Em & Me

Em & Me is a charming novel by Beth Morrey. Having read and adored her debut novel Saving Missy, I was excited to dive straight into this book.

Delphine, a single mum still lives in the same flat since her childhood. Having lost her mum at a young age and supporting her still grieving father, Delphine has had to follow a different path than the one she had once dreamed of. She was an A* pupil with high hopes of furthering her education when she fell pregnant. Stuck in dead-end jobs, sharing a bed with her daughter and looking after her father has been all she's known for so long. Until she meets Em's teacher who sees much potential in Em's future and opens up new avenues for her own future. But to do so, Delphine will need to take a leap of faith in herself and let go of the past that has had a firm hold of her.

Morrey has a way of engaging the reader through her strong characteration and storyline. I was rooting for Delphine to succeed, to rekindle her passion and excitement for life. The relationship with her father was very touching. I loved the larger than life character, Letty Riche, who, despite her straight talking and hard shell, was a softie underneath her exterior. Their relationship was charming, although there were some bumps along the way.

This is a book you could inhale in one dose if life didn't get in the way. Secrets unravel slowly as the book progresses, and there are a few twists that I didn't anticipate. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can not wait to see what Morrey writes next. If you are looking for a book with a big heart, then Em & Me is the one.