Always, in December

A Novel

By: Emily Stone

Narrated by: Heather Long

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

“A poignant, heart-tugging, life-affirming story that will wrap around you like a hug during any season. Keep tissues nearby!” (Josie Silver, number one New York Times best-selling author of One Day in December)

It started with a letter. It ended with a love story.

Every December, Josie posts a letter from her home in London to the parents she lost on Christmas night many years ago. Each year, she writes the same three words: Missing you, always. But this year, her annual trip to the postbox is knocked off course by a bicycle collision with a handsome stranger - a stranger who will change the course of Josie's life.

Josie always thought she was the only one who avoided the Christmas season, but this year, Max has his own reasons for doing the same - and coincidence leads them to spending the holiday together. Aglow with new love, Josie thinks this might be the start of something special.

Only for Max to disappear without saying goodbye.

Over the course of the next year, Max and Josie will find that fate continues to bring them together in places they'd never expect. New York City. Edinburgh. The quiet English countryside. And it turns out, Max had every reason to leave and every reason to stay. But what does fate hold for Josie and Max as Christmas approaches again?

A devastating, romantic, life-affirming love story, Always, in December will stay with listeners long after they've finished the last chapter.

©2021 Emily Stone (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“I adored this sweepingly romantic, captivating love story. A poignant page-turner, this gorgeous book is as uplifting and hopeful as it is heartbreaking. If you’re looking for a true will-they-won't-they tearjerker to capture your heart this Christmas, look no further.” (Holly Miller, author of The Sight of You)

Simply Wow!

omg I wasn't expecting the ending!!! 😯😯😯❤❤❤
I couldn't stop listening to this book.

Lovely Story & spot on accent narration

I really enjoyed this book. It was delightful. It is absolutely in my top 5 listens for narration. There were back and forth conversations form British to Scottish to American, and Heather Long was so good at this that I never felt pulled out of the story as often happens. If you like heartwarming reads with characters who are real, this is a great one.

Should have a warning for empaths!

I wasn’t prepared for this one and listened to the last half while out shopping. I ended up outside the grocery store weeping in my car. It’s a beautiful story that will stay with me for a very long time.

Great story but…

It was a great story. Great performance. Heartwarming story BUT it’s not what I was looking to ready in my cheery Christmas mode. I’m not sure it’s what other people would like to read for Christmas either lol. Just a tad too sad 😥 for my usual Christmas reads that put me in a cheerful mode.

More than I expected

This was so much more than I expected. I loved the way the story switched perspectives and the narrator was wonderful. What a beautiful story of loss and love. ❤️

Glad I stuck with it

This book was a little hard to get into for the first couple chapters. Definitely glad I stuck it out; the ending really got me!

Best audiobook I've listened to in years

This story kept me listening, way past midnight. The narrator was a great match to the story. I can't wait to listen to another book by this author.

Great story, bad ending

I was loving this book so much… until the ending- which was not only terrible, but also cliche! Aside from that part, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Do it!

I considered this book a couple different times but passed it up based on reviews. I’m glad I finally listened to it. It’s a really sweet and tender love story. There is sadness in it, as other reviewers mentioned, but also joy. It was a great book.

Unexpected Sadness

It was a wonderful book. So much, that I couldn’t stop listening to it. Until, the end. I was shocked with unexpected sadness. I guess I missed that part in the description. It was still a great read and I would certainly read more books by this author.