Let's Talk! Why Emma Mills Should Be Your Next Obsession
Hello friends! Let's Talk! is a (probably unoriginal)
new feature in which I'll talk about a wide variety
of books and topics, preferably in list format!
∙∙∙∙∙·♫·*·♪..♪·*·♫·∙∙∙∙∙
Okay this post is a hella long time coming, but it is a post that must. Be. Done.
So, some backstory, yeah?
I hate contemporary books.
Okay, so hate is probably too strong a word, but I didn’t like reading them before. I read them on a rare occasion and always with apprehension. Turns out, I’m very picky about what kind of contemporary books I read.
Last December, a miracle happened: I picked up a book by Emma Mills. Her latest, Foolish Hearts. And, oh my god, I fell in love. I read her other two books—First & Then, This Adventure Ends—back to back because I couldn’t get enough of her words. She’s amazing.
So, naturally, I want you guys to experience her books too. Should you be reading books by Emma Mills? Absolutely and here are a few reasons why:
1. friendships
The friendships in Mills’ books, especially in Foolish Hearts and This Adventure Ends, are one of the highlights of her books. The characters are all authentic and real and they just jump off the page, they are just that fantastic. They’re all important to the story, not sidelined for plot purposes. The crew Mills’ main characters find themselves a part of end up being one of the best things about the book! Their camaraderie, inside jokes, deep talks—everything, it is just magnificently done and I love it.
They may be side characters but they honestly don’t feel like that? They’re just so much more, if that makes sense? Because they’re just so entwined with the main characters' and their arcs that they don’t seem like names on a page or whatever. I don’t know, I’m probably not making sense, but ahhh, they are fantastic. Just fantastic.
They may be side characters but they honestly don’t feel like that? They’re just so much more, if that makes sense? Because they’re just so entwined with the main characters' and their arcs that they don’t seem like names on a page or whatever. I don’t know, I’m probably not making sense, but ahhh, they are fantastic. Just fantastic.
2. fandoms
Yes!! Fandom!! In Foolish Hearts, it’s a boy band that Iris is lowkey—okay highkey—a fan of. In This Adventure Ends, it’s a Teen Wolf-esque TV show Sloane’s father becomes obsessed with. Fandoms are a huge part of both books and it is handled so, so well! Reading both books made my heart so happy because a) it’s a healthy depiction of what a lot of us feel for our favourite TV shows/movies and bands; b) they’re never belittled for liking what they like or how much they like it; and c) it’s done so authentically.
3. family
It’s kind of shocking how well balanced everything is in all three of Mills’ books. All the main characters’ families are present throughout the novel, be it a sister, a brother, or cousin. They’re a crucial part to the story! I lovelovelove that they’re there at all instead of just focusing on the love interest or for convenience. Plus, the parents are all funny and cool, and the siblings are equally amazing (and provide that natural sibling banter). It just. All of it makes me so emotional, I need a minute.
4. relatable main characters
[deep breathing because each of her main characters are basically me on various ways]
Awkward? Sarcastic? Sorta witty, sorta weird? Okay, yeah that’s… that’s basically me in every way and whew.
The best part about being in the heads of Sloane, Claudia, and Devon is that, they’re both like me and like my best friend. Their narration is just fantastic and their voice literally shines through the pages. It feels like I actually know them! (I’d actually sort of love to meet them because hot damn, if they don’t just get me.)
They might not be the life of the party or the girl everyone knows the name of, but they felt like how I was during high school: just cruising by, sort of knowing people, but not really knowing them save for some close friends, y’know? And that was the best part of it—the whole school setting, being a teen, it didn’t feel awkward or cringey or forced. It felt authentic.
The actual best part is that the romance is never really the main focal point. It’s just one of many things going on in the book that ties everything up together. To be fair, it gets a little maddening because slow burn always kills me lmao, but it’s so worth it! Watching the main character slowly becoming friends and then realising her feelings and ending in a satisfactory manner.
All of it makes me feel warm and happy inside which is a Strange Feeling™ but it’s a great feeling.
Awkward? Sarcastic? Sorta witty, sorta weird? Okay, yeah that’s… that’s basically me in every way and whew.
The best part about being in the heads of Sloane, Claudia, and Devon is that, they’re both like me and like my best friend. Their narration is just fantastic and their voice literally shines through the pages. It feels like I actually know them! (I’d actually sort of love to meet them because hot damn, if they don’t just get me.)
They might not be the life of the party or the girl everyone knows the name of, but they felt like how I was during high school: just cruising by, sort of knowing people, but not really knowing them save for some close friends, y’know? And that was the best part of it—the whole school setting, being a teen, it didn’t feel awkward or cringey or forced. It felt authentic.
5. adorable romance
Maybe this was a mistake because I could go on about the love interests for a while, because AHHHHH. They’re just. All such sweet, adorable boys. One might be a little broody but it’s so easy to like all of them! It’s also a slow burn kind of thing that spans the entire book so each interaction, each scene with them, makes them grow on you!The actual best part is that the romance is never really the main focal point. It’s just one of many things going on in the book that ties everything up together. To be fair, it gets a little maddening because slow burn always kills me lmao, but it’s so worth it! Watching the main character slowly becoming friends and then realising her feelings and ending in a satisfactory manner.
All of it makes me feel warm and happy inside which is a Strange Feeling™ but it’s a great feeling.
0 Comments