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Come December
A sweet holiday short story about opening yourself up to magical possibilities.
Natalie is new to town, and feels invisible and painfully alone...until a mysterious stranger in a cemetery changes everything.
Come December is part of the Forever Finley Short Story Cycle, a series of stand-alone short stories releasing once a month throughout 2016.
Natalie is new to town, and feels invisible and painfully alone...until a mysterious stranger in a cemetery changes everything.
Come December is part of the Forever Finley Short Story Cycle, a series of stand-alone short stories releasing once a month throughout 2016.
35 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2015
63 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Holly Schindler
51 books311 followersHolly Schindler’s work has received starred reviews in Booklist and Publishers Weekly, has won silver and gold medals in ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year and the IPPY Awards, respectively, has been featured on Booklist’s Best First Novels for Youth and School Library Journal’s What’s Hot in YA, and has been a PW Pick of the Week. She can usually be found consuming large quantities of coffee and working on her next book. She can also be found at hollyschindler.com.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 27, 2025
Loneliness only makes the holidays even harder.
Thanksgiving isn’t a common setting in the books I read, so I was intrigued when I realized that November and early December was when Natalie had the experiences she had here. I also appreciated the fact that she was such a lonely character as that isn’t a typical theme in Thanksgiving stories either. There is definitely something to be said for exploring a few of the many reasons why someone might find the holidays difficult and why not everyone is filled with cheer at the end of the year. I would read Thanksgiving and other holiday-themed stories much more often if this were commonplace.
This included a light, friendly paranormal twist that was in no way scary, so no worries to anyone reading this who might be a little nervous at the thought of reading about a ghost. It was an important part of the storyline in the sense that Natalie valued those conversations and the first friendly person she met after moving, but it could also be read as a metaphor for adjusting to a new town and having to start all over again with making friends and putting down roots.
The romantic subplot, too, was handled gently, so I also want to reassure anyone who doesn’t usually enjoy that genre that this is a sweet introduction to it. Romance is interesting to me when it’s a small part of a much bigger story whose main conflicts involve other aspects of life, and that’s exactly what happened in this tale. If you ask me, this is a great example of how to seamlessly incorporate romantic elements without allowing them to overshadow everything else that’s going on with the characters, so kudos to Ms. Schindler for finding the perfect balance here for everyone from diehard romance fans to those of us who are more hesitant about the genre but occasionally willing to visit it.
Come December was a heartwarming and life-affirming Thanksgiving read.
Thanksgiving isn’t a common setting in the books I read, so I was intrigued when I realized that November and early December was when Natalie had the experiences she had here. I also appreciated the fact that she was such a lonely character as that isn’t a typical theme in Thanksgiving stories either. There is definitely something to be said for exploring a few of the many reasons why someone might find the holidays difficult and why not everyone is filled with cheer at the end of the year. I would read Thanksgiving and other holiday-themed stories much more often if this were commonplace.
This included a light, friendly paranormal twist that was in no way scary, so no worries to anyone reading this who might be a little nervous at the thought of reading about a ghost. It was an important part of the storyline in the sense that Natalie valued those conversations and the first friendly person she met after moving, but it could also be read as a metaphor for adjusting to a new town and having to start all over again with making friends and putting down roots.
The romantic subplot, too, was handled gently, so I also want to reassure anyone who doesn’t usually enjoy that genre that this is a sweet introduction to it. Romance is interesting to me when it’s a small part of a much bigger story whose main conflicts involve other aspects of life, and that’s exactly what happened in this tale. If you ask me, this is a great example of how to seamlessly incorporate romantic elements without allowing them to overshadow everything else that’s going on with the characters, so kudos to Ms. Schindler for finding the perfect balance here for everyone from diehard romance fans to those of us who are more hesitant about the genre but occasionally willing to visit it.
Come December was a heartwarming and life-affirming Thanksgiving read.
December 29, 2015
Well written and a cute little short story. I could see this being stretched into a made for tv movie and turning into a fun rom/com.
January 18, 2021
A sweet short story part of an ongoing series released once a month. I can’t wait to read the next chapters.
Part romance, part fantasy, and part realizing one’s self worth, the only thing wrong with this gem is that it is too short. Would love to see this flashed out into way Novela or better yet a movie.
Holly Schindler always hits a bullseye. Read Come December, you won’t be disappointed.
Part romance, part fantasy, and part realizing one’s self worth, the only thing wrong with this gem is that it is too short. Would love to see this flashed out into way Novela or better yet a movie.
Holly Schindler always hits a bullseye. Read Come December, you won’t be disappointed.
January 23, 2018
Sweet, short read
Oh. My. Gosh. I absolutely loved this short read! It reminds you of magic in the world and that guardian angels are real. Thank you, Holly, for this beautifully inspirational short story!!!
Oh. My. Gosh. I absolutely loved this short read! It reminds you of magic in the world and that guardian angels are real. Thank you, Holly, for this beautifully inspirational short story!!!
November 27, 2018
What a surprise! Didn't know this was a "short" story and what a joy. It was a fun, loving story. I had figured out the main happenings, but the ending--what a great surprise. Only took a wee bit to read.
January 5, 2021
This was such a sweet little story! The only thing was, I would've liked it to be longer--she could definitely have added more detail, which would've shown us events as they happened, instead of just telling us. I want more of these characters!
December 30, 2017
It was a nice little short story, but it didn't completely end the way I thought or wanted it too end.
November 4, 2018
Short story
Lovely story of hope and promise for a better fuller life. Engaging prose. Easy reading. Would of liked the story to continue
Lovely story of hope and promise for a better fuller life. Engaging prose. Easy reading. Would of liked the story to continue
March 3, 2020
What a lovely story. Although the twist wasn't unexpected, it was still nicely done.
May 5, 2020
Pleasant Short Read
This was a pleasant read and has a moral. Be open minded to new ideas and to people. I really liked this short story.
This was a pleasant read and has a moral. Be open minded to new ideas and to people. I really liked this short story.
Read
January 22, 2016What a sweet short story about a girl who feels invisible to the world around her but then finds purpose and meaning in her life through the kindness of a stranger.
Short stories usually leave me unsatisfied because I want to read "more" of the characters. While I wouldn't have minded COME DECEMBER being a longer story I thought the author quite satisfactorily told the story without leaving me hanging or unsatisfied about where the characters were heading in the end.
COME DECEMBER left me with a smile on my face and a happy feeling in my heart.
Short stories usually leave me unsatisfied because I want to read "more" of the characters. While I wouldn't have minded COME DECEMBER being a longer story I thought the author quite satisfactorily told the story without leaving me hanging or unsatisfied about where the characters were heading in the end.
COME DECEMBER left me with a smile on my face and a happy feeling in my heart.
December 19, 2015
A compelling, lovely short story.
This story pulled at my heart strings. It's about a young woman who has moved to a new town and is feeling lonely. It was apparent quite early in the story who George was. Even though the book was predictable, the story was well written and compelled me to continue reading it. A lovely short story, indeed.
This story pulled at my heart strings. It's about a young woman who has moved to a new town and is feeling lonely. It was apparent quite early in the story who George was. Even though the book was predictable, the story was well written and compelled me to continue reading it. A lovely short story, indeed.
December 3, 2015
Natalie is a loner. When she meets a handsome stranger in a cemetery, whom she’s eager to meet with during her daily walks, he persuades her into living life to the fullest. There’s a sweet, magical twist at the end. This is a great romantic short story for the holiday season.
January 9, 2016
Well written , positive little note. Enjoyed the concept. Could be fleshed out into a bigger production.
We'll! Written; a positive little note. Enjoyed the concept. Didn't want it to end.
Could be fleshed out into a bigger production.
We'll! Written; a positive little note. Enjoyed the concept. Didn't want it to end.
Could be fleshed out into a bigger production.
December 12, 2015
This is a sweet story about how attitude strongly influences us for both positive and negative. a little touch of the mystical, and a hint of romance.
December 17, 2015
Not my type of story, but I didn't entirely hate it. Really short and simple and probably something you'll like well enough if you're into romance.
December 23, 2015
Was wonderful
Started bout great and I had to keep reading till the end. I'd like there to have been more to the story. But ok read over all
Started bout great and I had to keep reading till the end. I'd like there to have been more to the story. But ok read over all
December 26, 2015
This was a relly good, but really short story.
January 3, 2016
Not impressed.
Strange story. Didn't quite follow it while reading. However, the ending was unexpected, it was a strange way to get there.
Strange story. Didn't quite follow it while reading. However, the ending was unexpected, it was a strange way to get there.
December 31, 2015
This just plain out sucked. Don't know what Schindler was thinking when she wrote this - it's confusing and all over the place, and so predictable. No thanks!
January 9, 2016
Predictable
Good story. But it was very predictable. I would like to see more of a curve ball ending. It was still very sweet and Natalie was relatable
Good story. But it was very predictable. I would like to see more of a curve ball ending. It was still very sweet and Natalie was relatable
January 18, 2016
Touching short story that may change your attitude about the power of positive thinking and and self affirmation. Mystical and a touch of romance. A quick read
February 1, 2016
Beautiful story
It was a quick read. But the ending was kind of easy to predict. I was nicely written. Enjoyed it.
It was a quick read. But the ending was kind of easy to predict. I was nicely written. Enjoyed it.
February 9, 2016
Quick read
Cute but predicable, enjoyed the whimsy but not enough description for me to really get into it and imagine much
Cute but predicable, enjoyed the whimsy but not enough description for me to really get into it and imagine much
January 1, 2016
A nice little holiday short story. Well written, but totally predictable right from the beginning.
January 4, 2016
A cute short story.
January 10, 2016
2.5 stars. Well written but very predictable.
March 15, 2016
A short story to inspire.
Loved the analogy of denial in anticipation of something bigger!
Loved the analogy of denial in anticipation of something bigger!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews