This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance
I thought this book looked pretty while scrolling through NetGalley for my next set of ARC requests, and then I saw that it was published by Wednesday Books. So far, the books I’ve read from that publisher happen to be very poignant in their themes and the authors’ voices. Added to that, this is a book about books (or more specifically, a book about the author of some books). I’m a nerd for that!

Positive Bits
This is clearly a book about grief. The description tells us that Amelia’s best friend dies after an argument, leaving her hurt and lost. Grief is a deeply personal thing, but I think the author does an amazing job at showing us Amelia’s grief rather than telling us she’s grieving. To put that into perspective, I teared up within the first few chapters of the book and continued to ache and cry with Amelia throughout her story.

If we didn’t follow Amelia through her journey to find healing, the grief might’ve made this story unpalatable. Instead, we get to watch her rediscover herself without her best friend or the future they thought they had planned out together. The author wove healing into Amelia’s life without skipping the way grief returns unexpectedly, again and again. It was amazingly real (and better for it).

I happen to enjoy realistic stories, particularly when there’s romance and family involved. The way Amelia’s relationship exists with her own family, her best friend’s parents, and those she meets in her travels are all authentically flawed. People are allowed to fail. Some are even given opportunities to grow beyond their failings, only to fall short of personal growth. Maybe that’s not for everyone, but I appreciate the honest approach to relationship dynamics, especially as someone with similarly complicated relationships.

Less Enjoyable Bits
While I enjoyed the imagery and weight given to Amelia’s grief, I imagine this book will be a difficult read for anyone who’s recently experienced their own loss. Consider this your fair warning.

The characters are all very dynamic, whether they’re part of the main cast or not. However, the locations we visit with Amelia might as well be Anywhere, America. I had issues with remembering whether the nearby body of water was a lake, river, or ocean. I couldn’t remember the layout of a repeatedly visited building, other than one or two small details that I found quirky. Setting didn’t play a huge role in Amelia’s story, even when it might’ve had the need to do so.

While it was written in an entertaining style, I didn’t enjoy the epilogue. It felt rushed and unnecessary to the story itself. Then again, I generally expect a realistic story like this to end in a similar vein. Life doesn’t give us epilogues, because the story doesn’t end until we’re dead.

Is it worth the coin?
Yes – this story will make you ache to your bones and then soothe the hurt.

Amelia Unabridged is a beautifully written novel and an absolute must read.

Amelia is 18 years old and has just graduated from high school. Her best friend Jenna has their whole lives mapped out - summer plans, college, careers - and Amelia is happy to go along for the ride. When Jenna is killed in a freak accident while in Ireland. Amelia is devastated. Jenna' and her parents are the only true anchor that Amelia has ever had. Shortly after, a copy of Amelia's favorite book "The Orman Chronicles" arrives unexpectedly prompting an unexpected journey,

Amelia feels a pull to figure out where the book came from and believes that Jenna may still be helping her to find her way. She travels to Michigan to track down the bookstore and finds a place and people that make her feel a sense of belonging - including Nolan, the reclusive author of the Orman Chronicles who is struggling in his own way..

This book is magical. As a reader, the descriptions are so incredible that you feel as though you are watching the plot unfold. This moving story is about more than just Amelia's journey. It is about grief and love and finding hope. It is about taking risks and building relationships and the ways in which the connections we make each and every day - both large and small - can impact our lives in unexpected ways.

I am simply amazed that this is a book by a debut author! This book is incredibly well written and I loved everything about it. It’s YA without the teenage angst. It’s a love story without the drama. It’s a book about books which this reader loves. There is also a story within a story that I wish were another book I could pick up and read right now.

I did not read the synopsis before starting the book, so I was very invested in Amelia and Jenna’s relationship and my heart was broken when Jenna died. Because her character was so well developed in the very short time she was alive in the beginning of the book, the author did a fantastic job keeping her alive to the reader through the rest of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher is a book that grabs hold of your heartstrings from the start and does not let go. As you may guess from the title, this book is about books. It is about books but it contains so much more. This book tackled sensitive topics like death, and panic attacks in a truly realistic manner. While it handled those sensitive topics with grace it also gave us a sweet love story. I don’t think words can express how much this book touched me. I laughed lots and I even almost cried.

This book begins by telling us the story of a friendship. A friendship formed over a book series, like all the best ones are. Jenna and Amelia become friends over their shared love of the Orman books. Jenna and Amelia have contradicting personalities but these books are what keep them together. The story then takes us to a book festival where the prodigious author is supposed to speak. Circumstances change and N.E. Endsley is unable to attend for the full time. Somehow, Jenna gets to meet him, and that sets into motion a gorgeous story that I don’t think a review can do justice. You have to read it.

Ultimately, this book will make you laugh, possibly cry, break your heart and put it back together again. Probably going to make my top 5 or 10 of 2021.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

This! This is what I love a ya book to be! A lovely blend of a hint of magical realism, far away lands, grief and finding yourself. And don’t forget the books. What book lover doesn’t love a book about books?! It felt like I knew the characters and was part of their little circle and I wanted to stay at Vals book shop forever!

I enjoyed this book from start to ending! To escape in the world of a book when you are sad or at a loss in an event connects the character to the reader. Amelia and her best friend travel to a Book festival to meet their favorite author but are disappointed when they don't meet him. Turn events lead Amelia to the northern states in the U.S. to meet an unexpected visitor that sent her a rare edition of her favorite book. This book is such a wonderful story that brings happiness, heartache and joy to the reader.

this book is almost a 5 for me, be prepared to be moved and inspired. it is a story of how we live beyond grief, of friendship, of family and how to find love despite it all and most of all how to find ourselves. beautiful pose and realistic character add to the story

I received an advance copy of, Amelia Unabridged, by Ashley Schumacher. I found this book dark and depressing, I did not care for the characters.

RATING: 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐ 4.1

NO SPOILERS HERE, GUYS. FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE WITHOUT FEAR!

~Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of AMELIA UNABRIDGED by Ashley Schumacher in exchange for my honest review.~


First thoughts when receiving the ARC: *silence* MOTHER OF HOLY WATER DROPS, I CANNOT BREATHE, I CANNOT. MY LUNGS. MAMAAAAA, I HAVE AN ARC. I GOT IT. I GOT IT. NOW HOW THE HECK DO YOU OPEN THI-


First thoughts when opening the book: *joker like smile* I am going to enjoy this so MUCH.


First thoughts when a certain character died: What--How did that--Oh my goat. I cannot feel my face. I cannot feel my heart.


First thoughts when meeting the love interest: ... Okay. *nodding* Alright, I can deal.


First thoughts when I finished the book: Um, why do I feel a bit broken inside. *swallows waterfalls* I-


*a week later, because yes, I needed time.*


Okay...this was (slightly) disappointing. One sentence. Well, two (because I need the rest for the full review that will approximately (obliterate) kindly ask for a vital part of me).


1.) Less than a week

2.) A connecting rope between characters


Will not spoil, so if you know what I mean. Then you know what I mean.

ALSO, THE LOVE INTEREST WAS ANO--as I was saying, no spoilers present, and I hope that if you have requested this ARC, that you shall receive it. BECAUSE I NEED TO SAY SOME STUFF THAT MAY OR MAY NOT, EXPRESS MY ANGER TOWARDS THE--


*goes into hermit mode for the time being*





I'M BACK. Alright, being completely honest here, I have never reviewed an ARC (if it's not already completely obvious) therefore, this might be a complete mess. But really, when isn't it a complete mess? Don't answer that. Even though my bookish soul is craving to throw spoilers and rant against some well-deserved stuff, I will be slightly unable to do so (ugh). Here it is, my friends. A completely glossed over ~ spoiler-free ~ review of Amelia Unabridged. (bear in mind I had to redo it at least 3 times, since yes, spoilers were included.)


Well, you see, let's start with the charact-*realizes she cannot do so, because that would be considered spoilerific* YOU KNOW WHAT? FINE. I'LL STOOP TO THIS LEVEL.


The writing in this lushly imaginative novel truly inspired my tear ducts to go for a run, amidst the pandemic. Since we all know who dies (considering the SYNOPSIS, publishers please don't come after me) I can truly say...that I felt something. Maybe not as much as I could've, SINCE said character was in the story for less time than one of my pimples (those things are basically people, I've even named some of those. Example: YOU BLOODY DISGUSTING FAT NUISANCE. Or my personal favorite: WHY IN THE PECKING WORLD DO YOU EXIST). As I was saying, the writing was so heartwrenching and outstandinly painful to read, and that truly added a lot more to the story than some might think.


(A second try) The characters. Some made me conflicted, some annoyed me to the end of my patience limit, and some used the word 'please' definitely too much. Like, too much. Apart from that, I absolutely adored the dynamic and friendship (FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN A FEMALE AND A MALE, WHO WOULD'VE ThOUght?!). The utterly magnanimous foundation that was constructed between each one of them. And I cannot express how thankful I am, that said characters actually had LIVES, apart from being the main character's friends, family, etc.


The Romance~ ... I actually, well. Um...it wasn't as good as it could've been. (reference to the two sentences written at the beginning, but shhhh, don't tell) Also, seriously?


The overall cryability of this story: A solid 7 and a half. I wish I would've felt it more, alas, I'm a heartless witch. Thank you, brain, for commanding such grandiousness to spew from my vocal facility. Now, my loves, my ducklings, my CoNeCTioN (uh-huh, you KNOW), this shall be the end of this horrifically spoiler-free ✨masterpiece✨. Also, I want to forget the dang epilogue. I NEED to forget it. Like, it is for my well-being.


Can you tell I have to do a million things but instead I am laying in bed, writing this review and watching You of the Tube?


P.S: I am TOTALLY doing something productive, right?

Also, yes, I would totally recommend this book to people in search for a story that will be as cute as it is pungent in its very core. Want romance? It has it. Want drama? Oh yes, it has a LOT.

The day Amelia meets Jenna at a bookstore, her life changes for the better as the two girls grow as close as sisters. Amelia's home-life is chaotic so she welcomes frequent invitations to stay at Jenna's house. Jenna recommends a book, the Orman Chronicles to Amelia - the story of two sisters competing in a magical world. Amelia reads it and becomes obsessed with both the story and the author - recluse prodigy N.E. Endsley. Upon graduation, Jenna's parents gift both young ladies tickets to a book festival where Endsley will be a guest speaker. Amelia is over-the-moon excited. However, things fail to go as planned and only Jenna meets the author. Heartbroken, Amelia lashes out in anger and jealousy and Jenna leaves for Ireland with a rift between them. When the unthinkable happens and Jenna is lost to Amelia forever, she drowns in her grief and pain and guilt. The rosy and bright future the girls had planned together is gone. And then, a special rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives by mail for Amelia. Someway, somehow, Amelia knows this is heaven-sent - a gift from Jenna, and she sets out on a journey to discover the bookstore it was mailed from and the identity of the sender. Her trip eventually leads to a mystical bookstore in Michigan where Amelia meets a strange young man named Nolan. The relationship that develops is pure and innocent and soothing to both damaged souls, but it's partially based on secrets. When those secrets are revealed, Amelia's world is thrown off-kilter once again.

Amelia Unabridged is a sweet, touching, heart-felt story of a young woman thrown off her life orbit by profound loss, grief, and guilt. It's the story of a shy young man struggling to survive in a modern public world. It's the story of two bleeding hearts daring to reach out and accept hope, forgiveness, and eventually the essence of true self, strength and purpose. Amelia Unabridged is a beautiful love story that I highly recommend to fans of young adult. It almost felt like a fantasy to me. It is, without a doubt, a beautiful fairy tale.

I’m sure certain things make certain stories special for various people. As a book lover, Amelia Unabridged was special to me. There is nothing like reading about other people also loving books. And a love story of people brought together by books? I’m already crying.

After the death of her best friend, Amelia sets out on a journey to discover the source of a special edition book copy that shows up for her. On her journey, Amelia meets a special someone, and a bookworm love story ensues.

This book had everything for me. It gave me all the feels and I cannot wait to read it again. Did I mention the beautiful cover?!

It's really rare when a book has allll the things I'm looking for, but this one does. It made me feel every emotion on the spectrum. When Amelia and Jenna are fangirling over the Orman Chronicles and going to the festival, I related from all the times books have been an anchor to my soul and how I travelled to tell their authors thank you. When Amelia and Jenna fought, I felt the anger and pain. When Jenna dies ... I felt the grief. In all the stages throughout the rest of the book. But there was also hope. And love. And discovery. And joy. And Amelia's journey was so natural even though it was extraordinary and I will recommend others to follow her on it for a long, long time.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Wednesday Books, for the chance to read and review this book!

TW: PTSD, panic attacks, anxiety, loss, grief, death

"There are a hundred thousand ways to tell a story,” he begins. “Medical students help people live longer and continue their own stories. Engineering majors tell a story of technology that goes back to cavemen with rocks and sticks. Marine biologists piece together shreds of plot until they know where whales sleep at night and where fish live in coral reefs. Everything is a story, not just writing. You need to find the story that means something to you, a story you like telling.”

(Quotes from the earc, so it can be subject to changes)


Amelia Griffin is eighteen years old and she's obsessed with the Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive N. E. Endsley. These books mean the world to her, since they brough her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia's father left and her family changed forever. They helped her getting through difficult years, the indifference of her parents and her finding love and support in another family.
It's during the last summer before college that she and Jenna get the chance to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, but everything goes wrong. Jenna has the chance to meet the author, Amelia doesn't and they fight, but before they could solve things, Jenna is killed in a car accident and Amelia's life is turned upside down.
When a mysterious rare edion of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amilia is convinced Jenna had something to do with it and she decides to track the book to a bookstore in Michigan, where she's shocked to find the enigmatic author, who caused the last fight with Jenna and maybe could help her move on. Or they could help one other.

I didn't expect to love so much this book and so fast, but it was love at first page and it became one of my favourite.
The author wrote a devasting and moving debut about love, friendship, grief, loss, finding strength within yourself. Another important theme is the importance of stories and words and their ability to save and protect people, to be a heaven, a shelter from the life's traumas, a way to express oneself, a cathartic way to help and save. This book is an ode to stories, to imagination and bonds.

The author was able to express perfectly both Amelia's grief and her pain, her feeling lost and without a guide, her future brutally changed and her questioning everything she had planned with her best friend and Nolan's in his actions, struggles, words and his way of protecting himself from the world and people.
She wrote brilliantly about all kind of relationship, between siblings, parents and daughter, friends and lovers. I really enjoyed reading about the bond Amelia had with Jenna and has with her parents, the way they basically adopted her, when her own family was too indifferent to care about her, including her, supporting, loving Amelia, even and more after Jenna's death.

Amelia's relationship with Jenna was beautifully written and remembered, through memories, pictures, showing how much they loved and supported one other during the years. The way the complete each other, how they were so different from one other, but also bonded so tight was really moving to read.
I also really loved reading the strong and protective bond between Alex and Henry, the way they were always there for the other and the stern, but loving way of Valerie, the love of Wally, the hyperactive dog, the weird coffee in the bookstore...everything was so amazing and heartwrenching. I loved how Ashley Schumascher wrote about the bond of friendship, between Amelia and Jenna and Alex and Nolan and the power a found family has.
This is the kind of book that will make you cry and you will thank the author for it. The writing style is so evocative I felt like I was there with them, wandering through the aisles and looking for new books and adventures or having fun in the fort or in the Orman room.

The way Ashely Schumascher deals with important themes like loss, panic attacks, PTSD is with sensitivity and care.
Amelia and N.E. Endsley find each other by chance and together they grapple with their losses and future, supporting, helping and, maybe, finding love in one other. Even though I'm not much of a fan about instalove or falling in love in few days, I loved this book and the way magic, words and worlds are mixed.

The bookstore the author describes, Val's, is a bookworm's dream come true, filled with an hyperactive dog, rooms with themes inspired by the books in them, friends and love. I love reading this book and I liked so many things, like the way the author deals with so many delicate themes, the characterization, the hope and indecision for the future itself, the love for books and words and the power they have.

I definitely recommed this book to everyone who love a wonderful and moving story about finding one's strength, love and friendship. And the power of stories, in every way they are told.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It took me some time to get into the book but I ended really liking it.
Amelia has been obsessed with the Orman books and has made a life with Jenna and her family bit when Jenna dies Amelia has to figure how to survive on her own.
Nolan has survived his own tragedy but when fangirl Amelia shows up everything changes.
This book is about 2 young people who have to overcome trauma in order to find happiness and purpose in their lives.
I truly did like this book.

I don't know if I can express how much I adored this debut from Ashley Schumacher. Amelia Unabridged is beautifully and powerfully written. My heart hurt and sang and hoped. Bottom line - It's fantastic.
Amelia and Jenna are the best of friends. Their yin and yang personalities balance out but also make their happiness dependent on the other. Jenna's parents gift them a dream come true trip after high school graduation to meet their favorite author, N. E. Endsley. He no shows and it's Jenna's fault, their ability to fully reconcile is taken away when Jenna dies unexpectedly. Amelia is grieving and an unexplainable book delivery has her searching for a way to reconnect with Jenna.
This book has it all: so many quotable phrases, a relatable heroine (for us bookish girls certainly), a mysteriously grumpy hero, and an angsty, page-turning plot. I know this will easily be one of my top favorite reads for 2021. Ashley is going to be an auto-read author.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I seem to be reading a lot of books that are peripherally about books lately. Amelia Unabridged is the latest.

There are similarities to two others I've read in the past year or two. Rainbow Rowell's 'Fangirl' and Jo Walton's 'Among Others'. In Fangirl the main character is obsessed with the Simon Snow series of books. In Amelia Unabridged, Amelia and her best/only friend, Jenna are fans of the Orman series by N.E. Endsley. Both girls retreat into their series of books as an escape from their troubled lives and their doubts/fears of what/where to go/do next.

In 'Among Others' there is also the presence of actual books/stories from our actual world woven among the storyline. Two main settings are a bookstore and library. Amelia Unabridged is also strongly anchored by two bookstores.

Amelia Unabridged is its own story. However many similarities you can find among other books. It's a story about fan culture, life, love, death and found families. It's a story about finding ones OWN way in the world. Even when people with only the best intentions are steering you in an alternate direction. It's a story about imagination, sorrow and the overarching joy that can be found in life, even when one feels at their absolute rock bottom.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has survived 2020 and just wants to instill a little 'magic' back into their life/worldview.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for my unbiased review.

Amelia Unabridged is a beautiful story about how to continue living after the death of someone you love. Thanks, NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read this story in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down. The story follows Amelia. She’s just graduated from high school. She and her best friend are supposed to meet their favorite author at a book festival. But when the author backs out of the event Amelia is devastated. Endsley wrote the Orman Chronicles and Amelia found these books when everything in her life was falling apart. Books save people sometimes (we all know that) and that’s what Endsley’s books did for Amelia. They also brought her and her best friend, Jenna, together. But Jenna meets Endsley before he backs out of his event and Amelia is furious. The two part, because Jenna is traveling to Ireland for the summer, on less than perfect terms. But Jenna dies in a car accident while in Ireland and Amelia is lost. But then she gets the 101st special edition of one of Endsley’s books (when there were only supposed to be 100 made). Amelia sees this as a sign from her best friend. So, she travels to Val’s, the bookstore in Michigan where the book was mailed from. This is where the story starts to get interesting. Shortly after arriving, Amelia runs into N.E. Endsley. All Amelia wants is to know what Jenna said to him that day at the book festival. But the two develop a relationship, they bond over their grief, and learn more about one another. Together they work through what they’re struggling with and I thought it was beautiful.
So, I do have to say that I think Amelia falling in love with her all-time favorite author was a little corny, but I still really enjoyed this book. Both Amelia and Nolan Endsley are grieving the loss of the people that were closest to them. They also both feel as if the deaths were their fault, or at the very least that they could have prevented them. I really liked how Nolan was shown as a real person. I think all too often people treat authors as other, which Amelia absolutely did toward the beginning of the book. But it was nice to see Amelia stop and realize that Nolan was more than the author of her favorite book series. He’s a person that’s really struggling.
Overall, I think this was a beautiful story about grief and how to work through it, about new friendships and old ones, about following your dreams even if that means you stray from the path you’re ‘supposed’ to be on. I definitely recommend this book.

After last year, Amelie Unabridged hits a little harder. It's sad. It's a story about grief. But it is also a story of friendship and love and how we keep on living after the afterwards. It's a love letter to books and what they mean to us. And that's peak storytelling. 💞

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a review copy.

This book was simply magical. It broke my heart and fixed it altogether and made me believe in fate and magic and miracles and whales... Nolan and Amelia are perfection in their brokenness, and how they come together is what makes my heart happy! This is a story that I’ll read over and over again and love every moment, even though it made me cry the whole time. Highly recommend! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

I really wanted to love this but it just didn’t connect with me. All the pieces were there. This book is ultimately a love story to literature and a story about loss. Being someone who loves books about books combined with thought-provoking commentary on what it means to lose a loved one, I thought I would really enjoy this.

I appreciated the discussion of loss and how those left behind feel that they owe the people they’ve lost to honor their memory. I related a lot to Amelia (the main character) since she didn't really know what she wanted to do with her life and after Jenna (her best friend) dies, she no longer has that person that tells her what to do. There’s traveling to a cozy Michigan town, a whimsical bookstore that I wish existed in real life, a cute dog and finding out what you want out of your life.

Overall, I felt that the story was lacking a bit of dialogue between the characters. I wish we could’ve had more detailed scenes of interactions between Amelia and Jenna, the relationship between them would have felt more real to me. The same goes for the romance. There were scenes that didn’t land emotionally for me that I think would’ve if I had gotten more detailed scenes.

3/5