A review by alyse_turns_pages
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 
Author Emma Grey takes us alongside Kate while she walks down the road of being newly widowed. Her journey with grief is a fragile one as she must maintain a sense of strength and stability for their young son Charlie. I know from personal experience how debilitating grief can be and the dark thoughts that come with it—living life with one foot straddling heaven and the other earthside leaves you with a nagging guilt that is unbearable. 

I deeply appreciated that a light was shone on how friends, family & yes even strangers can help support someone during times of tragedy. Hugh was an exemplary example of just sitting beside someone in their grief. Yes, he did do much more than that but at his core, he wasn’t afraid of Kate’s emotions and he wasn’t afraid to simply sit with her while she felt them. 

There are many, many quotes that readers who have endured a loss like this will cling to…just that same feeling Kate had with Hugh…”Yes. This person knows exactly what this feels like.” “I’m not alone in my grief.” 

Despite this story being heavily focused on what it's like to tragically lose someone you love, it is a redeeming story of how life can still be beautiful. How loss doesn’t define us but simply becomes a part of us, a piece that we will carry forever. 

Thank you Emma for writing this novel, and thank you for sharing bits and pieces of your husband through Cam and Hugh. Thank you for sharing your heart. Thank you for allowing us to sit beside you in your grief, and simultaneously sitting beside mine as well. 

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