A December to Remember

A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss is a heart-warming tale of family, love, and rediscovery. The story revolves around the three North sisters who are brought together by their father's death and the challenge he leaves behind. As they gather in the charming town of Rowan Thorpe, they must solve the puzzles and unravel the secrets of their father's curiosity shop. Along the way, they not only rediscover their bond as sisters but also navigate their personal struggles with romance. Bayliss weaves a delightful narrative filled with nostalgia, enchanting settings, and endearing characters. A December to Remember is a perfect read for the holiday season, reminding us of the power of family and the magic of love.

What a Story . I absolutely loved it. Three sisters , 3 mothers and one hippy father. The girls use to meet every summer as children and as they grew up last touch etc. Father dies and they find each other again in a magical way. . It will be a fab Christmas gift for people. Lots of twists mean landlords, older woman younger man love, children, IVF. A must must read..

This is such a good read. Three amazing sisters, all so different and all working through big issues in their personal lives. The sisters are really likeable, their interactions real and edgy and I felt the bruises land and form as they fought their way forward. Some beautiful romantic moments as couples formed and deepened and a nicely long epilogue.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was lovely to see the three North sisters coming together under difficult circumstances. The curiosity shop sounded like a wonderful place to browse - which would probably take many weeks to do - the assessor seemed to be having the time of his life. It was a great idea to have them set up the challenge and rather than separating the sisters it really did bring them together. Great story and a lovely ending. It was heartwarming.

This was both poignant and uplifting. A tale of families that were disjointed but after a mysterious will reading eventually brought together in a unique way. A very enjoyable story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

This remarkable book captivated me from start to finish. Immerse yourself in a world that is both heartwarming and inviting, where thought-provoking conversations on significant topics take center stage. Jenny Bayliss masterfully weaves together a tapestry of diverse paths to parenthood, skillfully addressing the myriad of challenges faced by the characters.

True to Bayliss' writing, the book shines a spotlight on love and romance blossoming in the midst of the 30s and 40s. It's a testament to the fact that love can happen at any stage of life.

Delighting in every page, I savored the enchanting journey this book took me on. Its December setting goes beyond mere Christmas festivities, inviting us to relish the anticipation leading up to the holiday season—the most magical part of all.

I wholeheartedly recommend this gem if you seek a truly enriching tale that will leave you feeling uplifted and craving the comfort of hearty culinary delights.

P.S. It was an absolute delight to encounter a vegan character who thoughtfully explores the principles of slow, sustainable living.

Maggie, Simona and Star are sisters, but very different - thanks to their very different mothers. But the month every summer they spent with their dad was the highlight of each year.

Now adults and gathering to read their dad's will, their differences have pushed them apart. Will their dad manage to get the sisters back together again?

I really enjoyed this book - the sisters, the villagers and their stories were really well written (although I could have done without the information about the dad's prolific sex life in the early chapters)

I wondered part way through if this was setting up a series - with books focussing on the story of each sister, but it ended with a '5 years later' that nicely tied up the endings.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

A book about family and connection. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Five years ago. Augustus Balthazar
North (what a great name) is the owner of North’s Novelties and Curios in Rowan Thorp village in Kent, a shop that has been handed down from one generation to the other since 1740. The shop is a wonder, a feast for the eyes, stocked to the rafters with all kinds of treasures. Despite the shops obvious allure Augustus has wanderlust, and he closes the shop and sets off in his trusty, rusty camper van for fresh fields and mountains. In the present day, half sisters Maggie, Simone and Star’s estranged father Augustus has died at the ripe old age of 96, his funeral is well attended and a testament to his popularity. He leaves an unusual will. The half sisters are left a series of challenges through which they must work together in order to inherit. He has hidden 32 monopoly houses which once found, their next task is to recreate the lapsed Winter Solstice celebrations. Augustus’ motives are clearly to play the long game for the greater good.

It takes me a little while to get into this one which is overly detailed at the start, but eventually I connect and plunge into the enjoyment! Each sister is very different, their back stories are good, each has their issues and problems which makes them feel authentic. Star is definitely the star for me, she is likeable from the very start, whilst Simone is somewhat spiky but she eventually thaws. There are plenty of other good characters that feature, especially the village inhabitants and one especially likeable one from Sotheby’s!

I love the idyllic setting of Rowan Thorp, which would definitely be somewhere you would want to live - two lovely pubs you say? I’m there. As for the North shop that is one you would want to visit and have a good poke around to discover a hidden treasure. The sense of community is heartwarming, I love how they pull together. Disney? Of course it is, but none the worse for that. The stand out section of the book for me is the winter solstice celebrations, it makes me want to seek one out and wassail! I love traditions so I’m right there with that one.

The novel has romance (obviously), it’s very funny in places, it’s heartwarming, but it does have some serious issues too. It’s definitely a ‘Hallmark’ book but it does make you feel good and that’s important too. Yes, it’s predictable, you know certain things are going to happen but as you want them to happen I enjoy the journey.

Overall, this is a good Christmas read which Jenny Bayliss seems to have nailed.

Naturally, it snows. It doesn’t, or, but rarely!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I love a Jenny Baylis book and I love a Christmas story... any time of the year! This one was no exception to the rule - great story about 3 half sisters who had become estranged and their journey back together, with each sister having her own issues to deal with. It’s a story of family, love and hope with a lot of humour thrown in. A lovely read!

My first Christmas book of 2023. This is a story about three sisters Maggie, Simone and Star who are set a series of tasks by their father. Maybe it's his way of bringing his daughters back together.

Great Christmas story to curl up by the couch with a mug of hot chocolate.

This was a beautiful read, based in December but not really a Christmas book, about 3 half sisters who only interacted for four weeks a year during their childhood but have been brought together following the death of their eccentric father to resurrect his villagers winter solstice celebration. The three sisters are all great characters, very different to each other and raised by very different mothers and are all individually struggling in their lives at present. This tells the stories of their personal lives but focusses more on their difficult sibling relationship. I loved the village setting of this and the locals, especially the females were formidable! Overall this is a really warm and uplifting winter read. 9/10

There was so much to love about this book. I loved the North sisters and how they came together and recognized their childhood bond (I saw more than a little of myself in Star!), I always love a story with a small town focus and I liked that there was a gay couple just in the story, not as a main aspect. In fact challenging stereotypes was a theme - a man who saves the day with his sewing skills and women who save the day when they band together with their communal knowledge. It did take me a while to get into the story and for a few chapters I thought I was going to hate it! But I didn’t- I loved it and I loved the fact that the epilogue tied everything together in a more believable 5 years later! Definitely worth a read

Augustus Balthazar North, father of 3 girls dies leaving a challenge in his will.
Maggie, Simone and Star all have to work together to bring back the Winter Solstice Celebration for the community.
For sisters who have only ever spent 4 weeks together every year and have many issues between them take on this challenge, it becomes a really good tale perfect for the winter evenings.
I really enjoyed it!

Loved it so much I read it in 2 sittings.
The characters and descriptions are so rich and well written that I also dreamt I was at the solstice celebration and was sorely disappointed to wake up this morning not in that world!
I will definitely be re-reading this as the nights draw in and the solstice approaches and may even try wassail!

I really enjoyed this book . It's about three sisters, fathered by the same man but with different mothers, all with totally different lifestyles. As children, the only time they would meet up would be for a month is the summer holidays, where they had the time of their lives living freely and enjoying each others company.

As adults, the girls lead totally different lives, with minimal contact. Maggie the eldest is a green-grocer shop keeper and widowed mother of two, lives in the same village as her father, but would rarely see him as he would be away on his hippie style travels. Professional Simone, lives in London with her wife, while the youngest daughter Star leads a free and similar hippie life style to their father.

Life for the sisters changes when they each receive an envelope from a solicitor, informing them that their Father has died on his travels and that the contents of his curio/antique shop and his estate would be left to them as long as they complete various challenges.

The challenges force the sisters to work together, even though they don't really like or even respect each other. Their relationships are messy, but they each have a need for money, so are driven to complete the challenges with the inheritance dangling in front of them like a carrot.

A December to Remember - Jenny Bayliss

A heart warming book with romance, to enjoy curled up with a hot chocolate. Great characters to enjoy and I particularly enjoyed the rekindling relationships of the sisters. I found the pace a little steady, but once invested in the characters I thought is was very enjoyable and will make a lovely festive read closer to the season. Thanks so much Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

I can never resist a Christmas book, no matter what time of year it is, there is something about settling into a festive story that makes me very, very happy and this one brought so much happiness and left me with all the feel-good vibes I was needing.

A December to Remember is utterly charming and full of festive-ness; hot chocolate, twinkly light, celebration, and Christmas trees with the perfect reuniting of chaotic families at Christmas feel, I loved it!!

I loved the cute little plot, the engaging and likeable characters and overall, that feeling of wanting to be wrapped in a fluffy blanket and settling down to re-read it all over again.

A definite winner and perfect for those colder winter nights which will be coming, eventually - or getting yourself reading for those colder nights. Either way, just enjoy it!

Reading a Jenny Bayliss Christmas novel has now become an early staple for me, and she is firmly on my 'must-read' authors list.

There was so much to love about this book: the eclectic village of Rowan Thorpe, the re-kindling of the sister's relationships, the discovery of hidden treasures in the shop and the organisation of the Winter solstice festival. There were parts that had me laughing out loud and feeling emotional, and I always think it's such a feat to get a reader so invested in the lives of the characters in such a short amount of time.

Wonderfully festive and gorgeous as always. Looking forward to next year's!

Maggie, Simone and Star are three half-sisters, born of three different mothers. Their father Augustus was what you might call a character, inheritor of a family curiosity shop that has been owned by the family for generations. When he retired he simply shut up the shop and went travelling in an old camper van. Now the sisters are reunited for his funeral.

Maggie is the single mother of two children, her husband died very young and she never remarried. She stayed in the village of Rowan Thorp and runs the local greengrocers. She has been having a secret affair with her much younger assistant but is loath to make things official.

Simone is a qualified physiotherapist who lives in town with her wife, they have been trying for a baby through IVF without success and it has practically broken their marriage.

Star is the baby sister. She and Simone are at loggerheads after Star's last boyfriend stole from Simone's house to fuel his drug addiction. She's not got any qualifications and drifts from one kooky job to another.

When the sisters attend the reading of their father's will they learn that in his usual off-beat way he has made things a lot more difficult (and interesting) than a normal will and the women will have to work together. First they need to find 32 Monopoly houses which he has scattered around the curiosity shop and the flat above, then the solicitor will be able to release funds for them to reinstate the village's Winter Solstice fayre.

If you like family-reunited stories, small town romances, Christmas celebrations, hot chocolate, treehouses, and bossy WI members then this is the book for you. Cute, charming, and wraps you up in a warm hug. Ideal winter reading.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Maggie Simone and Star half sisters brought back together because of their eccentric father's death. They need to work together to fulfill his wishes. Very different but very enjoyable

The North Girls, Maggie, Simone, and Star return to the picturesque village of Rowan Thorpe following their father's passing. Once inseparable during childhood summers spent with their dad, they have since drifted apart, each leading their own separate lives. But destiny has other plans for them as their father's final act brings them back together.

Their dad's will presents them with a series of tasks to complete. Can they set aside their differences and past grievances to work together harmoniously?

I found the start quite slow but it allows you to fully immerse yourself in the lives of the characters and the idyllic charm of Rowan Thorpe.

In true Jenny Bayliss fashion, this book proves to be another gem in her collection a heart warming and cozy read that is just perfect for a winter evening. It will transport you to a world of family bonds, personal growth and the remarkable strength of a close knit community spirit.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

This was a lovely read full of amazing characters and situations. The story encompasses magical bits, family and lover relationships as the girls have to resolve puzzles set by their recently deceased father. The description of the village community, the village scenery and the interactions was wonderful. This was just a one day warm and cozy read as I could not put it down.

An enjoyable story which takes you on a journey from start to finish. You can connect in with the North sisters and how they are where they are, whilst also enjoying the community actions

I have read all Jenny Bayliss previous novels, I knew what to expect and this is no exception. A warm, funny in places novel about family and friends at Christmas.
When the father of the three sisters dies, the sisters have to complete a task set by their deceased relative, As the sisters are estranged it means they have to work together to do this final task for their dad.
It is good to see the sisters come together again with the help and support of the village..
A good Christmas read and whilst I preferred Jenny's other novels, this is still worth reading.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC of this novel.

Read this in one sitting and oh I adored it! I love the premis, village life, sisters who haven't had the best relationships and the fact that it is set at Christmas time was the cherry on the cake, I loved it!

I was so excited to get a review copy via NetGalley for this one! Christmas books in Summer, made me want to cosy up under a blanket, and the great British weather has provided with all the rain! 🙄 ☔️

I loved this cosy, small town story about three sisters forging a stronger bond in adulthood as they discover love and their past. This one had some very emotional parts that had me tearful at times! I loved that they were brought together by their Dad for a challenge to earn their inheritance! The twists and turns and the small town, tight knit community themes are a favourite of mine! 🫶

The story revolves around three half sisters and the legacy their father leaves them. Augustus North owned a bric-a-brac shop in the village of Rowan Thorp. Augustus was a larger than life character who lived life to the full both womanising and collecting antiquities for the shop, some of which turned out to be quite valuable. The sisters, all with different mothers, are estranged. They only met up once a year when their father was alive and so were known as ‘summer sisters’. They reunite in Rowan Thorp for the reading of the will which stipulated that they have to revive the winter solstice celebration in order to claim their inheritance. They also have a number of other challenges to achieve which all mean them working as a team. As a result Maggie, Star and Simone have to work together which they have never had to do before. Through these challenges they get to know one another as they have completely drifted apart as adults and had a number of arguments in recent years. There is quite a bit of romance in the story, none of the sisters have a straightforward love life. Maggie is reluctant to go public with her relationship with Joe as she feels he is too young for her, Simone is having a difficult time with her wife because of their difficulties in conceiving and Star’s ex-boyfriend is stalking her and she has nowhere to live. All three of them would benefit from some good luck. The descriptions in a December to Remember are wonderful. The village of Rowan Thorp is brought alive by the author, as are the characters in it. The outcomes are fairly predictable, but this is a small complaint as there is so much joy in this story that it is a real pleasure to read. It is an ideal Christmas holiday treat. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is another fantastic book by this author and is so wholesome and warm. The story revolves around three estranged sisters who need to come together to carry out their recently deceased fathers last wishes. They all have their own problems to deal with too and soon come to realise that the sisterly bond can always be repaired.

There is also romance for the three sisters too so is a perfect wholesome read for when you want to curl up and be absorbed in another world.

Three estranged half-sisters are brought together after the death of their father.
Each woman is a very different character from three different mothers, and after a relatively close childhood, spending idyllic summers together, they drifted apart.
But a few stipulations in their father's will leaves them with little choice but to spend time together to complete certain tasks and try and get on.
Maggie is the oldest, the strong one, who seems to be left holding the fort all the time. She finds it hard to accept happiness.
Simone is in a good career and struggling with pregnancy issues, which strain her relationship with her wife.
Star is a lone spirit, drifting here and there but also trying to run away from a toxic ex.
They each have an opinion on each other's predicaments, which aren't always favourable.
I loved the curio shop that Augustus, the father in question, left for the girls, filled with amazing objects and fascinating tat.
Each woman has a romance to either start or allow to bloom, and we, as readers, see that.
A lovely easy wintery read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

This was a lovely book telling how families remember things differently and can become fractured. A common goal brought the back together while being supported by and supporting the local community.

The story telling was engaging and would like to read more from the writer.

A delightful Christmas story exploring the relationships of three estranged sisters and how a community can come together to beat all odds and achieve an outcome which seemed impossible.
The characters were refreshingly different and the story unfolded at a good pace which kept my interest from beginning to end. I’d love to have had a browse in Augustus’s shop, what a treasure trove!
Definitely one to put on your Christmas book list. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Books like this are my guilty pleasure! I really enjoyed this cosy story about three sisters forging a real bond in adulthood as they discover love and their find peace with the past. It’s a real story you can identify with the sisters and their different personalities and their differences. It’s also based around solstice and Christmas- what’s not to love?

Three estranged women finally come together at the reading of a will, what could possibly go wrong? This is a wonderful tale of their coming together and sorting through their issues so as to reap the inheritance. Wonderfully written, it will make you smile and make you cry, but I guarantee you’ll be hooked once you start reading

A wonderfully festive heartwarming book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Plenty of feelgood factors for a cosy winter read to curl up with. Delightful characters as the reader is taken through the journey of three half sisters coming together after their mutual father's death. Set in a tightly knit Kentish village with a fantastic community spirit plus a good dollop of humour and quirkiness.

I enjoyed so much this exploration of the complexities of family, siblings and our ties to childhood. Each one of the North sisters had a special place in my heart whilst reading this book, there's a real sense of community and a look at traditional village celebrations and a legacy that lives on.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

This was a really lovely story, bringing in all the feels. I loved the sisters and how they bonded over the loss of their father and the way he got them to work together through his will. Just pure winter magick. Such a great read. Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful book that not only makes me pine for Christmas (no pun intended) but really warmed my heart. This is a beautiful tale about three sisters who’s upbringing has been anything but normal but they are brought back together following the death of their father and after his strange requests in his will they have to work together to pull off something that seems impossible but maybe along the way they will all find something even more important and final remember what matters is love and family. This is a hug in a book and not to be missed.

A lovely Christmas story, filled with festive spirit. Family issues, friendship and lots of things for the characters to over come, learn from and to grow.

I loved this book. It is a delightful Christmas novel which also pulls in some deeper family issues and a wonderful sense of community spirit. Yes it's a bit predictable at times but there are also some unexpected twists and there are quite a few amazing supporting characters! Just what you need in a Christmas novel .

A very enjoyable story about three estranged half sisters who have to join together after their father's death to unlock their inheritance by following certain instructions in his will.

Maggie, Simone and Star are completely different personalities. Maggie is the reliable one, she lives in the same village her father did (when he wasn't wandering the world), looks after her two children and runs a greengrocer. Simone is a physiotherapist and her and her wife have been trying for a baby, without much success, for a while. She's very cranky and judgemental, but slowly works through her issues. Star is the gentle one who floats around from place to place and loves everyone, sometimes to her detriment.

The three very differing personalities come together to work through the items in the antiques/curiosity shop their father left, and to set up a winter solstice celebration.

The story follows the different issues the sisters have had over the years, with their father and each other. They work through everything eventually and become the sisters they used to be in their childhood, when they used to spend a month with each other and their father every summer.

There are some very funny moments, along with some sadders ones, and some great side characters. I loved both Duncan (the Sotheby's appraiser) and Joe (Maggie's 'secret' love interest). The story got better as it went on, and there was a really lovely ending. There was also an epilogue five years later, which I really like in stories to see where the characters are now. I do like it when all the loose ends are tied up! Very enjoyable read.

This is a lovely heartwarming story that is focused around family and life.. I really enjoyed it, lots of tears

Three sisters, there mother's. They came to stay with their dad for a month every summer.. They grow up and apart. Can they work together to carry out their dads final wishes? Old resentments, old roles are comfortable but can they reconnect?
Sibling rivalry and loyalty at it's best.
Enjoy Maggie, Star and Simone story as they unite against common enemies.

A hearty warm story of sisters finding their way back to each other in just the kind of community we all dream of! Plus the curiosity shop beyond imagination. Add in some lovely romance and it's a complete holiday read

This is a lovely story that is focused around family and relationships, a very emotional story that really stays with you well after reading. I really enjoyed it

What a delightful story. Absolutely perfect for snuggling up on a cold winters day wrapped in a blanket.
Maggie, Simone and Star are half sisters, sharing a father, Augustus North. Because their mothers were so different and because they lived in different parts of the country they only spent time together in the summer.
The North sisters would spend a month each summer with their father in his flat above the curios shop that had been in the family for over 200 years.
Augustus was a nomadic type; he and his camper van spent long periods of time away from his home in the village of Rowan Thorp and, as they grew older, away from his daughters.
When the sisters learn of their fathers death and the task he has set them their initial reaction is to back away and return to their very separate but equally troubled lives.
Thankfully their father knew them rather better than they know themselves and by working together and by turning to the community of Rowan Thorp they each come to realise the importance of trust, love and family.

A beautiful heartwarming read which features three sisters reconnecting with each other and building a connection after the death of their father and his last wish in order for them to recieve the inheritance.

This is a delightful Christmas read; you'll need a cosy armchair, cosy blanket and a mug of mulled wine!

Maggie, Simone & Star share a rather eccentric father called Augustus. He has recently passed away and leaves his antique/curiosity shop to his daughters along with instructions to find hidden amongst the contents a certain number of Monopoly game houses! The half sisters are almost estranged and this is bringing them all back together intentionally!

They must re-establish the annual Winter Solstice celebration for the whole village; will this enormous task make them or break them?

Read this delightful book to learn how relationships, thought lost can be re-established better than before, along with broken hearts made whole with new romance!

Loved it!

A heartfelt story, reuniting three sisters.
After years apart, Maggie, Simone and Star return to a small Kent village, Rowan Thorp, for the reading of their father’s will.
He wants them to reinstate the Winter Solstice Festival as part of their inheritance.
It’s the story of the three women and their journey, their choices and priorities and their relationship with each other, but also how the community of Rowan Thorp had a major role to play in realising the dream.
The characters were funny and engaging.
The whole story is loving and caring, full of second chances.
A gentle way to ease you into the festive season and get into the Christmas spirit.
Thanks @BaylissJenni, @panmacmillan and @netgalley for the eARC