One Day in December by Josie Silver
The holiday season is upon us. If you’re looking for a good read that encompasses the spirit of the season, I have a contender for you. I know there are thousands of holiday films and Christmas songs to cue up. But if you have about ten hours, One Day in December is an immersive treat that will have you calling your best friend to chat about all the steppingstone moments of life you’ve had thus far.
Synopsis
Laurie and Jack see each other for one fleeting but very impactful moment, One Day in December. And from this missed connection, we are taken along. To see how their lives parallel and intersect through the high and low steppingstones of life.
Review
The two leads, Laurie and Jack, serve as narrators. I loved the bits by Laurie. But Jack doesn’t do much to endear himself to the reader. Most of the time, he acts like what the Brits call a tosser. In other words, his internal monologue read as obnoxious. And I think it’s fortunate that Josie Silver kept Laurie’s narrative for most of the book.
The logline premise is love at first sight. Is it real? I’d say the novel sets out to prove it is and then proves it doesn’t matter. Unlike in the film Serendipity, Laurie and Jack have more than one night together. They have years to know each other. Years to see they are suited for one another.
And without giving away too much, we see unrequited love deeply affect their lives. The impact of one missed connection weighing on life is reminiscent of Miss You by Kate Eberlen. And portions of December did give me distressing flashbacks to that wretched book.
But surprisingly, the love story isn’t even the part I loved about December. I just loved the journey of their lives as individuals – and friends – spanning nearly a decade. We see how Laurie and Jack balance romantic and platonic relationships with their own special connection. The two of them watch each other take missteps as they find their place in the world. And how forcing yourself to no longer be sad leads to embracing pragmatism and the misguided setting of priorities.
Final Thoughts
The book is character-driven, and you really get to see the lives of each character. There is a bittersweetness to the holidays. We often have an overall joyful feeling and overt kindness among strangers. But there is also sadness. Holidays inevitably lead to memories of loved ones we’ve lost. And sometimes we reflect on a year gone by, of things that have not yet come into our lives. This book will have you reflecting on your own life. It’s the perfect read for this time of year.
Rating 4/5
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