#AmReading

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Love, Holly by Emily Stone
Published by Dell on September 26, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A young woman tries to heal a rift in her elderly pen pal’s family in time for Christmas, all while falling in love—and maybe even reuniting with her own family—in this dazzling romance from the author of Always, in December and One Last Gift

Sometimes it takes a stranger to bring you back to yourself.

Ever since a car accident tore her family apart, Holly has been part of a lonely-hearts holiday letter–writing club. Each December, she writes to a stranger who is also spending Christmas alone, and receives a letter from another lonely person in return.

Usually, the letters go unanswered. That’s the point—the letters are anonymous, and the senders write whatever is in their heart. But this year, the letter Holly receives is different; not only is the letter full of a grief she knows all too well, but its writer, Emma, mentions a place that Holly has visited. When she realizes that she might actually be able to find the letter’s author, Holly becomes determined to reunite Emma with the estranged grandson, Jack, with whom Emma is desperate to reconnect.

When Holly finally tracks him down, she remembers that she’s met Jack once before . . . and the connection was electric. The spark between the two of them is still there—until a misunderstanding risks their burgeoning romance and his strained relationship with Emma, too. But Holly is determined; if she can fix Emma’s family, she might also be able to fix her own. Though as it turns out, Holly might have less time to put things right than she thought.

I love Emily Stone's books!

After reading Always, In December, I knew I would be entering some emotional territory every time I picked up one Stone's books. But, I also knew that the journey would be worth all my tears. Why? Because her stories are full of hope and warmth.

When I read the synopsis for Love, Holly, I thought this would be the one. The happy-go-lucky book. Oh, was I wrong. I was sobbing less than 10% into it, but I read on because I knew good things were on the horizon, and I was not wrong.

There were a few things that really grabbed hold of me in this story. One major thing, was the way the universe brought certain people into Holly's life. She was devastated following that tragic car accident which forced a wedge between Holly and her family. Being cut off from her family for years, she resorted to writing "Dear Stranger" letters. She poured her soul into those letters, and in return, she received a Dear Stranger letter back. The objective was to make the participants feel more connected and less alone, but Holly recognized something in the letter she received, and it prompted her to search for its author.

This brought Emma into Holly's life. Emma was a fantastic older woman who became so important to Holly. They related to each other via their estrangements from their own families, but at least now, they had each other.

Maybe Holly could not make amends for what happened with her sister, but she was determined to find Emma's grandson and hoped for a reunion. This brought Jack into Holly's life, and it was a very special kind of happenstance that delighted me. I loved the energy between these two, and they were both at points in their lives where they needed the other for support and companionship. Alas, it was a bumpy and rather emotional road for these two, but I delighted in every bit of it.

This was a beautiful tale of grief, loss, and guilt. But, it was also about love, "family", connection, relishing every moment we are gifted, nurturing one's passion, and forgiveness. Love, Holly was a touching tale that was elevated by an unlikely friendship and a sweet romance. I will forever look forward to shedding tears as I read an Emily Stone book.

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Bright Lights, Big Christmas by May Kay Andrews
Published by St. Martin's Press on September 26, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother and his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself.

In the weeks leading into Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family,

And complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable, dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance really have?

Filled with family ties, both rekindled and new, and sparkling with Christmas magic, BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS delivers everything Mary Kay Andrews fans adore, all tied up in a hilarious, romantic gem of a novel.

I have had the pleasure of reading quite a few Mary Kay Andrews books, but I must say, none delight me in the way her holiday books do.

I was born in Brooklyn, so a native New Yorker, and I loved the way Andrews highlighted the community aspect of city life. Yes, there are a whole lot of people in cities, but it is possible to find smaller communities therein.

This was shown in the way the Tollivers were warmly welcomed back to their corner, and how various neighbors pitched in with food, electricity, and bathroom privileges. But, this aspect shown brightest with their concern for one of their neighbors and the way they all rallied to help. It was all sorts of heartwarming, but it's also such a testament to what I expect during the holiday season. That we are more "human" during these times.

This story was also a lot of fun, and it elicited laughter from me many times. But, mostly, this story made me mushy, and I loved every second of it. The mix of warmth, humor, family, found family, romance, and holiday cheer was a delight, and I will be looking forward to Andrews' next holiday book.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

Did you ever have a pen pal?
Let us know in the comments!