Ok. What a heartwarming and beautiful story. I loved reading this gem! A story about family, and love which made me laugh and cry. I loved the characters, especially Emmie who was so lovable! The writing was so well done, and I was hooked from the very start! Such a binge-worthy love story!!

"Dear Emmie Blue" by Lia Louis is a charming and emotionally resonant novel that weaves a poignant tale of friendship, love, and self-discovery. The narrative unfolds through the heartfelt letters between Emmie Blue and her childhood friend, Lucas. Louis skillfully crafts characters that are endearing and authentic, making it easy for readers to connect with their joys and struggles. The exploration of the complexities of relationships, along with the unpredictable twists in the plot, adds depth to the storytelling. While the pacing occasionally feels uneven, the overall narrative is engaging and leaves a lasting impression. "Dear Emmie Blue" is a touching and beautifully written story that captures the essence of human connections and the transformative power of love.

This was my second book by this author and while it was well-written, the style and tone was not my personal preference and left me feeling restless and unsettled. I am sure it works for other readers, just not for me.

I will not be reviewing this one because I ended up DNFing the book as I was not interested in it....

Dear Emmie Blue was such a good heartfelt read for me! Lia Louis mixed deeper topics of neglect and familial heartbreak into a hopefulness to find the one with a floating balloon. I laughed, I cried, I loved Emmie Blue!

The writing in this is beautiful, and I wouldn't encourage my dislike to turn away other readers. But this storyline and these characters just weren't for me. Emmie's anxiety and trauma response was SO well written, but the pining for a man she'd loved for years just frustrated me. And there's a plot device used (can't say what because it's a spoiler) that is my most hated trope. So this had everything stacked up against it for me personally, despite being beautifully written.

What a beautiful story! I’ll admit that it started a little slow for me but once I grew to know the characters the story came alive and I couldn’t read it fast enough. In fact, I’m quite sad that it’s over. I just loved Emmie, Lucas, Eliot and all the others and wish I could have just a little bit more of them.

Though well written, this storyline was not for me. I just didn’t connect with any of the characters or their lives. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book, so I would encourage others to give it a try!

When I finished this book, I had all the same warm, fuzzy feelings I experience every time I watch one of my favorite movies Sleepless in Seattle. It took me a while to get into the story and characters, but then I became totally immersed and didn't want the book to end. I will definitely be reading the other novels Lia Louis has written. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria for a review copy.

I love these cozy British romances (think Beth O'Leary and such), so this was delightful and a real tear-jerker. I mean, who can't see a little bit of themselves in Emmie? The joy, the heartbreak, eeeee! Chef's kiss.

At sixteen, Emmie Blue could not feel lower and more alone. Releasing a balloon into the sky, with her name, her email address, and a personal secret, she did not expect anyone to respond. On a beach in France, weeks later, Lucas Moreau discovers the balloon and the note attached. This begins a frendship that lasts for many years.

Fourteen years later, Emmie is secretly pining for Lucas. She has given all of her energy to Lucas over the years, neglecting much of her own life. Isolating herself from her mother, living with a woman she barely knows, and giving up learning more about her past, will Emmie pin her hopes on a future that might not happen?

Dear Emmie Blue is one of those books which is predictable in every way, but has such great characterization that it almost does not matter. Author Lia Louis writes her characters in a way that gives them life, with real problems and issues to solve. The plot itself is expected and not unique, but despite that, I really like Emmie and the rest of the characters. I really enjoyed Dear Emmie Blue and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this book was entirely my own.

What a beautiful, charming read! I adored Eight Perfect Hours, and this one was just as wonderful! Lia is becoming an autobuy author me! I just loved this one!

I actually read her Christmas novel a few months back and then realized that I owned Dear Emmie Blue, so I quickly picked that up to read. I absolutely love the plot line to this novel. It is so mysterious and cute with the idea of sending letters in a balloon and finding where they end up. I also love that this is not a traditional love story, but a love story about self acceptance and self love.

When Emmie blue was 16, she released a red balloon with one last note of hope into the sky with no real expectations of anything coming from it. Having experienced many tragedies throughout her life, while being raised by a text book narcissist for a mother, Emmie has almost come to always expect the worst. But when Lucas Moreau finds the same balloon on a beach nearly a hundred miles away, an unexpected friendship blossoms that will last a lifetime.

When Lucas invites her out to their favorite restaurant, romantic but subtle, Emmie is bursting with hope that he will finally reciprocate the deeper-than-friends love she has had for him years. What she absolutely didn't expect was that Lucas would excitedly tell her about his recent proposal to his long time and nearly perfect girlfriend. On top of that, he had wanted to meet in person to ask if she would a part of the wedding party. Not just A part, but if she would take of the role of best woman.

What ensues is a story that brought vibes of My Best Friend's Wedding and While You Were Sleeping (coincidentally two of my all time favorite rom coms.) But with all of that, this story went beyond a simple rom com and explored the darker realities of victimhood, and the betrayals that can come from those you trusted most.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis completely stole my heart.

Where do I even begin with Dear Emmie Blue? As soon as I started reading it, I knew I was in love. This was one of the most romantic and emotional books I've read and immediately propelled Lia Louis to the top of my "I NEED MORE BOOKS" list. I swooned, I cried, and I honestly wanted to reach into the book to hug sweet Emmie… and Eliot, too. I was on cloud nine while reading and was gutted to close the book at the end. I wanted more time with these characters! While the premise requires to suspend a bit of disbelief, I was all in on this story from the very beginning. The more we uncover of Emmie's past, the more I was rooting for her future. Her friend, her housemate, her romantic storyline -- it's just all so heartwarming. I'm So Obsessed With It.

What a sweet story! Parts of it broke my heart a little. I was happy to be along for the ride with Emmie. The ending made me swoon just a little.

I tried very hard to get through this book but after it being on my kindle for 6 months and only getting through 30%, I had to throw in the towel.

Thanks for the book! However, this one just missed the mark from. I’m clearly in the minority here but I just could not get in Emmie’s corner. Yes she had a hard lot in life and had suffered a trauma, but she also had no backbone or stood up for herself as an adult. Her relationship with Lucas was extremely one sided and why she carried on like the for years and years was frustrating. Overall, just not a story for me.

This is a romance that earns every inch of the heart & feeling it evokes, perhaps to its own detriment. You root for most of the characters - but there were some who were not fully fleshed out & their motivations unclear. It led to 2 dimensional characters in some areas & characters with an over abundance of plot in others. A beautiful novel, I teared up a time or two, and I will likely pick up future works by this author!

I found this book to be so lovely and fun to read! A great, quick read! I still think about these characters and hope they are doing well and are happy. Those are the best kinds of books.