One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid | Book Review

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One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 

Publication date: 20th January 2022

Blurb:

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

   

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness. That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiance, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants while trying to protect the ones she loves. But who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Review:

This is just beautiful.

One True Loves follows the story of Emma Blair. When she was a teenager she worked at her parent's bookstore, Blair Books, and became friends with fellow student Sam but sort of accidentally puts him in the friendzone.

Emma's sister Marie drags her along to a swim team meet to see her boyfriend and Emma lays her eyes on Jesse Learner for the first time. Eventually, Jesse and Emma get together, travel the world and get married. True high school sweethearts. The day before their first wedding anniversary, Jesse goes on a work trip and the helicopter he was travelling in goes missing and Jesse is presumed dead.

Understandably, Emma is distraught as she has lost the only man she has ever loved. After moving back to her hometown to be close to her family, she bumps into Sam. They develop a romantic relationship, even getting engaged. Years after Jesse's disappearance, he calls Emma. He is alive. Emma must now decide who her "one true love" is. Who will she be with? What does true love even mean?

This book was so emotional and Taylor Jenkins Reid really makes you feel. I am now married to the man I have been with since I was 17 so it made me think about what I would do if I was in that situation. I loved the character growth for Emma both romantically and with her sister and parents. A stunning read.