yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.0
Finished reading: October 22nd 2023
“One day isn't your whole life. A day is just a day.”
I've had Letters To The Lost on my TBR for years now, and even though I've enjoyed her writing in the past somehow I never actually picked it up. I guess my TBR jar thought it was time to change that... Not that I'm complaining, because I ended up having a great time reading this YA contemporary. Sure, it took me a bit longer than expected to warm up to this story and especially to one of the main characters (Juliet), but once I did things improved drastically. I do confess that I liked Declan a lot more than Juliet, and especially the bond between Rev and Declan. There was also a lot less focus on the romance than expected, which I personally didn't mind too much. Instead, Letters To The Lost is mainly about grief and trying to move on after the death of a loved one, and it includes other serious topics like (child)abuse, alcoholism, bullying and suicide. As a result, this story was a lot darker than expected, but there were some brighter moments and I especially liked the anonymous interactions between The Dark and Cemetery Girl. The emails gave the characters so much more dept, and it added a little something extra to the story. I do have to say that it was quite obvious that Declan was behind The Dark, but that might just have been me... The change in Declan's home situation was also a bit too abrupt to be completely credible, but I still liked how everything else was wrapped up in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Child death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and War
sophiecatherine's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Only four stars because it was definitely somewhat chaotic and had its lengths. Also, all the extra drama at the end was unnecessary and disgusting, ngl. But except for that, this was an enjoyable reading experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Grief, War, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Death, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
mpbookreviews's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
vike's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Emotional abuse
spearly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Note to self: don't wait to long to wrote a review because your MEMORY IS AWFUL.
_________
_________
You can see it on her face. Her reality is being ripped away, and she knows it.
Her mother is gone, and she knows it.
There is agony in that picture.
Every time I look at it, I think, “I know exactly how she feels.”
TW: Cheating, Grief, Drunk Driving, Death of Parent, Death, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Attempt
The book has been on my tar for a while. I was even recommended it by some friends on here a few times. And still, I hesitated. maybe it was the cover (it's very 2010, you gotta admit). Maybe I didn't think it would be anything special.
But I was wrong.
I was gripped from Juliet's first letter. She has an incredible way with words, and her grief was palpable in every word. Declan's too, when he wrote back. I loved their correspondence, then their friendship. I think I also have a major soft spot for secret pen-pals. There's something so romantic about connecting with someone's words, their inner most thoughts and worries and insecurities, about the magic of anonymity. A girl can dream, I guess.
The story itself was tragic and riveting and heart-wrenching. I wanted to badly for these characters to find each other, but I too was drawn in by these anonymous letters. I didn't want to lose that connection too soon, either. I wanted to see our MCs figure it out for themselves. It definitely helped that as the two grew closer in their letters, fate brought them together time and time again in real life.
I also have a secret soft spot for
Thank you to everyone who recommended this to me. I'm sorry it took me so long. You were right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Grief, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child death, and Bullying
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