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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
I feel like I should give this book 5 stars but something is holding me back. The story was good, but it wasn't one that I felt I HAD to know. I'm glad I read it, but, for instance, I would zone out while listening to the audiobook and didn't always rewind.
The story will more than likely stay with me for a while because of its unique nature: a love story with some sadness, awkwardness and hope all rolled in to one!
The story will more than likely stay with me for a while because of its unique nature: a love story with some sadness, awkwardness and hope all rolled in to one!
When Amelia's dad leaves her and her mom, they are both adrift. But when Jenna finds Amelia outside a book store, their friendship is cemented. Jenna's family is affluent and immediately includes Amelia like she's one of the family. Amelia is a big reader and both she and Jenna bond over a mutual love of a fantasy series written by a boy only a year older than they are. So, when they graduate high school, they plan a short trip to a convention to meet the author. Sadly, he has to cancel and Amelia doesn't get to meet him. Less than a week later, while on a trip to Ireland, Jenna dies in a car crash and Amelia is bereft. But then she gets a mysterious special edition of her favorite book in the mail. But who sent it?
There were parts of this I liked a lot. But overall, I felt it was really overdone with bad pacing. Insta-love like this, especially between kids so young is super hard for me to believe. I'm sure it happens, but you don't change your entire life because you're in love with the boy you met four days ago. Like another reviewer said, I thought it would have made a better story with Amelia and Nolan as friends who help each other in their grief. But the way this one played out was ridiculous.
There were parts of this I liked a lot. But overall, I felt it was really overdone with bad pacing. Insta-love like this, especially between kids so young is super hard for me to believe. I'm sure it happens, but you don't change your entire life because you're in love with the boy you met four days ago. Like another reviewer said, I thought it would have made a better story with Amelia and Nolan as friends who help each other in their grief. But the way this one played out was ridiculous.
First things first, this cover is GORGEOUS ✨ and the primary reason why I decided to read the synopsis, and ultimately bought the book. The story though...
The story itself wasn't bad as a whole, but you can tell it's a debut from some of the issues in the book. Some of those issues being childish handling of grief and trauma, insta-love in the span of a couple of days (?!), and that insta-love being the cure for all tragedies. Unfortunately, these elements were what could have made the story beautiful if they were handled well, or excluded altogether.
Moving on to the characters. The only character I genuinely liked was Jenna but since she died pretty early on in the book, I had a tough time enjoying the story. Jenna's parents were darlings but they didn't appear much, so that was sad. Nolan, Alex and Valerie were fine too. Amelia, the main protagonist, was extremely annoying and selfish at times. Amelia's mother is a whole different story. She probably had like 2 or 3 lines (max) in the book, and whenever she was mentioned, it was to highlight how unloving, uncaring and unbothered she is by everything that's going on in Amelia's life.
The only reason I am not giving this a lower rating is because of the wonderful writing, that kept me engaged enough to get through this book, and also the lush bookstore setting and bookish talk.
The story itself wasn't bad as a whole, but you can tell it's a debut from some of the issues in the book. Some of those issues being childish handling of grief and trauma, insta-love in the span of a couple of days (?!), and that insta-love being the cure for all tragedies. Unfortunately, these elements were what could have made the story beautiful if they were handled well, or excluded altogether.
Moving on to the characters. The only character I genuinely liked was Jenna but since she died pretty early on in the book, I had a tough time enjoying the story. Jenna's parents were darlings but they didn't appear much, so that was sad. Nolan, Alex and Valerie were fine too. Amelia, the main protagonist, was extremely annoying and selfish at times. Amelia's mother is a whole different story. She probably had like 2 or 3 lines (max) in the book, and whenever she was mentioned, it was to highlight how unloving, uncaring and unbothered she is by everything that's going on in Amelia's life.
Spoiler
She BARELY talks to Amelia and never comforts Amelia when Jenna dies. She has no input in Amelia's life or where she goes, why she gets money from Jenna's parents and practically lives in their house. Doesn't know why she goes to Michigan and what she does there. Her mom's actions/behaviour, or lack thereof, really got on my nerves.The only reason I am not giving this a lower rating is because of the wonderful writing, that kept me engaged enough to get through this book, and also the lush bookstore setting and bookish talk.
Summary:
Sparks fly between two teens as they grapple with grief, love, and the future in this unforgettable debut novel sure to entice fans of Jandy Nelson and Jennifer E. Smith
Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia’s father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It’s the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.
In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesn’t, the two have a blowout fight like they’ve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.
When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Amelia’s and Jenna’s fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.
Ashley Schumacher's devastating and beautiful debut, Amelia Unabridged, is about finding hope and strength within yourself, and maybe, just maybe, falling in love while you do it.
I absolutely fell in love and in grief with Amelia. Her heartbreak became my own and our emotionality completely melded as one.
Ashley Schumacher's beautiful, enchanting, gut-twisting, and albeit scarily accurate prose surrounding grief, loss, and all matters to do with our fragile, unabridged hearts is sure to be an instant buy for fans of Jandy Nelson, Adam Silvera, and Sarah Henstra.
Sparks fly between two teens as they grapple with grief, love, and the future in this unforgettable debut novel sure to entice fans of Jandy Nelson and Jennifer E. Smith
Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia’s father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It’s the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.
In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesn’t, the two have a blowout fight like they’ve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.
When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Amelia’s and Jenna’s fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.
Ashley Schumacher's devastating and beautiful debut, Amelia Unabridged, is about finding hope and strength within yourself, and maybe, just maybe, falling in love while you do it.
I absolutely fell in love and in grief with Amelia. Her heartbreak became my own and our emotionality completely melded as one.
Ashley Schumacher's beautiful, enchanting, gut-twisting, and albeit scarily accurate prose surrounding grief, loss, and all matters to do with our fragile, unabridged hearts is sure to be an instant buy for fans of Jandy Nelson, Adam Silvera, and Sarah Henstra.
This book is phenomenal and left me misty-eyed. This is a book about books, joy, loss, purpose... really just everything. Watching Amelia work through her grief while simultaneously falling for Nolan felt so natural. I really empathized with her struggle to honor Jenna's memory while also trying to find herself. The outside pressure from Jenna's family just kept permeating her mind, but I'm happy with how the story ended. I definitely want to go to Michigan after reading this!
Life doesn’t always go the way you planned it. This book destroyed me but it also reminded me about my love of reading. Two friends bonded by one book. When one of those friends has to leave, the other takes to journey on a path like she didn’t know she was fated to take. This was a love letter to friendship, two books, to the imagination. I really can’t see more because I don’t want to spoil it but it was amazing and I highly recommend this book.
This book literally stole my heart. It has a very special place in my heart now<3
Amelia and Nolan’s relationship was just heartwarming. They both had trauma and together they healed each other, Nolan got over his fear because of Amelia. And Amelia finally decided that she should go for what she wants and not what anyone else wants.
AGH this book is just everything. I had so much fun reading it<3
Amelia and Nolan’s relationship was just heartwarming. They both had trauma and together they healed each other, Nolan got over his fear because of Amelia. And Amelia finally decided that she should go for what she wants and not what anyone else wants.
AGH this book is just everything. I had so much fun reading it<3
Do you ever read a digital book and find yourself highlighting so much text that your notes are incredibly full, and you have trouble deciding which of the many things you’ve highlighted should be a part of your review? There are so many aspects to this book that I love it’s making it hard to write this review.
“I feel as if I’m bartering tiny pieces of myself in order to reach safety.”
Even though Amelia has suffered such a tragedy, when she’s supposed to be starting her life, there are so many good feelings, where you’re filled with happiness and warmth. I felt so many emotions reading this because the writing is fantastic. I ranged from sadness to hope, and then I found myself encouraged and swooning. This is a book that settles comfortably into your soul and stays with you long after you read it. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and so incredibly healing. Bring tissues, you will need them. Thank you, St. Martin’s, for sending this along.
“I feel as if I’m bartering tiny pieces of myself in order to reach safety.”
Even though Amelia has suffered such a tragedy, when she’s supposed to be starting her life, there are so many good feelings, where you’re filled with happiness and warmth. I felt so many emotions reading this because the writing is fantastic. I ranged from sadness to hope, and then I found myself encouraged and swooning. This is a book that settles comfortably into your soul and stays with you long after you read it. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and so incredibly healing. Bring tissues, you will need them. Thank you, St. Martin’s, for sending this along.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“everything is silly, dear. life is too brief to be anything else.”
i am brought into a world filled with sentiments and… whales :) definitely a must-read book!!