We Met in December is my first from Rosie Curtis and it is truly a very sweet read. Many have compared it to One Day in December by Josie Silver and yes it has some similarities but overall the story is much different. And I enjoyed it immensely.

Told in alternating POV's, Alex and Jess are up and coming professionals, who have taken the jobs of their dreams which leaves them with not much money to spend on housing etc. Due to the generosity of their mutual friend Becky, each is now a housemate of hers on the tony Albany Road, outside of London proper. What ensues is a playful kind of friendship btw Alex and Jess, who fit really well together but seek out other romantic partners even as they crush on one another.

The banter between not only Jess and Alex, but btw the entire motley crew that makes up their house is great fun. I loved the scenes where all the housemates were together and would enjoy bottles of wine, watch Netflix and simply be the crazy, unassuming group they were. All have unique personalities and add the right touch to this book.

The oft-times frustrating, slow burn that is the romance between Jess and Alex surprisingly moves ahead a bit quickly with each chapter typically being another month later. The author does not bore us with the day to day, but sometimes I felt as if there wasn't enough detail to know just what each character was truly feeling and/or thinking. I needed to dig a bit deeper as much felt left on the surface.

But I will say that their adventures through London with Alex as Jess's tour guide were the highlights of this story as they find themselves simply loving this uncomplicated time they could spend together. Those walks became the foundation for their burgeoning attraction and clearly fueled the fire between them.

In addition, the secondary characters of Nanna Beth, Sophie, Gen and even Jess's mom, were perfectly placed and increased the witty factor tenfold. Each were a necessary part of Jess's life and gave her the perspective she often needed to sort out her complicated love life.

Overall, I'd say that We Met in December is a lovely little read about the trials and tribulations of being on your own and blazing a path to what and who you want, even if it seems impossible. Add to the mix, British humour which is a favorite of mine, and you have a great read for a lazy afternoon.

I'd certainly read more from this author and I wouldn't even mine an update on this wonderfully loving crew.

4 solid stars!

I love books set in London and books that are more than just romance. This book took me by surprise. I thought it would turn out in a certain way, but it didn't and that worked in its favor.

I like the two different perspectives and that there was more going on then just a romance. The friends and flatmates all brought spice into the story. I hope there's another book in this series, that can give us a look into all these other characters.
4.5 stars
I recommend this book.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and all opinions are my own.

Luanna

This was a cute and easy rom-com. It was slow, and at 50% I was wondering if it would ever pick up. I liked Jess and Alex a lot, which is important to me in a book. However, their love story was slow, stilted and lacked chemistry for me. I shouldn't have expected One Day in December quality, but with the similarities in the titles/premise, who wouldnt? I did love the London scenery that was depicted.

There's something really comforting about a cyclical story. You know the ones - start at point A go around the world, end at point A. Or - in the case of We Met in December - starts in December, ends in December.
Maybe it's the idea that we all have something - a location, a time, a person - to come home to. Something that feels familiar, that allows you to see how you and "it" have changed. To realise the (r)evolutions you have gone trough. Rosie Curtis manages to express that feeling beautifully in We Met In December.
Christmas is always a bit of a time for reflection, and, at the start of this book, both Jess and Alex are using it as a dive board into a new future. Just across the hall from each other, they get a first row seat as the other tries to manoeuvre a new life. They support each other the way friends do - even if they *happen* to be the kind of friends that wouldn't mind moving into something beyond friendship.
Seeing the support these two had for each other, and for their friends? Add to that the amazing descriptions of London through the seasons, but especially in Holiday mode? Rooting for them both to see what they really have in the other person? It made for the type of cosy read that goes perfectly with a hot drink, a roaring fire - and a new start to look forward to!

When offered a room in a house share in London, Jess jumps at the chance. She has always wanted to live in London and with a new job thrown in, she’s living her dream. Alex lives in the room across the hall; he is recovering from a nasty breakup and not looking for love. As Jess and Alex become friends, they find their feelings for each other are developing into something more.

A sweet lighthearted love story which was an easy and entertaining read.

Read the synopsis and this sounds like the perfect Christmas novel, but sadly, the reviews comparing it to a Richard Curtis film are a real stretch.

Neither of the characters are particularly well developed, and it was only when references were made to publishing or nursing that I knew without checking whose perspective that section was meant to be from.

I’m all for a predictable plot, but this just felt so forced and uncomfortable. It’s like, a few tiny, badly thought out hurdles occur; and ever they aren’t really committed to as plot points.

For me, everything just felt quite bland and beige. While Richard Curtis is a tall order, even comparing this to a Hallmark film would be a stretch - at least they have some heart.

Undoubtably this years One Day in December but even better. I’m already recommending it and it’s not even published. I am obsessed.

True love. First kisses. Snow. London. Christmas.

What’s not to love?

This book is everything. It’s funny. It’s warm. It’s inviting. It draws you in and it doesn’t let go. It’s a hug. That’s what it is. It’s a hug from a loved one you haven’t seen in a long time. It’s an embrace from the one. This is my book of the year. I’m calling it now.

This is a cute read with a cast of lovely,likeable characters most of whom are navigating their thirties, juggling careers, relationships, friendships and social lives in vibrant but expensive London. The main focus of the novel are the individuals who are house sharing, namely Jess, recently arrived from Bournemouth and working in the publishing industry and Alex, lawyer turned trainee nurse. We met in December follows these housemates over the course of a year and is a typical boy meets girl romantic read, where the path of true love never runs smoothly yet ultimately you know how it will end!
Both Jess and Alex are hugely likeable characters, with Jess very close to her Nana who practically raised her as well as being a good friend to Sophie and Gen. Alex is clearly a caring soul, having abandoned a lucrative career in law for the more rewarding job of nurse. Having failed relationships behind them, these two are destined to fall in love but will their initial friendship develop into more? Or will housemate Emma (friend with benefits) to Alex and reliable, dependable James, Jess newly acquired boyfriend scupper their chances??
Although the novel begins in December when the housemates meet for the first time, the Christmas element doesn’t play much of a part meaning it can be an enjoyable to read outside of the festive season.
We met in December is an easy lighthearted read, quite cheesy in places but perfect for die hard romantics and lovers of romcoms.
Many thanks as always to the author and publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read ahead of publication.

At 29, Jess quits her job at a marketing firm to pursue her dream to work at a book publisher in London. Short on cash, she takes a room in a house-share in Notting Hill. Alex, one of her housemates, is a former lawyer turned nursing student, similarly experiencing a quarter-life crisis. Jess is convinced there is a mutual instant attraction when they meet at Christmas dinner; but after returning from her winter holiday, Jess discovers that Alex has started seeing Emma, another housemate. Determined not to let him ruin her wonderful new life in London, Jess must cope with sharing a kitchen, a bathroom, heck even a wall, with the man in love with someone else.

Ok. This book was cute but also...had way too much going on. The long walks around London were a nice idea and would have been perfect if the whole of the story could have somehow revolved around them. But as is, they were so long and distracting that I skimmed them. Also, Jess and Alex's new jobs seemed to be in place only to give them a point of connection but didn't do much to move the story along. Those parts felt like "Oh, gotta mention the new job for a few pages since I made that an essential aspect of the plot at the beginning," but they didn't need to be there. And I just felt like there were too many other friends milling about the story that weren't essential. The 5 or 6 others would definitely be shrunk down to 2 or 3 if there was ever a movie made.

That being said, Alex and Jess's story is sweet and romantic and totally the stuff of Christmas movie dreams. I just wish all the other stuff hadn't been so distracting. If we could have focused on the members of the house-share plus the London walks, that would have been perfect for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC.

I loved this book and the way the story is presented to the reader; as a diary from two different perspectives, Jess and Alex's, the main characters in the story.

Set in London and with lots of pop culture references that make it an enjoyable reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book to read and review.

Jess who is nearly 30 decides to follow her dream of working in publishing in London, away from her beloved Nan who lives in Bournemouth.

Becky has inherited her grandparents house in Notting Hill so offers Jess and a few other friends including Alex a room for very little rent.

Alex who was engaged and working as a lawyer in London, reassess his life after his dad passes and decides too retrain in a new career which causes his engagement to break up.

This book is mainly told from Jess POV and later on you also read from Alex POV. It is a sweet story which makes it a nice light read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

Admittedly, I picked this up because I was looking for a respite from the real world and wanted something cute and fun, and because its title was similar to One Day in December which was also cute and fun. I got what I wanted which was a fluffy read. There's nothing too novel about the premise, but the characters were likeable enough and the plot straight forward that it made for a good escape.

This was a nice easy read, it’s fun characters and a couple who the reader can’t help but root for. Would recommend

It’s time for Christmas Book #2! We Met in December was immediately at the top of my list for a holiday read when I heard about it. It sounded like the perfect blend of The Flatshare and One Day in December. (Thank you to @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a review)
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Alex and Jess are both at a turning point in their lives. Jess has uprooted her life and moved to London to pursue her dream job in publishing. Alex has decided to leave a lucrative law career for a more fulfilling career in nursing. They both have left behind complicated pasts with exes. Their paths cross when they both end up living in their friend, Becky’s house. Though they both have feelings for each other right away there are a couple problems 1. Neither is looking to jump back in to a relationship 2. Becky is not allowing couples in the house. Can they be together or is there just too much standing in the way?
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This story had a lot of my favorite things: a London (London at Christmas) setting, a fun cast of characters, relationship issues and one of my favorite tropes (“forbidden” love, if you want to call it that), and a quick read. I wanted to love it because it had all these things, but I just ended up kind of liking it. The two main characters didn’t interact as much as I would have liked, not enough conflict for my taste and quite a bit was repetitive. The key thing missing for me was I didn’t get any flutters in the heart when the two love interests interacted.
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My take away is that even though it didn’t hit all the marks for me, it’s still a sweet, Hallmark movie-style book with an amazing London setting.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Rosie Curtis and HarperCollins.***

3.5 stars

We Met in December, by Rosie Curtis, is a year long story of 5 people living together, focused on Alex and Jess. They have a connection on the night they meet but Alex strikes up a relationship with another of their housemates while Jess is on vacation. Jess focuses on her new job—both she and Alex are in the midst of a life upheaval—and Alex and Jess become friends. Over the next 12 months, both Alex and Jess have to do some figuring out and decide what they want out of life.

I liked Jess and Alex very much. They’re both kind, thoughtful people with good intentions. Their initial connection was great, but then it sort of fizzles out. Jess seems little bothered by Alex’s relationship with Emma. The same could be said about Alex later in the book when the tables are turned. Even if either is actually bothered, they’re both so busy with school and career that they have little down time to dwell on it. I loved their wandering walks, but I wish I’d felt more chemistry. I definitely felt they cared about one another, but until the very end, I didn’t exactly get a sense of longing or fate or heat between them.

I liked all the housemates a lot and thought they added a sense of belonging to the story. As far as actual family, we get glimpses Jess’s mom and grandmother, as well as Alex’s mom and sister. We also meet Jess’s 2 best friends. I was pleased that she good friends close by, but the family’s and friends’ storylines were like a sidestep to the main plot that at times overshadowed it since the pace of things between our MCs was extremely slow.

I think for me to have loved this story I would have needed more emotion. I felt like we only scratched the surface emotion-wise with most of the characters, even Alex and Jess. There was also a lot of description. At times it seemed like I knew the streets of London better than the character’s desires.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.
It was really well written and the main characters are very likeable. The setting is quite detailed and it's the nicest description I've read about London to date. The side characters are realistically written, as well as the financial and employment situations in the novel.
The romance side however, reminded me of One Day in December which was slightly frustrating as the main characters wouldn't communicate and ended up becoming involved with other people. I do realise this is meant to prolong the HEA and extend the plot. Luckily Alex and Jess are nice enough that the reader ends up satisfied.
3.5 stars

I really wanted to love this book, the blurb really grabbed me and I was so excited.
I should start by saying that I'm not a fan of first person narrative. A book really has to be something to keep me interested if it's written in first person. I was willing to give this book a go anyway because I loved the idea of it. I just couldn't get on with how wordy it was, every si gle minute thing that the MC did was explained in excruciating detail and I just think it went a bit over the top.
I'd definitely give this author another go but not if it was in first person again.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very sweet, well written story. I really like how Alex and Jess got to know each other with their walks around London. It was very cute. I liked the changing POV chapters which meant we got insight to both characters. Loved Nana Beth and felt there was a nice mix of characters. Overall a nice festive read.

Every time I start a new book I hope it will take me on an adventure that will stay with me long after I finish that last page.
Books that usually do stay are the ones that shake my emotions and have scenes that I remember long time after.
This is why I tend to read women’s fiction and romance so often. There is something about finding a character we, as readers, can emphatize with and root for her/his happy ending.

We Met in December is one of those books that will stay with me, maybe forever.

It was lovely and sweet, but also very realistic.
Without lying, after I turned the last page, I thought to myself “This book is perfection”.

It contains my favourite trope: two people who were meant for each other, finding their way to be with each other.

There are several characters in the book, and I have to admit I liked all of them. Not most of them, but all of them.
The main characters Jess and Alex are narrators of the story, which is written in first person, following their POV.

Side characters were also very realistic and likeable, and even though this is Jess and Alex’ story, I would love to be able to read more about others, maybe in some other books, if Rosie Curtis ever decides to write them.
I would especially like to know more about Rob.

I have read many books that place in London, but I do not remember that any of them captured the beauty of this magnificent city so wonderfully.
It was like London was another character in the book, and it was so easy to imagine all the places Jess and Alex visited while he was showing her around.

To some point, We Met in December reminds me of my favourite book Anna and the French Kiss, only for adults, set in London and without (emotional) cheating part.

This book talks about love, but it also talks about finding your place, embracing adulthood and doing what your heart is telling you to do with your life.

In the end, I just want to praise book cover designs. The UK is simple and beautiful (and it kind of reminds me of the cover of One Day in December) and the US is really cute and heartwarming (I like the US one a bit better).

Rosie Curtis wrote We Met in December for the first time under this pen name, but she has already published several novels under name Rachael Lucas.
I haven’t read anything she has written before, but now I want to.

We Met in December is one of the sweetest, cutest, loveliest romances that I have read and a new favourite of mine, so I highly recommend it to everyone!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

5 Stars! This was such a cute holiday romance and perfect for fans of Love Actually! We Met in December was a great romance with very likable characters. The story developed realistically and really drew you in. I could really relate to Jess and loved reading the relationship develop between her and Alex. We Met in December has really wonderful supporting characters as well. This was my first introduction to Rosie Curtis and I look forward to reading more of her work. This book has me getting so excited for the holidays. I highly recommend this one!