“You can be noble and brave and beautiful and still find yourself falling.” - Ava Dellaira
Rating : 4/5
Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira is emotionally manipulative, depressingly optimistic and makes my nose sniffle snot.
I can see why they are people who love this book, and why they are people who hate it. What it boils down to is how far you would accept the writing style and how passive and inactive the main character is. If you are able to accept that, then you will be fine with this book.
Love Letters to the Dead revolves around Laurel, a regular girl coping with her sister's death, whom she idolized, while navigating through high school and finding first love. She writes it all to the dead celebrities from Judy Garland to River Pheonix. In short, it's a typical YA novel.
The writing style is a Poor Man's Perks of Being a Wallflower without the complexity and substance. It tries to be at times and fails most times. However, it's used effectively in some parts to portray the indifference of Laurel during some absolutely depressing parts. How those scenes are portrayed and how she reacts to it just makes it all the more heartbreaking.
Speaking of Laurel, she is a shell. She has no personality other than worshiping her dead sister, May and falling in love with Sky. Her life revolves around those two people and it's only played as destructive for just one. Yikes. That isn't to say I didn't pity her though. I wanted to wrap my arms around her, let her cry while stroking her hair. Then I slap her for being so stupid and childish.
While Laurel is not interesting, her friends are. I'm surprised how more three-dimensional they were. They had problems underneath cool exteriors, and I enjoyed reading them. They were great and I wished it focused more on Laurel overcoming May's death with friends. Than with a stupid Wannabe-Bad-Boy-But-Not-Because-He's-Actually-Really-Sweet Mr. Mystery.
The romance was an atypical teen romance but as the story developed, you realized how wrong they were for each other. Sky even realized that but Laurel didn't care. She needed to find someone else to cling on.
In all, I did enjoy the book even with its flaws particularly with Laurel and the writing. It explored the theme of letting go and innocence well. Yes, it's cliche and predictive, full of ham & cheese but it'll tug on your heart strings if you let it. This is a young adult book for the young, young. Don't expect this book to be perfect, it's far from it. But you will enjoy it.
So have you read the book? Or are you planning to anytime soon? I'd love to know!
I'm planning to read this book, It looks very amazing!
ReplyDeletexxx June
www.junepaski.com
I am too old to appreciate this, I guess.
ReplyDeleteLindaLibraLoca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
Nice post
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Www.miharujulie.com
Yikes. I really dislike passive protagonists. :/
ReplyDeleteThe Peculiar Trouth
Nice post...Thank U to share :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.francescagori.com/en_US/the-dream-journey-of-antonio-grimaldi/
Nice review, it's a pity that the main character is so boring because the title is so promising.
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Sounds good! Great post :)
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Sounds like a great book. New follower!
ReplyDeletexo Annie
New England Romance
This doesn't seem like something I would enjoy, just because I hate anything sad :( I am such a baby, Bash! Thanks for sharing such an honest review with us :)
ReplyDeleteXX, SS || A Little Seersucker Sass
I haven't heard of this book actually, but it sounds really interesting. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mintnotion.com
Great review of this, always looking for great books to read!
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Katie Loves ~ A Fashion & Beauty Blog.
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Yes, this sounds like a good read,
ReplyDeletesometimes there is a need for ham and cheese, and I love a good character study!
xx, Elle
http://mydailycostume.com
Sounds like a good read, I'll look for it http://ibelieveinrosa.blogspot.mx
ReplyDeleteShamefully I have to admit that I love YA books! Obviously I am wayyyyy over the YA age but there's a charm about YA books that I love. This sounds like a book that I will enjoy too, will hav ego check it out.
ReplyDeleteShireen | Reflection of Sanity
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ReplyDeleteIt's almost been a year since I properly finished a book and that was The Blue and Distant Hills. It's more to do with love and romance in the 90s. I've read this book about 10 times already but this book sounds like a good read. You've got a great blog. I've just followed you through email - hope you can follow back via GFC.
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Okay so I NEED to read this book. Sounds exactly like something I'd love. Also, that first quote.... Tweeting that right now. Thank you for recommending this one!
ReplyDeleteXO Naomi in Wonderland
Great post!
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Lovely book review! It does sound like it's worth a shot!
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Great review! I'll have to read this. :-)
ReplyDeleteApril xx
http://aprilrosepengilly.blogspot.com
Well I definitely want to read this now!! Sounds kinda strange but very interesting, right up my street then haha :) x
ReplyDeleteAmandaSays
Love the title and the quote. Im interested reading this book, but first, i have to finish Eleven Minutes <3
ReplyDeletewww.sarahrizaga.blogspot.com
Looks like a lovely read indeed! Will try reading it soon.
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looks like i found a new book for the month :)
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www.mahryska.com
Great review! Although I can't really say it made me want to read it, but that's all subjective. I might look through some of your other reviews to find my next book! Thanks so much for sharing and saying your true feelings about the piece xx
ReplyDeleteBrooke | brookewrote
This has been on my TBR list for ages! I want to read it as there are so many mixed reviews on it!
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Sarah
https://everydayconcepts.wordpress.com/
Sounds like an interesting book xo
ReplyDeletehttp://fridaynightstyle.com/
Hi dear! Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteWith love, Nastya Deutsch ♡
http://nastyadeutsch.blogspot.ru/
Cool thanks for the recommendation I have a Kindle and just finished a book actually so I'm looking for a new one!
ReplyDeleteDanika Maia
Bloglovin
Hi dear! Such an awesome post. :D
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Haven't heard of this book but it sounds interesting - although I dislike passive protagonist
ReplyDeletexx
Garland Girl
Great review. xx
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I've never read the book but it sounds so interesting. I love books in which you can really invest in the characters, and it's interesting from the get go. Will definitely pick this up :)
ReplyDeleteElle
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xx
This book sounds good one, great review :)
ReplyDeleteGlamupGirls
ive been planning on reading this, and this post has made me want to read it even more! xx
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Thanks for sharing and have an amazing new week!
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nicely reviewed dear..
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Just put this on my 'to read' list!
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I haven't read this before, but it sounds really interesting, I really like such a moving and emotional book, so I added it to my wish-list books, thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeletehttp://crafty-zone.blogspot.com/
Great review!
ReplyDeletexo Bry
AncientEgyptianParanormalRomance.Naughty&Nice
Great review!
ReplyDeletexo Bry
AncientEgyptianParanormalRomance.Naughty&Nice
I do love to read; generally non-fiction (especially books on style and creativity). There's surely nothing better than curling up with a good read! T. http://tickledpinkwoman.blogspot.com
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing this, I would love this read this book, I must get going with my reading, I have so may books I love to read. xx
ReplyDeleteGlamoury Armory Blog
Great review, sounds really interesting! I would like to read this book
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have a wonderful day!
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It sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI love books like this too.
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it looks a great book! ;)
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Check it out my last post: http://www.honeyandcotton.org/cheap-and-glamour-sunglasses-by-polette/
It doesn't sound great, I think I'll skip :)
ReplyDeleteBella Pummarola
I don´t think so.. I prefer happy books :D
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Oh my goodness I think I would be crying to much to read this book though it does seem like a great read!
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I will need to read this book, because I'm all about cliches and predictable plots :D
ReplyDeleteGreat review, thank you for sharing <3 Kisses from Budapest xo
Csenge | Csenge's Point
I havent but I need a new book to read as I have a long haul flight coming up, so will check it out!
ReplyDeleteI need to read this!
ReplyDeleteEmma | With A City Dream
i've heard so much about this on both blogger and booktube! the cover is gorgeous and the synopsis seems so great :)
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Georgia x | Georgia Nicolaou Blog
Help...
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which I love.. btw...
xx, Elle
http://mydailycostume.com
http://mydailycostume.com
Awww, darn. :/ Is there a problem?
DeleteI really want to read this book! I must pick it up!
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xx