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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Emily Stone writes the most gut-wrenching yet heart-warming and healing Christmas stories, and Love, Holly is just that. Holly's life and family is torn a part by a car crash that happened at Christmas 3 years ago. Now estranged from her family she writes a "Dear Stranger" letter to feel less alone, and the one she receives mentions the cafe she stopped at right before the tragic car crash. Seeing this as fate Holly tracks down the writer and so our story begins. I love how Emily can intertwine every last detail and writes things for us readers to interpret one way then twist that plot later. This story about forgiveness, grief, and fate will have you believing in second chances and also sobbing but in a healing way.
Emily Stone writes the most gut-wrenching yet heart-warming and healing Christmas stories, and Love, Holly is just that. Holly's life and family is torn a part by a car crash that happened at Christmas 3 years ago. Now estranged from her family she writes a "Dear Stranger" letter to feel less alone, and the one she receives mentions the cafe she stopped at right before the tragic car crash. Seeing this as fate Holly tracks down the writer and so our story begins. I love how Emily can intertwine every last detail and writes things for us readers to interpret one way then twist that plot later. This story about forgiveness, grief, and fate will have you believing in second chances and also sobbing but in a healing way.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Emily Stone writes the most gut-wrenching yet heart-warming and healing Christmas stories, and Love, Holly is just that. Holly's life and family is torn a part by a car crash that happened at Christmas 3 years ago. Now estranged from her family she writes a "Dear Stranger" letter to feel less alone, and the one she receives mentions the cafe she stopped at right before the tragic car crash. Seeing this as fate Holly tracks down the writer and so our story begins. I love how Emily can intertwine every last detail and writes things for us readers to interpret one way then twist that plot later. This story about forgiveness, grief, and fate will have you believing in second chances and also sobbing but in a healing way.
Emily Stone writes the most gut-wrenching yet heart-warming and healing Christmas stories, and Love, Holly is just that. Holly's life and family is torn a part by a car crash that happened at Christmas 3 years ago. Now estranged from her family she writes a "Dear Stranger" letter to feel less alone, and the one she receives mentions the cafe she stopped at right before the tragic car crash. Seeing this as fate Holly tracks down the writer and so our story begins. I love how Emily can intertwine every last detail and writes things for us readers to interpret one way then twist that plot later. This story about forgiveness, grief, and fate will have you believing in second chances and also sobbing but in a healing way.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Publication: September 26, 2023
Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded down to 2)
This was my first book by Stone and it was a cute read. I loved that I wanted the feeling of "Christmas in July" and this book delivered on that front. The plot touched on some deeper issues but my main problem was Holly would meddle in other people's lives. Plus she wouldn't speak up about said issue with Jack- enter miscommunication trope (one of my least favorite). The plot left me figuring out the story line far in advance which in turn left me bored.
My second issue was the characters. They were pretty bland and run of the mill so this left me feeling like I was reading cookie cutter interactions with nothing really distinguishing characters apart. A lot of this involves me as a reader so if you feel that this book is up your alley- go for it!
Multiple POV told in 3rd person
Miscommunication trope
Fated Love
Healing vibes
Christmas atmosphere
Publication: September 26, 2023
Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded down to 2)
This was my first book by Stone and it was a cute read. I loved that I wanted the feeling of "Christmas in July" and this book delivered on that front. The plot touched on some deeper issues but my main problem was Holly would meddle in other people's lives. Plus she wouldn't speak up about said issue with Jack- enter miscommunication trope (one of my least favorite). The plot left me figuring out the story line far in advance which in turn left me bored.
My second issue was the characters. They were pretty bland and run of the mill so this left me feeling like I was reading cookie cutter interactions with nothing really distinguishing characters apart. A lot of this involves me as a reader so if you feel that this book is up your alley- go for it!
Multiple POV told in 3rd person
Miscommunication trope
Fated Love
Healing vibes
Christmas atmosphere
Love, Holly by Emily Stone is a heartwarming and uplifting contemporary romance that deserves a solid 4-star rating. From the moment I started reading, I was captivated by the charming characters and their relatable journeys. Stone's writing style is engaging and flows effortlessly, making it easy to get lost in the story. The romance between Holly and her love interest is sweet and filled with tender moments that will melt your heart. While some plot elements may feel predictable, the overall execution and emotional depth make up for it. Love, Holly is a delightful read that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling long after you've turned the final page.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage
funny
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Quick and Dirty
-sweet closed-door romance
-snarky older friend
-epistolary aspects
-sibling relationship story
Thank you @randomhouse and @netgalley for the advanced access!
Thoughts
It's still summer, but your girl took one for the team to dive into a holiday book while soaking up the summer sun. This was my second Emily Stone book, and it did not disappoint. Like One Last Gift, Love, Holly tugs at all the heartstrings. It's a great combination of romance and woman's fiction, focusing on grief and loss. The emotional journey that Holly experiences in the book is moving, and the relationship between her and Emma is especially powerful. They resolved some of their personal traumas through their relationship, which felt profound for such a fluffy read. The romance between Holly and Jack was sweet but felt a bit frustrating at times probably because of the stop/start nature of the relationship. Overall my biggest complaint was the unrealistic response of Holly's family to her accident; to me, it felt like an overreaction. I would describe this as Christmas-adjacent (like her other books) because it doesn't give strong holiday vibes. So, if you're looking for a romance with some substance that's holiday adjacent, this one is a good option this year!
-sweet closed-door romance
-snarky older friend
-epistolary aspects
-sibling relationship story
Thank you @randomhouse and @netgalley for the advanced access!
Thoughts
It's still summer, but your girl took one for the team to dive into a holiday book while soaking up the summer sun. This was my second Emily Stone book, and it did not disappoint. Like One Last Gift, Love, Holly tugs at all the heartstrings. It's a great combination of romance and woman's fiction, focusing on grief and loss. The emotional journey that Holly experiences in the book is moving, and the relationship between her and Emma is especially powerful. They resolved some of their personal traumas through their relationship, which felt profound for such a fluffy read. The romance between Holly and Jack was sweet but felt a bit frustrating at times probably because of the stop/start nature of the relationship. Overall my biggest complaint was the unrealistic response of Holly's family to her accident; to me, it felt like an overreaction. I would describe this as Christmas-adjacent (like her other books) because it doesn't give strong holiday vibes. So, if you're looking for a romance with some substance that's holiday adjacent, this one is a good option this year!
A little too much of the miscommunication trope for me but still a great read!