Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

I am OBSESSED with this book!!! It was so well written and I couldn’t put it down. The characters were excellent, the story was expertly crafted, and I’m such a sucker for a good “doomed by the narrative” novel. I will be recommending this title to everyone I know— I loved DeWitt’s previous novels but “The Underwood Tapes” is on a whole other level.

thanks to netgalley & peachtree for the free earc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

fair warning, the author lives in the same county as me so i am very biased. this book being based on a rural town in central florida was really silly for me because i've grown up around so much of that stuff, and it struck me as really accurate, which i was genuinely impressed by.
i read an arc of wren martin last year and really loved it — it was one of my top 10 reads of the year i think. so i was really excited when i saw a new book by the same author.
in general, emotional draws need to be a lot stronger to work on me if there's no overt queer romantic themes, which i think explains why this book didn't hit me quite as hard as wren martin did, but i adore stories exploring grief and different emotional phenomena via fantastical mechanisms, a clear slam-dunk from this book.
grace is interesting to me in her relationship with her family, which is basically never explored. the idea of being unable to make eye contact with her grandfather due to his dementia really intrigued me, and is an idea i found myself wondering about for hours after finishing the book (i study psychology, for some context lol).
i feel that if this book were about 100 pages longer with more detail about the characters it could have hit about 50% harder, but that might be primarily due to my preference in character-driven stories. i totally believe writing is for the author and not the reader, so that's more of a personal preference.
anyways ms. dewitt i love ur books so much !

4⭐️

First, thank you Netgalley and Holiday House for the ARC

The Underwood Tapes by Amanda DeWitt is a mystery novel with hints of supernatural elements.

This was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases since Amanda DeWitt became a must-read author for me.

I liked Grace as a protagonist, and the author portrayed her grief with care and realism.

In addition, I was really glad that there was no romantic subplot for the MC, which felt refreshing for a YA novel.

I also found the mystery pretty intriguing and the concept of the book was really interesting.

I feel like Amanda Dewitt’s worldbuilding signature is a more idyllic presentation of the dingy Floridian coastal towns. All of the small-town that’s falling apart, the sunburns and the Salt Life, without any of the bigotry (I noticed this more in her last book, but the theme still stays). And honestly, it made me homesick, which was not something that I thought could happen, because I am not the biggest fan of Florida. Also I could talk for a while about how much I loved this book because of that– I did make a list of things that reminded me a lot of home– the fact that me and Grace, the main character would have grown up a few hours and maybe two years at most apart from each other made me like her character a lot more( me and her were both in middle school when Hurricane Irma hit, with a mom that had just graduated high school during Hurricane Andrew). Of course, that’s not the only reason that I loved the book, and I think it’s a fantastically done genre shift on the author’s part. It’s not as childish as a lot of YA is, and the portrait of grief was done very well, and it was shown to the reader and not just told, which made it a lot easier to empathize because often that is hard. Most of the rest of what I want to say massively spoils the book itself, so I am not going to talk about that.
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

"The Underwood Tapes" is a young adult mystery by Amanda DeWitt. Grace is a teenager whose mother died in a car crash last year. To try and make a change in her life, she decides to visit her uncle (her mom's twin brother) and grandfather in her mom's old hometow for a summer job. She is helping out the historical society in Hermitage, Florida with transcribing some older cassette tapes. While listening to the tapes, she learns about a "hurricane club" that some local teenagers formed until the accidental (?) death occurred. Grace starts to feel connected to Jake Underwood, the teen who recorded these tapes back in the 1990s (and probably knew her mother). On the spur of the moment, Grace records a message to Jake on the unrecorded side of the tape, just to feel connected. Amazingly, Jake hears her message and leaves her another one. They start corresponding.
The mystery of the hurricane club death and how Jake and Grace are able to leave messages across time makes this a page turner. Readers will enjoy watching Grace finding clues while also forming a friendship with Jake. A must buy for young adult fiction collections.

thank you to netgalley and holiday house for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

this was such a delight to read. i will admit i was first drawn to the book because of its title! i'm a podcast fan, and so i couldn't help noticing the similarities of the plot/title to popular podcasts, such as the black tapes or even the magnus archives, and i was not disappointed for getting my hopes up, something i always try not to do, just in case! now, looking at the tags, i wouldn't go as far as to categorise this book as 'horror'? it falls more in the mystery-thriller realm, in my opinion– it's not scary, it's painfully human, at its very core. we follow our main character, grace, in 2022, as she tries to outrun the loss of her mom by spending her summer in hermitage, her mom's hometown. there, she has to transcribe some old tapes so the history of hermitage isn't lost (and this may just be me, but i would love to gain some extra money by transcribing old tapes. i mean, it sounds like a darn cozy job)– and in those tapes she stumbles upon jake, the one whose voice trickles through the dark tapes, a boy from 1992. and i won't say anymore bc spoilers!! nobody likes spoilers!!

the representation of grief in this book is phenomenal. i wouldn't say it's the main focus of this book, but it's constantly lurking, constantly looming over our heads, biding its time until it slips under grace's skin and poisons her from within, because grief behaves exactly like that, does it not? you can be fine one minute, walking around your house, thinking about all the chores you have yet to get to, and then you stumble and stub your toe and everything comes crashing back, all those things you'd thought you'd managed to separate yourself from, those feelings you'd thought you'd moved past. it was a wave you couldn't swim away from, and i loved seeing its different manifestations, in grace, in jake, in other characters such as uncle aaron.

it was... beautiful, and so true to life, and so were grace and jake's characters. i appreciate the fact the author didn't turn these teenagers into a caricature, like most authors tend to do as i suspect a lot of people don't actually know how teenagers behave– they felt like actual teenagers who have gone through the ring, and that was such a breath of fresh air. the writing was also really enjoyable, knowing exactly when to be lyrical and when to get to the point. the secondary characters too, especially lara and griffin, were so good, because even if we didn't get to spend much time with them, the author still took the time to develop them enough so that we understand them, understand why they do the things they do and say the things they say.

i can't recommend it enough, i think it's more than fitting for the fall season!

this was so good!!! i loved the speculative element to this and how it felt so nostalgic, and the setting was truly one of the strongest aspects of this book. i loved how much heart this book had, and it's the perfect blend of mystery, atmosphere, and excellent writing.

I have read Dewitt's previous titles, and was excited for a new genre from them. This did not disappoint! The magical realism aspect was strong, and fell into that thin margin of not being explained to the finest detail, but still being believable. It helped that there was a mystery that went along with it, which further pulled you in.
The writing style was fantastic, with careful attention paid to the setting. If I hadn't known from previous reads, the author is a Florida native, and it really shines in this book. The small town of Hermitage even acted as its own character, this oppressive place you want to escape yet feel that you cannot.
The only weakness of this story was the mystery, as the protagonist connected dots I didn't feel were obvious enough to readers, which took me out a bit. Overall, it is a really strong read, and continues to prove this author's strengths in the YA genre. I look forward to future reads from DeWitt!

First and foremost, this is a story about grief, and all the little unexpected ways it can trip you up. It follows the main character processing the loss of her mum, and coming to terms with what it means to lose someone. It isn’t the obvious focus of the book, the plot doesn’t centre around the main character coming to terms with the loss. Instead, it is ever present in the characters life, woven into the plot in a way that makes it almost a character itself.

The main plot focuses on the relationship of Grace in 2022, and Jake in 1992, as they communicate through tape recorders. Through Jake, we learn about the Hurricane Club, how Jake lost his uncle and father, and how things might be more connected in the small town of Hermitage than it seems. The past wants the truth to come to light, and Grace slowly uncovers the town’s secrets during her stay. She builds relationships with others in the town, namely her cousins Lara and Griffin.

While the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff might be a little confusing for some, I found it was fairly simple in its rules and explanations, and the how isn’t a major focus. It’s a very cool concept and done well.

I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. I got into it because I’m a fan of The Magnus Archives and analog media, and this has some of those vibes (minus the horror), with some small town mystery thrown in. The cover is absolutely amazing and only went to further fuel my excitement. The characters in this are interesting and extremely relatable, I, thankfully, haven’t lost someone as close as my mum, but I could still empathise with Grace on an emotional level.

This book left me in tears and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a thrilling read with a touch of analog academia thrown in the mix. If you love the thrill of hurricanes and storms, this is also for you.

Thank you Netgalley and Holiday House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Underwood Tapes” by Amanda DeWitt is a beautifully crafted YA book that deftly combines grief and mystery with a touch of supernatural intrigue through time shifts (similar to the movie “Your Name.” The story follows Grace, who is seeking refuge from the loss of her mother by spending the summer in the small town of Hermitage, Florida. Tasked with transcribing old cassette tapes for the local historical society, she stumbles upon a voice from the past—Jake Underwood, a boy who recorded the tapes thirty years earlier. What starts as a mundane job quickly transforms into something extraordinary when Grace discovers she can communicate with Jake across time through the recordings.

The book's premise is captivating, and the relationship that forms between Grace and Jake is both touching and bittersweet. While this isn’t a romance, it is a profound connection, with both characters helping each other navigate their grief and unresolved traumas. I loved the way that DeWitt wrote the supernatural elements in the story where time plays a pivotal role in bringing people together, even across decades.

At its heart, “The Underwood Tapes” is an emotional exploration of grief and healing. Grace’s journey is deeply relatable, particularly for anyone who has experienced loss. The portrayal of her grief following her mother’s death is heart-wrenching, and her slow path toward healing is beautifully depicted. The small town of Hermitage serves as a fitting backdrop, with its mysterious atmosphere, quiet beaches, and long-buried secrets about a tragic hurricane and the enigmatic Hurricane Club.

Though the book takes some time to get going, by around the 30% mark, the mystery surrounding Hermitage and Jake's family really takes hold. The story has an air of suspense, especially as Grace begins to unravel the truth about the hurricane that claimed the life of Jake’s uncle, Charley. While the mystery itself is fairly straightforward and lacks the shocking twists one might expect, it’s still compelling enough to keep you invested.

DeWitt’s writing is both lyrical and thoughtful, making the emotional moments land with significant impact. The book’s ending, in particular, is a tear-jerker, offering a powerful and hopeful conclusion to Grace and Jake's story. It wraps everything up neatly while leaving you with a sense of peace and closure. In addition to the central relationship between Grace and Jake, the book also highlights the importance of found family. Grace’s growing bond with her cousins adds warmth to the story and reinforces the theme of connection in times of loss.

Overall, “The Underwood Tapes” is a moving, magical realism-infused novel that will resonate with readers looking for a cathartic, emotional read. Its blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and exploration of grief make it a standout in the YA genre. I definitely can’t wait to read more from DeWitt.

Getting to be the first to review this book, that is an honor! The Underwood Tapes was a fantastic story. The characters are well-developed, and the story is poignant. No spoilers here, you need to pick this up when it is released. Thank you to Peachtree Teen and to NetGalley, for the good fortune to get to read the ARC of this. I would absolutely recommend over and over.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a review! <3

The cover immediately spoke to me!

It takes a while to get into the story, but at about 30% it really starts to get exciting and I would have loved to find out with Grace what the Hurricane Club is all about!

I loved the relationship between Grace and Jake and I need more of them.. 🥲

The story was perfect and is very reminiscent of Life is Strange.. can you please make a film of the book???

The ending was so emotional that I even had a few tears in my eyes. A great highlight in my collection!

So if you love time travelling or anything like that, you will love this book.

The cover is what drew me in and I’m so glad I was able to read this, it had that suspenseful atmosphere that I wanted and enjoyed the hint of supernatural. I was never bored when reading this and thought it was a strong novel for a young adult novel. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and how they work in this world. I would read more from Amanda DeWitt as this was really well written.