By Dylan Curran
Meet Grace, a 30-year-old library tech with a knack for overthinking, love of The Office, and a special place in her heart for lost love letters.
Navigating the grief of her recent breakup, Grace is met with the daunting task of collecting the newly discovered correspondence between Amelia Earhart and her secret lover. As readers uncover the twists and turns of their relationship, what starts to compel us is not the scandal of the affair but the unmistakable courage and dedication Earhart had to her craft. A bold and unapologetic character, Earhart’s letters stir something deeper within Grace. Despite the tumultuous ups and downs of Grace’s post-breakup life (stabilized mostly through the over-consumption of peanut butter sandwiches), she comes to recognize her own worth. As she regains her own footing by reconnecting with her friends, family, and co-workers, the story opens up to a whole new world for Grace to explore.
Blending epistolary and historical fiction is no easy task. The writing in this book is clever, well-thought-out with allusions to real events but playful enough to embellish some of the lore surrounding Earhart and her life (and disappearance). While the novel begins with Grace merely reading the correspondence, she quickly finds comfort and friendship within these bubbly and loose writings. Readers will revel in the honesty and vulnerability that Grace exudes in her letters to Earhart, a conversation seemingly easier on paper than it is in her day-to-day life. There is a palpable shyness that echoes in each of Grace’s interactions. Even her closest friends are forced to wait until the moment is right for her secrets to be shared. I think we are all a little bit like Grace—but we still need our daily dose of Jennas, Carolyns, and Jamies in our lives.
Letters to Amelia will be well-loved by readers who already enjoy the works of Amy Jones, Karma Brown or Sonya Lalli. Its characters and world-building resonate with Canadian culture and the complexities of modern-day romance in a unique and uplifting way. Amid a pandemic, this is an especially important read. People are craving escapism—with beautiful attention to detail, Zier-Vogel captures intimate moments in faraway places that sweep you away from your living rooms and into the depths of your imagination. From Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library to Howland Island, readers will find adventure in every nook. While one expects Earhart to be leading the travels, Grace is the one to guide us through Trespasser, wartime Toronto, and Washington, D.C. This book is the perfect read to combat the lockdown blues and a reminder to find your passion, no matter your circumstances.
Thank you to Book*hug Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!