The story explores how we carry loss and the way traditions—like Josie’s letters—can both anchor us and keep us stuck in the past.
While marketed as a romance, the book leans heavily into the genre. It is known for its "tear-jerker" qualities, drawing comparisons to Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You . The pacing is deliberate, focusing on the growth the characters undergo during their time apart just as much as their time together. The Verdict Always, in December by Emily Stone
Always, in December follows Josie, a young woman who spends every December writing a letter to the parents she lost in a tragic accident years ago. Her ritual is upended when she literally runs into Max, a man who is also avoiding the holiday for his own secretive reasons. What begins as a chance meeting evolves into a week-long connection in London, setting the stage for a story that spans several years and multiple Decembers. The story explores how we carry loss and