Emma Roberts reveals the $4,500 gift she gave an ex

Release time：2024-05-01 09:46:58 Source：International Identities news portal

Emma Roberts has revealed she once took back a gift she had given to a former partner after learning of its whopping $4,500 valuation.

The American Horror Story star, 33, brandished a rare copy of a 1966 novel during a recent video tour of her Los Angeles home for Architectural Digest.

However, Roberts did not reveal who the unfortunate previous owner was. Since 2022 she has been dating fellow actor Cody John. 

While showing cameras round her TV room, she picked out a vintage copy of Charles Portis' debut work, Norwood. 

'This is a book I actually gave as a gift to my ex,' Roberts revealed with a smirk, 'but then we broke up and I saw how much it was worth and I kept it.'

Emma Roberts has revealed she once took back a gift she had given to a former partner after learning of its whopping $4,500 valuation

The American Horror Story star, 33, brandished a rare copy of Charles Portis' 1966 debut novel, Norwood, during a recent video tour of her Los Angeles home

She said: 'This is a book I actually gave as a gift to my ex, but then we broke up and I saw how much it was worth and I kept it'

Although it is not certain, she appears to have a first edition of the book, which tells the story of its titular character's misadventures on a road trip from Ralph, Texas, to New York and back.

Though modern revisions of Norwood can be as cheap as $10 for the paperback, a version similar to Roberts', listed as a 'rare find' on Etsy is priced at over $4,500.

The book cover features a blue and red graphic of a globe in the top-left corner, in between the novel's title and the author name. 

A note from publishers Simon and Schuster on the back cover reads: 'Every once in a while a first novel comes along whose special tone of voice, unlike any other, at once opens up for the reader a new frame of reference, an additional window to the world.

'We believe Charles Portis' first novel, Norwood, is such a discovery. Its tone of voice - funny, open, straightforward - is totally individual.

'It gives the reader a fresh way of perceiving, a sense of moving easily through life, and above all, the delight of being in touch with the gentle but firm approach to living that is embodied in the character of Norwood.'

But rather than keeping the rare find locked away, the book is subtly displayed in the room where the Wild Child actress and her family spend 'the most time'.

Roberts lives in her gorgeous home with  son Rhodes, three, - who she shares with former partner Garrett Hedlund. 

Norwood was far from the only collectible flaunted by the New York native, with her whimsical dream home completed by an entire 'doll wall'. 

She excitedly showed off her beloved collectibles from her childhood as well as more obtained as an adult, including a drunk cowgirl Barbie, Blythe dolls and a 'Leggy Jill' doll.

'I'm madly obsessed with them, in love with them,' Roberts said as she began to pull a few off her shelves.

The performer went on to admit that when she was younger and people would ask if she was ever afraid the dolls would come to life, she joked that she hopes they come wake her up 'every night'.

'It would be so thrilling,' she mused.

Roberts worked with designers Louisa Pierce and Emily Ward to make her home as close to perfection as possible - a place which really feels like her own.

Norwood was far from the only collectible flaunted by the New York native, with her whimsical dream home completed by an entire 'doll wall' (pictured) 

Her home, which she shares with son Rhodes also houses an extensive mug collection 

She said: 'I want this to be our house that is just our style, and filled with our memories and our love'

Roberts also pointed out her 'Joni Mitchel shrine' to Architectural Digest

Posing with her son, three, she said she wanted to make the home somewhere he feel at home, in contrast to her childhood when she had lived in '10 houses by the time I was 15'

'What I love about this house is it speaks for itself, it's like a grown up dollhouse. It's very storybook. And when we were moving in, it was just me and my son,' she said.

'I want this to be our house that is just our style, and filled with our memories and our love.'

This is in contrast to the performer's childhood, which she spent in '10 houses by the time I was 15'. 

She continued: 'I have a picture of the day we moved in. I'm holding him and it was the most sunny California day, and we were in front of the blue door of our new house. I just remember feeling like we are exactly where we need to be.' 

While speaking about her style Roberts declared that she believes that 'there can never be enough stripes or fringe or tassels in a house.' 

The 2,730 square-foot LA pad also houses an extensive mug collection, a 'Joni Mitchell shrine' and wallpaper of flying ducks above her son's forest-themed room.

'I remember as a kid, whatever's on your wall and your ceiling is seared into your brain for the rest of your life,' Roberts noted. 'So I wanted to make it extra cozy and fun, but not too overwhelming.'  

While Roberts does not discuss her exes, she appears to be on good terms with her son's father. Back in May 2022, months after their split, Hedlund gave Roberts a sweet handwritten note in honour of Mother's Day.

'Happy Mother's Day to the most beautiful mother, dear Emma,' it read - pictured in a since-deleted Instagram post in 2022. 

'You gave us a gift who never ceases to melt our hearts, amaze our minds, and make all the anythings just fly away, from morning till night.'

Roberts has kept most of her relationships out of the spotlight across her career. 

Rhodes' forest-themed room features wallpaper depicting flying ducks on the ceiling

The actress purchased the 2,730 square-foot property in 2022 for $3.6 million

The Belletrist founder has been romantically linked to Evan Peters, Christopher Hines, Hayden Christensen, Chord Overstreet, Alex Pettyfer, Ryan Sheckler and various other stars. 

Speaking to Cosmopolitan in 2019, Roberts explained why she's so private about who she's dating, saying: 'I never want to talk about relationships I'm in or that are ending or have ended.

'It's hard enough to be with someone by yourself, let alone with an audience. Growing up is hard. Sometimes it makes me sad that I can't have a private moment.

'Because of Twitter and Instagram, there's a whole other element where everybody can comment on what you're doing and no one knows the real story. That's hard.' 

Related articles