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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
OH MY HEART❤️!!! What a lovely and beautifully written Christmas story that will tug at your heartstrings!! Ya'll keep your tissues handy because you will need them! Yes, I shed many sad and happy tears. Love, Holly is about love, fate, friendships, family, loss, heartbreak, grief, loneliness, bitterness, guilt, forgiveness, hope, self-discovery, healing, second chances and romance! This is my first read by Emily Stone and I am already a HUGE fan! The author has created such a touching story with so much depth and characters with real life struggles and raw emotions. Honestly, this book will stay with me for a long time and I absolutely loved and adored it so much!! My first Christmas favorite for 2023!!🎄☃️❤️🎁
Holly and her pregnant sister were involved in a life changing car accident on Christmas Eve three years ago. After that horrific night things have never been the same. Holly is now estranged from her family and she battles with some many emotions including loneliness. As a result, Holly joins a letter writing club called "Dear Stranger" that helps others feel not so alone at Christmas time. Every December she writes a letter to an anonymous stranger who is also spending Christmas alone and in return she receives a letter from a stranger. The letter Holly receives this year is different because the writer deals with grief Holly can relate to and Emma (the writer) mentions a coffee place Holly visited with her sister right before the accident. In addition, she literally bumped into and spilled coffee all over a handsome man, Jack, at the same place on that same night. Jack wrote his phone number on a coffee cup for her to call him but Holly lost that cup in the accident. Holly decides to use that detail and track Emma down and help her. Subsequently, this sets off a series of events that no one expects!!
Overall, this is a a endearing and charming Christmas read with a bittersweet ending! I highly recommend this book and it deserves all the Christmas stars!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
OH MY HEART❤️!!! What a lovely and beautifully written Christmas story that will tug at your heartstrings!! Ya'll keep your tissues handy because you will need them! Yes, I shed many sad and happy tears. Love, Holly is about love, fate, friendships, family, loss, heartbreak, grief, loneliness, bitterness, guilt, forgiveness, hope, self-discovery, healing, second chances and romance! This is my first read by Emily Stone and I am already a HUGE fan! The author has created such a touching story with so much depth and characters with real life struggles and raw emotions. Honestly, this book will stay with me for a long time and I absolutely loved and adored it so much!! My first Christmas favorite for 2023!!🎄☃️❤️🎁
Holly and her pregnant sister were involved in a life changing car accident on Christmas Eve three years ago. After that horrific night things have never been the same. Holly is now estranged from her family and she battles with some many emotions including loneliness. As a result, Holly joins a letter writing club called "Dear Stranger" that helps others feel not so alone at Christmas time. Every December she writes a letter to an anonymous stranger who is also spending Christmas alone and in return she receives a letter from a stranger. The letter Holly receives this year is different because the writer deals with grief Holly can relate to and Emma (the writer) mentions a coffee place Holly visited with her sister right before the accident. In addition, she literally bumped into and spilled coffee all over a handsome man, Jack, at the same place on that same night. Jack wrote his phone number on a coffee cup for her to call him but Holly lost that cup in the accident. Holly decides to use that detail and track Emma down and help her. Subsequently, this sets off a series of events that no one expects!!
Overall, this is a a endearing and charming Christmas read with a bittersweet ending! I highly recommend this book and it deserves all the Christmas stars!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Having lost my Grandmother recently, this book hit me harder than I thought it would. Emma reminded me so much of my Grandma, that even thinking about Emma made me want to cry. I love that she had a happy Christmas before she passed. I also enjoy the fact that the romance in this book got put on the back burner to showcase the friendship between two women that was never really supposed to happen. Emily Stone’s books are so good.
Omg I pick this book up from my local library this past weekend and I saw this book cover and I thought this was going to be cute little story to read so I pick it up. I didn’t read it the description of this book so I was going into this blind I just like the cover of the book. But @emstonewrites this story is so cute and lovely
As someone who has been challenged with spending Holidays without a very important person in her life, this really hit home. This book has a good amount of curiosity, humor, love, friendship, and grief.
A few things frustrated me, however, with character and relationship development specifically.
A few things frustrated me, however, with character and relationship development specifically.
I just… this book is beautiful. I love the story and the characters. My heart melted, I cried, and everything ties together. I essentially read most of this is a few hours because I just had to keep reading.
Everything about this book is moving. It covers grief, loss, growth, and connection. I think some things get glossed over a little from the actions Holly makes but in the end it’s worth it with how the story is written and ends. I also have to say Emma is my favorite. She’s snarky and is set in her ways but Holly helps her to live her life. Likewise, Emma also helps Holly realize a few things in her own life to get her moving in the right direction.
The jumps between time don’t feel crazy or change how the story flows. The memories that the characters have mid conversation take you into how they are truly feeling.
If you like books that will get you into the feels while still being heartwarming, this is a book for you.
I was sent the NetGalley eARC by the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Everything about this book is moving. It covers grief, loss, growth, and connection. I think some things get glossed over a little from the actions Holly makes but in the end it’s worth it with how the story is written and ends. I also have to say Emma is my favorite. She’s snarky and is set in her ways but Holly helps her to live her life. Likewise, Emma also helps Holly realize a few things in her own life to get her moving in the right direction.
The jumps between time don’t feel crazy or change how the story flows. The memories that the characters have mid conversation take you into how they are truly feeling.
If you like books that will get you into the feels while still being heartwarming, this is a book for you.
I was sent the NetGalley eARC by the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
What a beautiful story about fate and the people it brings into our lives. I went into this book thinking it would be mostly a romance with the focus on our male and female characters. But there was SO much more. The relationship that Emma and Holly created was my absolute favorite. It was the highlight of the book. The letter written at the end had me SOBBING. I read this in a day.
The reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars had to do with a little annoying thing the author did. The character’s inner monologue would get lost in memories for too long. Then, they’d return to present day. I just felt that some of them went on so long you’d forget what they were even talking about.
Other than that, such a good read. I’ll be checking out her other holiday reads.
The reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars had to do with a little annoying thing the author did. The character’s inner monologue would get lost in memories for too long. Then, they’d return to present day. I just felt that some of them went on so long you’d forget what they were even talking about.
Other than that, such a good read. I’ll be checking out her other holiday reads.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I look forward to Emily Stone’s newest book each holiday season. This one did not disappoint
I am so glad that NetGalley gave me the chance to read this book early. I have loved every Emily Stone book and this one was the perfect travel read.
When boy meets girl in a random coffee shop, they have no idea how intertwined their lives truly are until the very end.
There are so many heart wrenching moments, mistaken agendas, laughable flubs, and butterflies. I was turning pages as fast as possible to find out what happens next.
I also loved how Stone transitions and shows passage of time to make sure the whole story is told in the most effective manner.
When boy meets girl in a random coffee shop, they have no idea how intertwined their lives truly are until the very end.
There are so many heart wrenching moments, mistaken agendas, laughable flubs, and butterflies. I was turning pages as fast as possible to find out what happens next.
I also loved how Stone transitions and shows passage of time to make sure the whole story is told in the most effective manner.
I haven’t had a book make me tear up in a long time. And this book is a tear jerker. Yes, it’s predictable, but that good kind of predictable. This book could trigger you if you lost a baby, been in a bad car accident, and/or had someone die in a car accident. I loved the characters and the story, and I really love the Dear Stranger letters idea. I will say that I was angry with Lilly, and especially the parents.y heart hurt for how they made Holly feel for something that was going to happen regardless. Their parents immediately said to give space and created a boundary where Holly didn’t feel welcome. So, I honestly didn’t like that she felt at fault for the loss of a relationship. And it brought up a lot of feelings that I have with my own sister and our lack of relationship.
I don’t like sad books, but this one hit me differently and I’m so glad I read it.
I don’t like sad books, but this one hit me differently and I’m so glad I read it.