A review by thefatspicegirl
Dear Edna Sloane by Amy Shearn

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Summary:

Edna Sloane was a "wunderkind" author in the 1980s whose debut novel was quickly dubbed a modern classic. Shortly after her book was deemed a commercial success, Edna disappeared skipping out on her second book contract deal and, though her work is influential and well known, she was forgotten.

Fast forward to 2017. Meet Seth Edwards, a young aspiring author who is overworked and underpaid. His boss wants him to do a story on Edna Sloane for the company website, so he begins his quest of finding out what happened to Ms. Sloane. 

Review: 

The entire book is written in email, letter, and text correspondence along with other written content throughout the years. Though I enjoyed this book, the beginning had a slow start due to the business casual writing style Seth had to employ while trying to find information about Edna Sloane. At first his sense of humor came off as fake at the beginning, but as he builds relationships, his writing style relaxes a bit and the humor is more "real." These aspects made it difficult for me to get into at first.

Though very different, the novel has a similar concept to the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo due to the nature of Seth trying to get an interview with Edna, who is very closed off and private. However, what really sets this book apart is Shearn's excellent writing. The voice of each character comes through with each correspondence. As a reader you are able to grasp Edna's quick wit and reflective nature as well as Seth's insecurities and admiration.

In addition, I really appreciated how the excerpts from Edna's books were extremely well written to the point they actually come off as a modern classic. Oftentimes authors will write excerpts from their characters' books, and they just aren't that good, almost as if the author is battling their voice and skill vs the character's.

Though I enjoyed the novel, I disagree with some plot choices, such as there being no answers surrounding what happened to one character at the end or how two of the characters never met up. However, I do chalk these choices as being very literary fiction decisions. I'm not mad at the choices--just a little disappointed as a reader left with questions.

I will close with a quote near the end of the book that resonated with me:

"And yet when I can trick myself into believing, for a moment, that a God might have created us, it seems very dear to me that this God would want us to create."

Thank you NetGalley & Red Hen Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.