Amelia Unabridged: A Novel

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Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They're the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia's father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It's the perfect way to start off their last summer before college. But again, this is my annoyed, middle-aged, grumpy opinion. Take it for what little it is likely worth. Amelia and Jenna, best friends and in their last year of high school before they begin college. Amelia comes from a broken family. But friendship with Jenna bears wonderful gifts, including a loving and caring family unit. Jenna’s parents include her in everything and love her like she is their own.

I don’t think textbook covers are a thing in college, Amelia.” Her voice was even, but I could feel her smile. You don’t like internet alerts or subscription newsletters because they take up too much time and clutter your computer.” Do you enjoy a good cry immediately followed by hugging a book close to your chest and taking a deep breath? Then this book is for you!" - BUZZFEED

Even more irritating than the insta love and whales, though, is the slightly off-kilter message that the ending of Amelia Unabridged sends. From a feministic perspective, it is not as progressive as I had hoped it would be, and I’m unsure as to whether Amelia truly accomplishes what she originally sets out to do. Instead of totally breaking free from the influence of others, it seems to me she simply trades control and manipulation for more control and manipulation, only wrapped in a prettier bow. I used to read a lot of YA and for no particular reason stopped for some time. I am glad the beautiful cover and description grabbed my attention. This was a solid debut novel for an author who shows promise. Her writing is beautiful and poignant at the same time.

They’re the kind of stories that keep you up late at night, ones I sink into so fully I’m certain they are secret histories of a real world that I just haven’t figured out how to get to. Reading them makes me feel as if I’m putting on a suit of armor over a beloved sweater, fierce and comfortable, nostalgic and adventurous. Chin up, JenJen,” I say, extracting one of the poster tubes from its brethren. “What do you think of this one for our dorm room?” Amelia and Jenna are best friends for life when they meet at a bookstore. When they are separated due to a tragic event, Amelia is at a loss on how to cope, when she receives a book at the bookstore where they met.That becomes a mystery she needs to solve as she didnt buy a book and now she wonders, did Jenna buy it and have it delivered? She even calls Michigan where the book was delivered from and the boy that answers the phone, well he is no help. So, next step? Go to Michigan and find out what in the sam hill is going on? Once she gets there, she will meet people who will forever change her life.Schumacher's writing beautifully captures the complexities of grief and the lasting impact of friendship. Amelia's emotional journey is sensitively portrayed, and readers will find themselves deeply invested in her quest for healing and understanding. The bond between Amelia and Jenna is palpable, and their shared love for the Orman Chronicles adds an additional layer of depth to their connection. Amelia and Jenna are from two worlds, but the best of friends. Their whole lives are laid out together, college and beyond. As they grow up, the Orman Chronicles books bond the girls. Amelia often parallels her present with this fictitious world, using it to escape and cope with the hardships in her life, giving her a sense of comfort when things get hard. Jenna is killed in a freak car accident while in Ireland. Amelia’s life, once again, is broken and shredded.