Once upon a December

This endearing Christmas romance from Reichert (The Kindred Spirits Supper Club) introduces a magical land where it’s Christmas all year round. Jack Clausen is a resident of the magical Julemarked, a Brigadoon-like town that can be accessed through Christmas markets all over the world, appearing on December 1 and disappearing at midnight on Christmas Eve. Astra Snow and her three best friends take an annual trip to Milwaukee’s Christmas market, one of the portals to Julemarked, which has brought Astra and Jack together for the past 15 years—though only Jack remembers their meetings. This year, something changes: Astra recognizes Jack from her dreams. Jack is thrilled and hopes to convince Astra to stay with him in his magical home—but he only has 24 days to do so. Though Jack knows all their history, their relationship is entirely new to Astra, so the decision to leave her friends and family won’t be easy. The clock’s on their relationship as Christmas Eve approaches, which, combined with some surprising twists, keeps the pages flying. Readers won’t want to put this down. Agent: Rachel Ekstrom, Folio Literary. (Oct.)