I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This movie set romance takes place in Germany where they are filming an adaptation of the book ‘The Romantic Road’, which is written by the author Evie Bird.

Evie is resistant to appear on set, as she likes to keep herself away from the public eye. However, it is a part of her contract and a way for her to make enough money to cover her Mum’s future care home bills.

She is introduced to the lead character Duke but decides to keep her distance from the movie star. However, after an altercation the pair are instructed to stage a fake romance for the press to help save the films publicity.

Soon however Evie is surprisingly swept up in the magical surroundings on and off set and starts to let her guard down.

Will Evie open her heart? What will both Evie and Duke learn in their time together?

This is a lovely romance, and as they don’t start off liking each other much there is comedy as they get to know each other with their snide comments to each other.

It sounds like a lovely setting for this movie and the book, it seems like it could help encourage romance with the beautiful views and attractions they visit. The food and drink sounded amazing too.

There is a bit of drama too, and a slight mystery of who could be leaking information to the press. It shows how the press make the actors feel with the constant pressure they are under to look and behave in a certain way.

Overall, a lovely and beautiful set romance where an author reluctantly must put herself in the public eye to save the movie.

Thanks Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the arc!

I’ve read quite a bit of Laura Jane Williams so I was excited to be approved of this one. Christmas? check. Fake dating? check. Man who reads romance? check.

Evie is a romance author who seems to despise romance so I’m kinda curious how she got into the line of work? And Duke is the lead actor in a movie adaptation of her work.

Duke was the real MVP of this book. A man who gets therapy and super in touch with his emotions is literally a perfect book boyfriend! ❤️

Evie was definitely harder for me to like. Usually I’m on the side of the heroine, but this time I couldn’t get over how mean she was when she met Duke. And how hard (and wrong) she was in her judgement…she turned it around but she was pretty prickly the whole book tbh.

If you don’t like miscommunication this might not be the book for you. These two are swimming in it. You wanted to shake them.

I did really love the mental health rep and therapy in this book. And especially for a man. Probably my fav aspect of the book! 💭

This book is out in November (not December lol) check it out!

Thank you for this ARC! Thanks to both the publisher and NetGalley.

I think all in all this book just was not for me. I did not like the main character.

Grump and sunshine, plus fake dating, plus set in Bavaria during Christmas time, this should be a perfect holiday escape novel.

Unfortunately, I really disliked the MC, Evie. She's a writer of contemporary romance novels, but doesn't believe in HEA in real life. When one of her books is made into a film, she spends three weeks on set in Germany where she meets Duke, the lead actor of the film.

Evie is mean even before she meets Duke for the first time, her deeply ingrained dislike of film sets makes her lash out without giving anyone a chance for a good first impression. Duke wanted Evie to be on set, since he is one of her biggest fans and might think she must be the most romantic person on Earth. Well, he's in for a very rude awakening.

The reason why the two of them have to fake-date might make sense, but it came about much too quickly. Even though Evie thaws to Duke's charm, she remains more prickly than a man-sized cactus. I'm just not seeing the two of them together.

Furthermore, the ARC felt disjointed, scenes would end abruptly and the next one start with or contain inconsistencies. And please, could Duke stop the name-dropping? It's annoying and took me out of the story.

I'm hoping Williams' next one to be better.

3.25 🌟

TW- parental alcohol abuse and domestic violence

This festive romcom about romcom writer Evie has all the ingredients of a great book and I still love LJW as a writer but I was a little disappointed with this one.

This has a checklist of enjoyable tropes - enemies to lovers, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, holiday romance. It also has great descriptive imagery. I can practically feel the chill and see the twinkly market lights. As always I find the style of writing easy to read but this time I didn't particularly enjoy the characters. Evie is just too rude, too defensive to be likeable and Duke is like an excitable puppy - cute for a bit but then just wears you out or makes you feel bad for not being as energetic.

The chemistry between them was good but I feel the development of their fake romance to real romance was a bit jumpy and messy. I did appreciate the various other storylines going on and it made for a book rich in details and activity.

All in all - not overly Christmassy but a nice wintery read to pass an afternoon curled up with a hot chocolate

Evie is a woman who hates the world of movies and Hollywood with a passion, so when her latest book is turned into a film she flies off to be on set. There she meets the star of the film, Duke Carlisle, a man she can't stand. She even makes fun of his name before she even meets him.

In this book, set against the beautiful Bavarian streets, can these two really pull of the fact they are dating? Like all Christmas books you can expect that they fall in love.

If I'm being honest I find reading the book really hard due to the style of writing.

Thanks to NetGallery for letting me have early access.

This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no gaps between sentences, and a cover for the book.

Just for December is a holiday romance about a writer, Evie Bird, and an actor, Duke Carlisle. From the start, Evie seems determined to dislike Duke, but when his charm breaks through her defenses something more develops.

I really wanted to like this book and I thought I would, but I really couldn’t get into this one. I go into all holiday romances expecting the cliche cheeses romances and I want that, but I just couldn’t find an interest in this one. My biggest problem was that I really couldn’t stand Evie, like at all. I found her to be petty, bitter and just straight up annoying. Duke was somewhat better and I found myself liking him most of the time, but my dislike for Evie overshadowed that. I couldn’t get into this romance and am sorry to say this book wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

I feel like this story had a really cute premise.

Evie a romance writer whose best selling novel is being made into a holiday movies. Duke is the lead actor in her movie. It is hate at first sight for these two. However images of them arguing leak to the press, and just like that the movie is in jeopardy. So, as a PR movie the save the movie start pretent to be fake dating for the media.

My problem with this book was that Evie was extremely unlikeable. She crosses the grumpy line, and is just straight out rude at times. It makes it really hard to root for her and understand why Duke eventually takes an interest.

Usually I love the fake dating, and enemies to lovers tropes. However I just couldn’t get over how Evies character didn’t seem to have an redeeming qualities. I’m sure others might enjoy this book, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books for providing me with an eARC of thei book to read and review..

Laura Jane Williams is a must read, drop everything immediately author for me. I love her writing style and her characters, so when I saw she was bringing out a Christmas book, I was beside myself with glee.

Set in the glitz and glam world of Hollywood against a backdrop of German winter wonderland, the book encompasses three core romance tropes; fake dating, grumpy x sunshine and kind of enemies to lovers.

There was a lot going on with this book, from alcoholic and ill parents, to abusive and toxic relationships, alongside the growth of two people who feel broken and some fantastic friendships. LJW has such a knack for crafting the perfect side partners, and Magda and Daphne in this book are no exception.

I really liked and enjoyed this book, but I didn’t love it like I do her previous books (although Our Stop might be one of my top of all time, so it’s got a high benchmark). I think my main gripe was the fact I just couldn’t get on Evie’s side. I completely sympathised with her and what’s she’s been through to make her character the way she is, but some of her actions just made it really hard to root for her.

I would also say this is a book set in December, rather than a Christmas book.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon books for the ARC.

While this book doesn't focus on Christmas, it is set in Germany around Christmas time and references their Christmas markets + festive activities so I'd call it Christmas adjacent. 😂 What this book does focus on is the relationship between author Evie and actor Duke. Evie is summoned out to participate in the filming of the movie inspired by one of her books and is none too happy about it. Duke is suffering from a very public breakup with his co-star that he is filming with. In order to keep up appearances for the sake of the release of the movie, this unlikely pair is pushed into a fake dating relationship.

Evie was not a favorite character of mine and at times she was a little hard to like. There is drama and upset, there is chemistry and a happily ever after. This is a fine book to cuddle up with by a fire with a cozy blanket!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Laura Jane Williams for the advanced reader copy.
Over All Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A great little snippet of Laura Jane Williams’ future novel. As a big fan of her writing I cannot wait for the full book to be released!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

Cosy, winter romantic read! Loved the setting and the characters, enjoyed the budding romance. Well worth a festive shot!

Good read. Great characters, enjoyed the setting, lots of side stories weaved into it and it flowed really well. A good read for a rubbish day. Will make you feel better!

A really cute read. The HEA was never in doubt but the journey was lovely. Duke isn’t perfect and annoys Evie as much as he attracts her, Evie is kind, except when she is not. We follow her introvertedness and how that plays into her growing relationship. Some great best friends and a bit of intrigue round it off.

What a fun Christmas romp! Williams has settled into the romantic comedy role and keeps putting out books I love to read-ones that make you feel cozy, with characters that are relatable and imperfect. I was hesitant that I might not enjoy this one outside of the holiday season, but although the setting is chilly and full of Christmas markets, the story is seasonless.

Evie is a romance writer who's big novel is being turned into a film and Duke is the leading man when pictures of them fighting make their way into the press they decide to fake date to ensure that the movie stays on track.

I wanted to like this book, and it was ok but I found it really hard to warm to Evie, i found her rude and counldnt understand why someone like Duke would eventually warm to her and fall in love, it didn't seem in character when she just came across as not a very nice person.

I did love the setting, it screamed christmas and partly helped to make up for evie, Overall I did enjoy it, just not as much as I wanted to from the cover, title and blurb.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Jane Williams, and Avon Books UK for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Despite being called Just in December, the holiday season and winter are not a main part of the story. They do play a role, but this book can be enjoyed year round. I also felt that the book started out a bit slow, or maybe it just took me a minute to get into it. Once I really got into it, it was a very quick read. I really enjoyed the characters and the story. The fake-dating trope is one of my favorites, and it had a sense of enemies to lovers as well. The author did an amazing job of setting the scene. I felt as though I had been transported there and was in the story.

Overall, this was a super cute rom-com. I’d 10/10 recommend it to anyone that is looking for a light and fun read!

This review will be posted to my Goodreads and Amazon accounts immediately and to my instagram account (@ginganinja333), and to my newly created bookstagram (@paulas.book.nook) closer to the date of publication on 11/24/22.

I received this book via NetGalley and give it my honest opinion

This book started a bit slowly but, oh my goodness it is a good read! A beautiful festive story that will melt your heart!

Definitely one to add to the Christmas TBR pile!

"Just for december" is a heartwarming rom-com, perfect for the cold and dark time of year. Set in the beautiful south of germany it almost immediately makes you want to travel there and see all the spots and places described in the book. The story itself is a nice mixture of cute, romantic, fun and thrilling. It's hard to put this novel down - unless to make a new cup of tea and grab some cookies. I loved the characters and the way they developed over time - and with each others help. They are not perfect, they are struggling just like everyone which makes them so real and just adorable. I would love for a sequel of this story!