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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
A sweet YA story with a special nod toward readers. A bit too neatly packaged, but should appeal to the intended audience.
Wow!!! Not only is this a beautiful and heartwarming story of grief, friendship, self-discovery, and first love but it is also a love letter to books. Like many of us who love reading, Amelia finds great comfort and escape in stories until the tragic death of her beloved best friend, Jenna. When she receives a surprise special edition copy of a book from her favorite series, Amelia believes it is a message sent from Jenna and embarks on a journey to uncover answers. This book continuously pulled at my heartstrings from one chapter to the next. The prose is gorgeous, unique and haunting and the characters are complex and relatable. There are also many references to classic books that we all grew up reading. I found myself smiling every time I discovered one of these references interwoven with the story. At times, I felt the pacing was a little jumpy, particularly towards the end of the book, but besides that one critique, I was highly impressed and emotionally captured by this outstanding debut novel. Thank you to Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-galley in exchange for an honest review!
4.5/5
This book is entirely not what I expected it would be, which shouldn’t be surprising considering I didn’t read the synopsis before I picked it up and started. I honestly think that’s the best way for books like this to be read because it’s the best kind of journey.
I spent at least half of this book on the edge of tears, I think, and it’s full of these lines that feel like physical things. They hit and they ache and they force you to sit with them for a few moments and just really take them in, which is a magic all it’s own.
There are parts of the romance aspect that felt younger and maybe more cliched than the rest of the book, but the rest is so beautifully well handled and complex that it’s easy to see past.
Basically, just read it. It’s worth every second.
This book is entirely not what I expected it would be, which shouldn’t be surprising considering I didn’t read the synopsis before I picked it up and started. I honestly think that’s the best way for books like this to be read because it’s the best kind of journey.
I spent at least half of this book on the edge of tears, I think, and it’s full of these lines that feel like physical things. They hit and they ache and they force you to sit with them for a few moments and just really take them in, which is a magic all it’s own.
There are parts of the romance aspect that felt younger and maybe more cliched than the rest of the book, but the rest is so beautifully well handled and complex that it’s easy to see past.
Basically, just read it. It’s worth every second.
So many people fell in love with Amelia Unabridged and I can absolutely see why. The relatable, bookish main character. The sweeping romance. The contemplative, melancholic atmosphere and smaller lake town.
But, I admit that I was not as swept away by Amelia Unabridged as I expected to be. I definitely would say this is an "it's not you, it's me" situation because. I don't know. I personally just did not click super well with it, but I 100% see why people do click with it.
It's just such a bookish book. Amelia is a heroine so many people will relate to--she struggles with her mom's distance, she's kind of shy and a little lost, she loves getting swept away in books and enjoys photography. She is also dealing with immense grief over the death of her best friend, who was like a sister.
She ends up falling in love with a 18/19 year old boy Nolan, aka N.E. Endsley who's a famous author of a hugely popular fantasy series, the Orman Chronicles. Which is also her favorite series, even if she hasn't read since her best friend died.
For me personally. I wish it was a friendship book. I would have loved a friendship book. I wasn't super into the romance (but other people will be) because I didn't actually like Nolan that much. I guess I couldn't let go of reality enough to get swept away in the romance.
It really is just that the story didn't click with me. I can see what makes Amelia Unabridged so appealing and delightful for readers, but it just wasn't what I was looking for right now. If you're looking for something romantic and a little melancholy and full of bookish, relatable goodness, then I'd highly recommend. I still look forward to see what else we get from Schumacher in the future!
Content Warnings:
Also: "brain-damaged" to describe a pet--it was not clear to me if the pet actually has a brain injury. Someone who reads more carefully than me and actually has a finished copy will probably do a better job of teasing out the nuances of the term being used. Still, I think it's wise to warn people that it is used once, in case you are sensitive to people using the term.
Another: if you're East Asian, you may be a teensy bit jolted by the reference to people eating dogs, as well. The specific mention does not at all make a mention of race, but if you're like me, you might still have flashbacks to people being racist about this, even if the text doesn't frame it that way (it does use the term "other countries" so ymmv). Take care of yourself.
But, I admit that I was not as swept away by Amelia Unabridged as I expected to be. I definitely would say this is an "it's not you, it's me" situation because. I don't know. I personally just did not click super well with it, but I 100% see why people do click with it.
It's just such a bookish book. Amelia is a heroine so many people will relate to--she struggles with her mom's distance, she's kind of shy and a little lost, she loves getting swept away in books and enjoys photography. She is also dealing with immense grief over the death of her best friend, who was like a sister.
She ends up falling in love with a 18/19 year old boy Nolan, aka N.E. Endsley who's a famous author of a hugely popular fantasy series, the Orman Chronicles. Which is also her favorite series, even if she hasn't read since her best friend died.
For me personally. I wish it was a friendship book. I would have loved a friendship book. I wasn't super into the romance (but other people will be) because I didn't actually like Nolan that much. I guess I couldn't let go of reality enough to get swept away in the romance.
It really is just that the story didn't click with me. I can see what makes Amelia Unabridged so appealing and delightful for readers, but it just wasn't what I was looking for right now. If you're looking for something romantic and a little melancholy and full of bookish, relatable goodness, then I'd highly recommend. I still look forward to see what else we get from Schumacher in the future!
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
grief, fatal car accident, death of a best friend, death of family members, drowning, death of a pet (in the epilogue, not super major), very brief mention of a brain aneurismAlso: "brain-damaged" to describe a pet--it was not clear to me if the pet actually has a brain injury. Someone who reads more carefully than me and actually has a finished copy will probably do a better job of teasing out the nuances of the term being used. Still, I think it's wise to warn people that it is used once, in case you are sensitive to people using the term.
Another: if you're East Asian, you may be a teensy bit jolted by the reference to people eating dogs, as well. The specific mention does not at all make a mention of race, but if you're like me, you might still have flashbacks to people being racist about this, even if the text doesn't frame it that way (it does use the term "other countries" so ymmv). Take care of yourself.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I was provided a free eBook of this by @netgalley and @stmartinspress in exchange for my honest review.
This book makes me feel so many feels!!
This book makes me feel so many feels!!
i just think this writer was trying to do too many things and the book feels cluttered and overwrought but also slightly underdone. like, take out some raisins and put it back in the oven. but it was good for wish fulfillment i guess
I absolutely loved this book! I didn't know what to expect from it, but I very quickly became engrossed in Amelia's life and her world. The secondary world of Orman was fantastic, and I wish it was a real book series! We are introduced to the characters of Alex, Val and Nolan quite quickly, not to mention Wally, and I instantly fell in love with them all, and I knew they would be exactly who Amelia needed, a chosen family!
I am so glad I was able to receive an ebook copy of this, thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. This is a fantastic debut novel from Ashley Schumacher, and I will be eager to read any future books written!
I am so glad I was able to receive an ebook copy of this, thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. This is a fantastic debut novel from Ashley Schumacher, and I will be eager to read any future books written!
The rating says 5 stars but that’s because there is no option for 5 million. To say I am obsessed or that I love this would be an understatement of the highest degree. The premise intrigued me, the first sentence invited me, the characters held my hand & walked alongside me. A story that is mainly about grief was also deeply rooted in friendship and love. I don’t re read a lot but this is one story that I will gladly read over and over again. This may sound dramatic but I can’t wait to show this story to my future children when the time comes. And the epilogue is a whole other kind of wrecking.
If you love fluff don’t read this. You will find none of that inside. What you will find is real and honest and scary and rare. Enjoy my peeps.
If you love fluff don’t read this. You will find none of that inside. What you will find is real and honest and scary and rare. Enjoy my peeps.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated