just emilia by jennifer oko
Just Emilia examines the enduring effects of grief, complicated mother-daughter dynamics, and the way unprocessed trauma can silently shape a lifetime.
The premise starts off very interesting: what would you do if you found yourself stuck in an elevator with your past and future selves? The unprocessed grief that all three versions of the main character, Emilia, carry grounds the story into a cohesive emotional journey. Although the flashbacks and shifts in point of view sometimes give the novel a fragmented feel, the major themes remain consistent throughout.
I initially took a liking to the way Oko wrote her younger characters, especially in how she breaks or justifies common stereotypes. Sonya is empathetic, standing apart from the usual portrayal of pre-adolescents as distant or moody. Emās anger also feels justified, allowing her to be more than just the typical ārude but secretly strugglingā teenager. However, the older characters felt more detached, even indifferent, toward their other selves. Millie, in particular, seemed so defeated from the beginning, even when literally confronted by her younger selves. Emilia was more bearableācomforting young Em and trying to ease their situationābut I found her too judgmental of her future self. Perhaps these flaws were meant to highlight their character growth, but everything felt too rushed toward the end for that growth to fully land.
There were a few powerful moments in the book, lines that struck deeply, and scenes that pulled me in. However, those moments were often sandwiched between slower sections that felt like fillers. The story started strong, then slowed down significantly, before everything was dropped like a bomb in the final chapters. By the end, the emotional payoff felt hollow.
That said, part of my disappointment may have been due to my own expectations. I picked up this book thinking it would be similar to the cozy, character-driven magical realism stories from Asian literature that Iāve loved in the past. Instead, it turned out to be heavier and more emotionally distant.
Still, Just Emilia offers valuable takeaways. Grief can weigh down a personās existence for decades if left unaddressed. Healing must be an intentional choice, something that comes from within. And often, our own stubbornnessāthe refusal to accept helpāis what prolongs our suffering. Even at 76, you can still learn something essential from your 17-year-old self.
Thank you to NetGalley and Regal House Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Just Emilia publishes on June 10, 2025.
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Genres: Literary Fiction, Magical Realism
Trigger Warnings: grief, sexual assault, car accident
This piece was originally posted on WordPress on April 27, 2025 and migrated to BearBlog on March 19, 2026.