Dear Emmie Blue

by Lia Louis

[Sam@WLABB]

Imagine releasing your biggest secret into the universe via a balloon, and that secret being found by a boy in France. This boy would later become your best friend, and you would fall in love with him. He would announce his impending marriage, and your world will begin to crumble. But maybe something even better would emerge from the rubble.

My heart was breaking for Emmie right there in chapter one. I got emotional and choked up just imagining having to stand by and watch the man I love marry someone else, while being completely oblivious to my feelings.



So, yeah, mission accomplished Lia Louis. You broke my heart in chapter one. NOW WHAT! Let me tell you, what happens over the course of the rest of the book really makes up for the pain I endured. The author created this character, who I couldn't help but embrace. She had suffered so much, but she never gave up. She withstood her less than ideal family situation, but still believed she could find love. She pushed on despite a rather scarring event in high school. She continued to show kindness to others, even when she was treated thoughtlessly. For all these reasons, I loved Emmie, and I was cheering her on and hoping she could see things in a different way, because she deserved happiness and all her heart's desires.

I have to say, her relationship with Lucas was up and down for me, and overall, quite frustrating. Their lives had been intertwined for so long, but I felt like she viewed him through rose-colored glasses. He wasn't the worst, but he also wasn't worthy of the pedestal she put him upon.

And then there was Elliot, Lucas' brother. He wasn't so easy to read, but I was happy to see him rekindling his friendship with Emmie. They had a falling out in their teens and had been estranged for many years. It was nice to see them getting to know each other as grown ups, and I actually grew to really like Elliot as the story played on.

I had talked about up-lit a while back, and I would say, this book falls into that category. My heart kept breaking over and over again as I read this story until it didn't. These little wonderful moments kept popping up, and I could see Emmie's story taking a turn for the better. And obviously, I started crying again, but these were the good tears, the happy tears.

Emmie had a bit of an uphill journey, but I was so proud of all the progress she made. I adored this lovely, charming, and heartwarming story, because it left me with a whole lotta sunshine in my heart.

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