Emilia's TV presenter mother died when she was a teenager- and it's her fault. At least that's what she's been convinced of for years. During an already bad enough day, she gets stuck in an elevator: with 17 year old Em, her teenage self who one just lost her mom a year ago and Millie, the 77 year old she'll grow up to be. The three women embark on a journey (not literally, they're stuck for hours) on grief, self-reflection, (survivors) guilt and family problems. It was fascinating to read about the different perspectives o events they technically all went through but the repetition of "you, or no, we" got a bit much. I would have loved to see all characters a bit more fleshed out, I thought the elevator itself would have a bit more emotional significance so the ending felt a bit abrupt (to me). All in all it was a quick and easy read though, one I'd definitely recommend if you're looking for a story about growth and family dynamics and dealing with loss.

Thank you NetGalley and Regal House Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

And I do need to be honest. 'Just Emilia' by Jennifer Oko seemed an interesting story in which Emilia needs to make peace with herself and her troubled past (the past being her mother's untimely death). Emilia gets stuck in an elevator with a younger and older version of herself. They fill each other in on their lives, give advice, and try to work out why they are there with each other. And, of course, how to get out.

Interesting, definitely, when you get to talk to your younger and older self. But for me, the story lacked depth in a lot of places.

I could not properly connect to Emilia, to none of the three versions of her. The characters felt flat, even when they articulated their emotions and feelings. To be really frank, I just didn't like Emilia.
Consequently, the story felt like it dragged on and on, although the book is not that long. Perhaps this is a personal thing, but I was not a fan of the story playing out in 24 hours. In contrast, the ending felt very rushed and I was left feeling confused.

All in all, 'Just Emilia' had a lot of potential. The story could have been deeper, but it was not horrible. I think many people will enjoy this. It just wasn't for me.

I greatly enjoyed the premise of this novel, though I wish we were able to see a little bit more of the older and the younger timeline. My only real issue was with the ending, white I understand the challenges faced in reterning to the present I wish it would have been done differently.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. This was an interesting premise. I enjoyed the alternating narrators and the general story kine. I was let down by the ending. And wish we could see what happens after.

This was such a perfect read!
Emelia is an almost middle age woman who finds herself getting locked in an elevator with an elderly woman and a moody teenager. As time passes the three women finds themselves in a difficult situation from hunger to need to pee and wierdly bond. However Emilia has always been haunted by her past and somehow being stuck in an elevator with herself seems like the perfect chance to set yourself free.
I absolutely loved every character in the story. From the gingo tree to Em, every character had such a distinct personality and character. I loved the slow conversation that happened in the elevator and how we got introduced to everything at a slow paced setting. There are stories that needs drama and action but this one was perfect at its pace and dialogues. I really enjoyed the prejudices and judgement each emilia had yet they longed for something more. I really appreciate the themes and topics discussed in this short novel and how some truths can be so hard to overcome especially as we focus more on others opinion.
My only criticism is that Emilia and milia would be very keen to be lecture-some and condescending especially on her being all doom and gloom. I wish they did it a bit less. Sure they grew out of that phase but that is a power of time- things don't feel so daunting later as they are now. Also I am conflicted whether the brief gives too much away as I got really gripped by that summary but I do enjoy not knowing and later finding out that all of them are one person. But I think either way this is an absolutely fantastic story and I cannot wait to see it in stores.
Thankyou #NetGalley and #RegalHousePublishing for the ARC. Good Luck #Jenifer!

This was a really interesting concept and a thought-provoking book but I found myself struggling to get into it because of the pacing. I think the themes that were brought up were really deep and insightful I enjoyed reading it, I just struggled with the pacing at times

Em, Emilia, and Millie have one thing in common: they are the same person. So I guess they actually have everything in common. They meet up in some out-of-this world way and work through the trauma of how their mom died and their part in it.

While the premise is fascinating, it felt drawn out and like the same points were being rehashed. A lot more could have happened. So, I am torn between 2.5 and 3 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley & Regal House Publishing, for the ARC read in exchange for my honest review.

Captivating premise, but the execution was as hooking as I hoped. The pacing and writing style didn't really align with my personal preferences as the story felt a bit scattered and repetitive. I appreciated what the author had to say when it came to Emilia's journey with her unresolved traumas. I just wish I had felt more emotionally connected to Emilia and the story.

thank you so much regal house publishing and NetGalley for the e-arc!

such a thought provoking read. what would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with the younger and older versions of you?

i thought that the author did an incredible job of leveraging the information the reader needed as the story went on, although the book takes place entirely in the elevator, it seems that the author perfectly places these pieces of memory and realizations that all 3 versions of Emilia have. this is a story of grief, self discovery, self understanding, and hope.

This book has a really fun premise - being stuck in an elevator with your younger and older self to work through the thing that’s held you back in life.
However, the writing style feels like the author is trying too hard to be engaging, it feels stilted, a bit forced and cliched. The story is repetitive and predictable, and I have to say again, characters and story are very cliche. The backstory and details are repeated over and over again without really adding much, so I was pretty bored. The teenager acts and talks exactly how you would imagine a teenager if you haven’t met one, and the same can be said for the older lady. The way they bicker but it’s still sickly sweet is annoying.

If you are someone who usually rates books 4* and above, and like the over sentimental, you’ll probably like it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Just Emilia is a masterfully woven tale of identity, trauma, and healing set against the seemingly simple backdrop of a DC Metro elevator. What begins as an ordinary inconvenience quickly spirals into a gripping and deeply introspective journey as Emilia, Em, and Millie—three women of different ages—come to the shocking realization that they are, in fact, the same person at various stages of life.

The novel expertly balances humor and heartbreak, offering a sharp, compassionate exploration of memory, regret, and the weight of unresolved pain. As the women confront their shared past and unspoken truths, their raw and deeply personal struggles become a universal reflection of self-acceptance and redemption.

With rich, compelling prose and an inventive narrative structure, Just Emilia is both a page-turner and a poignant meditation on what it means to face oneself honestly.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5. Quite a unique book, not really read a plot like this before. I enjoyed aspects of it, especially the thematic work.

In general I enjoyed this book. I loved how the three characters interacted with each other and the realistic questions they asked. I felt like this book was a slog to get through though. The pacing was slow and I didn’t like the jumps in time. I think the assumptions made about the future in this book were tiresome. No museums and the lack of greenery just seemed odd and like grasping at straws to include something about the future.

Emilia enters an elevator accompanied by her younger and older selves. after that, a reminiscence of their past, present and future starts. what would you tell your younger or older self if you had the chance? this is what this book ponders, along with the relationship between a mother and daughter. it was a thrill and a treat to read this book. simply amazing!

"Just Emilia" has a clever plot-line with three characters who are really one character at different stages in her life. It was a bit of a slow start, and at times the place seemed slower than it needed to be. The story, however, is good, and I love the idea of reflecting on one's past choices and the reasons they were made. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Pub Date: June 10, 2025.

#JustEmilia

Just Emilia is an imaginative, thought-provoking tale that delves into the complexity of identity and self-discovery. With sharp wit and deep emotional insight, it explores the shared trauma of three women—teenager Em, middle-aged Emilia, and elderly Millie—who find themselves trapped in a time-bending elevator, facing their past, present, and future selves.

3 stars.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book and the reflection it creates on grief. At points it was slow to get into as it was just all about one character, so it was repetitive at times. Emilia is a real reflection of women, flaws and all. Seeing her reflection of herself as she hears stories of her past and future tying itself together, she becomes more aware of the consequences of her actions at every scale.

"Just Emilia" offers an intriguing exploration of confronting your inner thoughts, reflecting on past choices, and understanding how you arrived at your place in life. I really wanted to love this book — the concept is compelling, and the story itself is solid. Unfortunately, it feels a bit clunky, with conversations that often drag on longer than necessary. I would have preferred a more introspective approach, perhaps a full stream of consciousness, as the flashbacks tended to pull me out of Emilia's mind and diminished the impact of the claustrophobic setting.

this was such a good book! It read it in one sitting, it was emotional and touching. I love the way these 3 completely different women relate and see how they are more similar than they thought. It was so entertaining!!

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

2.5 stars for me.

Just Emilia presents an intriguing premise: Emilia finds herself trapped in a Washington, DC Metro elevator with two versions of herself—the troubled teenager Em and the elderly Millie. All three are connected by a traumatic event, each grappling with its impact in their own way.

The concept of the story holds a lot of promise, and I was initially excited to dive in. However, by the end, I found myself wanting more. The writing, while thoughtful, didn’t quite pull me in the way I had hoped, which made it hard to stay engaged. The core theme—three versions of the same woman, stuck in a loop of self-blame over an unresolved trauma—felt repetitive and unresolved. I struggled with the idea that Emilia, across such a wide span of time, could remain so stagnant in her self-blame, especially considering that she carries this weight from the age of 17 all the way into her late 70s. While I understand that trauma can have a lasting impact, this level of emotional stasis just didn’t feel fully realistic.

Perhaps my disconnect stems from not having experienced a similar type of trauma myself, but it was hard to empathize with Emilia’s continuous self-criticism over what seemed like a minor decision—choosing pancakes over toast. The emotional weight of that choice just didn’t resonate with me in the way the book intended.

Additionally, I found it hard to pinpoint Emilia’s role in the story. She seems to serve primarily as the narrator, but beyond that, her presence felt somewhat detached. I found myself more interested in Millie’s backstory and her efforts to reconcile with her estranged daughter. I would have loved to see more depth from her perspective.

There’s also a scene involving a bathroom break that felt out of place. It seemed to distract from the more poignant moments and, in my opinion, didn’t add anything meaningful to the character development or the story’s overall arc. A more organic moment of bonding between the three women would have been far more effective.

In the end, while the book’s premise is original and thought-provoking, it needed a bit more emotional depth and development to truly deliver on its potential. I really wanted to love it, but it fell short for me...