As a devoted fan of dark academia, eccentric world-building, twisty mysteries, and a delightful touch of magic blended with slow-burn romance, this book was music to my soul! I loved it with every fiber of my being! A world where the magic is in the script you write, where the ability to go between worlds has been limited to the couriers of the otherwhere post, and a mysterious letter putting you on the path to learn the truth. I loved this book so much. I also love this author's other book, Hotel Magnifique, out in February 2025. I can’t believe we are so close to the end of the year, and I am already reading books for the new year. The cover sold it first, then the magic of scriptomancery second, and the slow-burn romance that also stays appropriate for the age group. This was a delightful read enough so that I would not mind if we got more books in this world.

5 stars. I love stories that have an academic background (dark academia, magical academies, etc) and The Otherwhere Post is perhaps one of the best dark academia books I've ever read. And I think a big reason that I loved it was because we get those dark/ gothic university vibes + a mystery + a romance. And oh yeah, the magic system felt really well fleshed out. Every reader already knows the power of the written word, but Taylor magnifies that by having her entire magic system built around the act of writing. I normally find dark academia books to be a bit slow, which isn't a bad thing, but is probably because so much of their success is built upon describing the setting. And while Taylor does have really descriptive writing, there's so much going on with the story/ mystery, that at no point did this feel slow. I was SO invested in Meave as a character, not only with respect to her solving the mystery, but also with respect to her developing relationships. So in addition to everything that was going on plot wise, there was also a ton of character growth. This is my first book by Taylor, but I can say that I am 100% a fan and I will definitely read more from her in the future.

Thank you so much to Taylor, Penguin Teen, and netgalley for the ARC

Wow wow WOW. From the jump, this book was unbelievable. The pacing, tone, and writing were deliberate and consistent from the first sentence. This is a book that grabs you from the first page - you can’t help but want to know more.
The world is absolutely fascinating - three parallel worlds you can walk between, the doors, the magical writing (because we of course all agree writing is magic). And the characters are just perfection. Maeve is our heroine, and we can’t help but want to give her a big ole hug. The poor girl has spent years running from life and from herself and seeing her confront her deepest fears is so vulnerable. She is funny and smart, a bit reckless and a runner, and her curiosity is insatiable. Tristan … guys!! I’m obsessed with him and how they met - like I can’t imagine a more perfect meeting for these two. There is nothing more vulnerable than showing your true self to someone, and this book is a reminder that the right people won’t turn away from you.
Seven years ago, Maeve lost everything. She grew up an orphan and alone, running from place to place to escape her past. She is suddenly confronted with a letter that changes everything, and Maeve finds herself posing as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post with an exceedingly smart (and witty) mentor.
Not only is this a fantastic fantasy stand alone novel - one that is plot driven with a sprinkle of romance thank you very much - but it is a wondrous reminder of the magic of words, finding your people, and finding your truth.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a devoted fan of dark academia, eccentric world-building, twisty mysteries, and a delightful touch of magic blended with slow-burn romance, this book was music to my soul! I loved it with every fiber of my being! A world where the magic is in the script you write, where the ability to go between worlds has been limited to the couriers of the otherwhere post, and a mysterious letter putting you on the path to learn the truth. I loved this book so much. I also love this author's other book, Hotel Magnifique, out in February 2025. I can’t believe we are so close to the end of the year, and I am already reading books for the new year. The cover sold it first, then the magic of scriptomancery second, and the slow-burn romance that also stays appropriate for the age group. This was a delightful read enough so that I would not mind if we got more books in this world.

The Otherwhere Post is an extremely unique and creative fantasy with a magic system based on writing, multiple worlds, and hidden identities.

I loved the exploration of legacy - how the sins or successes of previous generations impact our place in society. Maeve’s quest for truth forces her to reckon with her own legacy and conquer her fears about her father and more.

I adored Tristan’s unwavering belief in her motives, and the found family they formed with Nan and Shea. The mystery of the Aldervine and Inverly kept me guessing, and I appreciated how the ending left room for more stories. I would love to see an exploration of the known and unknown worlds in future books!

This story had everything I look for in a fantasy novel - an intricate magic system, a romance subplot, friends who become family, and a mystery waiting to be solved. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

After 7 years of being in hiding after one of 3 worlds was destroyed and her father is blamed, Maeve is surprised to receive a letter telling her that her father was innocent. The letter is 7 years old, and to find out who sent it to her Maeve tries to get inton the scriptomancy school where her father worked and get answers. I cannot divulge any further as to not spoil anything.

The story was rather unique and I loved how stubborn Maeve was. She had gone through so much at a young age.

The world building was good but limited. We never get to hear about Maeves life with her father before the tragedy. It is also unclear what kind of world it is. It reads like the 1800s but not our world. Like the clothing, the things they use like feathers to scribe, the money. It was quite interesting.
There were so many characters you had to remember but I did get the gist of the how and when in the end. I also had wished for some more on Tristan and Maeve. Maybe there is a sequel, that is not clear.

Well done.

Emily J Taylor knocked it out of the ballpark with her second novel, The Otherwhere Post! A unique magic system + romance (not spicy) + well-written, amazing characters = a fantastic read that will stick with me for a long time! This novel was the perfect mix of dark academia, whimsy, and mystery. Taylor's writing drew me in with each page while the story kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out the next twist. Absolutely brilliant!

The novel follows Maeve Abenthy, who's running from her dead father's crimes until a mysterious letter is delivered to her. She goes undercover at the Otherwhere Post to figure out what really happened on that fateful day and prove her father's innocence.

There is some world-building at the beginning of the novel, but the reader really dives right in to Maeve's story and learns more about the magic system as our FMC learns about it. I liked that the FMC wasn't the classic depressed and down-on-her-luck archetype. The readers could really experience how tough things were for her but also how hard she was working to make things better for herself and to repair her father's reputation.

And our male love interest was a perfect counterpart! Mysterious, good-looking, and smart- yes please! His character development was well-balanced and added an extra layer to the story that was needed. His character arc complemented the plot well and helped to drive the story forward, all while pulling on my heartstrings. Dare I say, I have a new favorite book boyfriend??

I really enjoyed this novel and will be highly suggesting it to my friends and followers!

<i> Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC copy. This review is my own opinion.<i>

*Full review to be added closer to publication!*

The Otherwhere Post is just as magical and spellbinding as its cover reflects. This book has such an enchanting and intricately detailed world that Emily J. Taylor absolutely brought to life. There's a lot of mystery to get lost in, as well as a bit of a slow-burn romance. We follow Maeve Abenthy, an exceptionally determined protagonist who stops at nothing to find the truth. There's some wonderfully developed characters, friendships, and a really fascinating magic system to explore. Taylor really succeeded in creating an immersive story and I really had a great time with this one! I will certainly be reading more from Emily J. Taylor!

I really wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me. The opening is great, but the pacing slows below what I like to read. The worldbuilding of what I did read was really well shown and original, but it simply wasn't enough to draw me in.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily Taylor is a delightfully cozy YA novel about a Maeve, a teenage girl who has been hiding for most of her life, dodging the shadow of her dead father's crimes. She lives under false names, moving from place to place, never letting anyone know her. She's just about to move on to the next place when she receives a mysterious anonymous letter that tells her the impossible: her father was innocent. Despite herself, she embarks on a journey, faking her way into the Otherwhere Post to be trained in the magical art of scriptomancy - at which her father had once been adept - overcoming her own terror to find the truth. Along the way, she is forced to do the one thing she has avoided doing in years - trust.

This book is sweet and cozy, a fun read even as it relies on some YA tropes (an instant connection with her handsome, secretive mentor, an MC who is gorgeous even though she doesn't know it, peers who befriend her even when she runs from them). It reads well as a standalone novel, which is an added bonus, though I would be more than happy to read a sequel detailing Maeve and Tristan's adventures after the events in The Otherwhere Post.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this eARC!

Thank you @penguinteen #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

Five start alert! This book blew me away. I didn’t even know I needed this book until I devoured it. Trust me when I say this, this book will be a TOP young adult fantasy of the YEAR in 2025! Did I call it in 2024?! Yep! 😂 Just watch! 👀

This book gave me similar vibes as Ruthless Vows BUT was different at the same time. In this book we follow a character named Maeve who is running from her past and has assumed a different identity. Her father had been accused of heinous crimes and so she is always on the move and never getting too close to anyone. One day, she receives a letter that changes everything, claiming her father was innocent. Of course, she must find out the truth! She does so by stretching the truth of who she is, becomes an apprentice in scriptomancy, which is a letter career that allows her to deliver secret magical letters between different worlds. Of course add a love interest and some high stakes adventures and what you end up with is a bingeable tale with spectacular storytelling. I am obsessed with this uniquely crafted atmospheric journey that I simply didn’t want to end. I will 💯be running to the store to get my hands on a copy for my shelves as soon as I can! Did I mention, you NEED this book too?

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This book was unexpectedly phenomenal, after a little bit of a slow start. I am hit or miss when it comes to fantasy novels, just not really my genre. However, I was very excited when I heard about this novel and it was quite intriguing. I like how this story unfolded and the antics that Maeve was pulling to try to solve so much of her own family mystery. I also appreciate the friendships she finally learned that ARE valuable and leaning on Tristan and her friends more. I really liked the splash of a love story that was not too overwhelming and did not take away from the story. Her roommate and her antics were absolutely hilarious and ridiculous, she is the kind of person who I would want as a friend.

Like with this author's first novel, I feel like the ending felt a bit rushed, albeit was SUPER unique with spilling all the tea that has occurred through letters being written. I actually quite enjoyed that and found it to be an interesting way to tell the story. My one real annoyance was literally the last page and how it ended, I felt like it just.....cut out. Drops this one line and then....Author's acknowledgments. Um, what? Not a fan of that so much.... this is an advanced copy so maybe there will be a little bit more sprinkle of salt on the end there...one would hope anyway. Regardless, totally worth the read and I quite enjoyed this adventure!

I can definitely see this being enjoyed by teens. It’s a true YA with kissing only, and a bit of touching. (Nothing descriptive) The magic is interesting. However, it’s not a magic with much depth. Just as the world building is a little lacking, for me. As a YA, it’s not too bad though.

This was fantastic. I loved the world-building, the characters, the mystery. Just an absolutely great time. I would love if this was a series so I could live with these characters a lot longer. I want to see them fix all the bigger problems and just watch them grow up and do all the scriptomancy!

The premise is good but the execution is meh. I found myself struggling to connect with the story from chapter 1 because of so much exposition, and I can’t say I cared much about Maeve toward the end. Scriptomancy is supposed to be this super complicated magic form, but she’s somehow able to master it and weasel her way into the school despite having no prior formal training. It all just felt very lackluster and when the end came, I was mostly glad to be finished.

Extremely well written and I will continue to read this author. The opportunity was an honor to read and I see this being booktok next obsession.

Fun book to read. Even though it’s YA, it kept my attention till the end. It’s like a fairy tale, but darker and more exciting. The characters were great, especially Maeve. Tristan felt a little odd, but that seems to fit his role. Some might compare it to *Harry Potter*, but it stands out as unique. Definitely worth reading!

Thank you, Net Galley!

This book was so much better than I expected. I could commit to a big long series about scriptomancy and would love to have it expand on the other characters in future books. Between the magic system and the mystery and the suspense and romance, it will be one I go back to in years to come to just be able to be in that world again. Thanks to net galley for the Arc. Everyone needs to read this book when it is released, especially if you liked Hotel Magnifique!!! You won’t be sorry.

It took me a bit to get into, but I enjoyed the story once I did. Maeve is suddenly given a letter from seven years previous that may change what she thinks she knows about the day her father died and the whole world changed. I especially enjoyed the interactions with Tristan. A nice story.

3.5 🌟

this story follows maeve who lost everything seven years ago. she receives an anonymous letter saying "your father was innocent" and so she goes on to live under a fake name to find out the truth. this book was so fun & the magic system was unique, focusing on hand-written writing infused with magic.

this had fantasy, mystery, magical letters, dark academia vibes, & a little bit of romance. the pacing was a bit slow at times but overall i really enjoyed this story. tristan was my favorite part of this book 🥹

thank you penguin group & netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!