Review: Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Genre: Literary Fiction

Dear Edward was everywhere, even before it’s publication date. It’s definitely a beautiful book, albeit a hard story to read. I think I fall into the unpopular opinion category, but it fell a little short of the hype for me. It’s one that i really needed to digest and think about critically, because it wasn’t a book that begged me to read it. I think that can be the hardest thing for mood readers with hyped books.

Synopsis: A twelve year old boy is the only survivor of a plane crash. We journey with him through his physical and emotional recovery as he tries to figure out why he’s still here. “Dear Edward is at once a transcendent coming-of-age story, a multidimensional portrait of an unforgettable cast of characters, and a breathtaking illustration of all the ways a broken heart learns to love again.”
What I liked: 

• The writing is clear and lyrical

• The characters are compelling and fully realized. You can’t help but feel for Edward

• The dual perspective left me with a palpable anxiety, knowing that the plane crash was imminent but I still grew to care for so many of the passengers. 

• The intimate look into the mind of a survivor of such physical and mental trauma. 

What I Didn’t Like:

• Feeling like we were jumping through time so quickly BUT it’s Edward’s perspective and he is dealing with depression, recovery, adjusting to life without his family...it’s a lot for a 12 year old. It’s A LOT for anyone. But as a reader, I want *more* details. So it was definitely a stylized choice IMO. 

• I just didn’t feel pulled to this book. It felt like “work” to pick it up, which is a huge factor in me not liking a book. Perhaps I read it at the wrong time or for the wrong reasons. 

TW/CW: plane crash, grief, depression, infertility, unresolved grief, loss of family

It’s a great book, it just wasn’t the right book for me.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Steam: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3/5