What a wonderful, wonderful book! Utterly heartbreaking yet so uplifting,

Ann Napolitano writes like a seasoned author; so much so it's impossible to tell that this is her first novel. The prose is tight and not a word wasted, and it is done without sentimentality, yet this seems to make it all the more powerful. Edward's anguish and confusion are tangible; I could feel it on every page. The secondary characters weren't really secondary at all - they all had fully-fleshed personalities with fears and sadness of their own. Despite the bit parts of the cast, I felt all their pain.

This is an extraordinary book and one that will undoubtedly stay with me for some time to come. Highly recommended.

Edward, a 12 year old boy survives a plane crash that kills everyone else on board including his entire family.
It is a story of profound losses, survivor guilt and the slow process of healing and continuing to live,
Heart renching, life affirming fabulous read

This was a really moving and ultimately uplifting story about Edward, the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed 191 people, including his mother, father and older brother.

The Positives: I thought the structure of the narrative was really well done. The story is told in dual timelines, so we follow Edward as he navigates reality post-crash, and then we also see the passengers on the plane during the flight. This made the truth of the crash more immediate, because we were given the chance to experience the people on the plane as characters, making their end so much more tragic. I felt that Edward was incredibly well drawn. He experiences the world at a slight remove, dealing with the trauma of the accident and also the survivor's guilt from being 'miracle boy'. The emotional maturity of Edward as a character was poignant and raw and he felt authentic in his motivations and behaviours throughout. His friendship with Shay and the burgeoning familial bonds with his aunt and uncle, were all sensitively constructed and really beautiful as a result. I also loved some of the periphery characters in Edward's life, such as the inimitable Mrs Cox and his wonderful principal, Mr Arundhi.

The Negatives: This is not a negative of the book, but one purely of the synopsis, which details things that don't happen until nearly 200 pages into the narrative. Consequently, I spent a lot of time waiting for something to happen, rather than experiencing the book as it was.

Overall, while this isn't the sort of book I usually read, I thought it was beautiful and would definitely recommend it to anyone who appreciates a well crafted and poignant coming-of-age tale.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When Edward gets on a plane with his parents and his brother to start their relocation to a new place, amongst lots of other passengers, nobody could have fathomed that Edward would be the only one to survive the plane crash. Edward moves to live with his relatives and has to learn to grieve and focus on living in a strange place with his aunty and uncle. The young girl next door, Shay, becomes his best friend and helps Edward move on with his life.
This is a beautiful book and written so wonderfully. The story shares the history of the other passengers which was a great POV as well.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book by Ann Napolitano that I have read and i will definitely be reading her others, this isn't the kind if book that I would usually choose but I'm so glad that I did. The story alternates between before and after the crash telling the back story of the passengers and also how Edward is after the event.
I would definitely recommend this.

It took me a while to get round to reading this novel.

My only regret is that I didn't read it sooner.

A beautifully touching tale about one boy, a lone survivor from an airplane crash that saw 191 people die (including Edward's family).

As I read I could feel his emotions, the confusion surrounding the event, the thoughts of why he survived yet others didn't.

It was all very honest, raw and realistic.

The story progresses at a solid pace, it wasn't about creating a dramatic tale to coincide with the initial tragic events. I felt it looked more at the complexity of human thoughts, what we're left with, the fight or flight thoughts that can overwhelm someone who is suffering.

I don't want to say it but I will because it is true. This is a coming of age story.

We see Eddie as a 12 year old boy, with one life ahead of him but as the pages of the book turn we are introduced to a gentle, forever thoughtful young man, Edward.

His transformation is inspiring to say the least.

By the time I'd reached the end of the novel I was left with a wonderful mix of peace and hope.

Dear Edward is a book that will capture your heart.

Twelve year old Eddie is on a flight with his family. The plane crashes into a field in Colorado killing 191 passengers and crew. Eddie was the sole survivor. He's now living with an aunt and uncle. He's trying to cope with survivors guilt that engulfs him.

This book is loosely based on a true story. Then chapters alternate between before and after the crash. When Edward I'd taken in by his aunt and uncle, his life story begins to unfold. What a beautiful story this is. Edward's attempts to come to terms with his loss was overwhelming for everyone (including the reader). I liked Shay, the girl who now lived next door to. She gave him strength through some of his toughest times. This is an emotional roller coaster read. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Ann Napolitano for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Poignant study in grief, beautifully and touchingly told.

Set over the course of several years, this charts the adolescence of Edward Adler, after the tragic plane crash in which he loses his parents and beloved older brother, and must live on with relatives.

Nobody reading this could fail to be moved by the author's style, as the boy moves through initial shock and injury, then numbness as he begins a new life with his aunt and uncle, with a neighbour his own age someone he latches on to for support and succour.

The gradual inclusion of short moments from the day of the crash added a huge amount of emotion to the story, as we see the passengers in the hours before their crash, see them as characters in their own right that will never be allowed to fulfil their own promise and stories.

The author gracefully allows more than just Edward the chance to show grief, to show personality and emotion, Shay in particular is a strong presence as his neighbour and friend. Their relationship is complicated yet very very simple.

With Edward a focus for a grieving world, the idea of one boy being so much the centre of attention and adulation is both terrifying and uplifting, and the effects of this on him and the plot are rather wonderfully drawn out.

I was lifted up by this book, the grace of the more tragic moments gratified and wooed me. The love of Edward for his older brother Jordan was touching, and the treatment of the crash was sensitively handled.

A difficult subject but controlled with care and love.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

Thought this book had a brilliant start and held my interest well for most of the first half The rest of the story just seemed to drag and almost seemed as if a different writer had taken over. It may be a success with a ya audience though so would still recommend it for that group.

What must it be like to lose everyone you love but you survive .Edward is the sole survivor of an air crash and this story is how he learns to feel again, to live again! Alternating chapters from the day of the crash and the passengers on board to Edward and the present day . This is a tale of loss and survival .

I really enjoyed this book to start with, the concept had me hooked but unfortunately halfway through I lost interest somewhat. The plot was great and I loved the characters but the back and forth leading up to the plane crash just didn't grab me enough to keep me engaged.

I’ll start this with bring tissues, it was a very emotional read for me. It’s heart wrenching, it really packs a punch and doesn’t hold back with the feels all the way through. It’s beautifully written almost a lyrical style of writing that just carried me through. Edward is written so well you go through everything with him and you want to protect him, I think that’s what this book does so well it reminds us of how fragile we are, how human and just the final few chapters, yeah you are going to need a box of tissues definitely. Highly recommended read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Dear Edward is a beautiful coming of age novel. A tragic, but inspiring tale of how through loss, one person is able to find themselves.

Edward is the sole survivor of a horrific plane crash, that takes the lives of his parents and brother, effectively leaving him an Orphan.

After a long recovery he is able to live with his Aunt and Uncle, in a town he is unfamiliar with, a place he doesn't want to be without his family.

Edward clearly has survivor's guilt, but he does not know this at twelve years old.

He befriends the girl next door, she helps him through the darkest of times, and it is with her that he discovers the secret his Uncle has been keeping from him.

Letters written to him from the other plane crash victims families. Some begging to know of their relatives last movements, some wanting to know every detail of the crash.

Dear Edward is a unique novel, unlike anything I have read before.

My thanks to Penguin Books U.K./Viking for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Dear Edward’ by Ann Napolitano in exchange for an honest review.

As its audiobook edition, narrated by Cassandra Campbell, was already available, I listened to this alongside reading the eARC.

A fully booked flight takes off from New York to Los Angeles. The airplane crashes in a Colorado field leaving 191 of its passengers and crew dead with a single survivor, 12-year old Edward Adler. He had been travelling with his parents and older brother as they moved to the West Coast.

The main narrative follows Edward coming to terms with his survival and sudden fame. He finds a new home with his aunt and uncle. It isn’t easy for him in school but happily develops a warm friendship with Shay, the girl next door. The title refers to letters that come into play later in the novel that are addressed to Edward from the relatives of the other passengers.

There are also chapters that return to the events on Flight 2977 and the perspectives and interactions of its passengers and crew up to their final moments. I felt it was quite a clever way to frame Edward’s story rather than in a strict chronological order.

In her Author’s Note Ann Napolitano writes that she was inspired by 9-year old Ruben Van Assouw, the sole survivor of the crash of Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 in 2010. She also drew on aspects of the Air France 447 crash of 2009 and utilised parts of its black box recordings to create the cockpit dialogue before the crash.

She writes: “The more I learned about these flights, the more my compassion for the passengers, the crew, and their loved ones grew. I hope that compassion is reflected in the story of the fictional flight 2977.”

I felt that she accomplished this. Overall I found ‘Dear Edward’, despite its central tragedy, a powerful and uplifting coming-of-age story that stressed the bonds of family.

An amazing book with depth and beauty. I felt Edward’s dread of feeling anything, living in a bubble to prevent pain and remembering his great loss. Learning to live again after the crash in a new house, with caring family going through their own difficulties. Growing up with a new family. Truly a slowly unfolding picture of managing loss and the slow journey forward. The profound sense of Edward’s detachment makes the reader empathize with Edward’s difficulties and there is a real feeling that Edward must be protected from confronting his pain, yet the insistent knowledge that he must of course confront it. I cannot put into words how deeply this book affected me, the difficulties of growing up, through adolescence are tricky enough without the added trauma of being a lone crash survivor. Edward has a huge support structure put in place by careers and counselors, and it takes him a long time to acknowledge this, so deep is his sadness and detachment.
The second part of the book covers Edward’s awakening and forward journey, which is also moving and well plotted.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Deeply moving. A tale of deep loss and personal adjustment.
#Brilliant
#stunning storyline
#profound
#SelfDiscovery
#Moving
Thank yo very much #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication date in exchange for an honest review..

Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This poignant book was the best read that I've had in over a year. It's original, heart-wrenching, and hits you hard with the feels in a good way.

The story begins with a group of passengers boarding a plane, and gives a brief insight into their different personalities and situations. A tycoon, a hippy, a family, a soldier, a young woman, and a wallstreet guy are just some of the people aboard.

The narrative moves between past and present and different characters, slowly revealing the whole story. It looks at tragedy and asks the questions what happens to those of us left behind when tragedy strikes? How do you heal? How do you move on/continue?

Dear Edward is an absolute beaut. 100% recommend it.

I got to 56% and just couldnt continue. I skipped lots of pages toll it was at the end. Initially i really enjoyed it but it jusr reallt started to drag and i needed something to change or happen. I feel really sorry for Edward, and i liked the letter from the man who saved him but i just felt it was a bit too dull in the build up to the crash

This book was harrowing and hard hitting. It really gets you into the mindset of 12 year old Edward after the plane crash with all that he has to come to terms with. Although I felt this compromised the pace of the book and made it seem like it was dragging on, it was realistic. When the plot starts to pick up and Edward finds the letters, it’s a positive stark contrast to the first part of the book. It’s uplifting to see Edward realise his purpose and slowly rebuild his life. The plane narrative of the book was particularly good. Reading about the lives of the people on the plane and the things they were dealing with was really poignant.

Overall, ‘Dear Edward’ was a lovely book about finding courage and strength during a dark time. It was a powerful read.

As is usual for me I did not read the blurb before actually reading this book, so when I finished it I only then found out that this was based (loosely?) on a real event. I found the description of what leads up to the crash quite underwhelming and could not engage with the majority of characters who were highlighted. As for Edward, again I felt empathy for his physical recovery was lacking. What was expected of him by the family of the other passengers was an interesting examination of human nature but again missed the mark for me.
It was an interesting read covering so many angles but I was not totally engaged, something was sadly missing for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Ann Napolitano/Penguin Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Books, and the author Ann Napolitano.
This was an interesting concept and a well-written novel, but the overwhelming feeling that I am left with is that it was only 'ok'. It doesn't leave me with anything profound, and none of the characters made a significant impression. Unfortunately, it was all a little underwhelming.
An easy read, requiring minimal effort. Would be good for a holiday. 2.5 stars rounded up.