Emmy & Oliver

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: An adorable childhood romance wrapped in the aftermath of a kidnapping.

Opening Sentence: Oliver disappeared after school on a Friday afternoon, way back when we were in second grade, and small things seemed really important and important things seemed too small.

The Review:

I don’t read much contemporary romance but let me tell you, I thought Emmy and Oliver was a fantastic read. Ollie is kidnapped by his father when he is seven years old, and for ten years his friends, family and neighbours’ search for him. Until one day, he’s found and brought home but life isn’t what you think it will be, everyone was so focused on locating him for ten years that no one considered what would show more happen after, and that’s what this story is about.

Sometimes I think that all superstitions-crossing your fingers, not stepping on cracks, shrines like the one in Oliver’s room-come from wanting something too much.

Emmy and Oliver is told through Emmy’s perspective, as Ollie’s best friend from childhood and his next door neighbour, his disappearance affected her the most (after his mother of course). I loved her character, she’s so honest, witty and down to earth that it’s hard not to. Her emotions feel all too real, what if Ollie doesn’t remember her anymore, and what if they can’t rebuild their friendship, what if he’s changed?

“Do you think he even remembers us?” Drew asked. “It’s been ten years.”
“Don’t say that,” I snapped before I could stop myself. Drew’s fork froze in the air as he stared at me. My mom was watching me across the kitchen, too. I had seen that look too many times over the years, the “oh my God, is our child damaged beyond repair?” look and I was in no hurry to see it again.
“Of course he remembers us,” I said. “Why wouldn’t he? We remember him. How could he forget us?”

I sympathized with Emmy because of her over protective parents. They freaked out so much with Oliver’s disappearance that they ended up suffocating their only daughter in response. When they weren’t wrapping Emmy up in bubbletape they were actually quite funny (Oliver’s mother-not so much!)

I looked up at my dad. “Tonight, when Oliver and I were talking, I said I’d still love you, even if you kidnapped me. I really would. I get how he feels.”
My dad smiled. “That’s the nicest and most sociopathic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

Oliver’s character is heavily burdened by the past 10 years because as far as he knew, his mum left him whilst his dad brought him up in New York. And he was mostly happy, something that everyone else finds really hard to believe and Oliver feels guilty about once he learns the truth. Not only that, we get to see Oliver’s anger too, at how everyone’s lives changed without him. He’s heard about their worry and the panic that followed after his kidnapping but as far as he’s concerned, in the last ten years no one ever found him and when he returned, even his mother re-married and had two kids. So the reader can see why Oliver feels out of sorts. It’s really hard on Oliver and he doesn’t know how he fits into this ‘new’ life of his, and the author describes his problems perfectly.

“I just don’t want the next time I see my dad to be in a courtroom,” Olive sighed. “Or through a plate-glass window whilst he’s wearing an orange jumpsuit.”
I just hugged him and didn’t say anything. There wasn’t anything to say. Sometimes there just aren’t enough words to fill the cracks in your heart.

Their romance is adorable, it’s cheesy at times but it starts off steadily, with uncertainty, which was cute. I was a little wary to begin with because it was clear that Emmy felt strongly about Oliver and I thought as soon as he returns there would be love at first sight and full on soppyness but I’m glad that wasn’t the case. Their struggle over getting to know each other again, starting over, rather than picking up where they left off, was real and I liked it.

“After your dad kidnapped you,” I echoed, but the words sounded a lot sadder coming out of his mouth than they did coming out of mine. “Me and Caro and Drew, we all went, but then one of them made Drew cry-I don’t remember what he said, exactly, but he said something-and so Caro kicked the therapist and then I kicked him and we didn’t have to go anymore.”
“Why’d you kick him?”
“Because I,” I said, placing my hand over my heart,” am a very loyal friend, Oliver.”

My favourite part was Emmy’s surfing. It was both her strength and her weakness because she had to go to extreme lengths to hide her hobby from her parents, but it was also her strength because it was the thing that helped define her character. Oliver was a crucial part of her life but he didn’t define her and I loved Emmy’s independence in this story. If nothing else, that’s one reason why I would recommend this story, because it’s not just a love story, it’s so much more.

Notable Scene:

But now Oliver was standing too, his napkin balled up in his hand. “Do you really think he’s gonna kidnap me again? Is that what you think?”

“I don’t know!” Maureen yelled, and now she was standing, too. My mom sat back down reluctantly, then reached for my hand under the table. “I didn’t think he would take you the first time, but guess what? He did!”

“I’m almost eighteen!” Oliver said. “What, do you think he’s just going to drag me away somewhere? I’m five inches taller than him!”

“You are?! Maureen blinked. She seemed to sag a little and her lower lip trembled for a second, but then she regained her composure. “Oliver, listen to me. Keith committed a crime, a big one. He is a criminal. He is not to be trusted. You need to accept that.”

“Stop talking about him like that’s all he did!” Oliver shouted. “He raised me, okay? He taught me how to ride a bike, he took care of me when I was sick!”

“He was an alcoholic!” Maureen cried. “I had no idea if you were hungry, if you were starving…”

“Dad never drank!” Oliver said. “You think you know everything and you don’t! I was fine!”

“What if you got sick? Do you think he would have taken you to an emergency room or a hospital? He didn’t even take you to the goddamn dentist!”

“He and I were there, Mom. You weren’t!”

FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Emmy & Oliver. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

What happens when someone who disappeared suddenly is found? What is the aftermath like? This book takes a look at the emotional impact of a child spirited away by the non-custodial parent and "found" as a teen. The most interesting thing about this novel is how Ms. Benway manages to hit all the emotions - relief, awkwardness, ambivalence, anger, mistrust. Oliver's disappearance doesn't just affect him or his family - his friends left behind also struggle with the repercussions of fear that ripple through the community. It's a great and nuanced story.

Actual rating: 4.5/5

This was an incredibly cute book! I was kinda scared going into this because of all the hype that surrounded it. I mean, I read a ton of glorious reviews and I just started thinking it couldn't possibly be as good as I was starting to expect it, could it? Well, turns out it TOTALLY could. Granted, my expectations by the time I actually picked it up had shot way over the roof, and the book did turn out to be slightly different than I had thought, but still this was a really good read.

For starters, I really liked the characters. All of the characters had their own personality and unique traits, even the secondary ones. So often I find books in which secondary characters just all feel like they could very easily fade show more into the background and I would hardly notice. Not this time. Every character had a personal story to develop, some issue to face, some obstacle to overcome, and they all did it in a very realistic way. I particularly liked the fact that the parents were present, and they behaved surprisingly like normal people, facing their fears and making mistakes no doubt, but ultimately trying to do the best by their children.

I also enjoyed getting to know the group of friends. Caro and Drew didn't seem to be there just to fill in the gaps left by Emmy and Oliver's story. They were as much a part of the story as the main characters, and they are just the kind of friends every teenager (and let's face it, every adult) would wish for. They're the kind of friends you can always count on, no matter what; the ones you can argue with, and laugh with; share your joys and your troubles. But they don't just fall in the typical YA "supportive-best-friend" category. They have their own issues to face and their own lives to figure out, and that was just incredibly refreshing.

As for the main characters, well, Emmy and Oliver are definitely the centre of the book (guess the title kind of gave that away). Emmy has been waiting for her best friend to return ever since he disappeared, cherishing the last memories of him that she made. Oliver has no idea who is anymore. His whole life has been turned upside down, and he has to start building it again, without really knowing whom he can trust. I liked the way their relationship built up slowly, and how it developed after that. Honestly, these two were SO incredibly cute!

I also liked the way they worked to solve their issues, and they did a lot of growing up by the end of the book. They're trying to figure it all out as they go along, when they have had some really unusual and scarring experiences, and it is great. Oh, and Emmy's sarcasm and wit were just THE BEST!

Overall, this is really good read. I did have some issues with the plot (which I won't go into because spoilers!), but it was pleasant to read, had some adorable characters and was just the right mix of sad and funny. Definitely a must-read if you love YA contemporary! show less

Ever since her best friend and next door neighbour, Oliver, was kidnapped ten years ago, Emmy's parents are extremely overprotective of their only child. At seventeen she feels as though she's not allowed to grow up. But now Oliver has returned home. After being picked up by his father from school one day, Oliver spent the last ten years with him, not knowing he was kidnapped and thinking his mother didn't want him anymore. With Oliver back, Emmy hopes to get to know him again and see where their friendship takes them.


The whole book came together so well - the pacing, the characters, the writing - everything was so, sooo good. It didn't lack anything. There were no slow parts. I loved Emmy. I loved Oliver. I loved Emmy and Oliver show more together. I loved her relationship with her best friends Caro and Drew, their bond felt strong and genuine. Caro and Drew themselves were three-dimensional with their own joys and problems. Her relationship with her parents was frustrating but realistic. Even the ending was great. There's nothing about this book that I disliked. show less

4.5 review

This book is probably one of the cutest books I have read this year. You would think it is a romance-filled story but it so much more than that. It also focuses on friendship, family, self-discovery and growing up.

Emmy and Oliver had been the best of friends when they were kids—they were inseparable. One day, Oliver’s father kidnaps him which leaves the town, especially Emmy, distraught. They stay hopeful that one day Oliver will appear. This kidnapping left many scarred especially Emmy’s parents. They are very protective her. Her mom doesn’t even want Emmy to move away to college, saying that Emmy is better off at a nearby community college. What no one knows is that Emmy has applied to a college 2 hours from home, show more where she will be able to join the surf team, another secret she has been keeping from her parents. Ten years later, Oliver returns and everyone is so happy about the news but Oliver feels like he has been kidnapped all over again. Will Emmy be able to rekindle their friendship?

This story is complex and sensitive, yet beautiful. Every relationship was much highlighted in the story with nothing left to the imagination. We get to read about Emmy, Drew and Caro’s friendship, which has to be by far the best friendship ever. There is so much witty banter that will leave you laughing out loud and wanting a friendship like they have. We also get to read about the relationship that Emmy has with her parents, which isn’t an easy one. Her parents are overprotective and they treat her like she is a child. I mean, she has to be in bed by 10pm! Like…what?! I related to Emmy and her parents because mine can get protective at times but never to that extent. Let’s not forget about Oliver’s half sisters! They are so cute and very, very hyper. Emmy babysits them to help Oliver’s mom, who doesn’t know how to work with Oliver. She feels like Oliver’s ignoring her and doesn’t want to have a relationship with her but then Emmy comes to the rescue and:

“I’m actually legally obligated to ignore her [Emmy’s mom]. The other teenagers and I made a pact. There were lawyers involved; it’s a whole thing now.”

I love all of the characters, especially Emmy and Drew. They are so funny and amazing. Oliver is a complex character that the reader will love. At first, I was skeptical about his character but my love for him grew. I must say, while I did laugh for the majority of the book, I was a ball of emotions, too. We get short chapters on Emmy and Oliver as kids, which had me a mess. I would tear up at every chapter that was written in their past. And the last chapter? Wow! That one did bring the tears. I’m so glad I read this beautifully written story with funny and relatable characters. show less

I am writing this review as I am still crying from the last 20 or so pages of the book. Robin Benway is amazing and she deserves all the praise in the world. I loved this book from cover to cover, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

You can guess that it's YA or that it's a love story, but it is so much more than that. It is about family, about fear, and about happiness, or filling the gaping hole inside of you with the one true thing you're missing.

Reading this book was like having a best friend for a week. It was intimate, and felt like a hug. I read it before work, at my lunch, and at Starbucks. I read it in bed at night. I languished in it, and never let it go. Until I just finished it, tears rolling down my show more eyes.

Please buy Emmy & Oliver, or borrow it from your library, and read it. Follow Robin Benway on twitter and tumblr. Wish that you could write your way into someone's soul like she has done into mine. show less

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/when-face-milk-carton-becomes-boy-next-do...

Oliver's dad kidnapped him when he was seven, and his friend and next-door neighbor Emmy has been waiting for his return (and keeping secrets from her overprotective parents) ever since. But when he does come back, ten years later, it's different than Emmy expected - and different than Oliver's mom expected, too. Emmy and Oliver do find their way back to each other, though, and slowly Oliver's side of the story emerges. As in The Face on the Milk Carton, it's not a black-and-white, good guys and bad guys scenario.

While Emmy is thrilled with Oliver's return once they become friends again (and then more), it's not the only thing in her life: there are her show more friends, Caro (youngest of six) and Drew (handsome and gay), her secret passion for surfing, and her secret application to UC San Diego. The secrets do come out eventually, and Emmy's parents reactions are realistic.

There were one or two false notes; for example, at one point (p. 316), Emmy says she doesn't have Maureen's phone number, but if she's been babysitting for Maureen's twin daughters for the past few years, she would definitely have her number. This was just a minor blip though.

As the FYA review on Kirkus pointed out, Emmy & Oliver might remind readers of The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney or Sweethearts by Sara Zarr; to those, I'd add a dash (or more) of I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, and perhaps Althea & Oliver by Cristina Moracho as well. And if all those don't make you head for the nearest copy of Emmy & Oliver, well, we have different taste in books.

Emmy & Oliver is both realistic and romantic. Caro and Drew are well-rounded and funny - they each had a couple lines that made me laugh out loud - and the unusual drama of Oliver's kidnapping and return is balanced with everyday life. I inhaled this book in a day and will be reading more of this author.

Quotes

Sometimes I think that all superstitions...come from wanting something too much. (5)

We live in a tolerant community, so long as there's nothing to tolerate. (15)

[My dad] taught Caro and Drew and me some Beatles songs and told us that whenever we saw [reporters] with cameras, we should just sing those songs. At the time, I thought it was just fun to sing really loud, but then I realized what an evil genius my dad is. To broadcast Beatles lyrics, you have to have the rights to the songs... (18)

"Coming home feels like being kidnapped all over again." (Oliver to Emmy, 113)

"I like talking to you. You listen."
"Sometimes, I think, I just don't know what to say....I don't want to say the wrong thing, so I don't say anything at all. That's not the same as being a good listener."
"That's actually exactly what it means." (Oliver & Emmy, 131)

"It's hard when everyone else moves on, but you can't." (211)

"You still love the little kid that left, but I don't think you like the one that came back!" (Oliver to Maureen, 233)

I wondered if this was what adulthood was supposed to feel like, suddenly needing my parents and having them be just out of reach, leaving me to fend for myself. (241)

"He didn't do anything but he keeps getting hurt, anyway." (Emmy to her dad, 246)

"I don't think this will end with everyone getting what they want, Ollie." (Emmy, 309) show less