4.5 Stars

I loved other past books of Emily's so I was hopeful that I'd love Love, Holly as well and sure enough, I absolutely adored it.

While it's not a typical Hallmark-y Happy Happy Love Christmas Magic book I loved it even more because it wasn't. I have a complicated history with the holiday and it was oddly refreshing to have a book that also had characters with a similar issue with the holiday.

Holly was a delight to get to spend time with and I absolutely adored getting to know Emma. She was an utter hoot.

Overall this book will be a hit with anyone who loves their Christmas/Holiday books with a bit of realism and don't want to spend a WHOLE book just in one time of year (this book spans a few years and different seasons but does lean heavily into Christmas).

This was such a sweet, emotional holiday read. It had more depth than your typical Christmas rom-com, but also ended in a happy, hopeful way.

After a car accident on Christmas Eve several years ago rips her family apart, Holly is once again spending Christmas alone. When she receives a Dear Stranger letter with some revealing facts, she tracks down the writer and attempts to help her solve her issues. Thus begins a tangled web of stories and people who all intertwine. Can they all come together to bring wholeness and happiness to everyone involved?

This author is known for her bittersweet Christmas stories, but this book is the first I've read. I enjoyed the depth of issues that were explored here. I also liked the slow building of the story. It takes place over the course of a few years, and I think the use of time lapse were well done here. I also liked how the author explored grief and loss, but also hope and fate. There were a few things that kept this book from being a 5 star read for me. A lot of the stories were quickly wrapped up in a neat, tidy bow and I would have appreciated a little more messiness to work through those issues. I also could have gone for a slower burn for the relationship. It felt like they were repeating themselves on the will-they-won't-they story line.

Overall, this was a poignant holiday read that is perfect for this Christmas season. Thank you to Net Galley and Dell for the free e-book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this one. Thanks to my buddy readers for helping me not have to DNF this one.

Love, Holly
by Emily Stone

Rating: ⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Steam: 🔥☄️(0-5) Closed door with one beautiful fade to black scene.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 I liked the unique letter-writing aspect of this book.
🤩 The main characters are witty and good. I do like the two, but actually three, main characters and the side characters as well. I probably like Emma, the third MC, the best.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Usually, I’m really attracted to London and surrounding area setting, but I didn’t really see it or experience much.
💫 These characters need some therapy in their lives. I was skimming by the last 25%, barely tolerating them.
💫 Overwhelming depressing vibes and underwhelming in all the other feels of love, longing, lusty goodness and laughs. The genre is women’s fiction or family drama, but it still didn’t make me feel awesome.

After a tragedy tears Holly’s family apart, she joins a pen pal group who write letters to others alone at Christmas. Through this group she befriends an elderly lady and set off to try to heal the rifts in her family. During this journey Holly learns more about her own family and tries to come to grips with what has happened.

Parts of this book are set at Christmas and there is a romance, but the main themes in this book are about dealing with grief, loss and forgiveness. While this is definitely not your light and fluffy Christmas romance, I appreciated how the author tackled these difficult topics that many face during the holidays.

Thank you to the publisher for the egalley in exchange for a honest review.
3.5 stars
Love, Holly was a delightful and tear jerking read. It’s a book about forgiveness and family and a little bit of found family and fate mixed in. And some of it happens around the holidays. It definitely made me cry and that makes it at least a three star review based off that alone. The writing, the plot, the characters (Emma! Pam!) and chemistry round it out to a 3.5 for me!

Summary: Ever since a car accident tore her family apart, Holly has been part of a lonely-hearts holiday letter–writing club. Each December, she writes to a stranger who is also spending Christmas alone, and receives a letter from another lonely person in return. 

Usually, the letters go unanswered. That’s the point—the letters are anonymous, and the senders write whatever is in their heart. But this year, the letter Holly receives is different; not only is the letter full of a grief she knows all too well, but its writer, Emma, mentions a place that Holly has visited. When she realizes that she might actually be able to find the letter’s author, Holly becomes determined to reunite Emma with the estranged grandson, Jack, with whom Emma is desperate to reconnect.

When Holly finally tracks him down, she remembers that she’s met Jack once before . . . and the connection was electric. The spark between the two of them is still there—until a misunderstanding risks their burgeoning romance and his strained relationship with Emma, too. But Holly is determined; if she can fix Emma’s family, she might also be able to fix her own. Though as it turns out, Holly might have less time to put things right than she thought.
*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*
My thoughts: Thank you so much @netgalley and @randomhouse for the advanced copy ! @emstonewrites has done it again! Another 5 star read from her, this one wasn’t your typical Christmas romance and I loved it all the more for that. It was deep and thoughtful and inspiring. Holly was such a wonderful main character, I really can’t recommend this one in your holiday rotation enough. Out of this world characters and Jack is a dream. This one made me cry! Possibly one of my favorite romances of the year!
*

A beautifully written book that is full of emotion. Holly's journey is heartbreaking and heartwarming, ultimately full of twists of fate that connected the main characters of Holly and Jack in the cleverest of ways.

Holly's family is torn apart after a tragic accident. She had just met an amazing guy at a coffee shop and her sister was trying to convince her it was fate that she had met him that day. But Holly was not convinced. And them everything changed when the car Holly was driving was in an accident. This terrible accident would change Holly and her family's lives forever. Jack comes in when Holly tracks him down on behalf of his grandmother, Emma. As we get to know Jack, we find there are many ways that fate has intervened to bring these two wonderful people together. But can Holly open her heart to him after all the heartache that she has been through?

The romance between Holly and Jack was subtle and not always at the forefront of this lovely and bittersweet book. The storyline flowed perfectly even when the point of views changed between Holly and Jack. There are a lot of heavy topics covered throughout this book so you may want to look at the trigger warnings for this book before you begin.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Though it is an emotionally charged book and at times I was sobbing for what these characters had to endure I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The characters are so authentic with flaws and raw emotion which allowed character growth and relatability. They each went through so much and struggled with the processes of grief, acceptance and forgiveness. In the end, Holly and Jack's journey of fate was heartwarming and absolutely perfect. The pacing of the story is wonderful and kept me turning the pages long past my bedtime. This can be read any time of year but is especially meaningful during the holiday season.

I hope you enjoy this amazing book as much as I did! I am extremely grateful to Randon House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this unforgettable book in exchange for an honest review.

Warning: If you are looking for a light holiday read - this isn't it. Emily Stone knows how to grab hold of your heart and give you ALL the feels: love, loss, guilt, hope, anger, forgiveness.

This is so much more than just a holiday story. It is a story of love, family and friendship. It is a story of loss, grief and healing. It is a story of anger and forgiveness. It is a story of second chances and healing. I loved it!

The story takes place over several years and we see how one moment has such lasting effects on the lives of all those that were part of it. I love how Emily wove in the magic of serendipity throughout the storyline. How moments act as tethers to people, irregardless of time, pulling them together.

If you've read Emily Stone before, then you know what I'm about to say: be prepared to have your heartstrings pulled. I absolutely loved this book that dealt with grief. forgiveness, family, and fate. Watching all of the puzzle pieces come together just made the whole reading experience that much better.

rating: 4 STARS
genre: romance, holiday romance
release date: 9/26/2023 (OUT NOW)
format: digital

I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this book...except tears. But once I got started, I honestly couldn't put it down. I had to know how everyone knew each other, I was invested in the relationships and the fates of each characters, and the chemistry really radiated off the page.

Honestly, if you're looking for a holiday romance that digs a little deeper, this is the one for you.

Read this book if you like:
- Dual POV
- Found family
- Books about Fate
- Life after Death
- Serendipity

This book gave me chills in all the good ways, especially when you realize how everything is connected.

After a chance meeting, a horrible accident, a random letter, an unexpected friendship and a determined female MC tugged at my heart strings the only way that Emily Stone can. Holly's friendship with Emma and her attraction to Jack make you believe in fate. Without giving away anything, just open your heart and believe that everything is connected for a reason. This book touched on hard topics like familial estrangement, cancer and being alone, but it also balances out with sweet love, long lasting friendship and second chance reunions. Don't forget to pay attention to the art!!

🎄Holiday Book Review 🎄

Title: Love, Holly
Author: Emily Stone
Publisher: Dell/Random House
@randomhouse
Genre: Contemporary Holiday Fiction

I’m back today with another holiday review! Love, Holly by Emily Stone has been one of my favorites that I’ve read this season. If you’re looking to add one more holiday book to TBR or if you’re someone who only reads maybe one or two holiday books, consider making this one your choice. Thank you @netgalley + the publisher @randomhouse for the copy to read & review.

Heartbreaking, but full of hope; Love, Holly is a story of family healing and finding love when you least expect it.

Last December Holly was involved in car accident that tore her family apart. This December in an effort to find some direction, comfort and healing she decides to participate in pen pal program writing club called “Dear Stranger”. Usually the letters are anonymous and go unanswered, but when Holly is paired up with an elderly woman named Emma, she not only feels a connection to the grief, but realizes she recognizes the cafe Emma mentions; the last stop on her road trip before her car accident. Holly feels such a kinship to Emma and becomes determined to track her down to make sure she’s doing okay. She also feels a pull to help her find her estranged grandson she mentions in the letter. Well, Holly finds the grandson Jack only to realize it’s the guy from the year before she met briefly at ‘Emma’s cafe’ just before her accident. They were supposed to meet up, but never did because of the accident. Their connection is just as special as the first time they met!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I love books with found family; Holly and Emma developed such a special relationship. I always find it endearing and it’s truly my kryptonite when a story has an older grumpy character. I just loved Emma! While, I think this one leans more into contemporary women’s fiction, I did enjoy the romance between Holly and Jack. I’m a sucker for second chances. I’m glad Holly and her family found healing. That provided lots of great character growth. I’m not sure what else to say. Read it!

CW: Cancer


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This was the most perfect book for the holiday season, including heartbreaking notes while also warming your heart.

Holly is estranged from her family after her sister is in a terrible accident and she finds herself spending the next few holiday seasons alone. She ends up writing letters to random strangers for the holiday seasons, never expecting to receive one back… until she does.

This was such a heartwarming story with an adorable meet cute, a slow burn, and my favorite of all: letter writing. My first Emily Stone read did not disappoint. I loved the romance and the deeper undertones of the story. Any book that can make me happy but also tackle deeper topics is a win to me.

The perfect book for your holiday season, I can’t recommend it enough.

As in true Emily Stone fashion, judging by the cover, you think youre getting a cutesy holiday romance. But then she packs in emotional trauma. Love, Holly was no different. I thought Emily did a good job at depicting grief and the stages you go thru after a loss. I enjoyed the found family aspect and the romance between Holly and Jack. it was a tad predictable in parts but I still enjoyed this one and was reaching for my tissues

Holly is estranged from her family after an accident and she meets an elderly pen pal and tries to heal a long standing rift in the family, while also trying to heal her own. Christmas, romance, the power of friendship, forgiveness and family.

As a fan of "The Last Gift," I appreciated Stone's ability to weave compelling narratives around the holiday season. A little bit more of the scenes could have taken place around Christmas like the Last Gift. But overall it was still a great Christmas read. I enjoyed how the characters grew through out the hook and learned to cope with their grief. Emily Stone will definitely be an auto buy for me.

Each year I eagerly wait for the holiday book announcements. While most of them are cozy and lighthearted, Emily Stone’s books have become some of my most anticipated, largely because yes, they’re guaranteed to be cozy, but mostly because they pack an emotional punch that’s entirely refreshing. I love the holiday season, but they’re also difficult, and I’ve grown to lean in to the heavier parts of the season and not ignore any sadness that comes up. ES’s books, including Love, Holly, remind the reader of the dark and light parts of the season and that having complicated feelings about it is completely normal. The premise of the book felt fresh, and I loved following Holly along as she dealt with her personal challenges and coming together with her family.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

I really enjoyed this book. This is the second book I've read by this author, and they have similar feels. The characters face real, hard life events, but there is still a sense of hope and beauty in the story lines. I look forward to more from Emily Stone.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the opportunity to read Love, Holly.

Since Holly was involved in a car accident that tore her family apart, she has been a part of the Dear Stranger writing club every Christmas. Holly writes a letter and sends it off and she always receives one in return. This particular Christmas, Holly sets off on a quest to help an elderly pen pal's family come together. When Holly reads Emma's letter, she realizes that Emma lives in a place she has visited and also the fact that she can relate to the pain Emma has experienced through tragedy. Holly decides to help Emma reunite with her estranged grandson, Jack.

When Holly finally locates Jack, she realizes they have met previously, right before the moment that changed her whole life. Despite their electric connection, a misunderstanding risks the possibility of a new relationship, as well as the strained relationship Jack has with Emma. However, Holly is determined to set Emma's life straight in hopes that one day Holly can also do the same.

This was my very first Emily Stone book. I'll be honest I've avoided many of her novels in the past because I don't always like to read a book I know will make me cry. However, I had to take a shot with this one and I'm so grateful I did. This was such a beautiful story of second chances, fate, and mending relationships. The storytelling in this was just beautiful as it flowed through time over a year in Holly's life after receiving Emma's letter. I loved the relationships that bloomed not only between Emma and Holly, but also the one with Jack. Though I experienced many emotions while reading this book, I highly recommend this book, especially in December. It was such a cozy book that in the end made me feel all the feels.

Let's just say I cried, multiple times. This book is literally so beautiful. It's gorgeously wrapped with grief, love, and forgiveness. I have so many feelings about all of the characters and twists in the plot. It's a wonderful Christmas story and I highly recommend it if you want to feel the feels this season.

Always in December ripped my heart out, this did as well but much gentler. I always enjoy a good hallmark style book around the Christmas time