Book Review: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Instagram-worthy moments and heart-wrenching truths— that’s what I expected, but Taylor Jenkins Reid’s One True Loves absolutely shattered my expectations. After hearing so many readers rave about her work, I dove in, ready to embrace a new favorite author—and boy, did she take me on a rollercoaster I didn’t see coming!
The premise centers around Emma Blair, a woman caught in a love triangle that makes even my aversion to them feel like a soft spot. Emma’s journey through grief and love redefined what I thought I knew about moving on. I mean, how can you not feel your heart crack open when she muses, “When you love someone, it seeps out of everything you do”? This quote captures the essence of love’s impact in the loudest, most intimate way.
Emma’s character arc is the star of the show—beautifully raw and painfully relatable. The way she navigates her love for two men, Jesse and Sam, is a masterclass in emotional complexity. Jesse, the ghost of her past, once lost to the sea, embodies a haunting longing, while Sam, the steadfast present, represents the hope of moving forward. My heart ached for them both. Reid’s depiction of grief is stark and illuminating; she captures the essence of loss with the line, “When you lose someone you love, it’s hard to imagine that you’ll ever feel better”—an elegy for heartbreak that I swear I could feel deep in my bones.
Reid’s writing style is eloquent yet poignant, with a pacing that felt natural and intimate. I was completely enveloped in Emma’s world, her struggles and victories resonating with my own life experiences. She has this mesmerizing ability to balance the heavy with the hopeful, wrapping weighty themes in layers of coziness. It’s like being snuggled in a blanket—just when you feel comfortable, it’s snatched away, leaving you in the cold. Wrecked, is an understatement.
Not only did I find myself quoting the book (hello, the line about love and heartbreak being akin to waking up to an alarm clock is just gold), but I also kept thinking about my own moments of love, loss, and growth. Reid invites you to reflect on your life timeline, forcing you to confront those pivotal moments that split your existence into ‘before’ and ‘after’. She writes, "Just because something isn’t meant to last a lifetime doesn’t mean it wasn’t meant to be," and wow, did that hit home!
For readers who may shy away from love triangles, trust me—this story makes you reconsider your stance. Reid transforms an overused trope into a multi-faceted exploration of love that feels fresh and painfully beautiful.
In conclusion, I can’t recommend One True Loves enough. If you’re someone who cherishes deep character exploration and emotional truths, this book will resonate with you. Reid’s vivid storytelling will wrap around your heart, making the experience intense yet liberating. I came for a casual read, but I left with a deeper understanding of love in its myriad forms, leaving me excited to explore Reid’s other works.
Grab a copy, curl up in your favorite reading spot, and get ready to feel every emotion under the sun. You won’t regret it. ✨