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We Met in December
Following a year in the life of a twenty-something British woman who falls hard for her London flat mate, this clever, fun, and unforgettable romantic comedy is the perfect feel-good holiday read.
Two people. One house. A year that changes everything.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jess is following her dream and moving to London. It’s December, and she’s taking a room in a crumbling, but grand, Notting Hill house-share with four virtual strangers. On her first night, Jess meets Alex, the guy sharing her floor, at a Christmas dinner hosted by her landlord. They don’t kiss, but as far as Jess is concerned the connection is clear. She starts planning how they will knock down the wall between them to spend more time together.
But when Jess returns from a two-week Christmas holiday, she finds Alex has started dating someone else—beautiful Emma, who lives on the floor above them. Now Jess faces a year of bumping into (hell, sharing a bathroom with) the man of her dreams…and the woman of his.
Two people. One house. A year that changes everything.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jess is following her dream and moving to London. It’s December, and she’s taking a room in a crumbling, but grand, Notting Hill house-share with four virtual strangers. On her first night, Jess meets Alex, the guy sharing her floor, at a Christmas dinner hosted by her landlord. They don’t kiss, but as far as Jess is concerned the connection is clear. She starts planning how they will knock down the wall between them to spend more time together.
But when Jess returns from a two-week Christmas holiday, she finds Alex has started dating someone else—beautiful Emma, who lives on the floor above them. Now Jess faces a year of bumping into (hell, sharing a bathroom with) the man of her dreams…and the woman of his.
390 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2019
About the author
Rosie Curtis
5 books160 followersRosie Curtis was born in Scotland, and now lives in Engaland. She also writes adult and teen fiction as Rachael Lucas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,039 reviews
January 20, 2021
Every time I start a new book I hope it will take me on an adventure that will stay with me long after I finish that last page.
Books that usually do stay are the ones that shake my emotions and have scenes that I remember long time after.
This is why I tend to read women’s fiction and romance so often. There is something about finding a character we, as readers, can emphatize with and root for her/his happy ending.
We Met in December is one of those books that will stay with me, maybe forever.
It was lovely and sweet, but also very realistic.
Without lying, after I turned the last page, I thought to myself “This book is perfection”.
It contains my favourite trope: two people who were meant for each other, finding their way to be with each other.
There are several characters in the book, and I have to admit I liked all of them. Not most of them, but all of them.
The main characters Jess and Alex are narrators of the story, which is written in first person, following their POV.
Side characters were also very realistic and likeable, and even though this is Jess and Alex’ story, I would love to be able to read more about others, maybe in some other books, if Rosie Curtis ever decides to write them.
I would especially like to know more about Rob.
I have read many books that place in London, but I do not remember that any of them captured the beauty of this magnificent city so wonderfully.
It was like London was another character in the book, and it was so easy to imagine all the places Jess and Alex visited while he was showing her around.
To some point, We Met in December reminds me of my favourite book Anna and the French Kiss, only for adults, set in London and without (emotional) cheating part.
This book talks about love, but it also talks about finding your place, embracing adulthood and doing what your heart is telling you to do with your life.
In the end, I just want to praise book cover designs. The UK is simple and beautiful (and it kind of reminds me of the cover of One Day in December) and the US is really cute and heartwarming (I like the US one a bit better).
Rosie Curtis wrote We Met in December for the first time under this pen name, but she has already published several novels under name Rachael Lucas.
I haven’t read anything she has written before, but now I want to.
We Met in December is one of the sweetest, cutest, loveliest romances that I have read and a new favourite of mine, so I highly recommend it to everyone!
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
Books that usually do stay are the ones that shake my emotions and have scenes that I remember long time after.
This is why I tend to read women’s fiction and romance so often. There is something about finding a character we, as readers, can emphatize with and root for her/his happy ending.
We Met in December is one of those books that will stay with me, maybe forever.
It was lovely and sweet, but also very realistic.
Without lying, after I turned the last page, I thought to myself “This book is perfection”.
It contains my favourite trope: two people who were meant for each other, finding their way to be with each other.
There are several characters in the book, and I have to admit I liked all of them. Not most of them, but all of them.
The main characters Jess and Alex are narrators of the story, which is written in first person, following their POV.
Side characters were also very realistic and likeable, and even though this is Jess and Alex’ story, I would love to be able to read more about others, maybe in some other books, if Rosie Curtis ever decides to write them.
I would especially like to know more about Rob.
I have read many books that place in London, but I do not remember that any of them captured the beauty of this magnificent city so wonderfully.
It was like London was another character in the book, and it was so easy to imagine all the places Jess and Alex visited while he was showing her around.
To some point, We Met in December reminds me of my favourite book Anna and the French Kiss, only for adults, set in London and without (emotional) cheating part.
This book talks about love, but it also talks about finding your place, embracing adulthood and doing what your heart is telling you to do with your life.
In the end, I just want to praise book cover designs. The UK is simple and beautiful (and it kind of reminds me of the cover of One Day in December) and the US is really cute and heartwarming (I like the US one a bit better).
Rosie Curtis wrote We Met in December for the first time under this pen name, but she has already published several novels under name Rachael Lucas.
I haven’t read anything she has written before, but now I want to.
We Met in December is one of the sweetest, cutest, loveliest romances that I have read and a new favourite of mine, so I highly recommend it to everyone!
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
September 24, 2019
❥ 2.5 / 5 stars
[ e-ARC received from Edelweiss+ ]
Well, this is really hard for me to rate this one since I feel nothing (absolutely nothing) while reading it. The story of this book is quite repetitive and predictable already (that’s not a problem) but the writing style makes it even more boring and that’s why I have to take more time than usual to finish it. (thisss is a real problem)
Besides that, the two protagonists which are Jess and Alex ain’t interesting that much in my opinion. I don’t even know why they love each other because there is no chemistry between them. (I mean... they are good as friends but I don’t know what makes them like each other more than friends, though.😕)
Another problem is.... I feel like the author focus too much on Jess and Alex and it turns out that other characters are only extras. I know it’s not wrong for authors to focus on their main characters but you get the feeling that I also want to know about others like who they are and where they’re from, right? I read it until the end and I still have no idea who the heck is Emma more than that we know she is one of the housemates.
Finally, I want to talk about the ending. Don’t you think it’s kinda rushed? I’m about to get into that scene and then, about 30 seconds later, it ends. Oh. Thanks. But I’ll be more thankful if you give me more than this!
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for providing this e-ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.
[ e-ARC received from Edelweiss+ ]
Well, this is really hard for me to rate this one since I feel nothing (absolutely nothing) while reading it. The story of this book is quite repetitive and predictable already (that’s not a problem) but the writing style makes it even more boring and that’s why I have to take more time than usual to finish it. (thisss is a real problem)
Besides that, the two protagonists which are Jess and Alex ain’t interesting that much in my opinion. I don’t even know why they love each other because there is no chemistry between them. (I mean... they are good as friends but I don’t know what makes them like each other more than friends, though.😕)
Another problem is.... I feel like the author focus too much on Jess and Alex and it turns out that other characters are only extras. I know it’s not wrong for authors to focus on their main characters but you get the feeling that I also want to know about others like who they are and where they’re from, right? I read it until the end and I still have no idea who the heck is Emma more than that we know she is one of the housemates.
Finally, I want to talk about the ending. Don’t you think it’s kinda rushed? I’m about to get into that scene and then, about 30 seconds later, it ends. Oh. Thanks. But I’ll be more thankful if you give me more than this!
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for providing this e-ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.
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January 2, 2023I don't have particularly strong feelings about this book really. It's kinda a Christmas book, but in the way where there are some key scenes that happen at festive moments. Most of it is actually set not at Christmas time, so really you could read it whenever. But it's a story I can think of at least 2 books off the top of my head that have a similar concept and I felt like they did it better. I didn't dislike this, but it was pretty boring. Not a lot happens really. The story relies on the slowest of slow burn romances, and I didn't feel the chemistry between the two love interests, so that definitely didn't help. This was just kind of fine really!
November 6, 2019
Twenty-nine-year-old Jess has moved to London in December to live in a crumbling home in Notting Hill to share with a couple of strangers. The rent is cheap, and her roommates seem nice. The first night there, they have a party and Jess instantly feels connected to Alex, a male nurse sharing her floor. She feels an instant connection but after coming back from a trip with friends finds Emma, their beautiful roommate coming out of Alex's bedroom. It is obvious that they have something going on (even though there is a NO RELATIONSHIPS rule in the house) So Jess resigns herself to the knowledge that she and Alex will just be friends.
Friends they are and the two bond over walking around London with Alex showing Jess all of his favorite sites. They have a great time, but Alex seems to keep having his relationship with Emma on the side so Jess decides maybe online dating just might be what she needs to move on.
I felt this book had so much promise and I did enjoy it, but it was also grating on my nerves a little. Alex is having friends with benefits relationship with Emma while saying he doesn't want to be in a relationship. Yet, wants to spend his free time with Jess and gets jealous when she wants to date someone. Jess and Alex both have their POV's told but they are a little repetitive. Plus, I would have loved to have read Emma's thoughts as well.
As others have pointed out this is a slow burn romance where I would have liked to have more sparks and more angst between the two main characters. For people their age, they came off as much younger to me. Plus, a slightly faster-paced story would have moved this book along a little faster and enhanced my read.
One plus is the myriad cast of characters from Rob the chef to Jess's friends, Mother, and Grandmother. They all rounded out the story nicely.
Some might appreciate that this book is not explicit in its language or sex scenes. We know that characters have had sex with each other but there are no details told. Plus, the cover is beautiful and don't let the word "December" in the title make you think this is a holiday book. The story is told over the course of a year and begins in December.
Enjoyable but had me wanting more.
Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Friends they are and the two bond over walking around London with Alex showing Jess all of his favorite sites. They have a great time, but Alex seems to keep having his relationship with Emma on the side so Jess decides maybe online dating just might be what she needs to move on.
I felt this book had so much promise and I did enjoy it, but it was also grating on my nerves a little. Alex is having friends with benefits relationship with Emma while saying he doesn't want to be in a relationship. Yet, wants to spend his free time with Jess and gets jealous when she wants to date someone. Jess and Alex both have their POV's told but they are a little repetitive. Plus, I would have loved to have read Emma's thoughts as well.
As others have pointed out this is a slow burn romance where I would have liked to have more sparks and more angst between the two main characters. For people their age, they came off as much younger to me. Plus, a slightly faster-paced story would have moved this book along a little faster and enhanced my read.
One plus is the myriad cast of characters from Rob the chef to Jess's friends, Mother, and Grandmother. They all rounded out the story nicely.
Some might appreciate that this book is not explicit in its language or sex scenes. We know that characters have had sex with each other but there are no details told. Plus, the cover is beautiful and don't let the word "December" in the title make you think this is a holiday book. The story is told over the course of a year and begins in December.
Enjoyable but had me wanting more.
Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 11, 2021
(1.5/5)
Am I writing a rant review for a book I read two months ago because I'm bored and don't want to do schoolwork?
Yes. Yes, I am.
Buckle up children, you're in for a ride.
Spoiler alert! This review is a rant filled to the brim with spoilers for this book, and angry screaming. If you liked this book, don't read this, and if you'd rather not be spoiled, well, don't read this either.
ALSKJDALKJSDKJSALSKJLKSJ WHERE DO I EVEN START WITH THIS.
Let's begin with the fact that this is supposed to be a holiday romance. "Holiday". H O L I D A Y. What do we get instead? A year worth of pining, that's what. I'm not even kidding when I say that.
'We Met in December' follows Jess and Alex, who are sharing a house with three other people in London. They meet for the first time at Christmas dinner, and fall instantly in love with each other. There's an instant ✨connection✨ and Jess is certain that they're made for each other.
Suffice it to say, things never really start between them, because a) there's a rule that house members can't date each other, because, well, duh, and b) Alex sleeps with the pretty upstairs girl, Emma.
And so Jess resigns herself to being 'just friends' with Alex, visiting all the cool places in London, even as the year goes on and they become closer, despite Jess' boyfriend and Emma.
Now.
I'm going to be honest here and ask what all of you are no doubt thinking right now:
If you've read the synopsis of this book (which is very "informative", by the way), you'll know even before you read it that this book has, at the very least, a love triangle. Which I hate. Add on the fact that this is marketed as a Christmas rom-com, which I also hate.
Honestly speaking, everything about this book was destined to be hated by me. It SCREAMS 'human-will-hate-this material'. But I read it anyway, like I've got braincells to spare or something.Which I don't.
The biggest problem that I have with this book is the characters themselves. Jess and Alex are basically the same personso it's really no wonder they end up together by the end, and things get confusing fast. Even though they were in completely different professions, a lot of their inner monologue is annoying af the same, consisting purely of:
- pining
- pining
- did I mention pining?
- simping for the other one
- worrying about their job
And these two were the main characters! They were bland and boring. The reason it took me so long to even get into the book was that I never actually got into it. I just sort of forced myself through it and hoped for the best.
The side characters are absolutely forgettable, much like the main characters themselves. The only truly noteworthy character in the entire novel was Jess' grandmother, and even then, she doesn't have much page time.
Emma, the girl who Alex continually sleeps with while he pines for Jess, exists solely to make Jess jealous. She even LEAVES the house after Alex breaks up with her.
There was also Jess' boyfriend, who also exists solely to make Alex jealous.
As far as the plot goes, there isn't one. The story is told over the course of a year, in chapters detailing what I suppose are 'key events' for the buildup of their relationship.
The romance itself was incredibly irritating and was not the cute whatever-it-was-I-was-expecting. The thing is, Jess, while jealous of Emma and pining after Alex, decides that there's nothing more that she can do, and decides to take up online dating after being convinced by her friends. She gets a boyfriend, just as Alex breaks things off with Emma, putting them in antithetical positions.
And so, while in the first half it was only Jess simping after Alex, the second half of the book becomes twice as insufferable, with both of them pining after one another.
Jess eventually decides to break things off with her boyfriend (whose name I can't remember for the life of me because every character in this book is absolutely forgettable), and move back to where she used to live. Just as she's leaving, Alex decides it's now or never, runs to Jess, tells her that he loves her, and they kiss.
Did I mention that this book was completely and disgustingly insta-lovey, features some degree of girl-on-girl hate, bitchy ex-girlfriends, and emotional cheating? And let's not forget that epilogue, one year later, showing the two of them being ✨happy✨ and ✨together✨.
Just some icing on the cake.
(That being said, this book really wasn't for me, but I can definitely see how someone might enjoy it. Probably wasn't the smartest decision for me to read this.)
Anywho.
Bottom line?
Next time I think about reading something with a love triangle, which is clearly a Christmas rom-com in book form, someone rec me a good romance novel. Or chuck a toaster in my general direction. Either works.
Am I writing a rant review for a book I read two months ago because I'm bored and don't want to do schoolwork?
Yes. Yes, I am.
Buckle up children, you're in for a ride.
Spoiler alert! This review is a rant filled to the brim with spoilers for this book, and angry screaming. If you liked this book, don't read this, and if you'd rather not be spoiled, well, don't read this either.
ALSKJDALKJSDKJSALSKJLKSJ WHERE DO I EVEN START WITH THIS.
Let's begin with the fact that this is supposed to be a holiday romance. "Holiday". H O L I D A Y. What do we get instead? A year worth of pining, that's what. I'm not even kidding when I say that.
'We Met in December' follows Jess and Alex, who are sharing a house with three other people in London. They meet for the first time at Christmas dinner, and fall instantly in love with each other. There's an instant ✨connection✨ and Jess is certain that they're made for each other.
Suffice it to say, things never really start between them, because a) there's a rule that house members can't date each other, because, well, duh, and b) Alex sleeps with the pretty upstairs girl, Emma.
And so Jess resigns herself to being 'just friends' with Alex, visiting all the cool places in London, even as the year goes on and they become closer, despite Jess' boyfriend and Emma.
Now.
I'm going to be honest here and ask what all of you are no doubt thinking right now:
If you've read the synopsis of this book (which is very "informative", by the way), you'll know even before you read it that this book has, at the very least, a love triangle. Which I hate. Add on the fact that this is marketed as a Christmas rom-com, which I also hate.
Honestly speaking, everything about this book was destined to be hated by me. It SCREAMS 'human-will-hate-this material'. But I read it anyway, like I've got braincells to spare or something.
The biggest problem that I have with this book is the characters themselves. Jess and Alex are basically the same person
- pining
- pining
- did I mention pining?
- simping for the other one
- worrying about their job
And these two were the main characters! They were bland and boring. The reason it took me so long to even get into the book was that I never actually got into it. I just sort of forced myself through it and hoped for the best.
The side characters are absolutely forgettable, much like the main characters themselves. The only truly noteworthy character in the entire novel was Jess' grandmother, and even then, she doesn't have much page time.
Emma, the girl who Alex continually sleeps with while he pines for Jess, exists solely to make Jess jealous. She even LEAVES the house after Alex breaks up with her.
There was also Jess' boyfriend, who also exists solely to make Alex jealous.
As far as the plot goes, there isn't one. The story is told over the course of a year, in chapters detailing what I suppose are 'key events' for the buildup of their relationship.
The romance itself was incredibly irritating and was not the cute whatever-it-was-I-was-expecting. The thing is, Jess, while jealous of Emma and pining after Alex, decides that there's nothing more that she can do, and decides to take up online dating after being convinced by her friends. She gets a boyfriend, just as Alex breaks things off with Emma, putting them in antithetical positions.
And so, while in the first half it was only Jess simping after Alex, the second half of the book becomes twice as insufferable, with both of them pining after one another.
Jess eventually decides to break things off with her boyfriend (whose name I can't remember for the life of me because every character in this book is absolutely forgettable), and move back to where she used to live. Just as she's leaving, Alex decides it's now or never, runs to Jess, tells her that he loves her, and they kiss.
Did I mention that this book was completely and disgustingly insta-lovey, features some degree of girl-on-girl hate, bitchy ex-girlfriends, and emotional cheating? And let's not forget that epilogue, one year later, showing the two of them being ✨happy✨ and ✨together✨.
Just some icing on the cake.
(That being said, this book really wasn't for me, but I can definitely see how someone might enjoy it. Probably wasn't the smartest decision for me to read this.)
Anywho.
Bottom line?
Next time I think about reading something with a love triangle, which is clearly a Christmas rom-com in book form, someone rec me a good romance novel. Or chuck a toaster in my general direction. Either works.
December 9, 2020
Not quite a Christmas romance, We Met in December was a confusing and ultimately average reading experience. Which is so sad, because I was HERE for this cover and concept.
Writing: ★★★ 1/2
Romance: ★
Pacing: ★★
Urgh. I'm not looking forward to explaining this one.
Jess is a late 20-something girl who arrives in London with a renewed sense of purpose following a few dramatic life changes. She's got a friend with a cheap flat and a brand new job in publishing. She's ready for a fresh start. However, then she meets her other flatmate, Alex, and things get a little more complicated...
Alex is a 30-something guy who gave up a promising life as a lawyer to join a nursing training program. His life story is an intentional parallel to Jess's, and he is also ready for a drama-free fresh start.
While it might seem obvious to assume that Jess and Alex begin a meet-cute and fall in love as flatmates, We Met in December then takes a surprising turn...
Alex begins a sexual friends-with-benefits situation with Emma, a different flatmate of theirs. Somehow, we're supposed to feel like this is not necessarily a black mark against Alex...guys, it definitely made me question his suitability as a love interest. If you're boinking someone else repeatedly, I'm not about to ship you with my other main character. Sorry?
Adding another layer to the novel's complexity is the fact that "We Met in December" implies that this is a Christmas romance. It's not—each chapter propels the plot into a different week/month of the year, showcasing small vignette-like scenes that kept me from becoming too invested in any one aspect of the character's lives, as the reader is never present in the same place long enough to have any meaningful connections.
A whole year-in-the-life concept is fine, but when it's a rom-com that involves two POVs with near-identical personalities...it gets boring real fast.
Alex and Jess spend a lot of time walking around London, reiterating their same dreams (which are very similar) and going over their past relationships (which are very similar) and then experiencing different versions of heartache (similarly) as they watch each other muck about with other relationships. With a POV for Alex and a POV for Jess (both in first person), I had a very hard time telling the POVs apart—both narrative voices were very similar and similar rom-com like moments happened to both of them.
As you can tell, this novel really didn't work for me. I didn't mind Jess and Alex as separate people, but found the combination of their lives with the pacing and lack of intimacy to be a a real problem.
I wouldn't say stay away from We Met in December if you're interested in reading a very long slow-burn romance. It just wasn't for me. Sigh. On to the next!
Thank you to HarperCollins via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Writing: ★★★ 1/2
Romance: ★
Pacing: ★★
Urgh. I'm not looking forward to explaining this one.
Jess is a late 20-something girl who arrives in London with a renewed sense of purpose following a few dramatic life changes. She's got a friend with a cheap flat and a brand new job in publishing. She's ready for a fresh start. However, then she meets her other flatmate, Alex, and things get a little more complicated...
Alex is a 30-something guy who gave up a promising life as a lawyer to join a nursing training program. His life story is an intentional parallel to Jess's, and he is also ready for a drama-free fresh start.
While it might seem obvious to assume that Jess and Alex begin a meet-cute and fall in love as flatmates, We Met in December then takes a surprising turn...
Alex begins a sexual friends-with-benefits situation with Emma, a different flatmate of theirs. Somehow, we're supposed to feel like this is not necessarily a black mark against Alex...guys, it definitely made me question his suitability as a love interest. If you're boinking someone else repeatedly, I'm not about to ship you with my other main character. Sorry?
Adding another layer to the novel's complexity is the fact that "We Met in December" implies that this is a Christmas romance. It's not—each chapter propels the plot into a different week/month of the year, showcasing small vignette-like scenes that kept me from becoming too invested in any one aspect of the character's lives, as the reader is never present in the same place long enough to have any meaningful connections.
A whole year-in-the-life concept is fine, but when it's a rom-com that involves two POVs with near-identical personalities...it gets boring real fast.
Alex and Jess spend a lot of time walking around London, reiterating their same dreams (which are very similar) and going over their past relationships (which are very similar) and then experiencing different versions of heartache (similarly) as they watch each other muck about with other relationships. With a POV for Alex and a POV for Jess (both in first person), I had a very hard time telling the POVs apart—both narrative voices were very similar and similar rom-com like moments happened to both of them.
As you can tell, this novel really didn't work for me. I didn't mind Jess and Alex as separate people, but found the combination of their lives with the pacing and lack of intimacy to be a a real problem.
I wouldn't say stay away from We Met in December if you're interested in reading a very long slow-burn romance. It just wasn't for me. Sigh. On to the next!
Thank you to HarperCollins via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2019
Sort of meh? I wasn't the hugest fan of the pacing or the characters in this one, but I also didn't hate it so make of that what you will lmao
March 8, 2020
3.5 Slow Burn British Romance Stars
Twenty-nine-year-old Jess follows her dream and moves to London. She rents a room in a Notting Hill house-share with a college friend and three virtual strangers. On her first night, Jess meets Alex, the man sharing her floor and feels an instant connection. Unfortunately, when Jess returns from a two-week holiday, she finds Alex has started dating Emma, their housemate.
Jess and Alex become friends, walking all over London together. Their excursions were one of my favorite parts of the book. It brought London to life for me - a place I have always dreamed of visiting. Another plus was the cast of side characters - I loved Jess' relationship with her grandma, Rob the Chef and Becky. The scenes where the housemates were all together, eating and enjoying each other's company were some of my favorites.
Yet, while the story had promise it also fell a bit flat for me. Alex's relationship with Emma and his feelings toward Emma were maddening. He was painted as a "good guy" but honestly - his actions were not those of what I would deem a good guy. Plus, this was an extremely slow burn romance with very little steam factor so it felt a bit drawn out at times. It felt like I was waiting forever for their "spark" to finally ignite into something more than friendship.
Thank you to Rosie Curtis, Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jess follows her dream and moves to London. She rents a room in a Notting Hill house-share with a college friend and three virtual strangers. On her first night, Jess meets Alex, the man sharing her floor and feels an instant connection. Unfortunately, when Jess returns from a two-week holiday, she finds Alex has started dating Emma, their housemate.
Jess and Alex become friends, walking all over London together. Their excursions were one of my favorite parts of the book. It brought London to life for me - a place I have always dreamed of visiting. Another plus was the cast of side characters - I loved Jess' relationship with her grandma, Rob the Chef and Becky. The scenes where the housemates were all together, eating and enjoying each other's company were some of my favorites.
Yet, while the story had promise it also fell a bit flat for me. Alex's relationship with Emma and his feelings toward Emma were maddening. He was painted as a "good guy" but honestly - his actions were not those of what I would deem a good guy. Plus, this was an extremely slow burn romance with very little steam factor so it felt a bit drawn out at times. It felt like I was waiting forever for their "spark" to finally ignite into something more than friendship.
Thank you to Rosie Curtis, Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2019
Rosie Curtis'
We Met in December
was a cute rom-com that almost felt like a Hallmark movie (in a good way).
"The trouble with me is I've always been a daydreamer. Always been a sucker for a romantic film, always loved a book with a good old-fashioned happy ever after ending."
Jess is embarking on a new adventure in her life. She’s moved away from her hometown to London, leaving her beloved grandmother and her melodramatic mother, to pursue a dream job in publishing and live in a group house in Notting Hill, for far less rent than she should pay, since the house is owned by her friend Becky.
When she meets Becky’s other housemates, she is immediately attracted to Alex, a handsome man who ditched a successful career as a lawyer to train as a nurse. But even though the mere sight of him makes her insides feel fizzy, Becky has a strict no-relationships policy in the house. Jess moves into the house after the holidays only to discover that Alex seems to be having a dalliance with Emma, another of their housemates. While she is sad about losing her (unrealistic) chance with the man of her dreams, she’s content to let their friendship grow.
As she tries to get hold of her new job and fend off her best friends’ attempts to set her up, she wishes Alex were available. But every time it seems he might be, complications ensue. Should she wait forever for something that probably won’t happen, or should she try and find someone for her? Will she find someone who catches her fancy and her heart more than Alex does?
We Met in December is narrated by both Jess and Alex. If you’ve read any rom-coms you know what will happen, but that doesn’t take away from the book’s charm. The whole friends-to-lovers theme is enjoyable and the characters are fun and memorable.
But while the spark between Jess and Alex was definitely evident, this book didn’t quite wow me as much as I had hoped. Those who shy away from steamy romance will find this book a good departure, as there's romance but no sex scenes. It’s definitely sweet and fun, though, and I know others have loved it.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
"The trouble with me is I've always been a daydreamer. Always been a sucker for a romantic film, always loved a book with a good old-fashioned happy ever after ending."
Jess is embarking on a new adventure in her life. She’s moved away from her hometown to London, leaving her beloved grandmother and her melodramatic mother, to pursue a dream job in publishing and live in a group house in Notting Hill, for far less rent than she should pay, since the house is owned by her friend Becky.
When she meets Becky’s other housemates, she is immediately attracted to Alex, a handsome man who ditched a successful career as a lawyer to train as a nurse. But even though the mere sight of him makes her insides feel fizzy, Becky has a strict no-relationships policy in the house. Jess moves into the house after the holidays only to discover that Alex seems to be having a dalliance with Emma, another of their housemates. While she is sad about losing her (unrealistic) chance with the man of her dreams, she’s content to let their friendship grow.
As she tries to get hold of her new job and fend off her best friends’ attempts to set her up, she wishes Alex were available. But every time it seems he might be, complications ensue. Should she wait forever for something that probably won’t happen, or should she try and find someone for her? Will she find someone who catches her fancy and her heart more than Alex does?
We Met in December is narrated by both Jess and Alex. If you’ve read any rom-coms you know what will happen, but that doesn’t take away from the book’s charm. The whole friends-to-lovers theme is enjoyable and the characters are fun and memorable.
But while the spark between Jess and Alex was definitely evident, this book didn’t quite wow me as much as I had hoped. Those who shy away from steamy romance will find this book a good departure, as there's romance but no sex scenes. It’s definitely sweet and fun, though, and I know others have loved it.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
December 19, 2020
Açıkçası beklediğimden çok daha farklı bir kitaptı. Kendince hem eksileri hem de artıları vardı. 🧐İyi yanı size bir dizi izliyormuş havası vermesiydi. Aynı zamanda işlenen bazı konular çok güzeldi. Dostlukları, fedakarlıkları, vazgeçtikleri hayatları,yaşadıkları tüm o zorluklar ... Hepsi hazırlanan bu yemeğe ayrı bir tat katmıştı.
Bunun yanı sıra gerçekten çok yavaş ilerleyen ve okuyucuyu çıldırtan bir kitaptı. 🥲 Bir şeylerin olmasını bekliyorsunuz ama hiçbir şey olmuyor maalesef. Yazarın vermek istediği de buydu sanırım. Aşk temasına odaklanmak yerine genel bir çerçeve çizerek dolaylı yoldan sizi mutlu etmek. 🤷🏻♀️ Ben bunu pek sevmedim. Bir de Alex konusu var. Bütün bir kitap beni gıcık etti. İnsan aynı hatayı bir kez hata yapar iki kez yapar üç kez yapar ama sürekli yapmaz yavrucum. Sürekli bir masum havalarında gösterilmeye çalışılmıştı ama bence karekterini oturtamamış bir yapısı vardı. Meslek seçimi için her insan her yaşta değişiklik yapabilir. Buna kimse karışamaz. Ama birini seviyorsan seviyorsundur. Ne bunu ayırt edemeyecek yaştasın ne de travmatik bir durumdasın. Belli eski sevgilini de unutmuşsun. Ay yok Emma ile ilişkisi öyle değil bla bla demeyin ya rica ediyorum. Başkası ile birlikte olurken hala eski sevgilisini düşünen erkek varsa bak şu karşıdan cehennemin dibine kadar yolu var. Hayır Jess’i de helak etti. Kız ne olduğunu çözemedi. Kısacası Alex hiç sevmedim seni. Keşke Jess yalnız takılsaydı. Eminim çok daha iyi olurdu.
Bunun yanı sıra gerçekten çok yavaş ilerleyen ve okuyucuyu çıldırtan bir kitaptı. 🥲 Bir şeylerin olmasını bekliyorsunuz ama hiçbir şey olmuyor maalesef. Yazarın vermek istediği de buydu sanırım. Aşk temasına odaklanmak yerine genel bir çerçeve çizerek dolaylı yoldan sizi mutlu etmek. 🤷🏻♀️ Ben bunu pek sevmedim. Bir de Alex konusu var. Bütün bir kitap beni gıcık etti. İnsan aynı hatayı bir kez hata yapar iki kez yapar üç kez yapar ama sürekli yapmaz yavrucum. Sürekli bir masum havalarında gösterilmeye çalışılmıştı ama bence karekterini oturtamamış bir yapısı vardı. Meslek seçimi için her insan her yaşta değişiklik yapabilir. Buna kimse karışamaz. Ama birini seviyorsan seviyorsundur. Ne bunu ayırt edemeyecek yaştasın ne de travmatik bir durumdasın. Belli eski sevgilini de unutmuşsun. Ay yok Emma ile ilişkisi öyle değil bla bla demeyin ya rica ediyorum. Başkası ile birlikte olurken hala eski sevgilisini düşünen erkek varsa bak şu karşıdan cehennemin dibine kadar yolu var. Hayır Jess’i de helak etti. Kız ne olduğunu çözemedi. Kısacası Alex hiç sevmedim seni. Keşke Jess yalnız takılsaydı. Eminim çok daha iyi olurdu.
December 10, 2019
I feel a bit catfished tbh. This was neither very winter-y nor Christmas-y and neither was it much of a romance. Overall nice enough, I guess, but I didn’t care for any of the side plots and the “couple” had zero chemistry.
Damn, I sound grumpy 😂
Damn, I sound grumpy 😂
December 5, 2019
We Met In December is a lovely, light read - for me anyway compared to the murder and death that I usually read about! I was invited to listen to the audio book for this by Avon Books UK and this will be my very first blog tour - yay me!!
This book was fun and very easy to listen to. I finished it in a day and half and it left me with a smile on my face. At this time of year I love to watch rom-com Christmas movies like Love Actually and this year Last Christmas and it reminded me a lot of these movies. It was a feel good book, easily relatable. The characters all had their quirks, and were memorable. The housemates were all different and that made them work together well.
Jess and Alex are both making new starts in their lives. Jess has moved to London from her childhood home to take up her dream job in publishing. Alex has given up with high flying job in law to re-train as a nurse. And both are newly single. They move into a shared house in Notting Hill with bargain rent and people they do not know. Jess and Alex first meet and there is something there, but neither do anything about it. When Jess returns to London after a Christmas holiday away skiing with her best friends she is shocked to see that Alex has something going on with Emma, another housemate. She couldn't stop thinking about him while she was away and her hopes are shattered in an instant. She throws herself into her new job and making new friends in the capital.
The pair become friends when Alex offers to show Jess around London and they spend most Friday afternoons walking around and seeing the sights of London. Her friends try to match make her with other men but she really is not interested - and Tinder is a disaster (but does make for funny reading!!) And then she meets somebody...…
Not going to spoil anything for you but loves of this genre really do need to pick this book up. I really enjoyed it - highly recommend.
Thank so to Avon Books for my audio copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
This book was fun and very easy to listen to. I finished it in a day and half and it left me with a smile on my face. At this time of year I love to watch rom-com Christmas movies like Love Actually and this year Last Christmas and it reminded me a lot of these movies. It was a feel good book, easily relatable. The characters all had their quirks, and were memorable. The housemates were all different and that made them work together well.
Jess and Alex are both making new starts in their lives. Jess has moved to London from her childhood home to take up her dream job in publishing. Alex has given up with high flying job in law to re-train as a nurse. And both are newly single. They move into a shared house in Notting Hill with bargain rent and people they do not know. Jess and Alex first meet and there is something there, but neither do anything about it. When Jess returns to London after a Christmas holiday away skiing with her best friends she is shocked to see that Alex has something going on with Emma, another housemate. She couldn't stop thinking about him while she was away and her hopes are shattered in an instant. She throws herself into her new job and making new friends in the capital.
The pair become friends when Alex offers to show Jess around London and they spend most Friday afternoons walking around and seeing the sights of London. Her friends try to match make her with other men but she really is not interested - and Tinder is a disaster (but does make for funny reading!!) And then she meets somebody...…
Not going to spoil anything for you but loves of this genre really do need to pick this book up. I really enjoyed it - highly recommend.
Thank so to Avon Books for my audio copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
November 6, 2019
Rosie Curtis has written a sweet slow burn romance with a dash of holiday cheer. I loved this book! I loved every minute I spent with Jess and Alex as they slowly oh so slowly discovered that they were meant to be. I read a lot of books by UK authors and generally in their romances, just like in their thrillers, their approach is usually more of a slow build up. For me this works so well, I really like getting to know the characters, really getting a sense of place, completely immersing myself in the story. In this book London was as much a character as Alex and Jess, loved discovering the city with them.
The story is told in first person from both Jess and Alex‘s point of view. The story spans an entire year told in small vignettes. I loved not only getting to know Alex and Jess, but their friends, their housemates, and family as well. All the secondary characters were so well drawn and I’d love to see a follow up to this. So many characters to choose from Jen, Emma, Rob? Or even jess’s mom or grandma? If you like slow burn romance with all the feels this is the book for you! Not necessarily a Christmas romance but it does have a definite festive vibe.
This book in emojis: ❄️ 📆 🏃🏻♀️ 🍷 ☕️ 💑
The story is told in first person from both Jess and Alex‘s point of view. The story spans an entire year told in small vignettes. I loved not only getting to know Alex and Jess, but their friends, their housemates, and family as well. All the secondary characters were so well drawn and I’d love to see a follow up to this. So many characters to choose from Jen, Emma, Rob? Or even jess’s mom or grandma? If you like slow burn romance with all the feels this is the book for you! Not necessarily a Christmas romance but it does have a definite festive vibe.
This book in emojis: ❄️ 📆 🏃🏻♀️ 🍷 ☕️ 💑
September 27, 2019
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
We Met in December was such a boring book and unfortunately, the story really dragged on. Based on the synopsis, you'd think this book would mainly revolve around the lives of the two main characters Jess and Alex but instead it very heavily includes the lives of so many of the secondary characters which just didn't interest me at all.
I also wasn't a big fan of Rosie Curtis' writing. Firstly, there were a lot of very weird time jumps in this novel. There were several chapters in which something happened, then the characters started thinking about what had happened prior to that moment and then the "something happens" part is explained again. Additionally, the writing was also very repetitive. For example, I don't know how often the author mentioned that Jess' mother wasn't exactly the "motherly type" but at some point it just started being annoying.
Overall, We Met in December was a pretty quick read but definitely not a very interesting one. The pacing of the book was completely off and while most of the novel was way too slow, the ending was way too rushed and felt very abrupt. I was really hoping I'd enjoy this book but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.
By the way, when I first saw the UK cover for this book I immediately had to think of "One Day in December" by Josie Silver which I really enjoyed. Maybe that's why I had pretty high expectations when I started this book but I have to say, I really don't understand why you'd choose a cover so similar for a novel that also has a title that is almost the same as that of said other book ....
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We Met in December was such a boring book and unfortunately, the story really dragged on. Based on the synopsis, you'd think this book would mainly revolve around the lives of the two main characters Jess and Alex but instead it very heavily includes the lives of so many of the secondary characters which just didn't interest me at all.
I also wasn't a big fan of Rosie Curtis' writing. Firstly, there were a lot of very weird time jumps in this novel. There were several chapters in which something happened, then the characters started thinking about what had happened prior to that moment and then the "something happens" part is explained again. Additionally, the writing was also very repetitive. For example, I don't know how often the author mentioned that Jess' mother wasn't exactly the "motherly type" but at some point it just started being annoying.
Overall, We Met in December was a pretty quick read but definitely not a very interesting one. The pacing of the book was completely off and while most of the novel was way too slow, the ending was way too rushed and felt very abrupt. I was really hoping I'd enjoy this book but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.
By the way, when I first saw the UK cover for this book I immediately had to think of "One Day in December" by Josie Silver which I really enjoyed. Maybe that's why I had pretty high expectations when I started this book but I have to say, I really don't understand why you'd choose a cover so similar for a novel that also has a title that is almost the same as that of said other book ....
instagram || my blog || twitter
December 27, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Okay, now it’s time to talk about my favorite holiday read this year. I saw a bunch of complaints that “this wasn’t a Christmas book and people thought it was supposed to be a Christmas book and why wasn’t it a Christmas book?!?!?!” To that I say . . . . .
That’s like saying Bridget Jones isn’t a Christmas story . . . .
While it may run the course of all twelve calendar months, rest assured that We Met In December is 100% a Christmas romance following the budding friendship-that-you-just-know-will-end-up-being-more between Jess and Alex who find themselves roommates with three others in a giant old Notting Hill house. A bit of a spark can be felt between the two upon moving in, but house rules say no fraternization so Jess attempts to brush her attraction to Alex under the rug and goes on her Christmas holiday. Upon her return she catches one of the other roommates sneaking out of Alex’s bedroom and figures things truly weren’t meant to be. BUT OF COURSE THEY’RE MEANT TO BE because it’s a romance and this one does it in such a pleasant, slow rolling type of way with not a lot of drama and I just loved it.
We Met In December made me feel all warm and fuzzy like a mug of hot cocoa on a snowy day while wrapped in a Sherpa blanket and wearing my comfiest PJs. I sucked this right down while wishing someone would option it and make it a movie by next year so I could watch it on repeat for the entire holiday season until my family threaten me with bodily harm.
Okay, now it’s time to talk about my favorite holiday read this year. I saw a bunch of complaints that “this wasn’t a Christmas book and people thought it was supposed to be a Christmas book and why wasn’t it a Christmas book?!?!?!” To that I say . . . . .
That’s like saying Bridget Jones isn’t a Christmas story . . . .
While it may run the course of all twelve calendar months, rest assured that We Met In December is 100% a Christmas romance following the budding friendship-that-you-just-know-will-end-up-being-more between Jess and Alex who find themselves roommates with three others in a giant old Notting Hill house. A bit of a spark can be felt between the two upon moving in, but house rules say no fraternization so Jess attempts to brush her attraction to Alex under the rug and goes on her Christmas holiday. Upon her return she catches one of the other roommates sneaking out of Alex’s bedroom and figures things truly weren’t meant to be. BUT OF COURSE THEY’RE MEANT TO BE because it’s a romance and this one does it in such a pleasant, slow rolling type of way with not a lot of drama and I just loved it.
We Met In December made me feel all warm and fuzzy like a mug of hot cocoa on a snowy day while wrapped in a Sherpa blanket and wearing my comfiest PJs. I sucked this right down while wishing someone would option it and make it a movie by next year so I could watch it on repeat for the entire holiday season until my family threaten me with bodily harm.
December 26, 2019
well this was a flop.
I'm looking for light, quick reads with a holiday slant as I finish up the year and attempt to hit my goal. I picked this one up as it looked like it would fit the bill. It feel wildly short of that expectation and I would even venture to say this is one to skip.
Jess moves into her friend Becky's flat that she's renting out to a group of people to make the rent cheaper for everything, her first rule is "No Couples". Alex, the hot guy roomie makes this a problem for Jess but especially so when he hooks up with their other roommate Emma. We spend the rest of the book with all the characters sliding into the same one (no development spent on these characters) and still don't understand why these two would ever be into each other. Super predictable and eye rolly at times. I am just glad that I got through this one quickly (thanks to all the long drives this week). Onto the next!
I'm looking for light, quick reads with a holiday slant as I finish up the year and attempt to hit my goal. I picked this one up as it looked like it would fit the bill. It feel wildly short of that expectation and I would even venture to say this is one to skip.
Jess moves into her friend Becky's flat that she's renting out to a group of people to make the rent cheaper for everything, her first rule is "No Couples". Alex, the hot guy roomie makes this a problem for Jess but especially so when he hooks up with their other roommate Emma. We spend the rest of the book with all the characters sliding into the same one (no development spent on these characters) and still don't understand why these two would ever be into each other. Super predictable and eye rolly at times. I am just glad that I got through this one quickly (thanks to all the long drives this week). Onto the next!
December 30, 2021
As dry as overcooked turkey 🦃🙅🏻♀️
Read
February 23, 2020Two people. One year. Where will they be at the end of it?
December's finally the time for twenty-nine year old Jess to pursue her dreams. Moving to Nottingham Hill, she'll share a house with four strangers. On the first evening she's there, she meets Alex, the guy sharing her floor, at a Christmas party. Nothing really happens between them, but Jess is sure it won't be long before they'll share more than just a house.
But when Jess returns from a fun filled vacation, she finds that Alex doesn't exactly return her feelings. He's started something a little more than friendship with one of their housemates, Emma. Now she's in for a year of bumping into the man she hoped might fit into her dreams.
A story of love sprarking, never dieing, but emerging at the wrong times. What happens when you start over again.
Trigger warning for drinking, mention of a loss of a loved one, illness of a loved one, and grief.
Cautious yet ever awkward, Jess's nervousness was palpable as she took the advice of her Nana. Though it was filled with strife, her job in publishing sounded like a dream come true. A romantic at heart, she was always looking for love, but not for it to sweep her off her feet. Very family-oriented and hopeful, I would have loved to been her friend.
Hard-working and kind, Alex was ever ambitious. Between studying for his nursing courses and helping everyone he met, he often exhausted himself, which made it only too easy for his heavy heartedness to make an appearance. Sadness caused him to make choices that totally altered his life. While it may have inspired his endeavors, his past with his family and fiancé greatly weighed upon him. A very decent guy, but I can't say I rooted for him.
Life is hard and love sure isn't easy either. Initial sparks flew between the two extremely kind souls that first night. But then, due to the lack of chemistry, they just kind of faintly flickered for the rest of the book. Sure, Jess and Alex's wrongly timed revelations of love were interesting to watch play out. Sure, they shared some really great moments that sent my heart pitter pattering, but they were just missing something. I loved them individually, but unfortunately their romance fell flat in my opinion.
The romance may have struggled to keep it's flame going, but that didn't mean love was absent from the rest of the novel. From a sweethearted grandmother to a fun, laugh out loud, supportive friend group, to their new housemates, different forms of love shown everywhere. Jess's Nana, a wise woman who encouraged Jess to follow her dreams, was my favorite person of the supporting cast. Lively and adorable, she warmed my heart. Facing various life challenges, Jess's friends didn't always have the right thing to say, but nonetheless they stuck together. Jess and Alex's flatmates may not have spent all their time together, but when they did it was tender and fun. There was quite a few side characters that touched my heart, but the sheer abundance of them didn't allow us to get to know a very deep back story about any of them.
Following your dreams can be quite difficult. Bouncing between two recently entangled souls, we watched the ups and downs of their first year of trying to reinvent themselves. A comfy read, this contemporary touched on following your own path, the judgments you receive for doing so, how it's never too late to try again, and to always keep trying no matter what happens. The time jumps Rosie Curtis created didn't always make sense, but I enjoyed the slow mundanity of their day-to-day lives. Romance may have lost its way in the story from time to time, but love was always present in the small, understated interactions. Even though it was extremely easy to predict the course of this novel, it was enjoyable, like watching a Hallmark Channel movie. Last minute and slightly rushed, the ending was adorably sweet, perhaps the most romantic part.
You might meet this book in December, but it's a cozy pick for any time of the year.
December's finally the time for twenty-nine year old Jess to pursue her dreams. Moving to Nottingham Hill, she'll share a house with four strangers. On the first evening she's there, she meets Alex, the guy sharing her floor, at a Christmas party. Nothing really happens between them, but Jess is sure it won't be long before they'll share more than just a house.
But when Jess returns from a fun filled vacation, she finds that Alex doesn't exactly return her feelings. He's started something a little more than friendship with one of their housemates, Emma. Now she's in for a year of bumping into the man she hoped might fit into her dreams.
A story of love sprarking, never dieing, but emerging at the wrong times. What happens when you start over again.
Trigger warning for drinking, mention of a loss of a loved one, illness of a loved one, and grief.
Cautious yet ever awkward, Jess's nervousness was palpable as she took the advice of her Nana. Though it was filled with strife, her job in publishing sounded like a dream come true. A romantic at heart, she was always looking for love, but not for it to sweep her off her feet. Very family-oriented and hopeful, I would have loved to been her friend.
Hard-working and kind, Alex was ever ambitious. Between studying for his nursing courses and helping everyone he met, he often exhausted himself, which made it only too easy for his heavy heartedness to make an appearance. Sadness caused him to make choices that totally altered his life. While it may have inspired his endeavors, his past with his family and fiancé greatly weighed upon him. A very decent guy, but I can't say I rooted for him.
Life is hard and love sure isn't easy either. Initial sparks flew between the two extremely kind souls that first night. But then, due to the lack of chemistry, they just kind of faintly flickered for the rest of the book. Sure, Jess and Alex's wrongly timed revelations of love were interesting to watch play out. Sure, they shared some really great moments that sent my heart pitter pattering, but they were just missing something. I loved them individually, but unfortunately their romance fell flat in my opinion.
The romance may have struggled to keep it's flame going, but that didn't mean love was absent from the rest of the novel. From a sweethearted grandmother to a fun, laugh out loud, supportive friend group, to their new housemates, different forms of love shown everywhere. Jess's Nana, a wise woman who encouraged Jess to follow her dreams, was my favorite person of the supporting cast. Lively and adorable, she warmed my heart. Facing various life challenges, Jess's friends didn't always have the right thing to say, but nonetheless they stuck together. Jess and Alex's flatmates may not have spent all their time together, but when they did it was tender and fun. There was quite a few side characters that touched my heart, but the sheer abundance of them didn't allow us to get to know a very deep back story about any of them.
Following your dreams can be quite difficult. Bouncing between two recently entangled souls, we watched the ups and downs of their first year of trying to reinvent themselves. A comfy read, this contemporary touched on following your own path, the judgments you receive for doing so, how it's never too late to try again, and to always keep trying no matter what happens. The time jumps Rosie Curtis created didn't always make sense, but I enjoyed the slow mundanity of their day-to-day lives. Romance may have lost its way in the story from time to time, but love was always present in the small, understated interactions. Even though it was extremely easy to predict the course of this novel, it was enjoyable, like watching a Hallmark Channel movie. Last minute and slightly rushed, the ending was adorably sweet, perhaps the most romantic part.
You might meet this book in December, but it's a cozy pick for any time of the year.
December 26, 2021
3.5 holiday romance stars
I was looking for a quick holiday read and this one fit the bill. Featuring Jess, a young woman who has just accepted the publishing job of her dreams in London. Luckily, a friend has a room to let in Notting Hill for far less than what she would normally pay.
As you might suspect, Jess meets her handsome housemate Alex and quickly falls for him. However, he's already involved with someone. Jess and Alex fight their attraction for much of the book and I was really rooting for a happy ending for them but not sure how they would get there.
A sweet slow burn of a romance that was perfect to read in December.
I was looking for a quick holiday read and this one fit the bill. Featuring Jess, a young woman who has just accepted the publishing job of her dreams in London. Luckily, a friend has a room to let in Notting Hill for far less than what she would normally pay.
As you might suspect, Jess meets her handsome housemate Alex and quickly falls for him. However, he's already involved with someone. Jess and Alex fight their attraction for much of the book and I was really rooting for a happy ending for them but not sure how they would get there.
A sweet slow burn of a romance that was perfect to read in December.
December 17, 2019
⭐ 2.5 ⭐
Η αλήθεια είναι πως το βιβλίο είχε μια πολύ όμορφη ατμόσφαιρα. Με ένα χιονισμένο και γιορτινό Λονδίνο αλλά δυστυχώς το πρωταγωνιστικό ζευγάρι ήταν αρκετά αδιάφορο με αποτέλεσμα να κάνει όλο το βιβλίο πολύ φλατ και μεχ.
Το διάβασα όμως ευχάριστα και γρήγορα και μου έδωσε τουλάχιστον την χριστουγεννιάτικη ατμόσφαιρα που αποζητούσαν 😁
Η αλήθεια είναι πως το βιβλίο είχε μια πολύ όμορφη ατμόσφαιρα. Με ένα χιονισμένο και γιορτινό Λονδίνο αλλά δυστυχώς το πρωταγωνιστικό ζευγάρι ήταν αρκετά αδιάφορο με αποτέλεσμα να κάνει όλο το βιβλίο πολύ φλατ και μεχ.
Το διάβασα όμως ευχάριστα και γρήγορα και μου έδωσε τουλάχιστον την χριστουγεννιάτικη ατμόσφαιρα που αποζητούσαν 😁
December 31, 2019
This book is the very definition of why "show, don't tell" is the most important rule in storytelling. Most of the plot movement happens off the page and is only revealed by main characters telling secondary characters, until nearly 3/4 of the way through. The ending was kind of cute but it didn't really feel earned to me.
December 19, 2019
3 .5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5, rounded up to 4 ⭐️s
December 3, 2019
2.5 stars
The two main characters in this book are pretty likable people. However, I just could not buy into the romance. I needed something more. Maybe angst. Pining away for each other. More conflict. Something to liven the story up because it was dull.
Jess is close to 30 years old and has just moved to London. She'll be staying in a Notting Hill home at a fraction of what it would normally cost to rent. One of her four roommates is Alex, a man who has given up a career in law to study to become a nurse. Jess feels an instant attraction to Alex and feels disappointed when she finds out he is hooking up with their other roommate, Emma. Well, the lease is for a year, this might be an awkward living situation.
Do not be fooled into thinking this is a holiday read because even though December is in the title, this is a story that follows both Jess and Alex over the course of a year. The Christmas season isn't that big of a factor in the story so you can read it anytime during the year.
The story starts off with promise as it was obvious Jess was attracted to Alex and it seems he feels a bit of a spark between the two of them as well. There appears to be a good conflict right off the bat with Alex sleeping with the other roommate but somehow the story just loses steam and quite frankly is pretty boring. I'm not that picky when it comes to romance novels, I basically just want the lead characters to have good chemistry. Alex and Jess liked each other but there was hardly any excitement and nothing that had me rooting for them to get together. Perfectly nice, normal people but it was a pretty dull look into their lives.
This one just didn't work for me, and it was a disappointment to say the least because I had really been looking forward to reading it. Maybe other readers will have better luck with this book.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
The two main characters in this book are pretty likable people. However, I just could not buy into the romance. I needed something more. Maybe angst. Pining away for each other. More conflict. Something to liven the story up because it was dull.
Jess is close to 30 years old and has just moved to London. She'll be staying in a Notting Hill home at a fraction of what it would normally cost to rent. One of her four roommates is Alex, a man who has given up a career in law to study to become a nurse. Jess feels an instant attraction to Alex and feels disappointed when she finds out he is hooking up with their other roommate, Emma. Well, the lease is for a year, this might be an awkward living situation.
Do not be fooled into thinking this is a holiday read because even though December is in the title, this is a story that follows both Jess and Alex over the course of a year. The Christmas season isn't that big of a factor in the story so you can read it anytime during the year.
The story starts off with promise as it was obvious Jess was attracted to Alex and it seems he feels a bit of a spark between the two of them as well. There appears to be a good conflict right off the bat with Alex sleeping with the other roommate but somehow the story just loses steam and quite frankly is pretty boring. I'm not that picky when it comes to romance novels, I basically just want the lead characters to have good chemistry. Alex and Jess liked each other but there was hardly any excitement and nothing that had me rooting for them to get together. Perfectly nice, normal people but it was a pretty dull look into their lives.
This one just didn't work for me, and it was a disappointment to say the least because I had really been looking forward to reading it. Maybe other readers will have better luck with this book.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
October 3, 2019
I think I only picked this book up because the cover illustration was so similar to One Day in December by Josie Silver(A book I loved!).
Sadly , I didn't enjoy this one as much. It was ok. Sweet but forgettable.
Sadly , I didn't enjoy this one as much. It was ok. Sweet but forgettable.
October 4, 2019
www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
I stayed up way past my sleep hours, just glued to reading, We Met in December. As I was born Christmas time, Christmas novels is something I always look forward to every year.
If you like reading romantic stories like I do, then you will love this festive romantic novel.
Jess was a special character to me, that I wanted her to fall in love and be happy again. Her ex boyfriend dumped her for another woman.
Jess is making a new life for herself moving to Notting Hil, in London. With Christmas lights glowing in Oxford street. When jess arrives at Notting Hill to a mansion that she is sharing part of the house with. There she meets handsome Alex, but when Jess goes on a Christmas holiday, on her return back to the mansion, Alex has started seeing housemate Emma. That’s not very nice as Jess has to see both of them around the house. I did feel sorry for Jess , first Neil her ex boyfriend went of with another woman and now Alex the man of her dreams has gone off with another woman housemate. But Jess is determined to fall in love with London.
What I was eager to find out is will Jess ever fall in love with a man again and if so who? A lovely story a bit like Love Actually, with two strangers and one big house, and with a year that changes everything.
We Met in December by Rosie Curtis, is for fans that like reading books by Holly Martin, who is another one of my favourite authors.
I stayed up way past my sleep hours, just glued to reading, We Met in December. As I was born Christmas time, Christmas novels is something I always look forward to every year.
If you like reading romantic stories like I do, then you will love this festive romantic novel.
Jess was a special character to me, that I wanted her to fall in love and be happy again. Her ex boyfriend dumped her for another woman.
Jess is making a new life for herself moving to Notting Hil, in London. With Christmas lights glowing in Oxford street. When jess arrives at Notting Hill to a mansion that she is sharing part of the house with. There she meets handsome Alex, but when Jess goes on a Christmas holiday, on her return back to the mansion, Alex has started seeing housemate Emma. That’s not very nice as Jess has to see both of them around the house. I did feel sorry for Jess , first Neil her ex boyfriend went of with another woman and now Alex the man of her dreams has gone off with another woman housemate. But Jess is determined to fall in love with London.
What I was eager to find out is will Jess ever fall in love with a man again and if so who? A lovely story a bit like Love Actually, with two strangers and one big house, and with a year that changes everything.
We Met in December by Rosie Curtis, is for fans that like reading books by Holly Martin, who is another one of my favourite authors.
January 31, 2020
For More bookish related content , visit my blog :
https://bibliomedico.wordpress.com/
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to review
*********************
Personally, I was really excited to read this book, the blurb sounds quite interesting ...
But,
When I started reading , I didn't connect with it from the first chapter, but I kept going , waiting for,
1. The plot to finally become more exciting,
2. The Characters to be at least tolerable, or even human .... " I was like for god's Sake, just give me a normal human reaction !!! "
3. The writing style to become enjoyable and not boring.
As this is the first book for me by this author, I don't have much to say about the writing style, because maybe this author will write another book " With interesting story " and I will enjoy it.
It was promising especially because the main concept which is all about choosing what you really want , no matter what age you are , what others think , and what hard work that would take from you ..
but For me , I didn't enjoy this book at all .
https://bibliomedico.wordpress.com/
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to review
*********************
Personally, I was really excited to read this book, the blurb sounds quite interesting ...
But,
When I started reading , I didn't connect with it from the first chapter, but I kept going , waiting for,
1. The plot to finally become more exciting,
2. The Characters to be at least tolerable, or even human .... " I was like for god's Sake, just give me a normal human reaction !!! "
3. The writing style to become enjoyable and not boring.
As this is the first book for me by this author, I don't have much to say about the writing style, because maybe this author will write another book " With interesting story " and I will enjoy it.
It was promising especially because the main concept which is all about choosing what you really want , no matter what age you are , what others think , and what hard work that would take from you ..
but For me , I didn't enjoy this book at all .
January 25, 2021
Such a great story! Reminiscent of One Day in December, the story follows the lives of Jess and Alex for an entire year. While the story is slow-paced, I think it's well-developed and the right pace/length for one to experience Jess and Alex's journey. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book! 🙂
December 14, 2020
Büyük umutlarla görür görmez kapağına vurulduğum için sipariş etmiştim bu kitabı ama heyhat, bir Büşra kolay kitap beğenmiyor. Bu yüzden bitirir bitirmez elden çıkardığım bir kitapla daha sizlerle birlikteyiz. Başıma ne geliyorsa meraktan geliyor, o kesin.
Başta şunu söyleyeyim. Kitap öyle leş, berbat, aman Rabbim bu da neydi böyle bir kitap değil. Basit, klişe, üzerinde durmaya değmez ama nefretlik değil. Peki ben sevdim mi? Tabii ki hayır. Neden?
Öncelikle şu konuda anlaşalım: Kapağa bir bakın, lütfen bakın. Sanki bolca kar yağan bir yerde, tatlış bir çiftin aşk hikayesini okuyacakmışız gibi bir his oluşturmuyor mu sizde de? Klişe olsun, bence sorun yok. Aşk kitabı zaten başlı başına klişe oluyor genelde. Yani kitapta iki kişi oluyor, ne olursa olsun mutlu mesut yaşadıkları bir dönemde kitap bitiyor. Haksız mıyım? Biz romantikler de bunu okumayı seviyoruz, kime ne? Ama bu kitabın aşkla alakası tam olarak nerede? Kusura bakmazsanız azıcık da SPOİLER gelecek çünkü benim gibi saf saf kitabı sepete atmayı planlayan varsa en azından neyle karşılaşacağını bilsin. Bir de size kitabın alternatifini önermek istiyorum. Ev arkadaşlığından aşka dönüşen, yetişkin karakterli bir aşk kitabı mı okumak istiyorsunuz? DEX'ten inanın sizin kadar nefret ediyorum ama Ev Arkadaşı kitabı gerçekten bu kitabın alternatifi. Neden, sorunuzun cevabını ikisini de okumadan göremezsiniz lakin şunu söyleyeyim. Ev Arkadaşı 28 TL, Ya Hiç Tanışmasaydık 22 TL. Aradaki cüzi fark için ikinciyi okumaya değmez bence. DEX nefretinizi bırakın ve bu ikiliden, Ev Arkadaşı'nı seçin bence. Tabii bu sadece bir öneri. Gelelim kitabımıza...
Jess, hayallerinin mesleğini yapmak için 29 yaşında kariyer değiştirmeye karar verir ve Londra'da bir hayli harika bir yerde, hayırsever bir arkadaşının büyük evinde kalmak için memleketinden ayrılır. Bu evde 2 erkek, 3 kadın beraber kalacaktır. Aşırı ütopik ama hayırsever ev sahibimiz evden gelebilecek milyonları boş vermiş ve evinin odalarını, bedava sayılabilecek bir fiyata bu garip dörtlüye kiralamıştır. Jess, eve gittiği gün aynı onun gibi kariyer değişikliği yapmaya karar vermiş olan ev arkadaşı Alex ile tanışır. Başarılı bir avukat olan Alex, hayatının her detayını planladığı yaşamını ve birkaç ay sonra evleneceği kadını bırakmış ve hemşire olmak için hem çalışıp hem okuduğu zorlu bir yolculuğa çıkmıştır. Bu tanışma gününde Jess, adama vurulur. Ve? Sonra hiçbir şey olmaz. Neden? Çünkü Alex, diğer ev arkadaşları Emma ile sadece cinselliğe dayalı, ilişki olmayan bir düzen tutturmaya karar verir. Çünkü hayatında ilişkiye yer yoktur. Ondan asla umudunu kesemeyen Jess de Alex ile arkadaş olarak takılıp kendini kandırmaya çalışır. Bu arada arkadaşlarının onu tanıştırdığı bir adamla tanışıp sevgili olur çünkü herkes o adamın iyi biri olduğunu söylüyordur. Jess'i beğenen ama onunla gelecek planı kurmayan karakterimiz Alex de Emma ile saçma ilişkisine, vicdan azabıyla devam etmektedir ama bir yandan da Jess'i beğendiğini kabul etmiştir. Neyse. Böyle böyle Alex, Emma ile bir barışır bir küser; Jess de James ile ciddi ciddi ilerlerken kızımız hayatının aşkının James olamayacağını anlar ve adamdan ayrılır. Kitabın son sayfalarına kadar bu durum böyle sürer gider. İşin kötüsü, ortada bir şey de yok. Bölük pörçük sahneler, olaylar, onlarca karakterin hayatından özetler falan filan derken son bölüm gelir ve çiftimiz aniden birbirini sevdiğine karar verir ve kitap biter.
Yani diyeceksiniz, abartma ama cidden diyorum. Ortada hiçbir şey yok. Ne aşk ne herhangi bir duygu denk geldi bana. Yazar chick-lit yazmak istemiş ama dozunu ayarlayamamış. Olay saçma sapan bir hâl almış, başka bir açıklamam yok.
Sıkıcı, itici, yorucu bir kitap değildi. Her şeye rağmen yarım bırakmadım, kendimi biraz zorlayarak hemen bitirdim ama berbat bir kitap olmaması, keyifli bir romantik komedi olduğu anlamına gelmiyor. Ben güzel bir romantik komedi okumak istediğim için büyüüüüük bir hayal kırıklığı yaşadım. Eğer siz de böyle bir şey okumak için bu kitabı alacaksanız, bence iyi düşünün.
December 28, 2020
I've read very similar books before... and I liked the others better.
June 12, 2020
Do not believe the cover. There's little romance and not much of a Christmas draw here. What exists is a mediocre story with so much potential, I shrugged through most of it.
2/5
2/5
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