Dear Edward: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel
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
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
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Community Reviews
What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Dear Edward* is a poignant exploration of trauma, family bonds, and healing, anchored by well-drawn young characters and emotional depth....
Another novel/book/story in which you jump timelines. The difference, only one main character. This made it feel like I was reading two books and I enjoyed one more than the other and rushed through the other to get to the story line I wanted. This kept me reading.
Book #57: Laura M nominated this book and we discussed it via Zoom after a long absence from meeting. So good to get back on track!
I thought this book was going to be a lot better than it was. It is a Jenna Bush bookclub pick. It is the story of Edward and his family (mom, dad, and brother) and 183 other passengers aboard a flight from Newark to CA. A terrible tragedy occurs and the flight crashes leaving Edward as the only survivor. The chapters alternate between after the crash and the day of the crash. You get to to learn about several of the passengers and their backstory. The after story focuses on how Edward moves forward. It is really just a coming of age story. There's nothing wrong with that. I was just expecting more. Edward goes to live with his aunt and uncle (mom's sister) and they never talk about what happened. It is years before a family member hugs him. No mail comes to the house. The aunt and uncle have unresolved issues. The room for Edward is a nursery that was never "redone" for him. Edward does find a friend in neighbor, Shay and together they learn more about the identities of the passengers. What does it mean to not just survive something, but to truly live?
A strong start, but it then becomes a bit lengthy without adding much to the overall story. Still an ok book!
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