Amelia Unabridged (ARC Review)

After the sudden and tragic death of her best friend Jenna, Amelia receives a special edition copy of the first book of the fantasy series that brought them together. Grappling with her grief and the looming future they had meticulously planned together, Amelia seeks to find answers about the gift in hopes that it can shed new light on some of the last days of her friend’s life. Days which they had largely spent in anger at each other after a fight at a book convention where Jenna met the famous author Amelia had been dying to see for years without her. 

An exploration of a young girl’s grief through a romantic coming-of-age story centering around a love for literature, Amelia Unabridged will be adored by book lovers, especially those looking for a love story. 

With Bridge to Terabithia vibes, the book weaves picture-perfect prose with hard-hitting topics, sprinkling a touch of magic and whimsy into a classic YA contemporary. 

“I like to imagine my used books as little soldiers that have gone off to serve their duty elsewhere before coming into my hands. Books are something to be stepped inside of, to be occupied and lived in.”

This story had all the ingredients to be a spectacular and special treat but ended up making something very vanilla. Part of this was certainly preference, as the plot was much more romance-centered than hard-hitting like I had anticipated and the focus on fame and fan culture much more prominent. 

But for something that was so clearly written by a talented author who can certainly write a well-articulated and poetic passage, the characters seemed too familiar, the set-up to unbelievable, and the messages too obvious. Maybe it’s just me and my hardened heart after years of grim literature, but this novel was supposed to be truly tragic…and I just didn’t feel that sad. The characters may have felt relatable on the surface but there was a certain level of incredulity beneath about many of their circumstances. And I just couldn’t grasp the grief they felt about others, having not spent enough time getting to know those they had lost.

“Everything is silly, dear. Life is too brief to be anything else.”

Meanwhile, the not-quite-magical-realism element seemed oddly placed and used too obviously as a metaphor in a way that I felt should have either been leaned into more or entirely skipped over. Not to mention that the ending tied up many loose ends while completely forgetting about answering the initial mystery. 

A beautifully adorned novel but bland within, Amelia will be a forgettable read for me despite its strengths; 3 out of 5. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

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