One Day In December by Josie Silver
Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable love story. Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there's a moment of pure magic...and then her bus drives away. Certain they're fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn't find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they "reunite" at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It's Jack, the man from the bus. It would be. 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.
A love triangle and its consequences experienced over a 10 year span.
First of all, I know that this is an unpopular opinion. The majority of reviews I have seen range from 4 stars to 5 stars. This book ALMOST got a flat 3 stars but I did read it really quickly so I feel like that needs to count for something.The writing in this book is amazing. I loved it, it's kind of conversational in tone and I would definitely pick up another Josie Silver book without even thinking about it.Starting just after page 100, Laurie takes a trip to Thailand. Fun fact, I taught English for a summer in Thailand and I loved it. The descriptions and the phrases she uses took me right back there. This was a BIG highlight for me because the Thai people were amazing and I had such an extraordinary experience with them, that I just adored reading about another Thailand fangirl in the pages of this book!After my second night reading this book (probably like pages 100-200ish) I had a good idea who the characters were going to end up with. This might be a negative for some people but the first 100 pages of the book stressed me out so much that this was actually a big plus for me.There were some really good quotes in this book that I liked. Here are a few for you to sample:"This isn't romance by the numbers, it's real life.""I don't know if love should feel like that, you know? ...making an effort to be someone ever so slightly different from who we really are."If these quotes don't show you already- this isn't a light and fluffy read that I find a lot of people describing it as. It is funny, but I would call this a romance drama.
The love triangle! Oh My Gosh. I HATE love triangles. Some people might have a different opinion of love triangles... oh ya, I don't care because this is my review! hahaThere is lying to perpetuate the love triangle in the first 100 pages and ... It. Is. Stressful. I read the first 100 pages the first night and I didn't even want to pick the book up the next day because I was so stressed about the darn love triangle! That might be a severe reaction for most people- but this book is well written so you like all of the people in it, and you can't help but be annoyed that someone is gonna get the rug pulled out from under them when the resolution finally takes place.The ending. I did not like the ending. I thought... wait what? I was shocked there wasn't an epilogue. Maybe there is going to be a second book? A novella? I haven't seen any news so... this is a big strike in the negative column for me.There were some plot points in this book that I needed answers to. One specifically involving a character named Oscar. But no spoilers here... if you read it... come talk to me!My biggest dislike in this book was that a lot of this book was painful for me. A plethora of bad decisions or life choices and 10 years of seeing the consequences of those choices. Ugh. My heart hurt sometimes reading it!
Listen to this mini playlist:-3 Wishes by Dave Thomas Junior-In My Arms by Johnnyswim-Can't Help Falling In Love by Kina Granis-Stronger Than Me by the Cast of Nashville-What I Know by Parachute-Villains by Johnnyswim-Ho Hey by Lennon and MaisyDrink- alcohol. It doesn't matter what kind. This book will drive you drinking. I'm joking. The characters drink a lot in the book. haha, that's why I chose this option.Watch: Bridget Jones's Diary