Dear Future Me by Deborah O’Connor, when the books starts everyone is receiving their letters and it is Miranda who is so upset by hers she rushes out the house only to be found at the bottom of the cliff later that day. Her best friend Audrey is devastated through everything Audrey went through Miranda had been there when she didn’t go to college to raise her little brother Miranda supported her and so her death leaves her reeling. when local police call it a suicide Audrey refuses to believe it and just like when her parents died she soon is taking care of Adrian and Edward Miranda‘s children while her husband also comes to terms with her untimely death. Audrey has sacrificed a lot for the ones Sue loves so when she decides to investigate Miranda‘s depth having Miranda as her only friend she doesn’t know where to turn. When she finally starts looking into it however she will find out things about those she thought she knew that would be shocking and then one case it will be life-changing and deadly. OK let me stay upfront there were a lot of things that irritated me about this book especially the letter to the perpetrator at the end but I digress despite any negative thing I can say the one thing I can absolutely say with certainty as I absolutely recommend this book. I did not see the ending coming and I must say Miss O’Connor set me up and knocked me down it truly was a twist out of left-field that was expertly done so I definitely recommend this book even though some of it had my eyes rolling in my perturbed antenna up.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #DeborahO’Connor, #DearFutureMe,

Thank you netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Deborah O’Connor for an advanced reading copy of Dear Future Me!

This book follows a group of classmates who receive a letter they had written to themselves 20 years prior. In a tragic turn of events one of the classmates is presumed dead by suicide. Her best friend is determined to figure out the cause and secrets her friend held, as well as everyone else in the class.

I enjoyed this thriller! I thought the writing was beautiful, well paced, and kept me interested. I couldn’t figure out who was responsible and my guesses kept changing- the plot twist and the ending were not predictable!

This book is a very slow burn but had enough oomph to keep me going. It was an alright read but I didn't like how Audrey didn't have much character development. Some things in the end were predictable but overall satisfactory.

Dear Future Me is a thrilling mystery exploring the naïve mistakes of the past and their sometimes disastrous consequences in the future. Deborah O'Connor had me guessing whodunnit up until the bittersweet end.

The setting and atmosphere of this story were spot on for a small-town mystery involving a group of former classmates and framed by the letters they wrote to their future selves 20 years earlier. O'Connor does a wonderful job of capturing the dynamics between people in a town where everyone seems to know everyone. I grew up in a place much like Saltburn is described and the main protagonist Audrey's former classmates are all similar to people I remember going to school with. The often gloomy seaside setting of this story made it feel claustrophobic and eerie.

It's a very human experience to ask yourself if people are truly capable of great change and to look back on what you thought your life would be versus how it ended up. At the heart of this novel are the mistakes we make when we're young, pressure to be exceptional, and our capacity for forgiveness. The "Dear Future Me" letters frame each individual narrative, gradually revealing each character's younger selves and unraveling small truths throughout the story. I'm not sure all of the letters functioned to add depth to the overall narrative in a successful way and also question if the POV shifts to the past were the best way to reveal certain information. It threw a bit of a wrench in the pacing as did the repetitive nature of Audrey's revelations leading to her frantically confronting several people.

I enjoyed the utilization of the past and present versions of the main cast of characters because it made it difficult to determine if they had truly learned and changed over the years or if Audrey was on the right track with her investigation. There are several mysteries wrapped into one story that I think successfully worked together in creating something engaging and thought-provoking. Audrey is a character I believe everyone can connect with as she tries to discover the connection between the tragic loss of one of her classmates years ago and the sudden loss of her close friend in the present.

This was an entertaining and original read I had trouble putting down despite the moments when the pacing was off. O'Connor crafts a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the end and manages to sneak in a little encouragement that it's never too late to change your life.

A group of students wrote letters to their future selves, and now they are receiving them in the mail. Except there’s a little something extra in some of their letters, and it will change their current lives in dramatic ways.

Audrey can’t believe that her best friend Miranda committed suicide after receiving her letter. She decides to track down as many of her former classmates as she can to talk about the letters and a tragic event that occurred all those years ago. She hopes to hear something that will give her some kind of explanation for Miranda’s actions. The more she digs, the more questions she has, and she soon fears her search is putting her in danger. She has to decide if it’s worth it to keep pursuing the truth or to quit while she’s ahead. And safe.

I thought this was a cool premise – receiving letters you wrote to yourself while in school, with your whole life ahead of you. Many characters react predictably – quitting unfulfilling jobs and relationships. It’s like a mid-life crisis hitting you right in the face. It seemed a bit odd that no one expected to receive them, either now or then. Wouldn’t that be the whole point of writing them? To know you’ll get them back?

One of the things that grated on me was Miranda’s husband - Audrey pretty much moved in to take care of their kids and, in turn, him. That’s not her responsibility, and he just kept taking advantage of her willingness to help. And every time someone criticized her, she just took it and immediately doubted herself. She just came across as spineless for most of the story.

But the different twists to the mysteries from the past and present were good, not just one revealed easy answer. A nice contemplative read if you’re in the nostalgic mood.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Expected publication date - June 3, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

A class of students write letters to their future selves for an assignment. During the assignment, they go on a class trip, where one student dies. At the time, his death was assumed to be an accident. But, 20 years later, the letters arrive in the mail, and this sets off a chain of secrets and accidents, and maybe murder? One woman is determined to find out what exactly happened on that trip 20 years ago and what happened to her best friend moments after receiving her letter.

This was an interesting and original story. I enjoyed reading the letters written, then seeing what became of the students. It made me cringe to think what I would have written in a letter to myself at 17 😳

This book has a very interesting premise. Unfortunately, the execution fell a bit short. It was a perfectly average book with nothing to make it stand out. In fact, I’m already feeling my memories of it floating away.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

This book was great! Loved the concept of letters written as a teen and mailed later in life! This book had so many twists and turns. Lots of characters but the main character Audrey, was very likable and I found myself interested in her character.

The setup for this one is solid: a class assignment to write letters to your future self, only for those letters to show up twenty years later—alongside some seriously buried secrets. When one of the classmates dies by suicide shortly after receiving hers, it kicks off a small-town mystery full of grief, guilt, and twisted connections. The premise instantly drew me in, and I appreciated the way the story examined how past trauma can linger, reshape, and resurface when you least expect it.

That said, while the mystery kept me engaged, the pacing felt uneven, and the large cast of characters sometimes blurred together. I liked the themes it touched on—regret, identity, the lies we tell ourselves and others—but wished it had gone deeper into some of the emotional stakes. Still, it’s a thoughtful and slightly eerie take on the “high school reunion gone wrong” trope, with just enough suspense to keep the pages turning.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy to review.

Dear Future Me is a mystery novel of twists and turns that will keep you guessing the entire time. What would it be like to hear directly from your younger self? These characters find out in probably the worst way possible when they receive letters written just as they were about to complete school and no one's life is where they thought they'd wound up.

Audrey uncovers two mysteries, one years old and one fresh, which brings her back to people she hasn't spoken to in years, despite living in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Everyone has a secret to keep, leaving Audrey to untangle the webs left behind by her classmates.

This book is a classic small town murder mystery with edge of your seat moments and a deep look into what happens when your life is forced off track. I recommend this book for those who like murder mysteries, small town thrillers, and dramas.

The synopsis sounds like an excellent book, similar vibes to I know what you did last summer, however the reality just fell flat for me, I found this to be very slow burn (which isn’t my preferences) and I had difficulty staying interested / focussed on the plot given the slow nature to the plot unravelling.

I’m putting this one down for now but will update my thoughts if I end up coming back to it at some point.

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Publish date: June 3rd

I enjoyed this book! Great mix of characters. I’m a sucker for class-fueled drama and a vacation island “regulars” vs “seasonals” trope.

One star off because there were some predictable moments.

A slow burn mystery that investigates crumbs of truth from various points of view and moments in time, it takes a little patience to appreciate the way the narrative unfurls itself, but I was intrigued from beginning to end. I'll be clear and say if you're looking for a pulse pounding thrill a minute read you will likely be disappointed. This is a mystery with finely woven together intricacies where the past and present collide.

In 2003 a group of high school seniors were given an assignment to pen letters to their future selves. Twenty years later their teacher mails each student their letter. These letters function as a catalyst getting the ball rolling on a collision course to raise questions and unbury long held secrets. Upon receiving her letter, Miranda, a young mother drives to a rocky outcropping still in her pajamas and jumps to her death. Her best friend Audrey just can't accept this tragedy at face value. She can't help wondering what was in that letter. She begins to interview their other classmates and talk turns to the classmate who froze to death on one of their overnight school trips.

Was his death an accident?

One thing is for sure nothing in the past or the present is what it seems.

Everyone is guarding their secrets.

There are a lot of POVs and a dual timeline. However, it wasn't difficult to keep track of the facts or characters. The straightforward style of writing served the content well. The complete picture emerges bit by bit. Getting to know these characters in such detail was an unexpected surprise. The pacing is solid, and the ending has enough punch to up the suspense. The small seaside town provided a familiar atmosphere. It became second nature to imagine this little town with its secrets swirling about.

This was my first time reading a Deborah O'Connor novel, but it won't be my last.

If you enjoy assembling the pieces of a mystery this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press|Sourcebooks for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Dear Future Me is such a fun and clever read! The premise is fantastic! Teenagers writing letters to their future selves, only to have them delivered 20 years later that sets off a chain reaction that unfolds into a gripping murder mystery, both past and present. The pacing is strong, the story is engaging, and the writing is solid. My only critique is the sheer number of characters. There were so many that it felt a bit overwhelming at times. I would have preferred fewer characters with more fully developed backstories and personalities. Still, it’s an entertaining and unique mystery that keeps you turning the pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Deborah O’Connor, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Just a middle of the road book. Nothing super special about it. Could have been more interesting but the characters were pretty flat and boring and all blended in to each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a complimentary early release copy of Dear Future Me by Deborah O’Connor.

The premise for Dear Future Me is interesting, I liked the idea of these characters future selfs receiving these letters that they had written as children. The letters were some of my favorite parts to read, the letters all shared that same energy that children have. I liked to see what each child dreamed of what their future selfs would become then we see what they’ve actually done with their lives. It was interesting to see the ways that these letters changed/affected the lives of those who received them. I enjoyed reading from all the perspectives of this book, the characters were interesting to read, and though the story could be slow at times I still found there to be enough thrilling moments/elements that kept me invested.

The ending of the book feels decent, I liked the writing and characters but the reveals felt a bit lackluster. After finishing, the book feels average. There isn’t anything about this book that really sticks out to me at all. Overall Dear Future Me was a quick popcorn thriller kind of read.

I found the premise of Dear Future Me to be very intriguing. However, I ended up being a bit let down by the book. I really did enjoy the story itself. There were some twists that I didn't see coming and theories I had were completely off base. My main issue was that this was a slow burn. And I felt it was reeeeeeealllllllly slow, unfortunately. The last 25% or so, I couldn't put down. But up until that point, I had to push myself to keep going. Something about it just didn't grab my attention the way I'd like and I felt like it was more drawn out than it needed to be.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was a slow burn, but a quick read. More of a mystery than a thriller, but still very good

Thank you Net Galley for this early read in exchange for an honest review. I would rate this as 3/5 stars. The premise of this book sounded fun and I decided to read on! I love the literary device of using the letter format to show the audience the passage of time. The third person also made this an engaging read in the beginning. That quickly began to dwindle into a slow-moving mystery as a murder becomes unraveled. The drawback for me was where the author alluded to foreshadowing techniques it was too the noise. This made the outcome predictable because the foreshadowing needed more nuance and layers. I wanted to be able to think of this instead of being told early on. If the reader is paying attention to all the details at the end make sense.
There were a lot of characters in this novel and I wanted them to be fleshed out more. It becomes difficult to become attached to any of the characters because I feel like we, the readers, were left in the dark about their motivations. I wanted to see what their personalities were and not just understand them from their circle’s perspective. I have so many questions about the protagonist and others that would have made the ending more impactful. However, watching the answers officially unfold was very descriptive and my favorite part of the book.

3.5 STARS
Dear Future Me is a slow read that kept me surprised until the last third of the book. I do wish that Audrey would have had a little more growth throughout the book instead of just at the end, considering she was consistently pushing herself out of her comfort zone. I appreciated POVs from some of the other characters, it helped break the book up.