This is so not my preferred genre of books, but once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I thought it was a lovely story of friendship and of discovering one's new normal.

Overall enjoyed this read. There were parts when the flip between characters was a little puzzling, trying to remember who is who but overall, an easy read.

I really liked the ending, I like how there were little snippets to suggest after the story ending what happened to Eddie.

It’s a lovely story on a situation I couldn’t really ever comprehend! Should I have read it as a nervous flyer? Probably not. Did I learn that you can stall a plane, yup! 😂👍

Why did I not read this book sooner? Ahhh, I forever do this, then kick myself because this is an absolute gem of a book, a heartbreaking gem, I might add! This book made me cry like an actual weeping baby. I'm talking gulping wracking sobs to the point that my kids were concerned.

I'm not sure this book needs any introduction, but it follows Edward, a 12 year old boy who is the sole survivor of a horrific plane crash. There were 191 fatalities. That's all I'm going to say other than this story is breathtaking. Even more so that it's inspired by a true story.

The way Ann Napolitano writes human emotion whilst simultaneously writing some of the most tense moments I think it's possible to read is nothing short of masterful. My heart was in my throat the whole time. I can't wait to pick up more work by this author because if this is the calibre, then I'm in for a real treat.

A heart wrenching, tragic story about a 12-year-old lone survivor of a plane crash. I thoroughly enjoyed the change between the hours before the plane crash and the aftermath for our main character, Edward.

Dear Edward is a sweet story of a boy finding his place in the world after a tragedy, and how it affects his family and friends.

Imagining the media spotlight on Edward is a scary thing, and I think this book covered that quite well.

This is quite hard to read I'm places, but it is a very moving book.

We head a news story as it's happening, and this covers the aftermath and how it affects people.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin Books

This was a really gripping and interesting read. It’s about a boy who is the sole survivor of a deadly crash from a plane. Would recommend if you enjoy a good mystery. It’s got lots of drama and kept me guessing to the end.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A beautifully moving story about hope in the aftermath of tragedy. A dual timeline plays out the lead up to the crash as well as the aftermath of sole survivor Edward.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this thought provoking book

"One summer morning, twelve-year-old Edward Adler, his beloved older brother, his parents, and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Among them is a Wall Street wunderkind, a young woman coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy, an injured vet returning from Afghanistan, a septuagenarian business tycoon, and a free-spirited woman running away from her controlling husband. And then, tragically, the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor."

Oh Wow this book definitely packs a punch, right from the beginning through to the end.
The characters in it are all so different and drip by drip through the book we get to know and understand a select few and what happens to their survivors. I can't say too much about how, without giving away a great secret and discovery that happens about half way through the book.

Edward/Eddie is such a likeable young lad, obviously struggling but via his friend Shay and their teenage curiosity they go on a great adventure together, and I was happy to go along with them.

Great book, no wonder it is being made into a tv series.

Well this is a novel with all the feels! I've actually had this book for quite some time, and I chose to read it whilst on holiday. I was struggling to commit to my next read, and chose this purely because my son is called Edward. I didn't re-read the blurb, trusting that I wanted to read when I first got it, so I would still want to read it now. I can't believe it took me so long to pick it up.

Edward Adler is a twelve year old boy, moving cross country from New York to Los Angeles with his mother, father and brother. There is nothing extraordinary about him - until he survives a plane crash when no one else does.

This is a coming of age novel, following Edward as he tries to correlate who he once was, to who he is growing up to be. His grief is sympathetically portrayed as he navigates a world without his family, often comparing his age milestones with that of his beloved lost brother.

The growth of Edwards relationships with his Aunt, Uncle, and neighbour Shay are beautifully described, and really draw you into his world as he navigates the new life he finds himself in. Upon finding letters in his Uncles garage, all addressed to him, these relationships deepen as they support him in working through his grief.

This is an emotional novel; given its subject it could never be anything but emotional. But it is sympathetically written - I believed that I was following the thoughts and feelings of a confused young boy who had lost everything he knew in just a few short moments. I was able to fully immerse myself in this story, and I couldn't help but want the best for Edward. This is very much a character-driven novel; Ann Napolitano sets the scene but the characters are very much as the forefront of this story, which really helps you to become invested.

I am more than happy to recommend this novel - it is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. Whilst the central theme is grief, it is not a depressing novel at all. It is about learning to really live, rather than just survive.

A very moving and beautiful book about the sole survivor of an aeroplane crash. The chapters switch between the flight and young Edward as he struggles to move on and build a life after the loss of his parents and older brother. He lives with his aunt and uncle who are doing everything they can to help him but are helpless in the face of his pain. The only person whose presence helps is his neighbour's daughter who is the same age as him. One day they discover Edward's aunt and uncle have been concealing mail from the families of the other passengers and Edward is forced to face what happened all over again. It really isn't as bleak as it sounds. There are, of course, many sad moments but there is also hope.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

A bittersweet novel of growing up way too soon. I fell in love with Edward and his struggle to return to a normal life after he is the sole survivor of a deadly plane crash. The past and present interweaves perfectly. Simultaneously learning about Edward’s life after the crash, and the other people on board the ill fated flight.

Firstly I would like to thank the publisher, author and Netgalley for my free ARC.

This is an emotionally charged story of one child’s survival of a traumatic event, and his subsequent guilt. The descriptions are vivid and thought provoking, and written cleverly from a child’s perspective.

The prose flow easily but this goes not take anything away from the enormity of the event of the aftermath. This is a heart breaking tale with faint numberings of hope.

I highly recommend this book.

⭐A beautiful, poignant coming of age story.
⭐ Clever & subtle.
⭐ Fabulously written.
⭐An undoubtedly sad book but not without its uplifting moments.
⭐A thought provoking read, that stays with you long after you have turned the last page.

Twelve year old Edward Adler is the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills over 150 people. After losing his entire family in the blink of an eye, he finds himself sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle, who have always longed for a child but who never expected to be given one under such sad circumstances. Edwards struggles to fit in at their house, being given the room that was intended as a nursery for all of their lost babies, but makes friends with his new neighbour, Shay, who becomes his solace. With the help of Shay, his counsellor, his new principal and his uncle, Edward begins the slow process of healing and trying to move on from what has happened to him. Then a discovery in his uncle and aunt’s garage changes everything again and sets Edward on a new path, and his life will never be the same again.

I’m somewhat torn about this book. Based on true stories of plane crashes, and one in particular in which a young boy survived, how can it be anything other than moving? It’s such a feat to have undertaken and Napolitano has to be commended for that. What she’s created here is heart-breaking, thought-provoking, and life-affirming in equal measure. As much as it was sad to read the plane sections, I liked that they were spliced in with what was happening to Edward in the aftermath, as it really made it hit home how much had been lost but also illustrated how life goes on.
On the flip side I found it to be quite mundane at times, which seems a ridiculous thing to say about a book centred on an event of such magnitude, but it was and at those points I drifted off a little bit. But then someone would say something profound and I’d be brought right back into it, contemplating how short and fleeting life is. I loved the sections with the principal and his ferns, and was always glad that Edward had people around him who helped him make it through.

Overall this is a unique book about an unimaginable event but Napolitano has somehow pulls it off. Although at times I felt it dragged a little I guess that’s the point, life can be humdrum but it can also be over in a second and so we mustn’t take it for granted. With such upsetting subject matter you’d expect it to be more emotional in tone but it was actually quite a cut and dry read and I think that’s why I struggled to rate it. I almost feel like it should have featured more hysteria and passion at times, but I guess very few people will ever know (thankfully) what it’s like to survive a plane crash so who am I to say that. Either way it certainly gave me food for thought and I am glad to have read it.

I got this from NetGalley when it first was released on there. For whatever reason and one I’m still unsure of I never continued after the first few chapters. I’m now looking back at this story and wishing I’d not left it. It really is a truly beautiful novel and I’m left feeling bereft from a book I can’t read for the first time again.

The blurb tells us the basic premise which is based on a true story, but it is so much more than that. It is heavy with emotions but so cleverly woven around both the crash and aftermath of a tragic human error that caused a plane crash that claimed the lives of 191 passenger and leaves alive one young 12 year old boy called Edward Adler(Eddie).

I rarely cry with such intensity but honestly this book will be one that stays with me for a very long time. There isn’t many that stick in my mind but this one has become a favourite.

It’s an uplifting coming of age story that’s based on the most tragic of circumstances. A story of grief, sadness, loss but also of recovery, acceptance and promise.

A startling, sad but, oh so, brilliant story. I absolutely adored it. Highly, highly recommend. Excellent and tear-jerking.

A beautiful, emotional and ultimately uplifting book. I loved it. Would recommend for fans of Celeste Ng

I used to love flying – I even flew to Singapore by myself at the tender age of nineteen. I didn’t give safety or plane crashes a second thought. Then once I had children, it began to really bother me and I’m not sure why. Now, I really, really don’t like it and have to take Valium before a flight.

So a book centred around a plane crash may not have been the most sensible choice, but this was a really unusual and thought-provoking read, full of emotion, without being sentimental, and a really sensitive and intriguing take on a very unusual situation.

Edward is lovely, really sympathetically portrayed, his awkwardness, his confusion, his guilt, his grief, all so well-written. I really wanted him to find a sense of peace, contentment, and happiness.

The reactions of those around him, family, friends, strangers, is an interesting commentary on how we often feel entitled to bits of a person’s life, even if we don’t know them. For me, the interactions with the families of those who died in the crash were a highlight of the book.

My only niggle was that I really didn’t warm to Shay at all. Their friendship didn’t feel authentic to me. Otherwise a lovely book, beautifully-written, and intriguing.
Hasn’t made me feel any better about flying though!