A review by alexisdpatt
Love, Holly by Emily Stone

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

“Love, Holly” by Emily Stone ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

TW: death

“Love, Holly” follows Holly, a woman who’s had a rough few years after she was in a car accident with her sister. Finding herself alone for Christmas (again), she sends out her annual “Dear Stranger” letter and receives one in return—only this time, she’s determined to make things right for the stranger even though she might never make things right for herself. 

An Emily Stone book at Christmas has been a staple for me since 2022 (though I am a year behind), and nothing says happy Christmas like being sad and hoping things turn out alright in the end anyways. And so they do. But this one was a STRUGGLE for me in the beginning. 

The first 100 pages were incredibly annoying to me. After having finished the book, it’s all makes sense but I’m still not happy about it. Stone explores grief (as she’s known to do in her books) via an accident and how people need someone to blame just so they can make themselves feel better—even though that usually makes them feel worse. 

What I did love about this novel, however, is Stone’s frank discussions about death: it’s inevitability, how some are resolved to it and how others have a hard time accepting that it’s coming. The juxtaposition between an accident and a long term illness really balances out the story very well. 

And yes, this is still a romance. It’s a better romance than “One Last Gift” but it’s definitely overshadowed a bit by Holly’s relationship to the stranger. Idk. It’s quite balanced within the story but I feel more strongly about the heavier topics than the romance. It’s okay.