Emily Henry’s first foray into young adult literature arrives as a complex, emotionally resonant debut that challenges readers to question the nature of reality, love, and belonging. While her later novels would establish her as a contemporary romance powerhouse, The Love That Split the World demonstrates an author unafraid to weave together elements of science fiction, Native American folklore, and coming-of-age romance into something entirely unique—even if it doesn’t always stick the landing.
A Story Fractured Across Worlds
Natalie Cleary has spent her life caught between two existences. In her small Kentucky hometown, she navigates the typical concerns of a graduating senior while grappling with visions that others cannot see. These aren’t simple hallucinations—they’re glimpses into an alternate reality where her life has taken dramatically different turns. When the mysterious figure she calls “Grandmother” returns after a three-year absence with a cryptic warning about saving someone’s life, Natalie’s worlds begin to collide in ways that will determine not only her future but the very fabric of existence itself.
The introduction of Beau Wilkes—a boy who exists only in Natalie’s alternate world—creates the novel’s central tension. Their love story unfolds against the backdrop of temporal mechanics and parallel universes, elevated by Henry’s ability to capture the intensity of first love with surprising authenticity. Beau isn’t merely a romantic interest; he’s a fully realized character whose own struggles with reality-shifting provide depth to their relationship.
The Power and Burden of Folklore
Henry’s integration of Native American stories through Grandmother’s character represents both the novel’s greatest strength and its most delicate territory. The folklore serves as more than decorative elements—these stories become the literal framework for understanding Natalie’s abilities and the multiverse she inhabits. The author demonstrates genuine respect for these traditions while using them to explore themes of cultural displacement and identity.
However, this approach occasionally feels heavy-handed. Some readers may find the mythology overwhelming, particularly when combined with the novel’s scientific elements. The book attempts to balance quantum physics with spiritual traditions, and while ambitious, this fusion doesn’t always feel seamless.
Henry’s Distinctive Voice in Development
Even in this early work, Henry’s talent for emotional authenticity shines through. Her prose carries a dreamlike quality that perfectly suits the novel’s surreal elements, though it sometimes sacrifices clarity for atmosphere. The dialogue feels genuine, particularly in quieter moments between Natalie and Beau, where Henry captures the hesitant intimacy of young love.
The pacing, however, proves inconsistent. The novel takes considerable time establishing its supernatural rules and parallel world mechanics, sometimes at the expense of character development. While the final act delivers emotional payoff, the journey there can feel laborious for readers seeking the lighter touch Henry would later master in works like Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.
Characters Worth Caring About
Natalie emerges as a compelling protagonist, despite carrying the considerable burden of the novel’s complex mythology. Her struggles with identity—as an adopted child, as someone caught between worlds, as a young woman preparing to leave home—feel genuine and relatable. Henry avoids the trap of making her merely a vessel for supernatural events; instead, Natalie’s emotional journey anchors the fantastical elements.
The supporting cast, while well-intentioned, sometimes feels underdeveloped. Natalie’s best friend Megan and ex-boyfriend Matt serve their narrative purposes but lack the depth that would make them memorable beyond their plot functions. Alice, the hypnotherapist who attempts to help Natalie understand her abilities, brings needed scientific perspective but occasionally feels more like an exposition device than a fully realized character.
Ambitious Themes, Mixed Execution
The Love That Split the World tackles weighty themes about belonging, sacrifice, and the nature of time itself. Henry’s exploration of what it means to exist between cultures—through both Natalie’s adoption story and the Native American folklore—adds layers of meaning to the supernatural plot. The novel asks profound questions about identity, destiny, and the choices that shape our realities.
The romantic elements, while central to the plot, sometimes feel overshadowed by the novel’s higher-concept elements. When Henry focuses on the intimate moments between Natalie and Beau, the writing soars. Their connection feels both otherworldly and deeply human, capturing the way intense first love can make everything else fade into background noise.
A Debut’s Growing Pains
The novel’s greatest weakness lies in its ambition exceeding its execution. Henry attempts to juggle multiple complex elements—parallel worlds, time travel, cultural mythology, coming-of-age themes, and romance—and while she demonstrates remarkable skill for a debut novelist, the various threads don’t always weave together smoothly.
The scientific explanations for the parallel worlds, while interesting, sometimes feel at odds with the spiritual framework provided by Grandmother’s stories. This tension between rational and mystical explanations creates confusion rather than depth. Additionally, the novel’s resolution, while emotionally satisfying, requires significant suspension of disbelief that may challenge some readers.
Literary Merit and Genre Positioning
The Love That Split the World defies easy categorization, straddling the line between literary fiction and genre work. This positioning is both its strength and potential weakness—readers seeking straightforward romance or clear-cut science fiction may find themselves unsatisfied, while those open to genre-blending will discover a unique reading experience.
Henry’s prose style shows clear influences from authors like Ursula K. Le Guin and Maggie Stiefvater, with its lyrical approach to speculative elements. The novel’s structure, moving between realities and time periods, demonstrates sophisticated storytelling ambition, even if the execution sometimes wavers.
Similar Reads and Comparisons
Readers drawn to The Love That Split the World might appreciate other novels that blend romance with speculative elements. Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle series offers similar atmospheric writing and mythological elements, while Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners provides contemporary romance with fantastical undertones. For those interested in the time-travel romance aspect, Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife remains the gold standard, though Henry’s approach is more grounded in folklore than science.
Fans of dual-world narratives might enjoy V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood, both of which explore the intersection between reality and story with similar atmospheric weight.
Final Verdict
The Love That Split the World announces Emily Henry as a writer willing to take significant creative risks. While not every element succeeds completely, the novel demonstrates remarkable ambition and emotional intelligence for a debut work. The love story between Natalie and Beau transcends the supernatural mechanics surrounding it, creating moments of genuine beauty and heartbreak.
This isn’t the polished contemporary romance that would later define Henry’s career, but it’s a fascinating glimpse into a writer discovering her voice. The novel succeeds best when it focuses on its characters’ emotional journeys rather than its complex mythology, suggesting Henry’s future strength in character-driven narratives.
For readers willing to embrace its complexities and occasional confusion, The Love That Split the World offers a unique reading experience that lingers long after the final page. It’s a flawed but ambitious debut that establishes Henry as an author worth watching, even if her later works would prove more accessible and consistently engaging.
The novel serves as both a compelling standalone story and an intriguing prologue to Henry’s evolution as a writer, showing early evidence of the emotional authenticity and romantic sensibility that would later make her a bestselling author in the contemporary romance space.