I don't want to give a full review since the book doesn't come out until Feb, but OMG. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. It hit me in a way that I wasn't expecting to be hit and I'll be honest I cried.
If you are getting ready to put together, your 2021 TBR, you need to add this book. It has everything, love, loss, friendship etc. I can't thank #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Full review to come closer to publication date!

What in the world did I just read?
I haven't the faintest idea of how to begin this review but I'll try.
As impossible as it sounds, the inside of the book is even more beautiful than the cover *heart-eyes*.
I thought that a book could get any better than some of my favorites, but this one was in a category of its own. The character's emotions seemed so deep and lifelike. It was incredible to read and I felt myself feeling their emotions as the story progressed. All the characters were great and I would really love to see more about Alex someday.
Normally I am not a fan of epilogues but this one completely different from any other that I've read.
The writing style just drew me in and all the bookish references kept this bookworm quite giddy with excitement.
Now, I HIGHLY recommend that you find a copy of this book ASAP once it releases on February 16.

Rating: can I give it 10/5?
Language: a**, s***
Romance: kissing
Spiritual: n/a
Violence: deaths of loved ones

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.


Reveiw scheduled to be published on Jan 16, 2021.

Rating 5

Wow. Having just finished reading "Amelia Unabridged" by Ashley Schumacher I am at a loss for words. When I started reading this book I knew I stumbled upon something beautiful but it was more than that. Once you start reading this book it is so hard to put down and return to everyday life. How Amelia feels about books is exactly how I feel about books. Your favorite book world is always on your mind and you never want it to go. I thought the author captured this love perfectly. I loved the little references to other books and how it was compared to her own. This book will make you want to re-read an old favorite just so you can capture that feeling that you once had. If you have not experienced what Amelia is experiencing with Orman then sadly you are missing out and you NEED to go searching. What Amelia went through in losing Jenna and the promise she felt she had to keep to her felt so real and relatable. She lost her better half and it left her alone and confused which is of course normal. During this time Amelia had no enjoyment from reading because she was too burdened by her grief. She was too angry, hurt, sad, and guilty to focus on the words on the page. Personally, I think all readers will go through this in their life but with help from a loved one they can find that enjoyment in reading again. I honestly loved all of the characters in this book. They were all written so well having their own emotions, personalities and likable traits. I loved how the bookstore was described and have actually visited a bookstore like this and like Amelia I never wanted to leave. 

Should you read "Amelia Unabridged"?
YES!! This book shows a character struggling with grief who doesn't want to lose their friend who is already gone.They struggle with keeping old pinky promises or deciding what is better for them no matter the cost. You will want to follow Amelia as she struggles quietly cheering her on. I guarantee this book will make you feel again. 

**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the review copy!

THIS BOOK WAS GREAT! I loved this story so much. It gave me all feels I was looking for. If you are a reader and you love books over bonding over a book! Pick this one up. This plot and story were done great and so easy to follow. The characters were written very well!

I highly recommend this read!

ALL THE STARS! I absolutely LOVED this book. I have a feeling this will be one of my favorites of the year. I couldn’t stop once I started. I loved these characters. I love the book references throughout from so many stories I have cherished in my life. Grief, loss, love, friendship, family - so many themes in this book and it was all done so well. The writing came to life for me, and it has been a while since a story has done that for me. I wish this story didn’t have to end, but I think this was a wonderful story - it was incredible from start to finish. I highly recommend this book!

THANK YOU to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I truly loved this book, and it is exactly what I needed right now.

I would like to begin by thanking NetGalley and Wednesday Books. I was provided an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Amelia Unabridged was not what I was expecting. Too often with books, this realization is inherently negative. While the novel could be overwhelming at times, with its rollercoaster of emotions and its urgency, I'll say this: Amelia Unabridged may not have been what I was expecting, but its arrival was timely. This was a book that I needed. (More on that later.) The novel manages to seamlessly weave grief, humor, and found families together. To call it 'heartwarming' would be cliched, because Amelia Unabridged is so much more than that. It's as much about loss as it is finding yourself, how to survive when key pieces of yourself are lost, and a reminder that sometimes, magic can be found in small, mundane things.

If someone told me that Amelia Unabridged was a debut novel before I began reading, I wouldn't have believed it. Ms. Schumacher's literary debut shines, and it's absolutely worth losing yourself in.

Writing quality/readability - 5/5 The writing in Amelia Unabridged was, for me, immediately appealing. It's lush and descriptive, and the imagery it creates is at once vivid and easy to picture. So much of this writing feels like a love letter to stories; to the sense of wonder and magic dormant until you thumbed through its pages. This book is like that; even the mundane has a clear sense of wonder. It feels slightly surreal, at times - sort of like a fever dream - but in the best possible way. The pacing is a bit sluggish, at first; the novel largely gains momentum after the events of chapter 3. However, the slower pace doesn't detract from the writing or the enjoyment of the novel whatsoever. It maintains a steady pace throughout the rest of the novel. Stylistically, the writing is gorgeous. From a technical standpoint, it is clear, concise, and easily followed, with no major/noticeable grammatical errors or flaws.

Plot - 4/5 Amelia Unabridged introduces us to best friends Amelia and Jenna. Though polar opposites in nearly every respect, they both share a deep love for books. Their common bond isn't just any book: it's The Orman Chronicles, written by the reclusive, mysterious N.E. Endsley. Following Jenna's untimely death, Amelia is unmoored. No longer sure of the path Jenna had planned for them, and unable to find comfort/take refuge in books, Amelia's life is uprooted by the arrival of a mysterious limited edition copy of the first book in The Orman Chronicles. The only problem is that the edition shouldn't - and doesn't - exist. This is the catalyst that sends Amelia on a cross country quest trip, and ultimately leads to a journey of self-discovery, complete with unexpected friendships along the way.

The premise was refreshingly original, and, in many cases for fellow book lovers, achingly familiar. The novel does a masterful job portraying grief and its aftermath, the uncertainty that faces all young adults as the transition from high school to college, and how isolating it can be when you're desperately trying to forge your own path. It also manages to capture the excitement and nostalgia readers often experience about favorite series/novels. There's also the fact that the few glimpses of Orman that we see are so tantalizing, I'm genuinely disappointed that it isn't a real book series. My only gripe was that the romance subplot was disappointingly predictable, but not so much so that you aren't hopeful for the outcome regardless.

Characterization - 4/5 The characterization in Amelia Unabridged is solid. While there are times Amelia can be frustrating (prone to being whiny/childish, and her extreme fangirling can be cringe inducing, at times,) I saw so much of my (younger) self in her: wide eyed adoration towards her favorite author, and the inevitable disenchantment as you realize that they're people, not gods. She is flawed, but her flaws don't detract from her overall character; if anything, they make her more sympathetic and relatable. I admittedly wasn't overly fond of Nolan, at first; his introduction felt very tropey and overdone (Surly teenage boy with zero social skills, but automatically swoon-worthy because he's Troubled, TM.) I was pleasantly surprised by his character development and growth as the novel progressed, and he quickly grew into my favorite character. Alex provides much-needed levity to the heavier topics/themes addressed throughout the novel, and his fierce devotion to Nolan is not only admirable, but refreshing. (It's nice to see healthy, wholesome relationships between two young men in YA literature for once, instead of casting one as the rival for the heroine's affections/a foil.)

Each character felt fleshed out, fully realized, and above all, human.


This score is largely scored higher than it typically would be for a modern reason for two reasons: Val's bookshop, and the brief glimpses of Orman. Val's bookshop is exactly the kind of bookstore I'd fall in love with, and the kind, frankly, I'd love to own someday. The lore and few glimpses into Orman are fascinating, and the idea of a story-within-a-story, although certainly not new, works particularly well in this setting. It feels organic, and more importantly, natural. I'd half expect to find a copy of The Chronicles of Orman on the shelves of my local bookstore.

Amelia Unabridged broke my heart more than once. But it also allowed me to grieve, and more importantly, it normalized grief in a way that was at once respectful and genuine. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever loved a book or author fiercely, for anyone still grieving, and simply because this is a book that deserves to be read.

I loved this! This is a book all about friendship, love, loss, and living after a loss. Throw in good character development, reading fangirl stuff (like enchanting book stores), and tortured love interest -- you are sure to have a hit.

This was such a treat to read! I fell in love with this book from page one and it tugged at my heart the whole way through.

Amelia hasn’t had the best life growing up. Her dad left for a younger woman and her mom never says much. Through all the heartache, she finds a new life in books, which any reader can relate to. She also finds a friend, Jenna.

Everything in life doesn’t always go as planned and Amelia is faced with more heartache when her friend, Jenna, is killed in a car accident. This is really where her journey begins.

The plot is filled with heartache, a journey of self-discovery, learning to stand on your own, and finding love. It is also a book about books and as a bookworm, I found myself relating to her and all of the stories that she mentioned throughout. There is even a comparison to how she treats books versus her friend because all readers are different.

When it came to the romance, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t want it to be instant-love but when you meet someone you have admired for so long, I figured that is what would happen. It definitely goes much deeper than that because he is shy and filled with a hurt that Amelia can understand. Little did she know that when she went on this trip she wouldn’t be the only one who needed to heal. They help each other and it was just the best thing to ever read.

As for the characters, I loved every single one, which is honestly surprising because it doesn’t happen often. Val, Alex, Nola, Wally, Mr. Larson, and Amelia were all just so wonderful to get to know, even if a couple didn’t have as big of a role. Even though Jenna’s life is cut short in the book, Amelia shares memories of them together and it helps to understand the bond she shared with her.

The epilogue at the end wrapped everything up nicely and left me in tears. (Well, a lot of the book did actually, haha.)

Overall, this book is just everything and hopefully I have convinced you all to read this precious book. You definitely can’t say no to that cover!

You may not know who Ashley Schumacher is, but I have a feeling this won't be the last time we hear her name. Her debut young adult novel, Amelia Unabridged, is so painstakingly beautiful that it will stay with you long after you’ve finished the story and solidify Schumacher as a new name in the world of YA fiction.
This book is full of grief, love, and finding yourself amidst both emotions. Amelia’s story is touching and readers will be able to empathize with her in her struggles to not only figure out what she wants out of life, but also how to honor Jenna in doing so. The way each emotion and feeling is expressed and the way Schumacher used “whales” to convey Amelia’s highs and lows is beautifully written and unique. The descriptive language is comprehensible and heightens each emotion felt by Amelia from her own grief and Nolan’s.
Getting to know each of the characters in this book is so enjoyable and seeing how they interact with one another makes you wish you could join them in Lochbrook, Michigan. The way the world of Orman is interwoven into the story makes this book-within-a-book even more whimsical and magical. It will make you wish The Orman Chronicles was an actual book series just so you could experience the same joy Amelia feels when reading, thinking, or talking about it. Anyone who loves books will appreciate the way this novel emphasizes the magic behind reading.
The story leaves you hopeful that even if bad things happen in your life, the good will come as well and there will always be someone there to keep you grounded in living life instead of running from it. Additionally, Amelia’s story reminds us that the best way to remember those we’ve lost is by living our lives to the fullest and experiencing joy in it. That while grief is normal and necessary, it should not consume us and force us to follow a path we don't want to go down.
Brimming with meaningful storytelling, purposeful characters, and a little bit of mystery, Amelia Unabridged is a must-read for both YA and non-YA readers alike. I cannot recommend enough that you check this book out when it’s released on February 16th.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

TW: death

This book is so amazing. Starting out with a book convention, bonding over a favorite book, and meeting the author, this book I s a dream come true. And don’t even get me started on how lovely the writing is!
Please check out my quotes for my favorites
This is such a lovely romance read it made my heart almost burst with love and made my eyes tear up with sadness

My heart has been ripped out, sewn back together with love, ripped out a few more times, and mended with tears. So many tears. I don't think I've cried like this since I read Code Name Verity. I just ached for these characters, and yet so many of the tears were out of love for how they were growing and blossoming and becoming amazing human beings. I cannot wait to read more by Ashley!

Amelia Griffin has a special connection to the Orman Chronicles – they’re the books that brought her and her best friend, Jenna, together after Amelia’s father left for good and her family imploded. Years later, they have the chance to meet young, reclusive, and enigmatic author N.E. Endsley at a convention, Amelia is beyond excited to start off the summer before college right. But things don’t exactly go as planned – Jenna meets him, Amelia doesn’t, and it leads to the biggest fight of their friendship. A few weeks later, Jenna is gone, and Amelia struggles to grapple with a future that was mapped out for two. When a book that shouldn’t exist lands in Amelia’s hands, it leads her to a bookstore in Michigan where she might find exactly what she needs – a clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.

Wow, ok, I guess I have to try and articulate all my thoughts about this book. I absolutely loved it. Hard-hitting contemporary novels have become some of my favorites this year. Amelia Unabridged is able to explore the topic of grief from so many angles – losing a friend, a daughter, siblings, and even trying to comfort a loved one through their own grief. Each of the characters deal with their individual struggles, and understanding how those struggles affect the ones around them. While I can see how readers may find issue with both Amelia and Nolan’s “outbursts,” I felt that their emotions were consistent with the stage of grief they were at. I found the contrast between Amelia’s parents (primarily her mother), and Jenna’s parents (Mr. and Mrs. Williams) showed a contrast between guardians that provide too much guidance and those whose guidance proves to be inadequate. I will say I wish that I had hoped the relationship between Amelia and Nolan would progress more platonically instead of romantically, however, I found the bond between them lovely to read about, and I didn’t mind that it occurred over a short period of time.

“There is a photo of a girl with tears of various emotions in her eyes as they scan the last lines of the epilogue of Amelia Unabridged. It’s the first day of fall with a chill in the air, and she’s wearing her pajamas and an oversized red sweatshirt after a long day working from home. She knows that when those lines are done, she will go back to read the last chapter again, as she does with every one of her favorite books, and mourn the fact that she has to wait until next February to have a finished copy in her hands. She will cherish the copy she has for now, and think about how many people she will try to convince to read this book. She’s smiling sadly, as she knows that every book must come to an end, but knows that the best stories will live on inside you long after the covers are closed.”

In conclusion, if you need a hard-hitting young adult contemporary centering around books, grief, and small-town vibes, I highly recommend picking up Amelia Unabridged when it is released. Ashley Schumacher has fully captured the essence of figuring out your future while living in the present and trying to learn from your past. **Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher is an amazing novel - I absolutely loved it!

Amelia is a high school graduate who is trying to handle the grief of suddenly losing her best friend Jenna. When she receives a gift with no indication of who it is from, it starts an adventure that will change the course of her life forever.

This book is warm, heartfelt, moving, and full of beautiful and whimsical imagination. Amelia Unabridged has been added to my favorites list - and I can tell you, I am picky when it comes to my favorites (I have not added one to my favorites list in over a year and a half!). Read this novel - it will not disappoint.

Amelia Unabridged was a sweet read. I know I will most certainly be suggesting this one to my daughter to read when she gets a little older.

This story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. With such strong messages about friendships, family, grief and being true to your own self it's such a perfect read for young adults.

I definitely consider myself a true book worm so loved the main characters love of books and the majority of the story taking place in a whimsical, small town bookstore. The ending of this book left my heart feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Definitely recommend!

There have already been so many wonderful reviews of this book and they definitely stand up to what this book holds! I loved this book! I loved the imagery, I loved the characters, just a beautifully and well done book.
Amelia is dealing with the death of her best friend Jenna after a fight they had at a book festival about their favorite author N. E. Endsley. Amelia receives a special edition copy of one of her favorite books from a bookshop in Michigan and she sees it as a sign from Jenna and goes to find out where it came from and what they might know about her friend. She finds a beautiful bookshop, some new friends, and a new place to call home.
I loved the connection between her and Nolan. I loved how she spoke of it like a tether between them. I liked that they had this telepathic connection and really took the time to learn each other and feel each other.
I loved the imagery of the whales and the waves in dealing with grief.
The bookshop is beautiful and I liked how Alex and Val welcomed Amelia in! The lighthouse room, I could just picture it and picture being there. This is a bookshop that I would love to visit if it were real!
Such a beautiful, wonderful story about grief, friendships, growing up, and finding what you really want along the way. I will be thinking about this one for a long time to come!
I can't wait for this book to be out in the world and to share it with so many people!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

Book: Amelia Unabridged
Author: Ashely Schumacher
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC.

I know, I know, I am one of the very few people who did not give this book a five star rating. It’s just the simple fact that this was not a five star read for me. It was a very good read and a very strong read, but it just didn’t hit me in the same way that a five star read hits me. You know? It was just missing a little bit of something for me and I honestly do not know what that was.

So, this book does deal with some tough stuff. We start out with the day that Amelia’s life changed for the first time. Her father leaves and we find Amelia trying to deal with this. I mean, this is a pretty big change for her and we get to see how it affects her life. When she gets to her lowest point, we see Jenn come into her life and really kind of build her up. We actually see Jenn almost become her life planner and she kind of goes along with whatever Jenn wants her to. Jenn in fact seems to have their whole lives planned out. They are going to meet their favourite author and all of that good stuff.

Of course, things really don’t go according to plan. The author journey falls apart and, then, we see things go dark. Jenn is killed in a car accident and Amelia finds herself on her own again. This little event completely sets her off. Then, she gets a package in the mail and it’s a limited edition of her favourite book. The problem is that she didn’t order it.

Amelia sees this as a sign from Jenna and goes to Michigan, which is where the package is from. From there, we get to Amelia take chances and do things that she would have never done. We also see her really start to question the life that Jenn had set up for them and really wondering if that is the life that she wanted. I personally enjoyed getting to see Amelia transform from a follower into her own person. I mean, she was her own person, but this really allowed her to branch out and just create her own life. It’s not always smooth, but seeing this transform unfold was really solid.

The writing was also great and really brought the point home. I think it was also kind of what kept me from giving this a five star rating. It was good, but I think it was kind of missing a little bit of the punch that it didn’t. I honestly did not feel all that much when Jenn died. I know I was supposed to, but I just didn’t. I guess, I wasn’t all that attached to her character I guess. None of this is spoilers if you are wondering why I’m not using the spoiler tag. It’s mentioned in the summary.

Did I enjoy this? Yes. Again, it was just missing a little something to make it a five star rating.

Now, the publication date is a bit off. It doesn’t come out until February 16, 2021.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/vI_lRDEd7M4

<b>4.5 stars </b>

This book was so sweet. When I started reading it, I knew that this book would deal with grief as pretty early on Amelia's best friend dies in a car accident. (It's in the synopsis so it's not a spoiler) Anyway, I was expecting something really sad and heartbreaking. I was bracing for the impact but I'm glad that I didn't find myself crying like I thought I would. Yes, there were sad moments but overall I feel like this book gave us hope and the romance with our reclusive author Nolan was so cute, I loved every single moment of it! When they started to like each other (because it wasn't love at first sight when they actually met), I was so happy for them. Alex (Nolan's best friend) was also fun and protective and I loved that about him. This story was compelling and quick to read. I really don't have anything bad to say about this book. If you like YA contemporary, this one should definitely go in your TBR pile!

<i>(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Holy cow did I love this book. Schumacher creates an achingly beautiful story, with vibrant characters of such depth it took my breath away. This book gave me all the feels, and I can't tell you how many times I cried. It shows us grief and heartache and loss and healing and love so, so well. But as much as I cried, I know I smiled more.

Amelia's home life is falling apart when she meets Jenna at the local bookstore. The two become inseparable best friends quickly. They have everything planned out after graduation – go to a book festival to meet their favorite author N.E. Endsley and then go off to college together as roommates. That all changes in an instant when Jenna dies while away on a trip. Amelia is unmoored, and alone. She decides to travel to Michigan to track down the mysterious sender of a special edition of one of Endsley's books. There, she comes face to face to Ednsley himself. Will she be able to come back to herself and learn to risk her heart again?

Amelia Unabridged moved me from its first pages. It's lyrical and lovely. I read it in about two sittings. Ashley Schumacher does an outstanding job of showing us the magic of words and how books really are magic. I don't know how any bibliophile would be able to resist this one.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. It's a gorgeous contemporary with a sweet romance.

This is a book that will forever be on my comfort reading list. It has friendship, romance, a small town bookstore, heartache, healing, and finding family. It has a classic romance plot but the characters have depth and stories to share. You’ll want to move to Lachbrook and spend your weekends hanging out at Val’s.
I can’t wait to see what Amy Schumacher writes next!

A debut novel that had me fall in love with this author. If there is a book that I can't put down, makes me cry happy and sad tears, and requires that I devour it in as little time as possible... it gets 5 stars from me. I LOVED this book. I loved all the book/library references and scenes. I adored the characters, I loved the introspection, I loved it all.

Amelia Griffin had a rough time as a teenager. When her life felt like it was falling apart, she found solace in a new best friend and a fantasy world called Orman. As a high school graduation gift she and her bestie, Jenna, go to a book signing where she is going to meet the author. Through tragedy, their world is turned upside down and Amelia is forced to face her future without the support system she had come to love.

There is grief, there is love, there is beauty, there is anxiety, there is humor, but overall there is true friendship. Again. Loved. Wish there was more by this author!!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.