2.75 stars

Eliza lost her mother to cancer 10 years ago and now her father has died. At his funeral, her aunt gives her a letter that her mother left for her but which was only to be given to her on her father's death. In it, Eliza learns that her mother cheated on her father and the man who she thought was her father, isn't. It throws everything she's ever known into question and starts a process that takes off like a runaway train.

I wanted to love this book. But I felt like Eliza was a pain in the butt, self-centred and yet completely and utterly unself-aware (is that a word? It should be). Considering her trauma - losing her mother at 16, going through severe panic attacks, being estranged from her father etc - there is no way in the world she would not be in therapy and yet she seems to be therapy-free (perhaps the reason I had no patience for her). Her responses were very immature and over the top to me and I felt like we were being told a lot rather than shown. For example, her biological father's response to being told that he was her father seemed like a reasonable response to me, and yet we were told that it was rude and he was an asshole. I didn't believe that for a second.

I know we were supposed to relate to Eliza and her situation but I found myself more connected with everyone else's responses.

There was also a LOT going on in the story - we had Eliza's father's death, her discovering her parentage (and somehow processing that quickly), her step-mother being a bitch (which resolved quickly again), her falling in love, her friend falling in love, her brother and sister-in-law doing stuff, Eliza running a whole gala, etc etc. And while everything wrapped up, it felt like too much to care about at times.

Thank you to Girl Friday Productions/Flashpoint and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A sweet read about grief, family, and love.

Eliza's mom passed away a decade ago and she is still having a hard time. Now, her father has also passed away, and despite their difficult relationship, Eliza feels lost. To complicate matters, Eliza receives a letter from her mother exposing a secret that will change Eliza’s future and cause her to question her past. This was an enjoyable read with some surprises, a delightful romance subplot between Eliza and her former crush, and a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you very much to Girl Friday Productions and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

3.5 stars

The plot was good, if somewhat predictable.
The writing felt a little stilted at times but the overall reading was fine.

Also reviewed on GoodReads (user=Melb)

Ugh, losing a parent is so hard, and it's something I worry about often. I think I'll definitely come back to this book when the inevitable happens, but it had me in tears even though I haven't had this experience.

Eliza Levinger just lost her dad, and lost her mom 10 years earlier. Her aunt gives her a letter helping Eliza navigate the loss of her parents. I thought it showed a beautiful portrayal of grief and how everyone handles it differently; reminding us there is no right way to do so. This could easily be a book club pick, but just be extra sensitive to the members in your book club and whether or not they've lost a loved one. It might not be the right timing to read this book.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein is a thought-provoking novel that left me thinking about the characters for days after I finished the novel.

Eliza's father dies and her maternal aunt gives her a letter from her long-dead mother that she was to give to Eliza only after her father's death. The information contained in the letter changes Eliza's life forever and the way that she views the world and her relationships.

Having lost both parents ten years apart, it is incredibly easy for me to commiserate with Eliza as she deals with grief, the shock of the letter, and trying to fight her way through hurt, anger, and sadness. Eliza's relationship with her brother and his wife was very relatable as well. Watching Eliza struggle with what she wants career-wise and romantic relationship-wise was incredibly interesting. I won't reveal any spoilers, but I was rooting for our main love interest from their first encounter in this book.

I've not read Ms. Stein's other works, but I plan on rectifying that immediately! If you're looking for a thoughtful, well-plotted book with likable and not-so-likable characters, this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in consideration of an honest opinion

Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein tells the story of Eliza Levinger, who receives a letter from her mother 10 years after her death and days after the death of her father. The story follows Eliza as she processes her grief and the information in the letter.

This was a good novel that I read quickly. The characters are well-written and the story moves at a good pace. It is a good look at how secrets, loss, and grief are handled by the characters.


Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book.