Eliza Levinger never got over losing her mother at a young age. Complicating matters is an estranged relationship she had with her father who in Eliza’s eyes, had no problem moving on-remarrying rather quickly. So when Eliza’s father dies, unresolved emotions begin to bubble to the surface. Suddenly Eliza finds herself processing not only the grief of losing a man she always assumed she’d have more time with, but the mother whose time she briefly shared which will never be enough.

But things go from macabre to messy rather quickly when Eliza receives a letter from her deceased mother. Written when she was alive, her aunt was instructed to give the letter to Eliza upon her father’s death. Only the letter reveals a bombshell- the man Eliza knew as her father was not actually her biological parent after all.

Left reeling, Eliza has important decisions to make. Should she find her biological dad? Will he want a relationship with her? And how will this impact the relationships she does have with her brother, stepmother, and the one that got away?

Dear Eliza is a heartfelt story of lost and found family. I especially loved the inclusion of Monk, a comfort show of mine as well. felt for Eliza and her situation and wanted the majority of the people in her life to be more supportive of her struggles. It’s a powerful tale of a strong woman who finds herself starting over in unexpected ways, and one worth adding to your TBR.

In Dear Eliza, author Andrea J. Stein crafts an emotional narrative that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss. Ten years after the death of her beloved mother, Eliza, the main character, unexpectedly loses her father too; she then receives bombshell news that turn her life upside down and makes her question everyone she thought she knew and everything she is.

I thought the handling of grief in this book was particularly well done, especially since Eliza not only grieves for her parents but, in a way, also for herself. Stein allows readers to feel the rawness of Eliza’s conflicting emotions, providing a nuanced exploration of how memories can shape one’s identity.

I enjoyed reading this book and was glad that it ended on a hopeful note, because after her sometimes messy journey of self-discovery and a lot of growth, it’s exactly what Eliza deserves. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This story shows the struggles of losing parents, of going through that grief and losing yourself amidst it. But it also shows healing and forgiveness!

I loved the characters. I loved Eliza and enjoyed watching her figure her life out. After losing her mom, and then her dad, she receives a letter her mother had written before her passing with a secret that changes everything- or maybe changes nothing at all. Does finding out her dad isn’t her biological father make the relationship they had any less? Or is the love, although rocky, they shared still as important?
I loved seeing her work through those feelings. I also loved that her and Josh eventually came together. It was definitely a slow burn but you know from the first kiss that they’re meant to be together and meant to help one another through everything life throws their way.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was well written and full of emotion!

I read Dear Eliza 2 months after my own dad passed away. Even though the book begins at the funeral of Eliza’s father the book was not sad for me. I related a lot more to Eliza with the grief of her father. I don’t have a shocking letter given to me but I know how she was feeling and everything extra put on her, I can’t even imagine. A book about what it means to be part of a family.

I enjoyed Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein--it's an engaging read about Eliza who is shocked to learn a family secret after the death of her father. I was quickly drawn into Eliza's story with my only quibble being that at times early on she seems to see herself as weak and unable to cope but then she is able to rise to the adult choices as the story goes on. Maybe that was intended to show her growth but sometimes it felt a bit off for me. Still, the story with her brother and with Josh rang true and I definitely enjoyed Eliza's growth as the story moved on.

Also, as a former non-profit professional, the author did a nice job describing those details, which added to the story for me. All in all, it was a solid four-star read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Dear Eliza in exchange for an honest review. Dear Eliza is available now.

I felt for Eliza throughout the story, and struggled with who to blame on her behalf. I was fully invested throughout and enjoyed it.

Family secrets abound in this clever contemporary novel about grief, identity, romance and finding yourself amongst it all.

It tells the story of Eliza, who lost her mother ten years ago and has recently lost her father too. In the wake of his death, her aunt gives her a letter that explains that the man she thought was her father was never really her father at all. Now, faced with loss, anger, legal battles, a stubborn crush on her brother’s best friend and a possible new father whose work crosses paths with her own, Eliza must confront the ideals and judgements she’s held about people all her life, and work out who she wants to be (and who she wants to trust) going forward.

Andrea J. Stein’s characters are well-built and profoundly human. They are flawed and emotional, though each of them expresses this differently, and together they capture how people confront the same issue in varying ways. It’s refreshing and hopeful to see bonds of friendship and family survive arguments, pressures and differences of opinion. And the romance, which rightly takes second place to the main character’s emotional journey, is sweet and sensitive, showing the deep level of care and patience required to support people who are grieving.

This story is a great reminder to make the most of the time you have with the people you love, and a good warning not to put people on pedestals. I’ll be looking out for more by this author.

You know a book is good when you don’t want it to end. As I read this, I became attached to Eliza and rooted for her the whole time.

Andrea Stein writes a story that delves into loss, grief, and betrayal but still has heart and spunk. My heart hurt for Eliza; I even became protective of her. She lost her mother years ago, and now her father has passed away. Her aunt hands Eliza a letter from her mother that reveals a secret kept from everyone, but it affects Eliza the most.

This has the family drama that secrets and contested wills tend to bring out, as her brother and stepmother are now at odds with Eliza. Plus, this has that brother’s best friend trope that I so love, as Eliza finds a shoulder to lean on in her brother’s friend, Josh.

Seriously, I highly recommend this book. The writing is natural, the characters are endearing, and it tackles complicated emotions and issues with charm and compassion.


Thank you @katerockbooktours and @books.turning.brains_ajstein for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.

Losing a parent is hard at any age. Losing a parent - especially one you have a close relationship with - as a child leaves you with scars you’re just not prepared to address or even acknowledge. DEAR ELIZA is a deeply emotional book dealing with grief and loss and the long, often painful, road to healing.

Eliza’s first experience with loss came at the age of 16 when her mother died after a battle with cancer. Eliza didn’t have time to process her profound grief before her dad remarried less than a year later. Her relationship with her father never recovered, leading to unresolved tension between them. When her dad dies unexpectedly a decade later, Eliza receives a letter from her long dead mother that upends her life as she knows it and threatens the few relationships she thought she could count on.

Eliza’s experience is not an easy one and Andrea Stein does not sugar coat the struggle. Eliza’s pain is raw and palpable. Ultimately this is a story of healing, acceptance, and forgiveness. Getting there is messy, but there’s an underlying theme of hope that propels Eliza - and the reader - forward. There is also a romance element to this story which is deftly integrated into Eliza’s journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Girl Friday Productions for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Eliza Levinger is many things-- she's the beloved best friend of Mo, annoying little sister for Scott, powerhouse nonprofit employee, and, now, an orphan at almost thirty. After losing her mother at only sixteen, Eliza struggled with the decisions her father made in the years after her mother's passing (especially in regards to his quick remarriage and choice of wife). Now, after a sudden death, Eliza will never have the chance to reconcile with the man who raised her.

However, an unexpected (and in many ways, unwelcome) letter from her long-gone mother reveals a family secret that turn's Eliza's family inside out. Suddenly, her rock-solid older brother feels more distant than ever, her step-mother has let her know Eliza's cut from her father's will, and Eliza... well Eliza has to come to terms with the fact that the man she's mourning isn't her biological father.

DEAR ELIZA tenderly explores the deeply complex web of grief and familial relationships. As you read, you can feel how personal this story is to the author-- how much of herself Stein wove into the characters and plot. What stuck out most personally while I was reading this book, was how <I>real</I> the story felt. While the plot was never action packed, it was still gripping and familiar in that this story, Eliza's story, could be about anyone.

DEAR ELIZA deals with a lot of grief. Most of the book is about grief mixed with a tad bit of romance. After reading the story, I wished for less grief and more romance.

Eliza perfectly details the after effects of losing someone, but this was a long trudge. She never seemed happy, about anything.

I related to her in some ways, but she whined way too much. Although, people had hurt her in her life to make her cynical, but it was just too much.

I really wanted more information about Josh. And what they both liked about each other.

Overall, this is a pretty good read for Women's Fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and Girl Friday Productions for an e-copy of DEAR ELIZA to review.

I rate DEAR ELIZA three out of five stars.

3.5 stars

The premise of Dear Eliza by Andrew J. Stein is about a woman in her late 20s dealing with the death of her father, and receiving shocking news in a letter from her late mother, who she has not stopped grieving.

This book is definitely a slow burn, which also makes it more realistic in terms of how it depicts dealing with grief. With that being said, I can't tell if the slow burn nature of the story also makes it a bit anti-climactic. There are certain scenes that we anticipate reading about, but oftentimes, nothing unfolds quite like how we expect. The slow burn almost takes the buildup and anticipation out of those pivotal scenes. But then again, maybe that just speaks more to real life: sometimes big things in life happen quietly. With all that being said, the characters are pretty enjoyable to read about, so it does help move things along.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Flashpoint for providing me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dear Eliza by Andrew J. Stein is available now wherever books are sold.

After the death of her father, Eliza's aunt gives her a letter from her beloved mother, who had passed away ten years ago. The letter reveals a secret that shutters Eliza's world and forces her to see her parents in a very different light.

Dear Eliza is a coming-of-age family drama. It's a well-written, emotional book with characters who feel real, complex, and relatable. The author did a fabulous job balancing hard-hitting themes of death, grief, and betrayal with humor and entertaining banter. There is also a sweet, second-chance romance that I adored. Eliza's personal growth by the end of the book was impressive, and the ending was very satisfying. I highly recommend Dear Eliza to readers who enjoy family dramas and realistic fiction.

Thank you Girl Friday Productions -- Flashpoint for allowing me to read and review my choice from your catalog on NetGalley where I chose Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein making me a better person.

Published: 10/08/24

Stars: 4.5

The synopsis is clearly written. Dear Eliza is a touching story that evoked frustrations in myself and my ineptness at choosing a nice read for more than three-quarters of the book. Like a puzzle, out of no where the missing piece appeared. I suddenly saw different sides to all the characters. I braced myself for the Author's ending (not mine) and I'm glad I did.

The story seamlessly weaves young Eliza with almost thirty Eliza. She has both parents die, a bad step-mother relationship, a brother, sister-in-law, and brother's friend experiences. She receives a life changing letter from her deceased mom ten years after her death and right after her father's. This letter changes everything she thought she knew, and is given when there is no one to ask for details.

I loved the story once it was finished. As I was reading my head was not in line with Stein. The story made me look at myself. The devil is in the details (I still harbor letter resentment.) Eliza had a different life than I and Stein took me places with the stepmother I would have never thought about.

I do wish Stein would cease F in her works, zero tolerance is not 1 or 2.

I recommend this wholeheartedly. If a young reader is placed in Eliza's situations I pray they have a good listener around them.

Content warning: deals with terminal cancer and death.

This is the story of Eliza, a twenty something non-profit executive who starts this story with the funeral for the unexpected death of her father. Ten years prior (at age 16), she lost her mother to cancer after a several year battle. On her drive back to the city, her Aunt (Mother’s sister) gives Eliza an envelope from her mother that states the contents are not to be read by Eliza until after father’s death. And from there the story takes twists and turns she (and you dear reader) would never expect. This is such a great story on the complexities of family relationships, grief and forgiveness. Hard to put down from the moment Eliza read that letter!

Although the writing is a little stiff and unnatural at times, the story is compelling and kept me engaged until the end!

Anyone who has lost someone they loved will find this interesting, from the letter down to the complexities of navigating the will and estate. It’s a bit too real so maybe leave it for a bit if your bereavement is recent! I liked the slow reveal of some of the back story to the relationships and the unexpected romantic aspect, too.

I heard a song the other day with the lyric “There was a time when momma smoked cigarettes” and the gist of the song was that before she became a mom- the character was a young, carefree girl. That pretense reminded me of this storyline. This heartwarming story reminds us that our parents had imperfect, flawed, lives with their own stories and mistakes before we came along. I loved Eliza. I loved the characters in this book and I thought it was so well written. 5 stars!

I was absorbed as soon as I started reading this novel of intense, complicated family relationships. Eliza lost her mom when she was a teenager, and now in her twenties, suddenly loses her father. Their relationship was complicated since Eliza idolized her late mother, and resented her father for remarrying within a year. When Eliza’s maternal aunt gives her a letter from her late mom, to be read after the death of her father, Eliza’s world is turned upside own. Her relationship with her brother becomes strained, as she questions everything she knew about her family. I loved how the author weaved the story, focusing on how much our perception of family can change with age and experience. Eliza is a multi-faceted and interesting main character. I highly recommend this well written novel. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

So much loss in Eliza’s young life. First her beloved mother and then years later, her father. While mourning the loss of her father she receives yet another bombshell shock that rocks her very foundation. A letter her mother wrote to her to be read after their deaths should have brought some answers and some left her feeling good does take her breath away, but so not in the good way. While now dealing with the grief, she is questioning everything about her family, upbringing, her brother's inappropriate and seriously misdirected anger (he and his wife…ick), her stepmother wanting to disinherit her, every moment of her relationship with her mother. but mostly she questions her very identity all while trying to find her bio-dad. The only good thing for her is the sweet growing relationship with Josh while the rest of her world is crumbling around her. Eliza is a smart, strong determined woman who is doing her best to figure it all out to live her best life. A wonderful read, emotional well written story.