Title: Dear Emmie Blue
Author: Lia Louis
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Edition/Pages: Audiobook, 10 Hours 42 Minutes
Goodreads page

I received an ARC copy of this from Atria/Emily Bestler Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Summary

At 16, Emmie released a balloon with her name, email, and deepest secret. Weeks later, Lucas Moreau found the balloon and emailed – sparking a life long friendship. 14 years later, Emmie is desperately in love with Lucas. So when Lucas calls and asks her to meet him at their favorite spot so he can ask her an important question, she’s sure that he’s finally going to reveal his feelings. But sometimes love doesn’t go the way you planned. 

Overview

The narrator for this audiobook is absolutely wonderful. So I highly recommend the audiobook route if that is an option for you. 

➸ POV: 1st Person from Emmie’s POV

➸ Emmie Blue: 30, Best friends with and secretly in love with Lucas Moreau, English, Never met father, Emotionally absent mother

➸ Content Warnings: Sexual assault (of a minor), Child neglect, Victim blaming, Cancer, Death

My Thoughts

Oh man this book. This is hands down one of my biggest surprises of the year. When Atria reached out to me with an e-arc of this book, I had never heard of it before. But the blurb they included sounded intriguing so I accepted. Little did I know this book would be come a new all time favorite. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop thinking about this amazing story.

This was one of those rare cases where I knew from the very opening page that this would be a 5 star read. I was so immediately pulled in by this story that I read almost half of this book in that first sitting. 

Emmie’s story resonated with me on such a personal level. She turns 30 at the beginning of the book and is forced to reflect on where she is in life in comparison to where she thought she would be. And I think for any 30-something, this is a terrifyingly relatable concept. Emmie’s past cut right through me. Her character was so real and raw that she felt like someone I might actually know. I love when books blur that line of reality. 

Each and every character in here had personality and purpose. The side characters were some of the best I’ve ever read. And every single person deserves a best friend like Rosie!!

And the romance – be still my heart. I knew pretty early on who the love interest was going to be but wow was it a journey to get there. I felt like I went on such an emotional rollercoaster throughout this book. There are moments of total heartbreak and sadness in contrast with moments of love and celebration. I was taken on such a ride throughout this book and I honestly never wanted to get off. 

This is one of those books I will continue to think about and come back to over and over again. It had so much packed into this story that I think something new could always be taken away on reread. I loved these characters and am so excited to have found a new favorite book. I can’t wait to read more Lia Louis in the future!!

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Physical Copy
Audio Copy

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