Once Upon a Time in December A Sapphic Holiday Romance of Self-Discovery and Second Chances

One disastrous Christmas proposal. One whimsical British violinist. One year that changes everything-including who you thought you were. Whitley Dupont has always followed the plan: build a thriving career in finance, marry the perfect man, and never, ever veer off course. But when her carefully constructed life implodes in front of a hundred horrified party guests at her family's Christmas gala, she's left wondering what-if anything-was ever real. Enter Layla Simmons: a free-spirited violinist with a classical-pop sound, a spark in her eyes, and a talent for making chaos feel like a second chance. Their first meeting is accidental. Their second, serendipitous. And by the third... Whitley starts to feel something she never expected-something that doesn't fit into any plan she's ever made. As late-night phone calls turn into something deeper, and Whitley begins to question more than just her love life, she's forced to confront the truth: love doesn't always look the way you imagined-and neither does who you are. From bustling boardrooms to cosy concert venues, and from awkward family dinners to moments of quiet, vulnerable joy, this is the story of two women finding each other-and themselves-in the most unexpected season of life. A sparkling sapphic romance about second chances, sexual awakening, and the beautiful, messy surprise of falling for the person who sees you most clearly.