Emily Stone writes tragic, heartbreaking holiday stories so well and this is my favorite of hers!! This has Christmas scenes but can be read anytime (I read in May immediately after receiving a copy!)

This is such a beautiful and heartbreaking book. This is a story about grief, tragedy, acceptance, forgiveness, and found family.I loved Holly's relationship with Emma so much. The romance in this book was quite lovely (and my favorite of Emily's books!) but the friendship between Emma and Holly truly brought tears to my eyes at some points! Their shared experiences in their role in their accidents and the guilt they carried was just so devastating and brought so much hope how their lives were intertwined.

Recommend if you:
Believe in fate!
Enjoy pen pals  
Like sad stories
Love inter-generational friendship stories

Love Holly is not a Christmas book. Not really. It starts the day before Christmas Eve and ends two Christmases later. Most of the book takes place over that first year with an epilogue a year later.

In this story we mostly follow Holly, Jack, and Emma with dual points of view through the first two. I loved it. I loved the whole story. I loved the flaws and the development of all three of the characters. The writing is impeccable. I honestly didn’t want for this book to end. That’s so rare for me. I don’t get attached to characters often.

Holly is your typical quirky, messy haired woman who matches every other female character in romcoms nowadays. Jack is your typical workaholic cold guy who lives life like it’s a list to be checked off. I don’t like the stereotypes, but the book is actually good. These characters show so much growth to make them both likable, and I was rooting for them the whole time, even if I wanted to slap one of them occasionally.

The length of the timeline made this story so much more believable. There wasn’t instant love or anything. Instead the author focused on fate. It was cute.

This author has a habit of forcing me to learn empathy through circumstances I would otherwise judge from the get-go. I love that.

I had one question. Where is Steve in this whole story? He’d be mentioned here and there, but he never showed up. He was kind of forgotten.

I would recommend this book, and I’m sure I will bring it come to my book club after it’s released. I was given this book by Netgalley for my honest opinion.

Going into Love, Holly, I was expecting a sugary sweet holiday romance, but this book was so much more. Characters full of depth, finding weaving their way through life after tragedy. Trying to redeem themselves and live the lives they feel they deserve; fate brings them together in a serendipitous way as their stories intertwine in ways they never could have imagined. With ups and downs they find ways to heal their wounds and come together to live the lives they truly do deserve. This book is more than just a romance, it is full of emotion, and kept me reading from beginning to end never wanting to set it down.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. Will recommend it to everyone I know!

<i>Love, Holly</i> is a tender story about fate, second chances, grief, loss, love and redemption. Though the topics are a bit heavy, overall it was a quick, easy and fluffy Christmas read.

The book starts off very cliche: a quirky FMC (Holly), an adorable meet-cute at a small town cafe, and… a tragedy. And of course it happens right before Christmas. Holly feels responsible for the car accident that hurt her sister and three years later, they have still not reconciled. In the years since, she has been a part of a Dear Stranger pen pal program with others who are not feeling festive around the holiday season. This year, the sender of her letter is Emma, who just happens to mention that she is writing from the very same small town cafe that Holly visited three years prior. So, naturally, Holly feels like it’s <i>a sign</i> that she should track this woman down.

The collision of their lives offsets a series of events that challenges how they see themselves and how to continue living their lives. Overall, I think the author did a great job in handling such delicate themes. <b>Emma, to me, was the star of the whole novel.</b> She seemed the most vibrant and raw and real. Holly was fine but at times too invasive and immature and though I understood <i>why</i> she acted the way she did, it was hard to get behind her character when she was never “wrong”. Even when she was wrong, (she would even admit she was!) she’d get defensive, and the <i>other party</i> would apologize to her too often… it just didn’t sit right with me. And Holly keeping secrets added so much miscommunication, which I already hate, and may be another reason why I couldn’t connect with her.

I also didn’t care much for the romance. I didn’t feel chemistry between the two MCs. The setting was beautiful, but the scenes where they’re alone together seemed like “filler” until we get back to the plot. Which is sort of the perfect for a Christmas romance novel, but it just didn’t work for me here. However, I did like of the serendipitous nature of it all. I think Emily Stone did such a wonderful job of bringing <i>everything</i> full circle and it was heartwarming to see it all come together. This is exactly what we look for in these types of novels—<b>a warm, fuzzy feeling</b>—and that’s how it is at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I don't think the glow of this book will ever leave me. 'Love, Holly' by Emily Stone is every superlative I can offer. The premises of serendipity and fate were brilliantly addressed in this charming and emotional tale of people with real-life issues. As heart-wrenching as everything about it is the opposite is true in how uplifting and heartwarming it also is. It proposes a healing path that anyone could follow and expect to get similar results. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Based on the cover I was expecting a sweet holiday romance with a British twist. This book wasn’t quite that but it had a lot of the right components. I do love a small town story but found the storyline around the accident frustrating. I did find myself skipping through some parts, b it I enjoyed this quick read.

i can’t even put into words how much i love this book. i just finished it and i am a sobbing mess! it is so beautiful in every sense of the word and really makes you want to live life to the fullest.

these character really dig their way into your hearts and you’ll understand how and why if you read this book. holly, jack, and emma are puzzle pieces that just fit together. their story is long, emotional, but it’s all so worth it. they’ve created such a warming family and found the places they were meant to be.

just by reading this book, i can say that emily stone is a phenomenal author! her characters have so much depth and just make the readers fall in love with them as well as the amazing story they’re apart of. i can’t wait to read more of her work!💗

Oh my gosh. My first Emily Stone book, and it will absolutely not be my last! I wasn’t sure if I was going to feel the holiday magic in this since I’m reading it in Nashville in may— but I ADORED this story. These characters wedged their way into my heart in the best way. All of them had their quirks.. but the burden they all carried… was heartbreaking. I loved that eventually they realized that forgiveness was the key all along.

Emma and Holly were truly the best duo— and brought out the best in each other. Hollys gift to her for Christmas seriously brought tears to my eyes with how thoughtful and sweet it was 🥺

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an eARC copy to review ahead of publishing. This will definitely be on my recommendation list this holiday season and will probably end up in more than a few stockings! 🎄

Is it fate? Do our stories really intertwine? I think they do. I think people are brought into our lives for a reason. Sometimes for a season and sometimes for a lifetime. I absolutely love this book. If you have a relationship in your life that you have had a hard time repairing, don't let any more time pass by before you do something about it. The more time that passes, the harder it gets. Great book!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I wanted to read this book because I really enjoyed Always, In December, also by Emily Stone. Like that book, this book is much more about the challenges the characters in it are facing in life than it is about the main characters falling in love, although they do. This story was a little bit slow at times, but always relatable and often so sad. Definitely different than a syrupy sweet holiday romance. A very enjoyable read.

Emily Stone has done it again. I loved this book. The emotion and growth that Emily puts in her writing are perfect. This story drew me in and I couldn't put it down. I will be recommending this book to others!

I really enjoy Holly Stone and how she writes. I love a good romance book and this book did not disappoint! The characters were well developed, there was great, witty banter.... what more can you ask for? :)

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Stone, and the publisher for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

when I say I’m a fan of Emily stone, I’m completely an obsessed fan and will forever read all of her books…

This one was absolutely so wholesome

A young women name Holly tries to find healing through her trauma by joining a stranger letter club where she meets an elderly women through this club.
They both write letters without knowing each other and go for the adventure of healing together..

through the grief they push each other for better outcomes of life and do whatever they can to make their own lifestyle a turn around.

This is absolutely a book to enjoy..
We get a bit of romance, grief, and obviously so laughter.
I will appreciate this one big time ❤️

definitely stole my heart
thank you netgalley for this book.

I'm definitely a mood reader, and I think I would have rated this book higher if I read it during the Christmas holidays where a majority of the story takes place. It was a cute rom-com about two people trying to connect as they grapple with family issues both due to car accidents in their past. I loved the character of Emma and the witty banter. Save this for the winter, and you'll have a hit on your hands.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC.

At once heartwarming and heartbreaking. Emily Stone’s Love, Holly is an ode to fate, family, friendship and forgiveness. Holly is a vividly drawn, relatable, lovable character, and this is a gem of an immersive tale set in charming Windsor and other lovely towns in England as well as in gorgeous Venice, Italy. This is not a classic Christmas romance, however, in spite of the cover. While the holiday plays a main role in the plot at times, the main story spans a timeline of over a year. Also, tissues or a hanky are necessary props for this reading experience.

Overall, this is a fine story, well told, which I highly recommend.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I love a good romance book and this did not disappoint. Well developed, characters, witty banter, what more can you ask for?

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Love, Holly" and all opinions expressed are my own. Love Holly! I Loved This Book. I really loved the way this book was written. The characters were great and I just didn't want to put this book down. Heartwarming and sad, romantic and tragic. Definitely read this one. Do you believe in fate? serendipity? I love books with this topic.

Love, Holly by Emily Stone is a captivating Christmas novel that beautifully explores the themes of serendipity, fate, and the power of love. The story revolves around Jake and Emma, whose paths cross on a fateful Christmas Eve. Although tragedy strikes shortly after their meeting, their connection remains strong in their hearts.

Fast forward three years, and both Jake and Emma find themselves alone during the holiday season. In an effort to combat their loneliness, Emma writes a heartfelt letter to a stranger, unknowingly sending it to Jake's grandmother, who is battling cancer. The intertwining of their lives through these letters showcases the magic of destiny at work.

The novel skillfully delves into themes of grief, loss, redemption, and the pursuit of love. It handles these topics with grace and sincerity, avoiding any sense of sentimentality or melancholy. The concept of fate and the exploration of the characters' emotional journeys make for a touching and heartwarming read.

Love, Holly is a perfect choice for fans of Christmas novels. It offers a compelling story, well-developed characters, and a sense of hope that will warm your heart during the holiday season.

This book was literal perfection! I loved the writing, and I really enjoyed the story. The end had me in tears!

If you’re looking for something with the spirit of the holiday season, you’ll absolutely adore this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.