Occasionally I stumble across a YA novel that people are raving about and of course I must read it. How could I bypass a book with an enchanted bookstore set in my gorgeous state of Michigan to boot. This started off really strong and had me raving about how good it was, but once Amelia meets Endsley things just fell into place a little too fast and neatly.

I received this books via Netgalley. I loved this book. It's about friendship and family and love. I would recommend it even if you don't normally read young adult. I highly recommend!

This book was simply not my thing. I have grown a lot as a reader in the past few years and this is simply not what I am looking for anymore. I would have LOVED this book a couple years ago, though, and would encourage anybody interested to still read it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

Wow, did this book just jump my feelings in a dark alley or what? Like… I knew it was going to be sad. I wasn’t prepared for exactly how emotional it would make me, though! How dare it be so beautiful and lyrical and heart-wrenching all at the same time 😭

In Amelia Unabridged, we follow a bookish young woman named Amelia Griffin. After her father leaves, Amelia finds comfort in books and her best friend, Jenna. They actually bonded over the first book in Amelia’s favorite series, the Orman Chronicles by N.E. Endsley. So, when Amelia and Jenna get the chance to attend a book festival and a book talk by the one and only Endsley, Amelia is over the moon. Things don’t go as planned, however, and, when Amelia finds out that Jenna somehow managed to meet the elusive author face-to-face and didn’t tell her, they have a huge fight. Shortly after, Jenna is dead, killed in a car accident while studying abroad. Now, Amelia is left to grapple with her grief, her guilt, and a mystery when an exclusive edition of the Orman Chronicles shows up from a bookstore in Michigan that she highly suspects was sent to her by Jenna. Now, Amelia is on a mission to figure out the origin of this beautiful book and what message, if any, Jenna was trying to tell her with this final gift.

As I mentioned, I knew that the main theme of this novel was grief. How it’s different for everyone, how it manifests in different people, and how terrible and all-consuming it can be. I was fully prepared to shed a few tears. There was something about this book, however, that dug deeper into my emotions and really made me feel Amelia’s grief over the loss of Jenna. I have to credit, in part, the absolutely gorgeous writing. Ashley Schumacher has a way of weaving words that completely envelope you and make you a part of the story. The writing is rich, beautiful, and something I want to experience over and over again.

I also loved the whimsical elements of this story. Amelia is, at heart, a reader and, beyond that, she is a lover of fantasy. Getting to live inside her head for the duration of this story was an absolute delight. Not because of her rage and grief and confusion, though those were all masterfully portrayed. It was because of her beautiful imagination. I loved when she would speak of the ‘clever wind’ or imagine herself watching a pod of whales swimming through the skies. I will say the whales get mentioned a lot and there were a few times near the middle where I was like… alright, we get it. But then, they were a big component of Amelia’s emotional coping mechanism, so it kinda makes sense.

The one thing that left me feeling a little ‘meh’ was the romance. Don’t get me wrong! I thought it was sweet and well-developed, I’ve just never been a fan of insta-love. And falling in love with some random and slightly anti-social boy you’ve just met in less than a week is definitely insta-love. Even if you strongly disliked him the first day. Again, I don’t mean to say that the budding romance was poorly written. The author did an incredible job subtly displaying their growing and changing relationship and, by the end, even my cynical little heart was rooting for them. But that particular trope is not and will never be my cup of tea.

Of course, I had the wonderful descriptions of the Michigan bookshop to tide me over, so I was okay with a little way-too-soon smoochiness 😂

Final thoughts: This book has a lot going for it. It’s beautiful written, with a main character that is compellingly conveyed and descriptions that transport you into the story. You’ll find yourself easily picturing the cozy bookshop in Michigan where Amelia finds herself wrestling with grief and falling in love. I’m not a fan of insta-love, but I will say that the romance is well-written and rather touching. The imagery in this story is gorgeous and whimsical, which I thought was a lovely touch when dealing with something as heavy as grief. Prepare to have your emotions assaulted and, in the end, be grateful for it!

This was a beautiful story of friendship, family, and love and the type of story that totally just sneaks up on your heart. Part of me thought it was going to be heavier than it was but I didn't mind in the slightest that it wasn't. I really enjoyed the authors writing and will be looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I found the story interesting with great writing and characters development. But somehow there are many scenes and overall things that I can’t feel that I can get a grip on them for some reason.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

I loved this book so much. It has touches of magic and whimsy despite the grief that fuels the story, which is really a perfect blend for what life after loss is. It can still be joyful and hopeful even when it hurts.

Amelia Unabridged was possibly one of the finest books I have read. Period. From the beginning, this book has had me laughing and crying along with the characters. I fell in love with every single character and LOVED the world that they lived in. Even the fictional novel embedded in this story was something I wanted to get lost in. I am at a loss for words while reviewing this novel which essentially means GO READ IT! But be prepared for the emotional damage caused by the epilogue.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished and I have book hangover.
This BOOK! This book gives me all the feels. It is heartbreaking and beautiful and tender. If you love reading this book is for you. It is a beautiful story about grief and surviving, love and loss, and finding yourself after loss. I loved the characters. They were all wonderfully developed. I felt like I was in Lochbrook, Michigan with Amelia. I even enjoyed the mystery of who sent the rare edition of the book to Amelia.
I will be recommending this book to my students and purchasing it for our library.

This book came highly recommended and it did. not disappoint. I look forward continuing to read more books from Ashley.

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

This book was wonderful and a true insight into grief that really resonates with me.. Despite the theme of grief I also felt like itnwas a feel good story and I loved the friendship that developed between Alex and Nolan.

I dont think I can fully explain how much of an honor it was to be ale to read and listen to Amelia Unabridged.
The story of Amelia going through life after her father leaves and learning of a book series by the author N. G Endsley and making a life time friend out of it. She goes through moments of anger and has to learn how to deal with the grief in her life and being able to read about her adventure in trying to find out how she got a special copy of a book where only 100 were made and she somehow got number 101.. Her time with Endsley was none other than sweet and heartbreaking at the same time and I wish the story would have never ended. I NEEED more Amelia.

I teared up while reading this book. The setting and writing were both so beautiful. The story is very emotional and even though the synopsis wants you what’s to come it still hits your heart. I can’t wait to read ay other books Ashley write. This book was amazing.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher.

This is a story about two best friends, and their mutual obsession with a favorite author. But what should have been an exciting opportunity to meet this author, turns both of their lives completely upsidedown.

I actually read this story a while ago and have been avoiding the review on it, because I dunno. I felt for a lot of it, the fangirling, the friendship, the loss, but the actual crux of the friendship, the author, just wasn't it for me. It felt a bit too far fetched, drawn out, and I lost interest pretty quickly.

This is a lovely YA book about love, forgiveness, and finding yourself. I adored the symbolism and found it a lovely happy book that both made me cry and gave me warm feelings.

Grief and death is universal experience that will at least happen once in everyone's life. Yet it is too often glossed over or made into a blurred experience when it comes to how youth experience it. Amelia Unabridged brings the authentic rareness of the experience to the forefront. Amelia's emotions are heavy and thick which at some moments can be suffocating but mirror grief. Her only saving grace is the tie she has to a series of books and a preset plan for the future. Schumacher does an amazing style of writing where the reader will think it's poetry that is being read. The descriptions and emotions are tied to beautiful lyrical sentences. Emotion is carried on the backs of whales and slobbery tounges. Because Amelia is struggling through her own grief, she is able to help others with their own grief. Yet, I had hoped the romance would have been a secondary plot to the real important one of grief. In moments it seemed to be sunshine and rainbows and them without a smooth transition moved back to black. But I have to admit as well that transitions of grieving are often felt in a similar manner. In the last third of the book, the lyrical prose and sentence structure can be a little overwhelming and overdone. Taking away from the strong universal emotions the characters are going through.

I loved this book. I loved the descriptions of all of the locations throughout the book and was really invested in the main character. It kept me hooked the whole time!

This was a painful read, but it really successfully shows the many stages of grief, and how it affects everyone around us. At the same time, this is a love letter to book fans everywhere.

A beautiful and quirky debut novel with a protagonist it's easy to root for. Schumacher proves she's one to watch with this novel.