YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

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 fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

(view spoiler)[I loved learning about their Emma and Jesse's love story. Even though, I know what happens, I was so sad at Jesse's disappearance. I really felt Emma's emotions through the pages (hide spoiler)]
Emma and Jesse

i read this book not too long ago and i really enjoyed it. i couldnt even imagine being in a situation like this and how torn the main character must have felt when she had to choose between the man she thought she lost and the life she had built with another man.

(view spoiler)[
as i kept reading, i found it difficult to side with one love over the other and truly had no way of knowing what the outcome was going to be. i knew i was going to be sad regardless of the decision since i honestly liked both couples together. i think it is possible to truly love more than one person throughout your life, but i also think it would be hard to make a choice if there is a possibility of being with more than one person at the same time. when someone dies, you have to go on living still and try to move on. but to have more than one person you love available to be with at the same time just seems like an impossible decision. how do you decide which person is right for you? i was definitely captivated by this story and even after finishing it don't know what i would've done in her situation. i guess the ending made sense since they were different people but i still think it would be very difficult to decide such a thing. (hide spoiler)]

Robin wrote: "i read this book not too long ago and i really enjoyed it. i couldnt even imagine being in a situation like this and how torn the main character must have felt when she had to choose between the ma..."

Yes, exactly. I literally can't imagine it. Her emotions really come alive though. I haven't read your spoiler yet because I'm not done. Can't wait to discuss!

(view spoiler)[I liked reading about Emma and Sam falling in love and Emma giving herself a second chance. She is by no means letting go of Jesse, just moving forward with her new life. I don't know how I feel about her taking over the book store. It seemed as though running the store was the person she didn't want to turn into. And now with Jesse gone, I feel like maybe she is playing it safe? Sam is safe, Acton is safe, bookstore is safe. I feel like this is all part of her grieving process though (hide spoiler)]
Emma and Sam

(view spoiler)[Omg how can Emma decide?? Like Jesse pointed out, Emma has to decide who SHE truly wants to be. The traveling blogger or the bookstore owner. Once she finds herself, she will be able to pick who she wants to be with. Ughhh totally routing for Jesse (hide spoiler)]
Both

(view spoiler)[It's sad to see how much Emma and Jesse have changed and grown apart, but it is understandable. How can things ever be the same between them given everything that happened? I think it is cowardly of Emma to just run back to the life she created instead of actually trying to make it work with Jesse. Marriage is hard and it's work. Emma is giving up way too easy. (hide spoiler)]
Love and Maine

(view spoiler)[A bittersweet ending for me. I'm sad that Emma and Jesse didn't work out, but I'm glad they are both happy in their lives. They've both come to terms with what their relationship was and have moved forward and found love elsewhere. This was such an emotional rollercoaster ride, but I really enjoyed it (hide spoiler)]
End

Robin wrote: "i read this book not too long ago and i really enjoyed it. i couldnt even imagine being in a situation like this and how torn the main character must have felt when she had to choose between the ma..."

(view spoiler)[Yes, I feel like whatever her decision was, she was going to end up hurting someone, so it was extremely difficult. I am surprised at who she chose, but I understand it. Her life had totally changed since Jesse was gone and is a different person. She spent her time mourning him and was finally healing. It wouldn't of been fair to her to go back to him by default. I admire her for that because it's not an easy thing to do. This situation was very unique and complicated. There was no right answer. (hide spoiler)]

Jill wrote: "Robin wrote: "i read this book not too long ago and i really enjoyed it. i couldnt even imagine being in a situation like this and how torn the main character must have felt when she had to choose ..."

@Jill - yes that was why i cut most of what i wrote because i didn't want to spoil anything and i agree with what you wrote under your spoiler, too.

(view spoiler)[ especially about the hurting someone either way. i felt bad for Jesse at first since he did everything to come home to Emma but too much time had passed and they both changed after being apart and even though they didn't want to fall out of love it made sense that they weren't the same people anymore. (hide spoiler)]

I'm in! It'll be my next audio :)

Sorry guys I didn't realise I got the ebook instead of the audio, I won't be getting to this one!

Maddison wrote: "Sorry guys I didn't realise I got the ebook instead of the audio, I won't be getting to this one!"

Ok!! I hope you circle back to it eventually. It's a good one!

Yeah might do eventually XD

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Date changed. Restarting October 21st 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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32% (view spoiler)[ This book is intense. Poor Emma, losing her husband Jesse! And now she has reunited with Sam back in her home town. I can’t even imagine this happening. It would break my heart to lose my husband. (hide spoiler)]

33%(view spoiler)[ that letter 😢 (hide spoiler)]

39% (view spoiler)[ omg what Sam said! He is so understanding! (hide spoiler)]

48% (view spoiler)[ Jesse is back!! What will this mean... (hide spoiler)]

51% (view spoiler)[ that’s so nuts about Jesse swimming! (hide spoiler)]

66%(view spoiler)[ haha her dad has watched all seasons of Friday night lights 😝 I want to rewatch that show now!

I can’t believe she is going away with Jesse. Ahh this book
Has torn my heart in two! (hide spoiler)]

25%
(view spoiler)[ Emma and Jesse part had more of Sam than Jesse in the story. I cried when Emma climbed on the roof to search for Jesse with binoculars. (hide spoiler)]

40%
(view spoiler)[ Emma's grief was told in kind off rushed way like someone is telling you a story in a short fast version. Emma and Sam part was like a second chance romance. (hide spoiler)]

Pragya wrote: "25%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ the roof part was sad!! (hide spoiler)]

@Shae- It really was. :-(

66%
(view spoiler)[ My hear is breaking for Sam, Emma, Jesse and me (Yes! me too). This is such a messy situation. No matter what Emma choses in the end there is gonna be a heart break. Marie is such a good mother. I am rooting for Sam but I don't see any scope for him yet. (hide spoiler)]

100%
(view spoiler)[
Jesse really had to go through a lot in the past years. While reading Love and Maine part, I started rooting for Emma & Jesse. OMG! I am so sad and confused.
(hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting May 7th 2022. Happy Reading ☺

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Gonna start this one a little early!!!

Great. I'm almost done with "Book of Night". So I will be starting as soon as I can.

Also, we can complete task 67/68 together as we are in the same team.

Chapter 1-4

(view spoiler)[The premise is really interesting. I really like TJR's writing style. I am already hooked.

What was this..."My name is Emma Blair and I’ve got a booty." I'm sure it was supposed to be funny. But it sounds so cliche!

Also Sam and Emma knew each other since high school. That's interesting. From what it seems, Sam clearly liked Emma. But she fell for Jesse instead. Consequently Sam and Emma weren't together until they all thought Jess was "dead". (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6

(view spoiler)[Emma and Sam had sparkling chemistry even back then. I felt so bad for him when Emma chose Jesse. He literally left without saying goodbye. Will she leave Sam once again when Jesse would come back into her life, from being "dead"? (hide spoiler)]

Omg! I love the title of this section.
Emma and Sam
Or, how to put yourself back together

Chapter 15

(view spoiler)[I love Sam. He's so sweet, caring and supporting. He deserves the world.
Loved the way the author portrayed Emma's grief and her journey of finding courage to fall in love once again...It was beautiful (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17

(view spoiler)[Where the hell was Jesse for so many years? Now coming back after so long to ruin their newly found happiness...I don't exactly why but I am angry at Jesse. I'm agitated and super annoyed. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[It was so utterly beautiful. My eyes welled up with tears. I thought the ending was perfect. Jess and Emma might have been for together once but not anymore. She and Sam was a wonderful pair. Loved the amazing message TJR delivered. (hide spoiler)]

Maisha wrote: "Chapter 1-4

The premise is really interesting. I really like TJR's writing style. I am already hooked.

What was this..."My name is Emma Blair and I’ve got a booty." I'm sure it was supposed to be..."

(view spoiler)[ This is why i don't like love triangles! I ship one couple and worry that she is going to end up with the the different couple!!! That speech with Jesse on the phone that he's coming home had my heart swooning!!! Arghhhh (hide spoiler)]

Caitlin wrote: "Maisha wrote: "Chapter 1-4

The premise is really interesting. I really like TJR's writing style. I am already hooked.

What was this..."My name is Emma Blair and I’ve got a booty." I'm sure it was..."

(view spoiler)[ I hate love triangles. But I thought TJR handles it well in this book. (hide spoiler)]