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Dear Lottie

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Three Decades,
Two Hearts,
One wish...to be together.


Lottie used to be a dreamer, but never did she see herself as a housewife to a controlling husband.

When Lottie's Nan unexpectedly passed away in the late 50s, her dreams died alongside her. Blinded by grief, her actions changed the course of her life and that of Henry Hollister, her first love.

With Henry haunting her dreams and a burden of regrets, Lottie and Henry wish for nothing more than to turn back the clock to a time of innocence. A time when no one was in the way to stop their plans.

Is it ever too late to follow your dreams?
Is it ever too late to be with the one you truly love?

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2023

17 people are currently reading
55 people want to read

About the author

Mel Higgins

2 books3 followers

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5 stars
29 (59%)
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13 (26%)
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5 (10%)
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2 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,855 reviews142 followers
September 2, 2023
This is a beautifully written story which spans over 20 years of Lottie's life and what a journey we're taken on.

This is such a difficult one to explain as I really didn't like Lottie at all. Some of the events made me question what on earth made her make the decisions she did. But at the same time, I kind of wanted her to get that happy ending.

We're taken on an emotional rollercoaster throughout and this keeps us invested in the characters and the storyline.

This is written in a clearly defined timeline and in the style of a diary or journal which worked well. The writing style was beautiful and the story just flowed from start to finish. Although there were some moments that shocked as the storylines twisted.

I have to admit that I had a tear in my eye whilst reading the epilogue, so be prepared with the tissues.

Overall an enjoyable read and definitely an author to watch.
Profile Image for Sudeshna Banerjee.
1,334 reviews41 followers
August 20, 2023
I absolutely loved the cover photo of this book. I actually signed up for the review because of this reason. I was so intrigued into reading it and I must say that I really enjoyed reading it. It is a very well written book with an engaging storyline which fans of romance will really love reading.

This book is going to make you both laugh and cry. The author With their writing skills has portrayed the characters very well. It will also make you feel more hopeful about love. The plot is really well developed and is a little bit different and interesting than most other romance novels.

I will definitely recommend this book to all the romance lovers. Grab your copy today guys. You will definitely enjoy reading it.
Profile Image for Amorina Carlton.
Author 2 books38 followers
August 12, 2023
This book was beautiful, haunting, and exceedingly frustrating. At it’s core, it was the study of how small decisions can have such huge impacts on your life.

I feel like this book could easily be used as the premise for a much more interesting after-school special about a number of topics – abstinence, underage drinking, fighting, drugs, and so on. It almost seemingly had a bit of be careful what you wish for because the grass isn’t always greener sort of vibe going on with it.

The story spanned such a long time, and I enjoyed seeing the fashion and sensibilities change some throughout the tale. Some of the dialogue seemed a bit anachronistic, with terms like “hanging out” seeming a bit modern, but I’m not an expert. Otherwise, the atmosphere and setting were beautifully developed.

The characters were interesting. I loved Henry and rooted for him and Lottie pretty much from the get-go. So much so, that I had a hard time rooting for and liking Lottie – considering most of her decisions silly and confusing. But I’m not the sort of person who thinks all female characters need to be logical or enjoyable. I did like her to some extent, enough that I was compelled to find out what happened to her – especially because I needed her to end up with Henry. I needed poor Henry Hollister to get the girl.

I ended up faking myself out (or the author did perhaps) multiple times on who the “controlling husband” was going to be. It added a bit of mystery. The twists and turns that got us there, in the end, were brilliant, almost making this fit into the “romantic thriller” category for me. I really enjoyed the relationships between the different characters, and seeing them flourish and fail.

It looks like the book will have a sequel, considering the “To Be Continued” at the end of the story, and I really look forward to seeing what comes next. I was definitely left unsettled and wanted to know what happened to Lottie and Henry after we left them. I will definitely be picking that up, and I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me on this tour.

This one is billed as just Romance, but there is a lot going on here. I saw some social commentary, some thriller, some mystery. There was also some exploration of some really serious topics. It’s not a light, fluffy beach-read kind of romance. It’s a tear-jerker, one that’s going to tear you up and it’s going to challenge you. It’s also probably going to make you scream in frustration, and if you’re the type to scream at the characters – that’s going to happen.

Content Warning: Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, Teen Pregnancy, Child Death, Parent/Grandparent Death, Child Removal
Profile Image for Cover Lover Book Review.
1,517 reviews87 followers
July 24, 2023
Dear Lottie is such a nostalgic and atmospheric read. I sank into the setting with zero effort, and the characters stayed in my thoughts long after I finished reading. The story covers a lifetime of heartbreak, setbacks, perseverance, and love.

Lottie is one of those characters that isn’t all that likeable at times, but you can’t help but connect with her and sympathize for her. (This is a rare but brilliant quality, seeing as I can only think of one other instance where I’ve somewhat disliked but rooted for the main character—Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind.) Lottie makes poor decisions and takes the wrong path at times, but it’s not difficult to understand why. I became deeply invested in her (as well as a couple other characters) and rooted for her to find happiness and fulfillment.

There’s a lot I can’t say because I don’t want to give anything away, but I can say that the story is far from predictable. There are ups, downs, and dizzying turns that kept me engaged, and the many meaningful themes make the story incredibly memorable.

This story contains cursing and situations that are outside my usual/preferred reading genre (which is Christian fiction) but it reveals so much about human flaws, hardships, and perseverance as well as our desire to be loved that makes this such a fulfilling read. I can’t wait to read the next book by this new-to-me author!

Author: Mel Higgins
First Line: We are here!
Genre: Romance
Author: Mel Higgins
Page Count: 394 (paperback)

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
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Profile Image for amanda_coffee_books.
693 reviews28 followers
August 5, 2023
I want to start off by saying that I received a paperback version. In return for my honest thoughts and review. I felt like I just opened up Lottie journal and started reading old friends journal. I could see a lot Lottie in myself. I too loved to write been writing since I was 10 years old too. I too thought the choices I was making were right or I didn’t have a choice in that moment. When you have plans for your future mapped out. Something changes where all your plans are out the window. I couldn’t put this book down. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. When I requested to join this Booktour. The writing and journal format amazing job.
Lottie had me in tears too. I wanted to hug her tell her it’s going to be okay and don’t give up yet.
Henry is a jewel he never gave up on Lottie at all. When you are met to be you know. That you breathe and sleep that person no matter where you are in life. That was Henry and Lottie. This book is a book that I will definitely be rereading. There characters will be ones I remember. That epilogue was short but had me going to the restroom to cry. Heck this book might just have put me in reading slump. The only and the only character that I wanted to hurt was Danny. OMG I cant believe him. Yes Joe Henry older brother was bad. Danny was such a you know what.
I could talk and write about this book all day long. But I am excited to know there will be another book coming out. I highly recommend this book so many times over. Favorite characters and book of 2023 for me.
I did end up buying a ebook copy. This author books are definitely auto buys for me.

Thank you to the author and lovebooktours for this amazing amazing opportunity for allowing me to read this book and fall deep in love with this book.
Profile Image for Shali.
43 reviews4 followers
August 4, 2023
📚LOVE BOOKS TOUR REVIEW📝📚

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝐋𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞
By MEL HIGGINS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ₅ ₛₜₐᵣₛ 5/5
One of my favorite romance books of the year!! My heart is heavy after reading Dear Lottie. This was beautifully written. From the beginning to the end. Dear Lottie took me back to memory lane. It was as if I was reading my childhood. It brought back memories of my relationship with my grandmother. Be prepared for an abundance of emotions! I cried buckets! Have a box of tissues near you. This is more than romance. There’s suspense, mystery, crime and all sorts of unexpected events that occurs. I could not stop reading it, I flew through the pages. It took me a day to finish Dear Lottie! The author wrote a novel that will make you feel all the emotions that make you feel alive. My only wish is to have DEAR LOTTIE book adaptation into a film or TV series!! I’d love to watch this as a movie or TV series. I highly recommend DEAR LOTTIE. A 5 stars read for the year 2023!! Words cannot express the way I felt reading this book. It is one of the books I will forever keep on my bookshelf. And will continue to recommend it to every reader!!

#Ad  #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #DearLottieTour

Author- Mel Higgins
Genre- Romance
Pages- 320
Format- Paperback, Ebook
Release Date- June 1, 2023
Reviewer: @ms.shali_bkshelf (Instagram)

Buy Links- 👇
UK Amazon
https://amzn.to/3oAeOef
US Amazon
https://www.amazon.ca/Dear-Lottie-Mel...
🚨 Thank you @lovebook for my gifted copy in return for an honest review. 🚨
Profile Image for Dani (piggindani_reads).
475 reviews11 followers
August 10, 2023
Official rating ~ 4.5

This has to be one my favourite covers ever! The moment i saw it & read the blurb, I had to apply for the book tour. 💚🍃

Dear Lottie is a captivating and powerful story that follows the life of Charlotte, told via her own journal entries. They start off as sweet, innocent entries, talking about her hopes, dreams, and that all important, first love. However it isn’t long until they talk of grief, struggle, heartache and sadness.

I think we can all relate to being foolish in our youth, but for most of us, we are lucky that the decisions we make as kids don’t affect our future, but for poor Lottie, one bad decision is all it takes to alter the course of her life.

Lottie may come across as unlikeable at times, but it’s clear to see that she acts from a place of naivety and loneliness. That underneath it all she has a good heart.
And it’s this heart that Henry sees and is why he’s love for her never fades.

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting some of the issues that were raised, and even though they aren’t a trigger for me, they might be for others.

Eloquently written with wonderful characters, some of which you’ll love and others you’ll hate.
It truly is beautiful, heartbreaking and touching in equal measures.

Thank you, Mel Higgins & Love Books Tours, for a copy of this gorgeous book.

P.S. You’ll definitely need your tissues for the epilogue. My heart! 💔♥️



1 review
February 24, 2026
Rollercoaster of incredibly terrible decisions.

(SPOILER FREE) This was a rollercoaster of incredibly terrible decisions. The main character, Charlotte, has a promising future ahead of her. A nice home, support from family members, and....freedom. Until one day, her Nan dies, thus sparking a chain of very bad decision making. Just when you thought it couldn't get worse, Charlotte finds a way to top that. It comes to a point where she becomes almost insufferable. Almost every kiss shared in the story is always described as "no other." Every romantic encounter was met with nearly the same description of it every time. By the end, I didn't find myself rooting for her anymore. There are times where you can't help but feel bad for her, but most of the time you can't help but think that the consequences of her actions were deserving. I rated it two stars because while it was difficult to follow Charlotte along her journey to making poor life choices, I found that it taught some very important lessons and how every action comes with a cost. Also, some characters were arguably more likable than Charlotte.

P.S. If I have to read the phrase begging, aching, or wanting "more" in general, I am going to go crazy.
Profile Image for Amanda.
151 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2023
Have you ever thought how losing a loved one, no matter who that person is to you can change your future and yourself? And is it sometimes over when your heart screams otherwise?

Well Dear Lottie is definitely the book that warms your heart even though you do not agree with MC decisions and mightily you’re not the biggest fan of her.

From the start as I picked this book I really enjoyed how easily it flowed. The story was really nicely written and I could relate with some of situations and people in the book. Same as Lottie I lost loved one - my granddad who was more like my dad rather a grandfather and loosing him after some years passed- feels hard not having him around anymore. I could understand Lotties cousin and how hard his childhood was difficult when your parents want you to focus on studies when actually you want to be a kid.

I liked the story and possibilities it have to give and sometimes I could guess what could possibly happen I still found it exciting and intriguing to read !
Profile Image for Novelle Novels.
1,652 reviews51 followers
August 9, 2023
4.5 stars
I was sent this book to review and I really thought it was incredible. I believe there will be a sequel which I will 100% get. Here is the blurb then I will share my thoughts.
Three decades, two hearts and one wish to be together. Lottie used to be a dreamer but she would never have expected to end up with a controlling husband.. Lotties nana dies in the late 50’s which changes the course of her life as she is blinded by grief. Over the course of the book we see her chasing their dreams and hope to be her one true love Henry Hollister.
This book has a lot of tragedy and emotion but the writing kept me hooked and hoping Lottie would get sone happiness. There are characters throughout that I loved especially Lotties nana, her cousin William and her uncle Albert. There are some that I absolutely hated which is a sign of good characters when you feel such emotion for them. Of course Lottie is amazing and she deals with hardship the best she can. For a book spanned over three decades I never felt it jumped and I didn’t get lost which is good.
Profile Image for Vicki (chaptersofvicki).
675 reviews18 followers
August 21, 2023
Oh this book it made me an emotional wreck! This is book that will stay with you long after you have read it. I finished reading it a few days ago now and I only just able to write a review.

I was first drawn by the stunning cover and the description. This book is so beautifully written. We follow Lottie through a period of twenty years. From the early 50’s to the 70’s.

At times I did find it hard to like Lottie as some of her decisions were very questionable but also her parents were not the best and I really did not agree with the way they reacted and treated her!

I adored Henry, I was rooting for him the whole way through. He was just a decent guy and he never seemed to give up hope.

There were some shocking twists that I never expected. Also the epilogue at the end got me. 😭

I could go on all day about this book but I really don’t want to give too much away. I’m so pleased there will be another book I can’t wait to read it.

Thank you to Love Book Tours and the author for having me on the tour and for my gifted copy of the book.
1,187 reviews27 followers
July 30, 2023
What an emotional rollercoaster this is. The book spans a period of 20 years from the early 50s to the early 70s, with a short epilogue 50 years later just to round off the story.
Lottie is, at times, quite unlikeable, but you still can't help but root for her.
Imagine losing your rock in life, not once, not twice but over and over again. Carrying on, with all the adversities life throws at Lottie, shows an inherent strength.
Through the period of the 50s, I struggled a little with seeing where the story was going. It's written in a semi-journal format, and it just felt like life was happening without any real force to the storytelling. It quickly picked up in the 60s, though.
I can't say much without giving away spoilers. What I will say though, is that epilogue - despite only being a few pages long - made me cry and desperate to know what happened between the early 70s and now.
A read that's going to stick with me.
Profile Image for Tyler Marshall.
938 reviews53 followers
August 2, 2023
What an emotional roller coaster!

I never thought I would enjoy a book where I don’t relate or agree with a lot of things the the mc does but Mel really had me hooked with her writing from the start of this read.

This book is about loss, love and perseverance, Lottie was such a strong character and I really enjoyed how the book took us on the journey of her life through the years, there was definitely lots of ups and downs but she continuously pulls through and even though like I mentioned earlier I didn’t agree with a lot of things she did you can’t help but feel for this character and root for her.

The author really came with a unique plot that will have you thinking about this book hours/days after you’ve finished reading it. I will definitely be reading more of this author and recommending her to anyone who wants to read an emotional book that will get the waterworks going.
Profile Image for Amanda Felton.
392 reviews20 followers
August 15, 2023
Where do I even start with this book y'all. Do I start by saying this is by far a top read for me that I loved Charlotte story ans how she lost her way.
How she made so many mistakes but yet still came out on the other side. How she lost so much but still found herself. How she found her true family when she needed them most. I mean I cried reading this I laughed I wanted to scream. I had so many emotions !! I stayed up until 2am cause I had to know what happened and then for the ending to be a punch to the gut I legit read the epilogue 3 times to make sure I read right!!!
How gonna do me like that ahhhh !!! I have a book hangover now and I need the next one to come out asap!!! Such an amazing read!!!! I can't say anymore cause I don't want to give a single thing away !! I need to know what happens next !!!
Profile Image for The Book Elf.
335 reviews15 followers
August 27, 2023
A love story spread over three decades that will have your emotions in a turmoil. Lottie endures so much from such a young age that, though there are times when I think you really shouldn't have done that, I have to remind myself that she is really no more that a child who is trying to cope with all that is thrown at her.

This is a story of love, betrayal and tragedy that Lottie encounters throughout her life from those close to her. however, it is also a story that shows, no matter what, some people will always be there for you.

The epilogue after the story had finished brought a lump to my throat and tear to my eye, however, I will leave you to find out why for yourselves. Mel Higgins is an author to watch out for in the future because if this is her debut novel I cannot wait to see what she produces next.

Profile Image for Rebecca.
609 reviews17 followers
August 8, 2023
3.5 stars

Dear Lottie follows Lottie through 3 decades of her life. It is written in the form of a journal from Lotties viewpoint.

Now I very much disliked Lottie for a lot of this book. I thought she was impulsive, rash, childish and acts without thinking about the consequences.

However. What her family did to her and what happened to her was unforgivable. So some of her actions can be understood to some degree, she had her childhood taken away and acted out.

I was invested in the story and wanted to know what happened.

Henry. My heart! He is such a sweetie, although a bit stupid at times! He never stops loving Lottie despite everything. But is it too late? You best pick up a copy and find out 😉

Thank you to Love Book Tours and the author for my gifted copy.
14 reviews
August 18, 2023
Dear Lottie is essentially a tragic love story of star-crossed lovers – Henry and Lottie. It explores their relationship over three decades and all the things that get in the way of them being together. The love story itself is sweet and heartbreaking but what I found particularly sad was the gradual shattering of Lottie’s dreams of independence and exploration. I feel like Lottie had so much potential but was repeatedly let down and controlled by the men in her life, without even realising it. This was to a large extent due to her own naivety and foolishness as a young woman, however you can’t help but feel sorry for her by the end. This is a book that definitely has the potential to make you want to scream in frustration and ugly cry at the same time!
Profile Image for theweebookworm .
429 reviews28 followers
July 31, 2023
Where do I actually start with this beautifully written, emotional rollercoaster of a book. Once I got into the book I couldn't put it down.

I don't think I've read a book where I've rooted for the main character, Lottie, whilst disliking her at the same time. There are some horrific storylines for her but she, at times, did not help herself with the decisions she made. Henry came across as such a lovely person despite the things Lottie put him through.

I enjoyed the range of characters and certainly had my favourites. But, oh my goodness, the ending was so emotional. Unfortunately, I felt it ended too soon and I would have loved to have found out a bit more.
Profile Image for Sheri.
1,778 reviews54 followers
August 6, 2023
Dear Lottie is told in diary form with Lottie’s diary entries. Each entry is dated, which I loved so as some of the dates were close and other jumped days or years. Most are small jumps and even though it is in diary form, each entry may start and end like a diary enters but the middle is told with dialogue like most books. I really enjoyed this writing approach.
We follow Lottie from a teenager to a grown woman with children. Her story is an emotional one, filled with love and loss. Lottie is a strong willed lady and will do what she wants. I found it hard to put this book down and was so engrossed in the story that I had emotional reactions to what was happening to Lottie in her life.
Profile Image for kirsty.
1,286 reviews86 followers
August 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this read that spanned over 2 decades of Lottie's life and takes us on that journey with her.

It is well written with a beautiful narrative and a compelling storyline. I loved that the story was told through a diary as this really gave the effect that you were seeing everything through her eyes.
The characters are well developed and although I didn't always find them likeable, I did always appreciate them.

This book really does take you through the wringer and put you through an emotional rollercoaster and it brought me to tears several times.

I would definitely recommend reading
32 reviews
August 24, 2023
This book is essentially a love story that spans the period between the early 1950's to 1970's.
We follow Lottie as her ambitions to become a writer become thrown off course by life's events.
We also see her fall in love and the consequences that has. It also gives an insight into life as a young woman in those days.
It's such an enjoyable and easy read and although gritty in places has a real feel good feel to it too. It also has lots of unexpected plot twists which kept me wanting to read more.
It also has just the right balance of light to shade. I for one am looking forward to the follow up.
521 reviews30 followers
August 10, 2023
We follow Lottie through her diary entries. We have the dates, but they don't all follow day by day, sometimes there are big jumps months or years. Lottie started her journey when she was a teen to when she's a grown woman with children. Lottie's life hasn't been easy but I did think at times she didn't help herself and made things worse. I found Lottie someone I disliked but also liked and did feel sorry for her, with some of the thing she had went through. I don't want to sat to much and spoil it for anyone. you'll understand more once you read it
Profile Image for Daisy Hollands.
Author 2 books29 followers
August 11, 2023
This book was a dream to read. Spanning the years from the 50s to the 70s and then a much more recent epilogue, the characters really have the chance to build and grow. As the reader you have time to really get to know Lottie and live through all her life experiences with her. It was to my mind an old-fashioned kind of story, one very much of its time and setting but that isn’t to its detriment. There were highs and lows too, so be ready for your emotions to be all over the place. Definitely recommend this book and this author!
Profile Image for Claire (c.isfor.claire_reads) .
301 reviews8 followers
October 10, 2023
Oh! This was a bit emotional.

The storyline spans a period of 20 years of Lottie's life - the early 1950s through to the ealy 1970s.
It was like reading excerpts id Lottie's diary. Thoughts through the decades from a teenager to a grown woman with her own family.

Like I said it's an emotional read with much nostalgia covering love, life, heartbreak, tragedy, losing a loved one, poor decisions, determination. It's all there.

However, the story flowed, it was well written easy to get into and overall an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Gemma Best.
512 reviews
August 21, 2023
‘Dear Lottie’ is such a good story. It takes a really good author to make you laugh and cry when reading a book and I loved the honesty and hopefulness in this story. I don’t usually read romance novels but I was drawn to Dear Lottie and I am so glad that I read it. I love Henry so much! This is a beautiful and haunting romance.

I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
Profile Image for Krystina.
264 reviews12 followers
August 5, 2023
It's well written don't get me wrong but I didn't like Lottie for most of the book and when I stopped disliking her it was because I felt sorry for her and the horrible things she went through.
I wasn't keen on the ending, though I realise it's don't that way because the author has a second book planned.I liked the blurb, and i thought id enjoy it more than i did.
Profile Image for Lottie Summers.
1 review
November 14, 2024
Lots of grammatical errors, to the point of wincing several times all throughout over it. But the story was very compelling and I couldn’t put it down. Also the author has very very good taste in female names (Lottie, Kitty, Elsie have all been lifelong favorites of mine, even picked Lottie to be my own name, which is what drew me to the book in the first place)
Profile Image for Lauren Flewett.
506 reviews15 followers
August 16, 2023
A heartbreaking tale of love and loss told through the diary of the main character Lottie.

I loved how the character of Lottie was built up throughout the novel and you felt like you were on her journey with her.

I was initially drawn in by the stunning cover of this book.

I recommend a read!
213 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2023
Wow. This book. It is written as if it is Lottie's journal and we are reading the different excerpts. I'm not usually one who enjoys books written in diary or journal form, but it really worked for this story.
You will feel many emotions. I don’t agree with a lot of Lottie’s choices, but understand the emotional turmoil she was experiencing during a major time in her life. And the ending!!!! I need the next book to find out what happened in between Lottie’s last journal entry and the epilogue!!!
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