Scan barcode
A review by onthesamepage
Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher
4.5
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Amelia and Jenna meet, Amelia is staring at the books in a bookstore, trying to find solace in them after her father abandons her and her mother in favor of a new, young girlfriend. Jenna and her family take her under their wing, and between the love they give her and the Orman Chronicles, Amelia's favourite series, the hurt eases. It's no surprise then that she asks for two tickets to go see the author of the Orman Chronicles, the young N. E. Endsley, as a graduation present. But things don't go to plan. N. E. Endsley never shows up for the event, and even worse, Jenna got to meet him and Amelia didn't. Jenna leaves for Ireland shortly after, and there she dies in a fatal car crash, leaving Amelia alone with her guilt and grief.
When an exclusive edition of the first book in the series appears at her bookstore, Amelia is sure Jenna had something to do with it. She traces the book to a bookstore in Michigan and heads there to find out why Jenna had this sent to her. There she comes face to face with none other than N. E. Endsley, who is dealing with problems of his own.
I devoured this book in two sittings and when I was done, my heart felt full. I loved the way this was written; it hit that sweet spot of being beautifully descriptive without becoming too much like purple prose. I loved being in Amelia's head and feeling with her as she dealt with her grief. The way she was clinging to Jenna by trying to stick to the plans they made together was heartbreaking to see, and I absolutely understand the choices she made throughout the book.
This could have easily been a 5 star read, because I did also love the relationship between Nolan and Amelia. I thought the way it developed was lovely. They had so many intimate moments between them that made me ache for them. It could be seen as a whirlwind romance, but I think it developed just a bit too fast in hindsight, even though I ate it up while reading. They share their deepest, darkest secrets, fall in love, and decide the other is the one for them, all within a week. There's an epilogue at the end that shows snapshots of their lives further into adulthood, and while I thought that was a very nice touch, I have trouble believing it because of how short they've known each other by the end. I loved how they helped each other through their trauma and I think if there had been more focus on that and the development of a strong friendship first before making it romantic, it would've made this an unforgettable favourite for me.
Also there's a mention of "the Bennet cats" and I'm re-reading Pride & Prejudice right now and there are definitely no cats...so no idea what's happening here.
Still definitely one of the best YA contemporaries I've read, and guaranteed to give you all the feels.
When Amelia and Jenna meet, Amelia is staring at the books in a bookstore, trying to find solace in them after her father abandons her and her mother in favor of a new, young girlfriend. Jenna and her family take her under their wing, and between the love they give her and the Orman Chronicles, Amelia's favourite series, the hurt eases. It's no surprise then that she asks for two tickets to go see the author of the Orman Chronicles, the young N. E. Endsley, as a graduation present. But things don't go to plan. N. E. Endsley never shows up for the event, and even worse, Jenna got to meet him and Amelia didn't. Jenna leaves for Ireland shortly after, and there she dies in a fatal car crash, leaving Amelia alone with her guilt and grief.
When an exclusive edition of the first book in the series appears at her bookstore, Amelia is sure Jenna had something to do with it. She traces the book to a bookstore in Michigan and heads there to find out why Jenna had this sent to her. There she comes face to face with none other than N. E. Endsley, who is dealing with problems of his own.
I devoured this book in two sittings and when I was done, my heart felt full. I loved the way this was written; it hit that sweet spot of being beautifully descriptive without becoming too much like purple prose. I loved being in Amelia's head and feeling with her as she dealt with her grief. The way she was clinging to Jenna by trying to stick to the plans they made together was heartbreaking to see, and I absolutely understand the choices she made throughout the book.
This could have easily been a 5 star read, because I did also love the relationship between Nolan and Amelia. I thought the way it developed was lovely. They had so many intimate moments between them that made me ache for them. It could be seen as a whirlwind romance, but I think it developed just a bit too fast in hindsight, even though I ate it up while reading. They share their deepest, darkest secrets, fall in love, and decide the other is the one for them, all within a week. There's an epilogue at the end that shows snapshots of their lives further into adulthood, and while I thought that was a very nice touch, I have trouble believing it because of how short they've known each other by the end. I loved how they helped each other through their trauma and I think if there had been more focus on that and the development of a strong friendship first before making it romantic, it would've made this an unforgettable favourite for me.
Also there's a mention of "the Bennet cats" and I'm re-reading Pride & Prejudice right now and there are definitely no cats...so no idea what's happening here.
Still definitely one of the best YA contemporaries I've read, and guaranteed to give you all the feels.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Animal death