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The Underwood Tapes
A captivating and profoundly moving novel with hints of supernatural intrigue, blending We Were Liars and Your Name into a can’t-miss read for fans of You’ve Reached Sam.
Thirty years ago, Grace’s mom left her hometown of Hermitage, Florida and never looked back—which is exactly why Grace thinks it’s the safest place to spend her summer now. Since her mom died in a car crash, Grace has been desperate to get away from the memories and reminders of her loss. Spending the summer transcribing cassette tapes for the Hermitage Historical Society might be boring, but boring is just what Grace needs.
Until she hears the voice of Jake Underwood—the boy who first recorded the cassette tapes back in 1992. When Grace realizes he can hear anything she records, despite thirty years of time between them, she strikes up an impossible conversation with Jake through the tapes.
But the past isn’t any simpler than the present, and a mystery has haunted Hermitage through the generations. In the 1970’s, a hurricane made landfall and resulted in the tragic death of Jake’s uncle Charley. In a town as suffocatingly small as Hermitage, it’s impossible not to notice how no one talks about that storm, or Charley, and as the mystery unfurls, Grace can’t help but realize a worse truth: No one talks about Jake either.
A beautifully written exploration of grief and what happens when untreated wounds bleed into future generations, The Underwood Tapes is the perfect read for anyone in need of a good, cathartic cry.
Thirty years ago, Grace’s mom left her hometown of Hermitage, Florida and never looked back—which is exactly why Grace thinks it’s the safest place to spend her summer now. Since her mom died in a car crash, Grace has been desperate to get away from the memories and reminders of her loss. Spending the summer transcribing cassette tapes for the Hermitage Historical Society might be boring, but boring is just what Grace needs.
Until she hears the voice of Jake Underwood—the boy who first recorded the cassette tapes back in 1992. When Grace realizes he can hear anything she records, despite thirty years of time between them, she strikes up an impossible conversation with Jake through the tapes.
But the past isn’t any simpler than the present, and a mystery has haunted Hermitage through the generations. In the 1970’s, a hurricane made landfall and resulted in the tragic death of Jake’s uncle Charley. In a town as suffocatingly small as Hermitage, it’s impossible not to notice how no one talks about that storm, or Charley, and as the mystery unfurls, Grace can’t help but realize a worse truth: No one talks about Jake either.
A beautifully written exploration of grief and what happens when untreated wounds bleed into future generations, The Underwood Tapes is the perfect read for anyone in need of a good, cathartic cry.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
35 people are currently reading
6105 people want to read
About the author
Amanda DeWitt
4 books294 followersAmanda DeWitt is an author and librarian, ensuring that she spends as much time as books as possible. She also enjoys Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragon-ing, and also writing, just not whatever it is she really should be writing. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Masters in Information and Library Science. She lives in Clearwater, Florida with her dogs, cats, and assortment of chickens. Aces Wild: A Heist is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
January 14, 2025
After I read and enjoyed Wren Martin Ruins It All last year I was excited for the new book by Amanda DeWitt, especially since The Underwood Tapes goes into a completely different direction than her last book and is promising a grief-filled, time-bending mystery. After the death of her mother, eighteen-year-old Grace comes to the small town of Hermitage to work a summer job in the town's archive room. Her main task is to listen to and transcribe some old cassette tapes, but what starts as blissfully mind-numbing work is soon taking up Grace's entire life. Jake Underwood, the boy who recorded the tapes thirty years ago, left some additional messages that no one has ever heard before, and soon he and Grace form an impossible connection. As a result, Grace is trying to figure out what happened to Jake all these years ago, but in a town where everyone knows everyone, no one wants to talk about Jake's family. This is where the mystery part comes into play, but I have to say that I was disappointed by it. Grace barely does any investigating. She is trying to speak to people but most of them don't want to say anything, and then she always stumbles upon photographs or newspaper clippings from decades ago that help her understand the past. However, I did enjoy Grace's and Jake's relationship through the tapes and the little magical aspect that came along with it. And another strong part of the book, maybe even the strongest, is the portrayal of grief. Especially the description of Grace keeping herself busy and doing fine until she is suddenly not fine anymore and everything bursts out. That was very well done in my opinion and it made this book a good read in the end, even though the mystery didn't deliver.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2024
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
“Time is like a tide here, pulling us along with it and finally, finally pushing us together.”
Time, itself, is such a strange & unexplained phenomenon that the way they were able to communicate was interesting and intriguing. The way The Underwood Tapes served as a mysterious gateway -'all too new—too fragile, too daring, too impossible—' that not only to figuring out the truth behind Jake's disappearance, as well as his own mysterious family, but also how it helped not one, but two people find closure in the grips of dealing with the unsolved & unresolved grief of a loved one's death. 😔
“How impossible must it be to lose someone and not even know why? How impossible, to lose someone and never be able to tell the truth?”
For that was truly what was explored and touched upon the most. The author vividly captured Grace's hurt and heartache. The lengths and the extent one would do to help themselves understand, while also finding a way to forgive and move on from a death that has shattered their hearts so much that living pales in comparison to their not being there. 💔 'Grief is all different yet all the same, so much like looking in a mirror that it hurts.' Grace and Jake were still bearing the trauma of a loss so heavy that it made them desperate to find the much-needed closure to it.
“How often do you get to talk to someone through time?”
Grace and Jake's friendship was also depicted in a beautiful light - a true kinship of recognizing in the other the loneliness, as well as the guilt of carrying the trauma for so long that it shielded their hearts to everything else. The cassette tapes was a nice nostalgic touch - 'something that can’t be destroyed but can’t be held either' - a memory of a recording that is 'like a little piece of them is saved forever.' 🥺 Jake's story, especially is the centerfold of Grace's determination to not only understand her mother's reluctance to return to Hermitage, Florida - a town 'stuck in its own cycles, in the endless push and pull of the tide' - but also, what really happened to Jake's uncle, and most importantly, Jake, as well. And yes, I have to commend the description of the Gulf and the tide - the swell of uncertainty that lay in its force and the hypnotic pull it had on the characters.... 😢
“There’s nothing you can actually say that will put the world back together again when it’s fallen apart.”
I do think the mystery was a predictable one, but it was nicely built upon as Grace followed the trail from cassettes to newspaper clippings to eventually bending time to discover the truth. The fear and uncertainty of the horrible truth that Grace would not only witness but shed light on was vividly captured. 'You can’t let it go, or time won’t let go of you?' However, the ending sadly faltered in a severely anti-climatic way that just brought down the reading experience. 🙎🏻♀️ I liked the way The Hurricane Club was a way for Grace to feel closer to her mother, how it also paved the way to hidden truths and secrets buried for so long that even their reveal was not as satisfying as it could have been. But, still, I felt at least spirits and hearts were finally put to rest - especially for Jake. A heart-wrenching guilt and burden lifted from both hearts, which perhaps, was the most rewarding and deserving part about it. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
It is a heartfelt and sincere depiction of how we learn to forgive ourselves and not shoulder the blame for something that was not in our control. In solving Jake's mystery, Grace also comes to terms with her own pain, which in a way helped Jake, too. It is impossible to imagine the past merging with the present, but time can reach beyond the scope of our possibilities. And how it takes patience as well as closure to take a step forward 'one foot in front of the other, Mom used to tell me. It’s what you do when you feel like you can’t do anything else.' 🙏🏻
*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“Time is like a tide here, pulling us along with it and finally, finally pushing us together.”
Time, itself, is such a strange & unexplained phenomenon that the way they were able to communicate was interesting and intriguing. The way The Underwood Tapes served as a mysterious gateway -'all too new—too fragile, too daring, too impossible—' that not only to figuring out the truth behind Jake's disappearance, as well as his own mysterious family, but also how it helped not one, but two people find closure in the grips of dealing with the unsolved & unresolved grief of a loved one's death. 😔
“How impossible must it be to lose someone and not even know why? How impossible, to lose someone and never be able to tell the truth?”
For that was truly what was explored and touched upon the most. The author vividly captured Grace's hurt and heartache. The lengths and the extent one would do to help themselves understand, while also finding a way to forgive and move on from a death that has shattered their hearts so much that living pales in comparison to their not being there. 💔 'Grief is all different yet all the same, so much like looking in a mirror that it hurts.' Grace and Jake were still bearing the trauma of a loss so heavy that it made them desperate to find the much-needed closure to it.
“How often do you get to talk to someone through time?”
Grace and Jake's friendship was also depicted in a beautiful light - a true kinship of recognizing in the other the loneliness, as well as the guilt of carrying the trauma for so long that it shielded their hearts to everything else. The cassette tapes was a nice nostalgic touch - 'something that can’t be destroyed but can’t be held either' - a memory of a recording that is 'like a little piece of them is saved forever.' 🥺 Jake's story, especially is the centerfold of Grace's determination to not only understand her mother's reluctance to return to Hermitage, Florida - a town 'stuck in its own cycles, in the endless push and pull of the tide' - but also, what really happened to Jake's uncle, and most importantly, Jake, as well. And yes, I have to commend the description of the Gulf and the tide - the swell of uncertainty that lay in its force and the hypnotic pull it had on the characters.... 😢
“There’s nothing you can actually say that will put the world back together again when it’s fallen apart.”
I do think the mystery was a predictable one, but it was nicely built upon as Grace followed the trail from cassettes to newspaper clippings to eventually bending time to discover the truth. The fear and uncertainty of the horrible truth that Grace would not only witness but shed light on was vividly captured. 'You can’t let it go, or time won’t let go of you?' However, the ending sadly faltered in a severely anti-climatic way that just brought down the reading experience. 🙎🏻♀️ I liked the way The Hurricane Club was a way for Grace to feel closer to her mother, how it also paved the way to hidden truths and secrets buried for so long that even their reveal was not as satisfying as it could have been. But, still, I felt at least spirits and hearts were finally put to rest - especially for Jake. A heart-wrenching guilt and burden lifted from both hearts, which perhaps, was the most rewarding and deserving part about it. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
It is a heartfelt and sincere depiction of how we learn to forgive ourselves and not shoulder the blame for something that was not in our control. In solving Jake's mystery, Grace also comes to terms with her own pain, which in a way helped Jake, too. It is impossible to imagine the past merging with the present, but time can reach beyond the scope of our possibilities. And how it takes patience as well as closure to take a step forward 'one foot in front of the other, Mom used to tell me. It’s what you do when you feel like you can’t do anything else.' 🙏🏻
*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
May 16, 2025I wonder why I've never heard of this book till now. The synopsis gives me a sort of Divine Rivals meets Your Name feels. Have any of you guys read this book?
January 31, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House for the ARC.
Tropes :
-YA
- Mystery / Thriller
- Small town
- Grief
- Found family
- Time "travel" - Two people communicating through tapes
It was an enjoyable read. I really liked the mystery aspect, as well as Grace and Jake’s relationship. They’re both hurt and broken, and it feels like, even before speaking for the first time, they’re stuck in their pasts. I also enjoyed the author’s writing style. The time travel element was well done, although I felt it wasn’t explained enough.
The main reason this is a 3-star rating is that I was honestly a bit bored during the first 30% of the book. It felt like not much was happening, and there were a lot of names, places, and information thrown at me without a clear purpose. Because of this, I didn’t really care about the other characters or the slow revelations about them. I was mostly interested in Grace and Jake’s chapters (together, not separately. I would have loved to get Jake's POV too. It would have added a lot to the story and would probably have made me more attached and invested.
I think this one just wasn’t for me, but with a little more action, I could have really enjoyed it. It felt pretty slow for the first half of the book.
I don’t read many mystery/thriller books, so I couldn’t predict everything, but while some elements weren’t surprising, others were and kept things interesting. Again, I really loved Grace and Jake as the main characters—the pain and grief they share, as well as their developing, somewhat shy friendship, is so sweet. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery, thrillers, small-town settings, and time travel elements in their books.
Tropes :
-YA
- Mystery / Thriller
- Small town
- Grief
- Found family
- Time "travel" - Two people communicating through tapes
It was an enjoyable read. I really liked the mystery aspect, as well as Grace and Jake’s relationship. They’re both hurt and broken, and it feels like, even before speaking for the first time, they’re stuck in their pasts. I also enjoyed the author’s writing style. The time travel element was well done, although I felt it wasn’t explained enough.
The main reason this is a 3-star rating is that I was honestly a bit bored during the first 30% of the book. It felt like not much was happening, and there were a lot of names, places, and information thrown at me without a clear purpose. Because of this, I didn’t really care about the other characters or the slow revelations about them. I was mostly interested in Grace and Jake’s chapters (together, not separately. I would have loved to get Jake's POV too. It would have added a lot to the story and would probably have made me more attached and invested.
I think this one just wasn’t for me, but with a little more action, I could have really enjoyed it. It felt pretty slow for the first half of the book.
I don’t read many mystery/thriller books, so I couldn’t predict everything, but while some elements weren’t surprising, others were and kept things interesting. Again, I really loved Grace and Jake as the main characters—the pain and grief they share, as well as their developing, somewhat shy friendship, is so sweet. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery, thrillers, small-town settings, and time travel elements in their books.
February 27, 2025
4 Stars
The Underwood Tapes is an effortlessly engaging YA story, both refreshingly unique and deeply moving.
It’s part small-town mystery, part speculative fiction, with a highly original “time travel” concept that I found fascinating in its execution and ambiguity.
The themes of loss and grief were deftly explored, impacting me on an unexpectedly emotional level, making this quite the reading gem that I won’t soon forget.
This is only my second-time reading a story penned by Amanda DeWitt, but she’s impressed me (in different ways) on both counts, quickly making her one of my favourite, remarkably versatile voices in the YA genre this decade.
***************************************
Audio Edition:
As is my preference, I had the pleasure of alternating between reading this eBook and listening to the audio, performed expertly in a solo narration by Laura Knight Keating.
As far as the vocal work is concerned, Keating hit all the right notes throughout, holding my attention rapt and giving such a nuanced performance that I may or may not have had a bit of an ill-timed emotional breakdown in heavy traffic one drive home. #noregrets
I was really pleased with the overall listening experience and I look forward to seeking out more of Keating's book narrations in the future.
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this eBook AND audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The Underwood Tapes is an effortlessly engaging YA story, both refreshingly unique and deeply moving.
It’s part small-town mystery, part speculative fiction, with a highly original “time travel” concept that I found fascinating in its execution and ambiguity.
The themes of loss and grief were deftly explored, impacting me on an unexpectedly emotional level, making this quite the reading gem that I won’t soon forget.
This is only my second-time reading a story penned by Amanda DeWitt, but she’s impressed me (in different ways) on both counts, quickly making her one of my favourite, remarkably versatile voices in the YA genre this decade.
***************************************
Audio Edition:
As is my preference, I had the pleasure of alternating between reading this eBook and listening to the audio, performed expertly in a solo narration by Laura Knight Keating.
As far as the vocal work is concerned, Keating hit all the right notes throughout, holding my attention rapt and giving such a nuanced performance that I may or may not have had a bit of an ill-timed emotional breakdown in heavy traffic one drive home. #noregrets
I was really pleased with the overall listening experience and I look forward to seeking out more of Keating's book narrations in the future.
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this eBook AND audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2025
Books like these are just such a fun time. I love book that have to do with bending the time in weird ways. In here we have a story that unfolds both in the present time as well as 30 years in the past. I loved the small town vibes, the mystery was very well done. The characters felt so real and authentic. The topic of grief in this was handled beautifully. It's really a fantastic YA mystery with a splash of magical realism.
The audiobook is great, it was easy to get sucked into the story. The narrator did a fantastic job!
Thank you Netgalley and RBMedia for the audio arc! All opinions are my own!
The audiobook is great, it was easy to get sucked into the story. The narrator did a fantastic job!
Thank you Netgalley and RBMedia for the audio arc! All opinions are my own!
January 18, 2025
Got an arc from the publisher!
I REALLY enjoyed this one, more than I was expecting to, it just sucked me in. I love books like this, that are just a smidge speculative, one unexplained ghost or weird thing driving the plot and this scratched that itch in my brain. A little bit steins gate, a little bit haunting, and deeply poignant, I think this is easily my new fav of Dewitt’s books!
I REALLY enjoyed this one, more than I was expecting to, it just sucked me in. I love books like this, that are just a smidge speculative, one unexplained ghost or weird thing driving the plot and this scratched that itch in my brain. A little bit steins gate, a little bit haunting, and deeply poignant, I think this is easily my new fav of Dewitt’s books!
November 23, 2024
Oh no! My mind made a character feel real and now I am grumpy!!!!
Grace is spending the summer after high school in her mother's hometown, staying with her uncle and her granddad while she works in the archives room there. Her mom died 6 months ago, and while going to the tiny town where everyone knows everyone and everyone recognizes her as her mom's kid isn't ideal, she just has to get away from her real life for a while.
Her job at the archives entails listening to tapes that someone recorded while THEY were looking at old documents, describing them. So basically in 1991, Jake Underwood had physical documents in front of him, and he recorded tapes of him reading what was on them, describing pictures, etc. So now in 2022, Grace is listening to those tapes and re-writing back down everything he'd said, because the documents he'd described at the time were actually ruined and/or lost in a hurricane not long after.
Listening to Jake talk is kind of satisfying for Grace, especially when he starts reading documents about a mysterious "Hurricane Club" made up of teens in the 70s. She is sort of jealous of the physical mark he's left on the town with his tapes, so she flips one of them over and records a message on the back, basically just a "my name is Grace and I was here" type thing.
Well, the next time she comes into work and loads up a tape, she finds out something impossible - Jake was actually able to hear her recording on the tape, and they start up a stilted back and forth through time. It's cool and all, but things get more and more pressing as they both discover more about the Hurricane Club, which disbanded because Jake's uncle Charley went missing in a hurricane. There's a mystery around that, which is likely the reason Jake's dad, Charley's brother, died too, and then there's the question of what happened to Jake, and where he is in Grace's timeline.
Grace knows from the beginning that Jake only recorded 31 tapes, so there's a kind of pressing timeline that keeps you reading to know what happens. The mysteries are obviously a big part of this book. But it's also about grief. Grace is so traumatized by what happened to her mom, and also, just from losing her. Jake's dad only died about 6 months before his side of the recordings, too, so they have similar grief timelines, and Jake's grief combined with the confusion around his families' deaths lead him to hyperfocus on things. Meanwhile, Grace just tries her best not to think about her mom, and gets triggered when she's brought up for a good portion of the book.
Idk, I feel like this would be a great TV series, and I just really fell in love with Grace and how hard she kept trying to push through all the bad stuff in her life. She connected with Jake so fast, and I really liked Jake too :') I'll miss this book now that it's finished, I fear, which is always the goal when reading imo
Grace is spending the summer after high school in her mother's hometown, staying with her uncle and her granddad while she works in the archives room there. Her mom died 6 months ago, and while going to the tiny town where everyone knows everyone and everyone recognizes her as her mom's kid isn't ideal, she just has to get away from her real life for a while.
Her job at the archives entails listening to tapes that someone recorded while THEY were looking at old documents, describing them. So basically in 1991, Jake Underwood had physical documents in front of him, and he recorded tapes of him reading what was on them, describing pictures, etc. So now in 2022, Grace is listening to those tapes and re-writing back down everything he'd said, because the documents he'd described at the time were actually ruined and/or lost in a hurricane not long after.
Listening to Jake talk is kind of satisfying for Grace, especially when he starts reading documents about a mysterious "Hurricane Club" made up of teens in the 70s. She is sort of jealous of the physical mark he's left on the town with his tapes, so she flips one of them over and records a message on the back, basically just a "my name is Grace and I was here" type thing.
Well, the next time she comes into work and loads up a tape, she finds out something impossible - Jake was actually able to hear her recording on the tape, and they start up a stilted back and forth through time. It's cool and all, but things get more and more pressing as they both discover more about the Hurricane Club, which disbanded because Jake's uncle Charley went missing in a hurricane. There's a mystery around that, which is likely the reason Jake's dad, Charley's brother, died too, and then there's the question of what happened to Jake, and where he is in Grace's timeline.
Grace knows from the beginning that Jake only recorded 31 tapes, so there's a kind of pressing timeline that keeps you reading to know what happens. The mysteries are obviously a big part of this book. But it's also about grief. Grace is so traumatized by what happened to her mom, and also, just from losing her. Jake's dad only died about 6 months before his side of the recordings, too, so they have similar grief timelines, and Jake's grief combined with the confusion around his families' deaths lead him to hyperfocus on things. Meanwhile, Grace just tries her best not to think about her mom, and gets triggered when she's brought up for a good portion of the book.
Idk, I feel like this would be a great TV series, and I just really fell in love with Grace and how hard she kept trying to push through all the bad stuff in her life. She connected with Jake so fast, and I really liked Jake too :') I'll miss this book now that it's finished, I fear, which is always the goal when reading imo
May 28, 2025
3.75⭐️ rounded up
October 4, 2024
thank you to netgalley and holiday house for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
this was such a delight to read. i will admit i was first drawn to the book because of its title! i'm a podcast fan, and so i couldn't help noticing the similarities of the plot/title to popular podcasts, such as the black tapes or even the magnus archives, and i was not disappointed for getting my hopes up, something i always try not to do, just in case! now, looking at the tags, i wouldn't go as far as to categorise this book as 'horror'? it falls more in the mystery-thriller realm, in my opinion– it's not scary, it's painfully human, at its very core. we follow our main character, grace, in 2022, as she tries to outrun the loss of her mom by spending her summer in hermitage, her mom's hometown. there, she has to transcribe some old tapes so the history of hermitage isn't lost (and this may just be me, but i would love to gain some extra money by transcribing old tapes. i mean, it sounds like a darn cozy job)– and in those tapes she stumbles upon jake, the one whose voice trickles through the dark tapes, a boy from 1992. and i won't say anymore bc spoilers!! nobody likes spoilers!!
the representation of grief in this book is phenomenal. i wouldn't say it's the main focus of this book, but it's constantly lurking, constantly looming over our heads, biding its time until it slips under grace's skin and poisons her from within, because grief behaves exactly like that, does it not? you can be fine one minute, walking around your house, thinking about all the chores you have yet to get to, and then you stumble and stub your toe and everything comes crashing back, all those things you'd thought you'd managed to separate yourself from, those feelings you'd thought you'd moved past. it was a wave you couldn't swim away from, and i loved seeing its different manifestations, in grace, in jake, in other characters such as uncle aaron.
it was... beautiful, and so true to life, and so were grace and jake's characters. i appreciate the fact the author didn't turn these teenagers into a caricature, like most authors tend to do as i suspect a lot of people don't actually know how teenagers behave– they felt like actual teenagers who have gone through the ring, and that was such a breath of fresh air. the writing was also really enjoyable, knowing exactly when to be lyrical and when to get to the point. the secondary characters too, especially lara and griffin, were so good, because even if we didn't get to spend much time with them, the author still took the time to develop them enough so that we understand them, understand why they do the things they do and say the things they say.
i can't recommend it enough, i think it's more than fitting for the fall season!
this was such a delight to read. i will admit i was first drawn to the book because of its title! i'm a podcast fan, and so i couldn't help noticing the similarities of the plot/title to popular podcasts, such as the black tapes or even the magnus archives, and i was not disappointed for getting my hopes up, something i always try not to do, just in case! now, looking at the tags, i wouldn't go as far as to categorise this book as 'horror'? it falls more in the mystery-thriller realm, in my opinion– it's not scary, it's painfully human, at its very core. we follow our main character, grace, in 2022, as she tries to outrun the loss of her mom by spending her summer in hermitage, her mom's hometown. there, she has to transcribe some old tapes so the history of hermitage isn't lost (and this may just be me, but i would love to gain some extra money by transcribing old tapes. i mean, it sounds like a darn cozy job)– and in those tapes she stumbles upon jake, the one whose voice trickles through the dark tapes, a boy from 1992. and i won't say anymore bc spoilers!! nobody likes spoilers!!
the representation of grief in this book is phenomenal. i wouldn't say it's the main focus of this book, but it's constantly lurking, constantly looming over our heads, biding its time until it slips under grace's skin and poisons her from within, because grief behaves exactly like that, does it not? you can be fine one minute, walking around your house, thinking about all the chores you have yet to get to, and then you stumble and stub your toe and everything comes crashing back, all those things you'd thought you'd managed to separate yourself from, those feelings you'd thought you'd moved past. it was a wave you couldn't swim away from, and i loved seeing its different manifestations, in grace, in jake, in other characters such as uncle aaron.
it was... beautiful, and so true to life, and so were grace and jake's characters. i appreciate the fact the author didn't turn these teenagers into a caricature, like most authors tend to do as i suspect a lot of people don't actually know how teenagers behave– they felt like actual teenagers who have gone through the ring, and that was such a breath of fresh air. the writing was also really enjoyable, knowing exactly when to be lyrical and when to get to the point. the secondary characters too, especially lara and griffin, were so good, because even if we didn't get to spend much time with them, the author still took the time to develop them enough so that we understand them, understand why they do the things they do and say the things they say.
i can't recommend it enough, i think it's more than fitting for the fall season!
November 21, 2024
This book is intricately woven, with exactly the right balance between past and present, fleshed out side characters, exploration of generational trauma and growth, and a gripping mystery at the center. The Underwood Tapes is starkly different in tone compared to Amanda DeWitt’s other books, but no less impressive. This one gripped me and didn’t let me go—I suspect it won’t for a very long time to come.
March 17, 2025
2025 reads: 51/300
2025 tbr: 24/111
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: grief, death (including death of parent), car accident
since her mom died in a car crash, grace has been trying to escape the reminders of her loss. that’s how she finds herself in hermitage, florida—her mom’s hometown that she hadn’t stepped foot in for thirty years. she sets out to transcribe cassette tapes from 1992 for the hermitage historical society, which sounds boring enough, but quickly becomes interesting when the voice on the other end, belonging to jake underwood, begins speaking to her. grace realizes that no one in hermitage talks about jake, or his uncle, charley, who tragically died in a hurricane in the 1970s, and she takes interest in solving these mysteries.
what a beautiful exploration of grief. grace starts out with trying to run from her grief, winding up in the place her mom was born and raised. of course, you cannot outrun grief, and it found her in different ways. i thought the way she was impacted by and grew through her grief was handled well.
i also really liked the mystery in this book and how it was worked through. of course, it’s weird to grace that nobody in town talks about jake, and he doesn’t have an easily-googleable name, either. i thought communicating through the tapes was so unique and i liked how grace and jake played with that a bit.
overall, i thought this was a great book. i highly recommend this to anyone who resonates with stories dealing with grief and enjoys decades-long mysteries.
2025 tbr: 24/111
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: grief, death (including death of parent), car accident
since her mom died in a car crash, grace has been trying to escape the reminders of her loss. that’s how she finds herself in hermitage, florida—her mom’s hometown that she hadn’t stepped foot in for thirty years. she sets out to transcribe cassette tapes from 1992 for the hermitage historical society, which sounds boring enough, but quickly becomes interesting when the voice on the other end, belonging to jake underwood, begins speaking to her. grace realizes that no one in hermitage talks about jake, or his uncle, charley, who tragically died in a hurricane in the 1970s, and she takes interest in solving these mysteries.
what a beautiful exploration of grief. grace starts out with trying to run from her grief, winding up in the place her mom was born and raised. of course, you cannot outrun grief, and it found her in different ways. i thought the way she was impacted by and grew through her grief was handled well.
i also really liked the mystery in this book and how it was worked through. of course, it’s weird to grace that nobody in town talks about jake, and he doesn’t have an easily-googleable name, either. i thought communicating through the tapes was so unique and i liked how grace and jake played with that a bit.
overall, i thought this was a great book. i highly recommend this to anyone who resonates with stories dealing with grief and enjoys decades-long mysteries.
October 24, 2024
Grace escapes her grief by transcribing old cassette tapes, only to discover an unexpected connection with Jake Underwood—a voice from the past—unraveling mysteries of loss and silence in her small town. As their conversation deepens, Grace confronts the haunting secrets of Hermitage and her own heart.
I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put it down once Jake responds to Grace. After that - I was a goner. I guessed who the central players in the mystery were, but that didn’t stop the journey getting to the end from being satisfying.
There are so many wonderful passages about grief, love, and trying to move forward. Grace’s struggle with her grief and letting herself feel was so relatable. I thought the writing was really beautiful and I was moved at the end.
*I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.*
I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put it down once Jake responds to Grace. After that - I was a goner. I guessed who the central players in the mystery were, but that didn’t stop the journey getting to the end from being satisfying.
There are so many wonderful passages about grief, love, and trying to move forward. Grace’s struggle with her grief and letting herself feel was so relatable. I thought the writing was really beautiful and I was moved at the end.
*I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.*
January 12, 2025
Okay, wow, this was so vastly different from Wren Martin, Amanda's only other book I've read so far; (Though that will change very quickly), and I loved every single second of it.
Grace was a brilliant main character to follow along with, as she did her damnedest to solve all the mysteries this small Florida town presented her with. And Jake, my heart hurts for and because of him, the way he followed in his father's footprints.
I won't be okay for a good while after this book, a usual sign when the writing really grabs a hold of me. Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree for the e-arc!
Grace was a brilliant main character to follow along with, as she did her damnedest to solve all the mysteries this small Florida town presented her with. And Jake, my heart hurts for and because of him, the way he followed in his father's footprints.
I won't be okay for a good while after this book, a usual sign when the writing really grabs a hold of me. Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree for the e-arc!
April 11, 2025
A third solid book from this author! I'm mostly just proud to (finally?) be out of my reading slump
October 7, 2025
I appreciate the variety with which Amanda DeWitt writes. I will say that I expected an explicitly asexual main character in this, but that is on me. that was an assumption I made based solely on the author's previous two books. (let me also just say that the main characters sexuality is never discussed at all so she could technically be asexual but there's no description of sexual or romantic attraction on the page at all)
I actually really enjoyed this. I see some other reviews not loving it, but I think that this is a really good cozy fall mystery book that I read in a day or two via audiobook.
we have Grace who after her mother dies. she ends up back in her mom's hometown living with her uncle for the summer working at the historical society transcribing old cassette tapes. what she doesn't expect is a generational mystery to be told through these tapes and for her to be able to communicate with Jake, the boy who is recording the tapes in 1992.
this is a heartwrencher but in that slow twisty way. you know what the ending is going to be but you can't help but wish for something different. the entire book. I especially enjoyed Grace becoming friends with her cousin, Laura and Griffin, as well as finding her own healing through these stories with Jake.
I don't want to say too much because this book truly is better the less you know. if you are expecting a fast action-packed mystery, this is not it. this is slow and steady and a journey more of grief and healing than it is thriller/ mystery.
I actually really enjoyed this. I see some other reviews not loving it, but I think that this is a really good cozy fall mystery book that I read in a day or two via audiobook.
we have Grace who after her mother dies. she ends up back in her mom's hometown living with her uncle for the summer working at the historical society transcribing old cassette tapes. what she doesn't expect is a generational mystery to be told through these tapes and for her to be able to communicate with Jake, the boy who is recording the tapes in 1992.
this is a heartwrencher but in that slow twisty way. you know what the ending is going to be but you can't help but wish for something different. the entire book. I especially enjoyed Grace becoming friends with her cousin, Laura and Griffin, as well as finding her own healing through these stories with Jake.
I don't want to say too much because this book truly is better the less you know. if you are expecting a fast action-packed mystery, this is not it. this is slow and steady and a journey more of grief and healing than it is thriller/ mystery.
October 9, 2025
The Underwood Tapes by Amanda DeWitt by
What Works
What Could Be Improved
Summary
Rating
Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown (Spoiler-Free)
Chapter 1 — Arrival in Hermitage
Grace arrives in her mother’s hometown to spend the summer with extended family after her mother’s death.
Establishes small-town atmosphere and Grace’s sense of disconnection.
Introduces the Historical Society job transcribing old cassette tapes.
Chapter 2 — First Tape, First Voice
Grace begins listening to tapes recorded by Jake Underwood in 1992.
Discovers the recordings are unusually personal and feel oddly directed toward her.
Chapter 3 — The Connection Forms
Grace realizes she can respond to Jake and he can hear her—despite the decades between them.
Sets the stage for an unusual friendship across time.
Chapter 4 — Shared Stories
Grace and Jake trade details about their lives, revealing parallels in their experiences of loss and isolation.
Hints of something darker in Jake’s past emerge.
Chapter 5 — Local History Unearthed
Grace digs into Hermitage’s archives to learn more about Jake’s family and town history.
Begins to notice patterns in past tragedies.
Chapter 6 — Town Whispers
Interactions with locals show how tightly some secrets are guarded.
The mood grows tenser as Grace feels more invested in Jake’s fate.
Chapter 7 — Clues and Confidants
Grace shares her discoveries with a trusted friend, testing whether someone else will believe her story.
Parallel threads of Jake’s and Grace’s timelines start to align more closely.
Chapter 8 — Cracks in the Calm
Signs point toward a possible connection between Jake’s family tragedy and other incidents in town history.
Grace faces subtle pushback for her curiosity.
Chapter 9 — Cross-Time Resolve
Grace and Jake coordinate efforts to uncover truths in both their timelines.
The bond between them strengthens, giving Grace a renewed sense of purpose.
Chapter 10 — Turning Point
Grace learns information that reframes her understanding of Jake’s circumstances.
Sets the stage for the climax where the past and present converge.
Why This Structure Works
Gradual trust building: The relationship between Grace and Jake grows naturally through their conversations.
Layered mystery: Personal grief, small-town secrets, and supernatural communication develop in parallel, keeping tension balanced.
Controlled pacing: The steady uncovering of information keeps readers engaged without rushing the reveals.
Amanda DeWitt
Grieving the recent death of her mother, 18-year-old Grace spends summer in her mom’s hometown of Hermitage, Florida, working at the Historical Society transcribing cassette tapes. To her shock, she discovers she can communicate with Jake Underwood—a teenager who recorded the tapes in 1992—despite a 30-year time gap. As their conversation deepens, Grace and Jake uncover buried secrets linking generations of tragedy, including the mysterious deaths of Jake’s uncle and possibly others.
What Works
Emotional resonance: Grace’s grief is handled with care and depth. Her emotional journey—from numbness to connection—is both authentic and moving.
Elegantly woven mystery: The supernatural mechanism—time-bridging cassette tapes—is used to propel the narrative, rather than overshadow it. It adds intrigue and emotional texture without overwhelming the core story.
Small-town atmosphere: Hermitage feels alive—its silent secrets, humid heat, and hidden sorrow amplify the story’s mood and deepen the mystery.
Strong character voice: Grace’s narration feels grounded and self-aware. Her motivations are organic, not plot-driven, and her voice anchors the story.
What Could Be Improved
Supporting character depth: Some secondary characters—like Grace’s cousins or town locals—remain lightly sketched. They support the plot but don’t fully come alive.
Ambiguous supernatural premise: The mechanics behind how communication travels through time are left unexplained. Some readers may find the lack of explanation unsatisfying.
Predictable mystery: A few readers found the mystery resolution fairly straightforward, reducing the tension of the reveal.
Summary
_The Underwood Tapes_ is a hauntingly beautiful YA mystery. It balances grief, friendship, and a subtle speculative element to craft a story that’s emotional and immersive. Grace’s journey from loss to purpose makes the book resonate far beyond its supernatural trappings.
Rating
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟☆ — 4 out of 5 stars
Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a poignant, time-touched mystery that explores grief with sensitivity and depth, this is a standout pick. It’s perfect for fans of introspective YA fiction with a hint of the inexplicable.
Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown (Spoiler-Free)
Chapter 1 — Arrival in Hermitage
Grace arrives in her mother’s hometown to spend the summer with extended family after her mother’s death.
Establishes small-town atmosphere and Grace’s sense of disconnection.
Introduces the Historical Society job transcribing old cassette tapes.
Chapter 2 — First Tape, First Voice
Grace begins listening to tapes recorded by Jake Underwood in 1992.
Discovers the recordings are unusually personal and feel oddly directed toward her.
Chapter 3 — The Connection Forms
Grace realizes she can respond to Jake and he can hear her—despite the decades between them.
Sets the stage for an unusual friendship across time.
Chapter 4 — Shared Stories
Grace and Jake trade details about their lives, revealing parallels in their experiences of loss and isolation.
Hints of something darker in Jake’s past emerge.
Chapter 5 — Local History Unearthed
Grace digs into Hermitage’s archives to learn more about Jake’s family and town history.
Begins to notice patterns in past tragedies.
Chapter 6 — Town Whispers
Interactions with locals show how tightly some secrets are guarded.
The mood grows tenser as Grace feels more invested in Jake’s fate.
Chapter 7 — Clues and Confidants
Grace shares her discoveries with a trusted friend, testing whether someone else will believe her story.
Parallel threads of Jake’s and Grace’s timelines start to align more closely.
Chapter 8 — Cracks in the Calm
Signs point toward a possible connection between Jake’s family tragedy and other incidents in town history.
Grace faces subtle pushback for her curiosity.
Chapter 9 — Cross-Time Resolve
Grace and Jake coordinate efforts to uncover truths in both their timelines.
The bond between them strengthens, giving Grace a renewed sense of purpose.
Chapter 10 — Turning Point
Grace learns information that reframes her understanding of Jake’s circumstances.
Sets the stage for the climax where the past and present converge.
Why This Structure Works
Gradual trust building: The relationship between Grace and Jake grows naturally through their conversations.
Layered mystery: Personal grief, small-town secrets, and supernatural communication develop in parallel, keeping tension balanced.
Controlled pacing: The steady uncovering of information keeps readers engaged without rushing the reveals.
Overall rating : 🌟🌟🌟🌟☆
January 24, 2025
Thank you so so much to Netgalley and Holiday House for the e-arc!!
I wanna say that this is somewhere between a 2 and 2.5 stars
I was really hyped for this book. The cover is stunning, the plot and sci fi elements sounded really cool, and I was really looking forward to becoming invested. I would say this book started out pretty well, the plot was fairly slow but I didn't mind it at first and was actually enjoying it and I was really looking forward for it to build up. And at that time I felt like the characters were interesting, the plot was interesting and the slow pacing was a nice change as opposed to the fast-paced fantasy that I usually tend to read. With that being said around halfway through I realized that the pace wasn't going to pick up and unfortunately that's the point that I stopped enjoying it.
There was this whole mystery that was barely explored and I honestly just think this book could have been better and has so much lost potential. I think the characters are good and I was attached to them but they could have been so much more fleshed out. I did genuinely tear up at certain moments and find certain quotes HIGHLY relatable (which is why I feel even more like that goes into the lost potential of this book). The writing was actually pretty good. The plot is interesting, the Sci-Fi elements were very doctor who-esque and arguably my favorite part of this whole book, but at the end of the day this was just too slow for me to enjoy. And I cannot stress that enough. Over the span of over 300 pages barely anything happens (apart from consistent minor events and minor investigating) and I would have enjoyed the plot and the characters SIGNIFICANTLY more if this book did not sabotage itself with it's pacing.
This book is very character based which would have been fine except the internal dialogue becomes really repetitive and sort of single faceted (hence the lost potential of actual character growth and depth). I understand that this story was about grief and about mental struggle and hardship and loss but because the book was so focused on that we really didn't get much of anything else other than internal dialogue and events that didn't further the plot most of the time. By the end of this book I just was just pushing through to finish it. I did enjoy the ending but WE NEVER FIND OUT HOW ANY OF THE TIME STUFF EVEN HAPPENED? HOW DID THAT EVEN HAPPEN?
HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE?? LOVE??? GRIEF???? I DON'T KNOW *CAUSE IT WAS NEVER EXPLAIIINNEEDD*. Cool concept but SERIOUSLY WHY DID DEWITT NOT EXPLAIN ANY OF IT. LIKE OKAY I GUESS I JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT IT HAPPENED JUST CAUSE.
Anyways, I was really looking forward to this book and had another book by this author on my TBR but unfortunately this was a huge disappointment. Again if you enjoy character-based books I think you would like this more than I did, but the absolute lack of events and lack of the plot actually progressing was incredibly frustrating. And so if you can really get past all of that and only focus on the characters (which in my opinion were not multi-layered and became stunted at a point) or you're just interested in reading a story about grief and a sort of Coming of Age then by all means check this out. But for me personally I started to enjoy it less and less as I read it, and based off of all of the elements that I've mentioned put together and the elements that this book was lacking I can't in good faith truly recommend it as a book that I enjoyed as much as I could have. So overall, this book had so much potential with the plot, characters, and twists, I found it to be super emotional and relatable at times, but it was just too slow for me to enjoy.
And will ultimately go down as a book that I COULD'VE enjoyed more, but one that has so much lost potential and not a good enough execution for me to have done so.
P.s: Despite all of this, I still think I'll think back on this book when I see a cassette tape
I wanna say that this is somewhere between a 2 and 2.5 stars
I was really hyped for this book. The cover is stunning, the plot and sci fi elements sounded really cool, and I was really looking forward to becoming invested. I would say this book started out pretty well, the plot was fairly slow but I didn't mind it at first and was actually enjoying it and I was really looking forward for it to build up. And at that time I felt like the characters were interesting, the plot was interesting and the slow pacing was a nice change as opposed to the fast-paced fantasy that I usually tend to read. With that being said around halfway through I realized that the pace wasn't going to pick up and unfortunately that's the point that I stopped enjoying it.
There was this whole mystery that was barely explored and I honestly just think this book could have been better and has so much lost potential. I think the characters are good and I was attached to them but they could have been so much more fleshed out. I did genuinely tear up at certain moments and find certain quotes HIGHLY relatable (which is why I feel even more like that goes into the lost potential of this book). The writing was actually pretty good. The plot is interesting, the Sci-Fi elements were very doctor who-esque and arguably my favorite part of this whole book, but at the end of the day this was just too slow for me to enjoy. And I cannot stress that enough. Over the span of over 300 pages barely anything happens (apart from consistent minor events and minor investigating) and I would have enjoyed the plot and the characters SIGNIFICANTLY more if this book did not sabotage itself with it's pacing.
This book is very character based which would have been fine except the internal dialogue becomes really repetitive and sort of single faceted (hence the lost potential of actual character growth and depth). I understand that this story was about grief and about mental struggle and hardship and loss but because the book was so focused on that we really didn't get much of anything else other than internal dialogue and events that didn't further the plot most of the time. By the end of this book I just was just pushing through to finish it. I did enjoy the ending but WE NEVER FIND OUT HOW ANY OF THE TIME STUFF EVEN HAPPENED? HOW DID THAT EVEN HAPPEN?
HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE?? LOVE??? GRIEF???? I DON'T KNOW *CAUSE IT WAS NEVER EXPLAIIINNEEDD*. Cool concept but SERIOUSLY WHY DID DEWITT NOT EXPLAIN ANY OF IT. LIKE OKAY I GUESS I JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT IT HAPPENED JUST CAUSE.
Anyways, I was really looking forward to this book and had another book by this author on my TBR but unfortunately this was a huge disappointment. Again if you enjoy character-based books I think you would like this more than I did, but the absolute lack of events and lack of the plot actually progressing was incredibly frustrating. And so if you can really get past all of that and only focus on the characters (which in my opinion were not multi-layered and became stunted at a point) or you're just interested in reading a story about grief and a sort of Coming of Age then by all means check this out. But for me personally I started to enjoy it less and less as I read it, and based off of all of the elements that I've mentioned put together and the elements that this book was lacking I can't in good faith truly recommend it as a book that I enjoyed as much as I could have. So overall, this book had so much potential with the plot, characters, and twists, I found it to be super emotional and relatable at times, but it was just too slow for me to enjoy.
And will ultimately go down as a book that I COULD'VE enjoyed more, but one that has so much lost potential and not a good enough execution for me to have done so.
P.s: Despite all of this, I still think I'll think back on this book when I see a cassette tape
October 15, 2024
4⭐️
First, thank you Netgalley and Holiday House for the ARC
The Underwood Tapes by Amanda DeWitt is a mystery novel with hints of supernatural elements.
This was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases since Amanda DeWitt became a must-read author for me.
I liked Grace as a protagonist, and the author portrayed her grief with care and realism.
In addition, I was really glad that there was no romantic subplot for the MC, which felt refreshing for a YA novel.
I also found the mystery pretty intriguing and the concept of the book was really interesting.
First, thank you Netgalley and Holiday House for the ARC
The Underwood Tapes by Amanda DeWitt is a mystery novel with hints of supernatural elements.
This was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases since Amanda DeWitt became a must-read author for me.
I liked Grace as a protagonist, and the author portrayed her grief with care and realism.
In addition, I was really glad that there was no romantic subplot for the MC, which felt refreshing for a YA novel.
I also found the mystery pretty intriguing and the concept of the book was really interesting.
October 24, 2025
This was incredible. Not gonna lie, the synopsis made me nervous…I’m not a fan of “we were liars” or “you’ve reached sam” but this was SO GOOD YALL.
I read “Aces Wild” recently, so when my professor picked this for class I was pretty excited. I really love the way Amanda Dewitt writes her characters and their voices, and this did not disappoint. While the premise of “Aces Wild” drew me in more, this book was a lot better in my opinion—I can tell Dewitt has improved so much…I’ll definitely be picking up her future books + “Wren Martin Ruins it All” asap.
I will say the magical elements in this had my brain hurting a little bit, and I got the families & names mixed up from time to time because I’m reading many other things for my classes, but I still loved it so much. Other than that, this was so enjoyable and entertaining. It wasn’t necessarily anything super unique, but it still FELT that way. The mystery + magic + characters + character dynamics were just great and I had a really fun time with this.
AND THAT ENDING…tears in my eyes ngl. PLS READ THIS EVERYONE.
I read “Aces Wild” recently, so when my professor picked this for class I was pretty excited. I really love the way Amanda Dewitt writes her characters and their voices, and this did not disappoint. While the premise of “Aces Wild” drew me in more, this book was a lot better in my opinion—I can tell Dewitt has improved so much…I’ll definitely be picking up her future books + “Wren Martin Ruins it All” asap.
I will say the magical elements in this had my brain hurting a little bit, and I got the families & names mixed up from time to time because I’m reading many other things for my classes, but I still loved it so much. Other than that, this was so enjoyable and entertaining. It wasn’t necessarily anything super unique, but it still FELT that way. The mystery + magic + characters + character dynamics were just great and I had a really fun time with this.
AND THAT ENDING…tears in my eyes ngl. PLS READ THIS EVERYONE.
May 24, 2025
Grace, grieving the loss of her mother, stumbles upon old cassette tapes that let her talk to Jake, a teenager from 1992.
While I enjoyed the supernatural mystery elements, what truly stood out to me was the raw and honest portrayal of grief. It felt incredibly real.
Though the mystery was predictable and the generational twists a bit confusing, the emotional depth of this story makes it a must-read for anyone who loves heartfelt, supernatural stories.
While I enjoyed the supernatural mystery elements, what truly stood out to me was the raw and honest portrayal of grief. It felt incredibly real.
Though the mystery was predictable and the generational twists a bit confusing, the emotional depth of this story makes it a must-read for anyone who loves heartfelt, supernatural stories.
February 5, 2025
Grace’s mom left one day and never came back after dying in a car accident. She decides to spend the summer in her mom’s hometown, Hermitage, working for the Hermitage Historical Society listening to old tapes.
She “meets” Jake Underwood through the tapes and by some paranormal occurrence, he can hear everything she records and they end up communicating through the tapes and building a friendly relationship with each other.
Their communication unearths small town secrets related to Jake’s family and their mysterious deaths with major themes of grief and moving on.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 2/4/25.
She “meets” Jake Underwood through the tapes and by some paranormal occurrence, he can hear everything she records and they end up communicating through the tapes and building a friendly relationship with each other.
Their communication unearths small town secrets related to Jake’s family and their mysterious deaths with major themes of grief and moving on.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 2/4/25.
December 26, 2024
I am simply a sucker for some time foolery. You tell me that the main character is conversing with someone from thirty years ago through a set of cassette tapes and you have my undivided attention from start to end (assuming that I don't get distracted spiraling and thinking about the actual mechanics of such time bending conversations but I digress). I was immediately invested. What I also found in this novel however was a stunning portrayal of grief and loss. It was entirely embedded in the foundation of it. It wasn't overwhelming or the main focus of the story. It was just... there. Haunting the characters and motivating them to action in the past and present in irreversible ways.
It all starts with that grief. Grace is dealing with the traumatic loss of her mother when she decides to escape for the summer by staying with her Uncle for the summer in the small town that her mother grew up in. While there she gets a job transcribing the history of the town from cassette tapes that were recorded back in the 90's. That is how she meets Jake. A teenage boy that she soon finds can also hear her recordings on those very same tapes and the two of them quickly find themselves developing a beautiful and touching friendship while also bonding over the mystery of what really happened to his missing Uncle and how people in the town may know more than what they are saying.
There is just honestly so much to gush about here. Their friendship was a definite highlight in the book for me. It was so warm and sweet and despite being decades apart they managed to form such a great bond. Jake was honestly so charming and likeable as a character. I wanted nothing but the best for him and the entire time I was so anxious to learn what his fate was, knowing that whatever became of this vibrant young man was already done. The author just did an excellent job of threading this tension all throughout the novel as piece by piece or cassette tape by cassette tape you unravel the hidden truths in this little town.
I think my largest critique is that the mystery ended up being rather predictable. It felt very formulaic. The pieces were laid out and the very obvious conclusions were the culprits. I wouldn't necessarily say that this takes away from the enjoyment of the story as the simple answer is often the one that works but that part of the story admittedly didn't wow me. However the characters, lyrical writing and time foolery made up for it.
The end I must admit emotionally wrecked me. It was painful and heartfelt in the best of cathartic ways. Honestly it was just beautiful and felt like the most realistic and satisfying kind of conclusion you could expect. It was a strong finish to this incredible book. Amanda DeWitt continues to wow me with her novels and the utter range that writes with and I cannot wait to see what else she write
It all starts with that grief. Grace is dealing with the traumatic loss of her mother when she decides to escape for the summer by staying with her Uncle for the summer in the small town that her mother grew up in. While there she gets a job transcribing the history of the town from cassette tapes that were recorded back in the 90's. That is how she meets Jake. A teenage boy that she soon finds can also hear her recordings on those very same tapes and the two of them quickly find themselves developing a beautiful and touching friendship while also bonding over the mystery of what really happened to his missing Uncle and how people in the town may know more than what they are saying.
There is just honestly so much to gush about here. Their friendship was a definite highlight in the book for me. It was so warm and sweet and despite being decades apart they managed to form such a great bond. Jake was honestly so charming and likeable as a character. I wanted nothing but the best for him and the entire time I was so anxious to learn what his fate was, knowing that whatever became of this vibrant young man was already done. The author just did an excellent job of threading this tension all throughout the novel as piece by piece or cassette tape by cassette tape you unravel the hidden truths in this little town.
I think my largest critique is that the mystery ended up being rather predictable. It felt very formulaic. The pieces were laid out and the very obvious conclusions were the culprits. I wouldn't necessarily say that this takes away from the enjoyment of the story as the simple answer is often the one that works but that part of the story admittedly didn't wow me. However the characters, lyrical writing and time foolery made up for it.
The end I must admit emotionally wrecked me. It was painful and heartfelt in the best of cathartic ways. Honestly it was just beautiful and felt like the most realistic and satisfying kind of conclusion you could expect. It was a strong finish to this incredible book. Amanda DeWitt continues to wow me with her novels and the utter range that writes with and I cannot wait to see what else she write
October 3, 2024
First and foremost, this is a story about grief, and all the little unexpected ways it can trip you up. It follows the main character processing the loss of her mum, and coming to terms with what it means to lose someone. It isn’t the obvious focus of the book, the plot doesn’t centre around the main character coming to terms with the loss. Instead, it is ever present in the characters life, woven into the plot in a way that makes it almost a character itself.
The main plot focuses on the relationship of Grace in 2022, and Jake in 1992, as they communicate through tape recorders. Through Jake, we learn about the Hurricane Club, how Jake lost his uncle and father, and how things might be more connected in the small town of Hermitage than it seems. The past wants the truth to come to light, and Grace slowly uncovers the town’s secrets during her stay. She builds relationships with others in the town, namely her cousins Lara and Griffin.
While the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff might be a little confusing for some, I found it was fairly simple in its rules and explanations, and the how isn’t a major focus. It’s a very cool concept and done well.
I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. I got into it because I’m a fan of The Magnus Archives and analog media, and this has some of those vibes (minus the horror), with some small town mystery thrown in. The cover is absolutely amazing and only went to further fuel my excitement. The characters in this are interesting and extremely relatable, I, thankfully, haven’t lost someone as close as my mum, but I could still empathise with Grace on an emotional level.
This book left me in tears and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a thrilling read with a touch of analog academia thrown in the mix. If you love the thrill of hurricanes and storms, this is also for you.
The main plot focuses on the relationship of Grace in 2022, and Jake in 1992, as they communicate through tape recorders. Through Jake, we learn about the Hurricane Club, how Jake lost his uncle and father, and how things might be more connected in the small town of Hermitage than it seems. The past wants the truth to come to light, and Grace slowly uncovers the town’s secrets during her stay. She builds relationships with others in the town, namely her cousins Lara and Griffin.
While the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff might be a little confusing for some, I found it was fairly simple in its rules and explanations, and the how isn’t a major focus. It’s a very cool concept and done well.
I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. I got into it because I’m a fan of The Magnus Archives and analog media, and this has some of those vibes (minus the horror), with some small town mystery thrown in. The cover is absolutely amazing and only went to further fuel my excitement. The characters in this are interesting and extremely relatable, I, thankfully, haven’t lost someone as close as my mum, but I could still empathise with Grace on an emotional level.
This book left me in tears and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a thrilling read with a touch of analog academia thrown in the mix. If you love the thrill of hurricanes and storms, this is also for you.
May 18, 2025
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: anxiety, parental death & grief, dementia, referenced fatal accident, drunk driving, suicide (gun), drowning
4.4
I'm a fan of DeWitt's work, and I was really intrigued by this one sounding so different than her prior two works. For the most part, it definitely worked for me! DeWitt write interesting characters, and, even harder, really interesting, fun dynamics.
I really do love both the main characters, and their chemistry was phenomenal. I really appreciate that their relationship never went romantic- it's left ambiguous purposefully, it's a gorgeous friendship of the likes we almost never see with a boy and girl in media, and also read strongly to me as a QPR, which we also don't get a lot of representation of. No matter which of those you take it as, it's obviously powerful, and well written.
I do feel the fleshing out of characters caries through to side characters, too. The family dynamics are important to this story, and Lara and Griffith actually felt like full characters.
The concept alone is stellar- speaking through time via cassettes. I though the mechanics were explored just the perfect amount to feel real, not to mention the whole aesthetic of the thing.
The mystery, too, was a nice addition that catches your attention right away. You get invested almost accidentally, and then you can't put the book down.
However, the actual research that goes into figuring out the myster(ies) felt thin, where it could have packed way more punches, and the ending was strangely fast. There wasn't enough time for things to really sink in, or for us to see the narrative truly effected. For a story all about cause and effect, especially the effects we have on each other, that was disappointing.
TW: anxiety, parental death & grief, dementia, referenced fatal accident, drunk driving, suicide (gun), drowning
4.4
I'm a fan of DeWitt's work, and I was really intrigued by this one sounding so different than her prior two works. For the most part, it definitely worked for me! DeWitt write interesting characters, and, even harder, really interesting, fun dynamics.
I really do love both the main characters, and their chemistry was phenomenal. I really appreciate that their relationship never went romantic- it's left ambiguous purposefully, it's a gorgeous friendship of the likes we almost never see with a boy and girl in media, and also read strongly to me as a QPR, which we also don't get a lot of representation of. No matter which of those you take it as, it's obviously powerful, and well written.
I do feel the fleshing out of characters caries through to side characters, too. The family dynamics are important to this story, and Lara and Griffith actually felt like full characters.
The concept alone is stellar- speaking through time via cassettes. I though the mechanics were explored just the perfect amount to feel real, not to mention the whole aesthetic of the thing.
The mystery, too, was a nice addition that catches your attention right away. You get invested almost accidentally, and then you can't put the book down.
However, the actual research that goes into figuring out the myster(ies) felt thin, where it could have packed way more punches, and the ending was strangely fast. There wasn't enough time for things to really sink in, or for us to see the narrative truly effected. For a story all about cause and effect, especially the effects we have on each other, that was disappointing.
February 14, 2025
4.25/5
This is a beautiful and touching read that explored grief, family history, and our place in the world. It also uses tapes that communicate through time which is something I love.
I think some people get caught up on the rules of space/time and forget that this is a YA book. While the writing could be a bit stronger in places, it was a very quick and entertaining read. Suspending disbelief for both will free your mind to just enjoy things.
I only have artifacts left of most of my family. It is funny how things can be remembered and lost. I might revisit this book in the future. There is a comfort in how it talked about the conflict of grief through the story.
*Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook!
This is a beautiful and touching read that explored grief, family history, and our place in the world. It also uses tapes that communicate through time which is something I love.
I think some people get caught up on the rules of space/time and forget that this is a YA book. While the writing could be a bit stronger in places, it was a very quick and entertaining read. Suspending disbelief for both will free your mind to just enjoy things.
I only have artifacts left of most of my family. It is funny how things can be remembered and lost. I might revisit this book in the future. There is a comfort in how it talked about the conflict of grief through the story.
*Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook!
November 24, 2024
If you were here with me, you would be possibly fighting with tears because this book is beautiful and my heart is still trying to ease into the realisation which will hit you when you read the conversations between Jake and Grace and the way friendships build, even many years apart. Sometimes it takes only two record players and sometimes all you have to do is take one step after another.
March 5, 2025
I was a little hesitant reading a YA novel involving multiple timelines, but I loved this book! The writing was eloquent and really made the character's loss feel emotional. I was fully invested in the mystery and raced through the end of the book to get to the resolution. The framing of the story across generations was very well done. I really enjoyed this book!
February 4, 2025
Graphic: Loss of a Parent, Grief, Car Accident, Death, Panic Attack, Disassociation, Derealisation.
Moderate Murder, Blood, Injury Detail, Medical Content
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Representations: https://trello.com/c/AFPp8tnh/132-the...
Read this in 2 settings, half of the book each time. I got absolutely HOOKED!
It's a little hard to keep track of who's who over 3 different generations but there's not too many characters over all. Mainly just a couple different "generation lines" and the rest of the characters were easy to keep track of. Trying to work out how each character was related though.. I gave up on that fast but I think that's the point 😂
They were pretty nice to read though, not too tropey and were different enough from each other. Grace being the POV was nice, she didn't read too young and had a good amount of wits about her. The emotions, the grief, the generational trauma running through the town was really well written imo and it ties together really nicely. The cover also not having Jakes face is just perfection ngl.
The story was one hell of a ride. I can't say I read the description of this - if I did I'd entirely forgotten by the time I got to reading the book lol - so I went in blind. When I got to the hook of this book, I legit just like, put down my e-reader for a second and just knew this book is gonna be fantastic. Did not disappoint at all! The pacing kept up, it does feel like things are slightly too convenient at times but I get it tbh. Things don't get explicitly explained though but personally I'd say it's a very satisfying ending anyway that works very well. I think an actual explanation of how things happened wouldn't be good as well and it's absolutely not neeeded.
I did just love this though. I loved the nerdy parts, I loved that there wasn't romance in it and instead the emotions is all about processing the grief, trying to find light in darkness and human connections through barriers - time or otherwise.
June 19, 2025
What a compelling read! I literally couldn’t put it down for the whole second half, once I crossed 120 I was obsessed and couldn’t stop.
We start with Grace coming to stay the summer with her uncle in a small town in the middle of nowhere Florida, grieving the death of her mother. She gets a job transcribing tapes only for the tapes to talk back.
I loved the relationship between grace and her cousins, wish there was more moments of them but I did adore their relationship and you can feel the support of them. I thought the magical tapes were so cool and how they became interconnected.
The mystery aspect was really interesting and I was so invested in the story. I was worried their relationship (grace and Jake) would become romantic but it never truly felt like it, it felt like two people grieving developed a bond with each other.
The ending felt really underwhelming to me however. I felt the build up was so good and so interesting and then it just kind of ended? I wanted a bit more, an epilogue or something at least.
Overall, this was such a great read and so interesting.
We start with Grace coming to stay the summer with her uncle in a small town in the middle of nowhere Florida, grieving the death of her mother. She gets a job transcribing tapes only for the tapes to talk back.
I loved the relationship between grace and her cousins, wish there was more moments of them but I did adore their relationship and you can feel the support of them. I thought the magical tapes were so cool and how they became interconnected.
The mystery aspect was really interesting and I was so invested in the story. I was worried their relationship (grace and Jake) would become romantic but it never truly felt like it, it felt like two people grieving developed a bond with each other.
The ending felt really underwhelming to me however. I felt the build up was so good and so interesting and then it just kind of ended? I wanted a bit more, an epilogue or something at least.
Overall, this was such a great read and so interesting.
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