A review by jillgoober
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This novel follows the life of Emma Blair, a woman who ends up, by age thirty-one, having two "true loves." She marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse, and just before their one-year anniversary, his helicopter goes down and he is presumed dead. A few years later, she meets and falls in love with Sam, an old friend she used to work with at her parents' bookstore, and they get engaged. However, 3 1/2 years after he disappeared, we find out that Jesse survived and he's back. How will Emma be able to choose between her two true loves?
I've never been so grateful to NOT be a main character of a book. I could feel Emma's pain through the pages, knowing that no matter what she chose, she would irrevocably break someone's heart. I could never imagine being in such an impossible situation. One thing I loved about this book is that it really focused on Emma's growth over time and how the person she is should affect her decision the most. Her older sister, Marie, at one point says to her, "I don't think you're trying to figure out if you love Sam or Jesse more. I think you're trying to figure out if you want to be the person you are with Jesse or you want to be the person you are with Sam."
At this point, it's incredibly difficult for me to NOT give a TJR book a five star rating. She always hits it out of the park. She really makes you fall in love with both Sam and Jesse so that you can see how impossible Emma's choice really is. This book pairs well with a box of tissues.
I've never been so grateful to NOT be a main character of a book. I could feel Emma's pain through the pages, knowing that no matter what she chose, she would irrevocably break someone's heart. I could never imagine being in such an impossible situation. One thing I loved about this book is that it really focused on Emma's growth over time and how the person she is should affect her decision the most. Her older sister, Marie, at one point says to her, "I don't think you're trying to figure out if you love Sam or Jesse more. I think you're trying to figure out if you want to be the person you are with Jesse or you want to be the person you are with Sam."
At this point, it's incredibly difficult for me to NOT give a TJR book a five star rating. She always hits it out of the park. She really makes you fall in love with both Sam and Jesse so that you can see how impossible Emma's choice really is. This book pairs well with a box of tissues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Grief