Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A truly beautiful Shakespearean-inspired set of love letters and poems that are both uplifting and thought-provoking.

It takes a moment to get into the vibe of this collection of letters, but every page is something new and lovely. The writing style is so poetic and makes you feel as if you are the one who is being spoken to in such a tender and loving way.

Shakespearean inspired letters and poems based on Hamlet and the John Everett Millais painting "Ophelia" - two of my core interests. Beautifully written and thoughtfully compiled.

i enjoyed this. while it was a little more straightforward than the poetry i usually enjoy, it felt like being addressed directly by the author. like being encouraged. and what a unique concept to come from a past work of art, to be addressing a known character and relating their struggles to our own lives. it was interesting to pair the poems w letters too. i couldn't always tell what section of ophelia's life was being directly addressed and i did get lost a few times, but i knew enough to enjoy the emotions and care being expressed. interesting and unique piece of writing.

This book was really interesting. I like how it felt very personal. Like I was reading someone’s secret/personal letters or a diary that may have been left behind in a house, after moving in. I think a lot of the wording was very clever. Things like the style of wording made the book pop. But if the reader understands it then it’s pleasant but if not it kinda causes someone to feel a little lost. I did feel lost sometimes. Maybe because I didn’t catch some of the creative word play. Also, I liked the themes. Very relatable.

Arc review.

I enjoyed this poetry book, I really liked the Shakespeare reference in the book.
It took one or two to get intro the way it's written since it's different from what I normally read, but after that I went through it really quick!
The poems/letters are beautifully written.

Thank you for everyone involved for the arc.

For fans of Shakespeare, “Dear Ophelia” is the book for you. I went into this ARC with a bit of healthy skepticism based on the description, but I’m so glad the publisher put this on my radar—it completely won me over..

In the introduction the author suggests two ways to experience this book, and I’m glad I chose to read it straight through. The poems acted like a rhythmic breather between the letters, adding a layer of emotion that prose alone might have missed. It made for a more dynamic read. It was also interesting to not know for sure the gender of Yours Truly. This made it more ambiguous and I was able to visualize myself as Yours Truly helping out a close friend.

I liked these collections of letters and poems to Ophelia by Yours Truly and thought they really highlighted on mental health. I felt like you could feel the authors love for others and their struggle with everyday emotions that we go through as humans. The author mentions that they wrote this for someone they lost and you can feel their love for that person in Dear Ophelia. It felt like a good pick me up for when life gets hard. A reminder that we are not alone in our feelings, whether they be good or bad.

There is something incredibly comforting about this collection. Written as a series of poems and letters addressed to an alternate version of Ophelia, the book feels less like you're reading poetry and more like you're receiving encouragement from a friend who understands grief, heartbreak, love, and the messy reality of being human. The collection is framed around life, love, and loss, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare's Ophelia while transforming her story into something hopeful and healing.

What I appreciated most was how personal the writing felt. Many of the poems read like gentle reminders that it's okay to struggle, okay to hurt, and okay to keep going anyway. The blend of letters and poetry creates an intimate atmosphere that made me feel as though these words were written specifically for whoever needed them most. While some pieces are more straightforward than the poetry I usually gravitate toward, the sincerity behind them made them resonate all the same.

This is a quick read, but one that invites you to slow down. It's the kind of collection you can return to whenever you need a little hope, reassurance, or a reminder that even in difficult seasons, there is still beauty worth holding onto.

Dear Ophelia by Yours Truly is a quietly moving debut that lingers with you long after the last page. This slim, beautifully crafted collection of poems and epistolary letters is addressed to an alternative version of Shakespeare's Ophelia, reimagining her not as a tragedy to be mourned but as someone to be encouraged, uplifted, and seen.

The framing is wonderfully original. Written as though by a mysterious correspondent — "Yours Truly" — the letters and poems speak directly to Ophelia about love, grief, loss, and the messy, beautiful work of simply being human. What strikes you immediately is how personal the writing feels. These aren't distant, academic observations about a fictional character. They feel like honest confessions, the kind of thing you might pour into a letter to a beloved friend going through the hardest season of their life.

The interplay between the poem sections and the letters is inspired. The poetry acts as a kind of breath between the prose, adding an emotional layer that deepens every sentiment. I found myself reading certain passages twice — not because they were difficult to understand, but because they resonated so deeply I wanted to sit with them a little longer.

This is a collection best read slowly, taken as a companion during moments of personal struggle or quiet reflection. It doesn't hammer you over the head with its themes — instead, it whispers them, gently and persistently. The author's love for their subject, and for whoever might be reading, is palpable on every page.

For anyone who has ever felt unseen, overwhelmed, or in need of a gentle reminder that their pain is valid and their life still holds beauty — Dear Ophelia is the perfect companion.

Thank you to NetGalley and ACTE IV for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.