I really need to start reading the synopsis of books I request. I saw the author's name and automatically requested it. I did not realize or pay attention to the face that this is a sequel to Baby Teeth. That books was crazy and Stage hasn't written one I've liked as well as that one until this. Revisiting Hanna as an adult is kind of a scary premise. She was a terrifying child. She tried to kill her mother! But I did not realize the link between the books until she mentions an incident from the first book that made it all click. I would have read this sooner had I known. This was just as crazy and twisty as the first one. Hanna has grown up but still has her demons.

Dear Hanna is a follow up to Baby Teeth, following Hanna from her troubled childhood into adulthood. 24-year-old Hanna is just as complex as she was before, but now that she's manufactured a normal-looking personality, she's easier to sympathize with. She's trying to recover from her past, but when things get chaotic, she reverts to her old behaviors. What's missing from this life update is the horror genre. Of course, Hanna is doing villainous things, but there's no dread and very little suspense. Maybe the horror is in rooting for a psychopath.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨(4.5/5)

Trigger Inducing Themes: Manipulation, pregnancy/miscarriage, politics (abortion topics), self harm, suicidal ideation, guns, descriptive menses and blood talk.

This book is the follow up to 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗛 and this follow up novel is…in a word, 🅳🅰︎🆁🅺! Hanna is now 24 years old, she’s married with a teenage step daughter the she adores (can you believe it!?!) and a career she loves…she’s quite good at it too. It’s an appropriate career for someone like her who can disguise the pain she inflicts on people as an oopsie.

On the surface everything appears to be going smoothly in Hanna’s life, she’s away from her bio family except for her lil teenage bro Goose (Gustav), but her crazy is always on small annoyance away from bubbling back to the surface.

I loved following Hanna’s inner monologue. She’s prob one of my fav crazy villains to read. Omg the way Hanna talks about this little kid at a cookout was so terrible that I had no choice but to laugh out loud, she was calling him “snotface” or “sh!thead” he’s a toddler who is in desperate need of a diaper change. She’s the worst but somehow entertaining at the same time.

It was a good one and I felt like the characters were well developed. I wish there was a bit more pop to the end. However…that leave it open for another book about Hanna and I’m here for it.

If you’re looking for a bloody good time with a demented individual, look no further. It’s Hanna time!

I’d like to preface this with the fact that I was not the biggest fan of Baby Teeth. That being said, when I saw this was the return of Hanna, I needed it to be a redemption story. I needed to like/love this book.

Zoje Stage redeemed herself with Dear Hanna. I listened in complete shock as each chapter unfolded and Hanna was met with her match in Joelle. It felt right. It made Hanna’s past character more interesting. All this being said, you can read this book as a standalone.

The premise of the book was interesting and made for a fast paced listen. The letters between Hanna and Goose kept me so very invested. A little predictable, but fascinating to hear the back and forth between siblings via letter correspondence. It all made for a chilling story to follow.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC.

DEAR HANNA started off with a bang. I liked the build up of this story. I knew something bad was going to happen and I couldn't wait to see what it was! Some of the characters were a bit gullible at times, so when the book came to an end it was a bit shocking for them. Overall, I enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator kept me in suspense the entire time!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication date.