Member Reviews
I don’t even know where to begin with how this book made me feel. It’s not very often anymore that a book completely sweeps me off my feet and immerses me in its story and characters. I guess the best way to describe it is that I devoured this book in all its poetic, lyrical and nostalgic glory. The writing style alone made my heart soar because it is so wonderfully vivid and alive, and then there’s Amelia and Nolan who are both so perfectly imperfect and yet still so perfect for each other.
If you want a book that is going to make you feel, then do yourself a favor and read this one.
And of course, thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a free ARC.
I cried my heart out. Damn. This book really touched me. It was such a beautifully writen story and was a really easy read. Its made you think about your own life.
While this is in the YA genre, I greatly enjoyed the story as an adult.
The author allows us to see how books can be an anchor for us when our lives are difficult, especially in our teen years. When Amelia's already difficult life is shattered by her best friends death, she loses that anchor for a bit, unable to get lost in stories as she has in the past. When a book mysteriously appears, she feels it's a sign to go explore and find a little lost piece of her friend. What she finds is friendship and support - and maybe her future.
I laughed, I cried (only a little), and I couldn't stop reading this.
I always say that when I read a book I need that extra "magic". I got that from this book. I loved the story, the writing, the characters, the whole book. I want to move there and live in that town and be one of the neighbors.
This was a romance, but not your usual type. There were no sex scenes (that I usually skim over). It wasn't overly sweet. and the hero wasn't a super handsome millionaire with bulging muscles. I always tell kids - go for the geek - they will treat you right.. :)
This was a story of loss, a story of friendship, a story of personal growth. But this was not an overly sentimental, eye rolling sugar filled drama. It felt true to life (mostly.....lol) I enjoyed this book so much, I immediately researched to see if this author wrote any more books that I could get.,. (not yet....sigh)
I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the advance copy, which did not impact my review.
Amelia Unabridged was gorgeously written, creating a lush landscape readers can immerse themselves in. It was a beautiful story of friendship, loss, grief, love, and finding oneself. Unfortunately, despite the beautiful writing, there were a few things that didn't work for me. I was enchanted at the beginning of the book, but my interest seemed to falter around 60% of the way in. The romance was sweet, but it felt rushed and a bit too much like "instalove" for me. I also didn't really care for the romance because it seemed like they both idealized each other more than they should have. I did, however, enjoy the strong friendships between Amelia and Jenna and Nolan and Alex. I also loved that this book so clearly understands the experience of what it's like to truly and wholly love books. Additionally, Amelia's struggle with identity and figuring out what she wanted to do in life was one that can resonate with many readers, including me. I can see why so many people fell in love with this book, but ultimately it fell flat for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed how quirky Amelia Unabridged was without feeling like it was trying too hard to make Amelia and Nolan be quirky. The characters were rich, unique, and yet grounded. The story was very well paced and allowed the characters to slow down and feel without feeling drawn out.
Amelia Unabridged is a beautiful story that is complex and simple at the same time. It's about friendship and sisterhood, making choices between obligations to others and listening to yourself, and being open to possibilities. Amelia and Jenna form a tight bond over a fantasy book called Orman to the point of author obsession. A tragedy happens after they attend a book festival and Amelia must learn to live without her close friend. She receives a mysterious package in the mail and takes off across the country to investigate. Who sent the package? Amelia meets Nolan, Alex, Val, and Wally who all make a huge impact on her life. Nolan has his own story of tragedy and success. Alex is a best friend that is always trying to make things better. Val is all around amazing and wise. And Wally is unbound comedic energy. The reader is pulled into their world and is constantly wondering what Amelia will decide to do. Will she be able to let go and follow her heart? Amelia Unabridged is magical and I didn't want the story to end!
I really enjoyed this book, honestly made feel better after being depressed for quite a while. I loved how the characters were all flushed out, I also loved how it discusses dealing with grief and learning to live with your self! Overall it’s such a good book!!
"There are a hundred thousand ways to tell a story"
Wow, this was fantastic. Grief-riddled, full of gorgeous writing, and a truly excellent "maybe this happened" epilogue that I couldn't get enough of.
Amelia Unabridged is the book of the year. Sweet, funny, poignant and completely real as it follows Amelia Griffin through finding and losing her best friend, Jenna. Ashley Schumacher has redefined the term breakout book. This is the story that every die-hard reader has been looking for and can identify with. We are always looking to make connections, particularly after loss. And what reader doesn't identify with wanting to have a connection with a favorite writer, even if they do stab their phone with a jeweled sword.
You won't blush recommending this book. No sex. No swearing. A little light banter in one scene but nothing crosses the line.
Phenomenal, amazing, what readers have been waiting for!
10 stars!
This may be the coziest book I've read this year! It has all the feels. The characters are well developed and I love how wrapped up I became in the story.
I adored this book. The author writes a story that has book lovers in mind, with lots of references to things that only fellow book lovers would understand. I can't wait to pass this one on to friends. It will also make a great book for a YA book club.
This book tugged my heart and made me realize why I fell in love with reading books in the first place. I feel so much for Amelia, and what she struggles in her life, I felt a deep connection with her character that made my heart ache for her too. It has a beautifully heart-wrenching story, navigating grief and loss among people. The emotions were raw, and I felt everything, it stabbed my heart a million pieces but in the end it was put back again. Ashley is a brilliant writer; I loved how they weaved the story, creating the atmospheric descriptive scenes that made the story of Orman and Amelia alive, it invoked nostalgia and I felt like I've been there too, experiencing everything. This was such a good read and I'm sure that this book will also tug the hearts of many- just like it did mine.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me an ARC of this wonderful book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my god how is this a debut??? I loved this book so much. Amelia, Nolan, Val, their families- all incredibly relatable. I was instantly attached and feel like I went through the ringer with these characters. Can't wait to eventually read more from this author.
The plot involves an attractive fantasy for many -- meeting a beloved author and being the only person who can help him -- but I'm not surprised to see this is a debut, as it seems the writer may be trying a little too hard. The descriptive details are often overdone, and the emotions are all felt too much. Perhaps younger readers will find the overworked elements more appealing, as they will have less experience with which to compare.
I wish I could've enjoyed this book more as a book lover I thought that I'd love to read about two book loving best friends. But both the writing style and characters weren't engaging enough for me to really enjoy to the extent I wished I did. Sadly, the book was a little bland for me, and I wasn't a fan of Amelia. But so many other people loved it that I'll just chalk it up to this book not being for me, and clearly, it has resonated with other readers.
The day that Jenna and Amelia became friends, changed Amelia’s life. On that day, her father left Amelia and her mother and Jenna saved her from loneliness and despair. For years, they have been inseparable, like sisters. It is now their last summer before college, and Jenna’s parents buy them tickets to an author event, featuring N.E. Endsley, the author of the Orman Chronicles. The event doesn’t go as planned, and only Jenna meets the author. Amelia's disappointment leads her to argue with Jenna, and a fracture appears in their relationship. Amelia thinks she has all the time in the world to make things right with Jenna, but a tragic accident means she will need to figure out how to go on without Jenna.
When Amelia receives a book in the mail, not just any book, but a beautiful copy of the Orman Chronicles, she is sure that Jenna sent it. Figuring out the mystery gives her a reason to go on, and her trip to the Michigan bookstore it came from, might just mean that Jenna, once again, will change the course of Amelia’s life. She will meet N.E. Endsley and discover that he has a tragic past of his own.
There is so much I would like to say about this book, but much of it would lead me precariously close to spoiler territory. So what did I love? The main character in love with books, the magic of a wonderful bookstore, a reclusive author with a heavy heart, and the realization that while loss and grief never leave your side, it doesn’t mean that you cannot open yourself to the future. I have to mention the Orman Chronicles too, I loved the story, and wished I could get my hands around it in my real life. One final thought, this is a debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Amelia and Jenna have been best friends since the day Amelia's dad left her and her mom. Her mom is like a ghost, always lodged in front of the TV not doing much, so Jenna's family takes her in as their second daughter. This was also the day that Amelia discovered her love for the Orman Chronicles. Amelia and Jenna soon go to meet N.E. Endsley, the author of the Orman Chronicles, at a rare event.
After an unpredictable accident takes Jenna away from Amelia, Amelia is left heartbroken and confused. On top of that, she's also debating between going with the college plans that Jenna set for her or following what her heart wants. Then, an unexpected package arrives leading to a bookstore in Michigan state and also N.E. Endsley.
N.E. Endsley is not what you would expect from a typical author. He is isolated from everyone else but beneath all of that, he has his own struggles that are carried into his writing. When Nolan meets Amelia, the pain in their hearts has finally found comfort.
It's a gorgeous debut novel.
The book felt so real and down to earth with all that Amelia was experiencing. Her parents are divorced just like many people's parents in the world. The grief that she experiences from Jenna's death and how it affected her emotionally is something that many have to deal with especially now with COVID-19.
The description and details were amazing and I felt as if I was standing on the side watching everything happen. Val's bookstore seemed totally enchanting and I hope to visit one just like that in my life. My top favorite things to do include reading and playing the piano so it was absolute perfection for me.
This book blew me away and is definitely one of my top reads this year. The writing style of the author is absolutely gorgeous and I loved everything about this book. It left me in tears throughout but also got me to laugh in other parts. Amelia Unabridged was beyond my expectations and I highly, highly recommend reading this book when it's released.
*Posted maybe with blog tour
I think many readers will enjoy this book as it tackles the human experience so wonderfully. Through Amelia, we are given the full gamut of emotions - romance, grief, drama, and the sweet in-between moments that make life worth living.
The protagonist, Amelia, was unfortunately subjected to a traumatic event that shapes how she interacts and views her world. From there, the story unfolds, and she is ultimately lead to a bookstore that serves as a sort of salvation. Here, she can process her emotions, rekindle her self-love and respect, and garner friendships and love.
There is more to this story, and there are more compelling characters who also shape Amelia’s experience through their healing, hurt, and understanding of the world.
I think this book is a perfect read, especially in 2020. It’s well-written and provides a clear and realistic look at the human condition.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
This is a touching story of love, loss, friendship and grief. Amelia, the 18 year old protagonist, has to wend her way through emotions and the expectations of others.
Amelia, an avid reader with a vivid imagination is a wonderful character. Far from perfect but highly relateable.
I particularly enjoyed the love of books and joy of reading pervades this book.
I received an ARC and I am leaving my honest review.
It was a heartwarming, well written read, one which I highly recommend.