Dear Emmie Blue: A Novel

I absolutely loved this book! I started it thinking I would read a few chapters before bed and ended up reading until I finished in the wee hours of the morning. I honestly couldn't stop. The writing was amazing and was so heartfelt and witty. Dear Emmie Blue fell more into the women's fiction genre for me, but there was also a healthy amount of romance and humor too. I experienced so many emotions while reading this book. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I laughed some more. I was invested in Emmie's story right away and she was such a relatable heroine. I felt her pain deep in my chest, but I also celebrated her victories as if they were my own. The story unfolded in such a beautiful and thoughtful way. The flashbacks were perfectly placed and it was like each piece of a puzzle slotting into position. I did figure a few things out before Emmie, but that made the story even sweeter and powerful. Yes, this book is a love story, but it's mainly about Emmie's journey to love herself. It's about Emmie coming into her own and being comfortable in her own skin. It's about acceptance and change and emerging stronger on the other side. Emmie's friendships were the heart of the story. Her friendship with Lucas and his brother Eliot came at such a critical time that it irrevocably changed her (and them). It saved her in many ways, but it also came to hold her back. Lia Louis showcased all the shades and layers of friendship in such a raw and honest way. All the sacrifices and lengths we go to to maintain these bonds. Emmie's friendship with Rosie and Fox was a highlight of the book and they added just the right amount of comic relief when it was needed most. I laughed out loud almost every time Rosie was on the page. My heart was so full as I finished the last page and that epilogue couldn't have been more perfect. Dear Emmie Blue was enjoyable and captivating from start to finish. I can't recommend this uplifting novel enough! CW: sexual assault *I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Hopeful, gut-wrenching, inspirational, tear-jerker, Emmie Blue gave me all of that and more with her incredible journey. As a teenager, Emmie released a balloon into the sky which gave her Lucas, her best friend, the person she leans on. Her life has been full of challenges which have caused her to exist from day to day and essential hide from the world. When Lucas needs to ask her an important question, she believes all her dreams are coming true, she has loved Lucas since she was 14. But that doesn’t happen and Emmie is forced to reevaluate her life and what she thinks she knows. Eliot is Lucas’ brother and he had been friend too but an event pushed him away from her. As Emmie and Eilot work together to plan an event, Emmie is reminded of the fun and comfort she has with Eliot. The one thing Emmie longs for is family and having someone care about her life. We get to meet Rosie and Fox, co-workers that have become friends and confidants. She rents a room from Louise, who doesn’t talk much until Eliot starts to visit and this opens up a new friendship for Emmie. It’s like she found a grandmother she never had. Her mother isn’t involved in her life and would leave her alone when she was a teenager. And for years, she tried to find her father without any luck but maybe, there is a chance that she will. There is so much to enjoy with this story that I don’t want to reveal. I was immersed in Emmie’s life and felt every up and down she experienced as a laughed and cried along with her.

‘Dear Emmie Blue’ completely blew me away with it's captivating writing style that pulled and tugged at my heartstrings, vibrant and real characters readers are able to relate and sympathize with and an engaging drama that makes you want to root for the heroine and her happily ever after. It was an unforgettable story that left me an emotional wreck. It’s been a long time since a book hit close to home, driving me to ugly cry so hard you would’ve thought someone died. It’s not to say this book was perfect. There were a few questionable scenes and actions that made me want to wring the neck out of Emmie, Lucas and Eliot. Moreso, when reaching the conclusion of the story and how a particular life changing incident from Emmie's past came to light, I was more than frustrated with the heroine's reaction to this character's deed and how easily it was pushed aside and not really addressed. Despite the long history between them, forgiveness came too easily and I wished their actions would have had repercussions. Vague, I know. But going further into would only spoil what transpires. In the face of those underlying issues that I was able to push aside because it made the characters far more real and raw, ‘Dear Emmie Blue’ kept me spellbound and I was so compelled to read this, I finished it in one sitting with frequent breaks to wipe my tears and to reflect on the magic of the story. It’s evident that I'll be thinking about 'Dear Emmie Blue' for a long time to come.