Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for an e-galley in exchange for a honest review. We follow 19-year old Maeve whose life was altered seven years prior due to a tragic event that claimed the lives of innocent people. Maeve was orphaned, but eventually escaped due to being bullied. Now to make it worse, she is the daughter to a notorious criminal who was blamed for the deaths of the innocent people. Maeve beings to change her name and constantly move around. One day, she receives a letter claiming her father is innocent and the sender is a friend of his. Maeve must find the person who sent the letter and begin to prove her fathers innocence, but with dangers and others out to get her. How far will Maeve get?

I really loved Hotel Magnifique and was so excited to read this latest from Taylor, but I just could NOT get into this one... I'm in the vast minority here, but I could not find my way into this story. I really liked the opening and the setup and was certain I'd find myself quickly lost in the magic of Taylor's writing again. Unfortunately, I struggled fairly early on to feel any connection to the characters. The world-building was spot-on - she is a master at crafting original concepts and universes - but the characters just felt off to me, like I was viewing them behind glass. There was no connection and no empathy, which made it hard for me to stay with them as the story developed.

It also felt a lot more school-based-YA than I tend to prefer. I am way past the age of high school, yet found the experiences in the scriptomancy school to feel very much like I was reading a high school/prep school YA novel, and that melodrama just isn't my cup of tea.

I think I was just the wrong reader for this one... I do still highly admire her ability to conjure worlds out of thin air, and will try again with her next novel!

This book was an INSTANT 5 stars for me. The magic system of Scriptomancy (writing magic) and dark academia world building was captivating from the beginning and I was so invested in Maeve's story. Emily J. Taylor writing felt so vivid that I was seeing The Otherwhere Post Academy with each detail written. I was impressed the author made postal work something so magical and interesting to read.

The story follows Maeve, who was orphaned after a tragic event that destroyed one of the Worlds that her father was blamed for. Now she lives on the run from society never revealing who she is and never staying around for long. After receiving a mysterious letter revealing her father's innocent, Maeve must enter the Otherwhere Post as an apprentice and learn the dangerous art of Scriptomancy to find the sender of the letter.

The slow burn romance between Maeve and Theo was so delightful to read and the banter between the two characters kept me smiling between each chapter. This is such a beautiful story of finding building connections, finding trust, and the importance of identity. I love a good romantasy book and with a compelling mystery added this was must read on my TBR.

I'm so excited for this story to be released next year so everyone can experience this beautiful story unfold. The only fault is this is a standalone and I won't get more of Maeve and Theo's story in a future book! I'm definitely excited for what Emily J. Taylor will write next!

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Emily J. Taylor for this advanced copy!

The Otherwhere Post is a refreshingly original novel with a captivating premise that fully delivers on its promise. The writing is rich with vivid comparisons, drawing us readers into an immersive intrigue that keeps us hooked from start to finish. The characters are wonderfully crafted, making them easy to connect with and impossible not to fall in love with as their stories unfold. I especially like the nerdy side of Tristan—a rare and delightful trait in fantasy. I loved every moment of this novel, and I’ll definitely check both the previous and future works of Emily J. Taylor. Thanks so much for the ARC!

Imagine walking in to Penn Station but instead of seeing trains there's two doors that lead you to two different worlds. Maeve Abenthy has essentially been on the run since the world blamed her father for destroying one of the 3 worlds and many lives in the process. Now the only way to travel between worlds is the mystical art of scriptomancy. Maeve receives a mysterious letter indicating her father might be innocent and she must find a way to become a scribe by faking her way into a mysterious school while hiding her true identity and fighting her feelings for the one person who is trying to uncover all her secrets.

It's been a while since a book has sucked me in so completely. I thought the magic system and the world building was excellent and the MMC was such a sweet golden retriever. I loved Maeve and Theo. Such a cute slowburn and their banter was everything. This book is a standalone which I appreciated.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

The Otherwhere Post by new to me author E.J. Taylor, published by Penguin Group is an entertaining, delightful ya romance that gives all the feels.
Blurb: Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost everything: her world, her father, even her name. She lives under a fake name, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots.
Then she receives a mysterious letter with four impossible words: Your father was innocent.
To uncover the truth, she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy—the dangerous magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. But looking into her father’s past draws more attention than she’d planned.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor is a captivating blend of fantasy and reality.
Taylor’s writing is vivid and engaging, drawing readers into a world that feels both magical and relatable. The plot is filled with unexpected twists, and the characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own unique struggles.

At its core, the novel explores themes of identity and connection, prompting readers to reflect on their own experiences. Overall, The Otherwhere Post is a delightful read that will leave you thinking long after you've finished.A unique read!highly recommend!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The Otherwhere Post was a book I had the opportunity to read thanks to the Penguin Group. The story is about a young women named Maeve Abenthy. She is a young women who has been on the run for the last several years due to her father being accused of several crimes. No one really knows who Maeve is as she goes by lots of alias. However, a random encounter with a young man has her taking the chance to apply for the apprenticeship to be a courier and learn more about the otherwhere post and what might have actually happened to her father. Its a great mystery and a beautiful story of what happens when you take a chance.

This book was so cool, and I loved how unique the story was! I found this to be even better than Emily J. Taylor's last book! I can see this one being loved by young adults as well as adult readers. It made for a fun fall read and I can see myself re-reading next fall as well. It just hit all the right notes.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor completely swept me off my feet. From the moment I read the description, I had a hunch that it would be a good story, but I never anticipated falling head over heels for it the way I did. This is the kind of book that engulfs you entirely. I savored every single word.

This book is a captivating blend of dark academia, richly detailed world-building, enigmatic mysteries, enchanting magic, a slow-burn romance, and unwaveringly loyal friendships. If you savor immersive storytelling that weaves these elements, this book is an absolute must-read!

I became deeply attached to the characters, the worlds, the magic system, the subplots, and the overall storyline.

Maeve captivated me with her strong, fierce, and cunning nature, making her feel like a kindred spirit. I found her character's transformation throughout the narrative to be incredibly satisfying to observe, and her poignant encounters with grief deeply affected me, leaving me feeling utterly engulfed. Equally remarkable was Tristan, with his unwavering strength, loyalty, and demeanor, which seemed flawlessly suited to him. The dynamic tension and playful exchanges between these two added an extra layer of perfection to the story. The friendship between Maeve and Nan was a standout element for me, along with Nan's mentor, Shea. I appreciated how each character had a distinct role in the narrative, adding complexity to the plot.

The world-building and magical aspects of the story are phenomenal. The magic system was my favorite part of this book. Its components were engaging, fascinating, and incredibly unique. I can't go into that many details without spoilers, but it is truly one of a kind.

And that ending? Perfection.

I have a feeling some may find it to have a slower start, but trust me when I say that it will whisk you away. All of the above, plus the added mystery component and twists, will have you hooked. I truly wish I could experience reading this book for the first time all over again. It's a twisty, mysterious, heart-pounding, and utterly gripping story that will leave you in awe. It was whimsical and enchanting; every story element was executed with sheer brilliance. If I could give it more than five stars, I would. It's an all-time favorite, for sure. I'd gladly read this book again and again. ✨

I absolutely loved this story, couldn’t put it down and couldn’t read it fast enough while also not wanting it to end. The writing was captivating and the author did a wonderful job at crafting an engaging story.

A dark academia with scribing (writing) being the base for magic was so fun to read about. Loved the slow burn between the two main characters, their dynamic was so entertaining and I was literally giggling at their interactions!

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor is a dark, YA fantasy about an orphaned young woman, Maeve Abenthy, who has been on the run for years after her father was blamed for releasing deadly vines that killed many and closed the door to other worlds. In order to solve the mystery about her father, Maeve impersonates her way into the Otherwhere Post, where she will be trained in scriptomancy, a magical skill that allows people to enchant letters to travel into other worlds. She uses this time to look into her father's past and ends up drawing the attention of her roommate Nan, mentor Tristan, and others. She starts receiving threatening letters and has to make a difficult decision to either keep working on her quest or leave and never come back.

I really enjoyed this book! While it does give Divine Rivals vibes, the world and magic system were unique and interesting. I loved the personalities of the characters, especially broody mentor Tristan. My only complaint is that I felt parts were a bit rushed and I would have loved for this to be a series of books and not just a standalone novel. I found myself staying up way too late to continue reading and didn't want the story to end!

You might like this book if you like:
- dark academia
- broody characters
- tender romance
- atmospheric writing
- strong friendships
- adventure
- solving mysteries

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me an advanced copy of the ebook. This did not influence my review. The Otherwhere Post is expected to be published on February 25, 2025.

I loved this book. It's been a while since I had to force myself to stop reading so I could get sleep. This was one of those books. The main character was delightful. Tristan was brooding but with reason. The roommate Nan - she tried so hard to be a friend. I really liked everyone in the book. The magic system is unique and exciting. This was a great read. Anyone who likes YA fantasy should read this!

I really enjoyed Emily Taylor's first book Hotel Magnafique and The Otherwhere Post is very good as well. It's engaging and accessible. I could never read just one chapter at a time and read it in larger chunks. I do feel like the end was a bit rushed because a lot of the resolution was told through letters instead of shown on page. The love story also wasn't as well done as her first book. I felt some disconnect there. Overall a really solid second novel for Emily Taylor! I'll definitely keep reading her books in the future.

2 stars

This book had a really interesting plot, I just don’t think it was written very well. The more I read, the less believable the story became.

Amazing! I loved this book! Taylor created such wonderful characters and world for me to follow. The story was well paced and I loved how I was constantly learning about the characters throughout the book

4.5 rounded up
First off. I fell in love with that cover!
The world building in this bookbus incredible,; I felt like I was actually there. Great characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I loved this book so much, I read it in one day and have not stopped thinking about it since. This book was written for me, it is dark academia with elaborate world building, enjoyable characters, insane plot twists, a thrilling mystery, a well crafted magic system, a respect for the written word, a wonderful friendship, AND a slow burn romance. The characters were a delight to read. I found Maeve so inspiring, despite her backstory she is still able to find hope and risk everything in hopes that one anonymous letter could change her life. Tristan is all green flags and gets a big hug from me. Nan saw that Maeve needed a friend and was able to wait and be what she needed when she needed it. Overall, I cannot recommend this enough. Emily J. Taylor’s writing is simply stated transporting. I cannot wait to pick up Hotel Magnifique. Please read The Otherwhere Post, you will not regret it!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. Much like hotel magnifique this book was fantastic...I actually loved it even more. I was captivated by the story and really enjoyed how it was a combo of fantasy and mystery. The characters were likable and I really enjoyed the love story as well. I will definitely be reading more of this author in the future.

I really enjoyed reading this book after having read Hotel Magnifique by the same author. In this story, Maeve receives a letter suggesting that her father may be innocent and she decides to investigate his dark past. She takes on a new identity and has her journey at The Otherwhere Post, where magic is tied to writing. Much like in Hotel Magnifique, the magic system in this book is unique, which keeps the story intriguing. The main character is relatable, and her romance is a nice addition to the plot. If you like YA fantasy this book is a great read for you!