Four lives. Four stories. Four sets of letters. Four brave souls in need of guidance while facing life’s greatest challenges.The anonymously published Dear Life program is designed to help them step outside of their comfort zones, face their obstacles, and relinquish their demons…and prove their existence.With their lives teetering between wanting more and losing it all, all four souls dive … four souls dive into the program as a New Year’s resolution, sending them on a crazy, life-altering journey.
Dear Life,
Please be kind.
Yours truly, Hollyn, Jace, Daisy, and Carter.
more
…just read it. You will laugh, cry & maybe work through stuff going on in your own life
Yep—Meghann made me ugly cry at the end
B
“Dear life” is unpredictable, surprising, funny, gut wrenching and full of hope.
I loved this book. It was so real, so amazing. I had doubts in the beginning because I didn’t think 4 main characters could work. But the author pulled off a most amazing story.
Daisy is my favorite character out of the 4. So sheltered yet so courageous. And so funny. I enjoyed this book immensely and cannot recommend it enough!
There are books out there that really grab you. They help point you in a direction that you didn’t know you needed to go. For me one of those books is Dear Life. Dear Life is about four individual people who are at a crossroads in their life. Jace is a famous baseball player, Hollyn is a widowed waitress, Daisy is a very sheltered young woman, and Carter is a huge asshat. All four are linked by other people and in some instances don’t even know it.
While each person is participating in Dear Life for their own reasons you will see similarities in their need for the group. Jace is grieving due to a sacrifice he had to make. Hollyn is still grieving for her deceased husband, Daisy is hoping it will help her start living, and Carter is being forced to be there. Will this group be able to move towards their goals? Can they get past all the obstacles in their way?
It’s hard to write this review without giving up so much of the book and I believe this book needs open eyes. You may find something that I didn’t. The main point of the book is watching these four characters go through the Dear Life program. This program is meant to help you learn to live again. It’s meant to help you let go of the past, your fear, and grab hold of your future with open eyes and heart. Who doesn’t need that???
Meghan Quinn has written characters that are truly believable . They grab at your heart. You root for them, you cry for them, and you definitely cheer for them. This book slowly weaves itself into your heart, the characters are so real you feel as though you truly know them (and maybe you do have someone like them in your life).
I actually won this ARC and just knew I had to review it. As of right now you can pre-order Dear Life on Amazon here. It will be going live on January 5th. Right now it is only .99 so rush out and pre-order your copy. You will not be disappointed!!
My favorite quote is “Prove your existence. That’s your new motto to live by. What did you do today to prove your existence, what are you doing tomorrow to prove your existence in this world?”
Loved this story. One of my all-time favorites by Meghan Quinn.
Wow , it is commonly known that Meghan Quinn is an amazing author , and is the best at romantic comedies . Well let me just tell you she nailed this romantic comedy/ emotional journey . The stories of Hollyn, Jace, Daisy , and Carter are stories that any everyday person goes thru . This book is not necessarily about the events that have bought these four to the Dear Life program , but about how they can over come these events and “prove their existence” .
Yes there is the romantic aspect of Dear Life that we all love , only I feel it is on such a deeper level . They are brought together by events that effect their being , so naturally the relationships they form will be much deeper than most.
When you read this book you better be ready for an emotional roller coaster ride . You will laugh , you will cry , but most importantly you will look at how you live your life . Do you yourself “prove your existence”, do you “Own you”. I know I don’t but this book is not something I will forget about as I delve into the next one , Dear Life is a book that will stick with me and help me on my journey to own me . My favorite quote from the book is “Life isn’t always about the good; it’s about the trials and tribulations and how you come back from them.” > I think this sums up Dear life.
Also I think the Dear life program would benefit many in their lives. Especially teenagers with the rate of suicides now days , this would show them so much .
Great Job Meghan Quinn you are amazing and have changed my way of thinking and feeling about myself with this book .
***5 #ProveYourExistence Stars***
I knew going in that this book would take me on an emotional rollercoaster and that it would pull out all the feels from me, especially after reading the first few pages and getting that gut feeling that I knew what was coming, at least with that situation. What I didn’t expect, though I did hope for, was how emotionally invested I’d become in each of the characters and their journey, nor which character ended up being the one I connected with the most. I couldn’t put Dear Life down, in fact I had it open on the counter as I cooked dinner and am lucky I didn’t end up burning my dinner, because I was so invested and ended up staying up past my bedtime just to finish it.
I’m going to step away from my typical reviewing MO for this one because this is a book that you truly need to experience without bias in order to appreciate the impact of what Jace, Daisy, Hollyn and Carter go through. So what I will say is that the journey that each character goes on will touch your heart and maybe even your soul. You will find pieces that will sing to you because of your own experiences with love, loss, pain and the struggle to take the next step. There will be times that you will be irritated and frustrated with them and their choices, or lack thereof, but in the end you will celebrate their accomplishments and know that the rocky road they traversed was more than worth it in the end.
As for that character that I connected with the most, the one who I didn’t expect to connect with upon first meeting? That character was Daisy. Why is it a surprise? Because on the outside I saw her as my polar opposite in so many ways, but as the story progressed I found that what she was looking for was not all that different than what I am every day. As for the others, Carter and Jace are definitely on my book boyfriend list because they encompass everything I love about alpha males, even the bad stuff. And though Hollyn appears to be last in line, she isn’t. The strength she found within herself when she didn’t think she had any was a sight to see.
To say that this book was an experience is an understatement. I laughed. I cried. I wanted to toss my Kindle into the freezer because I was frustrated with the characters. There were a couple things I wished there had more of, but they are minor in the big scheme of things because I loved where everyone was at the end of the book and I highly recommend Dear Life because you never know what it has to offer if you only take a chance on it.
~ Copy received via Wordsmith Publicity & voluntarily reviewed ~
This was my first book that I had read by Meghan. It started me on my journey of version of “Netflix and Chill” only this time it was Binge reading all of her works. All I kept telling myself was, “Please don’t be a one hit wonder.” And she wasn’t. This book made me ugly cry. SERIOUS UGLY CRY. It also made me hope and made my jaded heart believe in love again. It healed me in ways that I didn’t even know I needed. It still is a part of me almost a year later. I meant to write this review when I read it but I needed time to process it. I was left RAW. I told everyone about it. I play video games online and I even chatted about it in game rather than talk about the game.
This book is about four different people and their story and how they all end up interacting.
“Four lives. Four stories. Four sets of letters. Four brave souls in need of guidance while facing life’s greatest challenges.”
Hollyn is grieving the death of her husband and trying to make sense why he was taken from her. She wrecked me. I had to walk away a couple times after setting my kindle down because my heart hurt for her so much.
Jace is dealing with a different type of loss and holy hell will it sock you in the gut. How do you do what is right even if it doesn’t feel right and comes with so much guilt?
Daisy is a naive girl trying to step out of her shell and grow. This group meeting is for her to grow through her letters and learn to live.
Carter at first was my least favorite in this book. I didn’t understand his anger or why he was truly there if he wasn’t going to apply himself to learn to grow, As the book went on it all made sense and then I hurt for him and wanted him to find his happiness.
I could go on and on about this book but I recommend just reading it. It will change you, even if you don’t think you need to change. This book was sublime bliss
Dear Life, oh where do I began. I fear that what I say in this review. Can not compare, to how much this story touched me. It was amazing, one of the best books I’ve read in a really long time. It put that spark back into reviewing. It’s not always, that a book comes along, that it means everything to you. That you could totally just read again and again. I never re-read because I never have time.
Quinn is amazing. She did something amazing with these four characters. If you follow my reviews, which I’m sure there are very few lol. You would know that I do not like more than two POV’s because it becomes confusing. But this is the first time, that I loved it. I loved all the characters. Hollyn, Jace, Daisy, and Carter. I cried, I laughed through this whole story, their story. In all honesty, It really didn’t help this cold I have. Since I can barely breathe through my nose.
Their struggles, the realness that leaped off the pages. I rooted for them. I almost felt like I was this cheerleader on the sidelines. And god the ending. I’m not going to say what happens because that would be rude of me. But it brought a whole new perspective. The book is more than these fictional characters. The author poured her heart and soul into this. And it really shows.
Overall, If I could give this book more than Five Stars, I would. There is no rating that can define, Dear Life. It’s on its own pedestal.
Wow.
Just more wow followed up with a whole lotta whoa.
This book is truly all kinds of amazing, I couldn’t put it down. Talk about a swift kick and a hard punch right in the feels. It really makes you think about your life. The good, the bad and the extremely ugly. I don’t know what else to say but this book was pretty phenomenal and I really connected with it.
I love all of the authors Rom-Com books, but I think this is her best one yet.
Dear Life,
We may be lost, broken, and afraid. We may be without hope and sitting in the darkness. We have all experienced our own pains but what the Hell are you doing for us?
Sincerely,
the confused, dreary, and world worn
Ok, so that might not be a summary but my own Carter version of one. This book had me laughing so hard I cried (#TwigsForTheWin), crying so hard my head hurt, and laughing so hard I snorted. Yes, I said laughing twice for a reason. Life is full of ups and downs. It also has nasty side swiping moments but the real kick is when someone you trust keys your car all down the side (coughs *Ethan*).
Life is not predictable. Life is cancer, orphans, single moms. But it’s also baseball games, wildly amusing bachelorette parties, and meatloaf. Now some of those things are in this book…others are just a part of life.
It’s a beautiful sentiment and an amazing idea, Dear Life. It’s also a song that I happen to love. Meghan Quinn includes an incredibly touching and very real Dear Life of her own. I think we should all make one.
So here goes:
Dear Life,
I may not have had an easy childhood. I may have been angry with you over the death of my brother. I was spiteful and angry as a teen…well, in my own way. I rebelled and still you didn’t cut me any slack. I met an amazing man but you made it difficult. You pulled us apart and we were so afraid that we wouldn’t be anymore.
But Life you we just trying to show us we were stronger. You were trying to prepare us for the bumpy road parenthood thrust upon us. We may have cursed you when our baby was ill…okay, not may. We did. It was hard suffering through the uncertainty and potential loss. We made it though and have two others that have been added to our quirky family.
Life brought us together and you even brought my parents over to our side. Here we are 14+ years later…my guy and I. No doubt we had a million complaints getting here, but we would never change the journey.
Sincerely,
Becky
reviewed for New Chicks on the Blog
It is no secret what a fan I am of Meghan Quinn and it seems like there is a new tradition happening that I hope never stops. Last year, my first five star read was The Mother Road by Meghan. This year, my first five star read is Dear Life. Two absolute completely different books, which only shows just how talented Meghan is. This is the perfect example of why I will read anything she puts out. Anything.
Dear Life is a beautifully written, thought-provoking and powerful story that tugs at not only your heart but your mind as well. I cried. I laughed. Most importantly, I questioned my own life choices to see what I am doing to “prove my existence,” as Meghan calls it.
Four strangers with four totally different life situations and experiences who are struggling to make sense of where they are in their life. One program brings these strangers together and forces them to face the reality of the situation and learn to accept it, learn from it, move on from it and grow from it. These four strangers will find the most unlikely friends with one of the strongest supports anyone could wish for. Every single person can relate to at least one of their stories and each one of them makes you feel everything right along with them.
Normally I have a favorite in each book. I don’t think I’ve ever equally liked all the main characters and I’ll be honest, at first I thought Carter would be the one that pushes past everyone else. But just as I think the brooding man (my kind of book boyfriend) wins my heart, Hollyn will do something. Or Jace. Or Daisy. Each person had a story and a journey that was difficult. Together they meet the mark in anything I could ask out of characters. They were all relatable and likable and had me rooting for them from the very beginning.
I really don’t think there is much more to say unless you want me to scream how much I loved it. I do. I will already call it in my top books of 2017. I challenge you to read this. I challenge you to embrace it. I challenge you to take the time and examine it and allow it to make you think about your own life and your goals. Well done, Meghan. You continue to soar and deliver us amazing stories. I can’t wait to continue to ride along with you as you keep going.
Actual Rating 4.5 stars
There is so much to love about this emotionally hilarious rollercoaster of a book. This book will definitely have you shedding a tear or two or three. The characters have so much depth that you can’t help loving them. I felt for each of these characters and wanted things to get better for them. I felt their pain and anguish; their sense of hopelessness and guilt. But I loved most of all was their connection to their fellow Dear Life group members.
Carter and Daisy are my favorite. Both of their situations are very different, yet they are drawn together. Daisy is very innocent and knaive and sees Carters life differently than he views it, yet his bitter attitude seems to sweeten whenever he’s around Daisy. I loved them both so much. I also really liked Jace and his situation totally gutted me. I felt that his emotions hit me harder than everyone else’s. I did not like Holland at all and she is what took me so long to finish this book.
This book is just amazing. I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before and Meghan Quinn is an amazing author. Dear Life has something all its own. I’d definitely recommend this book.
You will want to pick up each character, dust them off and tell them everything will be okay.
Will they be able to move on when all seems hopeless?
Dear Meghan,
Thank you for giving me this story to enjoy, characters to treasure and food for thought.
“Prove your existence. That’s your new motto to live by. What did you do today to prove your existence, what are you doing tomorrow to prove your existence in this world?”
How will you prove your existence today?
Such a great book! Emotional and romantic.
Loved this book and how it help four different people come together and learn to rediscover who they are again and start to live again too.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved how each person had their own story and how they connected in through the Dear Life class. I would for sure recommend this book
Best book of 2017!!!!!!!
Loved this book, wanted to keep reading but hated to because I didn’t want it to end. Made me LOL many times and brought me close to tears at others.
One of the best books I have ever read! Highly recommend to have tissues near by as you read.
LOVED this book!!!