Love, Holly was a poignant, compelling story that definitely had me in its grip as I stayed up late to finish. It is one that will touch your emotions and touches on some heavier topics: loss of a loved one, accidents, grief, terminal illness. Though it starts in the holiday season, it really spans several years and seasons throughout.

There is a strong romantic arc/element throughout, but really I think that this is one that I’d classify as more of a lit drama or women’s fiction read. There is romance, but the focus is really on the character growth and relationships.

It was a beautifully written story, the characters all felt well developed and real with the nuances of being human. There were no perfect persons or endings, but there was growth, love, forgiveness, strength and hope.

This was my first Emily Stone read, though I’m certain it won’t be my only for long. One I will definitely recommend and think fellow fans of authors like Beth O’Leary, Sophie Cousens, Emily Henry and the like will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Ballantine / Dell, for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely offered.

Love, Holly is my second Emily Stone novel and it was so well written. It’s a tender hearted story that deals with very heavy topics like car accidents, parental death, cancer, and miscarriage, to name a few. I think her books would be better characterized as women’s fiction with a dash of romance.

I didn’t find this book to be particularly sad as Always in December. It starts and ends at Christmas time but has scenes in almost all the months of the year, as it’s set over two years. I liked the time organization and what was a real treat was that we got dual POV of both Holly and Jack! The book was significantly improved by knowing Jack’s thoughts.

Grief and found family are the major plot points of this story. The way we deal with grief, the mistakes we have to overcome, and the power of forgiveness is especially important to this story. Fate and healing, as well. I was a little sad at the end, but we do get good closure!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Dell for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review

This was such a beautiful story! It was emotional, heart-warming and brought tears to my eyes. Great message of forgiveness, love and hope. Emily Stone knocked it out of the park again with this lovely book!

This was a really heartwarming read that made me misty-eyed more than once. This book made me feel a whole range of emotions and gave me a lot of perspective on grief, blame, and acceptance. I really fell in love with Holly and Emma and their unlikely friendship. This book is full of heartbreaking but beautiful stories, exactly like the real world. The book ends on a perfectly hopeful note. If you're looking for an emotional Christmas read, pick this one up!

Love, Holly deals with themes of love, grief, loss, fate, and forgiveness. Holly, Emma, and Jack were all interesting characters and I’m glad I got to know them. Overall, this was a much heavier holiday oriented book than I normally enjoy. I do think the reader needs to be in the right mindset for Love, Holly. I would read another one of Emily Stone’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

love holly was as much as a romance as it was a love letter to loss, grief, and the people who pick you up along the way. holly was driving the car when her and her sister got into a life changing car accident 4 years ago. since the accident, they have barely spoken. when holly receives a dear stranger letter that sounds eerily similar to her own story and feelings she finds herself seeking out the stranger to make amends. i enjoyed this book, it felt slow at times, and i felt more attached to holly’s relationships with the side characters than the main guy jack. overall a good holiday season read!

Love, Holly, along with its lovely main characters, Holly and Jack, are forever imprinted in my heart. This is so much more than a love story, so much more than a Christmas romance—although it is both of those things! But this novel features a cast of complicated characters with pasts and the scars that come along with living life. It is an emotional story of fate, forgiveness, reconciliation; of opening up hearts to love and hope; and about family in all its forms. Holly and Jack didn’t have an easy journey, but my heart was yearning for them to find their way to each other.

This book gives all of the holiday vibes with a love story hidden inside. This tale of loss, family & relationships was beautiful.

Read this if you enjoy:
-Holiday Reads
-storylines that span different years & times
-an emotional read
-main characters overcoming loss
-a little dose of family drama
-a simple act of fate!

Love, Holly is the newest offering from Emily Stone. Holly and her pregnant sister were driving to their parents' house during a snowstorm when a car accident changed their lives forever. Now estranged from the rest of her family, Holly joined a lonely-hearts letter-writing club, where she writes to another person spending the holidays on their own. She receives a letter in return. Usually it is the act of writing that is meant to be therapeutic and the letters go unanswered, but this year is different. In a letter from Emma that is full of sorrow and regrets, Holly recognizes a place that she knows. Going against the rules of anonymity, Holly decides to try to reunite Emma with her grandson, Jack, whom Emma hasn't seen for decades. As Holly becomes more involved with Emma and Jack, she realizes that she and Jack have a connection that neither has forgotten. As Holly tries to fix Emma's family and begins to fall in love with Jack, she realizes she need to turn to her own family and in healing Emma's may heal her own. Love, Holly continues Stone's trademark mix of romance and sorrow, with a strong message of family and friendship woven throughout. Fans of One Last Gift and Always, in December will be delighted with this book and will fans of Christina Lauren and Sophie Kinsella. This would be an excellent choice for book clubs as well. Many thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.

I found myself skimming through this book. I liked certain parts of it, particularly Hollys relationship with Emma and Jacks personal growth.

There were some things I didn't like, such as the memory flash backs and all of the back and forth between Jack and Holly. By the end of the book I was just ready for them to be together... it was like I was receiving multiple third-act breakups.

I think there are a lot of people who will like this novel, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

I felt as though I was alongside each character, making their journey with them through this incredible story. It is endearing and heart-warming and they are each characters who I would love to know in person. I always love a holiday romance and I really enjoy Ms. Stone's writing as it is well-told and imaginative while entertaining and engaging as well.

Love Holly, by Emily Stone, is a sweet, touching and inter-generational story of love and friendship. The characters are kind and caring, and the storyline has some surprises and entertaining qualities. However, while I enjoyed the book very much, I must admit that the only disheartening thing was the lack of chemistry between the two love interests. Their banter was a bit ambiguous, making this reader doubt their attraction to each other. The friendships and family matters definitely carried the story, but in my opinion, the love story was a bit lacking. Nonetheless, I am certain Ms. Stone's many fans will enjoy this latest publication, true to her custom of painting the setting of England and other parts of Europe so beautifully.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥🔥 (mildly descriptive fade to black)
Trigger Warning: fatal car crash, loved one with cancer, family estrangement; brief mentions of divorce, cheating (side character), miscarriage, and infertility

Holly's life was changed forever on Christmas Eve. It all started when she bumped into a handsome stranger named Jack at a cute coffee shop, and it ended in a car accident that tore her apart from her sister. Three years later, Holly receives a letter from the Dear Stranger club that happens to mention the coffee shop she visited and that the letter writer was also involved in a devastating car accident. On a whim, Holly decides to track down Emma- the writer of the letter. What she discovers is that their lives are connected in unexpected ways. As Emma and Holly form a friendship based on shared tragedy, Holly will find herself reunited with Jack and finding a way to forgive herself and heal her broken relationship with her sister after years of blame and regret.

This was my second book by Emily Stone, so I knew going in that it would be an emotional read. While the cover looks festive, I wouldn't call this a holiday read. Most of the book spans an entire year as Holly's friendship with Emma and romance with Jack develops. I would also say this is a blend of women's fiction and romance, since the grief storyline is a major part of the plot. I really liked how this was about healing, fate, and found family. The friendship between Emma and Holly was so special, and the romance between Jack and Holly was quite the rollercoaster. Jack and Holly both made mistakes and had to overcome the past before they could give in to their feelings for each other. I could see how some may find this journey frustrating, but I was completely invested. I just had to know how things would play out with everyone involved. The ending definitely brought tears to my eyes, but it was still a happy ending that provided closure. If you like books that deal with heavier topics then I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Love, Holly is a very emotional story full of characters that will pull you into their stories and embrace your heart. This is not my first book by this author and I find she has a brilliant way of leading the reader on the journey through the lives of characters who are sometimes torn apart with grief and filled with love and hope at other times.
In this story two families are wracked with hurt and loss due to car accidents that took a loved one from their lives. There is plenty of blame but is it just one blaming themselves or does the whole family place blame where it may or may not be true? The two families lives intertwine in unusual ways as we journey through the story.
This is a wonderful 5 star story.
I received an advance copy of this book from the Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

"Love Holly" is a heartwarming and emotionally resonant tale that tugs at the heartstrings. Holly's annual tradition of reaching out to strangers during the holiday season takes an unexpected turn when she receives a poignant letter from Emma, filled with grief and longing. The author beautifully captures the essence of connection and the healing power of human relationships, as Holly embarks on a heartfelt journey to reunite Emma with her estranged grandson, Jack. Their electric connection and the ensuing misunderstandings create a rollercoaster of emotions, making the story all the more engaging. With the clock ticking, Holly's determination to mend both Emma's family and her own adds a layer of urgency and poignancy to the narrative. "Letters from the Lonely Hearts Club" is a touching reminder that even in the darkest of times, the bonds of love and hope can light the way to a brighter future.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early. Emily Stone has become an author who I automatically want to read anything she writes. This book did not disappoint and just confirmed that belief.
Holly is in a traffic car accident that has torn her family apart. She has joined a “club” where every December she writes a letter to a lonely stranger who is spending the holiday alone. The letters are intended to be anonymous, so typically go unanswered. This time is different when she receives a letter from Emma, who mentions a cafe that is connected to Holly’s tragic day. Holly then decides to track down Emma. I love the friendship that develops between the two. It’s touching the way two strangers are able to learn from each other and help each other heal. Read this book if you want a story that will definitely touch your heart.

While the themes were not what I was expecting for a holiday romance novel, overall I did enjoy Love, Holly.

The story starts out light hearted and quickly turns with the car accident that changes the lives of Holly and her entire family. A "Dear Stranger" letter brings Holly back to the town where her life changed, introducing her to Emma and reuntiting her with Emma's grandson Jack.

I enjoyed the letter writing throughout the novel. From the "Dear Stranger" letters, to Holly's letters to her sister, they give ties back to the history between the characters.

Overall a good novel, would likely tag as women's fiction and not necessarily romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
I wouldn't call this a romance. It's more about the relationship between Holly and Emma, the elderly woman Holly meets through a Dear Stranger letter writing campaign. Despite the cover (you'd think it was a Christmas story), this takes place year round, over several years. There was a meet cute between Holly and Jack but it's several years before they meet again, and I just didn't feel much chemistry there. I liked his character much more than hers - she was someone who is always right and has to do things her way. It was slow in many part but I did like the ending. Not my favorite of this author's.

"Love, Holly" is only tangentially a romance. I would posit it is much more a story of grief, familial love and struggles, friendship, forgiveness of others and self, and acceptance. The romance while interwoven with these other elements is, in my opinion, very much secondary. That being said, this is a lovely book with lots of heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments. Emily Stone is able to paint vivid scenes with her descriptions of surroundings and her dialogue rarely crosses the line into cheesy. It truly shows the power of one small thing to create massive change.

4.5 stars, rounded to 5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

I love a good Christmas romance, so when I saw this one I had pretty high hopes... but I must admit that I really found that I was unable to get into this story as much as I would have liked. First and foremost, when I reach for a holiday read, more often than not I'm doing so because I want something light and fun and festive. This was not that. It does start out with a great meet cute that made me think that it was going to be that way... but it very quickly changes when there is a car accident.


Spoiler alert: We are initially led to believe that Holly's sister has passed, but later discover that while she did not, the accident resulted in a miscarriage. This is a personal trigger for me, so I think this is probably where a lot of my disconnect started. Had I known this was going to happen up front, I either would not have chosen this book OR at least would have prepared myself beforehand and perhaps I would have enjoyed the story more then.

Still, it was a good story... just not one that was right for me personally. In addition to the more serious topics covered, it also had a good amount of language. I'm generally okay with minor language, but this was definitely more than I am used to (uses of the f-word, etc)... though I'd probably have looked past that had I connected more with the story.

While this wasn't my cup of tea personally, it would be a great holiday read for someone who IS looking for a deeper, more serious holiday story!


** I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.