This is one of my favorite books from 2020 so far and I cannot recommend it enough.

16 years old Emmie stood in the fields of her school and released a red balloon with a tag containing her name, email id, and a secret. Weeks later, on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau found the balloon and immediately emailed on the attached address and this kick-started the friendship between the two of them. Now, fourteen years later Emmie is hiding the fact that she is in love with him and hopes and patiently wait for him to admit his feelings to her but she finds out that he is getting married to someone else.

The author has touched and highlighted so many crucial topics like family, love, dreams, career, and past experiences and have dealt with each one of them so well.

While reading this book I was in love with Emmie. I wanted to protect her and was rooting for her to find happiness and her happily ever after. I felt all kinds of emotions while reading this book. The end of this book is so perfect.

There are so many other things I want to mention in this review but I don't want to spoil it for others. Read it and you will love it to the core.

I was so excited for this one, especially after seeing all the 5 star reviews come in. But this one was a flop for me. I dislike books where women will do anything for men. Even ones that are clear on the fact that they don't like that woman romantically. Emmie needed a man to complete her. To the point where she thought her best friend was going to propose, but he asked her to be his best man instead. What world did she live in where she thought a man she wasn't dating was going to propose? This would be ok in a historical fiction book but not present day. Others loved this one and will continue to, but it wasn't for me.

Dear Emmie Blue was everything I didn’t know I needed. Emmie reminded me a lot of myself in some ways. She’s on her own and wants the simple things in life. A three bedroom house and family. As the story unfolds, we realize, along with Emmie, that sometimes everything you’ve ever wanted is right under your nose if you just open your eyes, and mind, to it. This was a beautiful story of friendship and finding yourself.

This book is more than the sum of its parts. It takes a lot of what might be chick lit cliches (underachieving heroine, unrequited love for a charmer, wacky but loving supporting characters, misunderstandings not corrected for years) and some YA ones as well (bullying, searching for a birth parent) and makes a surprisingly new path with them. The heroine's mother seems like she might have borderline or narcissistic personality disorder==it's not really addressed, but it does factor in to how Emmie later becomes a victim of sexual assault and does not receive the support she needs. Eventually, she finds her own family, not only with the family who finds a balloon she had released across the sea, but with her friends and even her landlady. It's an uplifting journey, with some sad moments along the way.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

This book was sweet and fun, while also tackling some tougher topics like sexual assault, difficult parents, and death. It was heartwarming if a bit predictable, but I appreciate the growth that we see in the characters, the genuine conflict that they work through, and the way they didn't seem shallow. Reminded me a bit of Goodbye, Paris. Would recommend if you're looking for something sweet that will tug at your heart strings and make you want to fall in love.

How does it feel to love someone for years and find out that he is going to marry someone else?
Emmie's life has not been easy, she never met her father, her mother has never been very aware of her existence and her love life is not at its best. The things that Emmie treasures most in her life is her friendship with her friends and Lucas. His world begins to crumble after she thinks his longtime friend is going to propose to her and it turns out that he is going to marry someone else.
Lucas and Emmie met after he found a balloon on a beach in France with a note and Emmie's email attached to the paper, after that day they were inseparable.
Emmie is a character that anyone would like to have as a friend, she is not perfect, she has problems that she has been dealing with for years, but she is still a good friend and always tries to help those who need it.
This book is not just a love story, it is about being brave in difficult times in our lives and learning to keep going even when things are not as we expected.
4.5 star for me
thanks to netgalley and Atria books for this arc in exchange for an honest review

Dear Emmie Blue was sent to me by the publisher because of other books I had requested. I hadn't really thought twice about it, letting it slip down my TBR list as the weeks went on, but then I started seeing reviews of it. More and more glowing reviews started pouring in and I knew I could no longer put it aside. DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS BOOK. Go find it and read it. And bring a box of tissues.

Emmie Blue is completely lost and alone when she releases a balloon with her name, email address and a deep secret attached. Lucas discovers the balloon and immediately responds to her email, quickly igniting a friendship Emmie so desperately needed. Over the span of 14 years, Emmie and Lucas, who share a birthday, as the best of friends and have done so much together. Only Emmie is keeping her love for Lucas a secret, afraid to ruin the relationship with him and his family she's always dreamed of having. One single question flips Emmie's life around and she's faced with every hard question she's ever had to answer.

This book took my entire heart, squeezed it, suffocated it and inflated it to twice it's size. While this is an adorable unpredictable love story, it has so much more depth to it and it's characters. Emmie was a confused but incredible female main character, who held her own and continued to try and be the best she could be - making decisions she didn't want to and following through to be a better person. Lucas was a challenging character to like, but Eliot was as well. The storyline to this book is messy, confusing, unpredictable but totally real. When faced with tough decisions, what would you do? The right thing or what you want for yourself? How about when secrets are revealed and you learn what you thought you knew had been a lie for so many years? Honestly, this book was just incredible. I could go on for days talking about all the things I loved, but instead, go buy this book and read it. Share it with all your friends.

I read this copy free and early, thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books. From time to time I find myself reading too much dark material, which is the direction I’m generally drawn toward. I found this title and thought that it might balance my selection. And for what it’s worth, it did that.

The premise here is that Emmie has fallen hard for a young man that she met years ago by pure chance. At age 16, she had written a secret that she needed to share on a scrap of paper, along with her email address, stuffed it into a balloon and launched it into space. (How does one get a slip of paper inside a helium balloon without losing the gas inside it? But let’s not dwell there.) Rather than falling into the ocean and choking a seabird to death, the balloon makes it to dry land, and Lucas finds it. The two become fast friends, and as time progresses, she is sure they are meant to be more. She is devastated to learn that his plans are different from hers.

This story is a quick read with lots of dialogue. One of my pet literary peeves right now, however, is the terrible-mother-who-ruins-everything. Oh. Come. On. You can do better than this. However, other aspects of the story are more congenial. In the end Emmie takes control of her own life, as she should have done all along, and good things result.

Those looking for a pleasant beach read could do worse. However, the publicist that compares this book to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is completely delusional.

It’s for sale now.

Loved it. Emmie Blue is just so real. She runs and falls and gets up and runs again. Such a delightful read.

Emmie Blue, you melted my heart! Lia Louis this book was beyond perfect, seriously adorable. At 16 lonely Emmy released a balloon with her email and a note written on a card tied to it. Lucas on a beach in France finds the balloon and emails Emmie. Remarkably the two are instantly connected, not only are they the same age, but they share a birthday. It is now 14 years later Emmie and Lucas have been each others person for over a decade, but Emmie wants more. It is the night of their combined 30th birthday and Emmie is convinced Lucas is finally going to profess his love. BUT things don’t always go to Plan... what follows is the sweetest story of unrequited love I have ever read.

Emmie Blue is one of the most lovable characters I have ever read about. She is one of those characters that will worm their way into your heart and stay with you long after you have turned the last page. There was even a kind of love triangle and loads of miscommunication in the story. Two things that usually drive me crazy, and still I loved every minute. Katy Sobey narrated the audiobook and did a stellar job. The voice she gave Emmie fit her sweet character perfectly. The story really had all the feels. I was smiling. I was swooning I was bawling like a baby. A heartwarming story packed with character, compassion, and love.

This book in emojis 🎈 🥑 💍 💫 🔨 💿

*** Big thank you to Atria and Hachette Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

4.5 Deeply Emotional But Incredibly Uplifting Stars!!!! I loved this book. From the very first page the author hits you deep in the feels and doesn’t release you till the last page with this tale of imperfect friendship and love and family and healing!

The premise is that Emmie Blue grew up in more or less neglect and when her trust is grossly betrayed, she has no one around to trust. In an act of desperation, she sends out a “cry for help” sort of note over the sea where it is found by Lucas, who becomes her best friend and emotional salvation over the next decade and a half. All is well until Emmie begins to catch feelings for Lucas and there is unrequited love.

The premise isn’t even half selling this book. This definitely packs an emotional punch. It’s not overtly a sad book, but even with the humor and the somewhat British “chick lit” style of the execution this feels emotionally heavy because of the themes it explores of betrayal and loss and toxic family relationships and sexual violence. I would say anyone who might be triggered by content around sexual exploitation or molestation or rape and the emotions around that should definitely steer clear of this. That said, if you feel able to read it, I highly recommend it! I loved the characters even the supporting cast members and most especially the imperfect ones. I loved the writing and exposition style of the author even though sometimes I felt like begging her to “tell us the full story already.” There is some minimal employment of the flashback device to expose past events and whilst this is something I typically don’t like, I didn’t mind it in this book. I think a vast range of emotions were explored in this book and explored so well, that if you’re a crier with books, definitely have tissues handy. I found this really a compelling read, completing it in less than 24 hours and hardly wanting to put it down. I loved this and highly recommend it to any lovers of Eleanor Oliphant or the genre of uplit.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Atria Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved reading this. I have been in a reading slump for MONTHS and this has finally taken me out of that.

Although it is a lighthearted, typical romance, there is some serious shit going on in this book. Emmie's struggles made this reading painfully relatable and sad, but also uplifting and comforting. I caught myself crying quite a bit (I'm an emotional person).

I love the interactions between Emmie and her coworkers at the hotel. Rosie and Fox might be your typical side characters that every romance book has, but there was something special about these two. I laughed almost every time Rosie talked. The friendship between the three of them is the highlight of this book.

The plot involving Emmie's love life is so much fun. Thinking you want/need one thing, but reality hits and you realize that planning your love life isn't something any of us can actually do. I loved seeing Emmie's growth and acceptance of herself and the things that have happened to her. There is nothing like finding the people who treat you like family and accept you for all the good things and bad. This one is heartwarming and fun. I highly recommend it.

You are made of strong stuff.

Happy reading!

Emmie is in love with her best friend but he announces he is marrying someone else. We follow Emmie as she struggles with being a good friend whilst harbouring what she believes are feeling for her best friend. I had my suspicions of what was going on at about 2/3 of the way through and it still felt like an emotional sucker punch when I got to the end!

I have all the love for this book! Do you ever scroll trough Netflix find what you think is a cheesy rom-com and then absolutely fall in love with it? That is what happened to me with this book, I didn't think it was going to be cheesy but I did think it was going to be a typical love story but was so pleasantly surprised at what lay between the pages. It had friendship, heartache, music and yet also touched on some very serious issues and how they can have a huge impact on a persons life.

After finishing this I knew I need more Lia Louis in my life so went straight on to somewhere close to happy and now I NEED book three (no pressure Lia 🤣)

This is a perfect summer romance that follows in the footsteps of great books like the Flatshare and Beach Read.

Thank you Atria/Emily Bestler books for a copy of Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis for an honest review.

Emmie Blue is in love with her best friend, too bad he is engaged to be married and just asked her to be his best woman. Lucas is the man of her dreams. When she was 16 and very alone, Emmie released a balloon and Lucas found it sparking a lifelong friendship.

Huge trigger warnings before I start this for past sexual abuse and it’s lasting affects as well as bullying.

Dear Emmie Blue was 50/50 for me which is a shame because I went in with high hopes. On one hand, I do like how Emmie eventually learns her worth and figures herself out. On the other hand, I saw the ending coming from a mile away and was also very angry at many many people in this book taking advantage of this poor woman. And the person who seemed like had her best interests at heart let others walk all over her for way too long.

But flaws aside, Emmie Blue was a sweet character and I did really love the ending. It’s a good read that might be a great read for you, as it has been for many!

This is a sweet story of a teen girl that releases her email and a secret into the atmosphere in a balloon, When a young boy in France finds it a few weeks later they strike up a close friendship but Emmie becomes obsessed with him and neglects other responsibilities. It is sad that Emmie is so desperate for attention and love as her family is estranged. As her life progresses in a sad way that does not fulfill her she clings to the hope that he will want to be more then friends and gets more and more desperate as time passes into adulthood. As they agree to meet on her Birthday years later she hopes her wish will come true.

If your a hopeless romantic prepare to cry. This is a sweet story of unrequited love that is never to be. .

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity

Author #Lia Louis has a wonderful new novel ‘Dear Emmie Blue ‘. If you receive or buy any magazines you have more than likely seen her early reviews. This is delightful and what is needed for all of us #stayathomebeachhomebodies.
In this charming novel, Emmie Blue releases a red balloon with her email. address and a big secret into the sky, only to fall head-over-heels for the boy who finds it; now fourteen years later,......
Why you #HavetobuythebookMaddie&Me🐾🐾🎈
Thank you,
#Netgalley, #Lia Louis and #Atris Books 📚

This book has so much to offer. It was full of love, longing, and so many feelings, and some heartbreak too. All around it was one of these love stories that stick with you.

My most favorite thing about this story were the characters and their interactions. There was so much heart in everything they did and said to each other. Truly, the friendships were everything in this novel.

Rosie, Emmie’s best female friend was HILARIOUS!!!! OMG she made my day. And her and Fox (Emmie and Rosie’s colleague) are probably my favorites besides Lucas and Elliot. The dialogues between them all were so open, funny, and endearing. Also the narrator did a fantastic job by hitting all the different nuances, and delivered vibrant dialogues.

Honestly the entire novel was enchanting, especially the last half of the book.

But I’m not going to lie, it took me a good part of the first half just to get into the swing of things, that’s why it’s only a 4 star for me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this story for a long time, but my feelings did change the further I got along. I had doubts, and wasn’t sure if it was the right book for me, but the more I listened the better it became.

And although it took me awhile to connect with the story, I ended up really enjoying it. And the more I read the more I appreciated the complexity of the book, and the direction the book took. Also the author did a great job hinting at things, and then throughout the book, all the little clues were resolved and revealed.

Overall the story was touching, and poignant. Adorable at times, frustrating at other times, but all in all it was a well rounded and well written romance with a BIG HEART and lot’s of feelings.

Dear Emmie Blue, A beautiful story for anyone who has ever put a message in a balloon and set it free. Or maybe a message and a bottle tossed in the ocean. or maybe you just wanted to do one of those things but never did.
A book about untraditional best friends and family. About expectations and surprises. A book about being more in love with the idea of being in love with someone than actually loving them. A book about facing the reality of your expectations and then letting go. And only then can you embrace the next right thing. And that next right thing may have been in front of you all along. Such a good book!

Emmie Blue meets her best friend Lucas of 14 years when he finds a red balloon she released into the sky. The two get to know each other over email and they eventually meet. Emmie falls in love with Lucas but she never reveals her feelings for him and now it may be too late. The balloon meeting seemed a bit of a stretch to me and Emmie never telling Lucas how she felt drove me crazy. But, as I read along I learned there was a lot more to Emmie. She’s had some challenges in life which made me really care about her and adds some depth to the story. So though a bit predictable, this book really was a sweet love story about finding love and friendship where you might not expect it.

What would happen if you let go a balloon with a message in it. Well! that’s what happened to Emmiella Blue she let a balloon go not knowing if it would ever be found but it was by a in France Lucas Moreau.
A friendship, a solid one was built over the years.
Emmie Blue was in love but it wasn’t the same for Lucas for him it was a solid friendship.
Emmie Blue in the end falls for Lucas brother.
A very enjoyable summer.
Thank you NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Lia Louis for this arc in exchange of an honest review