This is definitely heavier of a read than the cover and description led me to believe, but it was still a very sweet story about loss and forgiveness.

I don't think I was in the right headspace for most of my time reading it, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to, but I think if you're in the mood for something more emotional, this could work well.

I was also personally not a fan of the romance in this. There wasn't anything wrong with it (other than being basically instalove), but it felt like it detracted from the emotional impact of the story. I think I would have preferred if Jack and Holly were just friends or if their relationship was less defined until the end of the book.

Finally an Emil Stone Christmas book that didn’t ENTIRELY wreck me. Sure this does follow suit of her past books and has some sad aspects but I found I did not need a book of tissues on hand for this one.

I loved the relationship between Holly and Emma. It was so heart warming. I also liked the ways their lives kept being intertwined.

This would make the cutest holiday movie.

I will continue to read all the Emily Stone Christmas books.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for my copy of Love, Holly by Emily Stone in exchange for an honest review. It published September 26, 2023.
Wow, Emily Stone brings it again. She always makes me cry, every Christmas and this year was no different. I adored the character development, I adored everyone, I just adored this book! It broke my heart and built it back up. Just read it!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was heartwarming and really put me in a Christmas mood!

I really wanted to love this one so much more than I actually did 😭😭 after adoring emily stone’s previous two novels, I immediately dove into this one with high expectations…

I mean, if there’s a pen pal trope and a lost and found trope, you know I’m there…

but I just… didn’t feel it. there wasn’t enough connection to jack, the pen pal’s grandson, for me to stick with their story line. instead, I wanted more about the grief and the friendship through the pen pal program!!!

basically, I wanted to cry again because the holidays are a weird time of year for people who are grieving and I really just wanted to feel that connection that emily stone is so known for giving

a still wonderfully written story, but probably my least favorite of hers! thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay

This was so so sweet. I was prepared to sob, then I didnt even tear up. Though I don’t think that’s a bad thing? The author made me really care about the characters but didn’t ever manipulate me into crying. Idk. I really, really enjoyed it. Such a great holiday hallmark-style read!

Emily Stone has done it again! While I didn’t enjoy Love, Holly as much as her other books, it’s still a stellar Christmas romance. It’s the perfect invisible string trope, and Holly and Jack have wonderful chemistry. The book has a great balance between romance and (found) family. While being a perfect read for Christmas, it’s not overly festive and could be read year-round. Emily Stone is able to capture what Hallmark movies wish to be. Stone’s books have become an annual tradition for me and always a must-read!

“𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 – 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.”

Oh Emily Stone does it again! I loved Always, in December when it released a few years ago (still one of literally only a handful of books that have ever made me shed a tear… or few). I have yet to read her release from last year, One Last Gift, but after this one I’m definitely picking it up next!

The way Stone portrays grief in these characters and wraps up this story filled with love, hope, and Christmas spirit is incredible. These are so much deeper than your Hallmarky holiday rom-coms and I love the complexity and depth of the characters. Just like her debut, this one starts at Christmastime but does have a few fast forwards throughout the following year into the next holiday season, so it’s not set all at one time. I also loved the relationship between Holly and Emma, and the chemistry between Holly and Jack.

If you’re wanting a deeper, more realistic read about chosen family, forgiveness, and hope, then pick this one up! Content and trigger warnings include a car accident, loss of loved ones, cancer, a mention of infidelity and divorce, some profanity, and two brief, mildly steamy scenes.

This is not a typical Christmas story. It goes deeper, has great character development, and is sad. Have the tissues ready. Emily Stone has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She writes beautifully. I loved this story, its characters, the emotions felt while reading it. The relationship between Holly and Emma was particularly moving. Highly recommend for the holiday season, but also any season as Christmas is not the main focus of the story.

Holly annoyed me. The lack of communication between major characters annoyed me. It was a chore for me to finish this book - not the happy, December book I was hoping for.

I do enjoy Emily Stone’s books at Christmas time. Love, Holly I enjoyed, but it also put me to sleep too. I just had difficulty really getting into this one. It is a sad and slow moving book and that just isn’t for me this year I guess. The ending is what was really special for me, though. The twist was great and so so sad. The ending was so heartfelt and I’m so glad it was happyish. Overall, I love how emotional, deep and romantic Emily’s books are. I’ll definitely be reading more!

I am not very well read in Holiday romances and/or holiday set books in general and enjoyed the adventure this one took me upon! With lovable characters and so many instances that remind me of beloved holiday movies (think Home Alone when Holly tries to solve the rift in her elderly penpal's family life). I enjoyed the penpal friendship especially, because I have had many penpals over the years and love books that feature other forms of media. I think this is a story with a unique enough twist that it will give those who absolutely love holiday romances (and who have read many of them) a fresh take on this genre; I applaud Emily Stone for stepping outside of the box and writing something that on one hand seems so fresh and unique but also has the ability to work itself into your heart and become a new holiday tradition. I could see reading this one again.

Certain parts of this book felt repetitive and predictable but aside from this I liked the book overall. I cried and I love books like that. There are some trigger warnings for this book. I didn’t love the 3rd person narration.

I loved this heartwarming story. Holly gets in an accident on Christmas Eve and her life is changed forever. This story takes place over many years. This story is more than a love story. It deals with grief, forgiveness, and what it means to be a family. I couldn't get enough of this story and loved both Holly and Jack. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-arc. My opinion is my own.

Thank you, net galley, for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this Christmas read! It was emotional and sweet, and had all of the holiday feels. I definitely recommend reading this during the holidays!

This was a very sweet holiday book. While a romance, there was also a big focus on family and relationship development throughout one's life.

I enjoyed this one, and my only critique is that at times it felt like it was trying to do a bit too much and I got whiplash. But I aways appreciate when authors swing big and try to do a lot rather than not enough.

Cute holiday read. Maybe a tad predictable, but exactly what you want this time of year. It’s Christmas wrapped with a bow. Covers some heavier topics but still a present under the tree when it’s finished.

I absolutely loved this beautiful book. Love, Holly was so much more than a winter romance book as I had been prepared for. The story unfolds in England when Holly and her sister are involved in a tragic accident. This accident leads to Holly’s estrangement from her family and the growth of loneliness. To combat this, Holly begins a “Dear Stranger” letter writing opportunity where she writes to someone experiencing similar loneliness at the holidays. One year, the letter she receives leads to a life changing meeting. The writer of this note, Emma, shares enough details that Holly is able to track down her probable location. Once she finds Emma, a series of “fate-filled” connections sets off a series of events that unfold in the book—-situations and connections no one expects.
I was so pulled in by the beautifully crafted characters and the plot of this book. Instead of rushing through it, I lingered and truly savored the storyline. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this one, Net Galley!

Love, Holly is a book exactly like you’d expect from Emily Stone – holiday premise, heart breaking storyline, extended storyline crossing different cities and times of year – in the best way possible.

Alternating viewpoints between Holly and Jack tell a story over several years of missed chances, heartbreak, new love, and loss. Holly was driving in a car accident that changed the dynamic of her family forever, while Jack was in a car crash that killed his father. Brought together through Jack’s grandmother, Emma, he and Holly strike up a friendship of circumstances and mutual attraction. The chemistry is there, but the timing never is.

The biggest pros of Emily Stone’s books are that they make you feel so deeply, you’ll need a box of tissues nearby for sure. Her characters are so likable, real, and relatable that you can’t help but become invested immediately in their lives. You’re rooting for romance, but also relaxing that heartbreak is coming soon, too. The dual point of view and several months progression throughout the story keep things moving along in a realistic timeline and hold the reader’s attention easily.

If you’re expecting this to be a book fully focused on the holiday season, be warned that it is not that. The beginning chapters take place around Christmas, but then the story progresses a few months at a time and events happen all year-round. This romance could be read at any time of the year, it doesn’t need to be saved for December only.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance that will make you cry because you feel so deeply for the characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is an emotional, poignant read but somehow still made me feel all warm and cozy inside. It covers some heavy HEAVY topics. So prepare for bittersweet.