My thanks to Penguin Books U.K./Viking for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Dear Edward’ by Ann Napolitano in exchange for an honest review.

As its audiobook edition, narrated by Cassandra Campbell, was already available, I listened to this alongside reading the eARC.

A fully booked flight takes off from New York to Los Angeles. The airplane crashes in a Colorado field leaving 191 of its passengers and crew dead with a single survivor, 12-year old Edward Adler. He had been travelling with his parents and older brother as they moved to the West Coast.

The main narrative follows Edward coming to terms with his survival and sudden fame. He finds a new home with his aunt and uncle. It isn’t easy for him in school but happily develops a warm friendship with Shay, the girl next door. The title refers to letters that come into play later in the novel that are addressed to Edward from the relatives of the other passengers.

There are also chapters that return to the events on Flight 2977 and the perspectives and interactions of its passengers and crew up to their final moments. I felt it was quite a clever way to frame Edward’s story rather than in a strict chronological order.

In her Author’s Note Ann Napolitano writes that she was inspired by 9-year old Ruben Van Assouw, the sole survivor of the crash of Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 in 2010. She also drew on aspects of the Air France 447 crash of 2009 and utilised parts of its black box recordings to create the cockpit dialogue before the crash.

She writes: “The more I learned about these flights, the more my compassion for the passengers, the crew, and their loved ones grew. I hope that compassion is reflected in the story of the fictional flight 2977.”

I felt that she accomplished this. Overall I found ‘Dear Edward’, despite its central tragedy, a powerful and uplifting coming-of-age story that stressed the bonds of family.

An amazing book with depth and beauty. I felt Edward’s dread of feeling anything, living in a bubble to prevent pain and remembering his great loss. Learning to live again after the crash in a new house, with caring family going through their own difficulties. Growing up with a new family. Truly a slowly unfolding picture of managing loss and the slow journey forward. The profound sense of Edward’s detachment makes the reader empathize with Edward’s difficulties and there is a real feeling that Edward must be protected from confronting his pain, yet the insistent knowledge that he must of course confront it. I cannot put into words how deeply this book affected me, the difficulties of growing up, through adolescence are tricky enough without the added trauma of being a lone crash survivor. Edward has a huge support structure put in place by careers and counselors, and it takes him a long time to acknowledge this, so deep is his sadness and detachment.
The second part of the book covers Edward’s awakening and forward journey, which is also moving and well plotted.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Deeply moving. A tale of deep loss and personal adjustment.
#Brilliant
#stunning storyline
#profound
#SelfDiscovery
#Moving
Thank yo very much #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication date in exchange for an honest review..

Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This poignant book was the best read that I've had in over a year. It's original, heart-wrenching, and hits you hard with the feels in a good way.

The story begins with a group of passengers boarding a plane, and gives a brief insight into their different personalities and situations. A tycoon, a hippy, a family, a soldier, a young woman, and a wallstreet guy are just some of the people aboard.

The narrative moves between past and present and different characters, slowly revealing the whole story. It looks at tragedy and asks the questions what happens to those of us left behind when tragedy strikes? How do you heal? How do you move on/continue?

Dear Edward is an absolute beaut. 100% recommend it.

I got to 56% and just couldnt continue. I skipped lots of pages toll it was at the end. Initially i really enjoyed it but it jusr reallt started to drag and i needed something to change or happen. I feel really sorry for Edward, and i liked the letter from the man who saved him but i just felt it was a bit too dull in the build up to the crash

This book was harrowing and hard hitting. It really gets you into the mindset of 12 year old Edward after the plane crash with all that he has to come to terms with. Although I felt this compromised the pace of the book and made it seem like it was dragging on, it was realistic. When the plot starts to pick up and Edward finds the letters, it’s a positive stark contrast to the first part of the book. It’s uplifting to see Edward realise his purpose and slowly rebuild his life. The plane narrative of the book was particularly good. Reading about the lives of the people on the plane and the things they were dealing with was really poignant.

Overall, ‘Dear Edward’ was a lovely book about finding courage and strength during a dark time. It was a powerful read.

As is usual for me I did not read the blurb before actually reading this book, so when I finished it I only then found out that this was based (loosely?) on a real event. I found the description of what leads up to the crash quite underwhelming and could not engage with the majority of characters who were highlighted. As for Edward, again I felt empathy for his physical recovery was lacking. What was expected of him by the family of the other passengers was an interesting examination of human nature but again missed the mark for me.
It was an interesting read covering so many angles but I was not totally engaged, something was sadly missing for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Ann Napolitano/Penguin Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Books, and the author Ann Napolitano.
This was an interesting concept and a well-written novel, but the overwhelming feeling that I am left with is that it was only 'ok'. It doesn't leave me with anything profound, and none of the characters made a significant impression. Unfortunately, it was all a little underwhelming.
An easy read, requiring minimal effort. Would be good for a holiday. 2.5 stars rounded up.

Edward is the sole survivor of a commercial plane crash. 191 others on board perished. He is critically injured but mostly makes a full recovery. On the outside. He has to learn, having been taken in by his aunt and her husband, how to deal with the trauma itself and the loss of his entire family as he knew it.

This book started off really well for me. I loved the writing style, the storyline, the before and after timelines of the crash. However, I found it hard to stay engaged and interested in the book. Aside from Florida, I didn't feel any connection with or investment in any of the other characters really. Edward is coming to terms with his loss and while this should make for devastating reading and ugly crying, it just didn't get there imho, for me anyhow. Unfortunately this book was not for me but I am in the minority on that.

What a book. The poor boy has so much to cope with. The fury I felt for him was amazing. The writing was so good, you feel like you are in the book walking alongside this poor boy. Thank goodness he has his lovely friend to support him. Life can be cruel but the people you surround yourself with can be brutal.

This story is wonderfully written. 

Edward Adler is the sole survivor of a plane crash which he lost his whole family in at 12 years old.

This is a heart wrenching and emotional story. 

Its beautiful and poetic. It shows how a 12 year old gets over the loss of his family and his journey to get to him to that point.

If you like stories about loss and second chances then give this a try

A lovely reading break from my usual genre.

Story is on two timelines. One on the flight and one with Eddie/Edward afterwards and how he copes with it all. A realistic plot. A friendship built on the back of the incident. Edward goes to stay with his aunty and uncle who could never have their own children and befriends the next door neighbour, Shay. They find letters hidden from Edward and they decide to respond to them.

Loved the touching end and a quick mention of Edward's future with Shay.

A must read

Not a plane flight read, but anywhere else brilliant.
I was drawn to this book as my husband's name is Edward mostly known as Eddie.
I was gripped from the start by the story of an unusual family relocating, unusual because the boys were homeschooled by their Father and by the closeness and honesty of the family.
Edward is the sole survivor of a horrific plane crash, as well as serious injuries he suffers from survivor's guilt, despair and flashbacks. Edward's Aunt and Uncle give him a home, but they are going through a difficult time being unable to conceive and his Aunt losing her Sister. Edward meets his neighbour a feisty girl who thinks he has magical powers as he is treated by the media as a miracle boy. Edward gets physically better slowly but can only move on when he finds a way to help others.
The story moves between the period prior to the crash and Edwards present life, very well done. Characters are fascinating and technical detail of crash interesting.
Verty moving, unusual story.

I need to lie down or be cuddled or have a big mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows after reading this book. This is the first book this year to have reduced me to a blubbering, red-eyed, snot bubble of a wreck. It’s safe to say that I loved this book. In fact love is too weak a word to describe how much this book touched me. I actually hugged the book against my face while sobbing and making strange snuffle noises while my partner just shook her head and went back to watching TV. She’s used to such behaviour. I loved the structure of the book with chapters of Edward in the present, learning to live without his parents and brother interwoven with flashbacks on the plane from check-in at the airport right until the crash. The final chunk of the book when Edward finds out just how many people have been touched by the fact he survived almost pushed me over the edge. Dear Edward is astonishing.

Can you possibly imagine what it would be like to be the sole survivor of a commercial airplane crash which took the lives of 191 others including every member of your immediate family? Before reading <b>Dear Edward</b> by Ann Napolitano I couldn't either but she skillfully took her readers into this scenario and made it as real as one would ever want it to be.

Twelve year old Eddie Adler together with his older brother Jordan and both parents were aboard a flight when the unthinkable happened and their plane went down. This is not a spoiler as it's right there on the blurb. Edward was the only survivor and the author recreated in exquisite detail the journey through his grief and trauma. Dealing not only with his physical recovery but also the psychological issues. Time had no meaning, fear was always right there under the surface and even happy memories were painful. <i> This is how memories appear now, like a burglar bursting through a locked door without warning.</i>

His attempt to come to terms with what he had lost was overwhelming, not just for him but also for the aunt and uncle who took him in and devoted their lives to his protection and recovery. <i>They have been bucked off the horse that was their life. Their nephew is lying in front of them, broken, and he is their responsibility.</i>

I adored the friendship offered by Shay, the young girl who lived next door to his new home. She was his companion and quite frankly his lifeline. She guided him through some of the toughest times and was there beside him with each step of his recovery.

This was a beautifully told story. Alternating regularly between pre and post crash Napolitano developed the characters of a number of passengers and crew members. This way, not only did the tension build in the lead up to the crash but she provided insights into the relationships between the Adler family and helped us to understand how and why Eddie was missing them so much.

Though melancholic the story was one of survival against all odds and carried a message of the redemptive powers of human goodwill. My congratulations to the author for bringing to life this story inspired by real events. Thank you too to Penguin Books (UK) and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

4.5 stars on Goodreads.

Not a gripping read by any means but one that I wanted to keep reading. Sole survivor of a plane crash and a child, Edward just needs someone to hold him and show him love. It appears that most people are too afraid to get too close and show him how loved he is for fear of upsetting him. I just wanted to give him a hug. Worth a read and a place on your bookshelf.

DEAR EDWARD - ANN NAPOLITANO⁣
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Im still trying to process my feelings for this book whilst I write this review.⁣
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12 years old, the sole survivor of a plane crash and learning to live again without all that you knew, your comforts and your identity. To Edward, it probably felt like learning to breath again, learning to walk again but without the loving comfort and hands off your parents to guide you.⁣
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When I lost my mum I felt like an orphan at the age of 33. I felt like the comfort I knew was gone, that shelter removed and I had to navigate this new reality without her guidance. The world as I knew it was no more. My protection removed. I remember walking into my garden after 10 pm, in the pouring rain because I truly did feel like I couldn’t breath. So, when I read that part in this book, that pain hit me like a wave. It was far to REAL.⁣
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I think this is the reason why so many people loved this book - it was the reality of emotions that sealed its fate. ⁣
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I loved how she writes so openly about friendship, relationships between friends, bereavement and coping mechanisms. She touches upon such heavy issues but still keeping her book light. ⁣
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This heart-breaking novel consumed my heart and thoughts in the best possible way. ⁣
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The story, itself is told in two alternating plots: the day of the crash and then Edward’s life after. Which in my opinion was so important for character development, to watch Edwards life transform and grow before us. The past and present intertwined effortlessly and the narrative flowed. ⁣
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I was so invested in their lives from start to finish that I did not want it to end. What Ann has produced was so MUCH more captivating and honest than anything I could have read. She writes with such humanity and compassion, the challenges of facing our own mortality, preparing for death, whilst providing glimpses of light and hope in the process. ⁣
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Thank you Ann Napolitano for your words. For Edward. For showing us that we never truly get over a loss of that magnitude but rather accept ou new reality and move forward.⁣
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Zubs 💛💋⁣
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Many thanks to the publishers Viking UK for the gifted copy. ⁣
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Wow! I think this has just become one of my new favourite books!

This book is a poignant reminder of all it is to be human, of how love and pain are interconnected and how beauty can come out of tragedy.

Through the book we learn simultaneously the events of the day the plane crashed and the recovery of Edward (no longer Eddie). The story is both heart-breaking and beautiful.

A fabulous book!!

This is such a beautiful book. Edward is the only survivor of a plane crash and the narrative swaps between the lead up to the crash and Edward’s life and teenage years beyond that. He becomes a focus of interest / obsession of both the media and the families of the victims, and has to cope with that on top of his own tragedy. His growth and understanding as he matures is so beautifully portrayed.

I started this book twice because it just didn’t click with me at first and I found the pace too slow. I’m glad I came back to it and persevered because it builds into a moving meditation on the purpose of life and has kept me thinking ever since.

Our main character is a 12 year old boy called Eddie. He is flying to LA with his family, because his mum, Jane, has a screenwriting job. He is very close with his 15 year old brother Jordan and as they board the plane they are bickering over who gets the window seat. We see snippets of the lives of all the other passengers too: a gay army veteran, a Wall Street millionaire, a woman taking a pregnancy test in the toilet, and the air crew. Over Colorado the plane gets into trouble and crashes, killing every one of these people, except Eddie. The novel then explores how this 12 year old sole survivor of the crash copes with the trauma of the crash and the loss of his whole family.

Eddie goes to live with his aunt and uncle. His mum’s sister Jane wants to help Eddie but is struggling to know what he needs. Their instinct is to protect as much as possible. In this time of press intrusion, keyboard warriors and internet ‘experts’ everyone wants a piece of Eddie. How did this boy survive when every other passenger died? As well as being hounded by the outside world, Eddie can feel the weight of his aunt and uncle’s grief as soon as he arrives at their home. It’s an unbearable burden for a boy who has lost everything. He keeps putting one foot in front of the other, but he’s not really present. He has disappeared inside himself and even his therapist can’t get through to him.

The author uses intervening chapters about the other lost passengers. We learn a little more about their lives and start to comprehend how much their families have lost when the plane went down. Every single passenger had something or someone to live for. The one that really brought a lump to my throat was the woman who has just found out she was pregnant. I remember the joy I felt at that moment and the way I imagined the whole life of my baby spooling out in front of me. For Eddie, the knowledge of all these lives being snuffed out in a moment, is an unbearable burden. There’s a survivor’s guilt and an obligation to value the opportunity surviving has afforded him, But when you are unable to comprehend and accept your own loss, how can you live life to its full potential? Eddie is barely existing and has no appetite for daily life. He’s also aware that he doesn’t have any boundaries, Jane is so concerned about shielding him and doing the right thing, she has created a situation where he can get away with anything, No one dare say no.

Eddie’s saving grace is meeting the girl next door. Shay seems able to understand how he feels, even more than his therapist. More than that, she is forthright and able to say no to him. He feels safe with her. He finds that the only place he can sleep is at her house. He is honest and able to tell her that he is numb, he simply can’t feel anything. He is like a clockwork toy, making all the right moves but without any emotional connection. He has no appetite for the life he’s been gifted. As he recovers physically and is able to go back to school, Shay supports him,

Where this novel succeeds is its depiction of grief and how a huge loss like Eddie’s never goes away, but becomes easier to live with. He slowly starts to heal and let his emotions reconnect. He has to learn that although human connection is scary, it is ultimately the only way he will heal.

This book was totally different from any other story I have read in my many years as an avid consumer of books. It made me think a lot about being the sole survivor of any major disaster. I liked the characters and wanted Edward to be able to move on from his experience. Half way through the book I couldn't figure which way the story was going to turn. I liked getting to know a little about the different passengers on the plane and about their families and loved ones. It was a story that kept me engaged to the very end and a thoroughly enjoyable read.