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A review by befsk
Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira
3.0
The plot was predictable, the romance unconvincing and the writing voice far too childishly simple, but the characters were, to me, fairly likable.
The author thanks Stephen Chbosky in her acknowledgements for being her mentor. This book was written in the same voice as The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, but where I felt it worked for the main character in that book because Charlie, despite being bright, seemed a little emotionally underdeveloped, the same did not apply to Laurel in this book.
I don't know what else there is to say. This book was basically The Perks Of Being A Wallflower and I'm pretty sure that as a result of reading it, I'm probably going to end up getting plot points and characters between the two mixed up in my head.
Afterthoughts:
- Why did we see no repercussions for Evan's attempted rape of Laurel? Bleh. And why did no one attempt to track down and deal justice to that creep Billy? If he molested a 13 year old once, there's nothing to stop him from doing it again.
- It was so ridiculously obvious that Sky was kicked out of school for beating up Paul because he fancied May. Kind of a super creepy side-plot though. Also, since when was Sky a boy's name?
- Glad that Natalie and Hannah finally got it together in the end.
- Tristan and Kristen's side-plot was kind of dull and pointless and I kept horribly anticipating that Tristan was going to hit on Laurel or something in order to mess up his relationship before it even had a chance to fall apart from distance. Thankfully, that didn't happen.
Comparing this and The Perks Of Being A Wallflower:
Dead best friend - May (sister) vs. Michael.
Book written in format of supposedly writing to someone - Lauren to various dead celebrities vs. Charlie to an unnamed person.
Unconvincing romance - Sky vs. Sam.
Both protagonists were molested - Laurel by her sister's boyfriend's friend, Charlie by his aunt. Both didn't reveal this information until around 75% of the way through the book.
Both protagonists were introduced to alcohol and drugs through making new friends at high school. Both don't really smoke or drink of their own accord, only when other people let them or make them through peer pressure.
Both protagonists became friends with seniors in their schools (Tristan and Kristen in this book, Sam and Patrick in The Perks), despite being a lot younger - Laurel is 14, Charlie is 15 and their friends are 17/18.
The author thanks Stephen Chbosky in her acknowledgements for being her mentor. This book was written in the same voice as The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, but where I felt it worked for the main character in that book because Charlie, despite being bright, seemed a little emotionally underdeveloped, the same did not apply to Laurel in this book.
I don't know what else there is to say. This book was basically The Perks Of Being A Wallflower and I'm pretty sure that as a result of reading it, I'm probably going to end up getting plot points and characters between the two mixed up in my head.
Spoiler
Despite not crying throughout the entire book, the epilogue finally broke me.Afterthoughts:
Spoiler
- Why did we see no repercussions for Evan's attempted rape of Laurel? Bleh. And why did no one attempt to track down and deal justice to that creep Billy? If he molested a 13 year old once, there's nothing to stop him from doing it again.
- It was so ridiculously obvious that Sky was kicked out of school for beating up Paul because he fancied May. Kind of a super creepy side-plot though. Also, since when was Sky a boy's name?
- Glad that Natalie and Hannah finally got it together in the end.
- Tristan and Kristen's side-plot was kind of dull and pointless and I kept horribly anticipating that Tristan was going to hit on Laurel or something in order to mess up his relationship before it even had a chance to fall apart from distance. Thankfully, that didn't happen.
Comparing this and The Perks Of Being A Wallflower:
Spoiler
The gay best friend(s) - Natalie & Hannah vs. Patrick.Dead best friend - May (sister) vs. Michael.
Book written in format of supposedly writing to someone - Lauren to various dead celebrities vs. Charlie to an unnamed person.
Unconvincing romance - Sky vs. Sam.
Both protagonists were molested - Laurel by her sister's boyfriend's friend, Charlie by his aunt. Both didn't reveal this information until around 75% of the way through the book.
Both protagonists were introduced to alcohol and drugs through making new friends at high school. Both don't really smoke or drink of their own accord, only when other people let them or make them through peer pressure.
Both protagonists became friends with seniors in their schools (Tristan and Kristen in this book, Sam and Patrick in The Perks), despite being a lot younger - Laurel is 14, Charlie is 15 and their friends are 17/18.