Love You More

by Emily Giffin

A woman is newly engaged to a man she adores when she receives a call from her first love—with news that shatters her carefully ordered world—in this emotional, powerful novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Pact.

Billie has built the perfect life. Her practice as a doctor in New York City is thriving, and she’s finally found the right partner in Dean after years spent trying to move on from her high-school sweetheart, Mick. Their young love had been intense and true, but distance and ambition pulled them apart when she left Wisconsin for medical school.

Then one morning, just after accepting Dean’s romantic marriage proposal, Billie’s phone rings. It’s Mick—calling for the first time in nearly a decade. His news is urgent, and in a moment, everything changes.

As Billie boards a plane back to Wisconsin, the past comes rushing in—her friendships from home, the love she shared with Mick, and the choices that shaped them. What awaits her is a reckoning with what she’s lost, what she’s built, and what she still wants.

Gripping and deeply moving, Love You More is a story about the plot twists life throws at us—and how love, in all its forms, has the power to change everything.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Summer Reads, Summer, Chick Lit, Beach Reads, Contemporary

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

EMILY GIFFIN is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You're With, Heart of the Matter, Where We Belong, The One & Only, First Comes Love, All We Ever Wanted, The Lies That Bind, and the recently released Meant to Be, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family.

Website: www.emilygiffin.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EmilyGiffinFans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilygiffin

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/emilygiffina...

Reviews

[Bianca | bookd_by_bee 🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars ⭐️- NO SPOILERS

Thank you to NetGalley & Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, Emily….

You are literally one of my favorite authors and this would have been a 5 star read, but I CANNOT with this ending. WHYYYYYY?! I’m going to try VERY hard to write a spoiler-free review, but I HATED this ending. You can’t spell Mick without “ICK” and that is what the MMC gave me- YUCK.

BUT, I did like pretty much everything else. The plot of this book was perfect until the last 7 or so chapters and then it felt like a rushed conclusion. The pacing was great too. I love the way the story was set up from the very beginning and Emily always writes good, nuanced characters. I loved Billie’s chapters where she talked about growing up in Wisconsin and her budding relationship with Mick. I also enjoyed learning more about her years at University and medical school. I had my suspicions about some of the characters early on and I ignored them- TO MY PERIL (ok, I’m being dramatic, but I need it on the record that I KNEW something was off from the beginning 😤). It feels like this should have been a 2-part story similar to Something Borrowed and Something Blue. That’s honestly what I thought was going to happen, but then came a rushed conclusion that didn’t feel like a fair ending for Billie. This story deserved more. I LOVE the premise, but it felt like the author ran out of steam at the end.

This COULD have been a 5 star read. I enjoyed (most of) the story A LOT and it was a pleasant read. I will read anything Emily Giffin writes though, even if it pisses me off at the end 🥲. I would recommend that you go into this book not expecting a conventional romance. Similar to some of Abby Jimenez’s books, this has some pretty heavy themes and feels more like fiction with romantic themes. Overall it is very well written and is a good read.

[Corinne Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First love & a recent engagement come crashing down for Billie when she receives a phone call from her ex-boyfriend after a decade of being apart. What could he possibly want? And why is he calling her now when her life is so perfect with her new fiancé and a medical career she is very proud of? This one phone call changes everything, and Billie is forced to make major decisions that can change the whole trajectory of her life. Twists & turns abound in this story about love, ambition & close friendships.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Maren’s Reads]

Thank you to Ballantine for the advanced copy!

[cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This might have a few light spoilers so if you want to go in completely blind maybe skip this one. This book was so entertaining to read and I had a lot of fun. That being said for this being a romance novel it fell super flat. This book works better if you look at it from more of a woman’s fiction novel instead of a second chance romance. There was no point in this book where I was rooting for the fmc and the mmc to get back together. He really came off as a bit selfish and we didn’t get to see enough of them together in the present timeline to make me believe they were soulmates. The fmc had a perfect fiancé and I honestly groaned when the romance started progressing. That being said I feel like the romance isn’t a huge part of the book. My dislike of it didn’t ruin my experience as it didn’t become super relevant until the last 20%. I was drawn in by the story and I just really wanted to know what would happen. The plot twist towards the end was super predictable in my opinion and I honestly could have done without it. I did enjoy this though and I would recommend it.

[Kailey (kmc_reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, I should’ve DNF

This felt so rushed and underdeveloped in terms of a second chance romance. Also, a storyline that feels very unoriginal and done before. Unimpressed- I usually love her novels. Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

[Emily (emsalwaysreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #59 of 2026!

Thank you to NetGalley & Ballantine Books for the advanced readers copy. This publishes July 7th.

4.5-5 stars?

What to expect in this book:

-Contemporary fiction/romance
-Friendship and first love
-Doctor FMC
-Singular POV
-Genre-bending
-Unexpected twists
-Bingeable read

Thoughts

I have read every single Emily Giffin book and I can say that I have never devoured one of her books more. I read this book in 24 hours! Billie is a reproductive endocrinologist living in New York City and currently engaged and happier than ever. Until she receives a phone call from her first love that rattles her entire world. This book is told in three distinct parts: the past and the present. The pacing is fast and entertaining and there are immensely deep themes of friendship, first love, grief, heartbreak, and found family. I would recommend going into this book blind, but not expecting your traditional romance.

I truly loved this book from beginning to end. The pacing kept me engaged the entire time and there were several parts that were unexpected and surprising to me. I am having a hard time fully committing on my rating of this book because I am also left with a few questions. But I think I can overlook these questions due to how much I loved the characters, the themes, and the subplots throughout. I loved Billie and her tribe so much. Her friendships over the decades were fun to watch and the evolvement of her relationship with Phoebe was heartwarming as well. I loved how the story was split into several parts and how we learned about the characters' relationships from beginning to present. I also, surprisingly, loved reading about Billie's entrance into medical school and becoming a doctor. Usually I do not love health related content in books, but loved it here.

Overall, this was a book that will stick with me for a long time and one that I would recommend to anyone that loves stories of friendship, family, and the enduring power of love.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanna preface this by saying I love Emily Giffin, I have been a huge fan of her work for a long time. So I was very excited to read this, but I have to say this book for me. It was not it at all. I don't want to spoil the story. And explain my complete feelings. Because I would have to explain the spoilers, but it comes down to Billie left her small town and Wisconsin.)That somehow has a high school that 8 different middle school feeds-.So I'm not even going to begin to understand how that happens --- I don't know how we're measuring things in cornfields. In this book and talking sm small towns, if you come from an area that has 8 middle schools that converge into one big high school. That was big problem I had with this book in the very beginning. - i live in a a larger than average Minnesota city that has 3 elementary schools that feeds into one middle school. And then one high school, so if you're talking 8 middle schools to one high school, that's not a small town. I just can't let go of that anyway, sorry off my soap box) Billy and Mick meet in ninth grade math class - they are friends for most of high school. And become a couple end of high school beginning of college, she gives up her dream of going to Yale. To stay in college with mick and go to Madison, but she can't do it when it comes to med school. She's always wanted to be a doctor and she chooses to go to Columbia.In new york - they make it about 2 years and they break up because of the distance and obviously how hard it is to be.a doctor in training - that's their backstory when we meet Billy, who still calls NYC home this entire time (now 37) she is just getting engaged to her boyfriend. Dean, who's also a doctor, she now runs a fertility clinic with her 2 best friends. And then she gets some awful news from back home when Mick calls that changes a lot of things, she obviously goes home to Wisconsin to deal with it and then begins the story of the book, however I don't buy the story. I think it's absolutely ridiculous. The way that Mick and Billy handle it, I think no rational human being would respondthis way, . I don't want to spoil anything for anybody, as nothing is explained in the synopsis, just that it 's shattering news from the past-- I just think it's so far-fetched, and so unrealistic. I'm so disappointed because I do adore this author but this book is just not it. The only reason I'm giving it to stars is. I like the dogs.

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

I have to sit with this one for a bit.

[Sony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Giffin is one author whose latest books I always read so I was thrilled when I got ARC from NetGalley.

This is a wonderful and heartwarming story about love, loss and finding family in friends. There is a lot of emotional depth in the story with wonderfully woven characters and life-shaping decisions.

The ending was predictable but I felt was a bit rushed.

[Kelly (eclectikollection) Abrams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced digital copy.

First off, I love Emily Giffin—this rating doesn’t mean I won’t continue to read and support her work, but wow…this one was a major miss.

The writing/structure felt choppy and almost monotone, lacking the emotion and depth I usually expect from her. There was a lot of back-and-forth dialogue that felt unnecessary, and because of that, I never fully connected with the story or any of the characters, which made it hard to stay invested. By the third part, I found myself skimming just to get through it.

The story itself felt underdeveloped in several aspects, and then extremely rushed toward the end. It was also pretty predictable, and honestly I was a little relieved it was under 300 pages because I’m not sure I could’ve stuck with it much longer.

Also—and I’ll stay spoiler-free—but when books have women giving up or reshaping major, defining moments of their lives for a man…ugh. Major ick. Cue Lauren Conrad from The Hills—iykyk.

Overall, this one just didn't do it for me.

[Jennifer ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying this author is usually an automatic read for me. I have loved many of her books in the past. I was excited and grateful to find I was chosen to read an ARC of her newest work.

I liked how this book started out, and found it really easy to read. Billie appealed to me because I saw my younger self in the high school version of her character. Complete with the boyfriend I was madly in love with and never wanted to leave. Billie and Mick seem perfect for each other but as we all know, it’s hard to make that last past graduation and heading off to college.

Billie is now a grown woman, a doctor, and part of a successful practice while being newly engaged to a man that sounds perfect on paper (but also seems perfect in real life, too). Life is good. That is, until a phone call from her ex pulls her into a dizzying reality. Now she has to go back to her hometown to figure some things out.

It is hard to continue here as explaining how I feel would lead to giving away what happens. But in reality I’m sure anyone could guess. I am very tired of reading about women who give up amazing opportunities for a man who wouldn’t return the sentiment given the chance. And someone in this book gets completely shafted, which actually pisses me off because so much stringing along happens before the inevitable.

Ultimately, I disagreed with a lot of the decisions made by the main character. I wanted her to do something, ANYTHING other than the obvious. But at least I was compelled to read until the end.

I do think she was lucky to have some great friends, but I think they should have given her better advice. Ugh.

Thank you to #netgalley and #ballantinebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️rounded up! Emily Giffin is an auto read author for me. What I love about her is that her books are always different, but always have a lot of heart. I was glued to this book- the history of the characters, the complex relationships, and the story of friends, family and love all tangled together into one heart wrenching drama. There’s multiple love stories in both the conventional and non conventional ways. It’s an emotional ride with multiple heavy themes throughout, but worth it! I didnt give it the full 5 stars because I predicted the big “twist” early on, and I also felt like there was a few loose ends (Lena was never mentioned again?) Some aspects just seemed to be a little too glossed over or rushed to be completely believable, but overall I enjoyed it, regardless!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy!

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girls who didn't go: Lauren to Paris, Andrea to Yale...our protagonist, Billie, also to Yale.

When we meet Billie, she is a successful fertility doctor working in Manhattan, so at least we know her decision did not negatively impact her career. She's also engaged to fellow doctor Dean and a partner in a thriving practice. So what could possibly bring Billie back to Wisconsin?

Mick.

When Billie receives a call from her ex-boyfriend, we are propelled back to her high school and college days. Billie's long time high school crush finally notices her, so she decides to go to Wisconsin with him instead of Yale. We skip through Mick and Billie's college days, maybe a little too quickly; the writing is choppy and I do not find myself invested in their love story.

Billie finally chooses herself when she chooses Columbia for medical school, and she and Mick inevitably grow apart.

The backbone of the book is really Billie's life-long friendship with Erin, now a successful single mom still living in Wisconsin. So when Erin dies in a car accident, Billie rushes home, where a surprise awaits. Joan - Erin's mom, now suffering from Alzheimer's - tells Billie that Erin wanted her and Mick to raise her 11 year old daughter, Phoebe.

Minus a star for the fact that Erin apparently DID NOT HAVE A WILL. A woman with a successful marketing career and a CHILD, whose mother was suffering for Alzheimer's DID NOT HAVE A WILL.

Everything else unravels from this point on, and I will avoid spoilers and let readers come to their own conclusion. As a long time fan of Emily Giffin, this one was far from a favorite.

[kenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Emily Giffin and I LOVED her writing style! I’m def going to buy her other book about the Kennedy’s.

The beginning of this story really reminded me of best friend Claudia who is currently in med school so I texted her immediately about it!! I feel almost sad for Billie, I feel like no one chose her first? Although without spoilers I didn’t like who she ends up with, this story was very good.

Thank you Net Galley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this and really enjoyed it! I think the negative reviews were expecting this to be solely a romance book, and it’s not. It’s truly so much more! It’s about life, the changes along the way, family, friends, with romance on top of that. I truly enjoyed the found family, both settings, and the way Emily Giffin created a beautiful story from the different tragedies. I was rooting for Billie and Mick from page one. Their story was just too sweet! This was such a refreshing read, where I could truly picture myself sitting in the sun and just having a good time reading. I did not love her last release The Summer Pact, but I love Emily Giffin’s writing, and this felt so true to her. The unique and original writing style that she always puts on display. Emily Giffin always paints the most beautiful picture with fresh characters you can always root for. The only thing I didn’t love about this was the ending felt a little short. I would’ve loved to have a little bit more in depth ending than it just tied up in a pretty little bow in the epilogue. But with that being said, no questions were left unanswered and all came full circle. I think this will be such a hit this summer, and highly recommend if you’re looking for something to relax, enjoy, and have a good time! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review. Look for this to be released July 7th, 2026.

[Lauren Surber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an unedited ARC in exchange for an honest, spoiler-free review.

I devoured this book in under two days. I loved following Billie’s story through the dual timeline. We meet her in the present day—a doctor in the NYC area preparing to meet Dean’s parents for the first time—before the narrative splits, taking us back through the moments that shaped her life. Watching her high school and college love story unfold, then snapping back to the reality of where she is now, kept me completely invested.

The emotions in this book feel incredibly real. The push and pull of being young, in love, and trying to hold onto your own dreams while building a future with someone else was beautifully done. I found myself fully immersed in Billie’s journey and the relationships that helped define her.

That said, there were a few elements that didn’t fully land for me. One trope introduced toward the end wasn’t my favorite—though that may come down to personal preference. More notably, the ending felt rushed. After such a long, emotional journey with Billie, Mick, and Dean, the resolution came together very quickly and then… it was over. I couldn’t help but feel like Billie—and the reader—deserved more. Even the epilogue left me wanting additional closure, especially for a character we spent so much time with.

I also wouldn’t categorize this as a traditional romance. It leans more toward contemporary fiction with strong romantic elements woven throughout.

There are several heavier moments in Billie’s story, and I found myself constantly torn on what I wanted the ending to be. At different points, I was rooting for each character, hoping somehow they could all find their version of a happy ending.

Overall, this was an emotional, engaging read that pulled me in quickly—even if I was left wishing for just a bit more at the end.

[Katie Burken · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I got the notification from NetGalley about this book, I was super excited. Emily Giffin did not disappoint. I loved the juxtaposition between small town life and the hustle and bustle of NYC. The characters were easy to connect with and faced real-life situations in a manner that didn’t seem too far-fetched.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Jane Perron · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this story. it started so sad and ended so wonderfully. real parenting is displayed

[Sara Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

I’m honestly conflicted about how to rate this book. I usually enjoy her books, which made this one all the more frustrating.
The story follows Billie, she is a doctor with her our own practice and Just got engaged to Dean, her most amazing boyfriend. She receives a tragic phone call from her ex boyfriend Mick. This phone call totally changes the course of her life. (Well, she does, not the call itself)

The first part of the book completely drew me in. I loved learning about the characters’ history together, and their backstory was sweet, emotional, and easy to become invested in. Unfortunately, once the story moved into the present timeline, my enjoyment started to fade. Billie frustrated me to no end. The entire time I found myself thinking, “But why?” and “Oh no, you didn’t!” Her decisions felt selfish and made at the expense of other people’s feelings. Because of that, I struggled to root for the romance, which is never a good in a love story.
And then there’s Dean. My heart absolutely broke for him. He was kind, loyal, supportive, and genuinely seemed like a fantastic guy. If you know a Dean, please send him my way!

It’s difficult to fully explain my feelings without spoiling the plot, but I often felt like this was less a story about a second chance at love and more a story about good people getting the short end of the stick.

There was a twist that I suspected fairly early on, and while it added some interest, it wasn’t enough to change my overall feelings and I think if the twist would have happened earlier, the story could have spent more time exploring its impact. By the way what happened to Lena?
The ending was probably my biggest disappointment. It felt rushed and underdeveloped, with emotional moments being told rather than shown. I didn't even care for the ending to be honest, I wish the author would have done something different with it, rather than the obvious choice.

What makes this review difficult to write is that I can see the potential this book had. The themes of first love, nostalgia, and second chances are compelling, but I never fully bought into the romance I was supposed to be cheering for. Instead, I found myself frustrated by the choices being made and feeling far more invested in the people left behind. This could have been so much better.

A big Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for gifted ARC. All opinions are mine.

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[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Emily Giffin since Something Borrowed, and at this point I’ve read every single one of her books. She has always had this way of writing that feels effortless but still hits you right in the heart.

Love You More reminded me why I keep picking up her stories. The relationships feel real, a little messy, and full of those complicated emotions she writes so well. There were moments that made me pause and think, and a few that definitely pulled at my heart.

She’s such an eloquent writer, and even after all these years, she still knows how to capture the small moments that make a story feel personal. If you’ve loved her books in the past, this one absolutely belongs on your list.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A solid, heartfelt read that delivers exactly what longtime Emily Giffin readers love, emotional depth, relatable characters, and just enough tension to keep the pages turning.

Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine, and of course Emily Giffin for the arc.

[Dallas Strawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One phone call from the true love of her past changes the trajectory of Billie’s life forever, the day after saying yes to marry the man she’s fallen in love with and committed to spending her future with. Billie’s world is rocked, her life upended, and the tension never stops from there in Love You More, Emily Giffin’s latest and greatest novel. It literally kept me up all night turning the pages to find out what would happen with Billie.

Giffin is a truly gifted writer, and her character development shines with such force in this book. Her prose is just as beautiful as ever and reminds us why she swept us away with her remarkable debut novel, Something Borrowed, more than twenty years ago. I am so glad I live in a world where Emily Giffin is here to deliver these utterly heartbreaking and soul stirring novels. She’s one of the greatest of all time.

DON’T LET ANYONE SPOIL IT FOR YOU ! 😡

[Tiffany Schulz · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review
This is the most adult love story I’ve ever read. It really feels like a Nicholas Sparks book where the tragedy of life underlines every move in the story, twisted painfully through too adult decisions that gut you, while they make perfect sense you are telling for in not to happen. Just really “real”, almost too real at times. If you have ever had to make really hard “it’s better this way” decisions this book will resonate.
As we watch our characters navigate a tragedy, we get part one of a backstory, part two of what happened to being everyone together, and part three of how it all unravels and allows them to heal. You never really know if it will or won’t work out, you just let fly through the pages in what seems like real time, going along with them, stumbling through it. It felt authentic and real. A bit of a painful read *trigger warning of loss * but really a lovely adult love story.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid 3-star read for me. It was one of those books that I couldn't put down, even if it felt like I'd read something exactly like it before.

Love You More is heavy on general fiction and light on romance. The most developed and best relationship (IMO) was between Billie and Erin. The “love triangle,” on the other hand, was lukewarm and didn't do anything for me. I also saw the plot twist coming a mile away and felt like that plotline was left semi-unresolved. No spoilers, but if I were the MC, I would've been way more upset about it. I wasn't rooting for the second chance between Billie and Mick, and that reveal made it even less so.

Check this one out if you like:
👫 Life As We Know It movie vibes!!
🩷 Second-chance romance and childhood friends-to-lovers tropes
🌃 Small town boy x girl designed for the big city

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Giffin is a must read author for me. Although this book was enjoyable, it felt rushed and incomplete. The storyline was complex and the background took almost 50% of the book to tell. Because it took up a large portion of the book, the current storyline felt rushed and wrapped up too quickly and neatly at the end. I would have loved to seem more of what unfolded with the two main characters when their relationship started to develop again. Bottom line-this book is worth the read (it’s a very quick read) but you won’t be wowed by it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been a fan of Emily Giffin’s writing and this book was no different! It was paced really well and I read it in less than 24 hours.

Bille is a successful fertility doctor living in New York City with her new fiancé. She unexpectedly gets a phone call from her ex-boyfriend, Mick, that rocks her world and sends her on a trip back home to Wisconsin.

This is an emotional, second chance at romance story with some heavy themes. I found myself reaching for this book over other books because I needed to know what happened. I audibly gasped at the twists.

Thank you Netgalley, Ballantine Books and Emily Giffin for the eARC. All options expressed are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy.

Ugh, I’m really torn on this rating

This book was split into three parts P1 was amazing, the development of the characters and their relationship was intoxicating. Fast forward to P2 I was like okay hmmm still good but not great. Really liked the cliff hanger at the end. P3 just fell off I didn’t like the ending it felt underdeveloped and a lot of loose ends.

Sadly 3.5 rounded down

[Amy Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful & heartwarming book, especially for those summer beach reads! This genre is typically not my favorite, but Emily drew me in right away with a great plot and amazing characters. This isn’t your typical cookie cutter romance, but instead a page turning tale of how good life can be with the right people in it. A big thanks for NetGalley for the ARC! A great book!

[Amanda Van Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. There were parts I really liked, but I also felt it was wrapped up too easily.. it didn’t quite get to her all time favorites of mine, but it was a solid book.

[Tara Jacobus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an advance copy from Net Galley:


I could not put Love You More down. I read it in one sitting and didn't want it to end. This book has lots of feels. It's about friendships, doing whats right for yourself, loss, selflessness and ultimately love. 


While I wish the ending wasn't so rushed and knowing how it would most likely end, it was a great  read.

[zahraa · Rating 2 out of 5]

hated pretty much every moment of this book other than dean proposing