This is hands down the best book I have read so far this year, and I am confident it will be one of the top books of my whole year. Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this advanced e-book - I picked it up to read right away, and then spent months stewing on how I could possibly do justice to writing a review of this book, but here goes!

At 16, Emmie Blue releases a balloon with a piece of paper that has a secret and her email address written on it - the balloon travels from England to the coast of France, where it is found by Lucas, who sends her an email. This starts an intense friendship, and it's not long before Emmie is head over heels for Lucas. Flash forward to when the two are 30, where Emmie has spent the past 14 years pinning for Lucas to the point of neglecting all other aspects of her life. So, of course, when Lucas asks her to be the best woman at his upcoming wedding, we can all imagine Emmie's complete shock and heartache. This sets the book into motion, and as we move forward, we see glimpses of Emmie and Lucas's past and how it has led them to where they are today. I don't want to give any more plot details away, but I will say that nothing is as it seems.

This book is a love story, yes. But it's an unexpected love story in so many ways. And even more than that, it's a story of coming into your own, learning to live and enjoy life - even if it is not with who you want - and coming to love yourself. If you loved Evvie Drake Starts Over, you will certainly be a fan of this one as well.

I have to be honest here for a moment - when I first started this book, I really, really did not like Emmie. After reading some more and pondering on why, I realized I didn't like Emmie because she reminded me of parts of myself. She reminded me of parts that I don't like about myself and times that I hope I've grown from and left in the past. From this moment on, I latched onto Emmie and her story and joined her for the ride - it can be jarring when we see ourselves in a character, especially aspects we don't like, but when we can see the growth that character goes through, and hopefully see that for ourselves as well, then it just makes the reading experience so much more than just a fun read. It brings it to life!

This book is hilarious and heart-warming. I laughed out loud and I cried real tears. I devoured this book in 2 days, reading way past my bedtime, during breaks at work, even while walking to and from the car! I couldn't put it down, and I have shouted from the rooftops that this book should be in everyone's hands this summer. I hope you give Emmie a chance and read this novel that I can't wait to pick up again myself.

Cute premise, but I couldn’t connect with or care for any of the characters. The story was boring and hard to get through, and I guessed almost everything that happened. I like cute love stories, but this just didn’t do it for me.

Dear Emmie Blue caught me off guard! I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. In fact, I loved it! It is a book about friendship, disappointment, heartbreak, and love. I enjoyed the relationship between Emmie and her landlord and also Emmie and her two friends, Lucas and Elliot. A perfect book for this season of staying at home. I highly recommend reading this book to lift your spirits and brighten your day.

Cute novel about growing up, friendships and second chances.

16 year old Emmie Blue releases a balloon with her email address and a big secret. Lucas finds the message and they become instant friends. Now it's their 30th birthday, and Lucas drops the bomb that he is getting married. Emmie, who believed she and Lucas were meant to be, has to deal with all the emotions that come along with this news. As the wedding day approaches Emmie's life and relationships are put to the test. She may have once been a pushover, but she finally decides to stand up for herself and allows herself to be loved.

The beginning was very reminiscent of the movie 'My Best Friends Wedding', but as the novel progressed it felt less like the movie and more like a coming of age novel. I was definitely rooting for Emmie the whole way.

Emmie Blue has been in love with her best friend for almost 10 years. They met at 16 after she tied her email address to a balloon and sent it off into the sky. Emmie suffered a tramautic event and lost all her friends, so when the reply came from Lucas she was overjoyed. They share the same birthday, and didn't live all that far apart. They became quick friends and spent every birthday together. On their 30th, Emmie was sure he was going to confess his love for her and they could start dating. Instead, he announced he was engaged and wanted Emmie to be his best woman.

This book was quite the rollercoaster. In the beginning, I found myself confused at times as the writing involves flashbacks. With the eARC version, it was hard to tell when the flashbacks were happening, but I'm sure this will be more clear in the finished copies so I would not take this as a criticism. Dear Emmie Blue is told entirely from Emmie's perspective, and it contains themes of found family, overcoming traumatic events, and finding love for yourself. I found myself totally relating to Emmie throughout the entire book.

Without going into too much detail and giving spoilers, the highlights of this book include the romance, Emmie's burgeoning friendship with her elderly landlord, and her dealing with the aftereffects of being sexually assaulted at her school by a faculty member when she was young. Lia Louis managed to fit so many plotlines into the novel without it feeling like it is too much.

I frankly was not a huge fan of Lucas as a character. You learn more about him as the book goes on, and I was not impressed by him as a person (which could be partially the point). His downfalls serve to pave the way for the love interest, but he did everything wrong, so I don't know why Emmie sticks by him. It doesn't make sense and really he seems unhealthy for Emmie to have in her life.

Overall, a very poignant and interesting story that makes you think about fairytale love stories, and the difference of being in love with someone and being in love with the idea of someone.

I’ve been gravitating towards heartwarming and charming reads lately, and “Dear Emmie Blue” was such a treat to read last week!⁣
•⁣
On the eve of her 30th birthday, Emmie Blue is hoping to finally shift her relationship with best friend Lucas Moreau into romantic territory. Emmie has been in love with Lucas for years, ever since Lucas found a red balloon she released from her English school field in his new home in France when they were sixteen. Emmie’s friendship with Lucas was a lifeline as she endured the aftermath of trauma with no family support. The evening unfolds in a manner quite different from Emmie’s hopes, and she must grapple with the future of her relationship with Lucas, as well as her family relationships, stalled career, and the lingering effects of past trauma.⁣
•⁣
I so enjoyed this sweet and touching story! One of my favorite things about the book was the well-crafted cast of characters. I was so invested in Emmie, rooting for her success, and each of the supporting characters also felt like a real, multi-dimensional person. The story was a wonderful mix of lighter and more serious themes, touching on healing from trauma, the evolution of friendships, and ultimately, creating the life that you want to live. The romance was super sweet, too. If you were a fan of “The Flatshare,” I think you’d really enjoy “Dear Emmie Blue.” Overall, this was an uplifting and satisfying read—keep an eye out for it later this summer!⁣

4. 5 stars rounded to 4 stars

What a great debut novel this is. Being in the midst of two “once-in-a-lifetime” crises in our country, plus having a sick kitty, and also undergoing a complicated prosthetic hip revision all at once, I chose something a bit lighter to distract me from life. This one fit the bill perfectly.

Emmie is 30 years old and is basically lost in terms of where her life is going. She has a crappy mother, an unknown father, a low-level job, a rented room with a cold landlady, and some nasty baggage from the past. Not only that, her best of a very few friends, who she loves, is marrying another woman. Well, blah, right? Her best friend, Lucas, is a great guy. He has even asked her to be his “best woman” at his wedding. Emmie met him after she had launched a balloon with a sad message off the British coast, and Lucas found it an ocean away in France. They were both 16 years old at the time. Lucas emailed Emmie, they got together and became very close. Lucas is all Emmie believes she has. Could things be any worse now that he has asked someone else to marry him? This storyline may sound kind of chick-litty, but I thought this was actully a wonderful character study of Miss Emmie Blue.

Ms. Louis does a great job developing the story of Emmie and Lucas with the aid of flashbacks that nicely complement what is going on in present time. Emmie and Lucas are both extremely likeable, and it’s heartbreaking that they are not apparently headed to the alter together. But then there are other characters in this story who are out to help Emmie. I especially loved her only girlfriend, Rosie, her distant landlady, Lousie, and Lucas’ older brother Eliot.

The narrative starts off a bit slowly, which cost ½ star, but it gained momentum quickly thereafter. The book is telling us that no matter how lousy life gets, it can get better, much better, if you don’t give up. And don’t forget the good things that can be sitting there right in front of you, which can help you move forward. I think this is a really important takeaway, especially in the times we are living in today. It’s so easy to toss in the towel when things look hopeless, but hard as it is, you have to keep going. And sometimes you are richly rewarded for doing so.


I found Dear Emmie Blue a comforting and inspiring read. If that description interests you, please give this one a try. I am already on the lookout for whatever Ms. Louis comes up with next.

I would like to thank Atria Books, Net Galley, and Ms. Lia Louis for offering me an ARC of this book. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Have you ever started a book and realized you have picked it up at just the right time? This happened to me with DEAR EMMIE BLUE. I was in quite a bit of a book slump, feeling down about the extended social-distancing orders, and was finding it extremely difficult to focus on reading. Nothing was holding my attention. Everything I picked up seemed kind of pointless.

Then I decided to give DEAR EMMIE BLUE a try. I don’t think I could have picked a better read. Not only did it pull me out of a slump and grab my attention right away, but I also connected with the main character so much. I couldn’t have planned the timing better if I had tried.

Emmie Blue is 16 when she releases a balloon in England into the sky with a secret and her email address. It travels hundreds of miles to a beach in France where 16-year-old Lucas finds it. Through that connection, the two form a strong and close friendship. Now 14 years later, Emmie Blue is hiding the fact that she’s in love with Lucas. When he tells her he has something big to tell her, Emmie is certain that he is going to reveal his feelings for her. But things don’t always go according to one’s plans, do they?

I loved this story so. much. The book starts off with a bang and draws you in right away. Emmie’s backstory was quite heartbreaking, but I loved how she found support in Lucas and Lucas’s brother Eliot. The story progression felt natural and real. Emmie thinks her life is meant to go in a certain direction, but when reality has different plans, she has to figure out what she really wants in life, and what she wants her life to look like. I found her struggles completely relatable and I empathized with her and her feelings of loneliness.

I really liked how the story unfolded. I realized a few things before Emmie did, but that made the story both sweeter and perhaps a bit more heart-wrenching while I waited for her to figure it out and for things to be revealed.

At its heart, this story is about family and friendship and also love. It’s about learning that family should not be regulated to just those who happen to share your genes. We shouldn’t limit family by such a narrow definition because love and family mean so much more than that. I also loved the love story (not a surprise there!). It was incredibly lovely and sweet and just absolutely heartwarming.

Put this one on your summer reading list (out July 14th!). You do not want to miss it.


CW: sexual assault (off-page in the past, but there is some (relatively vague) description of what happened)

Dear Emmie Blue had everything I love in a book. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for it to publish so I can sing its praises and convince all of my friends to devour it just like I did.

4.5 Stars. Oh Emmie Blue, this book could not come into my life at a more perfect time. This book would be delightful to read at any time, but during these hard times, it was beyond a dream. My heart ached and then filled so many times for Emmie throughout this story. All of the characters were written so well and intertwined perfectly into the story. Such a perfect slow burn too and so swoony. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

It was serendipity ! ⁣
⁣
Ahhh this book was heart breaking and heart warming all at the same time. Emmie Blue just wrapped you around her finger and cocooned your heart.⁣
⁣
Emmie Blue was having a rough childhood when she released a red balloon containing her email address into the air and Lucas found it over an ocean and 100 miles and reached out to her.⁣
⁣
All Emmie wanted was to be loved, feel safe and just be happy. She was neglected by her mother and her father. Lucas’s family took her under their wing and she became very close with him and his brother Eliot. Emmie thought she was in love with her best friend Lucas until he friend zoned her.⁣
⁣
Eliot is a dream. He’s so kind and patient and always there for Emmie. Lucas seems to only be there for Lucas. ⁣
⁣
Louise and Emmie grew to have the sweetest, grandmother/granddaughter like relationship that just softens your heart.⁣
⁣
Roxie and Fox were a HOOT, and constantly had me laughing out loud.⁣
⁣
I just loved this story! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
⁣
#bookstagram #books #DearEmmieBlue #fiction #romance Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for an ARC for my honest review 💕

I did not request this ARC, it was sent to me. It found me...just like the balloon.

Can I just say how much I LOVED this book. I stayed up to finish it once I got to about 40%, I have not done that in such a long time.
This story is about a loving, thoughtful, sometimes frustrating heroine that has many layers and written in such a realistic way. Her fear and struggles were spoken of and taken seriously, there was never a time where I felt her actions and reactions were out of place, even when sometimes you wanted her to choose differently. Her relationships with her friends from the hotel were some of my favorites, they were so supportive and hilarious. Everyone wants a group like that for sure!
Lucas and Eliot were something else, in a good way. I wont speak much of these two as I don't want to spoil anything, but I can that I was surprised with these two. Even though they are brothers they both had their own voice and stood out.
The writing was also something I enjoyed, its first person but I felt like I got to know everyone so well. I enjoyed the glimpses with texts, letters, and song, it gave it more character.
This has got to be one of my favorite romances read this year. I would have to set it right next to Wild at Heart and Central Park series. This is an overcoming your past type of story and finding yourself. I loved this story so much. I will be looking forward to more books by this author.

(Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for this ARC)

As a teenager, Emmie Blue puts a message and her email address in a red balloon and releases it. Across the English Channel, Lucas Moreau discovers the balloon and replies to Emmie's message, sparking a friendship that has lasted 14 years. They have the same birthday, love the same snacks and television shows, and Emmie just KNOWS it's fate. On their mutual 30th birthdays, Emmie is convinced things will finally fall into place and she and Lucas will start their lives together. But instead, Lucas tells her that he is getting married....to someone else. Emmie must decide here and now if she is going to tell him the truth about her long-harbored feelings. It's about time that Emmie Blue gets her happily ever after.

Oh my gosh this has been on my kindle for a hot minute and I do NOT know what took me so long to read it. I absolutely LOVED it. It was swoony, sad, hilarious....everything you want in a great story. I don't want to say too much because I would hate to spoil it for you. If you like a) emotionally compelling characters; b) loyal best friends and a colorful supporting cast; and c) a happy ending that will make you sigh and go "awwww," -- then you need to read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lia Louis, and Atria for the eARC.

At sixteen years old, Emmie Blue released a red balloon into the sky. Attached to the balloon was a letter containing her name, email address, and a secret. Lucas Moreau found the balloon weeks later on a beach in France. He emailed her, and they've been best friends ever since. What started as friendship turns into love. Does Lucas feel the same? Emmie is desperate to know.

Dear Emmie Blue is a cute love story about the power of secrets and friendship. With emotional writing that pierces straight through the heart, it's an unputdownable tale--and one that leaves a lasting effect on its readers. A slow burn story, the author invites you into the characters' lives, where you must decide if you're Team Lucas or Team Eliot. What will undoubtedly be one of 2020's biggest reads, Dear Emmie Blue is a great 'beach read' for anyone who enjoys a good, powerful story about love, loss, and friendship. Inspiring, emotional, and sweet, Dear Emmie Blue is the perfect summer read.

I can 100% re-read this again. Just heartmelting.

I think what makes this so appealing is that every reader will find a little piece of themselves in Emmie. This is what makes her so endearing. At 14 years old Annie forged this incredible relationship with Lucas and his family. They are exactly what she needs, at exactly the right time. Yet, she deserves more. She knows it, we the reader know it. Collectively Emmie's story becomes a heartwarming, romantic call to arms for all the pushovers, the taken for granted reliables, those of us who always take the high road for peace for the other and rarely that of ourselves. Those of us who offer a shrug and smile when we can't have our cake and eat it too. One of my favorite reads so far this year.

The quote "Or is it true when they say that life is what happens when you are busy making other plans?" rings the most true for me when I read this book. Sometimes, we're so caught up in one thing, we are blind to everything happening around us, and Emmie is such a relatable character, as is her story, that this is a book most anyone can relate to, whether they're coming of age and closer to younger Emmie, or they're closer to Emmie present day. This was a wonderful fiction story.

"Here, I am looked after. And maybe that is why it feels more like home than anywhere else has ever felt. Maybe home isn’t a place. It’s a feeling. Of being looked after and understood. Of being loved."

This book looks like it's a lighthearted romance on the surface of it all. A serendipitous moment that connects three people for life. And it is a romance. And it has lighthearted moments.

But it has serious moments, too. It hints at the seriousness of life and how our lives are full of good and terrible moments. How things that happen to us can change the course of our lives. How secrets and misunderstandings can live forever feeding the stories we make up about how things are.

'Eliot laughs, rubs the stubble on his chin with his hand. “Um, no. Definitely not,” he says, his smile lopsided. “It’s all just—life, isn’t it? Disordered and chaotic and out-of-nowhere, and we have to plan and navigate our way around it the best we can.”'

I will say that I guessed the ending of this story long before it came. I was still happy to read it all the way through. I still fell in love with the characters and I loved every minute I spent with this story.

with gratitude to netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emmie and her best friend Lucas are celebrating their thirtieth birthday. She has secretly been in love with him and expects him to tell her that he feels the same, but instead he tells her that he is getting married to his ex-girlfriend. This is a charming and quirky love story. It's also so much more as it explores relationships, forgiveness, and second chances. Great characters and interesting plot.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lisa Louis Reviewed May 10, 2020
I was drawn to this story because of the red balloon.
When my eldest daughter was in the third grade, her class did a balloon launch with notes attached. She was so excited about the “send off” but I, of course, feared the balloon burst soon after leaving the school yard.
However, less than a week after the launch she receives a letter in the mail.
It is from the recipient. He tells her how excited he was about watching the balloon fall into his back yard and includes a picture. It is a picture of a beautiful dog with the string of the balloon in his mouth. Needless to say, she was the hit of her third grade class!!

So to me this story had such promise. It does start with “Oh No!” and ends with an “Awww”
However, I just did not “get” the characters. I know I am in the minority in not loving this book ~ as most reviewers seem to adore Emmie.
It does start with “Oh No!” and ends with Awwww
I believe it may have something to do with timing. I just finished a novel I totally loved (gave 5 stars and I rate only awesome books with 5 stars). Perhaps any interim novel was going to have a tough time measuring up.

Want to thank NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 10, 2020

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis is a poignant and heartfelt story about love, friendship, and finding your place in the world. This story completely wrapped itself around my heart and won’t let go.

At age 16, Emmie Blue released a red balloon into the sky with a note attached to it that contained a big secret she had been keeping. This secret was derailing her life, her friendships, and left her feeling completely alone in the world. Until a boy name Lucas Moreau discovers her red balloon hundreds of miles away on a beach in France. Lucas responds to her note and emails Emmie Blue. The two form a fast and intense friendship, both finding something they desperately need in eachother. Now fourteen years later, the two are still closer than ever but Emmie is harboring another secret, she is hopelessly in love with Lucas. And Lucas has a bombshell announcement of his own that will change their friendship forever. This shocking news sends Emmie into a tailspin and she is forced to finally confront the past not knowing that other secrets are about to spill out.

It’s been two days since I’ve read this novel, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. This was a heartbreakingly beautiful story about love in all the forms it comes in. I especially enjoyed the characters in the novel and the relationships they formed. From Emmie, to Lucas, to Eliot, to Rosie, literally all of the characters pulled on my heartstrings. They were so raw and real. Delightful and charming. Broken and hopeful. If you’re looking for a truly charming story about second chances, hope, and friendship, I would highly recommend this novel.

A huge thank you to Atria for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.