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

416 pages, Paperback

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.

[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

[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.

[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

[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 ! 😡

[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

[Margaret McAlister · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🫑

I have so many mixed feelings about this book and I am having a hard time putting them all in order. I usually try to put my spoilers separate, but I don't think I can really do this without spoiling some things, so I am going to mark this entire review.
I think, to start, I will say that I identified a lot with Billie and I also really did not like her. I also grew up in a small town (in Arkansas). I also went away to school (in New York). I also have very important, but complex relationships with the my friends from childhood and, while I love and respect them, I feel acutely how drastically different our lives have been. I also went to medical school and understand how gruelingly difficult it is and how it can be hard to explain how life-consuming some of the exams and rotations can be and how you feel like you might drown if you try to pick up one more thing, so you allow all of your relationships outside of the small sphere of people who understand that reality fade away for months or years at a time. All of these aspects of Billie's life I felt deeply and I appreciated very much how they were woven into who Bille is, but, wow, did I just want to smack her in the face and say, "figure out what you actually want and stop jerking other people around because you are indecisive." In what world is having an emotional affair with your ex and deciding to raise a kid with him an acceptable thing to do to your partner who is nothing but lovely and supportive? And Mick 's only really notable quality is that he was nice in highschool when social norms should have dictated that he ignored Billie and the other nerds. Otherwise, this man had no personality, no growth, and was nothing but a plot device to pull Billie back to her roots and constantly cause her unnecessary heartache. What happed to the damn orchard that was so important that he couldn't possibly leave it, even just while she was in training? Did he even work there as an adult? It seems like if he could up and leave it in the present, presumably after his dad had retired, then he probably could have gone to NYC when his dad was still younger. For that to have been such a driving force in them breaking up, I find it weird that it was just not a thing after Billie went back to WI.
Also, why are we just taking the word of the demented grandma that this is what was supposed to happen to Phoebe? This doesn't seem weird to anyone else? Why on earth would you think that two exes who haven't spoken in years and who live in different states would be good co-parents?
Billie also just magically gets over the fact that her "sister" and the love of her life had sex with each other and maybe had a child together and lied to her about it for over a decade. I guess I am just callous, but my reaction to this level of betrayal would not be "oh, well, one of you is dead and mistakes happen so let's date now that I am single again."
I did appreciate that Dean didn't turn out to be evil all along and was consistently a really good guy and helped Phoebe after the fact, but I hope he finds someone so much better than Billie. He did not deserve any of that.
I am still mulling over all of the mixed emotions of this one and may come back and edit this later after it all settles.
I think I would recommend with caveats- do not read if emotional infidelity or love triangles bother you or if you don't enjoy complicated (often unlikable) leads.

Happy reading!

[Dr. F · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a moment to gather my thoughts for this review. This book resonated with me so deeply that it evoked every possible emotion—I found myself both laughing and crying. Although I only discovered Emily Giffin’s work about a month ago, I have already read nearly all of her books, with only one left on my list. I am so grateful to NetGalley for the ARC of her latest novel; I truly loved it. Rediscovering the joy of reading for pleasure has been an incredible experience. The more I read, the more I realize how much I have yet to discover—a slight twist on Socrates, perhaps, but it is the truth.
Love You More is a contemporary romance, though not in the traditional sense; it is neither a simple love story nor light and fluffy. The narrative offers much more depth. After realizing I had read over 60% of the book in a single sitting, I intentionally slowed my pace to savor the experience, knowing it would be some time before Giffin releases another work. The story begins with Billie, a Wisconsin native living in New York City and working as a reproductive medicine doctor. She is engaged to Dean, a trauma surgeon and NYC native from a wealthy family. His upbringing contrasts sharply with hers in small-town Wisconsin, where she was raised in a hardworking, middle-class household. As they travel to the Hamptons, they get engaged, both thrilled by their relationship and their future together. Dean loves her deeply and is a truly wonderful partner.
The novel utilizes a dual timeline. The reader is taken back to Billie’s childhood, exploring her relationship with her best friend, Erin—who was like a sister to her—and Mick, a boy she met in math class who eventually becomes her boyfriend. We are immersed in her world: her dreams, high school life, romantic relationships, college, and medical school. After two years of medical school, she is left heartbroken when the love of her life cannot bear waiting another two years without the certainty of her return. Following graduation, she meets Dean, a handsome doctor whom she loves, and they build a happy life together. She opens a practice with two friends in NYC, and everything seems perfect.
Suddenly, a tragic phone call changes everything. Billie is faced with immense grief, new responsibilities, and eventually, further heartbreak. She must make difficult decisions and discovers a secret that nearly breaks her. Giffin draws the reader into the pages, evoking a wide range of emotions; I experienced everything from laughter and tears to anger and a sense of betrayal. Most importantly, I witnessed Billie’s growth, her process of deliverance, her fears, and her ultimate resolution to her duty. The story illustrates how she allowed herself to feel, to forgive, and ultimately, to find happiness. As is characteristic of Giffin’s work, this novel is deeply character-driven and an absolute page-turner.
This was undoubtedly a five-star read for me.

[poppi ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3☆

thank you to netgalley, emily giffin and ballantine books for this arc and opportunity to read this story early.

——— ⋆. 𐙚 ˚ ———

so this started out so strong for me and i had so much fun in the first halfish(?) of the book. the second part of the book, however, was a completely different story...

mick, the high school sweetheart, the town's golden boy, star footballer player, who everyone loved. me included. he was thoughtful and caring, he took care of his younger sister who had down syndrome. he was simply perfect, until he wasn't (but we've all got our flaws, right?!)... i will never forgive emily for making him do that.

billie, the shy girl, focused on her studies, kindest heart you'd find in an individual. her flaw was that she was too focused on her studies because in turn, she pushed away the love of her life. she wanted things that he didn't and they weren't willing to compromise, unfortunately. i see pieces of myself in billie, though. she's definitely misunderstood and i fear people did take her kindness for granted.

and then there's dean. although i wasn't rooting for dean to end up with billie, because hello, her and mick were soulmates, i would gladly take dean for myself. a thoughtful, kind, compassionate, successful trauma surgeon? sign me right up. part of me does believe that he did deserve better.

now, mick and billie's story starts in high school and they're so precious. they built a friendship but the entire time, you feel and know that there is lingering feelings that run deeper below the surface. both were just too afraid to admit it. they dated throughout college and then she moved to new york, while he stayed back in wisconsin. long distance was difficult and they broke up due to this. but they were meant to be and i was rooting for them since page one.

until.... her best friend passes away and she finds out he slept with after they broke up and neither one told her. i just can't move past that. it felt like such an unecessary thing to add to the plot? and half the book just felt so rushed and all over the place. i was honestly fighting myself not to dnf because the first half was just so good. and now you're wondering if mick is the father of erin's daughter. what an emotional rollercoaster.

dean and billie dated for a good portion of the story and i felt for him because the entire time, you just knew that she was not over mick, no matter how hard she tried. and mick had his own girlfriend in the present and then she just disappeared? didn't even clear up what happened there??? unless i just blacked out or something.

needless to say, i am still so grateful for this arc. thank you!!

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love You More evoked a deep-rooted sense of nostalgia and not only because half of the plot was told via flashback. While I don’t think I ever finished reading Something Blue, Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed has always been a soft spot for me. When I realized that this novel took place in the Pewaukee/Waukesha area, my sense of nostalgia became even more palpable, as my father and brother lived there while I was in high school and college (they lived directly on Pewaukee Lake, so you can imagine how I felt during those scenes). However, in all honesty, my feelings about Love You More may be tied more to the affection I have for Giffin’s previous work and Pewaukee than to the characters and the storyline of the novel itself.

Such a conclusion is even more evident when I reflect on the fact that the narrative structure/perspective made it so Love You More felt like a story was being told to me, rather than a story taking place. Indeed, within the first page or two, I wondered whether or not I would connect with Billie and later, Mick and Phoebe, given how the writing style played into the ‘person looking into a fishbowl’ effect. Luckily, once the novel switched to the elongated flashback, the connection took more of a hold, especially as Billie relayed her first interaction with Mick. That said, apart from pieces of the current timeline, the majority of the novel was narration/description— a style often used in epilogues to wrap up loose ends. While this choice did not deter my pace or cause my interest to wane, everything felt incredibly passive. Thus, I believe Giffin leaned too much on the descriptions— several more active scenes would have strengthened the impact of the storyline.

Moreover, I felt as though Billie and Mick’s reconciliation were forced and the timeline was shortened significantly. There were so few moments in the current day during which I felt the chemistry they initially shared as teens. The fact that the flashback was half of the novel itself also seemed to tip the balance of the storyline in a direction it shouldn’t have taken without taking the proper time to rebuild Billie and Mick’s foundation.

That said, the plot twist completely threw me— I didn’t expect it at all and Phoebe charmed me within seconds. I consumed the novel very quickly too, finishing it in one night.

Overall, Love You More delivered several moments of reflection, gratitude, and love. These moments, however, were weakened to some extent by the narrative choices and writing style. While it is still worth a read, I’m not sure it will stick with me for very long.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for this eARC!

I've been a fan of Emily Giffin since I first read Something Borrowed, almost 20 years ago when I was in college, so I was beyond excited to get the ARC of her new book.

Love You More follow Billie, as some unexpected news from her ex, Mick, has her finding herself in her hometown in Wisconsin. Now a doctor in NYC and engaged to a man named Dean, she is forced to look at her past.

Let me start off with the good things. I really like all the characters, as people. I liked Billie. She really turned her passion for medicine in a field that she connected with. I love that she had such good friendships, both back in Wisconsin and in NYC. Dean was wonderful - I really thought going in I was going to learn something that made me hate him, but he was great from start to finish. Mick was fine, I would've like to learn more about him, because he did seem really interesting. Phoebe and Erin were fun and added a bit of personality to the story.

All that being said, I did not enjoy this book. I don't think it was necessarily poorly written, but it lacked literally any ounce of depth. It felt like an info dump of things that happened, instead of how characters feel about what happened. No relationships were built. No characters learned anything. There was a whole part about the past - before we even met any of the characters in the present, so it felt hollow, like a list of things you need to know, instead of relating in any way to what was going on; it didn't add enough to the story to take up the amount of time dedicated to it. The "twist" near the end, should've been something that happened earlier in the book to give the characters time to deal with it. Honestly, I feel like the end of this book should've been the beginning. The story should've been about the time Billie spent changing and how she dealt with things in the long-term; Billie learning more about Phoebe, and, for the love of god, there needed to be more than one scene of her alone with Mick. How can you say that any relationship means anything if they aren't given any time to grow and the characters aren't give the chance to grow or learn anything. I was shocked that this book ended where it did. It felt incredibly rushed and I just wanted so much more.

If you love Emily Giffin, I mean, I don't think this book is terrible, but it is extremely surface level. It is a quick read, though, so if you want something quick and easy, this might be for you.

[Corinne Soares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of ARC received from Netgalley.

Emily Giffin delivers another great summer read with Love You More.

One of my favorite storytelling devices is when an author starts in the present and then gradually fills in the past, revealing how the characters arrived at their current circumstances. Giffin does that beautifully here. The story begins with the main character engaged to another man, and as the novel unfolds, we learn the history behind that relationship and the events that shaped her journey.

I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll keep the details vague. What I will say is that a twist brings a love from her past back into her life, and from there the story becomes a series of difficult decisions. As old feelings resurface, she must determine what she truly wants and what kind of future she's willing to fight for.

Loves
• I always enjoy when an author uses the past to gradually bring readers up to speed on present-day dynamics, and it worked especially well here.
• The characters were all well developed and felt like real people.
• While some of the situations were heartbreaking, they were also very realistic.
• Emily Giffin is simply a skilled writer. I always settle into her books quickly, and her storytelling style keeps me invested from the start.

Loving Critiques
This isn't really a critique of the writing so much as a critique of reality itself. Both men in the love triangle regularly frustrated me. Neither did a particularly good job supporting the female lead and her ambitions, often becoming upset when she wouldn't bend her goals and dreams to accommodate theirs. Unfortunately, that dynamic feels very realistic. Women are still frequently expected to sacrifice their aspirations for the people they love, and that reality was frustrating to read even though it felt authentic. I appreciated that the man she ultimately ends up with showed some growth by the end, but honestly, both men spent a good portion of the book testing my patience.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Despite my frustrations with the male characters, I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it, especially for readers who enjoy relationship-driven stories, emotional complexity, and a well-executed love triangle.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.