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Back to December
You must read Back to December, a breathtaking, heart-twisting contemporary romance about the kind of love that finds you once, changes everything, and never fully lets you go. When Penny Miller meets Wes Hart one snowy winter, their worlds collide in a way that feels impossible to explain and even harder to resist. What begins as a spark becomes a year of long-distance devotion—midnight calls, stolen weekends, and a connection so deep it feels inevitable. But as life pulls them in different directions, they’re forced to confront the question that haunts anyone who’s ever loved too young or too What if love isn’t enough to keep two soulmates in the same place at the same time? Atmospheric, nostalgic, and emotionally unforgettable, Back to December is the story you’ll be thinking about long after you turn the final page.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
8 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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December 20, 2025Back To December was a great book and Shelby Camp has written one of my favorite books. When reading her book I was fully engaged and couldn't wait to see what Wess and Penelope were going to do next and I can't wait to see what Shelby does next. I would suggest back to December to anyone if they asked me what's a good romance book and I'll suggest Shelby camp if someone asked for a great Arthur.
February 23, 2026
Some love stories don’t break your heart because they’re tragic…they break it because they’re real. And Back to December is exactly that kind of story.
From the moment Penny Miller and Wes Hart meet at Evergreen Summit Lodge during a snowy winter escape, you can feel it—this is something special. What starts as an instant connection turns into a year of long-distance devotion filled with late-night calls, stolen weekends, and a bond that feels inevitable. But life has other plans. Different paths. Different timing. And suddenly, love has to fight geography, responsibility, and reality.
This story is built on the ache of “right person, wrong time.” It’s about finding your soulmate before you’re ready for them. About loving someone deeply and still not being able to make it work—not because you didn’t try, but because life didn’t line up. It’s tender, bittersweet, and quietly devastating in the best way.
Wes is an absolute standout hero. He’s confident, deeply rooted in his family, and genuinely kind. He knows what he wants, but more importantly, he respects Penny enough to ask what she wants. His devotion, especially in the middle of his family’s struggles, made my heart ache. Penny, on the other hand, is the ultimate planner. She's organized, driven, and full of light, until love challenges everything she thought she had figured out. Watching her wrestle with her heart versus her plans felt incredibly authentic.
Their dynamic is raw, balanced, and beautifully imperfect. It honestly made me nostalgic for my early twenties—trying so hard to make something work when the timing just isn’t on your side. Shelby Camp captures that season of life with so much honesty that it feels personal.
The writing is passionate and immersive. The story moves quickly, until it doesn’t, and those quieter moments are where it shines. There are scenes where everything around you fades away and you’re just… there with them. Breathing when they breathe. Hurting when they hurt. Feeling every emotion alongside them. Despite tackling heavy topics like illness, family struggles, and heartbreak, there’s still witty banter and warmth that keeps the story balanced and engaging.
And yes… I cried. Openly. No shame. That ending wrecked me in the best way.
When I finished, I immediately messaged Shelby begging her to tell me if this was really how things ended because I don’t think I could’ve survived without knowing there was a book two. Thank the Lord there is. Truly.
Back to December is a beautifully written, deeply emotional romance that stayed with me long after I put it down. It’s sincere, thoughtful, and achingly human. This is the kind of story that reminds you why you fell in love with romance in the first place.
As a reviewer, I take it seriously when indie authors trust me with their work. Stories like this are why. Shelby Camp has created something special here, and I will absolutely be following her journey.
If you love:
✨ Right person, wrong time
✨ Long-distance romance
✨ Emotional slow burn
✨ Thoughtful character growth
✨ Crying into your Kindle
…add this to your list immediately.
This one is unforgettable—and I’d gladly read it again. 💙
From the moment Penny Miller and Wes Hart meet at Evergreen Summit Lodge during a snowy winter escape, you can feel it—this is something special. What starts as an instant connection turns into a year of long-distance devotion filled with late-night calls, stolen weekends, and a bond that feels inevitable. But life has other plans. Different paths. Different timing. And suddenly, love has to fight geography, responsibility, and reality.
This story is built on the ache of “right person, wrong time.” It’s about finding your soulmate before you’re ready for them. About loving someone deeply and still not being able to make it work—not because you didn’t try, but because life didn’t line up. It’s tender, bittersweet, and quietly devastating in the best way.
Wes is an absolute standout hero. He’s confident, deeply rooted in his family, and genuinely kind. He knows what he wants, but more importantly, he respects Penny enough to ask what she wants. His devotion, especially in the middle of his family’s struggles, made my heart ache. Penny, on the other hand, is the ultimate planner. She's organized, driven, and full of light, until love challenges everything she thought she had figured out. Watching her wrestle with her heart versus her plans felt incredibly authentic.
Their dynamic is raw, balanced, and beautifully imperfect. It honestly made me nostalgic for my early twenties—trying so hard to make something work when the timing just isn’t on your side. Shelby Camp captures that season of life with so much honesty that it feels personal.
The writing is passionate and immersive. The story moves quickly, until it doesn’t, and those quieter moments are where it shines. There are scenes where everything around you fades away and you’re just… there with them. Breathing when they breathe. Hurting when they hurt. Feeling every emotion alongside them. Despite tackling heavy topics like illness, family struggles, and heartbreak, there’s still witty banter and warmth that keeps the story balanced and engaging.
And yes… I cried. Openly. No shame. That ending wrecked me in the best way.
When I finished, I immediately messaged Shelby begging her to tell me if this was really how things ended because I don’t think I could’ve survived without knowing there was a book two. Thank the Lord there is. Truly.
Back to December is a beautifully written, deeply emotional romance that stayed with me long after I put it down. It’s sincere, thoughtful, and achingly human. This is the kind of story that reminds you why you fell in love with romance in the first place.
As a reviewer, I take it seriously when indie authors trust me with their work. Stories like this are why. Shelby Camp has created something special here, and I will absolutely be following her journey.
If you love:
✨ Right person, wrong time
✨ Long-distance romance
✨ Emotional slow burn
✨ Thoughtful character growth
✨ Crying into your Kindle
…add this to your list immediately.
This one is unforgettable—and I’d gladly read it again. 💙
February 19, 2026
BACK TO DECEMBER ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
by Shelby Camp
Back to December is the debut novel from Shelby Camp. This 5⭐️ book “is the first book in a planned contemporary romance series”.
This book was recommended to me by Ms. Camp when she responded to a post I made on social media searching for books written by indie authors. I went into this story, skipping all reviews, knowing nothing more than what the book blurb revealed.
Penelope (Penny) Miller is a twenty-year-old woman attending college who has her life planned out until the age of thirty-five. She works the front desk at Evergreen Summit Lodge in Washington. Her parents adore her and she’s the oldest of four siblings.
Wes Hart is a twenty-one-year-old man who attends college in Kansas. He’s the youngest of three siblings and has a niece that thinks he hung the moon. His mother is living with cancer, in and out of the hospital, and his father is spending more time living in the garage with a bottle of alcohol.
Wes, listening to his mother saying ‘life’s too short to live only in waiting rooms”, allows himself four nights away to be a man whose life doesn’t revolve around “lab results and treatment cycles”. When he arrives at Evergreen Summit Lodge, Penny is working. This is where they meet and their story begins. Will love survive a perfect match that is separated by too many miles of inopertuned timing?
The author writes with such passion. This story tackles topics of friendship, love and loss, heartbreak, hope and healing. It has depth and is achingly human. It’s fast paced—until it’s not. There are moments, where everything around you shuts down, and you only exist within the experience as the characters do. Ms. Camp creates these quiet pauses that have the reader taking a deep breath to mimic the scene. Though there are some heavy topics inside the story, there is plenty of witty banter and antics to keep the book well-rounded. The characters, both main and secondary, are highly relatable and the storyline is intensely beautiful.
by Shelby Camp
Back to December is the debut novel from Shelby Camp. This 5⭐️ book “is the first book in a planned contemporary romance series”.
This book was recommended to me by Ms. Camp when she responded to a post I made on social media searching for books written by indie authors. I went into this story, skipping all reviews, knowing nothing more than what the book blurb revealed.
Penelope (Penny) Miller is a twenty-year-old woman attending college who has her life planned out until the age of thirty-five. She works the front desk at Evergreen Summit Lodge in Washington. Her parents adore her and she’s the oldest of four siblings.
Wes Hart is a twenty-one-year-old man who attends college in Kansas. He’s the youngest of three siblings and has a niece that thinks he hung the moon. His mother is living with cancer, in and out of the hospital, and his father is spending more time living in the garage with a bottle of alcohol.
Wes, listening to his mother saying ‘life’s too short to live only in waiting rooms”, allows himself four nights away to be a man whose life doesn’t revolve around “lab results and treatment cycles”. When he arrives at Evergreen Summit Lodge, Penny is working. This is where they meet and their story begins. Will love survive a perfect match that is separated by too many miles of inopertuned timing?
The author writes with such passion. This story tackles topics of friendship, love and loss, heartbreak, hope and healing. It has depth and is achingly human. It’s fast paced—until it’s not. There are moments, where everything around you shuts down, and you only exist within the experience as the characters do. Ms. Camp creates these quiet pauses that have the reader taking a deep breath to mimic the scene. Though there are some heavy topics inside the story, there is plenty of witty banter and antics to keep the book well-rounded. The characters, both main and secondary, are highly relatable and the storyline is intensely beautiful.
January 26, 2026
This book gives all the fuzzy feelings. I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning. This book moves at a fast pace that makes you wanting more after each chapter, never wanting to put the book down. I love me a good romance, but this is so much more than that. There is emotional depth and real life situations that you usually don’t see in romance novels.
I will be the first to say I cried multiple times during my read. I took my time reading as I wanted to soak it all in.
I will be patiently (not really, because I’m dying here) waiting for book 2 and demanding answers because man oh man, I want to know what is to come next for these two love birds.
If you’re looking to add a romance to your 2026 tbr, this is the book to add.
Also, the spicy scenes are very well written. And much enjoyed by this reader.
I can’t wait for future books by Shelby.
I will be the first to say I cried multiple times during my read. I took my time reading as I wanted to soak it all in.
I will be patiently (not really, because I’m dying here) waiting for book 2 and demanding answers because man oh man, I want to know what is to come next for these two love birds.
If you’re looking to add a romance to your 2026 tbr, this is the book to add.
Also, the spicy scenes are very well written. And much enjoyed by this reader.
I can’t wait for future books by Shelby.
January 18, 2026
I'm about 60% done with this book, but I wanted to get my review out there in time for release day! This book has SO much of the warm, fuzzy feels of a new relationship. I felt sparks just reading it! I love how the characters both just have a totally electric meet-cute. And I can absolutely relate to Penny wanting to plan and control every aspect of her life, so it's extra sweet when Wes comes in and blows that all up. I love Penny's friends and how they interact with everyone. The characters seem very real, and I am enjoying meeting them all. The dual POV chapters are great; keeps the story fresh and moving at a nice pace. I will update more when I've finished!
update: the ending!!! oh my gosh! I won't spoil anything, but 🤯.
update: the ending!!! oh my gosh! I won't spoil anything, but 🤯.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I picked up “Back to December” I was drawn into the mountain setting and the characters. This’s book pulls you in immediately and you will have a hard time putting it down! It will take you back to your own love story or if you haven’t had one yet, it will define what you want for yours. Shelby Camp knocked it out of the ballpark with this story. If you love a spicy romance novel, this is the book for you!
January 17, 2026
Back to December takes you into a quintessential PNW back drop where your emotions come alive as you follow the story of Wes Hart and Penny Miller. Their romance and timeline together keeps you from putting the book down. I was truly invested in all the characters and the ending was so satisfying for me, ( it hurts so good!).
Shelby Camp’s insightful knowledge of human behavior and relationships is beautifully and heartbreakingly articulated in this lovely book. Bravo!!
Shelby Camp’s insightful knowledge of human behavior and relationships is beautifully and heartbreakingly articulated in this lovely book. Bravo!!
January 17, 2026
This is the kind of love story that stays with you. One that reminds you that passion and devotion don’t always guarantee a happily ever after, and that sometimes the most heartbreaking endings are the ones where love is still very much alive. Bittersweet, aching, and beautifully written.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews