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gmarline's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I loved this so much! I enjoyed most of the characters, especially Emma, she’s grumpy but cares so much.
Holly and her sister were heading to see their parents for Christmas. They stopped at a cafe because Holly was tired and needed caffeine there she meets a guy and there is an instant connection. He gives her his phone number. Upon leaving the cafe Holly and her sister get into a car accident which alters their lives forever.
Flash forward three years, Holly’s best friend convinced her to join a Dear Stranger group. Holly receives a letter from a stranger named Emma. In this letter Emma describes a cafe that Holly has been to before, the night of her car accident. Emma shares that she’s sick and she’s alone after the passing of her son and husband. Holly decides she’s going to track down Emma.
Holly eventually meets and befriends Emma. She learns that Emma has an estranged grandson. Holly makes it her mission to find reunite Emma with her grandson. Along the way Holly builds new relationships and finds ways to repair old ones.
Emma and Holly’s relationship grows in such a beautiful way. Going from strangers, to friends, and eventually becoming each other’s family.
Holly and her sister were heading to see their parents for Christmas. They stopped at a cafe because Holly was tired and needed caffeine there she meets a guy and there is an instant connection. He gives her his phone number. Upon leaving the cafe Holly and her sister get into a car accident which alters their lives forever.
Flash forward three years, Holly’s best friend convinced her to join a Dear Stranger group. Holly receives a letter from a stranger named Emma. In this letter Emma describes a cafe that Holly has been to before, the night of her car accident. Emma shares that she’s sick and she’s alone after the passing of her son and husband. Holly decides she’s going to track down Emma.
Holly eventually meets and befriends Emma. She learns that Emma has an estranged grandson. Holly makes it her mission to find reunite Emma with her grandson. Along the way Holly builds new relationships and finds ways to repair old ones.
Emma and Holly’s relationship grows in such a beautiful way. Going from strangers, to friends, and eventually becoming each other’s family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Miscarriage
mrscorytee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, and Miscarriage
rachelshubin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Love, Holly is my second Emily Stone novel and it was so well written. It’s a tender hearted story that deals with very heavy topics like car accidents, parental death, cancer, and miscarriage, to name a few. I think her books would be better characterized as women’s fiction with a dash of romance.
I didn’t find this book to be particularly sad as Always in December. It starts and ends at Christmas time but has scenes in almost all the months of the year, as it’s set over two years. I liked the time organization and what was a real treat was that we got dual POV of both Holly and Jack! The book was significantly improved by knowing Jack’s thoughts.
Grief and found family are the major plot points of this story. The way we deal with grief, the mistakes we have to overcome, and the power of forgiveness is especially important to this story. Fate and healing, as well. I was a little sad at the end, but we do get good closure!
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Dell for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review
I didn’t find this book to be particularly sad as Always in December. It starts and ends at Christmas time but has scenes in almost all the months of the year, as it’s set over two years. I liked the time organization and what was a real treat was that we got dual POV of both Holly and Jack! The book was significantly improved by knowing Jack’s thoughts.
Grief and found family are the major plot points of this story. The way we deal with grief, the mistakes we have to overcome, and the power of forgiveness is especially important to this story. Fate and healing, as well. I was a little sad at the end, but we do get good closure!
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Dell for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Cancer, Grief, Terminal illness, Death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
bookrecsbyjess's review
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the complimentary copies of this book. All opinions are my own.
Love, Holly by Emily Stone is a book full of hope, reconciliation, and family. This emotional story follows the lives of Holly, Jack, and Emma as their paths cross in multiple seasons. All three characters, having experienced loss, realize their need for each other and for forgiveness.
While this book is marketed as a romance with a focus on Christmas, I don’t think those elements play a very big role in the story. I still enjoyed it, but I would classify it as more of contemporary fiction with a focus on character growth.
What really made me enjoy this story was the characters and the relationships between them. I loved seeing them forgive and grow to love one another.
While this book is filled with hope, it is quite a bit sad at times and deals with some heavy topics such as cancer, death, grief, and infertility.
I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a focus on characters over plot, second chances, the importance of family, and England as a setting.
Also, if you’re a fan of audiobooks, I really enjoyed listening to the narrator for this book. I think she did a great job with the voices and had a British accent, which fit the setting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infertility, and Car accident
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