Christmas, twinkling lights, hot chocolate , family , festive cheer… what more could you wish for in a Christmas story! I loved this, a little slow burner but you find yourself invested in the characters so well that you don’t mind it.

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!

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an enjoyable festive read. I've liked previous books by Jenny Bayliss a lot, and while I found this had a slower start, I liked the primary focus on sisterhood and the beautiful setting.

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!

I’ve read quite a few Jenny Bayliss books and have always really enjoyed them, particularly those with a seasonal focus. In all honesty this one took me a little longer to get into than the others- I can’t put my finger on why, either a lack of love for the characters or just a slower pace of story perhaps. Either way, I persevered and did find myself rewarded with a wholesome relationship developing again between the North sisters who had the whole village rooting for them in their quest for resurrecting the winter solstice. The descriptions of village life were so vivid I could have been there myself and I did enjoy the solidarity from the rest over the villagers who really wanted the girls to succeed.

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

Wasn't sure when I started this book that it was my cup of tea, but I am glad I stuck with it, it was a really good read and lots of twists and turns as well as romance and relationship issues.

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.

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 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.

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..

Beyond excited to acquire a new Jenny Bayliss! Her novels are always extremely successful and popular here. I know this one doesn’t have a summary listed here yet and I’ll be adding my thoughts upon completion, but based on the authors history alone and beautiful cover I know I won’t be disappointed