"One True Loves"

“One True Loves”

Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“One True Loves” is a beautifully written romantic drama by the great author, Taylor Jenkins Reid. I have become a big fan of hers lately, so perhaps my review is clouded by my interest and recent love for her books. However, I don’t care. I really loved this book and here’s why!

“O.T.L”. is about a woman named Emma Blair, whose husband who was presumed dead after a helicopter crash comes back. She has become successful, growing into a mature and wise adult, who chooses to take over her parents’ book store, a place she once held contempt for. She has healed after Jesse’s presumed death and fell in love with a childhood friend named Sam. When Jesse returns, after surviving three years on an island and being rescued, Emma finds her next decision impossible: who should she choose?

From the get-go, I love Sam. Sam is stable, kind, forgiving, loving, and sweet to Emma. He helps her heal, naturally, without expecting her to drop all of her sorrow and fall into him. He protects her and helps her grow. So, my initial reaction is support for him. We learn more about Jesse, how he was a fun, free-spirited love of hers. Her first one true love. Now, he’s angry, he’s frightened. He doesn’t understand how Emma could have moved on and why she can’t just let go of Sam. He drives illegally, he initiates sex that makes Emma uncomfortable, and he doesn’t communicate caringly with her friends and relatives. Personally, I have never hated a love interest so much. I know I don’t understand what losing a husband is like, but this is an exceptional case. I still hate him. So, where do we go from here?

I loved this book. I love Taylor Jenkins Reid’s prose. I think she’s honest, wise, and hilarious. She has a levity to this book that makes it feel loving and sweet, but we still understand the implications of every choice she makes. There were so many beautiful and cute moments, like Sam playing “Piano Man”. I can’t really tell you what I thought of the ending, because it might reveal how she makes her choice.

I highly recommend this story. I think this is one of Reid’s best books. So far, I’ve only read three. In order of favorites, 1. “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”, 2. “One True Loves” (this), and 3. “After I Do”. I plan to read her book, “Maybe in Another Life Next”. An additional aspect of this book that made me enjoy it was listening to it as an audiobook. It’s such a natural read, with a fantastic narrator. It was a very easy story to listen to while laying in bed, while falling asleep, when I woke up in the morning, and when eating breakfast. I felt it was easy to concentrate on, but I could also multitask while listening. I fully encourage you to listen to this as an audiobook, or if print is the way to go, I hope you enjoy it that way.