Emily Stone returns with a heart-tugging story of forgiveness and grief mixed with destiny. With a title like Love, Holly, I expected the novel to be a holiday read, and even though the story begins and ends at Christmas it really isn't a holiday book. There are much more serious themes involved--how to forgive yourself and others for accidents that may or may not have been avoidable.

I have loved all of Emily Stone's books, so far, and Love, Holly is no exception. Her characters are easy to root for, and the relationships are believable and enviable. Holly is absolutely lovable, Jack is a dreamboat, and Emma is the older friend everyone would love to have. While the story is somewhat predictable, the journey is definitely enjoyable.

If you are looking for a cute romance with a bit of depth that handles difficult topics with grace, Love, Holly is the perfect read for you, even if it is not yet December.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine for the digital ARC of Love, Holly by Emily Stone. The opinions in this review are my own

A cute and touching read with a bit of Christmas thrown in. Not exactly uplifting with some very sad parts. Holly and Jacks stories will resonate with us all surely.

Stone has carved out a niche for herself in dramatic, tear-jerking holiday stories, and Love, Holly is no exception to the rule. With content warnings like cancer, deaths, car accidents, abandonment, and infertility, it's not a feel-good novel, but rather a very real take on grief, found families, and forgiveness around the holidays.

But, if you're up for it, Love, Holly does deliver a memorable story about two women, one older and one younger, who meet through seemingly anonymous letters about their shared trauma and loneliness, as a result, during the holidays.

These women are more connected than it seems, and they will pull at your heartstrings, as they each seek redemption, and the younger (Holly) also seeks love through a shared connection also coping with grief.

I especially enjoyed the very British feel this one had, and how the couple coped with real life issues as they navigated their feelings for each other.

I thought the characters could have been better developed, but overall I liked the storyline and the character arc.

On their way home for the holidays, sisters Holly and Lily stop at a cafe/art studio to get a snack and Holly is mesmerized by a beautiful painting she sees and then bumps into Jack and spills coffee on him. They talk for a bit and he gives her his number and Holly and Lily head on their way. Soon after, they’re involved in a crash that devastates their lives and severs Holly’s relationships with her family. While feeling lonely at the holidays one year, her friend Abi encourages her to start writing letters to the Dear Strangers club, where you can reach out anonymously but still have someone to connect with. She receives a letter from an elderly lady who she feels a kinship with and soon finds that there are invisible threads tying their lives together.
Although this is a holiday read, it does cover some serious topics, but it does so with grace and kindness but you should be aware that there are some triggers: miscarriage, death, cancer.
Thank you to Dell Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through NetGalley.
Stone continues to create charming and deeply flawed characters who find each other and make lives better. Readers meet Holly as she struggles with grief and deep sadness at the estrangement from her sister. When her annual Dear Stranger letter arrives, she realizes that she knows the place the stranger refers to and has been there. In fact, it is the last place she was before the accident. Then she discovers the woman signed her full name. From there, Holly decides to meet Emma and see if she can help fix Emma's life. Their meeting is not smooth and makes life a bit worse for each of them. Fortunately, a second chance offers both hope for healing in the future. Suspend reality a bit, and appreciate the coincidences and ways the two main characters' lives intertwine and important events cause reactions in the other's life long before they meet.
Stone has the ability to present deeply painful topics and balance that with a light touch. This is a joyful read with darker undertones beneath the redemptive message.

This was a great Christmas read. It had all the things in it. Heartbreak, forgiveness, grief, healing. It was done beautifully. While holly is in the middle of grieving, jack enters and turns her world upside down for the better.

Finally! An Emily Stone book that doesn’t make me sob the whole time! Still, there were a few tears shed. It’s an emotional story between a girl who thinks she’s lost her family, a woman who has lost her family and her future, and a man who’s unsure about both. The push and pull between Holly and Jack while they navigate the secrets and try to fight fate is lovely, and the relationship between Holly and Emma is heartwarming. The connection between all three - how they’ve all come to meet and know one another - the connections that seem like they should be nothing actually mean everything and forever changes all their lives. Another wonderfully written holiday story that’s equal parts romance and friendship.

A beautifully written Christmas story that will be sure to pull on those heartstrings.

It's a tale of love, of fate, of heartbreak,of hope and healing. Written by Emily Stone, it captivates with its depth and real-life struggles and raw emotions, leaving a lasting impact. The story revolves around Holly, who joins a letter-writing club called "Dear Stranger" to combat her loneliness, and her life takes a transformative turn when she receives a letter from Emma, a stranger dealing with grief. This connection leads Holly on a journey that no one could have expected, ultimately delivering an endearing and charming Christmas read with a bittersweet ending.

A must-read for the holiday season! A truly heartwarming and emotional Christmas read.

I liked this one! Emily Stone is a great cozy holiday author that pulls at all the heart strings and make you think about the relationships in your life. I will definitely recommend this one to my followers.

Do you believe in fate? After reading Love, Holly by Emily Stone, you will!

Stone has done it again with a heartfelt, poignant book perfect for cozy holiday reading. I fell in love with Holly, a young woman who begins the book as a hopeful artist with a loving family but then undergoes a traumatic accident that changes the trajectory of her life. Years later, she (and most of the people around her) is still punishing herself for her long-ago actions, which doesn’t allow her to move past the heartbreak. She forms a bond with an elderly woman who is also blaming herself for the past, and together, they try to heal from their shared grief. When Holly realizes the connection that draws her to the other woman also links her to the tragic past, she must decide if facing her fear of rejection is worth the pain.

Stone has a way of writing believable characters with flaws and quirky personalities that you just love. She doesn’t sugarcoat the painful interactions with people the characters have hurt, but you still root for them the whole time. Yes, they make mistakes but that’s what makes them real! I devoured this book in one sitting with tears falling as the emotions it brings up are relatable no matter your circumstances. We’ve all wished to redo something from our past, finding it hard to move past the mistakes we’ve made. This book makes it clear that redemption is available to us - if we only push past our fears.

I have read all three of Stone’s books and highly recommend (but keep tissues handy!). This is the perfect book to read during the holiday season when visiting with family and rehashing old hurts can leave you depleted. It’s a hopeful read that will leave your heart bigger and your mind racing with possibilities.

Grab your tissues and add "Love, Holly" to your holiday reading list for 2023. It will give you all the feels. Following a car crash that tore her family apart, Holly has been trying to move forward with her life. Holly participates in a holiday letter-writing club where a stranger who is also spending Christmas alone receives a letter from another lonely person. The letters are anonymous so the senders can write whatever is on their heart. This year, the letter Holly receives is full of a familier grief and a clue as to the author's identity. Holly becomes determined to help the stranger and discovers a connection and friendship along the way. In helping this stranger, can she also help herself heal her own family trauma or is she just meddling in other people's lives? It's funny. It's sweet. And it needs to be on your TBR.

Expected publication date is September 26, 2023.

Thank you to Dell Publishing Company, Penguin Random House, and Negalley for the electronic advanced copy.

Love, Holly by Emily Stone is another winner by this author! Stone's signature holiday reads are always at least a little sad, and this one is no exception, but it is also extremely hopeful. This is a story about family and sibling relationships as much as it is about romantic relationships. Although not a traditional holiday story, several main plot points occur around Christmas. For those readers who have difficulty with the forced happiness at the holidays -- for whatever reason -- this story will resonate. An excellent read no matter what season.

Holly has been living a lonely life for three years after a car accident left her estranged from her family. As a way of coping, she writes a dear stranger letter as a part of a program. She receives a letter from a stranger that hits close to home - as it is written by a stranger from the cafe that she stopped in the night of her car accident and where she met a handsome stranger.

Something moves Holly to find the woman that wrote her the letter. Fate brought her to Emma - an elderly woman dying of pancreatic cancer. The quickly create a bond to one another, because they have more in common than they first let on.

Fate brings Holly even more than her friendship with Emma - in the end, she is made happy and whole again.

This title does leave you with heavy emotions, but I enjoyed it so much.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a holiday feel to it and is about second chances. I really enjoyed reading it! Highly recommend.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

I just reviewed Love, Holly by Emily Stone. #LoveHolly #NetGalley

Oh how I wish that Emily Stone had more books out so I could binge them...

After picking up a copy of Always, in December a few years ago, she quickly became a favorite author. I love books that make me cry and it's guaranteed that her titles will be tearjerkers. Love, Holly is no exception. It's as perfect as a book can be. The emotions that Stone pulls out of you through Holly's and Lily's arcs, as well as Emma's and Jack's are strong and satisfying. It took me awhile to get through this book, but only because I didn't want it to end. Eagerly awaiting the next from Ms. Stone.

Thanks so much to Penguin Random House for inviting me to read a copy of this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Rounding up from 3.5 because there are a lot of crazy and convenient coincidences, but it’s a Christmas book and we allow for magical moments in a Christmas book. I loved Always in December and this one has as much warmth and lovable characters dealing with some tough shit at the time of year meant for joy. I read it early to review close to pub date but recommend this if you are looking for a cozy holiday story with depth. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Holidays are around the corner! Put this one on your list.

3.75 🌟 but I’m generous enough to round it off to 4 because it didn’t bore me out. In fact, I consider it a quick read for me despite some issues I have with the characters. I liked this book, but not all of it and I didn’t know it was even possible. Haha.

I’m so ashamed to say that I wanted this to be a smut kind of romance book. Hahaha. I’m kind of disappointed. Like Holly and Jack, kiss already! Then they finally did, but then it didn’t progress. Ah! The frustration!

The characters especially Holly was utterly annoying. She meddled with people’s lives she barely even know. You know she had it in her. The letter was supposed to be anonymous and if it was me, I’d be creeped out to see her outside my house after reading my letter. Then Emma let her stay the night because it was raining yada yada yada. But I wouldn’t let a stranger sleep in my house for security reasons.

I didn’t have an issue with the author’s writing style. Except that it always jumps back to a memory that confused me.

TW: cancer, infertility

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fate always has different plans

This was my first read by Emily Stone & the heart put into this work of art was so special. The depth of raw emotions experienced by the characters & the very real struggles they must overcome were heart wrenching.

Holly & Jack have the sweetest meet cute, but the years of separation after was not expected. The car accident Holly suffered right after their meeting brought about the loss of many things. But of all things for her to hold close, a piece of art given to her by Jack.

Three years after the life changing car accident, Holly, who is now estranged from her family is encouraged to seek solace in an anonymous letter writing program called “Dear Stranger”. The thought is that no one wants to feel lonely at Christmas, so you write to another lonely soul to feel a connection. The letter Holly received referenced that special coffee shop where she met Jack that fateful Christmas Eve. On a mission to help someone overcome their woes, Holly sets off to find her anonymous stranger.

After a rather harsh reception by her stranger, Emma, Holly fortifies her heart to try to help this older woman heal. A series of serendipitous events occur that brings Jack back into her life, but more and more details unfold that left me in awe of the intermingling details.

This was an eventful Christmas read covering matters of the heart from guilt, pain, resentment, and bitterness to loss, grief, healing, and grace. Top it off with loneliness and a mission to find a new lease on life, this found family and friendships read brought all the emotions with a bittersweet ending.

"...some people, you only have to know for an instant, to know they will be part of you forever."

I've read & loved all the books by Emily, but this one tops them all. This book was intoxicating, mesmerizing & superior of them all. I can't say this enough but no amount of words can describe how good the book is.

Holly's journey with 3 phrases of her life (her family, Emma & Jack) felt wildly different but also quite similar at the same time. I've lost count of how much I've cried during this book.

Deeply impactful, this book tells a story of how complex & easy relationships can be if pursued rightly. But most importantly, I loved how it emphasizes connection the most.
Do yourselves a favor and read this.

Thank You Netgalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This is my favorite of Stone’s books by far. I think the key for me is to read her books right at pub time instead of waiting for the holidays. Stone technically writes holiday books, but they are always quite sad, which I’m not in the mood for during the holidays. I’m glad I read this one early and got to appreciate her writing more. I loved all of the relationships in this book and how Emma, Holly, and Jack were all drawn together by tragic circumstances, but ended up happy by the end.