Love Letters to the Dead

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira is a poignant coming-of-age novel that unfolds through a series of letters written by Laurel, a teenage girl who is grappling with the recent death of her older sister, May, and the emotional turmoil that follows. As part of an assignment for her English class, Laurel begins writing letters to deceased people—famous figures such as Kurt Cobain, Heath Ledger, and Amelia Earhart—using these letters as a way to process her grief, guilt, and feelings of isolation. Through her reflections and the people she writes to, Laurel unravels secrets about her family, her sister’s life, and her own path to healing. The novel explores themes of loss, love, identity, and the complex relationships we have with those we lose. Love Letters to the Dead is a heartfelt and introspective story that captures the emotional journey of a young girl learning to cope with the painful realities of life and death.