Into the Blue: A Love Story

by Emma Brodie

From the award-winning author of Songs in Ursa Major comes an epic, decade-spanning love story that blazes through the worlds of acting and comedy, and charts a connection so powerful it might just break space and time itself.

In the summer of 2000, AJ Graves dreams of writing for SNL; instead, she’s stuck working in a video rental store, with slim odds of escaping her Massachusetts small town and large family. Then in walks Noah Drew, the enigmatic and intense scion of the Drew acting dynasty, and her life changes forever. Despite wildly different upbringings, the two forge a deep, cosmic bond first as friends, then as acting partners—until one day, Noah disappears without a word.

Seven years later in New York City, AJ is shocked to find herself cast in the same intergalactic TV production as Noah, by then a well-known Hollywood heartthrob. As their on-screen characters grow closer every day, the lines between reality and acting begin to blur. Unable to stay away from each other, AJ and Noah are forced to confront the truth of what happened years ago—and the devastating secret that will send their lives careening apart, even as fate continues to draw them together.

Blending unforgettable characters, explosive chemistry, and devastating emotion, Into the Blue is a journey unlike any other—one that asks: What does it mean to diverge from the script to forge your own story?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

448 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 14, 2026

Reviews

[cyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is for the fans of normal people & daisy jones who don’t mind not being able to read through their tears. This books premise was unique, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at the same time. If pushing it down and praying was a book this was it! I could visualize this as tv show so easily and the yearning was off. the. charts. This book definitely covered some dark subjects and I felt for everyone involved. It definitely did feel a bit repetitive at times but the time jumps made it the novel could cover a long period of time without being boring. I loved this book like this and you will too if you enjoy a heartbreaking romance, flawed but loveable characters, and a hollywood story. I can’t wait for this to come out and to see everyone’s opinions.

[☆Laura☆]

AJ Graves siempre ha sabido que su vida no encaja en el pequeño pueblo donde creció, pero todo cambia cuando Noah Drew, heredero de una dinastía teatral y envuelto en silencios que pesan más que su fama, aparece trabajando en la misma tienda de videos donde AJ pasa el verano.

Lo que empieza como una convivencia incómoda se convierte en una alianza inesperada cuando ambos descubren que comparten su gusto por la ficción, la creatividad y la soledad. La aparición de Eudora Drew, leyenda escénica y tía de Noah, empuja a AJ hacia un territorio que jamás imaginó explorar: la actuación. Bajo la guía de una mujer imponente y exigente, AJ descubre una parte de sí misma que no sabía que existía y un potencial que la obliga a cuestionar su destino.

Mientras AJ y Noah aprenden a trabajar juntos dentro y fuera del escenario, la atracción entre ellos se vuelve tan inevitable como peligrosa. Los límites se desdibujan y cada ensayo los acerca a una verdad que ninguno está seguro de estar listo para enfrentar. En un verano marcado por decisiones difíciles, AJ deberá elegir quién quiere ser y hasta dónde está dispuesta a llegar para no perder lo que ha empezado a construir con Noah y consigo misma.


__

AJ lo que necesita es un kilo de amor propio y dignidad. Y verse como 10 veces A el no le gustas tanto.

No entendí como es que ella estuvo enamorado por 13 años del tipo que se la pasa rompiéndole el
corazón , que nunca la elige y que trata mejor a sus conquistas que a la mujer que dice amar.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

AJ and Noah are soul mates, for real. He comes from a Hollywood royalty family, she is a woman in comedy that dreams of writing for SNL. They connect when she is working at a video store then 7 years later they are cast in a space show called Into the Blue.

My goodness, team, this is a very romantic, overly dramatic, "meant to be" vibes. This is like that movie "Love Story" in the 1970's which is why every 45-50 year old woman is named Jennifer. But I digress. If you love to sob your face off at a love story this is going to be your top best number one book of 2026.

The blurbs are treating this as a spoiler, that Noah knows he has a short life span and will die of a very rare, inherited genetic disorder called Huntington's disease. Therefore I will mark this whole review for spoilers. I am not a book marketer, so hey, what do I know. But this is what the story is, a tragic love story about a man who doesn't want to get close because he knows he will deteriorate and die in his 40's. This kind of story is jarring and not for everyone, and others will really love it. I found it to be tragic, beautiful, at times maybe a bit too sad. Honestly based on the blurb I was not prepared for this kind of story and I cried a lot.

I am sure that this book will be very popular and it will get a lot of 5 star ratings and others will feel catfished. The characters are excellent and the ending was purely beautiful

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for giving me the chance to read this very buzzworthy ARC. Book to be published July 14, 2026.

[Stroop · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of love story that leaves you with both a smile and a heartache - I couldn’t put it down.

AJ and Noah have the chemistry but not necessarily the timing. After they form an unforgettable friendship in the summer of 2000, AJ doesn’t see Noah for years after he ghosts her. But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t stopped thinking about him. When they see each other again, she is full of questions but does she really want to hear the answers?

I so enjoyed this—AJ and Noah are perfect for one another. Into the Blue is romantic, emotional, and ultimately hopeful. In some ways it reminded me of Deep Cuts, another great love story featuring two leads with intense chemistry and plenty of obstacles that get in their way (both self-imposed and external).

Thank you very much to Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even start? After reading the first 30% in fits and starts and having a hard time connecting to the main characters, I settled in and basically finished it in one day. What a beautiful story, It's a raw and realistic look at a relationship that spans over 12 years between flawed but likable characters. I was rooting for them through every year that passed! While the story has many of the same feelings and topics that are the premise of Me Before You (IYKYK), it does end on positive footing. It seemed, as the story progressed, that the writing got better and the emotions bigger. It just felt large - I don't quite know how to describe it. What a great first read of 2026!

Many thinks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. I give it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

[Emily Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are going to be people who really loved this book but it made my chest hurt. And lowkey, that’s derogatory. I’m not a trauma romance girly and this is a TRAUMA romance.

It did pull me in but it was NOT what I expected and, frankly, putting “a love story” in the title is TRUE but also misleading. Honestly, don’t read this if you like being happy. Idk.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Fantaghiro23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this so much. **read the ARC**

[Superjoanie23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite kind of rom-traum

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book so much. Took my breath away and turned everything upside down on itself. I can’t stop thinking about it❤️