Summary
At 16, Emmie released a balloon with her name, email, and deepest secret. Weeks later, Lucas Moreau found the balloon and emailed - sparking a life long friendship. 14 years later, Emmie is desperately in love with Lucas. So when Lucas calls and asks her to meet him at their favorite spot so he can ask her an important question, she's sure that he's finally going to reveal his feelings. But sometimes love doesn't go the way you planned.

Overview
The narrator for this audiobook is absolutely wonderful. So I highly recommend the audiobook route if that is an option for you.

➸ POV: 1st Person from Emmie's POV

➸ Emmie Blue: 30, Best friends with and secretly in love with Lucas Moreau, English, Never met father, Emotionally absent mother

➸ Content Warnings: Sexual assault (of a minor), Child neglect, Victim blaming, Cancer, Death

My Thoughts
Oh man this book. This is hands down one of my biggest surprises of the year. When Atria reached out to me with an e-arc of this book, I had never heard of it before. But the blurb they included sounded intriguing so I accepted. Little did I know this book would be come a new all time favorite. I don't know if I'll ever stop thinking about this amazing story.

This was one of those rare cases where I knew from the very opening page that this would be a 5 star read. I was so immediately pulled in by this story that I read almost half of this book in that first sitting.

Emmie's story resonated with me on such a personal level. She turns 30 at the beginning of the book and is forced to reflect on where she is in life in comparison to where she thought she would be. And I think for any 30-something, this is a terrifyingly relatable concept. Emmie's past cut right through me. Her character was so real and raw that she felt like someone I might actually know. I love when books blur that line of reality.

Each and every character in here had personality and purpose. The side characters were some of the best I've ever read. And every single person deserves a best friend like Rosie!!

And the romance - be still my heart. I knew pretty early on who the love interest was going to be but wow was it a journey to get there. I felt like I went on such an emotional rollercoaster throughout this book. There are moments of total heartbreak and sadness in contrast with moments of love and celebration. I was taken on such a ride throughout this book and I honestly never wanted to get off.

This is one of those books I will continue to think about and come back to over and over again. It had so much packed into this story that I think something new could always be taken away on reread. I loved these characters and am so excited to have found a new favorite book. I can't wait to read more Lia Louis in the future!!

This was a cute book. It's been a while since I read it and I had to read the description to remind me what it was about, though. It didn't stay with me. I liked the characters, but I found myself really irritated with Lucas from the beginning to the end.

This is a weird one for me to review. I think that SO MANY people will find value in this book, but I think for me personally it just.. wasn't quite what I was expecting so I don't think it hit the notes for me that it may hit for others. I did enjoy this book, but I feel like it was a lot more melancholy and heavy than I personally like when reading books of a similar genre. I do think that this book is pretty universally enjoyable, but I particularly think that if you're someone who enjoys a book that is heavier in tone or that covers darker topics, this is one that I would recommend checking out. Overall, this book was good, but it wasn't a new favorite for me.

TW: sexual assault, slut shaming, victim blaming, gaslighting, emotional manipulation, toxic parent relationships, cheating

"In nine months, my best friend of fourteen years, the man I am in love with, is getting married to a woman he loves. A woman who isn’t me. And I am to stand right there, at the altar, beside him, as his best woman."

This was such a lovely contemporary story! I loved the cute background and just thoroughly enjoyed this modern and witty read. And I try not to judge a book by its cover but hello, I LOVED this adorable and whimsical cover!

Emmie lets a balloon go years before the story begins. It found its way to France and into the hands of Lucas. Emmie and Lucas became best friends and Emmie is absolutely devoted to him. Just when she thinks he is about to propose marriage to her, he...doesn't. Instead he asks her to be his "best man" at his wedding to another woman! Emmie is, understandably, crushed.

I loved the characters in this book and the delightful graphics and epistolary format. This book was especially fun to read now because of the British and French settings of the book. There is definitely a serious undertone to this book which balanced out the romance and funny moments.

Emmie's struggles to find direction in her life felt very real to me. She is 30 years old and does not have everything all figured out yet. This story is both romantic and bittersweet, and very heartwarming in the end. If you need a story about friendship, family and love, definitely pick this one up. 'Dear Emmie Blue' is a lovely summer read!

Charming and heartwarming! What a wonderful surprise this turned out to be. I loved the characters and the story kept me engaged. Reminded me a lot of Bridget Jones's Diary. This may go down as one of my favorites of 2020. Worth every one of the 5-star reviews it’s received.

I wasn’t sure about this book in the first few chapters. However, once I got into it I ended up hooked. This book is lovely, humorous, and sometimes sad. It is a story about friendship, love, overcoming trauma, self-acceptance, and the families we choose for ourselves. I’m glad I read it.
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CW: sexual assault, child neglect, victim blaming, family estrangement, trauma recovery.

Holy cow. I literally cannot talk about this book without ruining it so let me tell you what I can: it lifted my spirits. It owns a piece of my heart. I ugly cried. I need to go back to the beginning and start over again. It is funny and tender and wonderful and tragic and vulnerable and magic. It is everything that makes you want to curl up on a blanket under the stars and drag out a 90s era mixed tape. It is the magic of seeing a comet and not an air plane. It is chips by the sea. It is about the tiny little sacrifices that sew up the biggest most wonderful love. I am all about this book --- this kindred spirit soulmate book -- and it's thoughts on destiny and chance and how if we just turn over the pages of our lives the most interesting worlds and words and moments can pour into them.


Unbelievable. What a freaking gift this story is.


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A very sweet book, sadder and less fluffy than I thought it would be. The main character of the title, Emmie Blue, met Lucas when they were both 16 when he found the balloon she released as part of a school project. 14 years later, they are still best friends and she is in love with him, but just when she thinks he's finally going to profess his love to her, instead he tells her he is getting married and asks her to be the "best woman" at his wedding. This book follows the year or so after as Emmie goes on something of a journey of emotional self-discovery. But this is not just a light meet-cute chick lit - there is a lot of emotion to this book, as Emmie has had a tough life and spends much of the book such a sad and lonely character, though thankfully with some heartwarming moments as well. The book had something of the vibe of Jojo Moyes' contemporary fiction books, so if you like those, this is definitely worth checking out, and vice versa.

At sixteen, Emmie Blue released a red balloon into the sky. Attached was her name, her email address…and a secret she desperately wanted to be free of. Weeks later, on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau discovered the balloon and immediately emailed, sparking an intense friendship between the two teens. Now, fourteen years later, Emmie is hiding the fact that she’s desperately in love with Lucas. She has pinned all her hopes on him and waits patiently for him to finally admit that she’s the one for him. But nothing in life ever quite goes as planned, does it? Emmie Blue is about to learn everything she thinks she knows about life (and love) is just that: what she thinks she knows. Is there such thing as meant to be? Or is it true when they say that life is what happens when you are busy making other plans? review: Dear Emmie Blue is a heartwarming and emotional book that enchants you from the very start! I knew from the very first chapter that I was going to enjoy this book and fall in love with the characters and I certainly did! This book shares a tale of loss, love, and finding yourself. Each of the characters felt so real and relatable and I found myself cheering them on every step of the way. I really enjoyed how the story was told, including the text messages and the mix CD messages. Little did I know when I picked up this book that it was exactly what I needed to read. If you're looking for a heartwarming book with substance, definitely give this one a shot! rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐️

I really liked the story of Emmie Blue. It was different from the usual boy meets girl. These characters grew on you, and you could really like some of these characters. Emmie missed having a father figure in her life. Her Mom never really opened up to her, so Emmie and her Mom did not have a very good relationship. I liked the ballon idea, similar to message in a bttle. Here she met her best friend and his family. They shared a birthday. He helped put her life back together again after she was assaulted by a teacher at her school. Someone she looked up too. But even best friends keep secrets. I think everyone who reads this will enjoy it. I know I did. I would give this a 3.5 out of 5.

And the biggest surprise of the year goes to Dear Emmie Blue! I will be honest in saying that I started this ARC with average expectations as I am usually one who does not like to be disappointed in books. This book surpassed all my expectations and still left me with a little “gasp” at the end. Yes, folks there was still a little shock left for me after I balled my eyes out for the last 40 pages. Emmie is one of the most fragile yet tough characters I have ever read, and you root for her happy ending through the entire book.

Synopsis: On Emmie Blue’s sixteenth birthday she releases a red balloon into the sky with only her name, email, and a secret she wants to set free. Many weeks later Lucas Moreau finds the balloon and emails Emmie and the two start a long-lasting friendship. Each year Emmie and Lucas who also share the same birthday make sure to celebrate together. On the night of their 30th birthdays, Lucas tells Emmie that he has big news he wants to share with her. Lucas is getting married to his girlfriend Marie in nine months. Emmie who has hidden the fact that she has been in love with Lucas for all these years is left questioning everything about her life.

I do not freely give out 5-star reviews and this is a 5-star book for me and will go down as one of my favorites for the year.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lia Louis for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book! I am already recommending this book to all my friends and going forward will read any book that Lia Louise publishes!

I have already left a review already on Goodreads and will be making a post on Instagram this week.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I devoured this book in 6 hours and fell in love with Emmie Blue. She is a heroine you’ll cherish the instant you see her thoughts on the page. I’ll admit, the story took a turn I didn’t see coming at first but I couldn’t have imagined a better ending: the story is enduring, heartwarming and will leave you in tears at the end. I loved every second of Louis’ novel and am so grateful for Emmie and everything she represents! You know the ending when you turn the page and the book is over? I didn’t want this to end.

I love the premise for this book. Emmie Blue, a lonely, hurting girl, sends a balloon with a message on it up into the air. It lands on a beach in France, and the boy who finds it writes to her and they start. lifelong friendship. The only problem? They've been friends for years, and now he's getting married, but she's in love with him. This book started a little slow for me, but once I got into the story, I really enjoyed it. Love triangles are always fun, and although this wasn't a love triangle in the traditional sense, it still had those same elements that I enjoy. It was obvious early in the book which path was the right one for Emmie Blue, but I still enjoyed following her on her journey as she discovered the truth for herself. My only issue is the same issue I have with a lot of contemporary romance books. I hate the use of trashy language. At one point, one character asks another character if she likes a guy enough to perform oral sex on him (although the term used in the book was much more crass). That kind of dialogue isn't romantic, and it alienates a good portion of your readers. Otherwise, the story was lovely and it really hooked me. I especially loved the surprise twist at the end. It made me cry!

It took me a bit to get into this one, but once I did, I was hooked!
What a charming and heartwarming story. This had more emotional depth than I had anticipated.
Emmie Blue grows up without a father, raised by an aloof and emotionally detached mother.
When she is sixteen, she lets a red balloon go into the sky. In it is a note with her name, email address and a secret she is trying to relinquish.
It is found one hundred miles away, by Lucas Moreau, on a beach in France.
The beginning of a special friendship is forged between the two, who even share a birthday.
Now about to turn thirty, Emmie has secretly been in love with Lucas for years. He is about to ask her an important question, will it be the one she hopes and dreams of?
A beautifully written and moving story of many types of love. I connected with the characters and was extremely touched by them.
Thank you Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Dear Emmie Blue is one of the best books that I have read in 2020! It was exactly the charming, lovely type of book that I needed right now with all that is going on in the world. This is a book that will just wrap you in JOY although it's certainly filled with its ups and downs; still, it's on of those books that you feel good reading. Loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

I started reading this book and started struggling a lot. I liked the characters but the story wasn’t hitting me enough to stay engaged. So I started reading some reviews on Goodreads and found one that said “STAY WITH IT. YOU WON’T REGRET IT.”

And I am really glad I did. When Lucas’ brother Eliot shows up, this book really gets going. Emmie doesn’t know who she loves or how to get her life to where she wants it. It is sweet. The ending is predictable but the journey was touching and amazing. The love that exists between the characters in this book is deep and that made finishing it totally worth it. So take it from me, start this book, and if you have doubts, just press on. I guess that is good advice for life too.

You can see my video review here:
https://youtu.be/VdqotdHKeII

Best book of 2020! I’m not kidding. From cover to cover, I just couldn’t put it down. If this becomes a movie, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.

I can honestly say that I had no expectations for this book before I started reading it. But I loved it from chapter one! Emmie Blue absolutely captured my heart-- I want to be her friend! I found myself rooting for Emmie more times than I could count. And Eliot!! Team Eliot all the way!!!
Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis tells us the story of Emmaline Blue and how one red balloon saved her life. Emmie had a rough upbringing and not the most attentive mother. She was essentially on her own for most of her life. By 16, along with her classmates, she let off a red balloon with a note attached. Lucas Moreau finds her message an ocean away. An instant friendship is born between the two. Emmie becomes a fixture in the Moreau family for years to come.
I will definitely be recommending Dear Emmie Blue to friends. I will also be looking for other works by Lia Louis. I enjoyed this book more than I can say. Special Thanks to Lia Louis, NetGalley, and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley

Emmie Blue was given a rough hand in life and at age 16 sends a balloon off into the air with a secret attached. It is found an ocean away by Lucas who happens to have the exact same birthday. They become lifelong friends and 14 years later she is madly in love with him, but nothing in life goes as planned. And what she thinks she knows may not be true.

Obviously I was very intrigued by a book with a heroine named Emmie! ♥️ Dear Emmie Blue is truly a charming and beautifully written story. You will root so hard for Emmie to find happiness in life. But, sometimes a great book comes to you at the wrong time. That was the case for me here. I truly did enjoy the story, but it was a bit too heavy and sad for my head space right now.

I would consider this women’s fiction with a really wonderful and sweet romance woven throughout. This one touches on very real emotions, lifelong struggles and shame of sexual assault survivors - it was so well done that it broke my heart for her. But at some point I wanted to scream- BE STRONG FOR YOURSELF EMMIE!! The mixed CD moments were my absolute fave 😍. Eliot is such a wonderful character. His sweetness with Emmie and her landlord Louise was the absolute sweetest. Her friend Rosie was a hilarious character. This one will have you laughing, crying and swooning!

⚠️: themes of sexual assault

Thank you to @atriabooks for sending me a #gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Lia Louis has written about what people find out with wisdom, time and after many mistakes, it is often right in front of you. That's most of life, it's RIGHT in front of you. We often miss things because we are busy looking far off in the wrong direction. I needed this book and adore the audiobook, if only to listen to the accents and stuttering words that come with nerves, butterflies and emotions.