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A review by vaniavela
The Underwood Tapes by Amanda DeWitt
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Underwood Tapes explores grief and trauma, connecting the lives of two teenagers from different eras through a stack of cassette tapes discovered in a small-town historical society.
Despite being decades apart, the bond they develop is heartwarming and beautifully tender. Jake, in particular, is such a charming and likable character. I couldn’t help but root for him so fiercely, even as the story kept me on edge, knowing his fate was already sealed. The author masterfully threads this tension throughout the novel, unraveling the town’s hidden truths piece by piece—cassette tape by cassette tape.
The older secondary characters were intriguing as well, though I wish they’d had more of the spotlight.
As for the ending... it completely wrecked me. It was painful and heartfelt in the most cathartic way. I cried—a lot. It was beautiful, realistic, and felt like the only conclusion that truly fit the story. Still, a part of me couldn’t help but wish for an alternate, happier ending where Jake could live and continue his friendship with Grace—even if it was impossible.
This book deserves all the recognition when it hits shelves in February—it’s an absolute gem!
Pub Date: 4 Feb 25
Despite being decades apart, the bond they develop is heartwarming and beautifully tender. Jake, in particular, is such a charming and likable character. I couldn’t help but root for him so fiercely, even as the story kept me on edge, knowing his fate was already sealed. The author masterfully threads this tension throughout the novel, unraveling the town’s hidden truths piece by piece—cassette tape by cassette tape.
The older secondary characters were intriguing as well, though I wish they’d had more of the spotlight.
As for the ending... it completely wrecked me. It was painful and heartfelt in the most cathartic way. I cried—a lot. It was beautiful, realistic, and felt like the only conclusion that truly fit the story. Still, a part of me couldn’t help but wish for an alternate, happier ending where Jake could live and continue his friendship with Grace—even if it was impossible.
This book deserves all the recognition when it hits shelves in February—it’s an absolute gem!
Pub Date: 4 Feb 25