One True Loves. Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published:Washington Square Press
Date: June 7th 2016
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 352
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Rating:
                   

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.

One True Loves  is the story of Emma and the men she loves. It is the story of Emma growing into herself and finding out who she is and what she really wants.

Leaving her home town she married Jessie and lived in California. She liked to travel and live an exciting life, she certainly never wanted to return to Acton and her parents bookshop. However life happens and we move on. Jesse goes missing and is presumed dead in a helicopter accident. Prostrated with grief, Emma finally moves on and returns home to Acton. Surprising herself she finds that the place has grown on her and well ... reading and the bookshop are rather palatable now. She even finds she has fallen in love again, and while she will always love Jesse she finds Sam really ticks all the right notes. 

Until the day she hears that Jesse is alive and on his way home. What a spot to be in, she now truly loves two men. Jesse's return home in all its awkwardness plays out. Both Emma and Jesse are not the people they once were, their experiences have changed them. And what of Sam - it breaks his heart to see Emma with Jesse and he backs out of view. 

So in all its rawness Emma must come to grips with her life now. Who is she now? Does Jesse know her now? I liked their eventual straight talking and owning up to what they felt and what had happened for them. In fact this was the part of the book I most liked.

Where does Emma end up - right where I had hoped, but no spoilers!

This was a book I enjoyed, it is in many ways an easy read, although the situation is certainly fraught with difficulty. It is about the importance of family, sisters, true and deep love, good and honest communication. Most of all finding yourself and making the choices you know are right for you.