byalexisrae 's review for:

Love, Holly by Emily Stone

4.0

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Holly is lonely. She has been since she and her sister were in a car accident three Christmases ago - her sister hasn't spoken to her since. She starts participating in a Dear Stranger letter program during the holidays, and when she receives a letter from a woman who mentions the same cafe Holly was in the day of her crash - where she met a handsome stranger - she thinks it's fate. She seeks out the letter writer, to find it is a curmudgeonly old woman named Emma who is very closed off. Emma has recently been diagnosed with cancer and longs to reconnect with her estranged grandson after they were in a car accident of their own decades earlier. Holly takes it upon herself to find Emma's grandson and reunite them, but there are surprises in store for her as well.

This is my second Emily Stone book and one thing I love about her work is how heartwarming and tender it is. While there is romance in Stone's books, the heart of the story is in the human connection and friendships that are formed and strengthened. The romance - while lovely - is almost secondary to the growth that each character goes through. This book begins and ends during the Christmas season but isn't a true holiday read, but is so cozy nonetheless! I just love how sweet and uplifting this story was and I was rooting for everyone to come together with those they had drifted away from.

TW: Mention of car crash, death of a parent, miscarriage

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Balletine/Dell for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!