Is the New Hallmark Movie ‘Guiding Emily’ Based on a Book? How to Buy it Now

By Angela Tricarico
Published Sep. 8, 2023, 4:00 p.m. ET
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It’s almost the weekend, which means it’s almost time for the premiere of a new Hallmark original movie.

This week’s new offering, airing on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries (as opposed to the flagship Hallmark Channel), is Guiding Emily.

The movie stars Sarah Drew as Emily, a woman who loses her eyesight in a terrible accident. Elsewhere, Garth, a labrador whose inner thoughts are narrated by Eric McCormack, is in training to become a guide dog. With both of them struggling to adapt, they make their way to each other.

Many Hallmark movies are based on books — is Guiding Emily one of them? Is it based on a true story? Keep reading to find out.

Is Guiding Emily Based on a Book?

Yes!

Guiding Emily is based on the novel of the same name by Barbara Hinske, which was first published in 2020.

If you loved the movie and want to read more about Emily and Garth, you’ll be happy to know that Guiding Emily is actually the first book in a series. There are currently four books in the series, the most recent of which was released in March 2023. All four books are currently part of Kindle Unlimited, so you can read the e-book versions of them free with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited free trial.

Guiding Emily - Katie, Garth
Photo: Hallmark/Allister Foster

Is Guiding Emily Based on a True Story?

No, Guiding Emily is not based on a true story. It’s based on the fictional novel by Barbara Hinske.

  • Guiding Emily: A Tale of Love, Loss, and Courage by Barbara Hinske

    guiding emily book cover
    Photo: Amazon
    AMAZON $15.99

    If you want to read Guiding Emily as an e-book, you can do so at no cost by starting a 30-day free trial of Kindle Unlimited, Amazon’s library-esque e-book subscription. Guiding Emily is currently part of Kindle Unlimited’s rotating selection of included books.

    You can watch Guiding Emily tonight, September 8, at 9 p.m. on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, and Philo all have the channel in their base packages, while Sling TV users will need the Lifestyle Extra add-on package.

    Alternatively, you can watch Hallmark Movies and Mysteries live with a Peacock Premium subscription for just $6/month.

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