This book’s exploration of grief and guilt sucked me in and kept me reading, so much so that I finished it in a single evening.

Juliet’s mother was a photojournalist who regularly traveled to war zones, but it was a car accident on her way home from the airport that killed her. Juliet blames herself for asking her mother to hurry home, and she’s been having difficulty coping with her loss. Declan Murphy knows something about loss as well; his little sister was killed in a drunk driving incident that he believes he could have prevented. His inability to forgive himself has caused him to spiral out of control, so much so that he’s wound up having to do community service mowing the local cemetery. When Juliet leaves a letter to her mother on her grave and Declan comments on it, they begin to write to each other anonymously. Each of them takes comfort in sharing their grief with a stranger, but their in-person interactions when they cross paths are disastrous. Will their bond survive the loss of their anonymity?

Kemmerer got me to sympathize with and root for both Juliet and Declan. Each of them is dealing with some dark emotions that are perfectly understandable in the context of their grief. Their anonymous connection allows them to express feelings that they don’t feel comfortable revealing to others, and in doing so, both of them begin the process of healing. They also begin to fall in love with each other through their words. I really liked the way their romance developed through the novel, and the final scene where they admitted how they felt about each other—sigh. Loved it.

I did have a few minor quibbles with the book. You expect angst with this type of story, but there were a few moments when the angst was dialed up to 11 that I thought would have benefitted from a little restraint, particularly in regard to Declan’s family problems. Declan’s complicated family life also gets on the road to resolution a little too quickly. One conversation with his stepfather and a promise of family therapy seems to be all it takes, which seems questionable given the emotional baggage the entire family is carrying around. Those few things aside, though, I enjoyed the story a lot.

In fact, I’m kind of hoping Kemmerer will write another book centered on Declan’s friend Rev. That character really caught my interest. He’s got his own tragic backstory and related emotional issues that I’d like to see explored in more detail (with a happy ending, of course).

Highly recommended for readers of contemporary YA who like dark and angsty romances.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Letters to the Lost totally blew me away. I loved it. It was all the things I loved about You’ve Got Mail but with all of these deep emotions, unresolved grief, family issues, and loneliness. I felt immediately hooked by the idea of this blind exchange between two people who both feel completely isolated from everyone around them which gives them a sense of connection. I loved the way the relationship plays out as they meet each other in real life (without knowing it’s the person they’ve been writing to.) Also, I absolutely adored Rev. He may have been my favorite. It’s hard to say because I loved so much about the story.

At its surface, I’d say this is a romance. It’s about a girl and a boy who meet through letters and fall in love, but they have to figure out who that other person is and face the idea that it may be someone they’ve judged harshly or even don’t like in real life. Beneath that, though, Letters to the Lost deals with some pretty intense grief. Juliet’s mom died in a hit and run car accident. Declan’s dad is responsible for his sister’s death. Both Juliet and Declan have difficult relationships with their parents. Declan’s mom remarried a guy who Declan can’t stand. Juliet’s dad has been distant since her mom’s death.

I loved the way the story began to unravel the truth about Juliet and Declan’s pasts. Some things took me by surprise—in a good way. Each of them have a steadfast friend who sticks with them through their grief, and I loved those friendships, too, and the way Juliet and Declan began to realize how their grief affected others through those relationships. It all felt very organic.

If you’re looking for a romance packed with emotion, you want to read this one. It’s heavy, yes, but has so much hope and love in it. This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.

Why is it in books, when two grieving characters meet, they always have some kind of connection. It's weird. Can't we explore the different ways people grieve without forcing weird connections upon them? Obviously, I have mixed feelings about this one. While I liked the characters, their struggles and interactions, I had difficulty with the scenarios. The drama felt forced.

4.5/5 stars
I requested this book somewhat blindly from NetGalley. It looked and sounded interesting so... I thought I should give it a shot. Oh, boy! I was not disappointed.
It was a light read and easy to follow with a nice flow of events. Letters to the Lost brings into question the society and its views. Perfect families are not perfect. People can be both villains and heroes at the same time. People are people no matter the age. Lack of communication and expression of feelings can get you in deep trouble with those around you. Being misunderstood is a consequence of that. From all these books I am reading lately, including this one, I get this feeling that they are trying to transmit a message: Do not lie or, so called, protect the children from problems because things have their own way at getting back at you and backfire. Secrets are not good in a family. Children do not need to be protected from problems all the time. They need to understand and have someone to guide them through problems because they need to learn. You can't just dump the problems onto a child's shoulders either. There has to be a balance. In my opinion, this book does a great job at presenting all these ethical issues. Also... Let's just say that in some parts... it does too much and, for me, it was quite far fetched. Oh! That might be the case because I've seen that plot twist so many times in books, movies, and TV shows. I mean, come on! It was obvious. :D
The dynamic between the main characters is interesting. We are able to see the general two sides of human nature: the societal act and the true self. I can say the anonymous conversations were good therapy sessions for the two of them. Overall their story has a realistic-ish but beautiful resolution - too fast maybe? The romance factor was... yes and no at times. Don't get me wrong, it played nicely for the overall story. Although, it lacked some depth due to the issue I am going to discuss below.
The females in the book felt shallow and underdeveloped as characters. I was more connected with Declan which is not a bad thing... I wanted to see more sides of Juliet through her grief and sorrow. And this is my mature brain speaking, she spent a great deal of the book over idolizing her mother than paying attention to herself and others. And her best friend was just there. By the end of the storyline, I was not able to comprehend her existence in this novel. She had lots of potential from the bits of information I got about her from Juliet. Throughout the whole book, I was expecting her to be a back stabbing traitor but it was not like that - thank goodness! More details about the females characters were needed compared to the male ones. I do not know... You can say it was understandable since it is a light tragic young adult novel. (I cannot believe that I've jut put "light" and "tragic" in the same sentence and in close proximity.) Or, that is just how I perceive it.
Finally, get some melancholic instrumental music, ask for magical power to make the weather gloomy and - by the end of the book - sunny, and see if this is your cup of tea.

This is my sole opinion. ^_^

I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Letters to the lost gave me some serious feels. It was absolutely beautiful and very emotional. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this book.

Working long hours at the cemetery for his mandatory community service, Declan finds a letter on a grave. After reading it, he decides to write back. Furious about someone reading her letter to her dead mother, Juliet writes another letter addressing the anonymous writer. Soon the two start talking anonymously and opening up to each other about the difficulties they're facing, slowly helping one another face the challenges and work through their problems. The only problem is that they know each other in person, and they're not exactly a fan of one another.

Oh my goodness, the characters, the storyline, everything was just perfect. I can't get over how good this book turned out. At first I was a bit iffy about the characters, they were both great characters but they did little things that made me mad, like how Juliet was very judgemental of Declan and how he couldn't understand that his step-father and mother were trying to help him (even though it wasn't in the best way). But their character development was mind blowing, they went from okay characters to these strong and intelligent characters that you end up falling in love with. These two really help each other be better people, even though they can't see it at first.

The story was really captivating. I started this book with a plan to read it slowly over a week, and I ended up reading it in two days. After I hit about 30% in, I could not put the book down. I don't know what it was exactly, but I just could not get myself to stop reading. I was so engrossed in it, that I had to finish the rest before I went to bed. There was lots of action, and some really great twists that even I didn't see coming.

After reading this book, I feel like I have to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book, even if you aren't a huge fan of contemporary. It will definitely hit you in the feels, and have you reading all night.

Letters to the Lost was emotionally breathtaking and beautifully crafted. The story that unfounded was filled to the brim with pain and heartache. I don't even knew how many times I found myself with tears in my eyes, my heart in my throat and with the incessant need to make their lives filled with love. But I held out hope that over time, they would help each other find not only strength, but love too.

Do you believe in fate ? Sometimes I want to. I want to believe that we all walk some path toward . . . something, and our paths intertwine for a reason. Like this, the way we’ve found each other. The way you told me the right story when I so desperately needed to hear it. - Juliet in her letter to Declan

It all started out from a letter Juliet left her mother, at her gravestone. And Declan came across the letter, while he was getting ready to mow the cemetery's grass. For his court ordered community service. That letter resonated deep inside of Declan, so he simply wrote back "Me too". To let the girl know that she wasn't alone in her thoughts and feelings. And from there, their communication slowly escalated over time. The found kinship, they found someone to release their most secretive thoughts with. They no longer felt alone. Yet they had no clue who the other was, even though they went to the same high school.

Half-broken breaths are coming out of me in short bursts. - Juliet

I loved the path this story took, and I loved even more that it wasn't easy. That nothing was glossed over. That we got to see their varying shades of pain, and that it was splattered everywhere for us to witness. Especially since not everyone in their lives knew their darkest, deepest thoughts. But we did. And Juliet Young and Declan Murphy knew that about each other too. When I started this book, I didn't think it would have as dark of a feel to it as it did. But the words they wrote to one another and their feelings they talked about sometimes felt as though I was drowning in an endless abyss with them. It was powerful, and their pain was so acute.

“What are you afraid of?”
I look at Declan , but he’s still staring out at the rain. His voice has gone quiet, and he’s not half as threatening as he was.
“I don’t know,” I say.

While they were still teenagers, they both had so much growing up to do. Juliet could at times be cold and judgemental. And she compared herself to her dead mother, which always made her come up short. Yet, I loved this girl. Especially when she would contemplate her word choices or how she treated someone. And that had a lot to do with Declan. Because not only did the letters make her question how she acted around others, but when her and Declan ran into each other in person, it had a similar affect. Not at first of course, but slowly over time. And when they did interact in person, it was explosive. If only they knew who they were baring their soul to.........

I need her. More than anything right now. I need her. And because of everything between us, I can’t have her. - Declan

Declan was dark, his own worst enemy, and he was so tortured from his past. Especially since he placed the blame of an event on his own shoulders. Not only was his home life troubling, but he was an outcast at school. Yet he had this ability to radiate power, and he was sexy as hell. So Declan easily broke my heart, while also making me fall for him. And when he was completely honest in his letters to Juliet, he took my breath away with his words. It was so different than how he acted around so many others.

I can’t look away from that last line.
Now write back and tell me you’re all right.
He cares. About me. - Juliet

Letters to the Lost alternated between Juliet, Declan and their letters to one another. While the book seemed to move at a somewhat slower pace than I'm use to, I loved it. We got to witness their interactions with not only every single letter, but we also learned everything about their home and school lives, and also their friends. It gave me a deeper sense of knowing them. Letters to the Lost was definitely an emotional book, and I can't wait for Rev's book next year! He was Deacon's best friend, who I absolutely adored, and I think you'll fall for him too!

*ARC kindly provided by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Review to be posted on blog 4/04 at 6:30am PST.

This book was beyond stunning. Heartbreaking and addicting all at once, Kremmerer's writing will not disappoint old and new fans alike.

Brigid Kemmerer does it again with a heartfelt, moving YA romance featuring a winning cast of characters. Get ready to feel things, folks!

I'm a huge Brigid Kemmerer fan, and I talk about her books to anyone who will listen. Her Elemental Series has not one but TWO books on my very exclusive all-time-favorites list, and I know what a true talent this author is.

Letters to the Lost reminds me very much of a Katie McGarry book in a good way. It is very angsty and a little depressing, but it never pushed me over my "heavy" limit. It did, however, make me want to hug the two MCs (and Rev, the best friend) very, very tightly.

The best thing about Letters to the Lost is how compulsively readable it is. Brigid Kemmerer has a great sense of flow and pacing, and things never lagged, never grew dull. She kept everything swiftly moving, yet she really let the characters shine. The romance felt very organic and inevitable, which I always love. Though the book is YA (and the romance stays in strictly PG territory), the book never felt juvenile. It felt real and important, something that is often tricky to pull off.

Sure, the concept isn't the most original in the world. I swear I've read a book with a similar plot-line, actually, but I couldn't place it. However, despite the fact that the story-line felt familiar, I thought it was an excellent read. And I CANNOT be any more excited for Rev's story. I mean, he practically stole the book, so a story from his POV would be divine. I think this is a series to watch.

*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Juliet and Declan's stories were heart breaking and heartfelt. These two characters and their world felt real with all the problems and confusion that comes along with that. Grief is often the most common experience life offers, and as Juliet and Declan find their way to navigate through their pain their lives jump off the page.

Juliet soon realizes that she is more than the daughter of a photo-journalist and Declan realizes that he's been punishing himself for the mistakes of all the adults in his life.

My only complaint is more Rev. I want him to have his own story with his own happiness. I want to see how he became the most well-rounded character while struggling with the heartbreak of his own family dysfunctions.

Life is never as easy or simple as we'd like it to be and it was so satisfying to watch Juliet and Declan struggle and come out the other side a bit wiser and ready to heal some of the pains of their past.

Brigid Kemmerer is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!! Letters to the Lost is the best book I’ve read by her yet, and I have a feeling it will be in my top picks for 2017!

My favorite thing about this story would have to be that these characters, though broken and struggling, had family and friends beside them. They weren’t completely alone, trying to find their way while walking in circles. These characters had their struggles, that’s for sure… but to see the support they each had behind them was amazing.

I also adored the relationship between Cemetery Girl and The Dark. They found in each other an anonymous way to open up about their deepest fears, regrets, and concerns going forward. These two counted on each other, even though they were hidden behind a screen. Hearing how different they were, yet so similar at the same time, had me truly falling for these two and wanting only the best for them.

Both Juliet and Declan were developed in such a way as I felt as though I had known them their entire lives. Declan was bitter after an encounter with the law that left him being judged by everyone, including his family. Juliet was struggling to deal appropriately with the loss of her mother, leaving her hobby (photography) in the dust, and struggling to redeem her relationship with her father since her mother’s death. These two were lost, and with the help of each other and their friends and family, they were able to start working through their difficulties and find a light at the end of the tunnel.

Such a raw, emotional, heartfelt and swoony story!!! I have to admit that I did get quite emotional a time or two. This story was heartbreaking at times. But it was also uplifting, encouraging, and outright adorable at certain points. (And we can’t forget the swoony scenes! Loved them!) This book had everything I love, plus so much more! Definitely add this one to your TBR. It’s magically amazing.

**4.5 Stars**

Letters to the Lost was a vividly poignant novel with strong real-life issues. Kemmerer wrote fantastic characters with such depth and turmoil, and allowed their personalities to speak through via the writing with no barrier in between. I fell so in love with their connection as it built between the pages of their correspondence and how that translated into their everyday lives.

Teen angst and emotion can be so hard to capture, but with Declan and Juliet it hit me right in the gut. One is struggling with consequences of an action, while the other is struggling with the reaction to a devastating event. Both are wrapped so tightly in grief and regret and sadness that it drips from the pages, but underneath all of that is the saving grace of a little bit of hope they find in one another. It was truly so heartbreaking to enter into their lives and see the causes of their current predicaments, how their families were involved or lacking, and how everything, even the most minuscule things, had an effect on them. I felt it, every bit of it, and it was just written and laid out so very well–expertly, really. Not only were the main characters so striking, but every single secondary character was just as palpable. These characters are still with me, and I hope they continue to stay.

My one big want was an epilogue or a bit more to the ending. The resolution deserved to be bigger, grander, and I craved it upon reading the last word. Or maybe I became so involved with them that I am just selfish in wanting more. Letters to the Lost was an addictive read that I couldn’t put down. The last hour of the novel was a mad-dash to the end where pages were being flipped as fast as my eyes could read, and I don’t find many novels that bring me to that reaction. Brigid Kemmerer is a great storyteller, and I can’t wait to experience more from her.

I think I officially love books that involve characters writing letters to one another. In high school, I constantly wrote notes to friends in class. There’s just something so fun and personal about it. (Totally showing my age here: but do teenagers even do that anymore when they have text and Snapchat??) When Declan Murphy finds a letter beside at grave at the cemetery he does community service for, he wasn’t expected to be moved by the words or compelled to add his own little note at the end. Likewise, when Juliet Young goes back to look at the letter she left, she doesn’t expect to find a note and feel compelled to write back. But that’s exactly what happens and before long, they start really writing to one another and opening up. Juliet is still mourning her mother’s death and uses the letters to cope while Declan has his own demons to face that we get to slowly learn about. Through their connection, they each find someone they can talk to. I loved the book’s underlying message of how powerful words can be. And as someone who’s been a fan of Kemmerer’s, I wasn’t surprised to find myself completed engaged by the writing and her characters. There are twists, angst, friendships (more Rev please), family, and of course, romance, and Kemmerer balances all aspects really well.

Do I recommend? I do! I enjoyed this a lot and I actually wouldn’t mind if she decided to do a companion novel at some point, just so I could revisit these characters again!

I received Letters to the Lost out of the generous heart of Brigid Kemmerer after we had talked back and forth about her book. I talked to her over twitter about how I couldn’t wait to read it due to how cathartic I think it might be for me given it’s synopsis surrounding a teenage girl having lost her mother at a very young age. For the both of them. I was given an ARC to Netgalley but then about a week or so later I was sent an early hard copy that was signed by Brigid herself.
I, truly, can’t describe how touched I was to receive something like this. I have been given other book copies from authors before but nothing that meant so much to me as this did. Those feelings only became more overwhelming as I read and finished LTTL.

I know most book reviews are supposed to give a general look at the book and praise it. Make you want to read it and so on. But LTTL was different for me. I wasn’t wrong when I said this book would be cathartic for me. I knew going into it that there was a very large chance I would have a hard time getting through it, the words would stir feelings in me that I hadn’t dealt with on my own, I could even potentially cry. Which I did. It’s because of this that I am grateful for Letters to the Lost. I’m not saying to completely healed me of the grief over the loss of my mother some 18 years ago, but the words and thought processes in this book has given me a chance to look at my decisions and grief, itself, a different way.

For that I say Thank You, Brigid Kemmerer. You’ve done more for me in one book than most therapists have done in a few hundred sessions. I’ll always volunteer as tribute to read your books and back your stories 100% because of this. Letters to the Lost will forever stay on my list of Favorite and Re-Readable books. There aren’t many of those.



Let me start by saying I gave Letters to the Lost 4 stars. Now that’s not to say it isn’t deserving of of five. It is. The four is my own personal issues with the book itself. They’re minor, however, but in the end they sort of add up to take away one full star.

Note: There are spoilers in this post, so stop now if you haven’t read this book. It’s too good of a read to spoil!!

Letter to the Lost is a plot I haven’t seen done before. It’s about two lost teens wrapped in their own teenage crap on top of personal tragedies that are weighing them down. Almost to the point of destruction. But they communicate through hand written letters left in a cemetery all while not knowing who the other is.

That being said, one of the main issues I had was how long it took for ‘The Dark’ and ‘Cemetery Girl’ to figure out who each other were. There were so many opportunities for Juliet to be, forgive me, not BLONDE and just put two and two together and realize DECLAN IS ‘The Dark’. Almost to the point I wanted to throw the book. Half of that was frustration, half of that was I wanted them together because when Declan isn’t being a self-destructive jerk he really is a book-boyfriend I want for myself!

A second point is Rev. I LOVE Rev. He was a little creepy at first but once he got more lines and you got to know his home life a bit more he opened up to be a very interesting character. So interesting I WANTED MORE. Now, I know Brigid is making a book JUST for Rev, but had I not known that I would have been upset because I believe it’s Rev and his past history that really grounds Declan a lot of time. Thus it would have been nice to have more on him so you could join in on that bond with Rev and Declan to love their duo even more.

Declan’s step-father was a third, and the most irritating, point for me. He and Declan were such a toxic mix of anger and spite and rejection their scenes were hard to read for me because I’ve been in a family situation that was similar. Declan couldn’t do ANYTHING right! I wanted to punch the guy in the face!! But even after knowing everything Declan did in his past and living, practically, in a car shop for his dad, who is gone now, his damn step-father still wouldn’t let him help at first. Like What. The. Hell. Man?! Get off your damn high horse! On top of that, his sudden turn around and suddenly they’re having a calm heart to heart and he’s wanting to be a family man?! At first I thought it was a rouse, and while I was glad Declan was getting to say what was finally needing to say, the turn around in the dad seemed a little rushed. But I was also glad it was happening? So I’m sort of 50-50 on that whole thing?

There was a twist towards the end with Juliet and concerning her mother that really.. threw me. Honestly, it didn’t sit well with me or the pit of my stomach after I finished the book. It was one of the reasons I had to give myself a day or so to sit with the book before I wrote this and gave a truly honest review. While I understand it was for drama purposes and for Juliet to truly have an outstanding moment to relieve her grief and figure things out, I feel like another plot somehow might have worked better. I’m not the writer so I couldn’t tell what to replace it with, but I feel like I felt the pain that Juliet did and it hurt me. Which may be had been the point all along. It just felt painful for me like Juliet going through it. Awkward even.

My favorite thing I am grateful for, however, is how Brigid handled the romance. Through out the whole book the romance was there but it was more of a back burner situation. Which only made you want to have the MC’s get together that much more. It was handled so well and so beautifully that I wish more authors wrote like that. Have it there, hovering, but not the main focus but then it happens anyway in a way that’s.. more realistic. It was wonderful to read because you rooted for Declan and Juliet so much.

Letters to the Lost has a lot of ups and downs, happiness and frustrations. It sticks in my brain and makes me feel like there’s hope at the end of the tragic moments that happen in life. Brigid Kemmerer is an amazing writer and I can’t wait to see what else she brings to the table. I know I’ll be first in line for the arcs and the day of releases.

Letters to the Lost releases April 4th, 2017.

A read that you will finish in one day that will bring tears of joy and sorrow.

Even though she can't read them anymore, Juliet Young still writes her mother letters by hand. But instead of mailing them to wherever her mom is currently on photography assignment, Juliet leaves the letters by her grave. Declan Murphy mows the grass in the cemetery as part of a court-ordered community service. When he comes across one of Juliet's letters he reads it...and writes back. Neither knows who the other is, and they don't expect the strength of connection they find in each other's words. But while they feel free to express their hearts under the anonymity of their letters, things become a lot more complicated when they realize they aren't actually the strangers they think they are.

I loved this book so much! The You've Got Mail trope is popular right now, and I've read a bunch of books with this set up. But Letters to the Lost is definitely a favorite. In many ways that's because of the depth of emotion in these page - how raw story is, and the way the dual narrative allows us to get inside of both Juliet and Declan's heads. It's not as much waiting for the big reveal - when will they realize who the other is? - though I couldn't wait for that. It's aching for the pain and loss both characters are carrying, and wanting so much for them to be okay. It's seeing how much they crave connection, and watching how the letters gave them something to hold onto in a time that was dark for both of them.

Both Juliet and Declan are/have dealt with some really tough stuff in their lives, and this book does not shy away from any of it. This book gutted me, but it's also uplifting amidst everything these two are facing. I love that Juliet and Declan find each other amidst all of that, even though for a while, they don't know it's each other they've found. And boy do they spark against the other at first. The chemistry is strong with these two, even when they're yelling at each other.

Another thing I loved about this story is that Juliet and Declan each has a supportive friend who sticks with them through it all. Declan's friend Rev is my favorite, and I'm thrilled he's getting his own book next year. Though they feel nothing but alone and misunderstood at first, Juliet and Declan also both find other supportive people in their lives - teachers, family members, coworkers. To that end, both of their relationships with their parents go through an evolution in this book, and I wasn't prepared for how affected was by those relationships.

I truly don't have anything negative to say about this book. Highly Recommended.

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone - Next year there is to be a companion book from Declan's friend Rev's POV called More Than We Can Tell.

(Link will be live tomorrow)

If I could rate Letters to the Lost more than 5 stars, I would. I would give it all the stars.

The description is pretty vague, and for that I’m grateful. I expected depth to Letters to the Lost, but I got even more than I bargained for.

At first, I didn’t like Declan all that much. He did come across as a punk and a troublemaker. He was rude to everyone and wore self-pity like a security blanket. And then there was Juliet. Dealing with her own grief and unable to find her way out. I liked her enough, but also thought she kept herself too closed off from everyone—especially her father.

When their paths cross and they begin exchanging anonymous letters and emails, they learn that they aren’t so different.

I adored this book. The connection between them sizzled. But more importantly, they could discuss all they were dealing with and how it made them feel. They were more open and honest than they had been in months. At times, their confessions and thoughts are heartbreaking.

As the story unfolded, I could see the direction it seemed the story would take. Without spoiling it, so no details, but I’d have been disappointed had it come to fruition. I was glad when it didn’t, but the twist that did come was jarring. I was genuinely shocked and angered; though looking back, I think I should have known. It does change the whole story in ways.

The ending is a bit abrupt. I think I’d have liked a little more, even just an epilogue. But it’s extremely well-written with wonderfully developed characters. And that includes the supporting cast. I mean, if no one loves Rev after reading this, I’ll be stunned. And I’m stoked to see he’s getting a book!

An honest and poignant look at grief, Letters to the Lost is perfect for fans of Tell Me Three Things and P.S. I Like You.

Ironically enough, it was my buddy Birdie who put Letters to the Lost on my radar. I say that because I’ve been bellyaching to her that I can’t find any good YA lately, and then boom! This book lands on my Kindle. (I mean, I was expecting it because I sent it, but still…) The cover of this book is stunning on it’s own, but once I read the blurb, I had a full on book crush. Once I read the book, I knew it was true love. I was riveted from the very first page.My reviews have been so easy to write lately because I’ve been forcing myself to take notes, but it’s to the drawing board for this one. There was no way I was stopping this book even for a second, no matter that it would make reviewing easier for me down the road!
Though it’s been awhile since Juliet’s mother has died, she is still reeling from her death. Trying desperately to cope the only way she can, she continues the tradition of handwriting letters to her mother, leaving them (assumingly unread) on her mother’s grave. While Juliet had a better support system than Declan on the surface, I was frustrated with them for deciding how far along Juliet should be in her grief. As if you can ever put a timeline on how fast someone should get over death. Declan reminded me of a much darker Lucas Scott, but, again, without the support system. He was deep and brooding, so lost in himself that he couldn’t even see there were people all around him wanting to give him a helping hand. But he at least has his best friend Rev, and Rev’s parents there for him. I really love how Rev was a voice of reason for Declan, providing a constant for him and reminding him, even in the heat of his angry moments, that he was more than people gave him credit for.
The premise of this book (which is even deeper than I originally thought as we go along,) is so heartwarming. Basically, showing the most flawed parts of ourselves, but knowing there’s someone out there who likes you anyway. Anonymity really allowed Juliet and Deacon to be candid with each other. And I love how it wasn’t always all about commiseration - it was about banding together and being brave, giving each other encouragement to step out of their comfort zones and take risks, especially emotional ones.
I’m telling you - there were times when Declan’s mother and stepfather had me so angry that my rage could have given Declan’s a run for his money. His stepfather was jerk enough, but to know that Declan was hurting and his mother couldn’t (or wouldn’t) see it and step in made her so unlikable. As we find out that Declan’s support system is more inclusive than we thought, it felt like a stick it to ya moment to his parents, and boy did it make the petty parts of me feel good. Sometimes it can be the most unlikely of people, a community service supervisor or even a teacher you thought saw nothing in you, to make you feel like you’re worth something, and I love that Declan got that when he stepped back and took a moment to let it all in.
I don’t feel like everything in this book was wrapped up in a neat little bow and presented to the reader, which is a good thing. I don’t want my YA to have the perfect ending, because I don’t feel like that’s indicative of life. Especially when you’re so young.
There were parts of this book that were so moving, and I found myself in tears more than once. Why is teen angst so emotionally wrecking? There were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and they fit the story perfectly. They weren’t so jarring it felt like what the heck was that? It was more like an ‘oh, man! Why didn’t I see that coming?’
So - I had to remove the portion of my review begging the author for Rev’s book because it’s a done deal! We’re getting Rev’s book, and I am tickled pink! There are so many layers to that young man, and I can’t wait to see them peeled away.
As I’m sure you can tell, I loved Letters to the Lost, and I can’t recommend it enough if you’re a YA fan. I know this is one I’ll be returning to over and over again.

This will go live on my blog on April 9. Kellyvision.wordpress.com

Juliet and her mom always exchanged letters when her mom was out of town. Now that her mom's dead, Juliet still leaves them at her grave. And then one day, someone writes back. (Not AS her mom; that'd be creepy and horrible. Instead, it's an acknowledgment of grief and an empathetic "Me too.") She exchanges notes with this stranger (we find out who long before she does).

I love this book. I love Juliet and her pen pal. I love their friends. I love everything about it.

It would be easy for this book to be 400 pages of abject misery. (Parts are. Horrible things happen. Bit there's also a lot of hope.)

Highly recommended.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: April 4, 2017
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn't the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he's trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon, he's opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they're not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.

What I Liked:

I've read all six of Kemmerer's previous novels (and some of the novellas too), and for the most part, I enjoyed all of what I read. Kemmerer has a way of writing broken teens who are trying to find their way. But I think Kemmerer is at her best, with this book. This, to me, is her best work. This book split me open and made my heart hurt - in the best of ways. I wouldn't say that I get emotional over books, but this one made me feel some feels.

This is Juliet Young's and Declan Murphy's stories, which becomes one story. Juliet's mother died in a hit-and-run car crash, and she has been grieving ever since. Juliet used to write letters to her mom since her mother was often overseas, as a photographer in war zones and such. And so Juliet continues to write letters to her mom, but leaves them at the grave site. Declan Murphy has community service, which involves mowing and lawn of the cemetery. He finds one of the letters at a grave site, reads it, and writes back. An exchange of letters occurs, and then it becomes emails. Juliet and Declan have no idea that they are reaching out to each other and helping each other through their grief and pain. But in real life, Juliet misjudges Declan, and Declan misjudges Juliet. Both are not the other's biggest fans; but when one finds out that the other is the letter writer, will it matter?

I sat down with this book with the intention of reading only half of the book, and saving the other half for the next day. I started reading really late into the night (after 9 PM) and had no intention of finishing. But hours went by, my family went to bed, and I didn't even notice. I was so engrossed in this book, and I couldn't stop reading, and the next thing I know, I've finished it. It was that wonderful, and heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.

Usually when there is a YA book with dual, first-person POVs, I adore one of them, and feel so-so about the other (I don't have this problem with adult books, which is a relief). With this book, I liked both characters a lot. I think I liked Declan more, and I really connected him more (for some reason - it's not like I have a stepparent or a father in prison or a shred of the problems he has).

Declan is so misjudged, and by everyone. Everyone labels him as a thug and a criminal, and when someone says something bad about him, no one comes to his defense. If he is anywhere near a bad situation, it gets blamed on him. He and his stepfather practically hate each other, and his mother is so passive and doesn't even talk to him. His sister is dead, his father is in jail, and he has to work off ninety hours of community service for one very bad decision. But... Declan isn't a bad guy. He has an attitude and he doesn't hide his anger, but he isn't a terrible person. He has a strong sense of morals and he is very intelligent, But again, misjudged. Even - and especially - by our heroine, Juliet.

Juliet is overwhelmed with grief. Her mother's death is still fresh, and even the thought of getting rid of her mother's cameras makes Juliet break down in tears, or panic. Juliet hasn't had an easy year, but she isn't alone. She misjudges Declan badly, and slowly, she starts to realize that. Juliet is a good girl, though at first she is a little judgmental (towards Declan). In general she isn't... but to him, she was. She was to the point where she was afraid of him, which I thought was silly.

To me, it's a testament to Kemmerer's talent as a writer, how she can characterize these two teens so well, and bring about those fears and angers and pain so well, such that the reader is incredibly aware of them. There wasn't a chapter that went by that I didn't distinctly feel Declan's fury and his hurt, or Juliet's panic and grief. Such good writing, in terms of the development of these two characters.

The letter-writing aspect of the story was so wonderful. At first it was odd - Juliet was furious to find out that someone wrote on her private letter to her dead mother. But then the letter-writing turned into something more meaningful and necessary. Both characters had a lot of pain and hurt to work through, and the anonymous letter-writing really helped. Imagine being able to lay out your big problems, your little problems, your crappy day, to someone who knows exactly nothing about you. Someone who knows nothing, and yet everything. Letter-writing isn't new in YA (P.S. I Like You by Kasie West, Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum...), but it's a concept that I adore so much.

This is YA contemporary with a lot of "tough issues" explored. Declan's relationship with his stepfather, with his mother, Juliet's relationship with her father, Declan's crime and his community service, his anger, Juliet's grief, Juliet's judgment of Declan... there is a lot to unload and handle, in this book. The most meaningful (or one of them) was Kemmerer's message about misjudging people - someone like Declan will get blamed and beat down because people already expect him to be a bad person, a thug and a criminal, but that isn't fair and it isn't right.

There is romance and it's both there and it's not. Letter-writing Declan and letter-writing Juliet definitely fall for each other through letters - their connection is very powerful. In-person Declan and in-person Juliet have more of a slow-burn, hate-to-love romance. They bicker and fight nearly every time they see each other, and they constantly snipe at each other and misjudge each other. But their relationship changes a lot. There is a lot of chemistry between them, but it's often off the page. I liked the romance, despite the "physical" side of the romance not really being there.

There were a lot of wonderful secondary characters in this book! Rev, Declan's best friend, who has a heartbreaking past but a positive outlook on life. He is an amazing friend and I loved their bromance. He's one of my favorites, and I can't wait to read his story next. Rowan, Juliet's best friend, who is so supportive and such a good best friend. Then there is "Melonhead" (his name is Frank), who is Declan's community service supervisor. He actually plays a huge and very positive role in Declan's life, and I'm glad he is in the story. Same with Rev's parents. Positive role models - not like Declan's mother and stepfather. Ugh, to both of them.

The ending is perfect! Things work out well for Declan in many areas of his life. It's not like all of his problems are fixed overnight, but he takes a lot of baby steps in the right direction. Same with Juliet. And of course, same for the two of them, in terms of togetherness. Although, I have to say, we need an epilogue, or a loooooot of cameo appearances in Rev's book. There is a distinct lack of physical swoon that needs to be made up for, in Rev's book!

What I Did Not Like:

The only thing I wanted more of was the thing I just mentioned - more physical swoon. I shared a snippet of this book on my latest Swoon Thursday post, and notice how it isn't a kissy swoon! Yeah, there could have been more kissy scenes. A lot more.

Would I Recommend It:

YA contemporary fan or not (I'm not one), I recommend this book. It is such a meaningful and thought-provoking book. Also, I can't remember the last time I got that swept up in a story, to the point where I unintentionally finish it or stay up really late without being aware. (I stay up late reading books all the time but it's always intentional). There are a lot of tough topics explored in this book, but it's not overwhelmingly heavy. This is an excellent story that is powerful beyond it being a YA contemporary story about two teens who meet in more than one way.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded up to 5 stars (a rare 5 stars from me!). I am incredibly excited to read Rev's book next year! So far I'm seven for seven with Kemmerer's books and I have yet to be really disappointed. While I certainly do recommend her Elemental series, I recommend this book even more so!