What do you think?
Rate this book
Unbecoming Emma
Can you ever really escape your family's past? It’s the question at the heart of Unbecoming Emma, an enchanting new novel about deeply buried secrets and the unbreakable bonds between mothers, daughters, and the friends who become family. In the charmingly odd small town of Calypso Springs, Emma Rosen's once-quiet life becomes a whirlwind of magical chaos after her father's death. Curious letters and bouquets materialize from nowhere, but most baffling, her father has become their backyard willow tree. When Cassie McCormack, the insufferable mother-tornado Emma never knew, unexpectedly arrives in town very much alive, and harboring an agenda, it’s not a heartfelt reunion. Emma shuts her out, but she doesn’t stay out for long. Cassie and Bob, Emma’s beloved dog, both fall ill with a mysterious sickness and Emma discovers the unexpected connection between them that’s brought pain to the McCormack women for generations. Desperate for answers about how to save them, Emma unravels the mystery of her past, one lie at a time, and suddenly questions everything she thought she knew about her family and herself. With their hourglass running out of sand, they learn the key to their survival lies locked in an enchanted box, its secrets fiercely guarded. Can mother and daughter forgive the sins of the past and find a way to open it before it’s too late? Sure to resonate with fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen, Unbecoming Emma is a captivating story infused with humor and heart about second chances and the magical power of forgiveness.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2024
About the author
Kelly Byrne
6 books17 followersKelly Byrne created photography, invented the wheel, and taught Alanis Morissette the meaning of ironic. She has broken the speed of light typing. Twice. In under a year, she’s written 1,296 novels. They’re all New York Times best sellers with over one billion sales worldwide. On a whim, she discovered the meaning of life and created a crossword puzzle with the answer. No one has solved it. She’s never prone to hyperbole, always tells the truth, and loves writing about herself in third person. Her home is a castle in the sky above Los Angeles. There, you’ll find her playing badminton with her superhero boyfriend, snuggling her very silly dog, and breaking the speed of light for the third time on her 1,297th novel while listening to an absurd number of true-crime podcasts. You can also find her saving the world’s problems at authorkellybyrne.com.
She’d love to hear from you, so if you’d like to chat about important things like the meaning of life, or chocolate, email her at kelly@authorkellybyrne.com or find her on the socials with @authorkellybyrne.
She’d love to hear from you, so if you’d like to chat about important things like the meaning of life, or chocolate, email her at kelly@authorkellybyrne.com or find her on the socials with @authorkellybyrne.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 27, 2024
In a Nutshell: A family-drama with a decent dollop of magical realism. The premise was great, but the execution was a little too longwinded and confusing for me. This writing style doesn’t usually click with me, so take this review with a pinch of salt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Mixed feelings all the way. Some of the negatives are due to my reading preferences, so they may not be applicable to all readers.
🌷 The plotline is quite interesting. The strange magical occurrences and the antagonism of mother and daughter keep curiosity alive over the 384 pages. There are also many complicated parental relationships.
🍂 The start is very slow and somewhat repetitive, with Emma’s attitude and rambling being a slight turn-off. But a bigger issue for me is that most of the reveals come out through extended conversations. Even the climactic disclosure is through a lengthy infodump, albeit a magical one. This overdependence on conversations never works for me.
🌷 The story is set in a small town named Calypso Springs, so it comes with all the positive small-town vibes of close connections and deep bonds of friendship.
🍂 It also comes with all the small-town trappings such as gossip and inquisitiveness.
🌷 It is a novelty to have a mother not acting in a OTT emotional manner after reuniting with her daughter after almost four decades. Cassie’s character had great potential and it is a challenge to figure out why she is so antagonistic towards everyone.
🍂 The third-person writing keeps her a bit distant from us. Also, her turnaround is not that convincing.
🌷 The magical realism in this book is imaginative, what with a dead man turning into a willow, flowers appearing in various and unexpected forms, and a strange otherworldly talent in some characters.
🍂 The magical realism bits are far and few between, and their cause takes ages to be uncovered. I’d have loved more of the magic coming more consistently throughout the story.
🌷 Every single character harbours multiple secrets. Many of these are intriguing, especially that mysterious indestructible box.
🍂 The quantum of secrets soon goes into overload. Moreover, the secrets are a bit repetitive, involving the same kind of reveal. With so many families harbouring similar secrets but with different people involved, there is a lot of déjà vu. The miscommunication trope is also present in abundance, with characters deliberately delaying the reveal of what they know even after having long-winded conversations.
🌷 There are many complex characters in the book, most of whom are not clearly good or bad. It is tough to decide whom to root for, which adds to the fun of reading.
🍂 Emma never seems or acts forty. I’d have expected her to have some more maturity. Moreover, there are a lot of interconnections across the characters, not just across peers but also in between families and across generations. Combine this with the multitude of secrets, and it became very tricky to remember who was with whom and doing what and why.
🌷 Any dog lover will love Bob. He is an adorable fellow, happy despite his illness.
🍂 It is tough to see him go through pain because of one of the characters.
🌷 There are a few letters in the book, and these are presented in a special handwriting-styled typeface. This makes them look like actual letters.
🍂 It is a bit tough to read this font style on the Kindle!
All in all, this was an interesting indie novel with great family drama and some imaginative magic, but it would have worked better for me if it were tightened a little. There was too much of secret keeping, rambling and miscommunication for my liking. Readers who don’t mind this and are okay with long conversations between characters might click better with the book.
Hitting the midway mark as my feelings are pretty balanced on either side.
3 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via StoryOrigin. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
After her father passes away, forty-year-old Emma’s life goes topsy-turvy in ways she never expected. Strange letters and flower bouquets keep popping up around her, her father has somehow reincarnated as a willow tree, and even more baffling is the reappearance of her mother Cassie, whom Emma had presumed dead all these years. Cassie is back in town with some mysterious agenda just as Emma’s beloved pet dog Bob is ill with a strange illness. As Emma and Cassie strive to make sense of their new normal while also attempting not to kill each other, many old mysteries and family secrets come tumbling out.
The story comes to us in the first-person perspective of Emma and the third-person perspective of Cassie.
Mixed feelings all the way. Some of the negatives are due to my reading preferences, so they may not be applicable to all readers.
🌷 The plotline is quite interesting. The strange magical occurrences and the antagonism of mother and daughter keep curiosity alive over the 384 pages. There are also many complicated parental relationships.
🍂 The start is very slow and somewhat repetitive, with Emma’s attitude and rambling being a slight turn-off. But a bigger issue for me is that most of the reveals come out through extended conversations. Even the climactic disclosure is through a lengthy infodump, albeit a magical one. This overdependence on conversations never works for me.
🌷 The story is set in a small town named Calypso Springs, so it comes with all the positive small-town vibes of close connections and deep bonds of friendship.
🍂 It also comes with all the small-town trappings such as gossip and inquisitiveness.
🌷 It is a novelty to have a mother not acting in a OTT emotional manner after reuniting with her daughter after almost four decades. Cassie’s character had great potential and it is a challenge to figure out why she is so antagonistic towards everyone.
🍂 The third-person writing keeps her a bit distant from us. Also, her turnaround is not that convincing.
🌷 The magical realism in this book is imaginative, what with a dead man turning into a willow, flowers appearing in various and unexpected forms, and a strange otherworldly talent in some characters.
🍂 The magical realism bits are far and few between, and their cause takes ages to be uncovered. I’d have loved more of the magic coming more consistently throughout the story.
🌷 Every single character harbours multiple secrets. Many of these are intriguing, especially that mysterious indestructible box.
🍂 The quantum of secrets soon goes into overload. Moreover, the secrets are a bit repetitive, involving the same kind of reveal. With so many families harbouring similar secrets but with different people involved, there is a lot of déjà vu. The miscommunication trope is also present in abundance, with characters deliberately delaying the reveal of what they know even after having long-winded conversations.
🌷 There are many complex characters in the book, most of whom are not clearly good or bad. It is tough to decide whom to root for, which adds to the fun of reading.
🍂 Emma never seems or acts forty. I’d have expected her to have some more maturity. Moreover, there are a lot of interconnections across the characters, not just across peers but also in between families and across generations. Combine this with the multitude of secrets, and it became very tricky to remember who was with whom and doing what and why.
🌷 Any dog lover will love Bob. He is an adorable fellow, happy despite his illness.
🍂 It is tough to see him go through pain because of one of the characters.
🌷 There are a few letters in the book, and these are presented in a special handwriting-styled typeface. This makes them look like actual letters.
🍂 It is a bit tough to read this font style on the Kindle!
All in all, this was an interesting indie novel with great family drama and some imaginative magic, but it would have worked better for me if it were tightened a little. There was too much of secret keeping, rambling and miscommunication for my liking. Readers who don’t mind this and are okay with long conversations between characters might click better with the book.
Hitting the midway mark as my feelings are pretty balanced on either side.
3 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via StoryOrigin. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
July 26, 2024
Review of Unbecoming Emma by Kelly Byrne.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, whom I don’t know, and this is my honest review. I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab because of the unique premise, which I loved. I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
What I liked about the book was that right away there were some inexplicable/odd things happening that hooked me. I asked the same questions the main character asked. The author did of a good job of gradually raising the stakes throughout the book so I was right there with Emma, the main character, through her quest. The protagonist Mother-character was very interesting, very mysterious, and I loved how they referred to each other in their heads, which explains exactly the scope of their relationship. Great use of two POVs. It made the read even more interesting. And, the fact the dog plays an important role is a plus.
Overall interesting hook, well thought out inciting event that set gets the story moving, interesting stakes nicely paced through the middle of the book. Good rationale in/after the climax as to why characters behaved so poorly. Good/interesting main characters.
Reader Wish. Too many unnecessary details at the beginning, which made it take too long to get to the inciting event. Climax and end were lengthy as well, with some repetition, and resolving them more quickly would have a greater impact.
SPOILER ALERT: And what about Mary? Why did she leave the love of her life to enter a loveless marriage? Did I miss something? But, because I really what to know says I’m invested in these characters, so great job!
Yes, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, whom I don’t know, and this is my honest review. I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab because of the unique premise, which I loved. I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
What I liked about the book was that right away there were some inexplicable/odd things happening that hooked me. I asked the same questions the main character asked. The author did of a good job of gradually raising the stakes throughout the book so I was right there with Emma, the main character, through her quest. The protagonist Mother-character was very interesting, very mysterious, and I loved how they referred to each other in their heads, which explains exactly the scope of their relationship. Great use of two POVs. It made the read even more interesting. And, the fact the dog plays an important role is a plus.
Overall interesting hook, well thought out inciting event that set gets the story moving, interesting stakes nicely paced through the middle of the book. Good rationale in/after the climax as to why characters behaved so poorly. Good/interesting main characters.
Reader Wish. Too many unnecessary details at the beginning, which made it take too long to get to the inciting event. Climax and end were lengthy as well, with some repetition, and resolving them more quickly would have a greater impact.
SPOILER ALERT: And what about Mary? Why did she leave the love of her life to enter a loveless marriage? Did I miss something? But, because I really what to know says I’m invested in these characters, so great job!
Yes, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
July 8, 2024
This is exactly the kind of book I love. Unbecoming Emma is a beautifully written, witty, and emotionally layered story. Emma is laugh-out-loud funny and her humor was a perfect and necessary balance to the pain she carries. I related to her in so many ways. I also loved the steadfastness and salt-of-the-earth qualities of Tee—the kind of person that everyone deserves in their lives; she keeps you afloat. This story is a powerful one with important messages—how the effects of bigotry can impact multiple generations, how anger can inflict damage on others, love requires sacrifice, and sometimes love and pain are two sides of one coin. Highly recommend this extraordinary story with memorable characters, a truly creative plot, and a huge plus—that wonderful touch of magic!
August 11, 2024
3.75 *
I was drawn to this book by its premise that held two of my favourite things to read about - magical realism and found family. I found more of one than the other but enjoyed the read for the most part.
Emma is grieving for her father who has recently died but she cannot escape the unbelievable fact that he seems to have transformed into the willow tree in their backyard which she is drawn to every night! Wondering if she is losing her mind because everything she knows about her life seems to be suddenly topsy-turvy, she receives another shock when Cassie, the mother she has never known suddenly reappears, behaving with no remorse whatsoever for abandoning Emma for the last 40 years. Unwilling to connect with her mother, Emma finds she has no choice in the matter when her beloved dog Bob is afflicted with a life threatening illness that seems to affect Cassie also and she has to work with her mother to figure out how to save him.
The plot unravels in a slow burn fashion with Emma narrating in first person and Cassie's perspective coming to us in third person. Family secrets that have been hidden for years slowly get revealed even as Emma tries to uncover why her mother left and to cope with the discomfort between them. It's not easy for her to come to terms with a different side of people she has known and trusted for years while also dealing with seeing Bob in so much pain.
The mystery of why Cassie left is intriguing and the hints to the reason made me want to know more. I loved the bits of magical realism sprinkled throughout the story but wanted more of that aspect. Also, it felt like the book meandered a little too much in the middle with the same conversations happening too many times and that could have been avoided.
I loved Bob most of all and wanted him to be okay. His bond with Emma was so sweet and I hated that he had to go through pain for no fault of his own. His interactions with all the humans were my favourite parts of the book.
Emma seemed young for someone who was supposed to be 40, in terms of the way she behaved, but then again she's been isolated from the world and staying with her father in her small town for half of her life so that's understandable to an extent. Cassie as the prickly 'mother invader ' was a refreshingly written character whose attitude and quirks made me look forward to the if and how of her reconciliation with her daughter.No one person was perfect actually and that was what made them real in this story.
Though I wished the narration was crisper,I loved the way it all came together at the end. It was quite touching and the writing was beautiful there.
Overall I found this to be a good, emotional book by an indie author that immersed me in its world for the most part. I received a review copy via StoryOrigin and these are my honest thoughts about the book.
I was drawn to this book by its premise that held two of my favourite things to read about - magical realism and found family. I found more of one than the other but enjoyed the read for the most part.
Emma is grieving for her father who has recently died but she cannot escape the unbelievable fact that he seems to have transformed into the willow tree in their backyard which she is drawn to every night! Wondering if she is losing her mind because everything she knows about her life seems to be suddenly topsy-turvy, she receives another shock when Cassie, the mother she has never known suddenly reappears, behaving with no remorse whatsoever for abandoning Emma for the last 40 years. Unwilling to connect with her mother, Emma finds she has no choice in the matter when her beloved dog Bob is afflicted with a life threatening illness that seems to affect Cassie also and she has to work with her mother to figure out how to save him.
The plot unravels in a slow burn fashion with Emma narrating in first person and Cassie's perspective coming to us in third person. Family secrets that have been hidden for years slowly get revealed even as Emma tries to uncover why her mother left and to cope with the discomfort between them. It's not easy for her to come to terms with a different side of people she has known and trusted for years while also dealing with seeing Bob in so much pain.
The mystery of why Cassie left is intriguing and the hints to the reason made me want to know more. I loved the bits of magical realism sprinkled throughout the story but wanted more of that aspect. Also, it felt like the book meandered a little too much in the middle with the same conversations happening too many times and that could have been avoided.
I loved Bob most of all and wanted him to be okay. His bond with Emma was so sweet and I hated that he had to go through pain for no fault of his own. His interactions with all the humans were my favourite parts of the book.
Emma seemed young for someone who was supposed to be 40, in terms of the way she behaved, but then again she's been isolated from the world and staying with her father in her small town for half of her life so that's understandable to an extent. Cassie as the prickly 'mother invader ' was a refreshingly written character whose attitude and quirks made me look forward to the if and how of her reconciliation with her daughter.No one person was perfect actually and that was what made them real in this story.
Though I wished the narration was crisper,I loved the way it all came together at the end. It was quite touching and the writing was beautiful there.
Overall I found this to be a good, emotional book by an indie author that immersed me in its world for the most part. I received a review copy via StoryOrigin and these are my honest thoughts about the book.
August 6, 2024
Kelly Byrne has knocked it out of the park with her latest novel, "Unbecoming Emma." This book is unique and magical, with a magnetic pull that makes it incredibly difficult to put down—even when work demands attention! If you enjoy the works of Matt Haig, you will absolutely love Kelly Byrne.
From the very first chapter, I was completely invested in Emma's journey. Byrne's enchanting storytelling, filled with unpredicted twists and turns, makes this a standout read that does not disappoint. Spoiler alert – you will fall in love with Bob and need one Bob of your own!
"Unbecoming Emma" is certainly one of the best books I've read this year. Byrne's ability to weave a compelling narrative with vivid detail and depth is impressive and refreshing. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of diving into this remarkable novel, I highly recommend you do so—just be prepared to clear your schedule because you won't want to put it down!
From the very first chapter, I was completely invested in Emma's journey. Byrne's enchanting storytelling, filled with unpredicted twists and turns, makes this a standout read that does not disappoint. Spoiler alert – you will fall in love with Bob and need one Bob of your own!
"Unbecoming Emma" is certainly one of the best books I've read this year. Byrne's ability to weave a compelling narrative with vivid detail and depth is impressive and refreshing. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of diving into this remarkable novel, I highly recommend you do so—just be prepared to clear your schedule because you won't want to put it down!
August 2, 2024
Grab a beach umbrella, towel, & Unbecoming Emma…
Unbecoming Emma is an entertaining beach read that is full of whimsical and wacky characters and themes of family, friendship, bigotry, dis/honesty, courage, and forgiveness. Oh, and torch-wielding lingerie thieves. This book would also make a fantastic gift for anyone who appreciates PG or PG-13 mysteries, especially those who love a bit of magic, adore dogs, and have a sweet tooth. I would have binge-read this book as a 12-year-old reader, and I know my mother - who is in her 70s - will love it as well.
Unbecoming Emma is an entertaining beach read that is full of whimsical and wacky characters and themes of family, friendship, bigotry, dis/honesty, courage, and forgiveness. Oh, and torch-wielding lingerie thieves. This book would also make a fantastic gift for anyone who appreciates PG or PG-13 mysteries, especially those who love a bit of magic, adore dogs, and have a sweet tooth. I would have binge-read this book as a 12-year-old reader, and I know my mother - who is in her 70s - will love it as well.
August 18, 2024
I've been waiting for Unbecoming Emma since falling in love with Kelly Byrne's debut novel, Chasing Kate, twelve years ago. And boy, was it worth the wait.
Unbecoming Emma is a complex and intriguing story, exploring relationships of all kinds (with a complicated mother-daughter relationship center stage). The book has just the right dose of mystique and magic. Byrne is an author who can have you crying and laughing in the span of a paragraph and I love that about her works. Unbecoming Emma is one of these books that leaves a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart long after you turn the final page.
I was offered an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Unbecoming Emma is a complex and intriguing story, exploring relationships of all kinds (with a complicated mother-daughter relationship center stage). The book has just the right dose of mystique and magic. Byrne is an author who can have you crying and laughing in the span of a paragraph and I love that about her works. Unbecoming Emma is one of these books that leaves a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart long after you turn the final page.
I was offered an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2024
A hugely complex narrative
���Unbecoming Emma” is Intense and mystical, full of secrets and symbols.
The title, and the manner it is written, begins the reader’s journey and, only after completing the book, can I dare to assume the reasoning: Emma unravels after her father’s death, feeling completely lost and deliberately isolating herself from all human contact. When she is forced to confront her own past hurts and betrayals, and that of others, she can gradually ‘put herself back together’ to become Emma, with her dog, Bob, playing a pivotal role in her healing journey.
The only feasible manner to evaluate this outstanding novel honestly is by quoting a passage in Chapter 51:
“The first step on the journey to truth is the hardest … Overcoming the …inertia that keeps you … locked into your current pattern of denial and avoidance. But when you have love at your back … the truth isn’t so scary, because … it’s going to be okay.”
I received an ARC via StoryOrigin and this is my honest opinion.
���Unbecoming Emma” is Intense and mystical, full of secrets and symbols.
The title, and the manner it is written, begins the reader’s journey and, only after completing the book, can I dare to assume the reasoning: Emma unravels after her father’s death, feeling completely lost and deliberately isolating herself from all human contact. When she is forced to confront her own past hurts and betrayals, and that of others, she can gradually ‘put herself back together’ to become Emma, with her dog, Bob, playing a pivotal role in her healing journey.
The only feasible manner to evaluate this outstanding novel honestly is by quoting a passage in Chapter 51:
“The first step on the journey to truth is the hardest … Overcoming the …inertia that keeps you … locked into your current pattern of denial and avoidance. But when you have love at your back … the truth isn’t so scary, because … it’s going to be okay.”
I received an ARC via StoryOrigin and this is my honest opinion.
August 9, 2024
i said goodbye to calypso springs, a short while ago, and it made me a little sad. kelly byrne, ever the inviting storyteller, did a first-rate job creating the fictional town in which we meet emma, her cherished golden retriever (robert "bob" redford), and a varied cast of characters who ultimately lead us to remember what matters most in life: love. emma's journey is one of forgiveness that includes a heart-on collision with the mystical verity that nothing (and no one) is ever truly lost; to quote another writer: "all that you touch, you change. all that you change changes you." i highly recommend 'unbecoming emma'. wit, whimsy, and a fair amount of ticker-tugging—it's got it all.
May 22, 2024
Unbecoming Emma hits you with all of the feels. It’s the best kind of emotional roller coaster: sadness, grief, mother-daughter friction, joy and love. Kelly Byrne puts you right into Emma’s brain and brings you along for the ride. All of the characters have depth and relatability. I really felt Emma’s love and grief for her dad, her compass and touchstone. And Bob; don’t get me started on Bob. This pup embodies everything that’s going on. I love the mystical elements that are woven into the real-life themes. I absolutely love this book and can’t wait to hear everyone else’s thoughts.
August 8, 2024
With lively characters and vivid settings, Kelly Byrne paints a magical and mystical story about secrets, loyalty and discovery. I choose to believe our departed loved ones continue to guide us on our earthly journeys and Byrne’s novel captures that spirit well. In the small town of Calypso Springs (great name!), the mysteries created by several generations have to be unraveled and re-woven to unblock the love of all involved. And who doesn’t want to cheer on a fluffy golden retriever named Bob?
May 28, 2024
confused and sad
I´m sorry to say that reading this book confused me and left me in a sad and dark mood, usually my incentive to read books is to escape from every day madness and receive positive vibes. Since it´s always about personal tastes and preferences, others probably won´t struggle with this book like I did and with a different approach and mindset might enjoy it.
I´m sorry to say that reading this book confused me and left me in a sad and dark mood, usually my incentive to read books is to escape from every day madness and receive positive vibes. Since it´s always about personal tastes and preferences, others probably won´t struggle with this book like I did and with a different approach and mindset might enjoy it.
August 15, 2024
Really engaging read. If you love dogs, women's fiction, mother/daughter reconciliation, a family mystery or elements of magical realism, this book is your jam.
August 8, 2024
Emma was happy with her life until her mother Cassie who she thought was dead turns up in Calypso Springs. She has to re- think about everything she believed in. There is a mysterious illness that she and her dog Bob had to go through and a locked box becomes a vital piece of interest. A superb read. I received this ARC copy via Storyorigin and leave a honest review. I recommend this book to other readers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews