Twelve year old Edward Adler is the sole survivor of a plane crash. The book switches between being on the plane in the hours running up to the crash, and Edward living with his mother's sister and her husband. There is a marked difference between Eddie before the crash and Edward, as he is now known, after the crash. Everyone says he's lucky – lucky to be alive – but Edward feels far from lucky having lost his parents, brother and his whole life as he knew it.

The time with the passengers on the plane has a feeling of doom – the weather is awful, the turbulence is bad – but knowing something about several of the passengers gives emotion and realism to the eventual tragedy. I recognised many of the similarities of the true plane crash of Air France flight 477 in 2009 in this story, which added to the authenticity without sensationalising the disaster.

Edward, during his recovery, finds difficulty in conveying his feelings to his new family and his only friend is Shay, the girl next door who he trusts and confides in completely.

A compelling story which kept me gripped when reading about being on the doomed plane, and fascinated in Edward's progress, both physical and emotional, after losing everything.

Thank you for this book netgalley,
I was apprehensive about this book as I was concerned it may be really s day however I found it moving and inspiring and let me wondering how I would deal with this situation
The flash back chapters giving life to the other passengers on the flight were an interesting change and left me with a constant wonder about when the situation was going to change
All in all a very gripping read

12 year old Eddie is on a plane moving to Los Angeles with his family when it crashes leaving him as the sole survivor.

A moving tape of growing up, mental health and acceptance. A really wonderful book.

Glorious, warm, uplifting, sad. Lovely writing without being oppressive. Really looking forwards to reading more like this

I loved this book. I did not expect to become so invested in the characters. The writer takes us back to the catastrophic crash and forward in time to how the sole survivor learns to deal with his situation. Well written and capturing. My thanks to Net-galley, the author and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

How do you go on living when you lose your whole family in one fell swoop?

For 12 year old Edward, losing his parents and older brother in a plane crash where 191 people died and he was the sole survivor, this is a tragedy so enormous that he doesn't know how to handle the grief. His childless Aunt and Uncle who he barely knows take him in and he finds comfort in the companionship of Shay, the 12 year old girl next door, but the loss of his parents and older brother leaves a gaping hole he can never fill.

Written in two time lines, the novel follows Edward's family and some of the other passengers during the long flight from Newark to LA up to the moment of the crash, as well as the difficult years afterwards as Edward tries to navigate high school and adolescence while coping with grief and trauma and rebuilding his life. Weighed down with guilt at surviving and unable to cope with the public's expectations of him, he finds it difficult to connect with the kids at his school, who are jealous of his fame and what they see as privileged treatment by teachers.

I didn't expect to be so emotionally invested in this novel. I felt so sad for Edward, losing not only his family but his future with them, particularly his 15 year old brother who will never get to grow up alongside him. His Aunt and Uncle are awkward in their efforts to find the best way to help him deal with the aftermath of the trauma and do their best to protect him from publicity and the grieving relatives of the crash victims and he encounters kindness from a range of people, including his therapist and his understanding Headmaster. Shay provides him with unconditional friendship and companionship and it's lovely to watch the two of them grow up together. Eventually Edward finds a way to connect with others left behind by the victims of the crash, and to help make some of their lives easier. A beautiful, moving story of the power of love, friendship and caring for others to help heal a young boy and give him hope for the future.

I was intrigued to read Dear Edward mainly because of one specific plot point - the plane crash. I am fascinated - probably brought about by my love of the TV show LOST - by anything place crash related. I am currently writing my own story revolving around a place crash, but it is the human aspect of these stories - whether true or fictional - that really grab me. The connections people make because of it, the twisted up nature of their emotions that they have to unravel post survival, the really deep heart breaking stuff. That's what I'm here for. And Dear Edward does not dissapoint.

Moving across the country from New York to Los Angeles, twelve year old Eddie is flying with his fifteen year old brother Jordan, his dad Bruce, and his mom Jane, who is seated in first class separate to the rest of the family while she tries to finish up some urgent work before landing. Around halfway through the flight, while over the skies of Colorado, something goes wrong. The plane crashes. Only Eddie survives.

Sent to live with his only remaining relatives, his aunt Lacey and uncle John - who he knows have been trying relentlessly to have their own children for the past few years - Eddie, who now goes by Edward, has an understandably hard time adapting to his new life. Befriended by the girl next door, Shay, Edward has to learn to walk again after both his legs are broken in the crash, has to explain to his new therapist what this new clicking sound in his head is, has to learn how to go to school after being homeschooled by his dad for his whole life. And all this time he's desperately avoiding all information relating to the crash. As he grows older however, and struggles with reaching the age his other brother was when he died, he finds that he can't hide from it forever. And soon comes across a heap of letters addressed to him from friends and family members of the crash victims. Each starts 'Dear Edward' and goes on to request something of his - to live somewhere a victim lived, to learn to play an instrument like a victim did, or to simply live life to its fullest, like a victim never had the chance to do. Overwhelmed by these requests, he and Shay separate the letters into piles - ones to reply to, ones which request something doable by him, ones which he can face attempting to live by. And as he tries to focus on what's important in these letters, he faces greater questions: what's important in life? How do you live life to its fullest? And what does he do next?

Interwoven beautifully throughout the tale of Edwards life post crash, is the story of the flight itself. Starting from check in, to boarding, throughout take off, turbulence, new friendships, medical emergencies, and the knowledge that for Eddie, life in California will never be the same as in New York, we gradually build up to the moment the plane starts to crash.

I adored this book. It is so beautifully written, and I especially loved the constant back and forth from Edwards perspective to the other passengers on the plane. We get to know about Linda, who has just found out she's pregnant and who hopes her boyfriend is going to propose to her when she lands in LA; Florida, who believes she has lived many lives before this one and will live many after; Mark, a Wall Street businessman who has fallen just a teensy bit in love with the first class flight attendant; Benjamin, on his way home after being sent home from the Army, on his way to live with his grandma and take up an unappealing desk job; and more characters. I love the way we get to know about them, not just their actions on this plane but before that, what brought them onto this plane, what has made them the person they are today. And how it shows that in this particular story, Edward might be the only survivor but he certainly wasn't the only life on board. Each passenger had a life, a story, a journey they were on and something to do when they were meant to land. It's these insights and human moments that makes this such an emotional book.

I think the way Edward's story was handled with such care and fragility that it needed was so obvious and necessary. Napolitano cradles Edward in his post crash shock, and nudges him gently back into the world, towards Shay, and his principle, and not away from life and into a dark corner like he wants to. There is sensitivity towards him, exceptions at school and at home, allowances, and the knowledge a personal essay about his story will get him into any college he applies to. But he also learns how to be a person, a person unaffected by grief, a person in relation to all the other hurt and broken people around him. His growth in relation to his aunt and uncle is lovely to see, and I loved their own personal storyline in the background of Edward's. I love Shay as his shoulder to cry on, his pillar to lean on, and his truth, who won't let him get away with shit all the time. 

I didn't expect this book to go so far into Edward's future. He is twelve when the plane crashes and (spoiler?) he is eighteen when we finish the book, and I love how the focus is not just on the immediate aftermath but how the crash shapes him for years afterwards, but how he comes through it, how he deals with some things better than others, and the way we are taken on that journey with him is delightful.

While not always a pleasant book - I mean, when reading the sections on the plane, you know exactly how that is going to end - and it's distressing to go through Edward's pain and grief with him, but the beautiful writing and the love throughout the whole story is what made this a heart wrenching, yet enticing and magical read for me.

5 out of 5 stars, without a doubt.

I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this book when I started reading it but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It tells the story of a young boy, Edward, who survives a plane crash when every other passenger is killed. Part of the book looks at the lives of the other passengers, so it switches between what is going on in the plane and Edward’s development and life after the event. He goes to live with his aunt and uncle who have their own problems as they have been trying to have children of their own and failed. As a result, their marriage is feeling a certain amount of strain. At times the book is slightly depressing as Edward finds life impossible to begin with and there is no normality in it. He desperately misses his family, and in particular his older brother, who he looked up to.
All the characters are wonderfully portrayed. The book delves into the lives of a number of passengers on the plane and why they are travelling. These are interesting characters and later in the book it looks at the friends and family they leave behind and the grief they feel at their loss. When it comes to the people who are close to Edward there are a number who stand out. His Uncle John who tries to protect him and his Aunt Lacey seems to find it difficult to relate to him. My favourite character, besides Edward himself, is Shay the girl over the road who befriends him and seems to totally understand him.
It is a book full of compassion and humanity and despite the tragic circumstances is totally uplifting. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book. I liked how it went back and forward in time to before the flight and hearing about all the different passengers. Quite a sad and hard book to read

This book was an extremely enjoyable read. I have seen and heard many great things about this book so I was really excited to pick this one up.
The brilliant and heartbreaking story is told in dual timeline and follows Edward the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed his family. The book is primarily about people and resilience and life not always looking how you expected it to.
This was a really well written book that I think will grow in popularity a lot in 2020

When Eddie and his family board Flight 2977 as they move to Los Angeles nothing can prepare him for what happens next.
Edward is the sole survivor when that flight crashes. He has to learn to cope with the injuries both physical and mental which he suffered as well as the loss of his family along with the guilt and confusion of being the only person to live. He moves in with his mother's sister Lacey and her husband John, who are also dealing with the loss of their loved ones but also their own grief following several miscarriages.
Edward builds an amazing friendship with his new neighbours especially Shay who is a huge support to him
Throughout the book we flit between the present and the actual flight. Getting to know more about some of the other passengers.
This book is very well written and extremely emotive.
This is my 1st book from this author but I am looking forward to discovering more.
Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read early in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Edward is the only survivor from a plane crash. He has lost his parents and his brother and he has to start life anew, with his uncle and aunt.

This is a beautiful story of how Edward grows and deals with his loss and the impact on those around him. His best friend, Shay, is his steadying influence, who allows him to explore and grow and learn to live again.

I cannot say how much I loved this book. It is beautifully written and tugs at the heartstrings throughout the book. I wanted to give the book 5 stars, but I only give 5 stars to books I will read again. I know that I could not go through the emotional turmoil of reading this book again, hence the 4 stars.

A must read.

One word, brilliant . Beautifully written , I can’t recommend this enough. The book switches between pre and post crash where you get to know the lives of the passengers on board and then to Eddie who is trying* to deal with life after the crash. It’s primarily a story of loss and grief yet it’s also uplifting at the same time and you get drawn in very easily, wanted img to see how eddie’s kide unfolds and why the plane came down, I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would.
Thank you netgalley and penguin uk for this advanced copy .

An interesting and enjoyable read. I will certainly keep an eye out for future novels from this writer as I loved this one

Absolutely love this book! Have already recommended it to several people. The storytelling was perfect, switching back between pre and post-crash to let us into each character's story a little at a time but without being frustrating. Edward himself was written perfectly, I was emotional often throughout this book and loved the overall story and message within.

A beautiful story, which is odd considering it’s subject matter. I loved the characters in this book and they bought it to life. It did take some time to fully engage with the book but once I did I was hooked. The concept of a sad book with a good ending was very well done here.

Thanks for letting me review this book.

Edward is the dole survivor of a crash - we know this from the outset. We know he loses everything that his life has held to date and this is how he moves forward

Poignant flashbacks to the back history of some of the others help to set the context of loss on such a grand scale which is nicely contrasted with the very narrow focus of Edward.

Not perhaps as enthralling as I thought it might be but a worthwhile read non the less

This book should have been unreadable for me. I knew it was about a plane crash where 191 souls were killed and one 12-year old boy survives and I had imagined it would focus solely on his survival and recovery. I was not expecting to be taken, in alternating chapters, into the plane for the duration of the flight, knowing of the inevitable tragic outcome. It is a huge credit to the talent of the writer that these powerful chapters are treated with such a light touch, with insight and even humour as we discover the stories of some of the passengers, their reasons for being on the flight, their loves, their heartaches and their ordinariness. A cross-section of humanity and foibles. Edward, the survivor, whose narrative intersperses these chapters, is scarred and deeply damaged physically and mentally by the loss of his parents and brother in the crash and we follow him through his tentative recovery, helped by family, friends and Dr Mike his therapist. Edward’s relationship with Shay, who lives next door, is so beautifully drawn. In fact every character is alive and singing from the page. Hugely rewarding and highly recommended.

2.5 stars. I liked the premise of this book, in which we follow a 12 year old called Edward who is the sole survivor of a plane crash and his struggles to come to terms with the loss of his family and all the other passengers on board. The book's depiction of Edward's feelings of grief, guilt and vulnerability are realistic and I also liked the flashbacks to some of the passengers on the plane before the crash where we got to know a bit of their background.
However, overall the book was just a bit flat and I cannot really pinpoint why. While I felt sympathy for Edward, the writing style did not really evoke the emotions I was expecting it to. I also did not warm to many of the other characters and a lot of the plot threads didn't really go anywhere.
I think this book had the potential to be fantastic but unfortunately it just didn't have much of an impact on me.
Thank you to Penguin Books UK for the ARC.

The story begins at Newark Airport, as 12-year-old Edward Adler, his older brother and his parents board a Los Angeles-bound flight with a group of passengers that includes Florida escaping another husband, amorous Mark Lassio, soldier Benjamin Stillman struggling with his sexuality, newly pregnant Linda and a tycoon with cancer and four ex-wives. After the plane’s take-off, we jump forward several hours to a plane crash site in Colorado, where 191 lie dead. Edward is the sole survivor, the “Miracle Boy.” In alternating chapters, the rest of the novel follows two timelines, the hours leading up to the crash, and the years after, as Edward moves in with his childless aunt and uncle and rebuilds his life.

We know from the beginning the plane is doomed, and Napolitano builds on that tension as more and more things go wrong, bad weather, a medical emergency turning the sealed airplane cabin into the ultimate coffin for those inside.

Not only has Edward suffered the trauma of the crash and physical injuries, he’s lost everyone he loves. The only one who breaks through is his 12-year-old neighbour, Shay. “No one can hurt you ever again,” she tells him. “You already lost everything, right?” With her help, Edward begins to meet and talk to the other passengers’ loved ones, and with each new connection, normalcy slowly returns

I most heartily recommend this story as Ms Napolitano has given us a detailed look at loss, survivor guilt, and grief. The depth of this story is truly amazing. We all have been there. We all know what it’s like to lose someone, we all know a portion of what Edward feels. We all are on his side wishing life’s very best for a young man who has experienced ultimate loss.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books UK Viking for an advance cop in return for a fair and honest review