Easily one of the best books of the year. Two threads going back and forwards on the aftermath of a terrible plane crash. Moving, funny and makes you want run through the story to find out what happens to the characters we became attached to

This novel has a devastatingly inspired theme which I believe could have been loaded with suspense had it been written chronologically. The flitting from before, during and after the disaster coupled with threads from passenger to passenger without breaks - the unfortunate formatting of long strings of words joined together in a sentence made it tough reading. It started magnificently with Edward, and his family, a typical middle-class American family who was well fleshed out, credible and likeable. Sorrow and sympathy diminished with the oddities Florida and Benjamin. I didn’t feel the pull of my heartstrings at their plight. There was a lot of slang unknown or used in the UK and unnecessary ripe language employed. Occasionally, I get a telephone call when someone rambles on, changing the subject rapidly before I’ve absorbed the first conversational opener. This book reminded me of that kind of situation. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books UK.

The interesting premise of a boy being the sole surviver of a plane crash drew me in, but ultimately I found it pretty hard to engage with Dear Edward. The story is intercut with flashbacks to the plane before the crash, but most of the stories of the passengers run together, and I found myself skimming through towards the end.

12-year-old Edward Adler was the Lone Survivor of Flight 2977 to Los Angeles where 215 people lost their lives. He was travelling on the plane from New York to Los Angeles where it is to be his new home. His mother a writer was starting a new job and Edward and his family was moving there.
The story continues with Edward moving in with his Aunt and Uncle that he barely knows with no children of their own, it’s a new experience for them, as it is to himself. He must learn to bear the guilt he feels as the only survivor. He was also home schooled by his father so, he must learn to communicate with his peers at school and cope with the other students believing him to be like a god as he cheated death. He has one ally Shay. Who seem to be the only one that understands him.
After his 15th Birthday he discovers letters from the siblings of the survivors which he goes through. Trying to meet some of the people to give them some sort of peace. And, for him to come to terms with everything that has happened and his future.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for a copy of Dear Edward. This book was completely different to what I was expecting. I did like the premise of this story, but I thought this book was a lot of hard work. I thought that the story was quite rushed and didn’t flow. It just jumped from one thing to another which prevented me to really connecting this book and the characters in it. I wanted something spectacular to that didn’t happen. So, in some parts my mind wondered off not caring about the story.

Edward is the sole survivor of a horrific plane crash. His new life afterwards, with no family, living with his auntie and uncle brings many big changes for him. A great read which immerses you.
ARC copy.

This book was not quite what I was expecting really.

It tells the story of Edward, a 12 year old boy who boards a plane with his brother Jordan and his parents as they are flying to LA to start a new life there. However, during the journey the plane crashes and Edward is the only survivor. This is quite an unusual story as the point of view flip flops back and forward between Edward's recovery and what happens during the flight so the information about the plane crash is only revealed in tiny fragments told from the perspective of different people on the flight: Benjamin, a soldier flying to LA for an operation; Linda, flying to LA to marry her boyfriend; Florida, a woman who believes she has lived many lives and been reincarnated numerous times; Mike, a business man flying to LA who has a tryst with the airhostess; a billionaire who is elderly and being cared for by a nurse who he doesn't like; and the airhostess too. In fact, there is nearly as much of their story as there is of Edward's story!

Edward struggles with his recovery and spends much of the first half of the book being quiet and withdrawn and refusing to eat. This part of the book felt so slow paced that I almost gave up reading it, however, I am glad that I stuck with it as the second half of the book feels more sprightly in tone and faster paced and this coincides with Edward starting to come to terms with what has happened to him.

It's an interesting story and I found myself thinking about what I would feel like if I had been in that situation.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really hit and miss. I'm not sure if i'm heartless but this book just seemed a bit lackluster to me.

I found this to be a very sad and rather depressing story. A young boy is the sole survivor of an airliner crash and the book follows his psychological frame of mind for some years after the disaster . I am afraid I could not find anything interesting in Edward, despite his terrible situation. I felt that the book was rather weird and I did not enjoy it at all I am afraid.

This is a heart wrenching novel about a young Edward who finds himself tied to a past of loss, but with a drive to continue life beyond the tragic crash that lost him his family.

The book is utterly emotional and a true test of spirit, with lessons on life that we can all take away. Thank you for letting me read this

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

Wow - this was a fantastic premise for a book - totally original

First, can I say that I loved it.

Edward, who is 12, is the sole survivor of a plane crash - devastating.

The book follows what happens next, the ramifications and recovery for Edward are described beautifully

I found this powerful, moving. Edward is a sympathetically written character and I was so drawn and invested in him as a character willing everything to be ok

This for me is the read of the summer - can't recommend this enough

What an extraordinary premise for a book. This was both tragic and compelling and the way the book went backwards and forwards in time to show Edward's journey to peace was done very well indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, thank you.

Edward Adler, his brother Jordan and their parents along with 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark which is headed for Los Angeles. Tragically the plane crashes and Edward is the only survivor. Edward’s story captures the attention of the nation but he struggles to find a place for himself in a world without his family. He feels alone and left forever tied to the plane and all of the other passengers but then he makes an unexpected discovery, one which lead him to the answers of some of life’s most profound questions.

The story tells of Edward in the future trying to adjust to life without his family and his new life with his Aunt and Uncle. It then goes back and forth to the flight where we find out about the other people on the aeroplane and we get to find out about some of their stories. This is an emotional story but is also about survival and hope. I really enjoyed reading this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Penguin Books (UK) for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. Just once in a while a book comes along that resonates, affects and captures my imagination and “Dear Edward” was one of these.
Edward is 12 years old and travelling on Flight 2977 from Newark to Los Angeles with his parents and brother. His mother is about to take up a new job, prompting the move, and they all share a mixture of apprehension and excitement at the change in their lives. Around them are their 188 travelling companions, all with different lives and diverse reasons for travelling that day.
Flight 2977 never reaches its destination and 191 passengers perish. Edward, in a window seat, in a propitious position at that one particular date and time, is the sole survivor.
“Dear Edward” chronicles the aftermath of the crash for Edward from the early days in hospital to gong to live with his aunt and uncle, through appointments with physios and psychotherapists to his growing friendship with Shay, a neighbour who becomes his absolute lifeline. Interspersed with this journey are chapters set on the plane itself as it heads towards oblivion with the back stories of some of the passengers around them.
Ann Napolitano writes in an observing, detached sort of way, but I found it all the more powerful for that. I think because of that I didn’t find it particularly difficult or depressing, although at times it did affect and was moving, but ultimately you wanted a good outcome for Edward (which you got). I enjoyed the plane chapters even more, and although there was no doubt at all about the outcome, the tension built and I really wanted to know why it happened.
I thought it was an intelligent, thought provoking read and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is, I am sure, a lot of people'e cup of tea, but I am afraid its not mine so I was unable to finish it. I remain very grateful for the treat of an ARC but feel this book is better reviewed by those who got all the way through. My deficit rather than the books I am sure

I found this book a real struggle to begin with, however once you got into it the story completely captures you in and leaves you wanting more all the time.

Edward is a lucky lad and the story goes on to become such a great (and potentially true to life) tale.

This book is overwhelming in both its innate sadness and the beauty and compassion that is revealed through Eddie/Edward’s story and those of his fellow passengers and their families. You can’t help but have your breath taken by his journey and his growth. Utterly captivating, giving you significant pause for thought and reflection.

What can I say about Dear Edward??? This story makes you think, makes you question how you would deal with things and makes you question humanity in general

When I first starting reading this, I was unsure whether it would be my kind of book .... and now I know, it is everyone's kind of book

I loved the way the story flowed as if the words were a river and then ebbed backwards so we could learn more about the people on the plane.

I love the romance of Edward and Shay...and the protection of their families around them and the ending was perfect although secretly, I am hoping the author wants to continue the story in another way

We begin with the passengers alighting their doomed flight. The book then travels back and forth from the flight (pre-tragedy) to the present day, although that skips and jumps days, weeks and even months in some cases. We are given a rich medley of characters, their make-up, lives, loves, ambitions, fears and hates; brief glimpses that encapsulate whole passages of time with homily-like observations. Edward's present-day companions are, bizarrely, our window into Edward, while the whole book's present-day telling is depicted through the passive window of his eyes.
Compared to all the other characters, Edward felt flat and mirror-like, even his rare mini-breakdowns were sluggish and dissipated into nothing. While Shay, his closest friend who is pretty closed-off, was offered a more colourful portrayal.
I was, in equal parts, fascinated and disappointed with the book. If Edward's character had been better depicted, less emotionless, it would have been great.

Edward is the sole survivor of a plane crash- at 12 years old he suddenly is thrust into adulthood way too early and must come to terms with the loss of his entire family. With the help of a new friend, he uncovers letters addressed to him from the plane crash family members and his world is changed.

This was a beautiful story! Well written and engaging. Delves deep into the meaning of life and the ability to cope through tragedy.

Dear Edward is an emotional and heartbreaking account of the sole survivor of a plane crash; 12 year old Edward.

The story parallels two timelines; the hours leading up to the crash and the interaction between the passengers; and the years following the crash as Edward tries to piece himself and his life back together.

Napolitano does a phenomenal job of showcasing all the hopes and dreams and flaws of humanity contained within the plan itself alongside the fragility, brokenness and strength of living with such a huge trauma. Ultimately it is a story of hope and optimisim but you absolutely will cry.