**Is This Love?** by **C.E. Reilly** is a heartfelt and emotionally charged contemporary romance that navigates the complexities of young love, personal growth, and the transformative power of relationships. Reilly delivers a story that feels both genuine and thought-provoking, focusing on characters who wrestle with their desires, fears, and the choices that shape their futures. With a focus on emotional depth and vulnerability, the novel explores the spectrum of love—from its most passionate moments to its more painful, uncertain ones.

### Plot Overview:
The novel follows **Emma**, a young woman who is at a crossroads in her life. Emma has always been cautious with her heart, and she’s determined not to fall for someone unless she knows it’s the real thing. However, when she meets **Luke**, a charming and seemingly perfect guy, her emotional barriers begin to crumble. Luke is everything she’s dreamed of—attentive, funny, and passionate—but he also comes with his own baggage and complicated past.

As their relationship evolves, Emma begins to question whether what they share is truly love or if it's something else entirely. Luke’s insecurities and emotional wounds create friction between them, leading to moments of doubt and confusion. Throughout the story, Emma grapples with her feelings for Luke, trying to discern whether the intensity of their connection is true love or just an infatuation that will fade over time.

The narrative follows Emma’s internal struggle, not just with her relationship with Luke, but also with her own self-worth and her dreams for the future. As she faces challenges—both romantic and personal—she begins to understand that love isn’t just about finding the right person but also about learning to love and accept oneself.

### Character Development:
**Emma** is a relatable and multidimensional protagonist. Her internal conflict is the heart of the story, and her evolution from a woman who is wary of love to one who is more open and accepting of her feelings is beautifully depicted. Emma’s fears of vulnerability and commitment feel authentic, making her journey of self-discovery both compelling and poignant.

**Luke** serves as both a source of joy and tension in Emma’s life. On the surface, he seems like the perfect match for her, but as the relationship deepens, Emma begins to uncover the emotional scars he’s been carrying. His struggles with trust, his past relationships, and his hesitations around love make him a layered character who is both endearing and frustrating. His journey mirrors Emma’s in many ways, and together they navigate the challenges of opening up to each other.

The supporting characters in the novel, including Emma’s friends and family, add depth to the story. They provide a range of perspectives on love and relationships, helping Emma reflect on her own experiences. The interactions between Emma and her loved ones are heartfelt and often serve as moments of reflection for her character growth.

### Writing Style:
C.E. Reilly’s writing style is warm, engaging, and emotionally evocative. She has a talent for capturing the internal dialogues of her characters in a way that feels intimate and real. The prose is accessible, with a focus on emotions and relationships, which keeps the pacing steady and the story easy to follow. Reilly does a great job of immersing the reader in Emma’s world, making it easy to empathize with her emotional highs and lows.

The dialogue between characters is natural, allowing the relationships to unfold organically. There is a good balance between moments of romantic tension and introspective moments, which allows the reader to connect with the characters on a deeper level. The pacing is well-managed, with emotional peaks and valleys that mirror the ups and downs of the characters’ personal journeys.

### Themes:
1. **Love and Self-Discovery**: A key theme in *Is This Love?* is the exploration of what it means to truly love someone and, perhaps more importantly, to love oneself. Emma’s journey is as much about her own personal growth as it is about her relationship with Luke. She learns that love doesn’t require perfection, and that embracing vulnerability and emotional openness is an important step toward both personal fulfillment and a lasting relationship.

2. **Emotional Vulnerability**: Both Emma and Luke have emotional walls built up due to past experiences, and the novel explores how breaking down those walls can be both liberating and painful. The book delves into the fear of getting hurt and the courage it takes to take a leap of faith in love.

3. **The Complexity of Relationships**: Reilly doesn’t sugarcoat the complexities of relationships. *Is This Love?* presents a realistic portrayal of what it’s like to be in a relationship where both partners have baggage and insecurities. The novel shows how these challenges can either bring two people closer or drive them apart, and the work that goes into maintaining a relationship is explored thoughtfully.

4. **Growth and Change**: The story is about personal evolution. As Emma faces different challenges—both in her relationship and in her individual life—she learns to adapt and change. The novel underscores the importance of not only finding love but also finding the strength to grow from the experiences love brings.

### Emotional Impact:
*Is This Love?* is an emotionally intense read, particularly for those who enjoy stories about relationships that are messy, complicated, and ultimately rewarding. The novel captures the full range of emotions associated with young love—from the excitement and joy to the pain and uncertainty. Emma’s internal struggles are incredibly relatable, and many readers will find themselves reflecting on their own experiences with love and personal growth.

The emotional rollercoaster that Emma experiences—full of doubt, fear, hope, and ultimately acceptance—will resonate with anyone who has navigated the uncertainties of a relationship or personal self-discovery. The novel emphasizes that love isn’t just about finding the right person, but also about understanding who you are and what you want from a relationship.

### Final Thoughts:
*Is This Love?* by C.E. Reilly is a captivating contemporary romance that delves deep into the complexities of young love, vulnerability, and personal growth. The characters are well-drawn, with emotional depth that makes them relatable and engaging. The exploration of love—both romantic and self-love—is nuanced and heartfelt, making this novel a powerful read for those who enjoy emotional, character-driven stories.

Reilly’s writing style keeps the reader invested, and the themes of self-discovery and emotional vulnerability add a layer of depth to the typical romance narrative. Whether you’re a fan of romance or simply enjoy stories about personal growth and the ups and downs of relationships, *Is This Love?* offers an honest and moving portrayal of what it means to love and be loved.

For readers who enjoy emotional, realistic portrayals of relationships with strong, relatable characters, *Is This Love?* is a must-read. It’s a book that will leave you thinking about the meaning of love long after you turn the last page.

Thought-provoking exploration of the breakdown of a marriage, told from two contradictory perspectives.

J's wife is seeking a divorce, citing mental and physical abuse. J's gender is never revealed, prompting questions of if and how this re-shapes our perception of blame and acceptable behaviour.

This book was such an uncomfortable read. The author deals with many difficult topics really well. This is so well written. An amazing debut

A debut like nothing I’ve read before. It’s told from two different people who are breaking up. I really enjoyed loving and hating both of them! You’ll be torn by who is the most pitiable and who is the most awful. Absolutely compelling.

Not my usual but really enjoyed it, fast paced and kept my interest, characters were well made and I’d read more from the author

Fancied something different to my normal read so decided to give this one a go as it was less than 300 pages.
I was a bit sceptical after reading the reviews. I wish I’d listened to the ones that weren’t keen.
It has been a chore for me to read this book and I’ve only finished as quick as I have because I’ve wanted to get it finished.
I decided to continue reading and not give up as I wanted to find out who J was.
The story is told from J and his wife’s side. Both tell a different story to their relationship.
I did like the idea of the story however it dragged on a bit for me with no real answers at the end.
Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this one, just a shame it wasn’t for me.

I loved the blurb for this book and was excited to read it. Unfortunately it really didn’t grip me and I found I didn’t want to pick it up to read. I did finish it as I hate not finishing a book, but I really struggled.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This book is written in alternating viewpoints of the breakdown of a marriage. It defines how feelings and emotions affect events because each individual's interpretation can differ so that outcomes are affected. It is cleverly-written, defining the differences but I didn't like it, it seemed to be pages of ranting of 'me, I,' rather than 'us' working together and I wonder why they ever got married. In addition there is use of language I do not like and I gave up at 15%.

Brilliant, fast paced and well written and some laugh out loud moments. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review

This book was like a ‘metal fork in a new tooth filling, whilst having morning sickness’ kind of experience for me. YET, I couldn’t stop reading.

Very recent personal experiences made me gasp at some of the conversations J and J’s wife had with one another and their barristers along with their, at times insane, behaviour. A hard-hitting, hardcore delve into domestic abuse, coercive control, gaslighting and a messy, and at times almost psychotic, breakup.

I am so glad I read this (despite initial reluctance because of the subject matter) but I would suggest you need to be in a strong mental place to do so, as it’s mind-bending and heartbreaking and makes you doubt everything you have ever experienced in your relationships!

Incredibly smart writing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Is This Love? by C E Riley

J's wife shocks them by asking for a divorce. There follows the story of the relationship breakdown from the two different perspectives.

What a clever book and so addictive! At first I felt deeply uncomfortable reading the ins and outs of the relationship, almost like a voyeur, but then I was riveted and couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know how it would end! Very highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Is This Love

C E Riley

Started off ok but sorry to say this one didn’t grip me at all and I struggled to finish it. I do think the idea was a good one and there’s no doubt the writer has talent but I need to care about at least one character in a novel and unfortunately, in this case, I didn’t.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this title.

This is an unusual book, told from an unnamed narrator’s point of view. The narrator is married to J - again, unnamed. Out of the blue, J leaves the narrator and so begins a horrendous break-up.

Essentially, J accuses the narrator of being a heinous person - evidently, all claims are unfounded and blatant lies. What makes this powerful is the lack of control the narrator has over the accusations.

Even though the themes are thought-provoking, I found this a bit tedious. I don’t really get why both characters are unnamed - to me, this adds to the confusion of the story, rather than creating a clear narrative. I suspect it’s a method employed to show that names/genders aren’t important, and such a horrible thing could happen to anyone. It is also implausible why the narrator is desperate to get back with J - someone who treats him in the worst possible way. I guess love runs deep and one shouldn’t judge.

‘Is This Love?’ is thoughtful but overall not for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Serpent's Tail and NetGalley for ARC.

This is a terrific premise - the story of a relationship breakdown, told from both sides with very different perspectives, and is largely very skilfully done. There's a lot happening and some really uncomfortable revelations of bad behaviours on both sides that will chime with many readers. However the narrative style paled for me over time and I found myself losing interest in the outcome, wishing neither of them well particularly. Credit to the writer for suggesting no redemptive arc for either protagonist, who are just as self-deluding at the end as at the beginning.

Over clever stylistic approach creates tedium

This story of a relationship breakdown really got broken by authorial decision to be a bit too clever.

Told from both sides of the divide. The reader is potentially presented with two unreliable narrators, whose gender is also disguised by an initial. J and J. I felt, from the start, that the author intended to unsettle by not revealing gender, and possibly play with the reader’s sense of who to believe and who not.

The problem was, that the author’s mind games felt far more present than the sort of mindgames relationship breakdowns can lead to, played by both partners in the fallout.

I never really cared about either character and I’m afraid I read this with increasingly mounting irritation, muttering ‘get on with it’

This was a fairly short book, feeling like it was limping along like a much longer one

there’s only so much ambiguity you can shove into a storyline without making it seem like a big ol’ mess. not my type of book for sure

I loved the premise of this book and couldn't wait to start reading it but once I got into it I felt it was lacking something that I can't quite put my finger on. I did like the way the story was told, and the way we didn't know the gender of one of the characters - this was fascinating and I did like this element. I think I felt a lack of connection to the two main characters though, it was as if I were held at a distance from them. I would still recommend this though as it is a thought-provoking novel.

This is a sad and rather long drawn out account of the end of a marriage. We are given two perspectives - that of J, whose gender is not revealed and is left ambiguous - and extracts from J’s wife’s diary, which is being used in the divorce proceedings and which J doesn’t recognise. The “two sides to every story” becomes a little tedious at times and the protagonists are difficult to engage and empathise with, but this is without doubt a story that many divorcing couples and their lawyers will recognise. Interesting, rather than compelling.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advance copy to read and review.

Is This Love? by C E Riley is a story of a marriage which ends in divorce, not unusual in these days but you never know the name of the other partner or whether J. is male or female. The relationship ends abruptly according to the wife. The marriage break up is mainly detailed by J. who is totally lost and confused by what has happened. Especially when there is a court order talking of their physical and mental abuse towards the wife, which J says never happened.
The storyline isn’t an easy read and the two main characters are not easy characters to emphasise with. As a reader I found the story very sad and moving at times but then it it isn’t that unusual for one side in a divorce case to embellish circumstances to enable themselves to receive the most sympathy and the bigger slice of the financial pot of money and goods.
Recommended

Didn't quite hit the mark. Could have been more firmly ambiguous if that was what the author was going for.