This book was a sweet, heartwarming story about connections, love, family, and family trauma. I think there could have been more character development. I enjoyed this book and would recommend this to other readers

I loved this holiday story by Emily Stone. The pen-pal story brought me back to my pen-pal writing decades ago...what fun! The love story is sweet. A quick, uplifting read!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Holly is spending another holiday alone. She sends a letter to a different individual every year who is in a similar situation. This years letter intrigues her for many reasons. This book was a joy to read and was well written.

First thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I can only give this book 2 stars and that is being generous. I loved the premise about a grief-stricken young woman exchanging anonymous letters in December with other people, strangers who just need to have someone listen as a form of therapy. Holly is our MC and she writes and receives such letters. Previously Holly and her older pregnant sister are driving to a holiday vacation location to spend Christmas with the family. Holly makes a quick stop for coffee where she has a run in with a mysterious hottie and spills his coffee. She buys him a new coffee, they talk, he even writes his number on her cup so they can get to know each other more. Holly leaves and almost immediately she and her sister are involved in a horrible car accident. Holly blames herself and has horrible guilt because she was messing with the directions on her phone. The first problem is, it leads you to believe the sister died, which she in fact did not but she did lose the baby. Her sister now hates her and wants nothing to do with her. The parents take the sisters side, and while they speak occasionally to Holly, they put the sisters needs far above Hollys to the point that Holly moves away. This is when she starts writing letters and exchanges with a lady who just so happens to live in the town of the car accident. The lady has cancer and is estranged from her family. Holly breaks the rules and drives to the town to meet the lady thinking she can help her. Of course, the lady wants nothing to do with her but as it progresses, the lady softens, and Holly finds out the estranged family is the guy she met on the day of the accident and decides to further butt in and tries to mend the relationship. It was all too much serendipity, kismet and coincidence for me. Holly was a weak character with no growth and the story was stale.

“Love, Holly” is a romance book (and a bit more) by Emily Stone. I had previously read one of Ms. Stone’s other books and decided to give this author another chance. First - let me say - the cover is adorable. This book started out with a meet cute, then there’s a an accident (not involving the meet cute person). The book then continues three years later, where Holly (the female MC) is writing a “Dear Stranger” letter to someone else not feeling festive that holiday season. Holly’s reply letter is from Emma, a person from the town where the meet cute and near where the accident occurred. For some reason, Holly regards this as a sign - and the book takes off. I have to admit, Emma rather had my heart from the beginning. She’s a strong feisty character - bless her. She’s not an easy nut to crack, as the expression goes, but she’s wise, stubborn, and was probably my favorite character in the book. This book, unfortunately, has one trope I cannot stand - the miscommunication trope. There’s a lot of miscommunication in this book. A lot. However, this book is not a sappy romance - it does have some, but there are a number of layers to this book with good themes - forgiveness, letting go of hurt/anger, family issues, and - of course - miscommunication and clearing those up. I have to admit, I think the alternative title of “The Christmas Letter” is a better fit for this book, but I may be in the minority on that. Overall, if a book centered around the holidays (and a wedding) are your thing and you’d like a bit more depth than a meet-cute romance, this book may be one you want to pick up during the December holiday season.

I love Christmas stories so I was pumped to jump into one so early in the year! This story filled with grief and romance and lessons learned showed me a different part of the holidays and warmed my whole body with its heartwarming message.

Love, Holly is story about second chances with love and family. Holly meets a guy at a cafe right before getting into a car crash with her sister lily and then there’s a 3 year time jump…

We learn more about the crash and Holly starts writing letters to a stranger through a program called “Dear Stranger”

If you’re looking for quick and easy read, this book is for you! Especially if you’re looking for nice and quick read for the holidays.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC

This is such a powerful story of love and forgiveness. I'm completely wrecked and have cried my fair of tears over this story, but it was so beautiful. I fell in love with these characters and it will take me awhile to leave their world. It's everything I could ask for in this genre. I love Emily Stone and this is my favorite book by her, which is saying a lot because I've really enjoyed her other books.

Honestly, I'm slightly disappointed that this seems to be Always, In December 2.0. A woman who has lost her family, writing letters around Christmas. A missed connection where they happen to reconnect over and over again, over the course of roughly a year.

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. I truly did. I just also found it slightly unrealistic. As someone who doesn't speak to family by choice, I'd be extremely less kind than Jack was towards Holly if someone tried to make me reconnect. Believe me, I've had to do it. I get that there was misunderstanding for the sake of character development and growth, but I just found that part a bit too much for my taste.

And if I hadn't already read this book from Emily Stone, I also would have liked it more.

Thanks, NetGalley!

Loved this sweet story about Holly so much! What a precious main character and heartwarming story about connections between those who are hurting.

This book is so unique - I have not read something like it. The letters, mystery, illness, grief, estranged family, holiday in Venice, etc. were woven together so so beautifully and seamlessly. I loved the multiple perspectives of the guilt vs. blame, as well. I think so many people will feel seen in this book in so many ways.
I will be reading it again come Christmas time and will absolutely recommend it to all my Christmas RomCom loving friends.

I am so glad that NetGalley gave me the chance to read this book early. I have loved every Emily Stone book and this one was the perfect travel read.

When boy meets girl in a random coffee shop, they have no idea how intertwined their lives truly are until the very end.

There are so many heart wrenching moments, mistaken agendas, laughable flubs, and butterflies. I was turning pages as fast as possible to find out what happens next.

I also loved how Stone transitions and shows passage of time to make sure the whole story is told in the most effective manner.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Dell an Imprint of Random House Publishing Company. Do you believe in fate? Do you believe happen at random for no reason or there is a reason for everything. Holly and Emma have both been dealt a rough hand in their adult years. Can they overcome these challenges or will the devastating results keep them from moving forward. Jack had a tragedy happen to him when he was younger. But he says he has overcame it but has he? When he looks back on his life so far what does he see? The book has drama, mystery and possible some romance if the characters allow it! This is for a mature reader but can be read anywhere!

I read Ms. Stone’s previous book, One Last Gift, and though I enjoyed this new book Love, Holly, it wasn’t quite as good for me. Bothe books blend romance, tragedy and of course the holidays, but this one had a slow start for me.

I struggled with some of the characters’ choices — especially Lily — and some of those circumstances felt more like plot devices than genuine storytelling. However, to be completely fair, people are complex and just like real live ones fictional people some times make poor choices so I’m probably being nitpicky.

The book came alive for me once we started hearing from Jack point of view. While Holly was a good character, something about Jack really got me invested. Emma was quite irascible and very vivid to me.

I liked how there was a lot of symmetry to story and how every came full circle in a way. Overall it was an enjoyable, pleasant read.

A sweet Christmas read. Holly is a fixer of relationships. She is estranged from her sister having caused a car accident after which her sister lost the baby she was carrying. Emily is estranged from her grandson and Holly would like to fix that. This is a heartwarming story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Holly's life is upended when she is in a car accident during the holidays. She loses part of her family, her joy of art and confidence.

She joins a Dear Stranger writing program to connect with others and meets Emma, a lonely, dying curmudgeon. Holly is determined to patch up family issues in Emma's life. Unexpectedly, it also helps Holly heal her wounds.

Not a total light-hearted read (it's a little heavier than most rom-coms) but definitely worth the read!

This is a lovely story about fate, family, and forgiveness. If you like your holiday romances with a bit of an emotionally heavy side, this is for you. After a chance meeting in a coffee shop, Holly and Jack don’t meet up again for much longer than planned. Happenstance brings them together again and pushes Holly to work harder on her own journey with her immediate family and her found family. Overall I enjoyed this book, I struggled with a bit of the pacing from time to time but aside from that, this was a a charming read

Tw: infertility, pregnancy loss, car accidents,

I began reading this book thinking it would be a typical romantic comedy set at Christmas book. I could not have been more wrong. This book has a depth that I did not expect. The characters are easy to love, flaws and all, and the plot is very different from your typical romcom. There were many times this book made me cry, but the whole last chapter had me sobbing happy and sad tears for the life Holly had at that moment and for the way the three years covered in the book changed her and molded her into a better person. I recommend this book, but I also recommend grabbing some tissue.

Love, Holly is a delightful Christmas novel that truly lets the reader feel the spirit of the holiday. After a tragic Christmas, Holly writes a lonely hearts letter anonymously every Christmas and receives one in return. After receiving one back, she realizes she might know how to find the sender, and does, setting off a series of events that no one, especially not Holly expects. A truly endearing story, just in time for the holidays, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of Emily Stone’s work, and I was delighted to receive an ARC of “Love Holly” to review. As in all of Stone’s previous works, a story that you would expect to be fluffy and light winds up being heartbreaking and nuanced. This is a wonderful story that beautifully intertwines loss, grief, healing and love.