Review by pantslint - Love, Holly

pantslint 's review for:

Love, Holly by Emily Stone

4.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

One of my favorite things about the writing is how flashbacks and memories are incorporated throughout the novel. It feels so cinematic, where a moment in the present so easily transitions into a scene from the past, and then just as easily fades into the present again. Even the way memories show up are so vivid and true to reality, they way at first they're just images that invade Jack and Holly's everyday lives, only for them to realize later that the images are attached to personal (and often heavy) emotions.

For the relationship between Holly and Jack, I appreciate that they're adults that actually handle their conflicts like adults. They're still human, which doesn't mean they're infallible to anger or pettiness. However, they still come together and communicate after, which is so gosh-darned sexy to me.

Fair warning - this isn't a cute and lighthearted holiday romance. It has vivid depictions of grief and how it affects whole family systems long after the actual events. However, Stone really does capture the spirit and magic of Christmas by bringing it all back to personal growth, love, and family togetherness.

Content Warnings