REVIEW: Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert

In Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert, For most of us, Christmas comes but once a year. But for Jack Clausen, his family, and the rest of the folks of Julemarked, their calendar is filled with nothing but Decembers. Month after month, they magically travel the world with their Christmas market popping up in new locations. Over time, though, Jack has begun to look forward to their stops in Milwaukee–and not just for the snowy ambiance. Nope. He waits there every time for a beautiful woman named Astra to walk into his family’s bakery, Kringle All the Way, like she’s done in the past. And Jack hopes this will be the year she will remember him, which will allow him to pursue a relationship with the lovely librarian.

‘It had been so long since a woman had piqued his interest that a flirtation felt like climbing onto a rusty bike–he could do it, but it wasn’t pretty and made a lot of awkward noises.’

Astra Noel Snow loves her job, her three best friends, the terrific city of Milwaukee, and her adorable dog Bernie. What she isn’t fond of? Her ex-husband. So to put him out of her mind for a while, Astra and her besties have a girls’ weekend at the local Julemarked. But even after too much mulled wine, she knows she isn’t imagining the sparks between her and a handsome baker she meets there. Jack ticks off all the boxes Astra has for her ideal guy. But as she gets to know him better and she learns the magical truth about his world–and their past–she has no idea how their lives can fit together. Although if they are truly destined to be a couple, Astra and Jack have to have faith it will all work out somehow.

‘She hadn’t just been falling in love with Jack for the last month; she’d been falling in love with him for fifteen years.’

Trust Amy E. Reichert to give us a holiday romance with magical twists that threw a major wrench in the works for one lovely couple who were absolutely meant to be together.

‘She realized Christmas wasn’t a place or a season or a time. Christmas was a state of mind–one she would never forget.’

It’s such a joy to sit down with a new book by Amy E. Reichert, not knowing exactly what kind of journey she’s going to take us readers on. But I do always know it will be whimsical, there will be some funny shenanigans, a wonderful depth of emotion, and that whatever the main characters have to overcome, it will be so worth it in the end. And Once Upon a December incorporated all of that along with exploring family, the bonds of friendship (I *adored* Astra’s three besties!), and the difficult decisions we sometimes have to make in life.

I think readers will be hard pressed to not fall in love with both Astra and Jack. A librarian and a baker, respectively, they were compassionate people who loved helping others and who were unwaveringly loyal to their family and friends. Maybe to a fault. Because while this was most certainly a romance–one that played out over several years, actually–it came down to Jack and Astra having to decide if they would be willing to give up things very dear to them so they could be together. But don’t worry…it all worked out in a beautiful way.

As far as the part of the book about Jack living in a legit magical world where it was always December as his Julemarked family traveled across the globe, it was oh so much fun–even if I couldn’t entirely wrap my head around the logistics. So for me it was something to just suspend disbelief and let the story carry me where Reichert wanted, much to my enjoyment.

QOTD: What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Book Info:

Publication: Published October 4th 2022 | Berkley |

A one-of-a-kind Christmas market offers holiday magic in the new romance from the author of The Kindred Spirits Supper Club.

With a name like Astra Noel Snow, holiday spirit isn’t just a seasonal specialty–it’s a way of life. But after a stinging divorce, Astra’s yearly trip to the Milwaukee Christmas market takes on a whole new meaning. She’s ready to eat, drink, and be merry, especially with the handsome stranger who saves the best kringle for her at his family bakery.

For Jack Clausen, the Julemarked with its snowy lights and charming shops stays the same, while the world outside the joyful street changes, magically leaping from one December to the next every four weeks. He’s never minded living this charmed existence until Astra shows him the life he’s been missing outside of the festive red brick alley.

After a swoon-worthy series of dates, some Yuletide magic, and the unexpected glow of new love, Astra and Jack must decide whether this relationship can weather all seasons, or if what they’re feeling is as ephemeral as marshmallows in a mug of hot cocoa.