Review: Love Letters to The Dead

Writing Style:
I found the writing style and format of the book (written in letters to famous dead celebrity icons) to be incredibly well done. There are many ways this book could have been written, but the letters to these deceased people were relevant, much more than I imagined when starting the book.

The writing itself was poetic. Beautifully crafted. There were a few moments where it felt naive, but that can be attributed to the story being from the perspective of a 15 year old, Laurel. It was oddly (but very well) contrasted with incredible wisdom from that same perspective throughout the book.

Plot/Pacing:
I appreciated that the romance between Laurel and Sky was prominent but never subtracted from the major plot of the novel. If anything, it upheld the major plot, providing it with extra substance, and wasn't a distraction.

I especially love that it circulated around Laurels love for May and her learning that the guilt she felt over Mays death was something she could surpass.

Laurel made quite a few horrible decisions in trying to be like her sister, to be special as she believed May to be, and because of those decisions, I feared I wouldn't like this book. Soon I realised that there was a turning point, redemption for Laurel; a spark of light in the dark, and I could no longer put it down.

I also loved the subplot that was Hannah and Natalie. It was very well executed.

The pacing was practically perfect; nothing felt neither rushed nor dragged out. However Laurels first encounters with Sky felt forced and unnatural (which I suppose was a reflection of how her first weeks at school were, and therefore kind of made sense).

General Comments:
I loved the ending. The novel definitely came full circle and created an air of hope and brightness where the beginning was full of dark and despair. This was a beautifully executed novel and I hope to read more from Dellaira in the future.

Warnings:
There are mentions of underage drinking, drug use and sexual assault, but nothing too graphic. The underage drinking is prominent though. Reading some of these scenes is uncomfortable, and it certainly should be because these are teenagers (13-15+), but to get to the end of the story it is entirely and absolutely worth it.

Rating:

4.5/5