In her acknowledgments, the author mentions that there’s “universality in grief” and this book proves exactly that. I loved the way “past” and “present” grief was intertwined in this novel. The book touches on the constant guilt the often accompanies grief which was very healing. The way it dwells on the fact that losing someone often brings to surface previous losses so Eliza in this case was mourning different people simultaneously. On top of that, she has to navigate tricky family dynamics while also grieving the possibility of new relationships. This book is for those people who grieve silently, have constant internal conversations, and are terrified of the constant fragility of relationships.

So good!! Eliza's parents are both dead and her mother, 10 years ago, left her a letter that wasn't to be given to her until her dad dies. In it she finds a shocking secret.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book is mostly about grief. Upon her father’s funeral, Eliza receives a note from her mother who passed away when she was a teenager. The note is quite a bombshell, revealing that the father she’s known her whole life isn’t actually her biological father. The novel follows Eliza as she navigates her feelings about her mother’s betrayal, and her grief after losing both of her parents. There’s also a pretty evil stepmother in the book that gives Eliza an unnecessarily difficult time. I enjoyed the pictures of grief and how it is a different process for everyone. There were some side stories that didn’t seem relevant and bored me a little. Other than that, the characters all seemed to make selfish decisions and I found it hard to relate to them.

Ten years ago, Eliza’s mom passed away from cancer. Before she died, her mother wrote a letter, sealed it, and gave it to her sister—Eliza’s dear Aunt Claude—with instructions to deliver it to Eliza upon the death of her dad.

And now Eliza’s father has suddenly died.

When Eliza reads the mysterious letter, she—and the rest of her family—are blindsided by its contents. As Eliza leads the development team at a NYC non-profit, she must remain strong, putting one foot in front of the other to finalize plans for the upcoming educational gala.

But how?

It’s hard for her to process her grief while stewing over her mother’s words. She stumbles through her days, not knowing who to trust and rethinking all her relationships.

Is her beloved mother the person she always thought her to be? What did her dad know of the letter’s contents? And why burden Eliza with this secret information?

No one understands her, can even imagine what she’s going through. Except perhaps her brother’s best friend, Josh ...

A delightful read with characters readers will root for!

I really enjoyed reading Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein. Everyone deals with grief differently and Eliza’s character was real and honest and relatable. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to Girl Friday Productions, NetGalley, and Andrea J. Stein for the complementary ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s never easy to lose a parent but when you lose a parent before you have a chance to build (or rebuild) your relationship with that person, you’re always left wondering, what if?

“Dear Eliza” by Andrea Stein handles loss and the complexities of family dynamics in a thoughtful and heartfelt way. Eliza is reeling over the sudden loss of her dad, Jack, when her maternal aunt gives her a letter from her mom, Laura (who passed away when Eliza was a teen). The letter not only hints that Laura may not be the perfect person Eliza made her out to be, but that the man she has called “Dad” is not her biological father. Instead, her mother had an affair and the letter reveals someone else in Eliza’s dad.

There is a lot more going on in this novel, including the antagonistic relationship Eliza has with her stepmother, Carol, which partially explains why Eliza grew apart from her dad after her mom’s death. Meanwhile, Carol is contesting the will, arguing that Eliza should not inherit—which could put Eliza against her older brother, Scott. Then, there is the burgeoning romance between Eliza and Scott’s close friend, Josh. And the story of Eliza reaching out to her biological dad and deciding whether she wants a relationship with him. But Stein does a good job juggling the different plots without confusing the reader. A few of the resolutions were a bit convenient but still believable. I also appreciated that this novel stayed in a single POV. Too many novels distract the reader with multiple narratives. Eliza was a bit too self-absorbed but you could not help but empathize with someone who had the world as she knew it yanked out from under her. This is a great sophomore effort from Andres Stein.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you very much to the author, Girl Friday Productions and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

Dear Eliza was a fast paced enjoyable read. I loved the realistic dilemmas with love interests, experiencing grief and finding other possibilities. I was compelled to keep the enjoyment going til the end!

Thank you to Net Galley and Girl Friday for the opportunity to read Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein, a lovely, respectfully written story. It touched my heart.

"Dear Eliza" is a heartrending journey through loss, family, and life's surprises. 💌💔 Eliza's world is upended when she receives a mysterious letter from her late mother, revealing secrets that challenge everything she knows. 🕵️‍♀️ The story unfolds with gripping emotion and unexpected twists, as Eliza navigates relationships and self-discovery. 💔👩‍👦‍👦 The characters are rich and relatable, their struggles adding depth to the narrative. 💪📖 And amidst it all, a slow-burn romance ignites between Eliza and her high school crush, Josh, adding layers of tension and hope. 💕✨ "Dear Eliza" is a beautifully crafted tale of love, resilience, and second chances. 📚💖

This was a lovely story. It was definitely an emotional read, as it follows the heroine in the days after her father’s death, as a letter from her deceased mother rocks her world. There are multiple themes involving challenges to conquer, hope, romance, and familial bonds.

This is a good book about family and grief and moving on after.
Eliza doesn't deal well with the news from this letter from her mother first. But with the support of her brother and her friends she finds her way again.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book overall. The main character, Eliza, was well rounded, flawed, and likable. The love interest, Josh, was very sweet and I really enjoyed their friendship throughout the book. I really wish I had been able to see Josh’s POV, because it would have helped to build up their romantic relationship. I didn’t love some of the side characters throughout the story, but at least they got better right at the end.

This is a touching and beautifully written story about a woman's search for her biological father, which leads her on a journey to finding herself. It balances the heaviness of grief with the lightness of love, creating an uplifting tale without ignoring the deep emotions involved. The book's pace is just right, mixing humor with the serious themes of dealing with long-held family secrets and understanding what family truly means. It's an engaging and heartfelt read that really hits home.

I cannot even fathom what it is like to lose two parents at such a young age coupled with the news Eliza received due to letter written by her mom that was given to her at her father's funeral. However, it often felt like she defined herself by the death of her parents and how she chose to conduct herself. Marred with grief, she isolated herself and allowed herself to physically deteriorate due to the lack of eating. She only had one friend that when she didn't enjoy Mo's advice about her interaction with Ross, she quickly angered and shut her out. She was so prone to crying and anger that it really felt like the common theme through the book. I was glad that she finally opened herself up to Josh and allowed herself to be happy but as a reader, I wish that her sadness was not the only characteristic that she thrived on.

This is lovely novel, about death and rebirth. Eliza who lost her beloved mother at 16 is coping with the death of her semi-estranged father when she receives a letter penned by her dead mother that reveals a long held secret. Eliza has to examine everything she felt about her mother, brother and father. As she searches for a new identity, she is supported by her brother’s longtime best friend, Josh. So, there is a lot that is obvious and predictable, it’s so engaging that as a reader, I didn’t mind.

I must say that I really felt the author missed the DNA boat. I can’t believe that a situation this complex, involving paternity and inheritance wouldn’t have had DNA tests thrown into the mix.

Eliza is a lovely, well described heroine, emblematic of millennials. She is surrounded by a very likable supporting group. Stein has created a charming novel which totally enchanted me as a reader.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this delightful, heart tugging novel.

"Dear Eliza" is a poignant and emotionally gripping novel that explores the complexities of loss, family dynamics, and the unexpected twists life throws our way. Ten years after the devastating loss of her mother to cancer, Eliza Levinger's carefully constructed life is shattered once again when she receives a mysterious letter from her deceased mother.

The narrative unfolds with a perfect blend of heart-wrenching moments and unexpected revelations. Eliza's journey is raw and authentic, as she navigates through the turmoil brought on by the letter, which unravels long-held secrets and challenges her relationships with her family and friends.

The characters are richly developed, each with their own struggles and flaws, making them relatable and complelling. Eliza's internal conflict, torn between her desire for independence and her need for connection, is palpable, drawing readers into her world with empathy and understanding.

The dynamics between Eliza and her brother, stepmother, and best friend are intricately woven, showcasing the complexities of familial bonds and the impact of secrets on relationships. As Eliza grapples with the fallout of the letter, her journey of self-discovery is both heartbreaking and uplifting as she learns to confront her past and embrace the possibility of a new beginning.

One of the most captivating aspects of the novel is the slow-burn romance between Eliza and Josh, her brother's best friend and her high school crush. Their chemistry is palpable, adding an extra layer of tension and emotion to the story. Their relationship unfolds organically, filled with moments of vulnerability and growth, ultimately offering hope and healing for both characters.

Overall, "Dear Eliza" is a beautifully written tale of love, loss, and resilience. With its interesting characters, heartfelt storytelling, and unexpected twists, it's a must-read for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with depth and emotion.

Dear Eliza examines how family ties unravel when the loss of a parent exposes a shocking secret. Fresh, modern and relatable, this is a perfectly-paced exploration of loss, love and learning how to carry on when your world is turned upside down. Brimming with just the right mix of humor and heart, Dear Eliza is sure to be a book club favorite.

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.

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