Member Review

NOTE: This review is formatted for Goodreads. To few spoilers, visit my GR review copy this link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8526217830

*Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for granting me free access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*

Return to Sender by Stephanie Parente
2.25/5 Stars - Fine
Read April 2026

Return to Sender was an original yet predictable romance with underdeveloped characters. It contains some heavy messages.

Positive messages: 3/5
Closure is a main theme. Characters rebuild relationships and break down boundaries. Sisters reconnect and share what’s been on their minds, leading to a very healing moment. Friends are there for each other no matter what. The truth comes to the surface no matter what. Trust those you love—lying always hurts in the end.

Characters
Positive role models: 2.5/5
Violet, the main character, takes on the responsibility of being her younger sister’s legal guardian after her father’s unexpected death. She sacrifices much, but never complains. She’s an optimist and loves her sister with everything in her.
Phoebe, Violet’s little sister, struggles with depression after her father’s death. She’s fourteen years old, but has been through so much. She’s daring, spunky, and doesn’t take no for an answer. (view spoiler)
Dexter (“Dex”) is a very caring character despite his stony exterior. He works at Sequest, which helps LGBTQ+ youth dealing with trauma. He is bi himself, but this doesn’t have a major impact on the storyline. He and Phoebe become friends (yes, a thirty-one year old and a fourteen year old…🤷‍♀️ but mostly because he gets her and talking with youth and understanding their emotions is basically his entire job description).
Arden is Violet’s best friend. I loved her from the start. She’s constantly supportive (sometimes overwhelmingly so, but Violet doesn’t see it like this) and lives with joy and spunk. She’s opinionated and hilarious, and probably my favorite character.
Noah, Arden’s boyfriend ((view spoiler)) loves Arden and will do anything she asks. He’s a side character, but I loved him. He and Violet are also friends.
Gavin, a friend of Dexter’s, is an off-page character, but he seems to be important to Dex so I thought I’d mention him.
Bree is, according to Dexter, one of his closest friends. She works at a bar, is easygoing, and is genuinely one of the sweetest characters ever (she was only in one scene…but still).

Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 1/5
(view spoiler) Characters visit a gay bar.

Language: 3.5/5
Uses of ‘s—t,’ ‘f—k’ (variations), ‘a—hole,’ ‘damn,’ ‘d—k’ (once), ‘b—h,’ and mild others.

Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 2/5
*Minor spoilers* The main character’s father was in a fatal car accident (not described). Two characters fall off a cliff. One gets skinned knees, and the other breaks his arm.

Sex, Romance, and Nudity: 3.5/5
Characters accidently book a couples hotel. They think there is an ‘orgy’ downstairs, but it ends up being a porn film. A few heated kissing/touching scenes, and a few sex scenes (some more steamy than others).

My Thoughts/What You Should Know:
- - -pre-read- - -
I’m always thrilled to get an ARC, and always have no idea what to expect. This one looks really cute with a somewhat unique plot (which is hard to find, honestly. There no original ideas 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️)
That said, I’m excited for this one and hope it’s good! 🤞
- - -20% mark- - -
Wellll the writing is cheesier than I was expecting, but it’s not terrible. I’m still hopeful!
- - -post-read- - -
Oh boy.
At points, I wanted to throw this book across the room. The characters got on my nerves SO BADLY at points. They’re hot one second and cold the next; hate each other and then in love after one exchanged word.
Also, there’s a lot of LGTBQ background info. One prominent character works at an LGTBQ+ youth foundation, and both the main characters are bi. They attend a few gay bars, talk about sexuality (a little bit), etc. This was not implied AT ALL by the Goodreads genres/shelves or the trigger warnings, so I just wanted to make it clear that this book does include some of this content.
Overall, though, this book wasn’t my favorite. The pieces started clicking into place toward the end of the book, and then it ended abruptly (and…predictably). I’d give this 2-2.5 stars (depending on my mood. It may change a few times by the time you read this review).
If this looks interesting to you, pick this book up and let me know what you think. But, honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. The plot is weird, unrealistic, and predictable at the same time, and the characters are underdeveloped.
So, in other words: Not my fav. You can do better.
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As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this book or any others that I have rated/reviewed, feel free to reach out to me in the comments section below this review or through my profile. 💗 If you want to connect further, friend/follow me! 🤗

Age Range Recommendation: 16+ A Fiction
TRIGGER WARNINGS/MATURE CONTENT: LOSS OF LOVED ONES, SEXUAL CONTENT, GRIEF/DEPRESSION, PTSD, BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS, DRUG OVERDOSE (MINOR, BRIEFLY MENTIONED), INJURY (MINOR)
CONTROVERSIAL CONTENT FOR CHRISTIAN READERS: LGTBQ+ CHARACTERS (THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS ARE BI)

NOTE: I am not permitted to release quotes until the archive date. Unless I buy my own copy, I will unfortunately be unable to post quotes in this review.