franuary's review against another edition
3.0
Shattered by the death of her sister May, Laurel is unable to discuss her grief. That is, until she received an assignment asking her to write a letter to a dead person. Laurel writes dozens of letters to deceased stars, many of whom lived troubled lives. Through this letter writing, Laurel finds an outlet to process her emotions concerning her sister’s tragic death as well as the strength to finally open up to those close to her.
I loved the concept of an epistolary novel written to the dead, and Love Letters to the Dead was beautifully written and moving. There are fantastic moments in this novel; I especially loved Hannah and Natalie’s side story (they should have a book of their own). However, I had a few issues which detracted from the believability of the story. First, Laurel often writes biographical details within her letters about the lives of the people to whom she’s writing, but this exposition does not make sense within the context of the letter (Laurel wouldn’t need to tell River Phoenix about his own childhood, for example). This feels inauthentic and pulled me out of the narrative each time it happened; it comes off as the author trying to educate the reader about the life of the recipient.
Additionally, the former stars to which Laurel writes follow no discernable thread; I felt that the narrative would be stronger if each had a self-destructive streak, or died under mysterious circumstances so that the reader could believe that Laurel had chosen these celebrities due to their similarity to May. Why Laurel would reach out to some of these celebrities truly baffles the mind: many would resonate with modern teens (Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger), but many others are incredibly dated, and it defied belief that a teen would choose to write to any of them (Judy Garland, Elizabeth Bishop, John Keats, the voice of Mr. Ed). Descriptions of fashion are similarly old-fashioned (there’s a scene that revolves around Laurel’s lavender-colored velvet shirt, not a popular look at any point in the last decade). I was sure that the story took place in the mid 90’s until Amy Winehouse was mentioned.
Due to these issues, I worry that teens may have a difficult time identifying with Laurel. This is a shame because Laurel’s story, once she finally opens up, is interesting and relatable. Love Letters to the Dead may not be a book that all teens will understand, but teens undergoing loss in their own lives would benefit from this story of how Laurel handles, and eventually overcomes, her grief.
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and to NetGalley for the advance copy!
I loved the concept of an epistolary novel written to the dead, and Love Letters to the Dead was beautifully written and moving. There are fantastic moments in this novel; I especially loved Hannah and Natalie’s side story (they should have a book of their own). However, I had a few issues which detracted from the believability of the story. First, Laurel often writes biographical details within her letters about the lives of the people to whom she’s writing, but this exposition does not make sense within the context of the letter (Laurel wouldn’t need to tell River Phoenix about his own childhood, for example). This feels inauthentic and pulled me out of the narrative each time it happened; it comes off as the author trying to educate the reader about the life of the recipient.
Additionally, the former stars to which Laurel writes follow no discernable thread; I felt that the narrative would be stronger if each had a self-destructive streak, or died under mysterious circumstances so that the reader could believe that Laurel had chosen these celebrities due to their similarity to May. Why Laurel would reach out to some of these celebrities truly baffles the mind: many would resonate with modern teens (Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger), but many others are incredibly dated, and it defied belief that a teen would choose to write to any of them (Judy Garland, Elizabeth Bishop, John Keats, the voice of Mr. Ed). Descriptions of fashion are similarly old-fashioned (there’s a scene that revolves around Laurel’s lavender-colored velvet shirt, not a popular look at any point in the last decade). I was sure that the story took place in the mid 90’s until Amy Winehouse was mentioned.
Due to these issues, I worry that teens may have a difficult time identifying with Laurel. This is a shame because Laurel’s story, once she finally opens up, is interesting and relatable. Love Letters to the Dead may not be a book that all teens will understand, but teens undergoing loss in their own lives would benefit from this story of how Laurel handles, and eventually overcomes, her grief.
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and to NetGalley for the advance copy!
bhender3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
marietheresle's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lindacbugg's review against another edition
4.0
octobertune's review against another edition
3.0
Because this book I am reviewing is made up entirely out of letters to celebrities, I thought I'd try something like that too.
My DearFrodo Love Letters to the Dead,
I honestly don't remember what I had expected when I heard about you for the first time. Yes I'd heard you would be written in the form of letters to deceased celebrities (from Kurt Cobain to Amy Winehouse), but that was about it. I had not expected it to be like this, but maybe I was still in an Illuminae-induced trance when I bought you.
Basically, you were just an average contemporary story that reminded me mostly of Saving June - minus the whole roadtrip. You also reminded me of the John Green books, though you were not that full of metaphors that I did not get at all, so there you have an extra half point. (Yes, I do like John Green's books, but the metaphors, ugh).
You may have felt already that when I picked you up, I was still not 100% if I was going to enjoy you, because I am honestly not a contemporary lover in general. There were some great ones that I read the past couple of years, but also a couple of missers. Still, I was intrigued by your whole 'letters to the dead' idea.
Your writing style was really nice, and though it was a bit hard for me to get into the first couple of letters, I flew through the second half of the book mainly because I really wanted to know what had happened to the sister of your main character. I have to admit that I had been expecting something more shocking, but it's also nice to know it wasn't something super awful that happened.
To be honest, I can't say I loved you; but I did like reading you, though I found your main character to be a bit annoying. It felt to me like she was trying so hard to be friends with people, that she did things she didn't really want to do. Like stealing, and drinking alcohol, and smoke cigarettes, and go to prom with a guy she caught jerking off in class (who the fuck does that?!). Later on, as I read more and more about Laurel's past, I realised that she was just trying to cope with more things than just her sister's death, and it made me sympathize with her a bit better. I also liked her friendship with Natalie and Hannah better after a while, but your first couple of chapters were a bit - well - 'meh', I should say, dear book.
As for the romance, I felt like you had a bit of an insta-love thing going on, though it was later on explained why Sky was interested in Laurel from the moment they locked eyes, but still, it didn't convince me that much. I liked them when they were together though, so I guess I'm just a little bit conflicted about it.
In the end, though I enjoyed you, I also don't think I'll be reading you again. Maybe it is also because I just had a weird day when I read the majority of this book, that I just couldn't really get through you and I felt like I was falling right into a nother reading slump, two books before the finish of my reading challenge. But I finished you, and I did like you.
I recommend you to lovers of John Green and just contemporary novels in general. I hope those people will love you better. I am sorry, dear book, but you are just not the one for me! I do have one more gif for you, to express my general feelings about you!
Yours,
Nessa
Ps: Your cover is gorgeous, keep up the good work!
My Dear
I honestly don't remember what I had expected when I heard about you for the first time. Yes I'd heard you would be written in the form of letters to deceased celebrities (from Kurt Cobain to Amy Winehouse), but that was about it. I had not expected it to be like this, but maybe I was still in an Illuminae-induced trance when I bought you.
Basically, you were just an average contemporary story that reminded me mostly of Saving June - minus the whole roadtrip. You also reminded me of the John Green books, though you were not that full of metaphors that I did not get at all, so there you have an extra half point. (Yes, I do like John Green's books, but the metaphors, ugh).
You may have felt already that when I picked you up, I was still not 100% if I was going to enjoy you, because I am honestly not a contemporary lover in general. There were some great ones that I read the past couple of years, but also a couple of missers. Still, I was intrigued by your whole 'letters to the dead' idea.
Your writing style was really nice, and though it was a bit hard for me to get into the first couple of letters, I flew through the second half of the book mainly because I really wanted to know what had happened to the sister of your main character. I have to admit that I had been expecting something more shocking, but it's also nice to know it wasn't something super awful that happened.
Spoiler
Yes, of course, a loved one dying is the most awful thing that can happen to a person, but I had thought that May either killed herself, had a big car accident that Laurel was in as well, or that she had been murdered or something. So reading about her fall in the river felt a bit 'better' than the usual tragic deaths I read about in books.To be honest, I can't say I loved you; but I did like reading you, though I found your main character to be a bit annoying. It felt to me like she was trying so hard to be friends with people, that she did things she didn't really want to do. Like stealing, and drinking alcohol, and smoke cigarettes, and go to prom with a guy she caught jerking off in class (who the fuck does that?!).
Spoiler
This guy later on in the book tried to rape her after drugging her at a party, yeah top lad!As for the romance, I felt like you had a bit of an insta-love thing going on, though it was later on explained why Sky was interested in Laurel from the moment they locked eyes, but still, it didn't convince me that much. I liked them when they were together though, so I guess I'm just a little bit conflicted about it.
In the end, though I enjoyed you, I also don't think I'll be reading you again. Maybe it is also because I just had a weird day when I read the majority of this book, that I just couldn't really get through you and I felt like I was falling right into a nother reading slump, two books before the finish of my reading challenge. But I finished you, and I did like you.
I recommend you to lovers of John Green and just contemporary novels in general. I hope those people will love you better. I am sorry, dear book, but you are just not the one for me! I do have one more gif for you, to express my general feelings about you!
Yours,
Nessa
Ps: Your cover is gorgeous, keep up the good work!
jlaraine's review against another edition
3.0
I never felt like this book got anywhere. I kept reading because someone told me it was good. But there was no peak to the story for me. Nothing that really got you attached to the characters either.
coltonchase_'s review against another edition
5.0
I liked it a lot more than I expected. It offered a view into the characters sad story, the ending wrapped everything up nicely for the audience. Overall I was quite pleased.
nicolelw1013's review against another edition
5.0
Highly recommended if you enjoyed The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Love Letters to the Dead is told in an authentic voice of a teenage girl struggling with tragedy while also entering and learning to navigate high school. It's deep and profound to follow Laurel's journey to finding herself through the letters she writes to late famous figures. It's a fascinating process and one I felt I could connect to, despite the years that have passed since I was a teenager and not personally suffering through any of Laurel's experiences.
frootjoos's review against another edition
5.0
Full review: http://www.readnowsleeplater.com/2014/04/love-letters-to-dead-review.html
aylimmcidio's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I read this when I was 12, not a good idea.