Dear Emmie Blue: A Novel

Written by Lia Louis

Narrated by Katy Sobey

In this charming and poignant novel that “oozes charm and wit and speaks beautifully about friendship and love, and the differences between the two” (Laura Pearson, author of I Wanted You to Know), teenager Emmie Blue releases a balloon with her email address and a big secret into the sky, only to fall head-over-heels for the boy who finds it. But fourteen years later, everything Emmie has planned is up in the air.

At sixteen, Emmie Blue stood in the fields of her school and released a red balloon into the sky. Attached was her name, her email address…and a secret she desperately wanted to be free of. Weeks later, on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau discovered the balloon and immediately emailed the attached address, sparking an intense friendship between the two teens.

Now, fourteen years later, Emmie is hiding the fact that she’s desperately in love with Lucas. She has pinned all her hopes on him and waits patiently for him to finally admit that she’s the one for him. So dedicated to her love for Lucas, Emmie has all but neglected her life outside of this relationship—she’s given up the search for her absentee father, no longer tries to build bridges with her distant mother, and lives as a lodger to an old lady she barely knows after being laid off. And when Lucas tells Emmie he has a big question to ask her, she’s convinced this is the moment he’ll reveal his feelings for her. But nothing in life ever quite goes as planned, does it?

Filled with heart and humor, Dear Emmie Blue “beautifully captures the heartache and frustrations of carrying our teenaged selves with us wherever we go” (Anstey Harris, author of Goodbye Paris) that is perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Evvie Drake Starts Over.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jul 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781797110561

Lia Louis

Lia Louis lives in the United Kingdom with her partner and three young children. Before raising a family, she worked as a freelance copywriter and proofreader. She was the 2015 winner of Elle magazine’s annual writing competition and has been a contributor for Bloomsbury’s Writers and Artists blog for aspiring writers. She is the author of Somewhere Close to Happy, Dear Emmie Blue, Eight Perfect Hours, The Key to My Heart, and Better Left Unsent.

Reviews for Dear Emmie Blue

[Jessica Miller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don’t know if it’s the second glass of wine or that I’m listening to this book in the peak of my allergies, but I am in tears!

This book is so beautiful. I love Emmie Blue and the balloon she sent into the sky, and the boy who found it—the boy who truly found her.

[LMW · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I grew to love the vivid characters so much. In fact, I didn’t want it to end so I stopped at the last chapter for a few weeks just so I didn’t have to say goodbye. A wonderfully warm story with perfect narration. On my all time top 10 books. ♥️

[Franka · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really nice story about friendship and love. Plus excellent narration!

[Sandy Benemerito Bailey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I first heard about this book early this year on one of those Top Books to look forward to in 2020 lists (sadly, I cannot remember the source, else I’d look up what else they nominated in the same write up). The story of a 16yr old girl who sends a balloon across the English Channel with her deepest, darkest secret, only to be found by chance by a 16yr old (English) boy in France with whom she forms a lifelong friendship - and with whom she later falls headfirst into love - captivated me from the start. Of the many wonderful books I’ve wanted to read this year, this was one of my most anticipated — and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! I listened to the audiobook version. Perhaps it was the excellent narration by a young English woman who conveyed the plaintive, underconfident, funny, and kind persona of Emmie Blue perfectly through her words that made me love the book so much. Is this a summer beach read romance? Unabashedly, yes. Is there a love story that tugs at your heartstrings? Again yes, but not the one you might expect. Does Emmie’s deep, dark secret make you want to curl up and cry for her? Repeatedly. Will you fall in love with the characters - the non-evil ones, anyway - and race through the book to continue their story arc? I most certainly did. I realize from the few 5-star fiction reads I’ve rated in 2020, the one constant they share is superb character development and an author who has the gift of making me as a reader truly CARE about and fall in love with the characters. If you know you don’t like romance or “sad, sappy novels” where you pray for a happy ending, you might want to skip this one even though the writing is hilarious and the characters wonderfully written. But for everyone else, I challenge you not to fall in love with Emmie and the good people in her life (fortunately, she surrounds herself with many quality people). It’s a wonderful escape for the summer.

[Karine · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wish it was more around her finding her dad and getting stuff done in her life, most of it was her complaining about not being loved and being in love with a guy that is engaged.

[Riche Sharma · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reminiscent of My Best Friend's Wedding, Love, Rosie, and Sabrina—I wasn’t expecting to enjoy a rehashing of these stories. But I did. Dear Emmie Blue has its own unique spin. Plus Bon Jovi. How could anyone not like a story with JON Bon Jovi? :-) And then there’s Rosie. We all need a Rosie in our life.

[Dori Miller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was a slow start, but once it got going I couldn’t stop listening. Loved it!

[Taylor Brewis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Story full of twists and turns, drawing you into the plight of the characters, and making you want to keep listening. The narrator was excellent… with distinctive variations in voice for different characters and a realistic genuine vibe.

[Deborah Shoman Zirbel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the story. I highly recommend this book.

[Helen E Ryan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book. I loved it. Now to find another great book.

[Jean McCord · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book about friendship, family, growing up, growing apart, coming together, and discovery of oneself.

[Lauren Clary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The writing is wonderful and I loved the voices of the characters - witty, clever, and believable.

[america0505 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sweet story. A lighthearted, and positive story about love and friendship.

[Sarah DiGloria · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A really well-written story of love, forgiveness, growth, surprises, and a bit of fate underpinning it all.

[Gowri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

J’adore cette histoire. Très bien! L’amitié, L’amour. It has a sweet balance of both.

[szonja kiss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the story! It's well written and nicely paced, things didn't feel rushed or half done. All things came out piece by piece and I couldn't imagine them happening any other way. It's sweet, the progression natural, it's longer than some I've read, but it kept my attention. I just- it's so nice, the relationships between characters are amazing and it felt real, like I can honestly imagine this being a true story. Also, well done with how past events were sprinkled in throughout the story.

[Ashley Beaulieu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

LOVED THIS STORY!!! So sweet and pure! Would definitely read this love story again!

[Nina Feldman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Better even than Sophie Kinsella! Lovable characters, good plot, humor, relatability.

[Sally Pletcher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love, love, love these British rom com books! So cute. ❤️

[Julie Loyal Hennessy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I so loved this ! My heart melted for Emmie, Elliott, Louise and even Lucas! Enthralling, heartbreaking and joyous!

[TFADRIANA · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful love novel, emotional and full of humor, where in the end it teaches us that what we desire is not always what is best for us. (Translated from Spanish)

[PotterCanuto · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

At first, it's difficult to get into the rhythm, and it becomes somewhat tedious. But definitely what follows truly makes up for it. It's a wonderful book.

[Possible SPOILER]

Apart from being a love story, it describes issues that many, many people suffer from (especially women). How the situation she was in and how no one believed in her slowly destroyed her.

It’s simply wonderful, and I hope it raises awareness of what women who suffer from that kind of aggression feel. (Translated from Spanish)