One Day in December: Reese's Book Club: Reese's Book Club: A Novel Paperback – 16 Oct. 2018

It's a cold December day, and Laurie is on her way home from work on the bus, when through the window her eyes lock with a stranger waiting at the bus stop. It's a moment like from the movies, the moment she falls in love, however, the bus drives away before the stranger can get on. For the next year, Laurie searches avidly for 'bus-boy', that is until she finds herself being introduced to him as her best friend Sarah's new boyfriend! Over the course of the next decade, we follow Laurie, Sarah and Jack as their lives and loves intersect. Can there be a happy ending for all of them?This is a heart-warming story about love, friendship and fate, that actually reads like a movie. Set mainly in London, it has a nostalgic feel to it, and is charmingly told; certainly it makes for the perfect winter read to lose oneself in.The trio of central characters are all well-developed, and Laurie as the heroine is particularly easy to like. The story is told from both Laurie and Jack's perspectives, which I think worked really well, and helps the reader to get an insight into what they are both thinking at times, particularly when their actions don't always tally with their thoughts.I also liked that this was more than just a love story. The friendships between the characters felt genuine, and were just as important as the romantic relationships. We also follow the characters through the general ups and downs of life, watching them struggle at times with grief or set backs, seeing them at their most vulnerable, and at times their most unlikeable too. Given the ten year span of the story, I think this helped give the characters a sense of development and growth. I think it is also to Josie Silver's credit, that she invests as much time as she does in Laurie and Oscar's relationship, and doesn't portray Oscar as the one-dimensional sort of character he could easily have been.The main romance itself is utterly compelling, and takes the reader on a real roller-coaster of emotions. Indeed the book is full of humour and quirky moments, as well as some heart-breaking moments. In truth for me this book had it all; yes it was a little cliche in parts, however, it honestly didn't matter because it was all so gorgeously told.This is just waiting to be made into a Christmas Rom-Com; a true gem!

This was an ingenious plot and the twists and turns were essential to work out the story and bring it to a good conclusion. The characters were cleverly drawn, well contrasted and worked well together. The friendship of the two women was very well worked out and believable. Also the breakdown of the marriage was well done and moving. I did object to the bad language, which I felt was at times gratuitous but this is my only criticism.. However a good and readable book.

One Day in December is one of those books that you start and within a couple of chapters you know you will not be putting it down - not for anything! The further into the book I read, the more involved I got and there was just no way I would, or could, stop until the very last word.The story of Laurie and those she loves is engaging, frustrating yet heartwarming. You can identify the many ways one person can love and be loved - evident through the different relationships developed in this story. If you haven't had one 100% true love yet, or you have had several, if you have lost love or those that you love - you will identify with Laurie at some point in this book and that's what makes it utterly fantastic and will appeal to so many. This is not your typical love story; it isn't as simple as girl meets boy, they fall in love, something happens to break them but within a couple of chapters the book ends with them reconciled. One Day in December is full of love, all consuming and life-changing love but broken down with an interwoven tale of angst, heart break and loss.I enjoyed the characters and though the focus is really on the situations they put themselves in, the characters are relatable and interesting, with none really pushing my buttons and annoying me like some can in other books. You grow with these characters, the time span of the story is over a decade - an emotional rollercoaster from the perspectives of Laurie and Jack. You are given their inner most thoughts and feelings and entrusted with their heartbreaking secrets; you know they care deeply for each other as well as the other characters.Josie Silver balances angsty, emotional story lines with scenes of humour and light; some quirky moments alongside the ones that have you reaching for the tissues. It's a fairly short read, but it is perfect for a cold day in December; you can get cosy and enjoy the book.Thank you Josie Silver for giving us such a gorgeous book, full of heart and soul. I loved reading every word. It was emotional and definitely gave me moments where I could reflect on my own life and events within it that enabled a strong connection with the main character that I haven't had in many books this year.