Amelia Unabridged is a heartwarming and emotional story of the power of books, friendship and love. Which, sounds like an incredible book to read and for some people this is a great book, however, I am not one of them. This a cute contemporary book about books, love and grief with some prose thrown into the mix. However, in my opinion the execution of these things did not land the way I thought they would.

Don’t misunderstand this is a good book for many people, I just don’t fall into that category unfortunately. The book was nothing special, the characters were fine but they didn't stand out for me, the romance was ok but the insta love aspect didn’t do it for me, and the dialogue was pretty ordinary in my opinion. Overall, the writing was standard at best.

I think this book might be good for readers on the younger side of YA. Again this is just my opinion and thoughts on the book.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for this ARC

Schumacher's writing beautifully captures the complexities of grief and the lasting impact of friendship. Amelia's emotional journey is sensitively portrayed, and readers will find themselves deeply invested in her quest for healing and understanding. The bond between Amelia and Jenna is palpable, and their shared love for the Orman Chronicles adds an additional layer of depth to their connection.

The setting of the enchanting bookstore in Michigan adds a touch of magic to the story, further immersing readers in Amelia's journey. The introduction of Endsley as a character brings an intriguing dynamic to the narrative, offering both answers and new questions for Amelia to confront.

Amelia Unabridged is a compelling exploration of loss, identity, and the power of stories. Ashley Schumacher's writing is evocative and heartfelt, capturing the complexities of human emotions with grace. This book will resonate with readers who appreciate stories that tug at the heartstrings while celebrating the enduring power of friendship.

Overall, Amelia Unabridged is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that tackles profound themes with sensitivity and depth. It is a testament to the lasting impact of friendships and the strength we can find in the midst of grief and self-discovery.

This was a satisfying read overall. No big twists but not too predictable. Relatable characters with serious emotions to work through. A light enough writing style to keep pushing the story forward and balance the heavier subject matter. A solid YA for sure.

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A book about teen girls who love books. I adore that this book inspires the belief that a good novel can cure just about anything. I could not put this down!

"'Read this,' I said. 'It's perfect.'

'Nothing's perfect,' Jenna said.

'This is.'"

I honestly don't know what to say about this beautiful book that hasn't already been said, but I will say that if -- like me -- you have this sitting in your ever-growing TBR pile, please find the time to prioritize it. You won't be sorry.

I can't find the words to adequately describe why this worked so much for me. Perhaps it was the magical bookstore setting and the love of reading and fandoms sprinkled throughout the text. Maybe it was the lyrical depictions of first heartbreaks -- in all its forms -- and finding the paths forward. In the end, all I know is that this debut completely charmed me from beginning to end.

Even when the believability was stretched to its very limits, there was something about this story that allowed me to roll with it and accept it as fact. Because, honestly, don't all book nerds crave some fairytale/fantasy qualities leaking into reality?

I'd encourage you -- if able -- to dive into this one blind to get the most emotional bang for your buck, but either way I urge you to take the plunge.

I really did enjoy this book but I very very highly doubt something like this would ever happen in real life. Cute book though.

This was really not for me. I had such high hopes and am sad to say that I was definitely let down. Honestly I had a hard time getting myself to finish.

DNF @ 15%

This book was just not for me. I am not here for the insta-love relationship, and wasn't a fan of the characters.
It felt a little bit childish and messy..

When I read this book I remember really enjoying it! I really need to reread this book soon and add it to my physical shelves.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

This book was so, so good. It had a magical, lyrical quality to the writing that had me glued to the page. I read this book basically in one sitting - I couldn't put it down. Judging from other reviews, I wasn't the only one! 5 stars.

I didn’t finish because I was too sad to continue. I wasn’t in a good headspace to read about a best friend dying after a very stupid fight. The writing is fantastic but the story just wasn’t for me. The trip to find the author that was the reason for the entire stupid fight didn’t even make me feel good.

Amelia Unabridged was a hit to my heart because once you lose someone close listening to or reading books dealing with grief hits more intimately. While this story is straightforward in the plot without too many twists, it's the dialogue, conversations, and moments between Amelia and Nolan that I connected with the most. Their feelings about grief and death and moving forward were something I felt deeply and at moments my grief was on display with tears in my eyes. While this book takes place in the summer the overall feel and cover give it a more autumnal vibe and is a great read for this time of the year where things are changing! I have oddly found books like this comforting over the last almost three years and while I'm very late in my reviewing of this ARC. I think I read it at just the right time.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy of Amelia Unabridged in return for my honest thoughts and review.

"There's nothing in the world a good book can't cure."


📚 Series? No.
📚 Genre? Contemporary Romance.
📚 Read for? ARC April
📚 Cliffhanger? No.

⚠ Content Warnings: Character death. Drowning. Trauma. Emotionally Absent Parents.
⚠ Book Tags : Books about books. Author Main Character. Bookworm Main Character.

I'm the type of reader who loves going into stories that are beautifully heartbreaking. I love the pain and physically feeling my heart crack when scenes get too heavy to bear. Amelia Unabridged gave me that and so much more.

First off, I would just want to applaud how elegantly written this book was. It was atmospheric and lyrical — many times I just felt like I was submerged into a fairytale world. The author gave a story that surrounds something special to most to us — reading — and she delivered it in a way that made me appreciate my love for books even more.

Amelia Unabridged told the story of Amelia, who after losing her best friend in an car crash, felt her world has turned upside down. Their friendship went beyond friendship, they built their world around each other, and books served as a bond to keep them even closer. The thing is, after her bestfriend's death, Amelia felt like she won't be able to read books anymore.

Until a first edition copy of her favorite book lands on her hands and the only thing she felt was that it was a gift from her departed friend. This journey brought her where her favorite author was. And like the dream of many author fangirls, they find comfort (and maybe love?) with each other.

What I love the most about this book is how Amelia Unabridged gave imperfect and realistic characters. They seem like people you would know in real life — I feel like they are my kids and I just want to hug and take care of them.

The love story, which is the focal point of this book, was well-written. I know you need a little suspension of belief to fully appreciate it, and that makes this book just the perfect escapism read, in my honest opinion. There are so many fun and sweet moments in this book. I loved all of them so much that I am still smiling now even a few weeks after reading.

This book also touches on the concept of friends, family, and found family. Everything is extremely written well and the flow just naturally blends toward each other. Not only that, here's an awesome bonus: There's a cute, clumsy, and cuddly dog!

☁ FINAL THOUGHTS & RECOMMENDATIONS ☁
I found a new favorite book. It's something I would enjoy rereading and revisiting from time to time. It's just so, so, so, so good! I can't recommend it enough!

☁ THE CRITERIA ☁

🌼 Synopsis:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

☁FINAL VERDICT: 5/5 ☁

A story about a young girl facing the loss of her best friend and a mysterious author also dealing with his past losses.

This isn't what I normally pick up - but the exploration of grief and depression while set in the world of books hooked me.

Amelia is fully developed and continues to grow and find herself throughout the novel. While she and Jenna - her best friend - had planned the perfect college and future together, when that was taken away Amelia had to decide if she continues on the safe and solid path decided for her or divert to a course that really is her own.

The characters are sweet, I still question if it's ok for the dog to be drinking all the coffee, and it left me with a lot of good feels throughout. I would highly recommend and would put it in high school libraries everywhere

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful and touching read. The ability of Schumacher to combine some beautiful prose and reflections on grief, regret, and tragedy with a pace that didn't hold back the flow of the plot was wonderful. The added love story added the perfect sweetness to this book to really round it out as a fabulous read.

I have mixed feelings about this book, I found grief very well and sensitively written but a,so found it difficult to relate to the main character. I would recommend if you are looking for a book that will make you fell.

I wanted to love this book as I heard amazing things from other readers. My issue with this book didn't lie with the world or plot itself. I was actually a bit heartbroken with the premise of it. Unfortunately, the reason why this was a two-star read for me was because of the main character. I didn't attach to her at all, and many times found her to be extremely annoying. Of course, this is subjective, so if the main character isn't a problem for others, I could easily see this being a four-star read.

This book was raved about and I was so enthralled to finally be reading it. That is until about halfway into it! I was so disappointed with the romance, it was TOO perfect. It was the kind that make you say "oh brother" followed by an eye roll. Needless to say, I had to put it down. I was so close to really loving this novel. It had it all with the bookshop setting....oh well.

Amelia is obsessed with N.E. Endsley’s books about the world of Orman and will do anything to meet the author. However, when her best friend, Jenna, dies in a car accident, Amelia’s world is turned upside down and her passion for reading dies as well. One day a mysterious special edition of the beloved book finds its way to Amelia. Was it sent from Jenna or someone else? Amelia flies to Michigan to find out and discovers her happy ending.

This book is so enchanting! I got lost in the beautiful imagery of thoughts and feelings experienced by the characters. It was like reading a real-life fairytale! It is a story filled with love, loss of someone close, friendship, and choosing your own path to move forward in life. I loved the friendship between Jenna and Amelia as well as the relationship Amelia forged with Nolan. He is a perfect fit because they are trudging the same path. As an avid reader, I enjoyed the quotes and references from other books scattered throughout this book. I also liked the happy ending. This book is perfect for bookworms of all ages, lovers of stories with quaint and quirky bookstores, and fans of fairytales!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!