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.

my first emily stone novel and it did not disappoint! a heartwarming story about second chances, forgiveness and strangely enough, fate.

after an tragic accident, holly and her sister lily become estranged. as she spends christmas alone, away from her family every year, she writes a letter to a "dear strangers" group and meets emma, an elderly woman, who is also spending christmas alone. relating to emma's grief, holly decides to find her and ultimately forges an unforgettable friendship that changes her life forever.

i was expecting this to be a light-hearted, holiday read and while it did have it moments, it very heavily touches on topics of trauma, grief, depression, forgiveness, and death. i appreciated how healing the friendship between holly and emma was for one another; they each are on their own path of forgiveness/blame and they found comfort in relying on one another.

i had a bit of trouble following some of the flashbacks since they were just embedded in the present and it was hard to distinguish the two at times, but overall, enjoyed the book and the message behind it!

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

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

This book has all the cozy winter vibes with so much more than just a holiday romance.
Holly is driving her pregnant sister during the holidays and ends up in a terrible accident changing her and her sisters lives and relationship.
A year later around Christmas she writes a letter for the lonely Christmas penpal and receives a few back. One stands out to her from Emma. An elder art curator in a small town.
They both wind their lives together and Holly hopes to help mend a family rift Emma has while also slowly working on her own family.
Don’t want to spoil too much but there is a handsome Jack entwined in this fate driven story.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.

What a wonderful sweet book with amazing characters. When you sit down with an Emily Stone book you know you will be entertained with an amazing feel good book! I really enjoyed Love, Holly and cannot wait for Emily Stone's next book. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.