Delphine is a single mother, living with her talented daughter, Em, and caring for her withdrawn father. After a stroke of luck Delphine lands a new job in the Merhaba Cafe where she finds new friends and ends up practising French with eccentric Letty and singing in a band named ‘The Tiny Pennies’. She also has a secret which casts a shadow over their lives.

This is such a lovely, heartwarming tale with some fantastic, believable characters. It’s a story about grief, family and friendship, as well as about having the courage to start again. It’s never too late to try something new! Life is a journey, as we all know, and it’s not always a bed of roses. But we should never give in, we just have to put one foot in front of the other. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Delphine’s story, I was so sad when I turned the last page. I shall miss these wonderful characters very much. A beautifully written, absorbing and emotional read.

Many thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this book. ( )

Delphine Jones Takes a Chance by 2022 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication.

Delphine is a single mom to Emma, a brilliant, advanced child, while living with and caring for her father, and working as a barista. Her life is in a rut, but an ugly encounter with a former classmate shakes Delphine out of her stupor and opens new doors and fresh opportunities for her, if she is willing to grasp them…

I really enjoyed this novel. Delphine lost her mother at a young age and her father completely shut down. Delphine was bright and very intelligent with a very bright future ahead of her when an unplanned teenage pregnancy knocked her off course. Though her life is bleak, she puts her hopes on Emma, but along the way she sees a glimmer of hope for her own future and betterment with an opportunity to do something meaningful to her.

With the help of her insightful daughter and good teachers and friends, Delphine finds the confidence to take a chance on herself, both in life and in love…

As with anything in life, there are some bumps in the road, and Delphine’s confidence is shaken a time or two, (sometimes comically), but she also knows that it is time to explain the missing pieces to her daughter concerning her absentee father. This requires a dual timeline format, to some degree, as the reader goes back in time to Delphine’s teenage years, her relationship with her boyfriend, and how she came to be alone and pregnant and why she made the decisions she did at the time.

The mystery eventually unfolds and allows her small family to make peace with the past and begin the process of living life to the fullest again.

I didn’t always agree with Delphine’s opinions- but I did admire the choices she made when she could have taken a different route, and she reaped the blessings, which are immeasurable.

Overall, a really nice story about a woman who has a personal awakening and takes charge of her life, because ultimately it was up to her to get things done- but it was also about the people in her orbit who encouraged her and inspired her and cared enough to help her along her way to a bigger better life.

4+ stars ( )

Em & Me is Beth Morrey's second novel. Despite having a lovely hardback copy of Saving Missy on my TBR pile I have yet to pick it up and I'm feeling rather annoyed with myself about it as Em & Me is absolutely wonderful and beautifully written, with characters and settings that leap right off the page.

The 'Me' is Delphine Jones. Her beloved French mother died when she was 13 and her life consists of herself, her clever daughter Em, and her father who is still struggling with his grief. To say their life is hard is an understatement but Delphine is proud and determined to cope. There's a big difference between surviving and thriving though and what was so special about this book was witnessing the awakening that Delphine experiences as she gradually realises her life can be so much more.

The characterisations in this book are superb and three-dimensional. As Delphine narrates her story we are able to see how each character helps to effect the change in her. New friends bring her out of herself, get her singing, playing music, and learning again after giving up so much when she had Em. I loved all the characters but I had a real soft spot for Letty, an elderly woman whom Em speaks French with, and who was hilariously acerbic whilst also giving Delphine some much needed self-confidence. This is very much a story of female strength, both the inner strength that Delphine must find everyday, and the strength her new friendships provide.

Em & Me is completely and utterly glorious, and I didn't want to put it down. I was enthralled from start to finish, thoroughly immersed in Delphine's life and her world. I think this is the kind of story that, when done well, is unforgettable, and that's what Em & Me is for me. I want to step inside the book, be a part of Delphine's new circle of friends, go to the jazz nights at Merhaba - the café where she works and now performs, meet Dylan from her band and his dog, Bernadette, and sit around a piano with her, her father and Em. I adored this uplifting, inspiring and joyous book. ( )