One Day in December

A Novel

By: Josie Silver

Narrated by: Eleanor Tomlinson, Charlie Anson

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best-seller.

A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick. “Get ready to be swept up in a whirlwind romance. It absolutely charmed me.” (Reese Witherspoon)

“Josie Silver writes with a warmth so palpable her characters sneak their way into your heart and stay for a long time.” (Jill Santopolo, New York Times best-selling author of The Light We Lost, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick)

Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable love story.

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there's a moment of pure magic...and then her bus drives away.

Certain they're fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn't find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they "reunite" at a Christmas party, when her best friend, Sarah, giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It's Jack, the man from the bus. It would be.

What follows for Laurie, Sarah, and Jack is 10 years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming, and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.

©2018 Josie Silver (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Consider setting aside some time and prepare to be charmed as author Josie Silver takes readers on a captivating journey - where female friendship is as important as romantic love.... One Day in December is an unmistakable winner.” (USA Today)

“One Day in December is the sweetest love story. It’s gorgeous, absolutely lovely. Readers are going to love it.” (Marian Keyes)

"A must-read. In Josie Silver’s charming rom-com, Laurie experiences love at first sight through her bus window...then the car pulls away.... What follows is a decade of heartache, betrayal, and destiny.” (US Weekly)

One Day in December - an amazing book!

This book absolutely swept me away! My hat is off to the author and the narrators! I didn't just listen to a story - I lived it! I can't wait to find my next read by this author.

5 Start British Meet-Cute

One Day in December by Josie Silver is a five-star British meet-cute that's perfect for fans of romantic Christmas stories or the movie Love Actually. Told in dual POV, the story follows Laurel (Laurie) James and Jack O'Mara. They meet one day in December and fall in love at first sight. Sadly, the bus Laurie is riding drives away, leaving both to search for each other over the course of another year. In the end, they do find each other. Jack is now dating Sarah, Laurie's best friend. Sarah is hopelessly in love, and Laurie spends the next several years trying to fall out of love with Jack, who is dashing, charismatic, and secretly in love with her too--even if he doesn't know it right away. In the end, there is a happily ever after for Laurie, Jack, and Sarah.

I absolutely loved the author's writing style, and I appreciated the pop culture references. If you know romantic comedy movies, you'll enjoy the references too. I'm not quite sure what genre to label this book. Based on the cover, I was expecting a romantic comedy. While there is romance and bits of wit, it's not really either. The romance is not overly described or drawn out, and there aren't many moments of comedic relief. Instead, what we're left with, is a love triangle that everyone can relate to, even if you haven't fallen in love with your best friend's boyfriend.

The writing is superb and the story finds a way to settle deep in your soul. When I finished the book, I sat silently for a few minutes just thinking about the fact that it's over. I got the ending I wanted, but I was sad to leave these characters behind me. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy the book after realizing a good chunk of it was spent with the two main characters separated. I'm a hopeless romantic, and I wasn't sure if my wasted heart could handle page after page of wishing the two would just kiss already. I'm so happy I carried on, though doing so wasn't exactly difficult. The author as a way with words.

Give this one a chance. I'm certain you won't regret it.

Constant Heartbreak and Stellar Performances

Oh. My. God.

This book constantly broke my heart and I loved every second of it! The characters were so real and rich and relatable. And the narration! Eleanor Tomlinson was absolutely, positively, undeniably fantastic! She acted her heart out as Laurie, and Charlie Anson was perfect as Jack.

I may just listen to this every December from now on.

In life and love, timing is everything

I love the two perspective narrative. I was reeled into the story because of the raw emotions of Jack and Laurie, as successfully conveyed by the author. While listening, I felt the excitement, frustration, elation, heartbreak and love in every moment of their journey.

COULD NOT STOP LISTENING

I have not one negative word about this book. It's been quite some time that I listened to a book so intently and am so sad that it's over. It draws you in and keeps you in until the very last sentence. I listened when getting ready for work, on my way to and from work and before bed. I was and am obsessed. I absolutely will listen to this again and again.

Refreshing, heartwarming.

Where to start? I loved this story from the moment it started. The characters are so lovable. The narration is flawless and not overdone. The story is heartwarming and somewhat unpredictable. Beautiful writing that I’m going to be thinking about for a long time. Hope we get to see more from these characters.

Eleanor's performance makes this worth the listen!

This audiobook is fantastic. The story itself (chance encounter, young female "singletons" navigating life together, Christmastime in England) should be enough to entice readers (or viewers) of Bridget Jones' Diary (although the story here is more serious and deeper in its exploration of the central female friendship). While it has its ups and downs (I did find myself wondering why we should be rooting for the Jack towards the middle of the book), it's a fun read for Anglophiles who love the holiday season. The real draw for me was Eleanor Tomlinson's performance. She knocked it out of the park. If you're a fan of 'Poldark,' it's absolutely worth your time to experience another one of her excellent projects.

Wish it didn't have to end

Such a beautifully written book! I wish it could go on and om. The best audio book I've ever listened to. Love love love!

stick it out!

my initial reaction to this book was that the author must have binged on Love Actually, Bridget Jones' Diary, and The Holiday before sitting down to write this. I stuck it out and am glad I did! this turned out to be a delightful story and Eleanor Tomlinson is very talented. you can hear the maturation of the character in her flawless performance. well done all around.

Loved!

Such a heart warming love story! And the narrators were fantastic! I didn’t want the book to end.