond wonderful! Loved, loved, loved it! This book has made my top five books of the year! Would highly recommend!

Thank you so much to Crown Publishing and Josie Silver for gifting us the Perfect Night In book club kit and sending out copies to The Traveling Sisters.  It was an absolute pleasure reading this incredible book!

Have you read this one?  What are your thoughts?  Want to read it? Drop us a comment!  We would love to hear from you!