Headline signs Stone novel that ‘combines heartstopping romance with emotional punch’

Headline Review has signed Love, Holly, the new novel from Emily Stone, the pseudonymous author of Always, in December, for publication in autumn 2023.

Sherise Hobbs, publisher, acquired world rights from Sarah Hornsley at Peters Fraser + Dunlop, with North American rights snapped up by Hilary Rubin Teeman at Bantam Dell.

The publisher’s synopsis reads: “Every December, Holly writes to a stranger who is spending Christmas alone, and every year she receives a letter from another lonely person. This year, to Holly’s surprise, the anonymous letter mentions a place she knows all too well; a place where she left her broken heart.

“Holly decides to find the person who wrote the Dear Stranger letter. Because maybe, by helping someone else with their loneliness, she can fix her own.”

Hobbs said: “Love, Holly sweeps the reader on a journey from London to romantic Venice in a novel which combines heartstopping romance with emotional punch. We could not be happier about introducing Emily Stone’s gorgeous new characters to her thousands of fans next year.”

Stone, whose novels have been sold in 10 languages, said: “I’m so thrilled to be publishing another book with Headline in the UK and Bantam Dell in the US – and very excited for readers to meet Holly next year.

“The idea for a Dear Stranger club, where people come together to support each other at a time when loneliness can feel exacerbated, has been playing around my mind for a while so I’m very happy this idea will now see the light of day, thanks to my two brilliant editors and wonderful agent!”