Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis

AMAZING! FANTASTIC! HEARTWARMING!

That can't even begin to explain what I feel about the story of Emmie Blue. Wow this book had me from the very beginning and never let go. What an amazing story of friendship and love. I know I won't be able to begin to describe what this book did to me but trust when I say it is definitely a MUST READ. Lia Louis is a talented author and I truly cannot wait to see what else she comes up with next. I can't believe this book even exist. I'm definitely buying it and adding it to my collection.

5/5 amazing Stars

Thank you #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for this book in exchange for my honest review.

Emmie has just turned 30 and she’s so disappointed – her best friend (and whom she secretly loves) since age 16 has just told her that he’s marrying someone else. Can she tell him the truth and then they live happily ever after?

Emmie Blue is a sweet woman who has worked hard to overcome a traumatic high school event. She’s working at a dead-end job, she lives in a small over-heated room, her mom is distant, and she doesn’t know her Dad. Now that Lucas is engaged, she’s really down on life. She and Lucas met by sheer luck, a balloon and note (detailing that traumatic event) that she released in England was found by Lucas on a beach in France. They share a birthday and have become fast friends over the years along with Lucas’ older brother Eliot.

As the wedding plans commence, Emmie realizes the depths of her loneliness. She finally starts talking to her landlord, reaches out to her mother, and begins to look for her father again. Eliot (Lucas’ brother) has even stepped in to be a strong source of support. I found Emmie to be an endearing character and I rooted for her to find happiness and love. She’s got a few good friends and once she opens her heart, more people learn to love her as well.

Though a bit predictable, I really enjoyed this one and shed a few tears at the end. This is my first read from this author and I would definitely read other books by her.

This was a fun buddy read with Jayme and we both agreed that it finished strong!

Thank you so much NetGalley for the opportunity to read Dear Emmie Blue.
This book wasn’t even on my radar but when I got offered an ARC the premise seemed good so I said why not. And I’m glad I did! This book was so cute, loved the characters and had me staying up late just to have some extra reading time. I highly recommend this book.

4.5 stars. This book is CHARMING! A lovely story of Emmie Blue, who at 16 released a balloon from Britain with her name and email and biggest secret. A week later, Lucas discovered the balloon on a beach in France. Thus begins a 14 year friendship. Lucas is basically all Emmie has, and they share a birthday, which they celebrate together every year.

I hate to just summarize the plot, but basically what Emmie THINKS she knows about life and love might be just that (or even wishful thinking). An engaging, charming story of a young woman who learns to open up and finally live.

I loved this book! This book gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings I enjoy when reading romance AND the story went deeper than the romantic storyline. Emmie Blue was a relatable and likeable character even when she was making the WRONG choices. My heart went out to her so many times and until the very last page I was cheering her on, hoping for a HEA that gave her space to flex her new muscles as a fully realized and strong woman.

Readers who liked Evvie Drake starts again would like this book.

thank you netgalley for this ARC!

I thought this book was really sweet and endearing. The charter development was really well done. The writing flowed nicely too! When Lucas tells Emmie he has a big question to ask, she's sure it is the declaration of love that she's been waiting for. But instead, Lucas drops a bombshell on her, I couldn't put down the book! I usually stay clear of British rom-coms but I really liked this one! There are definitely elements of this being a romantic comedy, it is so much more.

Jayme C (Brunettes like books too!)'s Reviews > Dear Emmie Blue

It was SERENDIPITY! 🎈

It had to be!

How else could you explain how an insecure, slightly awkward sixteen year old girl, can release a balloon 🎈 into the sky, with her big secret and her email address and have it be found by a boy, an ocean away who is the same age, with the same birthday, and the same obsession with Marmite and “Footballers Wives”?

So, Emmie just KNOWS what Lucas is about to propose, on their mutual 30th birthday...it has to be the day that their 14 year friendship, will be defined as something else...

So begins a charming tale of “love redefined” that I am so glad that I was invited to read, by the publisher.

I had to set the book down at the end of Chapter 39, as my eyes blurred with happy tears, even though I guessed what was coming!

And, they blurred with happy tears again, when I read the epilogue, and the
story of Emmie Blue and Balloon Boy, revealed just ONE LAST SURPRISE! 🎈

Thank You to Atria/ Emily Bestler books, NetGalley and Lia Louis for the digital ARC I was provided in exchange for a candid review!

Available July 14, 2020

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When she was sixteen, Emmie Blue released a red balloon attached with her name, email address, and a secret. Having discovered the balloon on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau immediately emailed Emmie, thus sparking a life-changing friendship.

Fourteen years later Emmie has another secret: she is desperately and hopelessly in love with Lucas and as a result is neglecting her life. Emmie has stopped trying to find out who her father is, has given up on trying to salvage any sort of a relationship with her mother, and barely knows the elderly lady that she rents a room from.

When Lucas tells Emmie he has a big question to ask, she's sure it is the declaration of love that she's been waiting for. But instead, Lucas drops a bombshell on her.

What an endearing and lovely book! I'm such a sucker for British rom-coms and although there are definitely elements of this being a romantic comedy, it is so much more.

With a narrative structure that relies on flashbacks—versus alternating perspectives or a past to present format—the story is fully fleshed out and well-paced. Through the multi-layered plot, Emmie experiences growth in all of her relationships. Even the one with herself! There is an underlying darker storyline that seeps through. It is a little unexpected given the cute cover and lighthearted synopsis but it helps propel the narrative.

The characters are complex and layered, yet also full developed. They give the story an emotional depth that took me by surprise. Although there's some cheeky comedic bits, there are some tender and beautiful moments too. For fans of My Best Friend's Wedding, I highly recommend!

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis was a book I thought I had figured out as I started reading. What I loved is the real story was so much different - and better! The story focuses on Emmie. As a sixteen year old, Emmie wrote a secret in a balloon. This was something she wanted and needed to share with someone. With the message, she included her email address. Weeks later, a boy named Lucas finds the balloon, reaches out, and a special friendship begins. In present day, Lucas is getting married, and Emmie is asked to be his best woman. The thing is, Emmie is in love with Lucas. She has loved how he has cared for her through the years, and she now much figure out how to navigate and share those feelings. Y'all, again, from here, I thought I knew where this story was going. I did not at all. What happens is there is more to Emmie's story, as well as the relationship with Lucas than Emmie realizes. These are important secrets and details that have never been explored or discovered or revealed. What I thought was going to be a "predictable" love story was really the story of a woman truly learning who she and those who loved her really were. As I read this one and realized more and more what this book was, I really was more captivated by it all. It was such a beautiful story, and I adored it. It's one that just made smile, and I was so here for that. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this July 2020 release.

To me a sign of a really great book is when 1/2 way through reading I find myself searching online to see if the author has written any other books - because I can't wait to start another one by them. I found myself searching Lia Louis in this way after falling into this delightful story.

The main character - Emmie Blue lives a lonely life while handling some difficult trauma from being hurt by so many.. But she finds connection with an unlikely friend after sending out a balloon with a message as a teenager. The boy who finds her message responds to her and a lifelong friendship ensues. Emmie finds family, love, friendship as well as betrayal and disappointment in her relationship with Lucas. She also learns to let people in and learn to love.

I really enjoyed the author's writing, the characters she developed, and the story she weaved. A great escape and delightful reading experience.

(I receive an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of the book)

When she was sixteen, Emmie Blue released a balloon with a note which is discovered over 100 miles away in France. Thus leads to a lifelong friendship between Emmie and Lucas. To Emmie, it feels like she was destined to be with Lucas. When Lucas gets engaged to be married, Emmie begins to realize that you can't leave your life up to fate.

A heartwarming love story about friendship and loyalty, Dear Emmie Blue is one of my surprise favorites of recent months. I devoured the story in a day (thanks to self-isolation) and I couldn't get enough of Emmie Blue. I loved the complicated relationship between Emmie and Lucas, and Emmie's journey of self-discovery during the novel. Honestly, it's the perfect summer read to pick up right now. (Trigger warning: Sexual Assault.)

Dear Emmie Blue quickly became my favorite read of 2020. Everyone needs to read this book. This was a well written and while I thought I knew how this book would end I was surprised and happy with the ending. This was a light read and an easy distraction from the crisis going on in our country. I highly recommend this book. Dear Emmie Blue will be the perfect beach read this summer. I fell in love with Emmie and sweet Louise.

Dear Emmie Blue
Lia Lewis
7/14/20
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a sweet, heartwarming love story. Emmie Blue finds Lucas at a time in need. Their friendship blossoms in the pages of a true coming of age story... You will root for Emmie and fall for her character. She is a girl you will always want in your corner. So after years of friendships, bonding, learning many life lessons as Emmie embarks on her 30th birthday Lucas has a special question for Emmie- unfortunately for her it’s not what she had hoped and dreamed about. This story follows twists and turns you don’t see coming and this will be a book you can not put down!! It is heartbreaking as well as realistic a story that many of us can absolutely relate to. I laughed out loud many times. This is a beautifully written story that needs to be read!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria books for an Advanced Readers’ Copy for an honest exchange of my review.


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Once you begin Dear Emmie Blue, you will not want it to end. I absolutely adored this debut novel from the first page and couldn’t help but laugh and cry – and everything in between – from cover to cover.

This novel touches on some heavy topics of abandonment and financial hardships, while also exploring being true to yourself and seeing what’s right in front of you. It really had me thinking about friendships, how far you would be willing to go for someone you love, and seeing them for who they really are and not what you want them to be. It’s a story of romance, serendipity, overcoming tragedy, and finding your place, and it is so, so good.

Emmie Blue is a strong, loveable character who has faced many hardships, yet still comes out with a positive outlook on life. You can’t help but root for her as she navigates the world as an adult in love with her best friend. As a teenager, she attached a note to a balloon and sent it off, where it was found 1000 miles away by Lucas who responded with an email. Thus begins a friendship that changes both their lives for the better, but most especially Emmie’s. When she agrees to be his best woman for his wedding, things really start to unfold.

I loved the secondary characters, who provided so much depth to Emmie’s story, but also provided comic relief at times. Rosie and Fox were stellar, and roommate Louise was an unexpected source of wisdom. My favorite character was Eliot, who willingly stepped aside to provide Emmie with the friendship she needed most to survive.

Run to the store when this comes out. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC of this book.

I LOVED this book. I didn't know much about the plot before starting it, and it actually blew me away. Very highly recommend for anyone looking to escape a bit right now. Thank you for letting me experience it.

I absolutely loved this book! The first half of the book felt like I was watching My Best Friend’s Wedding (which I loved as a kid). Was I supposed to root for Lucas? Yeah I guess. But just like in the 90s rom com movie, emmie doesn’t get the Knight in shining armor But she gets something better, and real. Such a great little romantic comedy book (chick lit I guess?). I loved it, I loved Eliot and Louise. I loved that Emmie got her head out of her ass and went for the right guy!

Wow, I'm shocked. This blew my socks off. This was fantastic and something I completely recommend to those that enjoy a good emotional read.

In a literary version of "My Best Friend's Wedding'," with a slightly different outcome, we are taken along on Emmie Blue's journey of being best woman in her best guy friend's wedding (not quite over the shock of not being his fiancee). In the first half, I found myself continuously finding parallels between the Julia Roberts movie and this book. However in the second half, we finally get to see Emmie pull herself together with. . . . Lucas's brother Eliot. A bit cliché? Sure. But if we let go of literary snobbishness and relax into the novel, we can peel back the onion and see how Emmie is transforming and growing into the woman she needs to be outside the shadow of Lucas. And, as promised in the book blurb and by other reviewers, not everything is as Emmie once believed, with respect to her idolization of Lucas.

If you love a rom-com that's easy to read, approachable with relatable characters and a heart-warming read on a rainy day, this could be just the book for you. Predictable? Sure, I'll give you that. But that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable and entertaining. Having just read a dark and twisty novel before, this was just the palate cleanser I needed!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster as well as Net Galley for an ARC of this novel!

Fourteen years ago Emmie Blue released a balloon with just her email address. An ocean away Lucas Moreau finds the balloon and a friendship forms at a time in their lives when they both needed a friend .

It’s always been Lucas and Emmie. With an absent mother, an MIA father and a tragic HS memory Emmie has had a rough childhood. Lucas has always been her rock. Never a smoldering romance, but they love each other like no other. On the eve of their 30th birthday Emmie is sure Lucas is about to propose when he announced his engagement only to ask Emmie as his Best Man.

Can she stand by his side while he walks down the aisle? How will life change once he says “I do”? Can Emmie find HER ever after?

I can’t even explain how much I loved this book! I could not put it down, finished it in one day. Emmie Blue is the character that you want to root for! Highly recommend!