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He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Growing up in the shadow of an immoral mother—one who believes there are no rules in marriage or life that apply to her—Lily Armstrong vows to be a better woman. Thankfully Lily has a devoted father, Ben, who loves and adores her up until his sudden death, leaving Lily the sole caregiver for her ill mother, Daisy.
The latest family tragedies have forced Lily to question the history her parents claimed to be true. With the discovery of disturbing diaries kept by her mother, Lily will uncover dark twists that her curiosity will not let stay buried in the past. Lily has always struggled to understand what made her mother so callous and unloving. Within the contents of the secret diaries, the sinister truth will finally come to light.
The latest family tragedies have forced Lily to question the history her parents claimed to be true. With the discovery of disturbing diaries kept by her mother, Lily will uncover dark twists that her curiosity will not let stay buried in the past. Lily has always struggled to understand what made her mother so callous and unloving. Within the contents of the secret diaries, the sinister truth will finally come to light.
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2021
19 people are currently reading
3573 people want to read
About the author
Emersyn Park
5 books103 followersEmersyn Park was born, raised, and still lives in the Midwest with her two sons, husband, and their spoiled dog, Bandit. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Minnesota State University.
When she grows up, she wants to be a full-time writer.
http://amazon.com/author/emersynpark
When she grows up, she wants to be a full-time writer.
http://amazon.com/author/emersynpark
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
July 31, 2021
My indie author support continues in July with He Loves Me She Loves Me Not by Emerson Park.
This was another book that felt so nostalgic. Lily is a young child in the 1970s, like I was. Her dad was a truck driver who was very tall and masculine while her mom was a housewife. Although her dad looked tough and foreboding he was a wonderful father to Lily. This right here is my childhood. And like her, I was also a daddy's girl and sensed a little jealousy from my mom. This book starts off eerily similar to my life. Thankfully my story isn't exactly the same as Lily's as Lily's mom is something else!
Lily's mom, Daisy, is unscrupulous in her behavior. She has no morals and absolutely no sense of right and wrong. He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not is a story about Lily and how her mom shaped her life. It's also a story about Daisy, and her secrets and lies.
I tend to prefer happy every after books. A friend once told me I'm all about rainbows and unicorns 🌈 🦄 I'm not gonna lie, that does sound like a me. But once in a while, I like something different. This book definitely fit the bill perfectly. It's dark and slightly disturbing. Told from Lily's present day perspective with flashbacks to the past from her memories as well as Daisy's diary, it is so well written and captivating. I couldn't wait to pick it up between readings.
I am already looking forward to the next book from Emersyn Park
This was another book that felt so nostalgic. Lily is a young child in the 1970s, like I was. Her dad was a truck driver who was very tall and masculine while her mom was a housewife. Although her dad looked tough and foreboding he was a wonderful father to Lily. This right here is my childhood. And like her, I was also a daddy's girl and sensed a little jealousy from my mom. This book starts off eerily similar to my life. Thankfully my story isn't exactly the same as Lily's as Lily's mom is something else!
Lily's mom, Daisy, is unscrupulous in her behavior. She has no morals and absolutely no sense of right and wrong. He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not is a story about Lily and how her mom shaped her life. It's also a story about Daisy, and her secrets and lies.
I tend to prefer happy every after books. A friend once told me I'm all about rainbows and unicorns 🌈 🦄 I'm not gonna lie, that does sound like a me. But once in a while, I like something different. This book definitely fit the bill perfectly. It's dark and slightly disturbing. Told from Lily's present day perspective with flashbacks to the past from her memories as well as Daisy's diary, it is so well written and captivating. I couldn't wait to pick it up between readings.
I am already looking forward to the next book from Emersyn Park
August 1, 2022
Daisy is not the best mother to her daughter Lily. She has a bad reputation, and Lily sadly has to live with that while growing up. Ben, her dad, has always been nice and supportive and Lily and him have had the best of times together. When Ben suddenly dies, Lily's life crumbles and she's faced to deal with her mother alone. When Daisy becomes ill and falls into a coma, Lily finds Daisy's diary and reads her entries and discovers the truth about her mom and dad. Filled with some shocking twists, Daisy learns why her mom has treated her so poorly her entire life.
I kept seeing this book on Instagram and I am happy I finally had a chance to read it. I will say, this is not an easy story to read. I had all kinds of emotions while reading it and I could not stop thinking about it when I had to put it down. I enjoyed Daisy's diary entries, the last half of the book, and I was glued to the pages. Unlike most books, this is one I won't soon forget. I'll be reading more of Emersyn Park's novels in the future.
This book is currently available on kindle unlimited.
TW-rape, mental abuse
I kept seeing this book on Instagram and I am happy I finally had a chance to read it. I will say, this is not an easy story to read. I had all kinds of emotions while reading it and I could not stop thinking about it when I had to put it down. I enjoyed Daisy's diary entries, the last half of the book, and I was glued to the pages. Unlike most books, this is one I won't soon forget. I'll be reading more of Emersyn Park's novels in the future.
This book is currently available on kindle unlimited.
TW-rape, mental abuse
August 1, 2021
As soon as I read the synopsis of He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, I knew I was going to like it, but I had no idea how much I was going to seriously LOVE this book.
He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not throws the reader into the dark and pernicious relationship between Daisy and her daughter, Lily. Be warned, this book will make you angry... but remember, what goes around comes around.
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Daisy is: lock up your husbands, lock up your sons and lock up your whiskey cabinets. Very early on, you learn that Daisy is one sick and twisted individual, and her repulsive efforts are almost always aimed at her daughter.
Lily is the complete opposite from her mother. She's smart, kind and a total badass. She's the kinda kid you want your daughter to turn out to be.
Every character, both the good and the bad are rich with life. By the time I was done the book, I felt like Lily was a close and dear friend.
I will say, quite a bit of the content was hard to digest; it was just so difficult to experience Lily's pain that was so unjustly thrown upon her by her own mother. You know, the person who above all else is supposed to be her protector and closest ally.
As the book shares more and more of the secrets it holds, you come to see just how deeply disturbed Daisy is and WHY she acts out in absolute terrible and wicked ways.
I often kept thinking about the nature vs. nurture debate. Are you born evil, or is it your surroundings and influences that make you vile. Or is it a combination of both? When you learn that Daisy's cruelty towards her daughter isn't so cut and dry (still completely unjust) But it does make you think.
There's also quite a few bombshells sprinkled throughout the book I did not see coming, and when they did, my mouth literally dropped open.
Park did a fantastic job of tying all the pieces together to make one hell of a story, and the ending was perfect.
This book yanked at my heart strings and slapped me right in the face with it's blunt and harsh words. This one is going to stick with me and I can't recommend it enough. It's clever, dark and just my kinda book.
A HUGE thank you to the author for sending me both an ebook and hard copy in exchange for an honest review!
He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not throws the reader into the dark and pernicious relationship between Daisy and her daughter, Lily. Be warned, this book will make you angry... but remember, what goes around comes around.
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Daisy is: lock up your husbands, lock up your sons and lock up your whiskey cabinets. Very early on, you learn that Daisy is one sick and twisted individual, and her repulsive efforts are almost always aimed at her daughter.
Lily is the complete opposite from her mother. She's smart, kind and a total badass. She's the kinda kid you want your daughter to turn out to be.
Every character, both the good and the bad are rich with life. By the time I was done the book, I felt like Lily was a close and dear friend.
I will say, quite a bit of the content was hard to digest; it was just so difficult to experience Lily's pain that was so unjustly thrown upon her by her own mother. You know, the person who above all else is supposed to be her protector and closest ally.
As the book shares more and more of the secrets it holds, you come to see just how deeply disturbed Daisy is and WHY she acts out in absolute terrible and wicked ways.
I often kept thinking about the nature vs. nurture debate. Are you born evil, or is it your surroundings and influences that make you vile. Or is it a combination of both? When you learn that Daisy's cruelty towards her daughter isn't so cut and dry (still completely unjust) But it does make you think.
There's also quite a few bombshells sprinkled throughout the book I did not see coming, and when they did, my mouth literally dropped open.
Park did a fantastic job of tying all the pieces together to make one hell of a story, and the ending was perfect.
This book yanked at my heart strings and slapped me right in the face with it's blunt and harsh words. This one is going to stick with me and I can't recommend it enough. It's clever, dark and just my kinda book.
A HUGE thank you to the author for sending me both an ebook and hard copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 6, 2021
Loved it and wanted more!!
November 7, 2021
Emersyn Park literally knocked it out the park (hehe) with this debut novel! This is a heavy but very beautiful read. The book is told in first person from Lily’s POV mixed in with chapters of excerpts from Daisy’s journal. This book covers timelines from the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s. The chapters were short and I loved the author’s writing style. It was very smooth and everything flowed very nicely.
Some might consider this book slow paced but I don’t because I was very intrigued as I love a good fucked up dysfunctional family story and this was a solid one. I think the slow build also helped with the character development and building up to the plot. I do wish Daisy’s journal entries would have began earlier than 50% in but I also can understand the intention behind why the didn’t.
This story is brilliant. It is heartbreaking. It is traumatic but it portrays generational abuse and how some parents are doing they best they can with what they know. This is not to excuse Daisy’s behavior or invalidate Lily’s experiences but just to show how trauma impacts every differently and it slowly trickles down. I loved Lily. I hated Daisy and then I wanted to hug her. My heart absolutely broke for both Daisy and Lily. I also really enjoyed Kitty and Flo’s characters. Oh, and Ben… what a saint. Fantastic book and highly recommend. I can’t wait to see what is next for this author 😍
⚠️TW: emotional abuse, pedophilia, explicit language, rape, death of a parent, death of a child
Some might consider this book slow paced but I don’t because I was very intrigued as I love a good fucked up dysfunctional family story and this was a solid one. I think the slow build also helped with the character development and building up to the plot. I do wish Daisy’s journal entries would have began earlier than 50% in but I also can understand the intention behind why the didn’t.
This story is brilliant. It is heartbreaking. It is traumatic but it portrays generational abuse and how some parents are doing they best they can with what they know. This is not to excuse Daisy’s behavior or invalidate Lily’s experiences but just to show how trauma impacts every differently and it slowly trickles down. I loved Lily. I hated Daisy and then I wanted to hug her. My heart absolutely broke for both Daisy and Lily. I also really enjoyed Kitty and Flo’s characters. Oh, and Ben… what a saint. Fantastic book and highly recommend. I can’t wait to see what is next for this author 😍
⚠️TW: emotional abuse, pedophilia, explicit language, rape, death of a parent, death of a child
July 13, 2021
This is a book I never knew I needed! I was hooked right away and was unsure where their story was going to take me but I was down for the journey. It has so many twists that I did not see coming. I was constantly having a hard time putting this book down to attend to my life outside this read. The family drama was devouring!
What I liked:
• so many twists that I couldn’t predict what was going to happen (but they ALL made sense in the end)
• the focal point of this book is the damaged relationship between a mother and daughter (you can love someone and still not like them)
• chilling moments (gave off some psychological thriller vibes)
• Lily’s strength and courage (even if it meant going against the grain)
What I didn’t like:
• I felt like I needed a little more at the end. Maybe it’s closure I was looking for? Or I hoped for more?
• Daisy’s diary’s entries didn’t come into play until way later. I think it would have helped trickle them in earlier to help solidify what was going on for the reader.
You definitely want to add this to your TBRs!
What I liked:
• so many twists that I couldn’t predict what was going to happen (but they ALL made sense in the end)
• the focal point of this book is the damaged relationship between a mother and daughter (you can love someone and still not like them)
• chilling moments (gave off some psychological thriller vibes)
• Lily’s strength and courage (even if it meant going against the grain)
What I didn’t like:
• I felt like I needed a little more at the end. Maybe it’s closure I was looking for? Or I hoped for more?
• Daisy’s diary’s entries didn’t come into play until way later. I think it would have helped trickle them in earlier to help solidify what was going on for the reader.
You definitely want to add this to your TBRs!
June 12, 2025
Couldn't put down! So good!
November 20, 2021
Well guys, it looks like we have another debut indie author to keep an eye on! @emersynjulespark, I see you girl…
HE LOVES ME, SHE LOVES ME NOT was brought to my attention by one of my favorite book-loving friends, @erikalaceyreads, and because I’m always down to support a fellow indie author, I decided to squeeze it into my November reads.
I went in mostly blind, but well aware of the many content warnings. Truth be told, I wrote this review when I was only 40% through the book and actually thought I had a good idea where it was headed.
At a little over 50% through I was back here editing the words that follow…
This was a heartbreaking and easily binge-worthy novel that drew me in rather quickly. The writing is beautiful, the story tragic, and the narrative unique. It’s not a story for the faint of heart, and I will fully admit it wasn’t what I expected, but here’s what I do know: I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s not a light read by any means, but my books aren’t either, and sometimes there’s an unspoken beauty in these tragic stories that we tell. I happen to think this one’s a diamond on the rough.
HE LOVES ME, SHE LOVES ME NOT was brought to my attention by one of my favorite book-loving friends, @erikalaceyreads, and because I’m always down to support a fellow indie author, I decided to squeeze it into my November reads.
I went in mostly blind, but well aware of the many content warnings. Truth be told, I wrote this review when I was only 40% through the book and actually thought I had a good idea where it was headed.
At a little over 50% through I was back here editing the words that follow…
This was a heartbreaking and easily binge-worthy novel that drew me in rather quickly. The writing is beautiful, the story tragic, and the narrative unique. It’s not a story for the faint of heart, and I will fully admit it wasn’t what I expected, but here’s what I do know: I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s not a light read by any means, but my books aren’t either, and sometimes there’s an unspoken beauty in these tragic stories that we tell. I happen to think this one’s a diamond on the rough.
February 18, 2024
Growing up in the shadow of an immoral mother- one who believes there are no rules in marriage or life that apply to her - Lily Armstrong strives to be a better woman. Thankfully Lily has a devoted father, Ben, who loves and adores her up until his sudden death, leaving Lily the sole caregiver for her ill mother, Daisy.
The latest family tragedies have forced Lily to question the history her parents claimed to be true. With the discovery of disturbing diaries kept by her mother, Lily will uncover dark twists that her curiosity will not let stay buried in the past. Lily has always struggled to understand what made her mother so callous and unloving. Within the contents of the secret diaries, the sinister truth will finally come to light.
This book was an easy read- from the first page on I was hooked. Seeing Lily Armstrong go through childhood with a toxic parent was excruciating. Especially if you’ve experienced it firsthand. You feel for her so much throughout the novel and especially when she finds her mother’s diary and begins reading her entries. There were so many twists and turns in this book that I had no idea what would happen next.
Overall, as a debut novel, Emersyn delivered amazing story that was a page turning read from the very start. It goes to show that she will be a very successful author and I can’t wait to read more of her novels!
What I liked:
• The character building in the novel is amazing. The author does so well with it that you feel like these are people in your life that you’ve known for ages.
• The journal entries play a BIG part in this novel and were so intense that you feel anger, sadness and sickness when you read them.
• I love a book that wants you to root for the main character- her strength and courage keep you hoping the entire way through that she will come out on top.
• There we’re so many twists and turns in the novel that I didn’t know what would happen next!
What I didn’t like:
• I wish the ending had a little bit more closure for Lily, especially because you rooted for her the entire novel. It felt a little bit “rushed” for a novel that had so much emotion throughout.
• Daisy’s journal entries were huge in this story and I just wish they had been introduced a *tiny* bit sooner. They held a lot of explosive emotion in them and would have made the story just a little more intense a little sooner.
The latest family tragedies have forced Lily to question the history her parents claimed to be true. With the discovery of disturbing diaries kept by her mother, Lily will uncover dark twists that her curiosity will not let stay buried in the past. Lily has always struggled to understand what made her mother so callous and unloving. Within the contents of the secret diaries, the sinister truth will finally come to light.
This book was an easy read- from the first page on I was hooked. Seeing Lily Armstrong go through childhood with a toxic parent was excruciating. Especially if you’ve experienced it firsthand. You feel for her so much throughout the novel and especially when she finds her mother’s diary and begins reading her entries. There were so many twists and turns in this book that I had no idea what would happen next.
Overall, as a debut novel, Emersyn delivered amazing story that was a page turning read from the very start. It goes to show that she will be a very successful author and I can’t wait to read more of her novels!
What I liked:
• The character building in the novel is amazing. The author does so well with it that you feel like these are people in your life that you’ve known for ages.
• The journal entries play a BIG part in this novel and were so intense that you feel anger, sadness and sickness when you read them.
• I love a book that wants you to root for the main character- her strength and courage keep you hoping the entire way through that she will come out on top.
• There we’re so many twists and turns in the novel that I didn’t know what would happen next!
What I didn’t like:
• I wish the ending had a little bit more closure for Lily, especially because you rooted for her the entire novel. It felt a little bit “rushed” for a novel that had so much emotion throughout.
• Daisy’s journal entries were huge in this story and I just wish they had been introduced a *tiny* bit sooner. They held a lot of explosive emotion in them and would have made the story just a little more intense a little sooner.
July 6, 2021
It is a paradox when you can’t stand to put a book down and you don’t want it to end. This is how I felt while reading He Loves Me; She Loves Me Not. I watched each of the characters build and felt I knew them. I wanted to hate them, love them, comfort them - each evoked emotion. Even the secondary players in the story were so well introduced and their personalities built that I felt like I was sitting across the table from them.
Emersyn Park has created a moving story. When you feel you know what is happening, there is another twist. These twists not only surprise you, they change your view on what is really going on in the backstory.
I can’t wait until Emersyn’s next book!
Emersyn Park has created a moving story. When you feel you know what is happening, there is another twist. These twists not only surprise you, they change your view on what is really going on in the backstory.
I can’t wait until Emersyn’s next book!
August 10, 2021
Loved this book! Kept me reading and was so good...couldn't put it down!!
February 1, 2022
First off, I’d like to thank Emersyn for this gifted copy of her Debut Novel “He Loves Me She Loves Me Not” An absolute masterpiece of a book 🤩
Damn this was so so good. Here we have a mix of Lily’s POV, along with excerpts from her mother’s journals beginning from Daisy’s childhood in the 60’s. Extremely heavy topics but we get a close up look of what abuse, neglect, and desperation can do 🌼
The beginning was slow but was full of vast details of Lily’s life and challenges she was forced to deal with. By half way through, we begin with Daisy’s journals which ouchhhhhh 🥺
So well written and smooth, I never was waiting for something to happen. Seeing Lily grow up was beautiful in the most disturbing way
Some of my favorite parts of this book included the multi timeline / POV’s , short chapters , Chapter 16 was heart warming eye opening pure poetry really (if you didn’t feel something through every single word Im sorry but good lord amazing ❤️🔥) and Daisys journaling
Although they thoroughly disliked each other they were so similar in an abundance of ways and I feel for the both of them and the sad cards life has dealt them
Damn this was so so good. Here we have a mix of Lily’s POV, along with excerpts from her mother’s journals beginning from Daisy’s childhood in the 60’s. Extremely heavy topics but we get a close up look of what abuse, neglect, and desperation can do 🌼
The beginning was slow but was full of vast details of Lily’s life and challenges she was forced to deal with. By half way through, we begin with Daisy’s journals which ouchhhhhh 🥺
So well written and smooth, I never was waiting for something to happen. Seeing Lily grow up was beautiful in the most disturbing way
Some of my favorite parts of this book included the multi timeline / POV’s , short chapters , Chapter 16 was heart warming eye opening pure poetry really (if you didn’t feel something through every single word Im sorry but good lord amazing ❤️🔥) and Daisys journaling
Although they thoroughly disliked each other they were so similar in an abundance of ways and I feel for the both of them and the sad cards life has dealt them
April 10, 2022
First, I want to thank Emersyn Park and Good Reads for the copy of He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not.
Second, this book was a ride! The description of the book does not give the plot justice. Ms. Park put so many unexpected twists and turns in this book, I felt I was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the entire book; I felt every emotion right along with Lily as she maneuvered through the ups and downs of her life's journey. From happy and hopeful to enraged to devastatedly heartbroken, Ms. Park's dedication to detail sucked me from page one and I found myself unable to put it down! The middle did get a little long, but the revelations and resolution of the story made up for the slow parts.
Second, this book was a ride! The description of the book does not give the plot justice. Ms. Park put so many unexpected twists and turns in this book, I felt I was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the entire book; I felt every emotion right along with Lily as she maneuvered through the ups and downs of her life's journey. From happy and hopeful to enraged to devastatedly heartbroken, Ms. Park's dedication to detail sucked me from page one and I found myself unable to put it down! The middle did get a little long, but the revelations and resolution of the story made up for the slow parts.
November 28, 2021
I saw some of my booksta besties reading this and knew I wanted to read it too! This is one of those books that sucks you in and you CANNOT stop reading it! I HAD to keep going. If you like books with characters that really need some therapy, look no further. I adored Lily's determination to have a healthy life despite her relationship with her mother. I also like how she fought for the morally right thing in every situation she was in. I loved so many things about this book! I can't wait to see some more books by Park!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚠️TW: alcoholism, sex, rape
(overall I'd say age rating 18+)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚠️TW: alcoholism, sex, rape
(overall I'd say age rating 18+)
July 22, 2022
I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.
OMG. This book. It's dark and disturbing and heartbreaking and beautiful and original and just so well written. I love when a story unfolds in layers and this one does just that. All the way until you reach the shocking and soul shattering core.
Lily has a terrible, disgusting, and immoral mother. Her father loved her, at least. But when his sudden and unexpected death rocks her world, she's left to care for her ill mother and unearth all the skeletons in her closet.
And those skeletons are not at all what you expect them to be.
Go get it now. You won't regret reading this dark and cunning work of art.
OMG. This book. It's dark and disturbing and heartbreaking and beautiful and original and just so well written. I love when a story unfolds in layers and this one does just that. All the way until you reach the shocking and soul shattering core.
Lily has a terrible, disgusting, and immoral mother. Her father loved her, at least. But when his sudden and unexpected death rocks her world, she's left to care for her ill mother and unearth all the skeletons in her closet.
And those skeletons are not at all what you expect them to be.
Go get it now. You won't regret reading this dark and cunning work of art.
March 17, 2022
I went into this book expecting a twisty thriller, but what I got was a deep, messy character story that hooked me from the beginning.
I love a flawed protagonist, and Lily is exactly that. She is isolated, having grown up in a family she doesn’t understand. When her father dies, and her mother is taken ill Lily goes on a quest to find out what has caused all of the trauma in her life.
From the get-go, Daisy (Lily’s mother) was a really fascinating Character. The way she is described is excellent, and as the story progresses and her diary entries are bought in it creates a really well-rounded character and you understand many of the decisions she made that impacted Lily as a child. The side characters like Flo and Kitty are also excellent, and pick up parts of the story with effortless links.
He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not is a well connected story, with some really dark points and some cracking twists that lead to an interesting end. This book was very well written, and I think my only flaw would be that some points were over described, making it a little longer than it needed to be.
All in all, an excellent read and I can’t wait to see what Emersyn Park writes next!
I love a flawed protagonist, and Lily is exactly that. She is isolated, having grown up in a family she doesn’t understand. When her father dies, and her mother is taken ill Lily goes on a quest to find out what has caused all of the trauma in her life.
From the get-go, Daisy (Lily’s mother) was a really fascinating Character. The way she is described is excellent, and as the story progresses and her diary entries are bought in it creates a really well-rounded character and you understand many of the decisions she made that impacted Lily as a child. The side characters like Flo and Kitty are also excellent, and pick up parts of the story with effortless links.
He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not is a well connected story, with some really dark points and some cracking twists that lead to an interesting end. This book was very well written, and I think my only flaw would be that some points were over described, making it a little longer than it needed to be.
All in all, an excellent read and I can’t wait to see what Emersyn Park writes next!
November 30, 2021
FRIENDS! I demand you stop what you are doing and get your hands on this family drama/mystery.
The focus of this book is primarily on the life of Lily. The chapters take place in different years of Lily's life, but we essentially watch her grow up. We see her find her way in school, on the track team, making (and losing) friends, a first love, and the death of her father. All the while managing a rather volatile relationship with her mother Daisy.
When her mother ends up hospitalized, Lily attempts to get answers to her life, and that of her family, by reading her mom's journals. What she discovers will change the course of her, and other's lives.
HLMSLMN was such a great read! Daisy was a great character that you loved to hate and I only barely felt sorry for her in the last 5% of the book. Lily did the best she could with her circumstances and at the end of it all, found the peace she needed.
Definitely add this to your TBR if you haven't yet!
The focus of this book is primarily on the life of Lily. The chapters take place in different years of Lily's life, but we essentially watch her grow up. We see her find her way in school, on the track team, making (and losing) friends, a first love, and the death of her father. All the while managing a rather volatile relationship with her mother Daisy.
When her mother ends up hospitalized, Lily attempts to get answers to her life, and that of her family, by reading her mom's journals. What she discovers will change the course of her, and other's lives.
HLMSLMN was such a great read! Daisy was a great character that you loved to hate and I only barely felt sorry for her in the last 5% of the book. Lily did the best she could with her circumstances and at the end of it all, found the peace she needed.
Definitely add this to your TBR if you haven't yet!
March 20, 2025
Going into the book, I was not sure what to expect, but overall I highly enjoyed it. When I started, the first six chapters took me a bit to compenhend what was happening, but once I got deeper into the book, it clicked in my brain. I really enjoyed the character building Emersyn did. Overall, my heart broke for both Lily and Daisy, but more for Lily. While Daisy endured alot in her life, Lily took the burden of Daisys choices, which no child should have to. In the end, I am happy that justice was served (I was not prepared for that journal entry twist with the Pastor) and Lily got the peace and heart freedom she deserved.
August 17, 2021
I did not expect the twistiness of this book! The beginning was a slow, but necessary build up. I love learning so much about all the characters because it played a huge role in the character development. The ongoing events and Daisy’s diary entries played a wonderful part of the character development as well.
The ending was phenomenal! Everything just came together so perfectly! There were some things I wasn’t sure I would get an answer to, but within those last few pages, everything is tied up without any loose ends!
This was an amazing 5 star debut novel and I can’t wait to read more from Emersyn!!
The ending was phenomenal! Everything just came together so perfectly! There were some things I wasn’t sure I would get an answer to, but within those last few pages, everything is tied up without any loose ends!
This was an amazing 5 star debut novel and I can’t wait to read more from Emersyn!!
December 19, 2021
What a freaking ride. I actually have no words for what I just read other than my heart hurts for families who experience this level of generational trauma.
*a lot of possible triggers in this book.
Thank you Emersyn Park for sending me your novel for me to read and review. This story is going to linger with me for a while.
*a lot of possible triggers in this book.
Thank you Emersyn Park for sending me your novel for me to read and review. This story is going to linger with me for a while.
July 3, 2022
Great book! I couldn’t put it down. Loved how it intertwined the journals and present day.
February 21, 2022
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! Holy cow this book🤯 it had me hooked from page one. When I read the synopsis I was like "oh this is gonna be a good read" but I didn't realize it'd be an AMAZING read. I legit could not put it down. Thank you so much Emersyn Park for this gifted copy and sharing your book with me. I love it!
July 16, 2025
4.5 ★
We follow Lily on her self discovery, but what she discovers are secrets about her family. Lily & her Mother, Daisy, have never really gotten along. Daisy made some choices that continually hurt Lily & with the loss of her Father, when it’s time to leave for college Lily packs up & doesn’t look back. Until … something major happens causing Lily to return home & unearth her Mother’s journals that give her some insight of who her Mother was & how she came to be how she was for Lily.
I was backing Lily 100%, but as I read the journal entries written by Daisy I was shocked to see that she kept her hatred for her Mother even after learning that she was a victim & her behavior (while still wrong) was a result of the difficult life she faced prior to & during motherhood.
I’m excited to check out the next book in the series to see where this story goes!
We follow Lily on her self discovery, but what she discovers are secrets about her family. Lily & her Mother, Daisy, have never really gotten along. Daisy made some choices that continually hurt Lily & with the loss of her Father, when it’s time to leave for college Lily packs up & doesn’t look back. Until … something major happens causing Lily to return home & unearth her Mother’s journals that give her some insight of who her Mother was & how she came to be how she was for Lily.
I was backing Lily 100%, but as I read the journal entries written by Daisy I was shocked to see that she kept her hatred for her Mother even after learning that she was a victim & her behavior (while still wrong) was a result of the difficult life she faced prior to & during motherhood.
I’m excited to check out the next book in the series to see where this story goes!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2021
For her debut novel, this book was great! I found myself battling a roller coaster of emotions while reading every chapter. My heart broke for Lily and everything she was going through. At such a young age dealing with so much heart break and turmoil is so saddening, I really felt for her. And then when I got to read Daisy’s diaries it brought a whole new perspective to the story as well as a different understanding. I liked this book, I felt I was left hanging a bit and wanting a little more but overall I enjoyed it!
July 15, 2021
This book is a journey! It's a generational tragedy, family drama, and coming of age story. This book follows Lily and her hot mess/disaster of a character, her mom, Daisy. Daisy is known for being the small town "run-a-round" woman. Daisy is easy to hate, and doesn't have a motherly bone in her body. Lily finally learns some acceptance for her childhood when she discovers Daisy's diary and can understand pieces of her mother's own trauma.
What I liked:
- The small town Iowa setting. The author nailed capturing a small, rural Midwest town
- Lily's strength and determination despite her hardships
- There were parts of this book that were tragic and very triggering. But I couldn't put it down.
What I didn't like:
- Daisy. I wanted to know more. I wish the diary entries were introduced earlier in the story so I could have an ounce of compassion for this women.
- Tony. Creepy small-town Priest hiding a dark, dark secret? Check! This man sucked and trigger warnings NEED to be presented in the beginning of this book.
- The plot development was a little off at times. I felt like the suspense was building for a grand moment that never really came. The beginning had me hooked, but the ending was pretty dark, and didn't give me the follow through I wanted. I needed more to tie everything together and to feel like there was more of a purpose for some of the characters.
However, I could see a sequel in the making, and yes, I would read it! I recommend this one for fans of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things. A book the hooks you in, makes you a little uncomfortable, and leaves you thinking "wtf just happened." But I loved it 😅
What I liked:
- The small town Iowa setting. The author nailed capturing a small, rural Midwest town
- Lily's strength and determination despite her hardships
- There were parts of this book that were tragic and very triggering. But I couldn't put it down.
What I didn't like:
- Daisy. I wanted to know more. I wish the diary entries were introduced earlier in the story so I could have an ounce of compassion for this women.
- Tony. Creepy small-town Priest hiding a dark, dark secret? Check! This man sucked and trigger warnings NEED to be presented in the beginning of this book.
- The plot development was a little off at times. I felt like the suspense was building for a grand moment that never really came. The beginning had me hooked, but the ending was pretty dark, and didn't give me the follow through I wanted. I needed more to tie everything together and to feel like there was more of a purpose for some of the characters.
However, I could see a sequel in the making, and yes, I would read it! I recommend this one for fans of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things. A book the hooks you in, makes you a little uncomfortable, and leaves you thinking "wtf just happened." But I loved it 😅
July 14, 2021
First let me start by saying that I went into this book completely blind after the author contacted me to review an ARC, but the premise sounded intriguing and I am always game for new reads.
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Lily Armstrong was used to growing up in the shadow of her mother, Daisy, and all of her unsavory ways. From being an inattentive, uncaring parent figure, to being the local town whore, there wasn’t much Lily could escape from in her small town of Normal, Iowa.
When tragedy strikes and she finds herself back in Normal, the sole caretaker for her ailing mother, she starts to uncover the mysterious past her mother tried to keep hidden through a series of journals.
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This was a great debut novel for the author, and I feel like the story was easy to get immersed into. Lily continually picked herself back up time and again. You can’t help but root for her to get a win, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out how she could possibly overcome the next obstacle. Even after she found and read her mothers diaries, I began to understand a little more about Daisy and the past she herself had overcome, adding another layer to the already complicated relationship.
Make sure to mark you calendars - pub date August 1, 2021!
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Lily Armstrong was used to growing up in the shadow of her mother, Daisy, and all of her unsavory ways. From being an inattentive, uncaring parent figure, to being the local town whore, there wasn’t much Lily could escape from in her small town of Normal, Iowa.
When tragedy strikes and she finds herself back in Normal, the sole caretaker for her ailing mother, she starts to uncover the mysterious past her mother tried to keep hidden through a series of journals.
.
This was a great debut novel for the author, and I feel like the story was easy to get immersed into. Lily continually picked herself back up time and again. You can’t help but root for her to get a win, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out how she could possibly overcome the next obstacle. Even after she found and read her mothers diaries, I began to understand a little more about Daisy and the past she herself had overcome, adding another layer to the already complicated relationship.
Make sure to mark you calendars - pub date August 1, 2021!
September 25, 2021
WOW. This was a VERY heavy read. I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book with the pretty daisies on the cover, but it definitely wasn't this.
This was more of a slow burn for me. I felt quite confused as to what the actual plot was at various points. The book took a while to get into the shocking, twisty parts, but when it did, it really picked up.
So many important themes were discussed in this book: namely, the mother wound and cyclical abuse. Daisy's character perfectly manifested these two themes. I despised her throughout most of this book, which I believe was the author's intent.
There are some extremely disturbing scenes throughout this book. I'll admit that I'm a person who normally cannot read anything that contains such content; however, I believe it is important to be knowledgeable about these situations. I don't want to give anything away, but I would strongly caution anybody interested in reading this to check in with your mental health first.
Kudos to the author for writing on such taboo and important topics. If it was difficult to read this work, I can only imagine how difficult it was to produce it.
**Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not in exchange for my honest review!
This was more of a slow burn for me. I felt quite confused as to what the actual plot was at various points. The book took a while to get into the shocking, twisty parts, but when it did, it really picked up.
So many important themes were discussed in this book: namely, the mother wound and cyclical abuse. Daisy's character perfectly manifested these two themes. I despised her throughout most of this book, which I believe was the author's intent.
There are some extremely disturbing scenes throughout this book. I'll admit that I'm a person who normally cannot read anything that contains such content; however, I believe it is important to be knowledgeable about these situations. I don't want to give anything away, but I would strongly caution anybody interested in reading this to check in with your mental health first.
Kudos to the author for writing on such taboo and important topics. If it was difficult to read this work, I can only imagine how difficult it was to produce it.
**Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not in exchange for my honest review!
July 23, 2021
This story felt creepy from the start. This is a super dark story.
Lily doesn’t want to be like her mother, Daisy, who is, quite simply, a horrible person. Daisy basically sought out and slept with every important male figure in Lily’s life. She was emotionally and verbally abusive. Now, as an adult, Lily wants to know why. Why was her mother like this? What was her motivation? Why doesn’t she seem to care about her at all?
If you’re a fan of V.C. Andrews then you might like this novel.
Triggers: death of a parent (multiple), death of a sibling, infidelity/adultry, rape, pedophilia
What I liked:
~Daisy’s diaries. They explained so much and while disturbing, they were the best part of the story. I actually felt sorry for her as her story was revealed. I think these should have been introduced far earlier in the story.
~It was full of twists, some of which I figured out pretty early on.
What I didn’t like:
~it took until about 50% into the book for it to get interesting - it was Daisy’s diaries that brought life to the story
~the overuse of adjectives to describe every little thing
~at times it felt repetitive and didn’t flow well within the chapters
Lily doesn’t want to be like her mother, Daisy, who is, quite simply, a horrible person. Daisy basically sought out and slept with every important male figure in Lily’s life. She was emotionally and verbally abusive. Now, as an adult, Lily wants to know why. Why was her mother like this? What was her motivation? Why doesn’t she seem to care about her at all?
If you’re a fan of V.C. Andrews then you might like this novel.
Triggers: death of a parent (multiple), death of a sibling, infidelity/adultry, rape, pedophilia
What I liked:
~Daisy’s diaries. They explained so much and while disturbing, they were the best part of the story. I actually felt sorry for her as her story was revealed. I think these should have been introduced far earlier in the story.
~It was full of twists, some of which I figured out pretty early on.
What I didn’t like:
~it took until about 50% into the book for it to get interesting - it was Daisy’s diaries that brought life to the story
~the overuse of adjectives to describe every little thing
~at times it felt repetitive and didn’t flow well within the chapters
August 12, 2021
Review of He loves me, She loves me not by Emersyn Park
I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely very different than what I was expecting going into it…in a great way.
It tells the story of Lily and her mom Daisy. Lily has always been closer to her father Ben and has had a very difficult relationship with her mother Daisy who works at the local strip club. When her dad suddenly passes and her mother suffers a stroke, she is left to look out for Daisy. She comes across her mother’s diaries and learns about her painful, secretive past and gains significant insight into how her mother became the person she did.
I felt so many emotions during this book. The writing was wonderful and I really felt connected to the characters. It was a powerful story of a girl forced to grow up quickly and the often difficult mother-daughter relationship.
Definitely pick this one up if you love a good family drama.
A big thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2021
content warnings: sexual abuse
He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not is a debut novel by author Emersyn Park and WOW what a ride this book takes you on! Lily is an amazingly resilient main character who goes on this journey of discovery and healing. Trying to navigate the toxicity of her mother and the grief of losing her father, this story was so beautifully written and you really feel as if you are experiencing everything right alongside her.
I really enjoyed reading this. There are characters you absolutely love and some you absolutely loathe. The story has SO many surprises leaving you feeling completely shocked. There is some heavy content but you also get moments of comic relief. If you love stories of self discovery, this will be a great book for you!
He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not is a debut novel by author Emersyn Park and WOW what a ride this book takes you on! Lily is an amazingly resilient main character who goes on this journey of discovery and healing. Trying to navigate the toxicity of her mother and the grief of losing her father, this story was so beautifully written and you really feel as if you are experiencing everything right alongside her.
I really enjoyed reading this. There are characters you absolutely love and some you absolutely loathe. The story has SO many surprises leaving you feeling completely shocked. There is some heavy content but you also get moments of comic relief. If you love stories of self discovery, this will be a great book for you!
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