I accidentally archived this book as the publisher also sent me a physical copy! I will share my full review on my Instagram page

Many thanks!

Em & Me by Beth Morrey

I really enjoyed Beth's first book, Saving Missy, so was excited to get to read this book.

Another great story which I will be recommending. Easy to read though still a deep and moving story.

4 stars

Delphine Jones is a single mum of the brilliant Emily and trying to find out who she is after the death of her mother, the downward spiral her father took and the secret she has kept about Em's father. Tired of being a waitress, she wants more for herself and sets about getting her degree, finding her dream job, helping the cantankerous Letty and joining a band. But can Delphi conquer these obstacles and set up a great future for herself and Em? A beautiful story.

Em & Me is the second novel by best-selling British author, Beth Morrey. It is nothing like Delphine Jones had envisaged when she was a stellar student at Brownswood Academy: living in her father’s basement flat, working for an awful boss in a low-paying, dead-end job, raising her pre-teen daughter as a single mother, sharing a tiny damp bedroom and bed. A better life for her and Emily looks a long way off.

Delphine dearly loves her daughter and her father, but so much is missing from her life: the music and French language she shared with her late mother; the love of language nurtured during childhood by her still-grieving father, much withdrawn from life since his wife’s death, and the chance of a career centred on literature. And a man? Well, she doesn’t have time for that!

And then an incident with a spiteful rival sees her losing her job: could things get any worse?

Life, though, and her sometimes-devious daughter, have other plans. They conspire to drop opportunities into her lap. Delphine is hesitant at first, but with encouragement and support from newcomers in her life, Delphine convinces herself to grab them with both hands.

It’s not without hiccups but, over a period of months, Delphine finds a job she enjoys, with caring employers, a chance to reconnect with her mother’s native language, the prospect of singing in a band, and possibility of completing the education she abandoned when she decided to keep her baby. And a man, but she still doesn’t have time for that… does she?

As Delphine approaches each new chance at her dreams, her thoughts are also plunged deep into her past, gradually revealing to the reader just how her life changed from her happy and loving childhood to the dissatisfying fog she inhabits at twenty-eight. And as she emerges, so, eventually, does another significant person in her life.

This is a story that abounds with literary references, so those well-read or at least familiar with classics will find their enjoyment much enhanced. Morrey fills her novel with characters that capture the heart and stir up the emotions. She saddles them with realistic problems and challenges that will have the reader cheering them on to a satisfactory resolution. A story that demonstrates the vital importance, in a young person’s life, of a good teacher, Beth Morrey’s second novel is inspirational and uplifting.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.

Em & Me by Beth Morrey was a delightful surprise. Not because I didn't think I'd enjoy it. I certainly loved Morrey's debut novel, Saving Missy... but my thrall here was because my reading of it came at exactly the right time. It was the feel-good book I didn't know I needed. If that makes sense.

Before I started it I'd wondered if the blurb gave away too much and the book itself would have nothing left to proffer, but it wasn't the case. Because though we do kinda know where this is going, I was very happy to travel along with Delphine and her daughter Emily and the assortment of family and friends they've gathered along the way.

I adored Delphine. The book unfolds from her point of view in the present but she occasionally dips back into the past, reminiscing about her first boyfriend Adam. The pair were well-suited - high achieving students with a passion for English literature. Until - at 16 years of age - Delphine was forced to drop out of school when she became pregnant. And now, we discover 12 year old Em is following in her mother's footsteps, albeit perhaps a more delightfully precocious and street smart version.

Morrey has given Delphine's character further context as she lost her mother when she was around Em's age and her father never recovered. He's house-bound and has been since his wife died 15 (ish) years earlier. I think Morrey does a good job of portraying the broken man he's become and appreciated she does so without judgement.

We meet Em and Delphine at a turning point in their lives. Particularly Delphine's. I'm not sure that this is fate or kismet, rather it's about people coming into our life at the right time. Or... perhaps it's a reminder of the fact we need to be ready for change. (Or at least tired of being as we currently are.)

And this felt very real. As Delphine makes one change in her life, it precipitates others. I'm sure many of us know the feeling and it's difficult to understand if it's momentum or snippets of success that motivates us to make the changes we've longed to make.

Morrey introduces an array of support characters here including Em's teacher (Roz) who encourages Delphine to consider a return to study. And through her she is reminded of her love of singing and the piano (and the potential of her youth more boradly). Roz also introduces her to an elderly woman looking for a companion to converse in French and the irascible Letty is a wonderful inclusion. I particularly loved her pragmatism and candour. (And weirdly this was the second book I'd read in a row to include smatterings of the French language!)

Of course it's not all smooth sailing and we learn more about the events of Delphine's childhood that continue to impact her life and causing regret and guilt.

I really enjoyed this new read by Morrey. It's heartwarming but not cliched. We know what's coming but it's not predictable. The characters are delightful but not without faults and flaws. And bonus points.... lovers of literature will appreciate there are a lot of reference to popular and iconic classics.

Beth Morrey surprised me with her first book, Saving Missy.

In Saving Missy, I wasn't sure how I would connect with the story of a 79 year old character...but I did.
Beth Morrey has a way with characters, and Em and Me does not disappoint..

This book is about Delphine Jones, a young mother who has made sacrifices with her own life to raise her daughter, who she had as a teenager. Through an array of interesting characters, from all walks of life, Delphine starts to believe that now is the time to follow her own dreams. Great characters, full of heart, love , friendship, secrets, I highly recommend it

It's the kind of book that makes you think about all of your own dreams, big or small, and seeing Delphine take the risk, might just give the reader the push to do the same.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to review this title,

A classic single-mom trying to give her child a better life, while finding her own way. However, this one is deliciously multi-layered and complex. While I cheered Fifi, I fell hard for Letty!! We need a book that's about Letty's life!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

As a true lover of Beth Morrey's previous book 'Saving Missy' I was looking forward to seeing where she went with this one. And then when I first saw the length of this book I wasn't all that excited as it seemed like a long book and some long books can bore me. But not this one!

This is the story of a mother and daughter yet it is so much more. It is about family, friendship, loss and love. It is about extending yourself to make life better and understanding what that means to you. It is a story that tells you of the past but always brings you back to the present with more of an understanding as to why things in life happen the way they do.

I loved the characters as they were all different but they all brought so much to this story. Some were quirky, some where unique but they all had a role to play. But all in all this was the tory of Delphine and her life, not forgetting the past but trying to make the present and future a better place not all for yourself but for those you love.

Great, wonderful, heartwarming book that I highly recommend.

Beth Morrey of Saving Missy fame is back with her latest release Em & Me. I eagerly snapped up this one for review after adoring Saving Missy, and I was pleasantly rewarded with another beautiful book.
Em & Me brought out all the feels as it followed Delphine Jones, a young mum trying to keep her life together after the tragic death of her mum while she was a teenager and the struggles of her grief-stricken father. Delphine is a strong young woman trying to be a role model to her tween daughter Em, despite the many hurdles that are put in her way.
After missing out on so many things it might just be Delphine’s time to grasp the lifelines that get thrown her way and take a chance on life, love and existing outside the four walls that have shaped her for over a decade.
A glorious uplifting story, it warmed my heart and may have even brought a tear to my eye, it is one I will recommend to anyone who will listen, but set aside some time as you will not want to put it down.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harpercollins Australia for this early reading copy it was absolutely delightful.

This is a heartrending tale about motherhood, transformation and love by Beth Morrey. It is hard to put down! I enjoyed it better than her first one, because I found that one a bit miserable.
At the beginning of the book, Delphine is a young woman in her twenties with a daughter, working as a waitress, and looking after her father. Her dreams have sadly passed her by, all because of a love affair at a young age. When Delphine is fired, she starts a new journey, one which leads her back into the traumas of her past, and concerns her relationship with her daughter.

Does Delphine have the courage to stay on this difficult journey?

This is such a moving book, even more so than the first one. I loved it, and I like the fact that Cambridge plays a big role in both books.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

‘Em and Me’ follows the story of Delphine who, after family tragedy as a young teen, has spent much of her life putting others first. Now in her twenties, she dreams of a better life for herself and her daughter. Throughout the novel, Delphine learns to prioritise herself and the positive effects that following your dreams can have on your relationships with others. Morrey focuses on the character’s self development with the romance secondary, giving the story substance.

Beth Morrey has followed up the heartfelt ‘Saving Missy’ with an equally heartfelt story about love and family. I liked the symbolism of the title and the characterisation of each individual in the story.

Em & Me is an excellent read, and it came along at a time when the stresses of the festive season make you yearn for an easy and entertaining read. This was both, and was the ideal distraction for me.
I adored the characters in this book. The main female character is a woman named Delphine who had her daughter Em at the age of just 17. They live with Delphine's father, who hasn't been the same since the loss of his wife.
Delphine has put a lot of things on hold since becoming a mother, but slowly begins to find herself again and opens herself up to new possibilities and adventures. There are some touching moments and some funny moments too. I would highly recommend this book, and I've since placed a reservation for Saving Missy (the author's other novel) from my local library as I would like to read more of Beth Morrey's work.