Title: Love, Holly
Author: Emily Stone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Published On: September 26, 2023
Publisher: Dell (Penguin Random House)
Source: digital (Netgalley)
Pages: 370
Synopsis:
A young woman tries to heal a rift in her elderly pen pal’s family in time for Christmas, all while falling in love—and maybe even reuniting with her own family—in this dazzling romance from the author of Always, in December and One Last Gift.
Sometimes it takes a stranger to bring you back to yourself.
Ever since a car accident tore her family apart, Holly has been part of a lonely-hearts holiday letter–writing club. Each December, she writes to a stranger who is also spending Christmas alone, and receives a letter from another lonely person in return.
Usually, the letters go unanswered. That’s the point—the letters are anonymous, and the senders write whatever is in their heart. But this year, the letter Holly receives is different; not only is the letter full of a grief she knows all too well, but its writer, Emma, mentions a place that Holly has visited. When she realizes that she might actually be able to find the letter’s author, Holly becomes determined to reunite Emma with the estranged grandson, Jack, with whom Emma is desperate to reconnect.
When Holly finally tracks him down, she remembers that she’s met Jack once before . . . and the connection was electric. The spark between the two of them is still there—until a misunderstanding risks their burgeoning romance and his strained relationship with Emma, too. But Holly is determined; if she can fix Emma’s family, she might also be able to fix her own. Though as it turns out, Holly might have less time to put things right than she thought.
My review of Always, In December
My review of One Last Gift
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
Happy Publishing Day to Love, Holly by Emily Stone! If you like your heartstrings to be pulled, you can count on Emily Stone to make it happen. Love, Holly is a novel about finding forgiveness and love amid grief and estrangement, and it had me feeling all the feelings!
Holly met Jack moments before it became the worst day of her life, but she’s never forgotten the connection they made. Two years later she returns to the café where they met thanks to a letter she received from a stranger. Holly doesn’t believe in fate, but life seems determined to prove her wrong.
“Some people you know for a lifetime, but they never really make an imprint on your soul—and some people, you only have to know for an instant, to know they will be part of you forever.”
Emily Stone; Love, Holly
Don’t let the cover of this one mislead you, while the beginning and end of the novel take place over Christmas, it’s not really what I consider a full-on holiday book. It’s a nice mix, especially if you’re someone who prefers just a touch of the holiday theme, or if like me, you’re reading it months before the holidays. But I did feel like this was a cozy read, even though it deals with some tough subjects. It felt loving and compassionate. And the ending was beautiful.
Holly’s journey takes her to various places throughout the book. From London to Venice to Ireland, and I enjoyed all the different settings. Especially her time spent in Venice, with her descriptions of the canals, cafés, and shops. And while the book is mostly from Holly’s point of view, we do get some chapters with Jack’s point of view, too, which is always nice. Stone’s previous two books were closed door romances, but I would call Love, Holly a cracked-door romance. It’s not very explicit, but it’s not exactly fade-to-black, which worked nicely with her gentle writing style.
Love, Holly is primarily a book about grief, but it’s also a book about miscommunication or lack of communication. And it’s one of my least favorite tropes. It can get tedious or frustrating. But the communication issues in this novel made more sense with such a weighty subject like grief, which needs time for healing. And while I enjoy Stone’s heartrending books, I would still love for her to write a mostly happy book. She always has a few moments where I find myself laughing out loud, and I find myself wishing for more laughter!
I’ve enjoyed all Stone’s books, but her debut Always, In December remains my favorite. Maybe it’s just the nostalgia of the first book?? Although, I think Love, Holly may be her best written one yet. I can tell that she’s growing as a writer with each new book, which makes me even more excited for her future projects!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Dell and Netgalley for providing me with a copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
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About the Author
Emily Stone
Hello, I’m Emily! If you’ve found this page then welcome, and thanks so much for showing an interest in my writing.
If you read my novel then I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you want to get in touch then I’d love to hear from you – I’ve just joined Twitter, so come and say hello!
A Song For A Book
I had a harder time finding a song for Love, Holly. I wanted just the right mix of melancholy and hope. I think I found the right combination in “Dear Love” by Lauren Marsh. The letter aspect (and the artist’s red hair) didn’t hurt, either. 😉
Breaking my way through the storm,
This beating heart has never been so worn,
Hangin’ roses round my neck
Cause in this life we’ll never know what to expect,
Yeah we’re acting like fools,
Not too concerned with what we’ll do,
Dear Love I miss you,
Wherever you go I’ll always be with you,
Dear Love don’t you worry,
I’ll always be here for you when you
Find your way…
Have you read Love, Holly? Or did you add it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
This sounds so cute! I have a list of holiday romances I want to read in November and December and will definitely be adding this one to it. 😀
Yay! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Always, In December is a favorite of mine too. Looking forward to this latest one though. Glad you enjoyed it.
I hope you enjoy this one, too!
The friendship between Holly and Emma was what really stayed with me, and I adored how Jack came back into her life
Yes! I loved their friendship. I thought the plot was quite creative!