Emily Stone is the queen of heartbreaking and ultimately heartwarming Christmas stories. This one is no exception. You will definitely have to pull out the tissues as this story of broken family bonds, fate, and forgiveness unfolds. Holly and Emma become connected through an anonymous Christmas letter, but a particular place mentioned compels Holly to find Emma in real life. Fate has bound them together through similar shared tragedies, but fate also has many other things in store for them both. Love, Holly is touching in a way that evokes real emotion and shows how forgiveness of yourself and others can repair past relationships and allow your heart to be open to new ones. I loved the various types of relationships explored - friend, romantic, family - and the intergenerational aspect. No matter the ages and experiences, we can all learn from and love each other well if we can also learn to love ourselves.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was the second Emily Stone read for me, and I think I enjoyed this one more than Always, in December because I had a better idea of what to expect. I knew I’d likely be in for an emotional rollercoaster with a little light romance, and that’s exactly what I got here.

Holly shows up on Emma’s doorstep after receiving a ‘Dear Stranger’ letter from her. She and Emma are both alone at the holidays due to loss of family relationships following car accidents; Holly’s four years prior and Emma’s two decades. Holly decides she’s going to help Emma reconnect with her long-estranged family in the wake of her health diagnosis. and one member of that family is a man Holly met the day of her own accident. The ensuing journey is a story of healing and forgiveness, for others and oneself, while romance tries to blossom between Holly and Jack.

Holly was a bit of a frustrating character. She had a habit of inserting herself into the lives of people who didn’t ask for her input, being pushy about how she thinks they should handle their problems, and then getting angry when they called her on it or resisted her unsolicited help. What it really boils down to with Holly though is that she is focusing on fixing everyone else’s problems while ignoring her own struggles. It was rewarding to see her find her courage and strength to face the hard conversations she needed to have, though she’s never really overly proactive about it. It’s mostly others taking the first step and Holly meeting them in the moment.

This book is really an exploration in how to let go of past hurts, closing the distance between family members who once loved each other immensely, and forgiving oneself to let go of guilt being carried in order to move forward. There is a romance between Jack and Holly, and I did feel happy with how things ended up with them, but it was really secondary for most of the book. There was a lot of back and forth/on and off between them. This could have been because the book itself felt a bit disjointed at times. The story was told in blocks of time with a few chapters for each month and then would skip several months ahead. The two of them did get there in the end though, and I felt there was a bit more development to the romance in this book than the previous one I’d read, so I was happier with the overall story this time around.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

Holly meets Jack at a coffee shop while traveling with her sister, Lily for the holidays. Almost immediately after, tragedy strikes. 3years later and Holly is still trying to put her life back together and still thinks of Jack often. Fate or the universe has many more cards to play though.

Not my typical review but it's hard to give a synopsis without spoiling what makes this book great! I was all in with this story and the characters right away. It's not your typical Christmas romance. There's definitely some of that, but there's more family drama than I expected, which was great in this case. I found myself drawn to read to see how the conflicts where going to be resolved and even feeling anxious for Holly that everything works out for her. I also wanted to see if any of the connections I guessed where correct.

Love Holly isn't exactly your typical Christmas book. It kicks off on the day before Christmas Eve and concludes two Christmases later. The majority of the story unfolds during that initial year, with an epilogue set a year later.

Our main focus in this tale revolves around Holly, Jack, and Emma, with their dual points of view shared throughout the first two. I absolutely adored it. The entire story captivated me, flaws and all, as the three characters underwent remarkable development. The writing itself is flawless, and to be honest, I didn't want this book to reach its end. That's a rarity for me—I don't often form strong attachments to characters.

Holly fits the mold of your typical quirky, tousled-haired woman, reminiscent of many female characters found in contemporary romantic comedies. Jack, on the other hand, embodies the archetype of a workaholic, emotionally detached individual who treats life like a checklist. While I'm not a fan of stereotypes, I must admit that this book is genuinely good. The growth displayed by these characters is truly commendable, making them both likable. I found myself rooting for them throughout, even if there were moments when I wanted to give one of them a good slap.

The extended timeline of the story lends it a greater sense of believability. There are no instant love connections here; instead, the author emphasizes the role of fate, which adds a touch of cuteness.

This particular author has a knack for compelling me to cultivate empathy by presenting circumstances I would typically judge prematurely. And I absolutely love that aspect.

Now, I do have one question lingering in my mind. Where does Steve fit into this whole story? He's mentioned here and there, but he never actually makes an appearance. It's almost as if he was forgotten.

Without a doubt, I would highly recommend this book. In fact, I'm certain I'll bring it up for discussion in my book club once it's released. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the 3rd book of Emily Stone's that I have read and I enjoyed this one as much as the others. She creates such poignant characters. Sometimes you want to hug them and sometimes you want to shake them. In this story a "flighty" young woman, Holly, accidentally bumps into a young man, Jack, in an out of the way coffee shop; along with her pregnant sister, on their way to meet up with their parents for Christmas. The young gentleman is captivated by the young woman. He gives her his phone number hoping to hear from her. Little did anyone know the tragedy that was about to happen to throw their lives into turmoil and unwittingly change the paths that their lives were on.
This is basically Holly's story and how dramatically her life changes from that coffee shop encounter to three years later when she isn't anywhere that she thought she would be. She was dealt a devastating blow when her sister, Lily, refuses to see her after the accident that changed all their lives. This is how Holly comes to terms with her present day life; but, still won't face the demons of the past. This is a story of forgiveness, facing our own demons, the fragility of life, and above all hope for a better future.

First and foremost, you got to be a big believer of fate to enjoy this story. Holly bumps into a man in a cafe, and then, three years later, somehow winds up in his path again.

Love, Holly is another emotional romance from Emily Stone. I use the term romance loosely here because I craved more of it. The unlikely friendship between Holly and Emma, both grieving and full of regrets, was good. I just wished Holly would focus on mending her relationship with her sister instead of fixing Emma and Jack's.

Holly and Jack are meant to be together but the timing is not right until it finally is. So it is a bit of a slow burn.

This book is marketed as a Christmas romance but it spans a full year so it can be read whenever you want. It is layered with themes of forgiveness, grief, family ties with a small dose of miscommunication. Not super memorable but it would make a cozy and enjoyable read.

After a Christmas Eve car crash, Holly’s life is turned upside-down. Little did she know that joining a Dear Stranger letter writing program would be just what she needs to bring a joy, happiness and fate into her life.

If you are looking for a heartwarming and emotional Christmas book that will probably make you cry both sad and happy tears, do not skip on Love, Holly. It is a story about accidents, blame and grief and finding yourself as you learn to accept and forgive. Emily Stone does a great job exploring the power of fate, which is one of my favorite themes, as well as second chances not only with love but also with family. The main characters, as well as the supporting, were multi-dimensional and complex, with flaws that felt authentic and allowed for great character growth. Also, all the letters written throughout the story melted my heart.

Read if you like:
-Raw and emotional romances
-UK setting
-Timelines that span across a year
-Stories about fate and timing
-Holiday reads
-The process of grief, acceptance and forgiveness

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouseballantineDell for this ARC. Holly starting writing Dear Stranger letters after a tragic car accident involving her sister. When she receives a Dear Stranger letter in the mail, she knows exactly where this woman lives. She shows up on Emma's doorstep and after a few hesitations become great friends. Hopefully they can heal each other from the past trauma as well as throw in some looks from Emma's grandson. Have loved all of Emily Stone's books! #LoveHolly #EmilyStone #RandomHouseBallatineDell #Sept2023

Like a Hallmark Christmas movie, this one moved me in the best of ways! Normally I don't read holiday novels this far away from December but I couldn't help but dive right into this one because of the adorable cover and the blurb. Friends, this one did not disappoint! This is a heartwarming read that will make any romance readers heart go pitter-patter!

Love, Holly looks like a cute holiday romance but it's actually pretty deep and kind of sad. Some of the topics took me by surprise and pulled on the heartstrings. Not necessarily in a bad way but I was expecting it to be a bit more straightforward of a romance novel. It felt a little bit more like women's fiction at times, so I wonder if it's the use of the cute cover throwing me. It's good but feels a bit like Nicholas Sparks got thrown in there as a surprise.

I always enjoy books by Emily Stone and this one was no exception. Holly literally runs into Jack in a coffee shop while on the way to celebrate Christmas with her parents. Minutes later life as she knows it completely changes.

I loved the growing relationship between Holly and Emma. This is really a love story about family and not romantic love. Though there is also romantic love. All in all, a satisfying emotional read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballentine for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

So Emily Stone wrote Always, in December and it made me ball!! I mean ugly cry! So any writter who can do that is an auto buy author from then on. This book did not disappoint and yep, emotional Rollercoaster. I loved every word of this book and I can't stop thinking about it! Still to this day I think about Always, in December and I read it 2 yrs ago in 2021! This book will be the same. "Chefs Kiss" to Emily Stone!!
I just reviewed Love, Holly by Emily Stone. #LoveHolly #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This book was beautifully written! I really enjoyed the way it spanned such a long time and a wide variety of relationships. It wasn't the classic rom-com with two relationships it followed, but it followed a wide range of people and relationships at various stages of life and status. This is absolutely a book to enjoy..
We get a bit of romance, grief, and obviously so laughter.

A pretty enjoyable, fairly cute holiday read. If you're looking for a light holiday romance, this is book for you. The pacing was slow, and some scenes fell short for me.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to review.
I love a book that has a christmas backdrop but isnt TOO christmasy. I also love books that deal with the concept of fate...so this was right up my alley.
Holly and Jack feel brought together by fate, but both have also been brought together by immense family tragedy tied to car crashes. Holly and Emma are also brought together by fate (and a "Dear Stranger' email club that I actually think is such a cool concept), but more from a survivor's / guilt angle. The three of them create the most unique triangle of characters. The love story is believable, the time lapses are perfect to keep the story moving but not rushed, and the B story lines, Lily and also Jack's family, work well.
I think my absolute favorite part though is the flashback scenes, which instead of stand alone chapters as is typical, are woven into the narrative. As if the character is truly flashing back in time while standing in the present. It took a minute to get used to, but I genuinely loved it.

Love, Holly mostly follows the stories of 3 intertwined life's between Holly. Jack, and Emma. Mostly told from Emma pov with a few chapters of Jack's pov. It gives characters a second chances at mending a broken family and give our 2 main characters a chance at love.

I'm a big fan of romance and when you add in the holidays, I'm all in. Unfortunately this one wasn't it for me. I felt the characters we pretty boring with not a lot of depth.

Thank you to net galley and the publishers for a copy of this e arc in exchange for a honest review.

This was a cute little rom-com that kept the pace moving (although I would've liked for the two MCs to get together already!). Holly is a bit thirsty as she chases down Jack, but she's balanced out by Emma's sharp tongue and quick wit.

The family dynamics/struggles lend a lot of heart to the story, and while the "surprise" was obvious to probably 99% of readers, knowing it early didn't harm the story at all.

A quick, feel good read that reminds us all that we get a little crazy sometimes--and that sometimes the unexpected work of fate leads us to the best places.

Overall: 4 stars

I'll tell my students about: language, sex, death, mental health/trauma, baby loss

**Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the free DRC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

We have no choice but to love Emily's books. I loved the pen pal aspect of how this book is set up - the concept is really interesting, and leads to a great dynamic between the characters. Some other reviews have mentioned pacing, but I didn't really notice anything that felt off, this was definitely a one sitting read for me. I do think if you're looking for pure fun, this isn't that - it's Emily's signature style where there are lots of emotions present throughout, and that includes sad moments. Overall, I loved it and I'll recommend!

Oh. My. Word. Emily Stone is my new Pixar! She crafts such beautiful tales that evoke ALL of the feels. Her latest, Love, Holly, is no exception.


In this new story, Holly is the amazing protagonist who has some self-esteem issues (but don’t we all). Because of this, she makes some assumptions that leave her winding her way down what she considers the easiest path for others in her life. Unfortunately, this path is lonely and harsh on Holly and her poor heart.

Her choices leave her especially vulnerable and isolated during the holidays, and so she has taken to joining an “anonymous” letter writing project for others who feel alone or vulnerable during the holidays, that they might be able to speak freely with someone that they will never meet.

This was how it was Supposed to work, but Holly’s letter included a name…

You Need to pick up this book and laugh and cry and be frustrated and hurt and feeeeel that sunshine and joy that’s out there in life with talented Holly and her “fam”. Grab this book and all that Emily Stone has written. They’re all amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!!! *still mopping up tears while my heart sings*

While I enjoyed this story about three lost people whose lives intersected and intertwined, I felt that it was predictable and also unbelievable. It was well written and had some depth (not a light read), so if you're looking for a book that will keep your attention with a light romance, this is it.