Why is it so difficult to feel happy in December?
One December, Penny made the biggest mistake of her life—walking away from Alex. Now, a year later, she’s still haunted by what-ifs. When a Christmas invitation arrives from the man whose smile she can’t forget, Penny takes a chance on second chances.
But reconnecting with Alex—and his whip-smart teenage daughter Sabrina—means confronting what tore them apart: their fourteen-year age gap and wildly different life stages. As a blizzard traps the three of them under one roof, old sparks reignite, bringing both warming comfort and the burn of past regrets.
Back to December is a tender, witty holiday romance about finding the courage to return to the heart that’s been waiting for you all along.
Purchase Link: Back to December
I picked up Back to December because it is a Christmas short story, and during December I love reaching for reads that feel warm, comforting, and easy to sink into. This one completely delivered. It was delightful from start to finish, and my only complaint is that it wasn’t longer because I wanted more time with these characters.
The story moves back and forth between the present day and the beginning of a relationship two years earlier. The time jumps worked beautifully. Getting those glimpses into the past added emotional depth and gave the present-day moments so much more meaning. Even though this was a short story, it never felt rushed or incomplete. Somehow it managed to feel like a full novel experience in a much shorter format.
The characters were incredibly likable and endearing. They felt soft and real, the kind of characters you want to curl up with and spend an entire weekend reading about. Their relationship had warmth, chemistry, and just the right amount of tension. The romance itself was swoony, a little steamy at times, and filled with moments that made me smile and quietly squeal.
There were also so many cozy Christmas details woven throughout the story. Baking, gift giving, and even a snowstorm made the setting feel perfectly festive. The holiday atmosphere added so much charm and helped ground the emotional journey in that warm December feeling.
At its heart, this story explores relationships, life choices, second chances, and figuring out what truly matters. For such a short read, it carried a surprising amount of heart and emotional payoff.
My final thoughts are simple. I loved this story. It was exactly what I want in a Christmas romance, and it left me eager to read more from Laurel Osterkamp so I can extend this experience with a full-length novel.
Laurel Osterkamp writes smart, emotionally rich fiction about messy relationships, creative reinvention, and the kind of love that leaves a mark. She’s the award-winning author of nearly a dozen novels, including Favorite Daughters and the #1 Amazon bestseller Beautiful Little Furies. Her newest novel, The Side Project, blends second-chance romance with literary flair—perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Annabel Monaghan, and anyone who loves bookish love stories with bite.
In addition to her novels, Laurel’s short fiction has appeared in literary journals across the web. When she’s not writing (which is rare), she teaches adult ESL and middle school enrichment classes, goes running with twisty audiobooks in her ears, and educates her daughter on the cultural importance of Beverly Hills, 90210.
She lives in Minneapolis with a family that loves to argue and cats that love to hiss. Ramona Quimby is her spirit animal.
Follow her on Instagram @laurel_osterkamp or subscribe to her newsletter at laurellit dot com for behind-the-scenes stories, book news, and reader extras.
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