Dear Edward

A Novel

By: Ann Napolitano

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY • “Make sure you have tissues handy when you read [this] sure-footed tearjerker” (NPR) about a young boy who must learn to go on after surviving tragedy, from the author of the Oprah’s Book Club pick Hello Beautiful.

Now streaming as an Apple TV+ series starring Connie Britton, written and executive produced by Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights and Parenthood)

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Parade, LibraryReads

What does it mean not just to survive, but to truly live?
One summer morning, twelve-year-old Edward Adler, his beloved older brother, his parents, and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Among them are a Wall Street wunderkind, a young woman coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy, an injured veteran returning from Afghanistan, a business tycoon, and a free-spirited woman running away from her controlling husband. Halfway across the country, the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor.

Edward’s story captures the attention of the nation, but he struggles to find a place in a world without his family. He continues to feel that a part of himself has been left in the sky, forever tied to the plane and all of his fellow passengers. But then he makes an unexpected discovery—one that will lead him to the answers of some of life’s most profound questions: When you’ve lost everything, how do you find the strength to put one foot in front of the other? How do you learn to feel safe again? How do you find meaning in your life?

Dear Edward is at once a transcendent coming-of-age story, a multidimensional portrait of an unforgettable cast of characters, and a breathtaking illustration of all the ways a broken heart learns to love again.

Praise for Dear Edward

“Dear Edward is that rare book that breaks your heart and stitches it back together during a reading experience that leaves you profoundly altered for the better.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Mad Honey

“Will lead you toward something wonderous, something profound.”—Kevin Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Now Is Not the Time to Panic

good story, great voice talent

good story albeit depressing at times, especially in the beginning, but hey, it's about a plane crash!
I don't understand the criticism of the voice performance. I thought it was fine.

An Interesting Emotional Exploration

I liked the book quite a bit. Parts of it lacked credibility and some of the characters were just caricatures of people (the rich tech guy with an overblown sense of entitlement, etc.), others were really interesting. The premise of the book is that a 12 year old boy is the only survivor of a plane crash in which he lost his whole family. That's quite a perspective for an author to tackle and I thought Cassandra Campbell did a good job. The kid, like most kids his age just wanted to move on and get past it all but it was all in him, gnawing away at heart. The families of the survivors wanted to get to him, to see if he had interacted with their loved ones before they died. There are some connections and some burdens and I think she did a great job of that, too. The writing is good, the story is interesting and if you really try to put yourself in his shoes there's lots to think about.

For those who kept waiting for something to happen, it really isn't that kind of book. It's a book about how someone experiences something, not about their experiences. If that's not your cup of tea then this book won't work for you.

just okay

I thought I was going to love this book, but it never quite drew me in. I never connected to any of the characters. In the end, just okay.

outstanding

loved the narrator, talented, will miss the characters in the story. looking for what else she has written!

Ok me of my favorite books ever

I was hesitant to read this book because of its content. I wasn’t sure I could tolerate a book about such a horrific event. I was so wrong. This story is beautiful, heartwarming, and surprisingly optimistic, showcasing how people really are kind and resilient. Simply said- I loved it.