This book is part of my 10 Christmas Books For This Holiday Season – 2022.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I enjoyed The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert last month, so I knew I’d have to read Once Upon a December this month. I’m glad I put this one on my list of books to read this Christmas season! It’s a charming story full of Christmas cheer and magic ✨.

The story revolves around Astra’s annual trip with her college friends to the Milwaukee Christmas Market. While this is a romance story between Astra and Jack, at its core it’s about the strong ties of friendship between Astra and her friends. These women have kept in touch and supported each other since college, and will do anything for each other. It was refreshing to see that friendship bond featured in a romance story.

Astra and her friends visit the Milwaukee Christmas Market every year, and have a grand time partaking in the festivities and visiting the Julemarked. It’s a portal to a magical village which appears for the Christmas season and disappears without its visitors remembering it. Jack is a baker who lives in that village. Astra sees him every year, but never remembers him due to the magic of the Julemarked.

I enjoyed the storyline overall. My only quibble is that I didn’t always like Astra’s choices or behavior, when it came to dealing with her Trent (ex-husband). I thought she came across as juvenile and weak, which was inconsistent with her overall behavior. To avoid spoilers, I won’t mention details.

This is my second book by this author, and I’m looking forward to reading more. I enjoy her writing style and vivid descriptions of the food and settings. In this case, the baking of Kringle and its many varieties were a treat in itself.

Have you read this story yet?