The New Year's Party

by Cynthia Gunderson

Eight friends. One holiday. A party that will change their lives forever.

When Karl and Nicole hosted their first New Year's party, they never imagined it would become a recurring holiday tradition with the same college friends for the next ten years. But when Karl's brother Mike dies in a head-on collision on his way to Karl’s house for the celebration, their hodgepodge group of party guests finds themselves bonded forever through an unexpected shared trauma. To honor Mike's memory, they make a pact to hold a New Year's Party each year, no matter what the circumstances.

Amanda Reynolds had no idea she wouldn’t get to ring in the year 1999 when she hopped into the passenger seat of Mike’s car that night. As she slipped in and out of consciousness, she couldn't have guessed that her boyfriend was tragically gone and her life was about to change forever because of friends she hadn’t even met yet.

Evan was sitting in the living room with his girlfriend Amy when Karl got the call from the hospital. Not knowing what else to do, he rushed after his best friend to the hospital and—trying to calm Karl's worried mother—ended up sitting alone in a stranger's room, gripping her hand while she clung to life.

Can one night in a hospital room forge a bond strong enough to fight for? Is it possible for friendships to truly stand the test of time?

If you love rich characters, deep romance, and holiday magic, you'll love Gunderson's new heartwarming saga.

Buy now to begin the journey today!

Genres: Romance, Holiday, Audiobook

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2020

Reviews

[Diana Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried, I laughed , I smiled and cried some more! Such a good and quick book! The ending made me tear up.. such a good book about friendship between this group of friends.

[Anna B · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book about loss and the deep bonds of friendship. Mike is killed and Amanda wounded when tragedy strikes on their way to a New Years Party leaving their friends and Mike’s brother Karl devastated. The friends at the party make a pact to meet every year in Mike’s honor and Amanda finds herself bound to this group.
The interpersonal relationships, triumphs, fears and misunderstandings that come with friendships are well written and true to life as each person navigates their life apart and in relation to the group. This was a great book.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished... I cried, I laughed, I smiled, and then I cried again.

I won't give anything away, but New Year's Eve, a tragedy occurs. Every year on New Year's Eve there is the party, friends celebrate the ups, and many experience the downs. We follow their lives, finding out how their year was on New Year's Eve.

The setup of each chapter being that year's New Year's Eve party is amazing.

I want to say so much more, but I'll say this.... Read this.... I won't forgive you if you don't. :)

[Claudia]

I loved this book with lives intertwined and needing concentration to keep it all straight but Cindy did a great job of making it all possible. Teaching of the value of good friends and the lasting impact they have on our lives. It is easy reading and gripping to keep you interested to the end. Cindy is becoming a great author and all of her books are lovely to read.

[Maureen Horswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

loyalty and friendship win

A storyline linking love, loyalty and friendship following the death of a beloved brother, and friend. Years pass where two friends continue to meet, introduce new partners and never admit their true feelings.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book lacked a plot..and the skipping ahead a year to only discuss a small chunk of one day seemed scant and very insufficient.

[Dede · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet, but sad book. I got aggravated with a couple of the characters and felt that was drawn out. I would still recommend this book.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, clean, and sweet! The beginning is sad but that's to be expected. I didn't mind the time jumps; it made that one relationship less frustrating. The plot is similar to Colleen Hoover's 'November 9'. I do wish it had been longer, though! Extra points for being set in Calgary with many references to roads and places I miss.

[Cassandra Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute 🥰

[Evelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of how a group of friends go through life after Mike is killed in a car accident and his girlfriend Amanda survives it. Karl, Mike's older brother suggests meeting again on the 31st of December every year to celebrate his life.
What happens the next 14 years with them is what the book is about. How they dealt with grief, their friendships and life in general.
You might need some Kleenex here and there but it is really worth it.

[Lori Andert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing friends celebrating a great guy each new year together and finding their way in life.

[Jesica · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLASIFICATION: 4.0 ESTRELLAS

Inicie ese libro porque estamos en navidad y dijo bueno demosle la oportunidad, vamos a endulzarnos con un buen libro romantico ambientado en estas fechas y lo que me encontre fue una tragedia que me hizo refexionar sobre el tiempo que pasamos en familia y la verdad el 60% de la historia me la pase sollozando por lo que estaba pasando y al mismo tiempo acordandome de mis seres queridos que ya no estan conmigo en estas fechas...

En fin, por lo menos tiene un buen final tipo epilogo como me gusta.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise was good - friends deal with a traumatic loss on New Year's Eve & promise to spend all future New Year's Eves together so that they'll stay in touch. The story however is a bit superficial; it details the NYE parties held for 10 years and provide updates on the friends' lives. The reader doesn't live through any of the struggles or highs; it's just a party update of where the friends are in their lives each Dec 31st. It was an ok story but I wanted more details into the characters' lives.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

No plot but enjoyable?

So no plot really just each chapter skipping to the next New Year's Eve. We follow several (too many) characters through 15(?) years of what's basically life updates.

Definitely not what I was expecting and I can't say I enjoyed the format of the book. I would have liked more life details and experiences. This could have been an outline for a series of books about each couple. I am glad I've read it though. Very quick read.

[Whit · Rating 3 out of 5]

An awesome page turning story! Unfortunately, it got overwhelmed with way too many characters to keep track of as well as flashbacks that soon became quite confusing!

Imagine laughter, music, great food and decorations and you receive a phone call that there's been a drunk driving accident and everyone needs to get to the hospital immediately!

[Storyweaving_Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy every moment.

Although a tragedy brought the tradition together, you can see how each character grows and what life moments have occurred over time by witnessing every New Year’s Eve party that the group has. I loved how the author wants everyone to take a moment to live in moment and enjoy their lives together.

[Stefanie McLain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had me in my feelings at times. This was not the story line I was expecting when I started this book. While there was parts of the story that I enjoyed, overall I was board. My honest belief is that if I would have been in a different mindset, I would have enjoyed the book more. The writing was good and the way the story moved from present to past was done very well and clearly.

[Karma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The enjoyed every other couple in the story except for the main couple. I think that they could have settled so much with an honest conversation. But literally every other couples storyline I somewhat liked.

Idk

[Noëlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

1🌟
Cute, but too sad. And too weird? How in hell would you end up with the brother of your ex boyfriend who died in a car accident (you were in btw).

[Brooke Sanchez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many characters and dialogue.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very different than I expected. It was very well written, and interesting story telling.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read that centers around New Years Eve and a group of friends who change over the course of 14 years.

[Zarih Sundberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

too much

I story driven forward by dialog is not for me. It lacked warmth. Wasted potential. Did not finish. Xx cx

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story of a group of friends and their histories yearly as the meet to remember a friend who was killed on New Years Eve.

[Ashley Schounard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was promised I’d cry… and I did not.

Love the idea of this book.. each chapter is New Years Eve but I felt the execution wasn’t the best. Felt like a lot of details were left out so I didn’t connect with the characters in order to feel the feels and feel the heartbreak that I think was intended. Bummer because I feel like this could have been a 5star

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