I gave this book 4.5 stars for review*
I really loved this book so much. I thought this def. a emotionally compelling novel. I really loved how this book tackled grief in various forms from various characters. I loved both POV so much. I loved the cast of characters that we met. I really enjoyed the use of letters as a element to start each chapter. I really was invested in both sides of this story both jules and declan. I loved the family dynamics for both lead characters. I really liked the slow burn romance as well that developed. I could have done without one plot point because i thought it was a tad predicable but i was really impressed with it. I really can't wait to read rev story next! ( )

I gave this book 4.5 stars for review*
I really loved this book so much. I thought this def. a emotionally compelling novel. I really loved how this book tackled grief in various forms from various characters. I loved both POV so much. I loved the cast of characters that we met. I really enjoyed the use of letters as a element to start each chapter. I really was invested in both sides of this story both jules and declan. I loved the family dynamics for both lead characters. I really liked the slow burn romance as well that developed. I could have done without one plot point because i thought it was a tad predicable but i was really impressed with it. I really can't wait to read rev story next! ( )

Full review can be found here:

https://nordie.wordpress.com/2017/04/28/book-review-letters-to-the-lost-by-brigi...

I didn't want to love this book because ROMANCE, but it was really really good. My robot-heart felt feelings. So many feelings.

I don't want to be misleading, this was a story about grief more than it was about falling in love, but the love was definitely there. Things worked out a little too perfectly for me to call this a forever favorite, but I am SO excited to read MORE THAN WE CAN TELL now!!

I'm not going to lie, I didn't really want to like this book. I know that sounds weird, but romance is such a hard genre for me to get down with. And also, the misunderstood bad boy trope really doesn't gel with me. But try as I might, I couldn't NOT like this book. It's so well-written and the characters are so real-- it was impossible for me to keep it at arm's length like I expected to.

This was sort of a sadder version of You've Got Mail. Juliet and Declan communicate anonymously and fall in love along the way. But this book is more about grief and family than it is about love. Both Declan and Juliet are struggling emotionally and when they find each other, it's like a lifeline. It gave each of them someone to talk to anonymously, which gave them a level of safety in opening-up.

One thing I really can't stand in books is the idea that falling for a guy or a girl is going to fix you. I was concerned that this is where the book was headed, but thankfully it wasn't like that at all. It was more having someone to confide in helped them move through their grief process, and neither one was completely healed by any means.

The only thing that felt off to me was the final conclusion with the families. Both Juliet and Declan had major issues with their parents, and I felt like it all wrapped up a little too happily to feel realistic.

A major highlight in this book was Declan's bestie, Rev, and his adoptive family. I loved their friendship dynamic and how much of a role Rev played in Juliet's development as well. I'm now super excited to read MORE THAN WE CAN TELL because it's Rev's story!!

OVERALL: I went into it thinking it was a romance, and I came out of it seeing that it was so much more. I love a good You've Got Mail story, and this may be the best one I've read so far!! I so highly recommend this book whether you read Contemporary or not. The writing, the characters, and the flow of the story all add up to something that will appeal to most readers.

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Letters to the Lost/Brigid Kemmerer Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only way Juliet can cope.
Declan Murphy isn't the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he's trying to escape the demons of his past.
When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon, he's opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they're not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.
 
I didn’t find this to be a particularly outstanding YA but it was very sweet and an easy read.
 
The book is predictable in the typical manner of YA romances, though it did have some depth to it. I enjoyed hearing the way that Juliet and Declan challenged each other’s stereotypes and found the way they grew as a result to be heartwarming. Though it does follow the good girl goes for bad guy archetype, it did so enjoyably.
 
The strongest point of this was really their parents—Declan’s relationship with his stepfather evolved in a thoughtful way and their interactions felt extremely real. Similarly, Juliet’s dealing with her grief over her mother and the decisions she had made was insightful. These aspects really made the book a strong read.
 
If you’re looking for an easy read, this is a good choice.
 
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )