A review by chronicreader96
Em & Me by Beth Morrey

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Em & Me follows single mother Delphine as she works to find a place in the world for herself and her daughter, Em. But the past and present collide, making it hard for her to keep things together. Will her previous mistakes come back to haunt her?

I absolutely loved the author’s debut and was so excited that they had brought out another book! This gave me the exact same emotional punch that I loved so much in the first book. Towards the end of the book I found myself feeling a little teary. I love how Beth is able to pull on my heartstrings with her books. I also loved the diversity of cultures within this novel. I truly felt like I was tasting new dishes and experiencing new places. It all felt so vivid, I just wanted to jump into the book and join Delphine. 

My biggest gripe with this book is that consent, and not being able to give it, is completely glossed over. It is such an incredibly important topic and the way it was handled made me feel really uncomfortable. It almost felt like the victim was not only blaming themselves, but being blamed by others too, and that was deemed to be fine. It just did not sit well with me and made me knock off some stars. That being said, I loved the message that you can go for what you want no matter what your age. Delphine’s fight to get the best life for herself and her daughter made me feel so empowered. I really resonated with the message that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. I felt myself cheering Delphine on! 

I would recommend this book to fans of easy reads with an emotional background. 
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