Book Review: Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

Title: Emmy & Oliver
Author: Robin Benway
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Release Date: June 23rd 2015
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.

She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.

Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.

He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.

Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.

I don't think I've mentioned this before, last year I watched the show Finding Carter (which is really good by-the-way and it deals almost with the same premise) and when I heard about this book I was all on board. Every time I read the description for Emmy & Oliver I wanna cry cry cry until there's no more tears left. From the get-go I knew I was going to be feel all kinds of heartache, joy, and confusion and everything in between. But what I didn't expect was to be so consumed by Emmy & Oliver that I took a day off from the rest of the world. 

Emmy & Oliver are a gem, not only was it my first read of 2015 but it was an all out fantastic read. This book was so much more than just a kid getting kidnapped and coming back. This story showed the ups and downs of families and how the strength of friends can get you through so much. Oh and I especially liked how Robin Benway brought a lightness to Emmy & Oliver with humor. They were times when a heavy talk would arise and one of the characters would make a joke and it would make the other person smile and yeah I'm pretty much a goner when it comes to scenes like that.

I have another confession to make, I did not want this book to ever end, I want to always know about Emmy and Oliver. These two characters quickly become one of my favorites especially Emmy with her cute and endearing ways. And I would absolutely love a novella in Oliver's point of view (I'm being greedy I know but I can't help it.)

Emmy & Oliver was everything I hoped for and more, this story and the characters have wrapped their way into my heart and I could not love Robin Benway any more than I do right now. Believe me you won't be getting anything done once you start reading this book so be prepared to not have any plans.