One Day in December by Josie Silver - 4.5 stars!

[Theresa]

No one is more surprised than I am that I'm giving this high marks. In fact, I loved it! It loses half a star because I did find that the 3 or 4 'chapters' after the initial one (the eponymous 'Day in December') failed to engage me and I really found the idea of Laurie's obsession and search for someone who she saw for a few seconds to be a little unreal and over the top. I actually put it down to read other things (well, I had library books due and this was an ebook I owned). But then, what can I say, after I picked it up again, it just absolutely sucked me in. I laughed, cried, mourned, cheered, and yes, I heard the soundtrack from 'Love Actually' in my head (and still do) during the final scenes between Laurie and Jack, but hey. I like that movie!

This is a modern day classic love triangle, only with a happy ending for all. But oh, it is so much more! I think the soul of this story is the friendship between Sarah and Laurie, and by extension the friendship of all three of them, Jack, Laurie and Sarah. It is also a coming of age novel, for those post-college years when you are transitioning to full adulthood. It is 'life', for sure.

The author tells the story in chapters that alternate the first person POV of Laurie and Jack, in sections demarcated by first a year then by specific dates within that year. Each year section starts with Laurie's New Year's Resolutions which serve as a summary of her life and growth, actually, as the story progresses. None of the chapters is particularly long, and each year of the 10 year time period of the story is told in a few short chapters. Yet, I feel I know all 3 characters well and what life threw at them during that time.

[Anita]

Theresa wrote: "No one is more surprised than I am that I'm giving this high marks. In fact, I loved it! It loses half a star because I did find that the 3 or 4 'chapters' after the initial one (the eponymous 'Day..."

This type of book normally isn't my thing, but somehow your review makes it sound really fun . . .maybe for summer by the pool . . .ahhh, summer . . .