Friday, April 25, 2014

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira (Review + Giveaway)

**Thank you Macmillan for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review 


It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.


My Thoughts:


Excuse me while I wipe all these pesky tears out of my eyes after that emotional epilogue there! 

When I first saw this book in Macmillan's catalog I knew I HAD to read it. While I'm not a huge fan of PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (the book anyways, loved the movie), which I heard this was similar to, the premise of this book won me over so I gave it a shot. I'm so glad that I did. When I first started reading I definitely saw the similarities but I got so attached to these characters so quickly and before I knew it I was majorly engrossed in this story of finding yourself, tragic loss, love, and friendship.

Laurel was such a lost person. She had little self worth and after May died she seemed to spiral more. She spent the majority of her time trying to be May, which is something that she just isn't. She made new friends and met Sky and somewhere along the way life started to chip away her defenses. She stayed very closed up about May and things that made her the way she was. The journey to getting Laurel to open up was so beautiful and so vivid. I found myself very emotional several times throughout this book.

Not only was I emotional for Laurel, but I was for Hannah and Sky. They both had their own sets of issues and I was glad to see Laurel help them with theirs as much as they helped her with hers. I think it really helped Laurel to see that she wasn't alone in having issues and in helping them she found ways to help herself.

I would definitely recommend this book to readers of YA Contemporary and I can't wait to pick up my finished copy! 
Giveaway:

US Only
13+ to enter
Cheating will result in disqualification 
Good luck! 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

18 comments:

  1. This has in the last couple of weeks made my must get list. Everyone seems to be raving about it!!! I adore reading contemporaries so this is right up my ally. So glad you loved it!

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  2. Heard so many good things about this book, looking forward to reading it. I wish my library carried it.

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  3. This book keeps popping up on my radar and is one I'd look forward to reading.

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  4. I really have wanted to read this after reading the reviews. I get all of my "new to me" authors either from the library or cheapo-cheapo on my Kindle. The library doesn't have it (yet, I put it on my last book request), and the last time I looked it wasn't cheap enough for this single mom of a college student. So.....

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  5. I have been wanting to read this one for so long, even before it was released! I read an excerpt, and now I am dying to read the rest! Glad you enjoyed it :)

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  6. I've heard so many good things about this book! I'd love to win a copy.

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  7. I loved this book so much, it was absolutely incredible! I cried throughout a good portion of this book.
    -Scott Reads It!

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  8. I can't wait to read this book! Awesome giveaway :D

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  9. I keep hearing such great things about this book, and after reading your first lines, you had me completely hooked and wanting this novel. Thanks for your thoughtful review. Liza

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  10. The author of Love Letters to the Dead, Ava Dellaira, responded to one of my tweets where I asked her "What message do you hope your readers will take away from your books?"

    She replied, "You don't have to be a character going whichever way the story says. You can be the author instead."

    I think this is one of the best messages to send out to the world, especially young adults who are struggling to find themselves and their own voices.

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  11. This book sounds amazing and I would love to read it. I keep hearing good things about it and everyone seems to want to read it or recommend it.

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  12. On Twitter, I asked the author, Ava Dellaira, of Love Letters to the Dead, "What message do you hope your readers will take away from your books?" and she responded, "You don't have to be a character going whichever way the story says. You can be the author instead." I think this is a great message for any reader, especially her young adult audience.

    p.s.--Thank you for the giveaway chance.

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  13. Thank you for the chance to win this book! I really hope I win it. The book sounds amazing.

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  14. I really want to read this book, I read the 5-chapter preview on my kindle, and it is so good! I love how the story is told through letters. Thank you for the giveaway. :D

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  15. Thank you for this amazing giveaway! I've heard great reviews on this book! :)

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  16. Thank you for this amazing giveaway! I've heard great reviews about this book! :)

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  17. I love emotional reads! I bet I would just love this book (and cry after that epilogue). This is my type of book!

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