I have not had the best luck with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s historical fiction books. They have never quite fit my reading taste, so I decided to explore her earlier contemporary romance novels to see if those would be a better match. I started with One True Loves.

I first came across the story through the movie trailer, but chose to read the book before watching the adaptation. At the beginning, I struggled to get into the story. The early chapters felt choppy, almost like I was reading the highlight reel of Emma’s relationships with Jesse and then Sam. The past timeline skimmed the surface instead of digging deeper, which made it hard to connect with the characters or care about their circumstances. On top of that, the chapters are extremely long, which slowed down my reading momentum. Luckily, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Julia Whelan, one of my favorites, which made the experience much smoother. She did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and guiding us through Emma’s emotional journey.

The narrative alternates between past and present, but I found the past sections too thinly developed to make me care. Once the story shifted to the present, especially after Jesse’s dramatic return, everything improved. Suddenly, the characters felt layered and real, the emotions hit harder, and I found myself tearing up at several heartfelt moments. Emma became more relatable, and I finally felt invested in her journey.

That said, the book is not without flaws. I disliked the cheating trope when Emma became physically involved with both men, and I often disagreed with her decisions. I would have loved multiple POVs, which could have given readers insight into Jesse and Sam’s perspectives. Some character choices also felt off, like Sam allowing Emma to run away with Jesse to the cabin despite being engaged, or Jesse’s lack of depth when processing such a traumatic survival experience. The book skirts around issues like PTSD, which left some plot points feeling unrealistic or underdeveloped.

Even so, by the end, I truly enjoyed the story. The conclusion worked for me, even though it has been divisive among readers. I found it satisfying, thoughtful, and filled with meaningful reflections on love, marriage, loss, and moving forward. Despite a few heavy moments, the book ultimately felt hopeful and optimistic. It raises the powerful question, “What would I do in this situation?” which makes it an excellent choice for book club discussions.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the movie adaptation. After finishing the book, I watched the film and found it underwhelming. If I had to rate it, I would give it two stars out of five. The movie felt rushed and shallow, giving no time to truly develop the characters or build an emotional connection. The chemistry between the actors fell flat, and several scenes felt awkward or unnecessary. If you have read the book, the movie will not add to your experience. If you have only seen the film, I strongly recommend picking up the novel instead; it is a much richer and more rewarding version of the story.

In the end, One True Loves showed me a different side of Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I am now curious to explore more of her earlier romance novels. While the book is not perfect, it is a moving and thought-provoking read that I would recommend, though I would definitely say to skip the movie.

**This book is part of a real-time reaction episode, which you can listen to here.