Aunt Helen wasn’t a typical aunt. She was the author of the best–selling Alvin Hatter series, about siblings who discover the elixir of immortality. Her writing inspired a generation of readers.
In her will, she leaves one last writing project—just for Lottie. It’s a series of letters, each containing mysterious instructions designed to push Lottie out of her comfort zone. Soon, Lottie’s trying some writing of her own, leaping off cliffs, and even falling for a boy she’s only just met. Then the letters reveal an extraordinary secret about the inspiration for the Alvin Hatter series. Lottie finds herself faced with an impossible choice, one that will force her to confront her greatest fear once and for all. (Pub Date: Jul 25, 2017)
Review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. I also want to thank the publisher for giving me this opportunity.
This book wasn't at all what I expected. This in a good way, don't worry. It was still a 3.5, not a full 4-star because the author was so daring with her planning that she could have written this more with a bang. I'm sure the idea had potential to become a real classic.
Still, I'm sure most YA readers would enjoy this. Because it's different but it's not too weird. Thus, it's very easy to like and unlikely to forget.
It all starts with the death of Lottie's beloved aunt, and her will. She was some JK Rowling equivalent and, to help her niece cope with it all, leaves to Lottie 24 letters, in which there are a few tasks, challenges and a big secret. Lottie needs to fulfill the task of one letter before reading the next. Thanks to that, Lottie learns how to face her panic attacks and meets Sam, a mysterious boy who also knew her aunt.
By the way, this is more like a mix between PS I Love You and Since You've Been Gone than Thirteen Reasons Why.
With a formula similar to Fangirl, this book brings excerpts of Lottie's aunt's book series, about two siblings in a magical world who have their parents taken away and end up becoming immortal. Unlike Fangirl, even f this magical world is obviously inspired in Harry Potter, it's surely not fan fiction. You can see a lot of the aunt reflected on the younger sister of the siblings and feel there are important clues of her message to Lottie might be.
Yes, this is one of my favorite kinds of books. A story with an underlying secret.
Lottie's voice and her aunt's were quite different, and I was also glad that the aunt didn't sound like the author intervening in the story. She does sound a little too full of advice in the first letters but as it goes, Katrina Leno was able to build the character so well, it was as if she were still alive and interacting with the others. I'm not sure if I would have liked receiving those letters but I can't say the aunt didn't seem real.
Sam was one I'm still not sure I liked. I didn't hate him, though. He was just not my type, I think. It was more than "I can't figure him out". Nevertheless, his plot gripped me almost from the time he appeared.
Lottie, our main character, and her whole family, as well as Em, her best friend, they were so heartwarming I wished to become one of them. This is a family I'm taking with me.
The tasks were a little of a let-down. To be honest, very few piqued my interesting. This was the most disappointing in the book, especially since they were supposed to be the main thing. Some of them didn't read like Leno gave that much a thought or maybe she just couldn't think of anything better and she needed to have anything. When it comes to books with a list of tasks, Since You've Been Gone is still my favorite. Maybe that's why everything that followed didn't feel right?
Now my big complaint was the ending. Although I understood it well, I wasn't a fan. It felt underwhelming taking into consideration everything we go through.
I think this book deserved to be more entertaining but it was sweet. And it was a good, surprising story, I'm sure readers of all ages will enjoy it a lot.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
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