One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid Summary

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a contemporary romance novel published in 2016 that explores love, loss, and life-changing choices. The story follows a protagonist navigating complex emotional terrain as she confronts questions about destiny, second chances, and what it truly means to find "the one." Reid's narrative examines the romance in the protagonist's life with her signature emotionally-driven storytelling approach.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a New York Times bestselling American author born December 20, 1983, in Maryland. She gained widespread acclaim for novels like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Malibu Rising. Reid graduated from Emerson College and began her career in film production before becoming a full-time writer. Her books often feature women navigating fame, identity, and relationships, with several adapted into films and television series.

One True Loves is worth reading for fans of emotional contemporary romance and character-driven narratives about love and self-discovery. While it didn't achieve massive commercial success initially compared to Reid's later historical fiction novels, the book gained retroactive popularity as Reid became a BookTok darling. The 2023 film adaptation starring Simu Liu and Phillipa Soo renewed interest in the story. It's ideal for readers seeking heartfelt exploration of romantic relationships and life choices.

One True Loves appeals to readers who enjoy contemporary romance with emotional depth and complex relationship dynamics. It's perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks, Emily Giffin, or Jojo Moyes who appreciate stories about second chances and self-discovery. The novel suits those interested in Taylor Jenkins Reid's earlier work before her shift to historical fiction, offering insight into her development as a writer focused on women navigating love and life decisions.

One True Loves represents Reid's pre-2017 contemporary romance phase, focusing on romance in the protagonist's life rather than the historical fiction and fame-centered narratives of her later works. Unlike The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones & The Six, which explore Hollywood glamour and rock star fame, this novel offers intimate relationship storytelling. It shares emotional depth with Reid's early novels Forever, Interrupted and After I Do, all examining love's complexities.

One True Loves explores themes of love, grief, destiny, and the impact of life-altering choices on relationships and personal identity. The novel examines whether we can have multiple great loves in one lifetime and how to navigate competing romantic possibilities. Reid's signature approach to women's emotional challenges within American society shines through, addressing resilience, self-discovery, and the courage required to make heart-wrenching decisions about the future.

One True Loves was adapted into a 2023 film because of the story's emotionally compelling narrative and Reid's growing prominence as a bestselling author. Taylor Jenkins Reid co-wrote the screenplay with her husband Alex Jenkins Reid, ensuring authorial vision remained intact. The adaptation stars Phillipa Soo, Simu Liu, and Luke Bracey, capitalizing on renewed interest in Reid's catalog following her BookTok success and the popularity of her later novels.

Taylor Jenkins Reid employs an emotionally-driven, character-focused writing style in One True Loves that emphasizes intimate relationship dynamics and internal character development. Her early novels, including this one, concentrate on the romance in protagonists' lives with accessible, contemporary prose. Reid's approach prioritizes emotional authenticity and relatable scenarios, creating page-turning narratives that explore love's complexities without the historical fiction elements that define her post-2017 work.

One True Loves initially didn't sell particularly well when published in 2016, similar to Reid's first few novels before her breakthrough with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in 2017. However, the book gained retroactive popularity as Reid's later works became BookTok darlings and commercial successes. The 2023 film adaptation renewed interest in the novel, demonstrating how Reid's growing reputation elevated her entire backlist and introduced earlier work to new audiences.

One True Loves distinguishes itself through Taylor Jenkins Reid's focus on complex emotional choices and realistic relationship dilemmas rather than conventional romance tropes. Reid's examination of women and the multiple facets of their challenges within American society elevates the narrative beyond simple love stories. Her character-driven approach emphasizes psychological depth, self-discovery, and the difficult decisions that shape our lives, creating a more nuanced exploration of love, loss, and personal growth than standard genre offerings.

Reading One True Loves before Reid's other books isn't necessary, as her novels don't follow a specific reading order and each stands alone. However, starting with this early contemporary romance provides insight into Reid's evolution as a writer before her shift to historical fiction with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. For readers preferring intimate relationship-focused stories over fame-centered historical narratives, One True Loves offers a gentler introduction to Reid's emotionally resonant storytelling style.

While the search results don't contain specific quotes from Reid about writing One True Loves, they reveal it was part of her early contemporary romance phase when she focused on relationships and emotional challenges. The novel came before her 2017 turning point with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which marked her shift toward historical fiction about famous women. Reid's decision to co-write the screenplay for the film adaptation with her husband demonstrates her continued investment in the story's emotional core.