This book was great! Loved the concept of letters written as a teen and mailed later in life! This book had so many twists and turns. Lots of characters but the main character Audrey, was very likable and I found myself interested in her character.

The setup for this one is solid: a class assignment to write letters to your future self, only for those letters to show up twenty years later—alongside some seriously buried secrets. When one of the classmates dies by suicide shortly after receiving hers, it kicks off a small-town mystery full of grief, guilt, and twisted connections. The premise instantly drew me in, and I appreciated the way the story examined how past trauma can linger, reshape, and resurface when you least expect it.

That said, while the mystery kept me engaged, the pacing felt uneven, and the large cast of characters sometimes blurred together. I liked the themes it touched on—regret, identity, the lies we tell ourselves and others—but wished it had gone deeper into some of the emotional stakes. Still, it’s a thoughtful and slightly eerie take on the “high school reunion gone wrong” trope, with just enough suspense to keep the pages turning.

I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. The book is set to be released in June 2025, and I highly recommend it for fans of mysteries, thrillers, and dark academia!

The story revolves around a group of high school students who, in 2023, receive letters they wrote to themselves back in 2003 but are just now being delivered to them by their teacher. The letters force them to confront the tragic death of a classmate from their past, sparking a series of emotional and psychological ripples for all involved, including one of the classmates taking their own life in the present day.

What follows is a masterfully crafted, two-fold "whodunit," where the past and present intertwine seamlessly. The author uses the letters and several narrative devices to unravel the mystery, offering multiple unexpected twists that keep the reader on edge.

At first, I was concerned that the large cast of characters would be difficult to manage, but the author pulls it off with precision, making each character’s arc compelling and integral to the plot. The intricate narrative threads culminate in a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together.

Overall, this book is an intricately plotted read. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a well-executed mystery with an atmospheric, psychological edge. 3.5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy to review.

Dear Future Me is a mystery novel of twists and turns that will keep you guessing the entire time. What would it be like to hear directly from your younger self? These characters find out in probably the worst way possible when they receive letters written just as they were about to complete school and no one's life is where they thought they'd wound up.

Audrey uncovers two mysteries, one years old and one fresh, which brings her back to people she hasn't spoken to in years, despite living in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Everyone has a secret to keep, leaving Audrey to untangle the webs left behind by her classmates.

This book is a classic small town murder mystery with edge of your seat moments and a deep look into what happens when your life is forced off track. I recommend this book for those who like murder mysteries, small town thrillers, and dramas.

The synopsis sounds like an excellent book, similar vibes to I know what you did last summer, however the reality just fell flat for me, I found this to be very slow burn (which isn’t my preferences) and I had difficulty staying interested / focussed on the plot given the slow nature to the plot unravelling.

I’m putting this one down for now but will update my thoughts if I end up coming back to it at some point.

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Publish date: June 3rd

I enjoyed this book! Great mix of characters. I’m a sucker for class-fueled drama and a vacation island “regulars” vs “seasonals” trope.

One star off because there were some predictable moments.

A slow burn mystery that investigates crumbs of truth from various points of view and moments in time, it takes a little patience to appreciate the way the narrative unfurls itself, but I was intrigued from beginning to end. I'll be clear and say if you're looking for a pulse pounding thrill a minute read you will likely be disappointed. This is a mystery with finely woven together intricacies where the past and present collide.

In 2003 a group of high school seniors were given an assignment to pen letters to their future selves. Twenty years later their teacher mails each student their letter. These letters function as a catalyst getting the ball rolling on a collision course to raise questions and unbury long held secrets. Upon receiving her letter, Miranda, a young mother drives to a rocky outcropping still in her pajamas and jumps to her death. Her best friend Audrey just can't accept this tragedy at face value. She can't help wondering what was in that letter. She begins to interview their other classmates and talk turns to the classmate who froze to death on one of their overnight school trips.

Was his death an accident?

One thing is for sure nothing in the past or the present is what it seems.

Everyone is guarding their secrets.

There are a lot of POVs and a dual timeline. However, it wasn't difficult to keep track of the facts or characters. The straightforward style of writing served the content well. The complete picture emerges bit by bit. Getting to know these characters in such detail was an unexpected surprise. The pacing is solid, and the ending has enough punch to up the suspense. The small seaside town provided a familiar atmosphere. It became second nature to imagine this little town with its secrets swirling about.

This was my first time reading a Deborah O'Connor novel, but it won't be my last.

If you enjoy assembling the pieces of a mystery this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press|Sourcebooks for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Dear Future Me is such a fun and clever read! The premise is fantastic! Teenagers writing letters to their future selves, only to have them delivered 20 years later that sets off a chain reaction that unfolds into a gripping murder mystery, both past and present. The pacing is strong, the story is engaging, and the writing is solid. My only critique is the sheer number of characters. There were so many that it felt a bit overwhelming at times. I would have preferred fewer characters with more fully developed backstories and personalities. Still, it’s an entertaining and unique mystery that keeps you turning the pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Deborah O’Connor, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Just a middle of the road book. Nothing super special about it. Could have been more interesting but the characters were pretty flat and boring and all blended in to each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a complimentary early release copy of Dear Future Me by Deborah O’Connor.

The premise for Dear Future Me is interesting, I liked the idea of these characters future selfs receiving these letters that they had written as children. The letters were some of my favorite parts to read, the letters all shared that same energy that children have. I liked to see what each child dreamed of what their future selfs would become then we see what they’ve actually done with their lives. It was interesting to see the ways that these letters changed/affected the lives of those who received them. I enjoyed reading from all the perspectives of this book, the characters were interesting to read, and though the story could be slow at times I still found there to be enough thrilling moments/elements that kept me invested.

The ending of the book feels decent, I liked the writing and characters but the reveals felt a bit lackluster. After finishing, the book feels average. There isn’t anything about this book that really sticks out to me at all. Overall Dear Future Me was a quick popcorn thriller kind of read.

I found the premise of Dear Future Me to be very intriguing. However, I ended up being a bit let down by the book. I really did enjoy the story itself. There were some twists that I didn't see coming and theories I had were completely off base. My main issue was that this was a slow burn. And I felt it was reeeeeeealllllllly slow, unfortunately. The last 25% or so, I couldn't put down. But up until that point, I had to push myself to keep going. Something about it just didn't grab my attention the way I'd like and I felt like it was more drawn out than it needed to be.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was a slow burn, but a quick read. More of a mystery than a thriller, but still very good

Thank you Net Galley for this early read in exchange for an honest review. I would rate this as 3/5 stars. The premise of this book sounded fun and I decided to read on! I love the literary device of using the letter format to show the audience the passage of time. The third person also made this an engaging read in the beginning. That quickly began to dwindle into a slow-moving mystery as a murder becomes unraveled. The drawback for me was where the author alluded to foreshadowing techniques it was too the noise. This made the outcome predictable because the foreshadowing needed more nuance and layers. I wanted to be able to think of this instead of being told early on. If the reader is paying attention to all the details at the end make sense.
There were a lot of characters in this novel and I wanted them to be fleshed out more. It becomes difficult to become attached to any of the characters because I feel like we, the readers, were left in the dark about their motivations. I wanted to see what their personalities were and not just understand them from their circle’s perspective. I have so many questions about the protagonist and others that would have made the ending more impactful. However, watching the answers officially unfold was very descriptive and my favorite part of the book.

3.5 STARS
Dear Future Me is a slow read that kept me surprised until the last third of the book. I do wish that Audrey would have had a little more growth throughout the book instead of just at the end, considering she was consistently pushing herself out of her comfort zone. I appreciated POVs from some of the other characters, it helped break the book up.

When Your Past Self Comes Back to Haunt You

Remember those letters you wrote to your future self in high school? The ones full of dreams, promises, and secrets you thought you'd never have to face? In Deborah O'Connor's latest thriller, those letters become weapons.

Twenty years after a high school class wrote letters to their future selves, mysterious packages start showing up in mailboxes across a small town. Inside? Those forgotten letters, loaded with secrets that were never meant to see daylight. What follows is a masterclass in slow-burning tension that'll keep you up way past bedtime.

O'Connor writes like she's been reading your diary. Her characters feel so real it hurts – they make terrible choices for completely understandable reasons, and you'll find yourself nodding along even as everything falls apart. The story weaves through their lives like a spider spinning its web, each revelation pulling the threads tighter until you're completely tangled in their mess.

The genius of Dear Future Me isn't just in its twists (though there are plenty). It's in the mirror it holds up to all of us. Who hasn't looked back at their younger self and thought, "God, what was I thinking?" But O'Connor takes this universal experience and turns it into something darker, asking what happens when those youthful dreams and fears come back to demand answers.

Sure, sometimes the plot gets as tangled as a pair of earbuds in your pocket, with so many interconnected stories you might need a flowchart. But honestly? That's half the fun. This is the kind of book that'll have your book club arguing until the wine runs out.

O'Connor, fresh from her success with The Dangerous Kind and The Captive, has outdone herself. This isn't just a thriller – it's a time machine, a mirror, and a warning all wrapped into one addictive package.

4.5/5 stars

If you love Gillian Flynn's ability to get inside your head, Paula Hawkins' tight plotting, or Liane Moriarty's knack for exposing suburban secrets, clear your schedule. This one's going to keep you busy.