Member Reviews
This book was absolutely beautiful. I wasn’t prepared for all the emotions, and I think that made it even better. I highly recommend going in blind like I did! This is hands down one of the very best books I’ve read this year.
After loving this author's last release (The Last Love Note), I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this newest story! I absolutely loved this book, maybe even more than the last?
This book was dark but it was also incredibly propulsive and I truly could not put it down. The mystery at the core of this story (what really happened to Evie?) was so perfectly paced, with reveals happening along the way that helped us put the pieces together alongside her. The topics this book covers are very heavy, but the author handled them with such grace and tact.
I also loved the deep, hard-hitting romance that ran underneath this entire story. As we got to know Evie and her history with Drew and Oliver, all I wanted was for her to find happiness and peace, and the way the story ended left me so emotional!
4.5 stars rounded up
*Pictures of You* was such an emotional read. It’s one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you and then hits you right in the heart. The story explores love, grief, and moving forward in a way that feels raw and real. Emma Grey’s writing really captured the weight of loss but also the small, beautiful moments of healing.
I loved how the characters felt so authentic, especially with their struggles and vulnerabilities. The romance was sweet and didn’t overshadow the deeper themes of the story—it was more of a complement to the journey, which I appreciated.
While it’s definitely a slower-paced book, it worked for the story being told. If you’re in the mood for something heartfelt and introspective, this one is worth picking up. Just have some tissues handy—you’ll probably need them.
This is the second novel by Emma Grey that I’ve read and I equally enjoyed it.
I am learning amnesia as a plot complication is one I enjoy.
Evie’s husband dies and she has amnesia…so she spends her time recollecting her life, what she wants from it (and what she doesn’t).
I liked that complications that amnesia afforded the story, the complexities of Evie’s past as envisioned by her friend Drew, and her current influencer life as Oliver’s wife.
As with the first novel from Emma Grey, I highly recommend this one!
This well-written novel deals with a lot of serious issues and handles them with care and sensitivity. Evie has amnesia after surviving the car accident that killed her husband and doesn't remember anything after age 16. The way the author brings in tidbits of information to complete the puzzle of Evie's life is perfection and Evie's response is heartening. It was nice to see her come into her own and take charge of her life and how she wants to live it. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the immersive experience thanks to the delightful narration by Kristy Best and Nic English.
Evie Hudson wakes up in a hospital room with no recollection on how she got there. She learns that she has survived a horrific car accident but her husband unfortunately did not. The thing is, Evie has no recollection of ever having a husband.
Told in dual timelines and multiple POVs, PICTURES OF YOU follows Evie back to her high school years as she tries to piece together her memories and reclaim her life.
Emma Gray has written a very different type of love story from her debut, THE LAST LOVE NOTE, but her sophomore novel is uniquely compelling and has a layered storyline in its own right. This emotionally weighty story explores how over time we can slowly become a person that the “old us” wouldn’t even recognize.
READ THIS IF YOU:
-love a soapy style drama
-know that punctuation matters
-Have a soft spot for 13 Going on 30
RATING: 4.5/5
I could not imagine waking up in a hospital being told that my husband died, with no recollection of ever having been married, but this is how this book begins.
Evie Hudson believes she is still in high school and not 30 years old. She knows only of a life with her parents and close school friends. The reality she wakes up to is that her friends are gone and her parents appear to have abandoned her. As she struggles to piece together the last 13 years of her life, she realizes what and who took her away from it all. Will she be able to pick up the pieces and mend the relationships she so desperately wants back?
Trigger warnings for those that struggle with mental and emotional abuse. What a powerful example this book shows in that abuse can surface in a relationship in so many ways. Some forms are not as obvious, though the results are just as devastating. I loved the character of Drew Kennedy. His best friend/one that got away vibes just made the story all that much more worth it.
The way the author writes human emotion is simply amazing. Her stories make you feel so much for the characters and their situations. Even if you haven’t personally experienced what the character is specifically going through, the emotions behind their situations are always so relatable. Everyone has sat in feelings of despair, of being lost in their own life, and struggling at times to cope with traumatic experiences. But we have all also felt hopeful and encouraged, and maintaining that balance is one of the hardest struggles sometimes.
I have been fortunate enough to have been on two zoom meetings with the author, and she is quite simply just lovely person all around. My hope is that Emma Gray has many more amazing books left to write. This is my second of her books and my second to have earned a five star rating hands down. Thank you so much to Zibby Books for sending me my copy, and for the chance to speak with the author.
i am not lying when i say i could NOT put this one down once i started it. this was my first emma grey book but it will definitely not be my last. if you are looking for a romance book that's more than just a romance, this one is for you. the twists, turns, reveals, and mystery elements to it were *chefs kiss* so well done.
I'm glad I pushed through my early reservations about this book as it got better as it went on. I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but the characters felt very juvenile at first. This may have been on purpose as the main character is mentally sixteen at the beginning, but it was a little distracting. As the story unfolded there were multiple satisfying reveals and mysteries solved which kept me turning the pages late into the night!
Thank you Zibby for the ARC!
Emma Grey is officially an auto-buy author for me! She knocked it out of the park with The Last Love Note and again with Pictures of You!
Pictures of You was very different in story from TLLN but still had that same emotional, guy punch experience that I loved from her debut. POY had an added element of kind of mystery in that you’re kept in the dark about things and get tiny tidbits of info as the main character receives them. I loved that! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through, needed to know what in the world actually happened.
5/5, absolutely recommending to friends!
While this is a great story, it could have been shorter. It is a good story but the descriptions seem to go on & it was a slower pace than I'm used to.
I made it over 50% through this book before needing to skim to the end. The writing did not work for me in its sparseness and simplicity, and the main character being stuck memory wise at age 16 made out for an immature main character I had a hard time jiving with and enjoying. Unfortunately this just didn’t work for me at all, but I could see it being enjoyable for really easy summer reading if you like an amnesia trope and women’s fiction.
After absolutely loving The Last Love Note last year, I was so excited to get this advance copy of Emma Grey's newest novel.
While it wasn't a raw and emotional journey like her last novel, I tried my best not to compare the two.
The story immediately sucks you in and there is nothing I love more than a first chapter that instantly hooks you.
The pace is maintained throughout the book, making it a perfect bingeable poolside book. My only complaint is that at some point I was feeling a bit tired of constant twists, and it started to feel a bit repetitive.
While you can't compare the two, I think you'd like this if you are looking for something similar to It Ends With Us that's a little more YA. They're very different books but there were moments it came to mind.
This was a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the power of second chances. When Evie wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the past thirteen years, she's thrusted into a world she doesn't recognize. Drew, a talented photographer, becomes her lifeline as they unravel the mysteries of her past.
Grey's storytelling is captivating, weaving together past and present to create a compelling narrative. The dual perspectives of Evie and Drew offer a deeper understanding of their characters and their evolving relationship. While the plot is filled with emotional twists and turns, the author's delicate touch ensures a heartfelt and satisfying reading experience.
If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the magic of love, The Pictures of You is the perfect choice!
I first discovered Emma Grey when I selected her book the last love note as my book of the month. I couldn’t get over how good the book was and immediately looked her up to see if she had written anything else. There was something so amazing about her writing that I immediately followed her, and when I saw that she was releasing pictures of you in November I jumped on the chance to sign up for an arc. All I can say is Emma Grey, oh my God, this book! There’s just something so incredible about the way she writes where you feel like you’re in the story, you can picture it. You know these characters and you just cannot put the book down. Even from the opening prologue. I knew the story it was gonna be incredible.
I don’t even know how she came up with the concept of the story, but I loved every second of it. Just like in her last book there’s an underlying sense of grief throughout the story that makes it even more incredible. When I say read this book, I mean - read this book - it’s amazing!
Thank you @emmagreyauthor @zi
📸Book Review📸
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Summary- Evie Hudson should be grieving her dead husband, but since the car crash that claimed his life and landed her in the hospital, she can’t remember him at all. The only person who can help her piece her past together is her high-school best friend Drew Kennedy.
When snippets of her memory start falling into place, Evie wonders exactly how she ended up in a life that couldn’t be further from the one she dreamed of. This time around, she’s seeing all the things she missed―and the life she gets to choose . . . again.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- thank you so much @netgalley and @zibbybooks . God this one was Increidbel, Emma Grey is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. The premise of this one is so good, but the characters are just perfect, I loved folllwing Evie as she pieced her life back together and corrected mistakes. The love story was out of this world and it absolutely made me cry!
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QOTD- what are you up to this weekend ? I’m doing Black Friday shopping today and planning to decorate for Christmas after !
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I wanted to love this one and I think it's a me problem based on general reception. I found this to be long winded and while I understand that the MMC was protecting the MC as she pieced out her past, I think some steps would have realistically played differently. I did think the ending and how everything connected ended up making sense.
This is one of those rare books you just can’t put down. Evie wakes up in a hospital room believing she’s still 16 and in the height of her teenage years. The problem: she’s in her late 20s and she’s just survived the crash that killed her husband Oliver, yet she has no memory of their time together or ever meeting. At the funeral, she has a chance encounter with a photographer named Drew as they work to piece her life and memories and story of her life back together. Unbeknownst to her, they both carry secrets that could tear their lives apart even further and she can’t even begin to imagine the trajectory her life actually took.
This was such a beautiful novel that explores the human psyche and just how much our choices impact others. From grief to family ties and more, this was full of heartbreak but also hope and new beginnings. I couldn’t put this down and read it in almost one sitting. Another great Emma Grey novel!
Thank you to Zibby Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
From the first page I was swept up in this entertaining story. Evie wakes up in the hospital with no memories after the age of sixteen. She doesn’t remember her husband, her home, or the life she was apparently living. And where are her parents and best friend? They seem to have vanished. As she sets out to discover what is happening and reclaim her life she encounters Drew who goes on the journey with her. As it turns out Drew knows more about her than he lets on. This book is fast paced and engaging. I love a second chance romance and this one is so well done. Loved this book!
I really enjoyed this one! In true Emma Grey fashion this is not your typical romcom. The premise of this one is new and fresh. Evie is in a crash with her husband, Oliver. When she awakens she can’t remember anything of her recent life. She thinks she is back in high school and 16 year olds she’s shocked to learn that she is newly widowed and Drew, her Uber driver at the funeral is not an Uber driver at all.
I loved the slow unraveling of plot points in this one. It was full of surprises along the way and I enjoy how Gray incorporates real life problems and some heavier topics into her love stories.
Pick this up for a fresh twist on a romantic read.