I was granted eARC access to Amelia Unabridged via NetGalley, but when publication day snuck past me I borrowed the audiobook through Libby. Thank you anyway to whoever was in charge of approving me on NetGalley, I'm glad to have an ebook copy to return to later, and I'll still be putting my review in all the appropriate places. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Amelia Unabridged is heartbreaking, beautiful, uplifting, raw, and real. Just as Amelia's home life is falling apart she catches the eye of a school mate she'd never approached before, Jenna, a rich girl who's just as careful about her looks as she is about the condition of her beloved books. The unlikely pair spend high school attached at the hip, with Jenna's well-off parents practically adopting Amelia as their second daughter and doting on her like the functional family she so desperately wishes she had. Then suddenly Jenna's gone, buried too soon, and Amelia finds herself the substitute daughter off to college for Jenna's parents. They want her to go to the school she and Jenna had planned to attend, and they'll pay her way. They want her to take the degree program Jenna thought she should. They want everything to go the way it was supposed to go, and a barely-coping Amelia is willing to go along with it all. That is, until a mysterious gift appears for Amelia, mailed to the local book store. It's a special edition of her favourite author's first book, a printing that shouldn't exist, and she's convinced it's one last gift from her best friend. Wanting answers, Amelia takes a trip to visit the book store that sent it, not expecting to find her favourite author there, only a year her senior, wallowing in the shadow of his own grief.

The first two chapters felt like a parallel universe version of my own high school years. Even though my name is Jenna, I was the Amelia in my story. The quiet bookish nerd from the broken family who bonded with an unlikely best friend over a love of books. Mine was equally well off with a complete and loving family who were willing to take me along on family vacations and indulge the two of us as we chased bookish opportunities. Mine survived summer vacation after high school but our friendship didn't, for equally tragic reasons. Perhaps one day I'll get the chance Amelia doesn't get and reconnect with her. I think anyone who's lost someone so important to them as Jenna was to Amelia, be it through death or other means but especially through death, will also see themselves in Amelia.

The rest of this book is the roller coaster of Jenna's loved ones, and people she barely met, walking through a season of grief and learning to accept a world without a loved one (or two) in it. Amelia is learning that there's a light at the end of this tunnel, she can find other people to love and make her happy, but it's going to take making choices that don't necessarily make everyone waiting for her back home all that happy. Jenna's parents are using their honorary second daughter and the intent to keep supporting her through the original college plan as a bandaid that hides some of their loss, and they're not ready to accept that without Jenna, Amelia's plans for the future have changed. And that author? He's learning that sharing more of the fantasy world he created out of grief doesn't have to mean letting go of the memories that spawned it.

Amelia has a beautifully wild and chaotic imagination that lets her see whales swimming through the air around her, imagine a more mood-appropriate outfit change for herself in a flash, and walk through more mood-appropriate weather even if Mother Nature won't oblige. I do like a creative character and the way the things she sees are described truly remind me of the way Celia's performances are described in The Night Circus (which I just re-read before this,) but I'm not quite sure if I LIKE this level of immersive waking dreams for her. Amelia's a high school graduate, 18 or about to be, and she's lucid daydreaming ALL THE TIME. Since Jenna's death happens so early on in the book it's hard to decide whether or not this has been amplified by grief, which would be forgivable, but the uncertainty leaves the possibility that she's spending this much time in a fantasy world of her own because its her nature and it makes her seem too young. Her love of photography and desire to pursue that as a career are hinted from the very beginning, but as she starts to confront the fact that the English degree at the prestigious school she'd planned to complete with Jenna isn't truly what she wants to do, I honestly expected her to pursue writing. It might have felt too neat and tidy to have her path cross with an author and then have her turn into an aspiring author, but that imagination of hers that possibly makes her seem too young could paint compelling new fantasy worlds that leap off the page... and she's still drifting toward professional photography. This felt like she's completely oblivious to her greatest strength, which she might very well be, but I wanted her to take creative writing classes and start building a world to rival (or compliment) Nolan's.

I very much appreciate how unapologetically anxiety, panic attacks and dissociation are described and used in this book, and how the characters help each other ground and get through it. I hope this book will make a lot of teens and young adults suffering from mood disorders feel seen and understood, and that this will help to normalize mental health struggles and care.

This book is a strong 4, maybe 4.5 out of 5 stars, and I would recommend it to anyone who's ready for a story that will shatter their heart into pieces and then slowly put it back together again in the best way.

I’m crying, silent tears that don’t leave me gasping for breath or needing to rip books in half but that taste almost sweet in their saltiness. When did emotions start having emotions of their own, and how do I make it stop?” (p. 174).

I have been sitting with this story ever since I read it almost in it’s entirety on February 16th. This story filled me to the brim and I’ve been struggling to find the words to capture the experience reading it was for me. As soon as I finished it, I texted my husband that I was utterly enchanted and I so deeply wanted to own a physical copy of it–which he was so kind to tell me to buy it, even though he truly cannot understand why I want to own books I’ve already read. That’s real love, my friends.

The book opens up on Amelia’s less than stellar home life (her father leaving for a younger woman, her mother in complete shock and depression) and ushers her into a friendship that helped her discover her value. Jenna and her family welcome Amelia in as a surrogate family member, and Amelia spends her high school years wanting for nothing and cherishing the worlds found in the pages of her books with a wonderful friend. Suddenly Amelia’s world is shattered when she gets the phone call that Jenna has died in an accident. The last thing they had said to each other was a fight. Jenna had their lives together all mapped out, how was Amelia supposed to do this alone? After a mysterious and rare copy of the girls’ favorite book arrives for her, Amelia goes on a journey to find out if Jenna was behind it. On the way, she discovers a whole new cast of quirky book lovers like her who welcome her in and give her space to discover who she is on her own.

Once Amelia makes it to Michigan, it’s clear that she’s battling so many things internally. She doesn’t know whether she should continue to pursue the life Jenna had planned for her, which means she would have to allow Jenna’s parents to pay for the college she’d otherwise be unable to afford in order to study for a career she’s unsure she wants, all while keeping up appearances as Jenna’s replacement almost in a family that’s not biologically hers. But what is there for her if she doesn’t do this? And how can she possibly let down her best friend and her family by changing the plan after Jenna’s death? How can she continue reading books when the very person who taught her to love them is gone? How can she be a complete person without the person that helped shape her?

There are so many different forms of grief throughout several characters, which I feel like makes everything more relatable and tangible. Amelia’s grief and anxiety throughout the book is attached to images of whales she pictures in her head that bring her peace. I thought this was such a beautiful way of writing Amelia’s thought processes as a creative individual who spent so much of her life in other worlds. After she meets Endsley, she uses these pictures in her head to relate to his anxiety.

Everything about this story is just so wonderfully done. The cozy acceptance of an environment for book lovers, the sweet and very quirky friendships Amelia discovers in Michigan, and the tragically beautiful relationship she builds with Endsley. There’s even a wonderful dog who’s always in everyone’s space. I truly felt this was such a perfect illustration of true friendship being more than being there for each other in the convenience, but being an unwavering force in the inconvenience and uncertainty.

Schumacher’s writing is poetic and enchanting right from the beginning. Truly one of a kind. It was so difficult to put down or tear myself away for even the smallest thing because I didn’t want to leave this wonderful place she painted for me. I felt like I was there, on this journey of self discovery with Amelia, rooting for her, crying with her, and rejoicing with her. One thing that really stuck out to me about Schumacher’s writing is that she so beautifully crafted a world of book lovers without name dropping and shoving as many references as she could fit in there. All of the book references were so gently entwined into the story that it was more like a treasure hunt to see if I could figure out the reference instead of being pulled out of the story with a name drop. I don’t think I’m explaining it well, but this is something I struggle with in books because I often find name dropping so inorganic. Schumacher mastered this.

After all this rambling, I still feel like I only touched the surface of how wonderful this book is. And to think it’s only Schumacher’s debut? Sign me up for every book she comes out with ever, please and thank you? I will be fervently recommending this book to anyone and everyone possible.

I didn't want to put this book down because I needed it to have a happy ending. So much of this book was focused around loss from either Amelia having so many losses from a parent leaving and then the remaining parent just checking out for the most part, and then losing her best friend she felt very alone. Then you have this guy who feels responsible for two people that died in his life and they both have been dealing with all of this in different ways, but they do help each other in a way.

Was this book a little insta-lovey, yes but in this instance, it worked because Amelia was only going to be there for a little while. I loved the friendships that we saw and how they both had people that cared about them and just wanted the best for them. But we also need to acknowledge the fact that Jenna just decided that this is what Amelia should do and that was that and no changes could be made. Was Jenna supportive of Amelia in other areas, yes but she was also rather controlling at times.
Another thing I think should be talked about is how money did seem to play a big part in this book. Jenna's family had money and they ended up paying for everything for Amelia and because of this she did feel indebted to them, and like she couldn't change the plan that they had put in place for her despite it not being something she wanted. Amelia does eventually decide on something which was good but you can tell it was really hard for her to make that decision and is one that was hard for those she cared about as well.

Overall I really liked this book and it was a fun read that was a good distraction for me from college assignments.

Ashley Schumacher understands what it is like to be a reader/ book lover on a deeper level than most young adult authors. The plot is relatively simple but the characters are some of the most realistic that I have ever read. I am not much of a romance reader but this was the perfect love story. Schumacher's descriptions of grief are some of the most accurate I have ever read. She is master storyteller. I can not wait to read more of her work.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

This is a touching story about two people dealing with their grief and finding the calm after the storm. Amelia is dealing with the loss of her best friend. They had plans. Their futures planned and it’s all gone in an instant. A mysterious package is delivered to Amelia and she sets off to find out the reason for it and finds more than she bargained for.

This was an emotional story. Losing a loved one isn’t easy. There are many feelings and emotions to process. I loved the story telling style and the story is very well written. I found myself wanting to take a trip and find this amazing bookstore! The characters were great and really made the story pop. My heart went out to Amelia and N.E. This book got me right in my feels!

This is a wonderful read. A fabulous debut for this author! I enjoyed both the story and her writing. I can’t wait to read more from her. I highly recommend this book! Add it your TBR today! I give this 4 stars.

As a reader, of course I'm drawn to books about books. I knew very little about Amelia Unabridged going in apart from it featuring a love of books and a reclusive author, but it is SO much more than that. Transitioning into adulthood, finding comfort in a favorite story, loss, and young love are all key themes.
While the subject matter may seem oppressively heavy (death of a close friend, disappointment after disappointment, and more that I won't share for risk of spoilers), somehow it just feels like the unavoidable sadness that comes about in real life. And just like real life, there are good and uplifting moments sprinkled in between (the mother and son in the bookstore, for instance, are absolute gems). I was somewhat reminded of both The Bridge to Terabithia and sensationalized accounts of real authors who hit it big only to hide away from the public, but the real focus is on finding yourself after a tragedy and figuring out not only how you'll come to terms with it in order to survive, but how and to what extent you let that grief shape your life.
4.5 stars to this emotional and well-rounded story
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a complimentary copy. This did not impact my review.

This is a beautifully written debut novel about love and loss and how there are different ways to deal with grief. Amelia and Jenna are seniors in high school and already have their lives planned out....at least Jenna has planned both hers and Amelia's lives - and Amelia is ok with that. When they get the chance to meet the author of the book that brought the two girls together they are so excited. But when Jenna gets to meet him and Amelia doesn't they have a huge fight, like they never have before. And before Amelia can apologize and make things right with Jenna, Jenna dies in a crazy car accident. Amelia's grief catapults her into a hunt for the person who sent her a rare copy of their favorite book, and opens her eyes ( and her heart) to the wonders that can be found off the planned path. With wonderfully created characters, and a fantasy novel within, this debut novel reminds us to celebrate life while we can.

Finally, a book that tackles grief without a sugar-coated terminal illness. The storyline was just implausible enough to make it a really fun escape; I didn't need it to be acceptably true, it was just a great read. Of course, finding romance in a bookstore? Yes, please! The grief was overwhelming at times in the book, but isn't it always? It just wasn't the only focal point (ie, no trauma porn here), so that made it both more relatable and more useful as a tool for empathy.

What avid reader doesn’t want to find the perfect bookstore? Who among us hasn’t searched for the place that is comforting and welcoming and you could practically live in? I’ve even sought out many of them to differing results. Some are huge and staffed with great people but not welcoming. Some are tiny and you could sit all day in them. Some are cold and staffed with people who either don’t know or care much about books. But I seek them out. Think of the names. Powell’s. The Tattered Cover. Lighthouse Bookstore. Women and Children First. The Last Bookstore. The Book Bar. Some of my favorites. But I’ve always looked for Val’s.

Amelia isn’t looking for Val’s. She is lo9ing for answers. After her best friend dies, her world is askew. Jenna’s family was her family. Their futures were entwined. They were ready to go off to college together. Instead, Amelia is hunting down the sender of a rare copy of her favorite book. Jenna and Amelia had fought over meeting the author just before Jenna’s death. She is convinced that her friend sent it from an independent bookstore in Michigan and Amelia wants to know why. She wants to know what her friends was thinking. What she did and said because her future is now very hard to see.

What she finds is welcoming, and confusing. Within a week, Amelia has to face her own life and her own future.

This was a sit in your comfy clothes and read in an afternoon book. I was immediately invested in all of the characters. Even Wally. Nothing that happens is particularly shocking or surprising. It is a story that you want to play out, even if you know where it is probably going.

Thank you to Ashley Schumacher, Netgalley, and Wednesday books for both the digital and print ARCs of these books. I may have read it late, I wanted the time to appreciate it, but I am so glad I did. What a wonderful debut.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This books is beautiful. The grief so palpable that I could feel it in my bones. I didn't quite cry but I felt it in my chest.

I felt the pacing was a tad off which put me off reading it for a while but the slowness of the story I think actually made the impact feel more real.

There's always an element with YA that I find unrealistic (I.e. falling in love in short periods of time , being invited to stay in a strangers spare room etc.) But I just take that with a pinch of salt. The story could be made more realistic but then I feel it would lose some of its charm.

The epilogue was perfect, it didn't go into lots of detail after the characters future but gave enough to give it the perfect ending.

Now I need someone to write the Orman Chronicles please!

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free review copy.
This might be my favorite book of 2021. I just loved this story and did not want to stop reading. I am going to push everyone to read this now. I feel that anyone can relate to these feelings the characters face in this novel. Schumacher wrote the characters with such depth and feelings. I liked reading about their struggles with life and death. The book series in this book also sounded amazing. All of the literary references make this book a bibliophile's dream. There is so much complexity in Amelia and Nolan. They both are dealing with different things, yet they both can find solace in similarities.
I liked how Amelia had to learn how to live without Jenna and what that means and looks like. How hard it would be to lose a friend right when adult life is starting. N.E. Endsley must figure out what is going on with his life and fame from such an early age.

I adored the way Schumacher deals with family difficulty, friendship pains and loss, immense remorse, feelings of guilt and abandonment, trauma from unexpected hardships, all the while weaving an intricate adventure of fantasy that helps Amelia to confront and deal with these griefs, and explore mysteries that need to be untangled.
I was so impressed by all that this book accomplishes.
Amelia clings to narrative and stories to help her through life and through these deeply painful experiences in ways I recognized. It is handled so precisely and beautifully.
This story will resonate with readers who are still in their youth and less youthful folks like myself who felt that books were a lifeline during times of chaos and deep personal pain.
The hints of magic and fantasy illuminate the beauty of the grief we all deal with at some point or another. Schumacher writes about love, loss, community, and belonging in ways I’ve never seen managed like this before. It’s cultivated so well.
For me, Amelia Unabridged was not a light read. But I loved it.
It pulled emotions out of me that were heavy and thick and intense, and I think it’s important for readers to know that about this story going into it. But I wasn’t mad about it. Schumacher earned these feelings from me and not once were they, or I, left un-cared for.
It was a wonderful reading experience I would highly recommend to everyone. I’m eager to see what Schumacher writes next.

I loved this book so much. For one, there is nothing like a book that is a love letter to books. Amelia Unabridged reminded me just how important books can be in a person's life. This was a beautifully written story, one of friendship and brokenness, and discovery. I loved everything about it.

Thank you for allowing me to spend some time with it.

It’s been a long time since I picked up a book that I knew I would cry over on purpose. This book is absolutely breathtaking in its whimsy, prose and story. I became so invested in every single character that I wish I could have several books with them. Amelia, Alex, Jenna, Val, Nolan, Wally- I love them and want to protect them at all costs. The tone is reminiscent of The Starless Sea, Strange the Dreamer, and The Ten Thousand Doors of January. It is poetic in tone and moved me to tears in its beauty. With tones of friendship, loss, the bonds we create and the paths we choose, you will think of Orman and whales for long after this book has been finished.

Nolan is probably my favorite grumpy cinnamon roll of ALL time and I am so grateful to have entered Orman.

Adding to my Fave Books of All Time Shelf.

This book had me at booklovers going to a large book convention. Oh how I miss book signings. If you love insta-love with some heartache and coming of age stories than I think you will enjoy Amelia Unabridged. Amelia comes from a broken home, her father has left to be with another woman, and Amelia's mother is not very nurturing. Amelia makes friend with Jenna by chance at a local bookstore. Through there love of books they head out to a book convention. I loved the Michigan setting, as a Michigander myself it's great to see my state represented.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. This did not influence my review.

I really, really loved this book! I don't usually enjoy books that deal with grief because it is just too sad. But somehow, Amelia Unabridged came through with hope and wonder to win me over!

Smiling from ear to ear, feeling the warmness in my heart, I could truly say: this is fascinating! The author’s way of telling how great novels can be life anchors to save us from great tragedies of life and how fill our hearts with true happiness. And the magically beautiful romance in this book, the innocence, genuineness of pure hearts of the characters widened my big smile. I’m absolutely happy to say this book is secret gem and I’m giving my five gazillion magical orman(forest)stars without thinking. I loved it so much!

Amelia Unabridged is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about love and loss. Amelia, who has never really felt like she belonged anywhere, one day meets her soon to be best friend Jenna. They complement each other in the ways only true best friends are able to and bond over their love of a book series called the Orman Chronicles. They both intend to follow a ten year plan Jenna has set out for the both of them until tragedy strikes and Amelia is left alone. With Jenna no longer in Amelia’s life, Amelia doesn’t know what to do next and is left with a mysterious and rare edition of their favourite book. Searching for answers Amelia travels to the bookshop across the country where the mysterious book came from. When Amelia arrives in the town, she ends up face to face with N.E. Endsley the famously reclusive author of the Orman Chronicles and while searching for answers, gets everything she never knew she wanted.
This was honestly one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I was genuinely sad to have finished it but I know I’ll end up reading it again. I admitedly didn’t read the full synopsis when I received a copy of this book but I think that added to my love of the story because everything was so unexpected in the best ways. All of the main characters were beautiful in their own ways and were so well constructed. The love story between the friends and the romantic love between two of the main characters was fleeting in a way but I loved every bit of it. This is a great story for those who are no longer in the teen years of their life but still don’t totally know where they fit in the life they’ve created for themselves as well of course for those who don’t know where to go next in life. 5/5 stars for sure and would be great for a teen book club I am running!

This book was perfect, it is by far the best book I’ve picked up this year and I am confident saying this will be a best of 2021 if not on my all time favourites list.

This book is about grief, about losing someone and having it completely rock your very existence. But it is also about healing and finding your way out of something so seemingly hopeless.

This book broke me, I cried, full body sobbed, but then it put me back together again, much like the people in this book.

The internal dialogue of Amelia is so whimsical, raw, thick in empathy and understanding, she has this ability to draw parallels between real life and stories. There is magic in books that are also about books.

Every supporting character in this book is also just so original and you come to love them all. A real under theme of found family.

And despite this being about grief it is so much more there is so many facets explored, it is such a beautiful story and I feel better for having read it.

I have to thank NetGalley and St Martins Publishing Group for giving me an eARC of this in exchange for an honest review, I wish I had read it sooner, it is already out. With that said I’m going to go by a few copies, it’s a book that demands to be given.

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher, 304 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2021. $19.
Language: PG13 (23 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
While her life has been far from perfect, Amelia has been happy -- in large part because of Jenna. Jenna is Amelia’s best friend who has planned out their lives perfectly. But then Jenna dies. Following a hope that is 60 percent whim, Amelia goes to Lochbrook to somehow get part of Jenna back, but happiness without Jenna is harder to grasp than it is to let go of.
Choosing to keep reading this book was difficult for me because I felt every blow that hit Amelia in the first few chapters, felt hope and happiness slipping from my grasp as I desperately reached for it to give back to her. To protect both Amelia and myself from more pain, I put down the book for weeks. I finally went back to Amelia’s story, praying that things might get better. Amelia’s journey took me with her step for step. There was more pain, but we found hope and dreams, too. Grief and loss never really go away, but we can move forward despite their weight that encourages stagnancy. Schumacher has crafted a story of hope for happiness even if our lives aren’t inherently happy. The mature content rating is for underage drinking.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen