Yet again I am late to the review squad. Let’s not act like we are surprised anymore…

Books lie. Life isn’t finished with you when you are eighteen or when you think you’ve had enough. It’s never enough. You’re never in the clear.”

Amelia Unabridged is an artfully written work about a girl struggling with unimaginable grief. She feels things deeply and wholly. She struggles with a despair that is felt through the pages.

I didn’t want to start this book because I was afraid it would be too sad, but it grips your attention quickly. You find yourself on a journey of self discovery with Amelia. Chapter 3 will break you in two. Chapter 19 will glue you back together again.

Thank you to the publishers for the arc of this book.

It took me a while to get to this because I think I knew that it would hurt. I had to be ready and in the right space to read a book about grief and regret. And I steeled myself and read it, knowing only an inkling of the beauty and hope that the book had to offer as well.

Amelia Unabridged is about grief and regret but also about writing your own story and finding people to share that story with. Its about starting over and second chances after unimaginable loss. And it was beautiful. I love the characters and how warm their interactions and the setting made me feel. I enjoyed the love story blossoming between Amelia and Nolan, even if it felt a bit instalove.

This was a remarkable debut novel by an author I'm very much looking forward to reading again.

I think too much time passed and I am such a mood reader. The mood has yet to strike to read this one so I don’t have feedback.

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher

Amelia and Jenna are best friends for life when they meet at a bookstore. When they are separated due to a tragic event, Amelia is at a loss on how to cope, when she receives a book at the bookstore where they met.That becomes a mystery she needs to solve as she didnt buy a book and now she wonders, did Jenna buy it and have it delivered? She even calls Michigan where the book was delivered from and the boy that answers the phone, well he is no help. So, next step? Go to Michigan and find out what in the sam hill is going on? Once she gets there, she will meet people who will forever change her life.

This was an emotional read as Amelia not only grieves for her friend, she makes friends with Nolan who also is grieving and they are a mess, for lack of a better word. What makes this melodrama worth the read even dealing with such a depressing storyline is the writing. Ms Schumacher is a wonderful storyteller who has you rooting for both people and other characters in the book. She deals with grief and the power of love that had me in tears at some point and I was okay with it.

I look forward to reading her next book. I did find a few errors in the review copy that I hope will be caught before the release but if not they did not impact the story in any way.

Rating 4
Linda C

This story was well-told and engaging throughout. I think it will definitely find its right audience and continue to inspire.

I am sorry to say this book was just not for me. I could not finish even though I tried several times The blurb sounded great and the stories plot had great potential, I just think that the writing was a tad slow with too much going on with the characters.


2 out of 5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Best friends Amelia and Jeanna get a chance to meet Amelia’s favorite author. Something happens and the girls get into an argument. Jenna is killed in an accident before they make up. Soon Amelia receives a rare edition of her favorite book. She decides find out who sent her the book. During her search, she meets her favorite author. What follows is a beautiful and emotional adventure that changes Amelia’s life.

Amelia Unabridged is a heartwarming and emotional story of the power of books, friendship and love. Which, sounds like an incredible book to read and for some people this is a great book, however, I am not one of them. This a cute contemporary book about books, love and grief with some prose thrown into the mix. However, in my opinion the execution of these things did not land the way I thought they would.

Don’t misunderstand this is a good book for many people, I just don’t fall into that category unfortunately. The book was nothing special, the characters were fine but they didn't stand out for me, the romance was ok but the insta love aspect didn’t do it for me, and the dialogue was pretty ordinary in my opinion. Overall, the writing was standard at best.

I think this book might be good for readers on the younger side of YA. Again this is just my opinion and thoughts on the book.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for this ARC

Schumacher's writing beautifully captures the complexities of grief and the lasting impact of friendship. Amelia's emotional journey is sensitively portrayed, and readers will find themselves deeply invested in her quest for healing and understanding. The bond between Amelia and Jenna is palpable, and their shared love for the Orman Chronicles adds an additional layer of depth to their connection.

The setting of the enchanting bookstore in Michigan adds a touch of magic to the story, further immersing readers in Amelia's journey. The introduction of Endsley as a character brings an intriguing dynamic to the narrative, offering both answers and new questions for Amelia to confront.

Amelia Unabridged is a compelling exploration of loss, identity, and the power of stories. Ashley Schumacher's writing is evocative and heartfelt, capturing the complexities of human emotions with grace. This book will resonate with readers who appreciate stories that tug at the heartstrings while celebrating the enduring power of friendship.

Overall, Amelia Unabridged is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that tackles profound themes with sensitivity and depth. It is a testament to the lasting impact of friendships and the strength we can find in the midst of grief and self-discovery.

This was a satisfying read overall. No big twists but not too predictable. Relatable characters with serious emotions to work through. A light enough writing style to keep pushing the story forward and balance the heavier subject matter. A solid YA for sure.

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A book about teen girls who love books. I adore that this book inspires the belief that a good novel can cure just about anything. I could not put this down!

"'Read this,' I said. 'It's perfect.'

'Nothing's perfect,' Jenna said.

'This is.'"

I honestly don't know what to say about this beautiful book that hasn't already been said, but I will say that if -- like me -- you have this sitting in your ever-growing TBR pile, please find the time to prioritize it. You won't be sorry.

I can't find the words to adequately describe why this worked so much for me. Perhaps it was the magical bookstore setting and the love of reading and fandoms sprinkled throughout the text. Maybe it was the lyrical depictions of first heartbreaks -- in all its forms -- and finding the paths forward. In the end, all I know is that this debut completely charmed me from beginning to end.

Even when the believability was stretched to its very limits, there was something about this story that allowed me to roll with it and accept it as fact. Because, honestly, don't all book nerds crave some fairytale/fantasy qualities leaking into reality?

I'd encourage you -- if able -- to dive into this one blind to get the most emotional bang for your buck, but either way I urge you to take the plunge.

I really did enjoy this book but I very very highly doubt something like this would ever happen in real life. Cute book though.

This was really not for me. I had such high hopes and am sad to say that I was definitely let down. Honestly I had a hard time getting myself to finish.

DNF @ 15%

This book was just not for me. I am not here for the insta-love relationship, and wasn't a fan of the characters.
It felt a little bit childish and messy..

When I read this book I remember really enjoying it! I really need to reread this book soon and add it to my physical shelves.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

This book was so, so good. It had a magical, lyrical quality to the writing that had me glued to the page. I read this book basically in one sitting - I couldn't put it down. Judging from other reviews, I wasn't the only one! 5 stars.

I didn’t finish because I was too sad to continue. I wasn’t in a good headspace to read about a best friend dying after a very stupid fight. The writing is fantastic but the story just wasn’t for me. The trip to find the author that was the reason for the entire stupid fight didn’t even make me feel good.

Amelia Unabridged was a hit to my heart because once you lose someone close listening to or reading books dealing with grief hits more intimately. While this story is straightforward in the plot without too many twists, it's the dialogue, conversations, and moments between Amelia and Nolan that I connected with the most. Their feelings about grief and death and moving forward were something I felt deeply and at moments my grief was on display with tears in my eyes. While this book takes place in the summer the overall feel and cover give it a more autumnal vibe and is a great read for this time of the year where things are changing! I have oddly found books like this comforting over the last almost three years and while I'm very late in my reviewing of this ARC. I think I read it at just the right time.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy of Amelia Unabridged in return for my honest thoughts and review.