I asked for this book from the FSG catalogue because of its unusual writing style. The entire book is written by a young girl to dead icons. When the ARC came and I saw so many blurbs from so many authors I love I was doubly excited to read it. Then the hype monster took over. Even Emma Watson was crowing about the book on Twitter. I generally go against the grain when it comes to what I like. I was worried that Love Letters to the Dead would disappoint because of my odd tastes.
I couldn’t get away from hearing about it so I picked it up off the shelf. And it was amazing.
Ava Dellaira is a welcomed new voice to literary young adult contemporary. Her writing is lyrical and haunting and at points I found myself reading the same letter over and over trying to grasp how she came up with a string of words that could jerk my heartstrings so wonderfully.
Laurel writes to Kurt Cobain, Amelia Earhart, River Phoenix, Jim Morrison and more. Each letter takes the reader closer to the secret of how her sister May died.
We follow Laurel as she deals with the aftermath of her sister’s death. She switches to a new school. Her mother checks out and moves to California. She splits her weeks between her father’s house where everything is quiet and depressing and her aunt’s house where Jesus reigns supreme and Laurel feels suffocated.
We see Laurel spiraling into a dark depression. We see her drink alcohol. She looses the boy she loves because he can’t handle her wild abandon after a night of drinking. You don’t feel a ton of hope and the book is super dark.
You keep turning the pages because in these letters you learn all about a boy named Sky, a group of ragtag friends dealing with their own important issues, and Laurel’s family. At least what’s left of it.
If you like weird, sad, heart-snapping tear-inducing reads Love Letters to the Dead is for you.
Missie
I cannot wait to read this book, it sounds so amazing!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Roro
So exited for it
Nadia @ Nadia Reads
I wasn’t really planning on reading this book because, as you said, the hype is just too much! But now I really want to! That page already got me hooked! I think I’m going to love it!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I fell completely in love with Love Letters to the Dead as well, Pam. I loved that it was a modern-day epistolary, and that the letters were written to dead icons. And how Laurel wrote a little about the icon’s personality to get her own thoughts across.
Great review 🙂
Angel (Spare Reads)
I have been waiting for this books for a long time and I absolutely love the idea of writing letters to dead people to deal with life issues. I’m so glad you speak so highly of the book, because I’m indeed worried that the hype might ruin it for me. I guess now I just need to go buy it asap 😀
p.s. That cover is awesome!
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Heartsnapping – no I couldn’t handle this one. I thought about reading it but I just don’t want to go to that sad place. But you describe it so well that it makes it tempting. I’ll get the book for my glutton for punishment friend instead. She will love gobbling up the tears of the characters.