Emma Grey's mom inspired her love of imaginary worlds
Author Emma Grey's mom sparked her love of imaginary worlds by introducing her to Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton as a child—a childhood influence that Grey says led her to devour fiction and eventually write her new novel, "Start at the End." The author shared the story with Page Six while naming six books she thinks readers should not miss.
Key Takeaways
- Grey told Page Six her mom first showed her the power of imaginary worlds through Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton.
- She grew up devouring "Sweet Valley High," "Anne of Green Gables," and "Pride and Prejudice."
- Her new novel "Start at the End" is out now, and she included it among her six must-read picks.
- Her recommendations span redemption stories, medical memoirs, midlife rom-coms, and a darkly comic mystery.
- She now reads romantic comedy, psychological thrillers, and contemporary fiction with "light, shade, depth and humor."
How Did Author Emma Grey's Mom Shape Her Love of Books?
Emma Grey fell in love with books as a child, she told Page Six on July 14, 2026. "I've loved reading fiction ever since my mom introduced me to the power of imaginary worlds in Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton," she said.
That early exposure to make-believe landscapes and adventure stories set the tone for a writing career that now includes her latest release, "Start at the End." For more stories on authors and entertainment figures, browse our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
What Did Emma Grey Read Growing Up?
Grey said she "devoured" popular and classic titles during her youth, including "Sweet Valley High," "Anne of Green Gables," and "Pride and Prejudice." Those books helped turn a childhood habit into a lasting appetite for story-driven worlds.
These days, her reading list leans toward "a mix of romantic comedy, psychological thrillers and contemporary fiction featuring light, shade, depth and humor," she told the outlet.
What Is Emma Grey's New Book About?
Grey's new novel, "Start at the End," is out now. She described it as a "sliding doors" exploration of what happens when a promising relationship is upended by tragedy.
Readers follow protagonists Audrey and Fraser through parallel universes as they find different paths through trauma toward "light and love again." Grey noted she lost her husband, Jeff, a decade ago next month and called the novel "a way to honor him and celebrate my family's unrelenting resilience."
Which Six Books Does Emma Grey Recommend?
Grey shared six must-read titles with Page Six, spanning new releases and her own work:
- "Disgraceful" by Rachel Fox McLeod — Grey praised Grace, a woman chasing "fifty bad decisions before she's fifty" after her marriage to an evangelical pastor implodes, calling the story "raw, funny, devastating and hopeful."
- "When Lemons Give You Life" by Anna Johnston — A redemption story about family, second chances, and the lengths people go for loved ones.
- "Imogen in Waiting" by Lindsay Bartels — A memoir about breast cancer, the BRCA1 gene, and IVF decisions that Grey called "bold, intimate and propulsive."
- "Forty Love" by Jane Costello — A midlife rom-com about reunited first love, empty nesting, and perimenopause.
- "Mad Mabel" by Sally Hepworth — A darkly funny mystery centered on cantankerous 81-year-old murder suspect Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick.
- "Start at the End" by Emma Grey — Her own parallel-universe love story featuring Audrey and Fraser.
Grey connected personally with several picks, from swapping writing-process notes with Anna Johnston to sharing a 2024 U.S. book tour with Jane Costello and meeting Sally Hepworth at Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica, California.