Publishers Weekly
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With this beautiful and heart-wrenching Christmas story, Stone (Always, in December) delivers an epic story of family, loss, and the triumph of love. Siblings Cassie and Tom relied on each other and a group of friends who became like surrogate family after the death of their parents when they were children. Now adults, they’re closer than ever, held together partly by beloved holiday traditions, including Tom creating a clever holiday scavenger hunt for Cassie each year. When Tom is killed in a rock-climbing accident shortly before Christmas, Cassie falls apart, distancing herself from friends Sam and Hazel. Meanwhile, Sam withdraws into his own grief, blaming himself for Tom’s death because he was not there to save him. Though Sam wants to be there for Cassie—with whom he shared a single passionate kiss five years earlier—he fears disappointing her. When Cassie discovers the first clue to the Christmas scavenger hunt Tom set up before his death, solving it gives her purpose—and following the trail leads to a second chance at love. Stone’s masterful tale does not shy away from the messiness of grief, resulting in a complex and emotional story that tugs on every heartstring. Readers should have tissues at the ready. Agent: Sarah Hornsley, Peters Fraser + Dunlop. (Oct.)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Cassie Rivers has been in love with Sam Malone since they were teenagers. She thinks the feeling is mutual, but there’s a problem—Sam is her brother Tom’s best friend. Afraid to hurt Cassie, Sam pushes her away. Much to Cassie’s chagrin, Tom stays friends with Sam. And then Tom dies. Grieving the loss of her idolized big brother, Cassie folds into herself until she receives the first clue to Tom’s last Christmas treasure hunt. A yearly tradition since they were kids, Tom gave Cassie her Christmas gift through the completion of this hunt. At first Cassie can’t bring herself to open the clue, but if it keeps her close to her brother, what can it hurt? So begins an emotional journey as Cassie navigates her grief alongside career woes and finding her footing in life. When Sam reenters her life unexpectedly, Cassie realizes that the ultimate gift is that of love. A novel of grief and second chances, Stone’s latest (after Always, in December, 2021) is a heartbreaking and heartwarming read perfect for contemporary readers' shelves.

Library Journal
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Stone's (Always, in December) sophomore effort is a gut-wrenching, yet heartening tale of coming to terms with grief. After the loss of their parents, event planner Cassie relied on her older brother Tom to raise her. He took the role seriously, creating elaborate holiday scavenger hunts for her every year. When Tom tragically dies before Christmas, she is distraught by the delivery of the first clue—should she continue the treasure hunt? Narrator Heather Long perfectly portrays Cassie's grief as she mourns her brother, and her frustration as she struggles with loving Tom's best friend, Sam. With the support of her own best friend, Cassie's next few years of self-discovery, while following Tom's clues, lead to more satisfying employment, as well as love. Long smartly portrays the characters' English accents and switches effortlessly to those from Wales and New York. The audio production is superb except for one spliced phrase at a higher audio level. Phone conversations between characters sound tinny to the listener, adding to the intimate feel of the production. VERDICT Perfect for readers of emotional books, as well as fans of slow-burn romance.—Sarah Hill