Winter Longing

Jun 06, 2012 Ariana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, emotional, ya-contemporary, sweet-romance, death-and-dying

This was such an emotional story. The beginning was light and somehow funny, introducing the characters which I found really enjoyable , then it was just heart breaking to see how death can change everything and everyone.

Indeed it's a story about the power of moving on even though your heart is breaking, even though you might feel that the world has nothing else to offer.

From time to time the story seemed a little bit rushed, like those months were not enough, but who am I to say how long shoul...more

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Dec 27, 2010 Arlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2010, ya-contemporary, cover-pda-fave, young-adult

A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. – IB

Okay, it might not come as a surprise, but I just have to say I’m a sap for love stories and happily-ever-afters. What can I say?? So did I like Winter Longing?? I sure did. It was a super sweet read that was filled with loveable characters and heartfelt moments that had me sighing and holding back the tears.

The story commences with Winter suffering a terrible blow as she deals with a terrible tragedy i...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: falling-for-the-boy-next-door

It will never cease to amaze me how our worlds, dreams, and personalities—our very beings—are colored, supported, and influenced by the people around us. When we lose someone close to us everything can change. Things we loved doing are now painful. People we once looked upon with love now cause pain laced with memories of the one we lost. So. How do we keep going?

Winter Longing by Tricia Mills tells the story of such loss and the struggle the heart faces to try to move on. Readers are introduced...more It will never cease to amaze me how our worlds, dreams, and personalities—our very beings—are colored, supported, and influenced by the people around us. When we lose someone close to us everything can change. Things we loved doing are now painful. People we once looked upon with love now cause pain laced with memories of the one we lost. So. How do we keep going?

Winter Longing by Tricia Mills tells the story of such loss and the struggle the heart faces to try to move on. Readers are introduced to Winter Craig on the most painful day of her life. The day she lost Spencer, her best friend and first love. The boy she just risked telling she liked more than just a friend. Spencer’s death changes everything in Winter’s life in an instant with such sudden force and pain. He was a part of her everyday, her future, her dreams, her everything. Where does she go to escape the pain and memories to find peace and comfort?

Look no further than the boy next door! :) Oh-how I love that boy next door! Jesse Kerr is adorable, strong, and seemingly everywhere Winter needs a shoulder, hand up, or someone to listen. Sigh…The boy melted my heart at times with his concern and warmth. Winter and Jesse develop a new friendship filled with a lot of heat and longing. Winter’s heart starts to flutter for Jesse along with increasing guilt of their growing attraction. Can she have feelings for Jesse so soon after losing Spencer? How can she move on, be happy, and possibly love again with someone new? The struggle to be happy in the face of grief is a battle we will probably never have a clear-cut answer to in this world—the heart heals and moves on when it is ready. A little neighborly love doesn’t hurt either! :D

For me though, the most important ingredient of this book was the likeability of the characters. I really liked them all—Winter, her best friend Lindsay, Spencer, and Jesse made me cry, laugh, cheer, and swoon a bit. Even though Spencer was lost to us early in the book, readers still get to see, know, and love him through Winter’s memories, which were layered throughout the book and break up each chapter. The technique was a beautiful way to make readers feel Winter’s deep loss and longing for Spencer through out the story. Alaska herself might have been my favorite character though. The beautiful descriptions of the land, people, snow, “brrrrr-in-my-bones”cold weather, darkness, colors, hockey, and characters in nature all brought this tale to life in a magical, warm way.

“The winter chill was sniffing at Alaska’s door, trying to find a way in so she could blanket the land with snow, freeze the Naknek in to a rough sheet of ice, and invite long hours of darkness out to play.”

Winter Longing does a beautiful job of showing readers that grief is a process that changes moment to moment. Winter realizes she has to go on with her life, to learn to be friends with Lindsay one on one without Spencer, help others through their pain, and perhaps try to love again. You might be fine one day and then backslide all the way back to a big ole sobbing ball in bed, which is okay—as long as you get back up and try again.

Love, friendship, kindness, and remembering are the best ways to help the heart heal. Winter may just inspire you to open up your heart and love again.

This review & other fun stuff can be found on http://www.galleysmith.com.
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Mar 19, 2011 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tbr-booker-challenge, gave-or-give-away, read-2011, contemporary, young-adult

TBR Reduce Challenge #16- 2011 (Stefanie)

This book broke my heart:(

Winter has loved Spencer since she was eight years old and when they finally go from friends to more, she loses him the very next day. Through random flashback and memories we get to see Spencer and Winter interact from children till the very last night together.
Winter's grief felt like it was pulling you through an endless pit of pure heart fail. But, for every terrible moment in your life, there is a silver lining, and for Wi...more

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Dec 04, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Winter Longing is a story about love, grief, and the guilt that comes from moving on. It was a beautiful bittersweet story in a beautiful setting, Alaska.

Winter Craig’s dream has come true. After crushing on her best friend, Spencer, for years, they’ve admitted their feelings and shared several dreamy kisses. They’ve committed to each other, finally becoming girlfriend and boyfriend instead of just friends. This has been long coming for both of them and throughout the story you have flashbacks...more Winter Longing is a story about love, grief, and the guilt that comes from moving on. It was a beautiful bittersweet story in a beautiful setting, Alaska.

Winter Craig’s dream has come true. After crushing on her best friend, Spencer, for years, they’ve admitted their feelings and shared several dreamy kisses. They’ve committed to each other, finally becoming girlfriend and boyfriend instead of just friends. This has been long coming for both of them and throughout the story you have flashbacks of the evidence. The euphoria is short lived when the next day Winter finds out that Spencer has died in a plane accident. How can life be so cruel?

However, whenever the grief is about to swallow her up, or she gets stuck in an awkward situation, Jesse, her next door neighbor and fellow classmate, comes to the rescue. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time to step in. How did Winter not notice that he was such a decent guy or that he was all kinds of gorgeous? Two things were standing in the way: her obsessive love of Spencer and Jesse’s queen-bitch of a girlfriend, Patrice. Patrice and Spencer are no longer in the picture but Winter can’t help but feel guilty over the way Jesse makes her feel. How can she feel these things when
Spencer will never feel anything ever again? Her growing feelings are ones she tries to stifle and stuff away.

I had good feeling about this one when the author mentioned Northern Exposure, one of my all-time favorite TV series, in the dedication as inspiration for the Alaska setting, and this story did not disappoint. So achy and lovely, we see bits of the romance between Spencer and Winter over the years in snippets and flashbacks. My heart broke in several parts of this story. But, just like Winter, I couldn’t resist the appeal of Jesse, the ultimate gentleman, and unlikely confidante for her.

I expected Jesse to leave. Instead, he scooted closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and planting a soft kiss on my head. This time, the kiss might have been meant as comfort, but my heart fluttered that it might lead to more.

The brewing romance grows bit by bit, and a couple of times I wanted to shake Winter for putting Jesse off, but I could see why she did.

Winter Longing is the perfect broody winter read, best done by the fire with a cup of cocoa or perhaps a glass of wine. It’ll leave you with lifted spirits and warmth in your heart.

You can find this review along with a Winter Giveaway hosted by WinterHaven Books at The Readers Den.(less)

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Aug 30, 2010 Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) by: goodchoicereadin@aol.com

Shelves: for-fun

5 Stars!

Tricia Mills has written a beautiful story! I could not help but cry at some parts in the book. Tricia did such a great job at describing the way Winter felt, that I felt like I was in her shoes.

Winter has always been in love with her best friend Spencer. She finally got the courage to ask him out and when she does, Winter finds out that Spencer has always cared about her too. After finally getting the chance to be with Spencer, Winter loses him in a plane crash. Her whole world fell ap...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Princess Bookie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2010

My Thoughts: Oh My. Have you ordered this book yet? If you answer NO to that, you need to right now. Yes, it is that good. The setting is Alaska and I adore books set in Alaska, makes you feel like you are really there. We are introduced to Winter who is a teenage girl who has been lusting after Spencer for years upon years. He's one of her best friends. She reveals her feelings, kisses him, so excited for whats to come. Great, right? The next day she finds out his plane went down. He's dead. Sh...more My Thoughts: Oh My. Have you ordered this book yet? If you answer NO to that, you need to right now. Yes, it is that good. The setting is Alaska and I adore books set in Alaska, makes you feel like you are really there. We are introduced to Winter who is a teenage girl who has been lusting after Spencer for years upon years. He's one of her best friends. She reveals her feelings, kisses him, so excited for whats to come. Great, right? The next day she finds out his plane went down. He's dead. She's so torn apart. She's depressed. Shes trying to hold on with the help of her best friend, her parents, schoolmates, and her next door neighbor Jesse. Winter has never liked Jesse much, thinking he's a jerk and conceited. He dates the snob that Winter can't stand. In other words, she just does not like the guy much. He lives next door to her and she's barely talked to him. Things turn around when Jesse sees how much pain Winter is in and he tries to be there for her, tries to talk to her, tries to comfort her.

Winter realizes that maybe Jesse isn't so bad after all and she starts thinking about him more. They become friends. But than there is the realization of Spencer. How can she even remotely like another guy when her heart is supposed to belong to Spencer. She still longs for him but she's so confused. He's dead, what can she do?

This book was emotional. By about page 40 I was in tears. Yes, tears rolling down my cheeks. By the middle of the book I was smiling. This was such a roller coaster. I could relate to Winter. I could feel her emotions. I wanted Jesse, I wanted Spencer!

I liked the relationship between Jesse and Winter. I liked their conversations. I liked the way he made me feel. The conversations were as sweet as candy. But, I also liked the flashbacks of Spencer. I mean, come on, the boy sent her 2 Valentine's Day cards, sweet. But than there is Jesse, who followed her home after the funeral of Spencer. Decisions, Decisions.

This book was amazing. If you haven't read Tricia's other book Heartbreak River, I suggest you do.

Overall: One of the best books I've read this year. This is a definite book you should buy. Its also in paperback for those of you who buy books on a budget! Wonderful! Captivating! Amazing!

Cover: Love it! Its actually really cute the way he is kissing her forehead.

What I'd Give It: 5/5 cupcakes

Taken from Princess Bookie(less)

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May 21, 2010 Lena ♫ ♪ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

I cannot tell you how emotionally driven this book is. Within the first 40 pages, I was literally in TEARS! Throughout the book, I kept having to pull back soft sobs.

Though (at times) difficult to read, I still managed to stay up all night and finish it. I loved the characters (especially Jesse). When they felt pain, I felt pain. When they laughed, I laughed. Just like Winter, I kept hoping and praying somehow Spencer would return. But also like Winter, I knew better.

My favorite moments were t...more

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$~^ω^~{Augusti}~^ω^~$

Mar 13, 2013 ~^ω^~{Augusti}~^ω^~ rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: for everybody

Shelves: 2013-challenge, awesome-grl, best-friend-brothers-friend, chick-lit, favorites, outstanding-plot, read-with-tissues, short-challenge, ya, book-with-my-review, march

Goodreads synopsis:

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.
But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future . . . and a possible new love?

My review :
Sometimes w...more Goodreads synopsis:

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.
But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future . . . and a possible new love?

My review :
Sometimes when someone leaves you, they leave behind a gaping hole. Its hard to live, and hard to smile. every moment, every aspect of life reminds you what you lost forever, what you will never have again. Same thing happened with winter creg. The love of her life , whom she loved and cared for, besides being best friends dies. This is the story of a girl in pain, a girl who doesn't know how to let go of past, how to move on, when you know the one you miss so terribly isn't coming back. This is the story of a girl who loses her love and still wishes for his return. I really loved it, a very heart warming story about love lost and found. A story about how life keeps moving, how time never stops for anyone. Very beautifully written, I have read few other books where, when ones love dies the girl find solace in someone else so soon, and never liked it. But this story tugged at my heart, I could feel the agony winter was going through, the sparks, the attraction, that was building between winter and jessi yet she was struggling with it, holding it at bay, winter longing, what a perfect name, I think the author herself would have shed a tear or two reading her own work. Its just amazing ....... I normally don't dedicate anything to stories but today I want to....

From me to winter longing

I look out of the window wishing you be here,
Showing me the love you have, taking away all this fear,
I could see the twinkle in your eyes when you looked at me,
Teasing me with wanting eyes, holding me with such a warmth,
When you caressed my hand, I want to live in that feel,
But as I look Out of my window all is see is sky,
Empty, barrel, lonely, I sit, I cannot live how much I try.
Everyone is moving fast, can't they feel this loss,
Don't they miss you as I do, don't they know what is lost,
Time is passing yet I stay wishing you be here,
Wishing again you hold my hand propelling me near.

I know I can't sit by window all along the day,
I leave my sanctuary, keping my sadness at bay,
I want to go to that one place which was our heaven,
The place where water meets the sky, kissing like we kissed
Sometimes when wind touches my skin, I can feel your warmth,
I long for all the words I wished, which I could have said all along,
Walking down the narrow path, I come across a boy,
Sitting alone, with a sad smile, that lingered on his face,
I felt this maddening anger inside and this urge to shout,
O why can't anyone leave me alone, I just want to know
Looking up he smile at me, which engulfs me in fear,
Ignoring him I sit at bay, with lingering thought I cannot bear,
I know he want to say something, something I cannot want,
Something he is trying to say, which I do not want to hear,
He try to voice his thought, but I beat him to that,
Getting up I run so fast, leaving him behind,
When I reach a vintage point, do I dare to look ,
All I see his slumped shoulder, while slightly shaking his head .

Days turn weeks and weeks turn months,
Yet you don't return, all my hopes are shattering now,
All my dreams are turning nightmares,
All I feel is emptiness and grieving for the loss,
Everyday I see a rose, lying on my porch,
Yet I do not have the strength to hold it in my hand,
All I do is walk away, throwing away that gesture of love,
Walking away, I start to run and dig my heels in sand,
I cry, I howl, I screech in pain, O why can't you come back,
I do not know how to let you go, I do not how to live anymore,
As I cry, I feel that caressing wind, which make me feel him near,
I close my eyes to let it be, and I let go in the reverence,
I see him standing with open arms, calling me to him,
I run and hug, holding him tight , basking in this feel,
So peaceful , so content is want I feel now,
I look at him with loving eyes, but backs away with shock,
I was holding that lakeside boy and yet I felt content,
I see around and watch my love standing at a distant,
I try to move, he shakes his head and gives me a peaceful smile,
Urges me to live my life, to let him go, to hold that lakeside boy,

I open my eyes and all I see wast sky ahead,
Was it a sign he was giving me, to not to look behind,
To let him go and live my life , to teach me how to survive,
Is that what he really want , really want me to be,
Now I see very clearly , what I couldn't at times see,
Can I love that love again, can I live again,
Can I hold someone else to me, can I feel again.
Am I doing some mistake or something very right,
Is it losing a love so pure or maybe it is a new BEGINNING.

© Purvika (less)

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Jul 25, 2010 Shanyn (Chick Loves Lit) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Winter Longing put me through an entire range of emotions - most of which I hadn't experienced while reading a book in quite some time. I was sad, angry, hopeful, excited, happy, devastated. The emotion that the author Tricia Mills puts into this book is unbelievable.
We spend our time with Winter, who has experienced a great loss, and how she recovers. While I have yet to experience such a loss (and hope not to for a long, long time), the beautiful writing and raw emotion show us this transform...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

I very much enjoyed reading this book. Sure it was sad. I mean, the heroine's first and only love dies in chapter 2 and I did shed a few tears. We only see Spencer in flashbacks and notes, which was nicely done.

The story centered around Winter, her best friend Lindsey and the boy-next-door Jesse. How the two girls dealt with the death of their best friend sounded true and I could definitely imagine myself reacting like either of those two (well even like both of them actually).

The main story goi...more

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Aug 31, 2010 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was really romanic and fluffy. In a good way. I loved reading it.

Winter's life has ended. Her one true love whom she finally came out died after their very first kiss. Now she's not sure what do to or even to go on anymore. Until she get to know Jesse. A boy next door whom is there for her like nobody else.

What I really like about this story, was ow Jesse is. He knows that Winter has been through a lot. And instead of pushing her, he step aside, holds her hands and is just there for he...more

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Dec 31, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I started Winter Longing because I was in the mood for a love story, and in that aspect I was completely satisfied. This wasn't really a book I'd call fluffy, but it was easy to read.

Winter is the main character, and she loses her best friend/boyfriend. They'd just declared there feelings for each other.... so very sad. Despite those initial feelings of empathy toward Winter.... sometimes I found her character to be a little annoying... and a little flat. But I think the portrayal of her dealing...more

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Jun 25, 2010 Allison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tour, reviewed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 05, 2010 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: aug-2010

Bottom Line – I laughed (yes I LAUGHED!), I cried, and most of all I rooted for Winter! This book carries with it a beautiful story, one I am honored to give 5++ mushrooms to. If Winter Longing is any indication of the talent that Tricia Mills has to offer the world, all I can say is that she better be ready for an amazing ride to the top of the pile! I surely will be picking up anything else she writes, and have already ordered Tricia's other book, Heartbreak River. All I can say now is that I...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Keziah Tupaz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reality is somehow scary. The world won't stop even if you lost the dearest person in your life. Grieving indeed doesn't have a timetable but it's always apt to move on someday. It's also scary that the person you see now might not wake up with you tomorrow. The person you kiss last night might never kiss you again tomorrow. And the person you might disclose your feelings to might be too late to start up your new found relationship tomorrow.

But we don't have any choice, do we? We need to move ah...more

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Sep 21, 2012 121Cassidy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is a book for those people that have unfortunately lost someone that they knew that they were going to make a future with. I love it anyways though because even though Winter is a broken girl, Jesse can see past his empathy for her and come to love her. I have no doubts about Jesse's love to her, but I was kind of frustrated with Winter. I knew it's not like I can tell her to remember Spencer always, and to always be honourable to him by not getting into a relationship with someone else.

I'...more

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Jun 18, 2012 →kelly♥[: rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-book

My Rating: 3.5

Winter Longing is one of those heartbreaking books which urges you to urge the main character to try her best, give life one more chance, and move on. It's the story of Winter, after finally getting together with her life-long crush Spencer, facing Spencer's death caused by a airplane crash the very next day after their first kiss the night before. Having known each other for many years, Winter deals with her pain with her other best friend Lindsay, a person who knew Spencer even...more

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Jan 10, 2012 ––––•(-•The Insomniac Book Hoarder•- rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-borrowed-list, ya-fiction

Insomnia kicked in and suffice to say I needed to be entertained, and so I reached towards my bedside table where my library loot resides and started reading this book. Three or so hours and here we are..

The story is set in Alaska, it's narrative and realism draws you in the first chapter. Winter Craig is blissfully happy with her new blossoming romance with her longest guy best friend /all time crush Spencer. Just night before she plucked up her courage and confessed and the rest just fell into...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Kim Smiley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I almost didn't read this book because it was due back to the library and I hadn't to it yet. I'm glad I kept it because it only took me a day to get through it. After reading the reviews on here I wanted to give it a chance.

I wasn't disappointed. This was a very good read. Winter is so happy. She has just declared her love to Spencer, her best guy friend who she has loved since grade school. They're going into their senior year of high school and she's getting ready for a party while he is taki...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Karla Mae rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, chicklit, contemporary, death-suicide-tragedy, e-books, le-handsome-guys, young-adult

How would you cope up with the moment when the one that you want is there by your side but the very next day he is gone?

This is never gonna be easy for Winter. She has been in love with Spencer since she was eight years old and when they finally decide to go from being friends to more, she loses him the very next day with no chance of returning at all. Winter's life was taken over by the grief of losing her first love. She's devastated and began to question why such things happens in life, her l...more How would you cope up with the moment when the one that you want is there by your side but the very next day he is gone?

This is never gonna be easy for Winter. She has been in love with Spencer since she was eight years old and when they finally decide to go from being friends to more, she loses him the very next day with no chance of returning at all. Winter's life was taken over by the grief of losing her first love. She's devastated and began to question why such things happens in life, her life seemed to lose its gravity for she not only lost a boyfriend she's also lost one of her bestfriends. She tries to live day by day by seeking comfort on thinking and doing things the way she and Spencer do trying to make herself believe that maybe Spencer was still there and he'll come back to her. Someday.

Jesse, was the popluar next-door neighbor of Winter whom she has never been close to and never been friends with. But when he becomes an unlikely friend to Winter and with their occassional run-in on the mailbox, he starts to take interest on Winter and BAM! their friendship grows. He helped Winter to cope up with her everyday living and gently pushes her to move on and give advices on her without being judged.

Sad. Tragic. Heart-breaking

When i started reading it, I never imagined I would feel so strong about this book especially its characters. The characters are pretty strong which comes hand in hand with poignant thoughts and dramatic flashbacks and the situations that seem to be very real. For instance, Winter, I like her strong built in life. Though faced with great grief, she still holds her ground and stay strong and not retreat into herself and just give up. As for Jesse, I admire his patience. It really does takes time for someone to move on after something tragic has happened to them, but through it all he was their for Winter and patiently waits for her to gather up her thoughts and feelings and finally lets herself to move on.

Though there didn't seem to be a whole plot on this one, it was still great. I was really motivated to finish it and was filled with curiosity on how it would end. For me, the ending was very suitable to it.

In all, this was a very powerful story of first loves, loss, coming of age and friendships. I feel content after reading it and surely brought a smile to my face and timely tears in my eyes. I honestly did enjoy it!

A remarkable read and recommended indeed! :)(less)

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Oct 06, 2011 Dana rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this although it made my heart ache knowing the pain of losing someone you love. Once you live through it your life is forever changed.

Winter's life was changed the day the boy she finally admitted the night before to that she wanted to be more than friends was killed in a freak plane accident. Spencer was everything that Winter had longed for and wanted since she was eight. Then ripped from her life so suddenly she felt it would end.

The ups and downs of how you emotional react...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Shreeka Shakya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cute-boys, favorites, my-fav, my-fav-narrators, want-to-read-it-again

its that kind of book that just lightens up your mood and makes you smile. :) Winter lost her best friend who also happened to be the love of her life. and she is not ready to love again, when she is still grieving a great loss in her life. but then Jesse, her cute next door neighbor might just change her mind. because she starts developing feelings that she didnt know could exist after she lost someone she loved so much. but after long time of struggling with the conflicts of her feelings; not...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Bethany Farwell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

4 hearts
I LOVE this quote! [There is sooo many good ones in this novel!]
A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."

Winter Longing is not my normal read. I was drawn to this book by the cover, and I'm glad I was. This story took me on an emotional roller coaster. Heart wrenching... and beautiful moments of happiness, combined with humor that will make you laugh, cry, and smile.

Winter suffers a horrible loss as she deals with the tragic death of her...more 4 hearts
I LOVE this quote! [There is sooo many good ones in this novel!]
A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."

Winter Longing is not my normal read. I was drawn to this book by the cover, and I'm glad I was. This story took me on an emotional roller coaster. Heart wrenching... and beautiful moments of happiness, combined with humor that will make you laugh, cry, and smile.

Winter suffers a horrible loss as she deals with the tragic death of her first love Spencer, her long time friend and recently turned boyfriend. The day after revealing their true feelings for each other Spencer is killed in a plane accident. Losing your boyfriend is hard, but losing your best friend for 10years? Double ouch. Winter is left trying to put the pieces of herself and her life back together. As you live through Winter's guilt about Spencer, and her grief over his death, you get a real feeling of what it's like to lose someone [if you haven't before]. This book made me cry numerous times because you can really relate to her. At times, yes.. I thought she was being selfish and whiny, but everyone deals with grief differently. Luckily she has her best friend Lindsey and her neighbor Jesse. Did I mention Jesse is.. amazing?! Well, as he may not be Spencer.. he is certainly someone special. Winter feels guilty about her feelings for Jesse and she must come to terms with the fact that her life must continue despite her tragic loss as well as overcoming her fears about love, and starting a new post-Spencer life.

I seriously loved all of the characters in this book. I mean you have your everyday normal high school people, your Jocks, Queen bee, and not so "popular" groups. Jesse.. my god. He will be forever one of my all time favorite book boyfriends. Just when Winter thought she had him pegged, HAH! Wrong. Her friend Lindsey is always there for her, even though she has her own tragedies to deal with in her own life. I laughed, cried, sympathized and loved right along with Winter. Tricia did a great job with keeping the characters true to life. This is a book that will keep a knot in your chest from the beginning to the end. I'm telling you... keep a box of tissues handy cause this is definitely beautiful and heart wrenching.
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Aug 05, 2011 Farrah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, own

Winter Longing starts off with Winter finding out Spencer, her life-long best friend and day-long boyfriend, died in a plane crash. She is devastated and buries herself in grief. Then comes Jesse. Jesse helps Winter come to terms with Spencer's death and move on.

I loved this book. It is absolutely heartbreaking. I liked how even when Spencer wasn't technically in the book, I still got to know him and see how sweet he was. I wan't irritated that Winter kept holding on to him like I expected to be...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars

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WARNING…DO NOT READ ON A PLANE OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC SETTING…THIS BOOK MAY CAUSE TEARS! Oh yeah, I was on a three hour plane ride while I bawled my way through this book. Embarrassed, I had to keep looking up from the book to stare at the headrest in front of me while I tried to think happy thoughts so I could keep the tears at bay. Pretty humiliating…but worth it!

With themes on loss, mourning, moving on, and the consequences of...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-romance

Let me just start off by saying that I loved this book so freaking much! What first drew me in was the cover, and then once I started the story I was addicted! From what I had remembered of the summary, I thought that Winter was going to lose her long term boyfriend who she was madly in love with. But no. She lost the boy she had been madly in love with since 2nd grade but had only just admitted her feelings (which he reciprocated) the very day before he died. Now that is sad. It was details lik...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Cristina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've been wanting to read this for a while, so when I saw it I snatched it up right away. I don't know why--maybe because I hyped it up in my mind so much--but it wasn't as fantastic as I thought it would be...but that's not to say I didn't like it because I did.

I actually really liked the story and how it was done--Winter's memories of Spencer and then Quotes-of-the-day about love that preface each chapter were super cute and illustrated in some way, shape or form how she was feeling in the cha...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Cee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I found out about Winter Longing when searching through my book recommendations online, but because of the mix reviews I wasn’t sure about purchasing it. About a day after I asked my friend if she read it and whether or not she liked it and she said it was “good” so I thought I’d give it a go.

The story takes place in a small town called Tundra. Winter Craig is a high school senior who finally master the guts to ask out her friend and lifelong crush. But the day after, a devastating lost of her l...more I found out about Winter Longing when searching through my book recommendations online, but because of the mix reviews I wasn’t sure about purchasing it. About a day after I asked my friend if she read it and whether or not she liked it and she said it was “good” so I thought I’d give it a go.

The story takes place in a small town called Tundra. Winter Craig is a high school senior who finally master the guts to ask out her friend and lifelong crush. But the day after, a devastating lost of her love was forced on to her and she falls into a dismal-soulless state. Day-by-day after the incident, Winter lives her life meaninglessly longing for the one she can’t physically hold anymore , until Jesse-her next door neighbor offers an unforeseen friendship. She is caught in a dilemma of what is right and what is wrong when mourning over a loved one, and at the very same time conscious of these denied feelings she keeps having for Jesse.

This book was a quick and easy read, with a predictable plot, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The sweet little moments between Winter and Jesse is one of the reason I enjoyed the book! The pace of the book was surprisingly fast and to be honest I was not expecting it; books (well the ones I've read) with this plot line tends to drag. But then again what was I expecting from a 200 or so page book? I actually liked that it was going in the pace it was, considering I am the kind of reader who tends to space out often if a book does not offer enough captivating detail or happenings; it at least needs to move in a promising pace to keep me hooked.

One thing I enjoyed about this book was that Tricia Mills immediately started off the book with the devastating event-readers are not able to meet Spencer, however, at the end of each chapter; on its own page she gives us the memories of Spencer and Winter which allows the readers to get a glimpse, little by little of their friendship throughout their moments together.

I rated Winter Longing a 3.5 out of 5 stars because, yes, I liked that the book moved in a fast pace and the story itself was pretty good, however not enough was happening for me(it must be ALL those Sci-fi and fantasy books I’ve been reading!:p). Other than that for someone who enjoys a quick, easy, romantic read and want something they are able to quickly jump into and out of, then this book would be great for them.
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Oct 14, 2012 Ayana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read

I search for this like forever!!! I can't find it in any bookstores that I went. I guess I have to order it. *sigh...

UPDATE (17/2/2012)

I HAVE IT NOW!!!! YESSSS!!! *off to read it!

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