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Erase the Empty Sky
What if surviving meant letting go?
Annabelle’s life is happily planned out in her work, school, and having the perfect summer with her boyfriend. Until a tragic accident erases all her plans and sparks an unlikely friendship.
Vance is drifting through life, keeping his head down and his music loud. His only goal is to make it through senior year.
The only person who understands Annabelle’s grief is Vance, but he’s hiding a secret and if it’s exposed, he’ll be expelled, and lose the only friend he’s ever allowed himself to have.
As everything they thought they knew about love and loyalty burns down around them, Annabelle and Vance must decide if they can hold on long enough to face the truth—and each other.
Annabelle’s life is happily planned out in her work, school, and having the perfect summer with her boyfriend. Until a tragic accident erases all her plans and sparks an unlikely friendship.
Vance is drifting through life, keeping his head down and his music loud. His only goal is to make it through senior year.
The only person who understands Annabelle’s grief is Vance, but he’s hiding a secret and if it’s exposed, he’ll be expelled, and lose the only friend he’s ever allowed himself to have.
As everything they thought they knew about love and loyalty burns down around them, Annabelle and Vance must decide if they can hold on long enough to face the truth—and each other.
- GenresYoung AdultChildrens
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
About the author
Hannah Stone
2 books27 followersHannah Stone is a poet and award-winning author who writes stories that wrap around your heart. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she shuttles kids to activities while dreaming up her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 9, 2026
This is a BEAUTIFUL story of processing grief and discovering who you are after your world comes crumbling down. I loved that while the characters are very broken people, they work through it in a healthy way and become better versions of themselves. The story doesn't shy away from the hard things, but leaves you with a feeling of hope.
*clean YA
*found family
*unlikely friendships
*prelude to a romance
content considerations ~ absent parent due to alcohol abuse, death of a friend, discussion of underage drinking (never celebrated, but acknowledges the harm that comes from it), talk of attempted suicide
*clean YA
*found family
*unlikely friendships
*prelude to a romance
content considerations ~ absent parent due to alcohol abuse, death of a friend, discussion of underage drinking (never celebrated, but acknowledges the harm that comes from it), talk of attempted suicide
May 8, 2026
Devastating and healing and heartwarming!!!
Hannahhhhh!!! How do you keep doing this?? This book is so good! Those last few chapters had me weeping!! Omg this story is so full of struggles and hurt and devastation, and yet you bring out hope and heart and life and wonder with each of your beautiful words! Agh! I need an epilogue! Or an extra novella to see where Vance and Annabelle go from here! Their story is incredible. A story of resilience and bravery and finding your home.
Hannahhhhh!!! How do you keep doing this?? This book is so good! Those last few chapters had me weeping!! Omg this story is so full of struggles and hurt and devastation, and yet you bring out hope and heart and life and wonder with each of your beautiful words! Agh! I need an epilogue! Or an extra novella to see where Vance and Annabelle go from here! Their story is incredible. A story of resilience and bravery and finding your home.
May 5, 2026
This was such a beautiful story of grief and grieving as a teenager trying to navigate it for the first time. Vance is such a sweetheart who wants a home to belong to. Annabelle is a grief stricken teen who has to figure out how to live on after loss. This book will help so many young readers cope with their own grief and see hope for their futures.
I received an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2026
Oh my goodness this book. What a beauty!
I went into this pretty blind but im so glad cus it was beautifully done! The writing alone hit hard with some (im gonna say it again) *beautiful* quotes! I feel like she entered my brain with how she worded certain things and how they were feeling cus it was so personal and poetical.
I loved the friendships, and self development and I was rooting for these characters so bad to be happy in the end. Especially vance 🥹
This is one of those books that feels like a piece of art because of the writing and story. Definitely will re read!
Thankyou so much for my ARC. All thoughts are my own ♡
I went into this pretty blind but im so glad cus it was beautifully done! The writing alone hit hard with some (im gonna say it again) *beautiful* quotes! I feel like she entered my brain with how she worded certain things and how they were feeling cus it was so personal and poetical.
I loved the friendships, and self development and I was rooting for these characters so bad to be happy in the end. Especially vance 🥹
This is one of those books that feels like a piece of art because of the writing and story. Definitely will re read!
Thankyou so much for my ARC. All thoughts are my own ♡
May 20, 2026
This book gutted me in all the right ways.
There are elements of suspense, mystery, and perfectly written characters that make this a compelling read.
The heart of the story is Annabel, and she is struggling to handle her grief, unresolved issues, and a past full of doubts. A sudden, tragic accident completely shatters her "planned" life and spins her world.The other characters, particularly Vance, give the story depth and a haunting beauty.
The mysteries comingled with the emotional gut punches kept me immersed.
The author's depictions create an atmosphere of loneliness but also of hope and resilience.
Erase the Empty Sky is a story of what happens when the future you see for yourself is shattered in an instant, and how you pick up the pieces and find your HOPE.
From the Author Note:
"People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spider webs. It's not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of cobblestones in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go. Hope knows how to fight."
4.5 🌟
There are elements of suspense, mystery, and perfectly written characters that make this a compelling read.
The heart of the story is Annabel, and she is struggling to handle her grief, unresolved issues, and a past full of doubts. A sudden, tragic accident completely shatters her "planned" life and spins her world.The other characters, particularly Vance, give the story depth and a haunting beauty.
The mysteries comingled with the emotional gut punches kept me immersed.
The author's depictions create an atmosphere of loneliness but also of hope and resilience.
Erase the Empty Sky is a story of what happens when the future you see for yourself is shattered in an instant, and how you pick up the pieces and find your HOPE.
From the Author Note:
"People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spider webs. It's not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of cobblestones in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go. Hope knows how to fight."
4.5 🌟
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hannah we need to have words......
Why did I have to sob the whole book!!!
Just weeks before graduation, Annabelle experiences a loss she never expected and it breaks her. During the time after she ponders the why, connecting with Vance who tries to help her.
What she doesn't know is Vance has a secret that could break her completely.
At the heart of this book is about healing, being lost and finding yourself after the dark.
Hannah's writing is so emotional and heartfelt. She brings her plot and characters to life, you know from page one it's going to be a hard read, the characters are struggling right away and I felt that. I was sucked into Annabelle and Vance's heads immediately and I felt everything they did.
Annabelle loses the person who means the most in her life right at the start of the book, and we see her journey as she navigates her grief. She loses her friends as she struggles to navigate everything she's feeling.
My heart broke for her as I read, she struggled so much and it was really hard to read.
Vance is going through his own issues during this book. But he bonds with Annabelle when he sees she's hurting just like him. He's never had that one person like Annabelle who understands what's going on in his head which just makes their friendship stronger.
They end up spending more time together, opening up to each other, and eventually they begin to heal together.
Their romance was very simple and believable.
Hannah lets it be very natural and doesn't force it on them which makes the whole book click. Nothing is forced, everything is paced really well and takes place exactly when the moment is right.
I adored this novel, it broke my heart and made me cry but in the best way!
If you want a book about healing after grief and finding yourself then this will be the perfect read.
Why did I have to sob the whole book!!!
Just weeks before graduation, Annabelle experiences a loss she never expected and it breaks her. During the time after she ponders the why, connecting with Vance who tries to help her.
What she doesn't know is Vance has a secret that could break her completely.
At the heart of this book is about healing, being lost and finding yourself after the dark.
Hannah's writing is so emotional and heartfelt. She brings her plot and characters to life, you know from page one it's going to be a hard read, the characters are struggling right away and I felt that. I was sucked into Annabelle and Vance's heads immediately and I felt everything they did.
Annabelle loses the person who means the most in her life right at the start of the book, and we see her journey as she navigates her grief. She loses her friends as she struggles to navigate everything she's feeling.
My heart broke for her as I read, she struggled so much and it was really hard to read.
Vance is going through his own issues during this book. But he bonds with Annabelle when he sees she's hurting just like him. He's never had that one person like Annabelle who understands what's going on in his head which just makes their friendship stronger.
They end up spending more time together, opening up to each other, and eventually they begin to heal together.
Their romance was very simple and believable.
Hannah lets it be very natural and doesn't force it on them which makes the whole book click. Nothing is forced, everything is paced really well and takes place exactly when the moment is right.
I adored this novel, it broke my heart and made me cry but in the best way!
If you want a book about healing after grief and finding yourself then this will be the perfect read.
May 13, 2026
4.5 Stars
I received a free copy for review.
This new young adult story is impactful and emotional. Erase the Empty Sky follows two teens in the aftermath of grief and heartbreaking disappointments as they navigate their senior year of high school. This is the ideal read to hand to a teen who wants to read something real, messy, and full of deep feelings. There are some hard topics but nothing explicit and I would be comfortable recommending it to teens.
Told with poetic impact this story explores what it means to grieve, to hope, and to stay. There were multiple lines I highlighted for their beautiful way of capturing a feeling or a concept. This book was a journey that I rode all the way to final the emotional conclusion.
Trigger/content notes: grief, parent with alcoholism, parental abandonment
I received a free copy for review.
This new young adult story is impactful and emotional. Erase the Empty Sky follows two teens in the aftermath of grief and heartbreaking disappointments as they navigate their senior year of high school. This is the ideal read to hand to a teen who wants to read something real, messy, and full of deep feelings. There are some hard topics but nothing explicit and I would be comfortable recommending it to teens.
Told with poetic impact this story explores what it means to grieve, to hope, and to stay. There were multiple lines I highlighted for their beautiful way of capturing a feeling or a concept. This book was a journey that I rode all the way to final the emotional conclusion.
Trigger/content notes: grief, parent with alcoholism, parental abandonment
May 18, 2026
Hannah Stone's Erase the Empty Sky truly "wraps around your heart!" Annabelle and Vance felt incredibly authentic, and their struggles resonated so deeply with me. It's beautifully written - each line feels purposeful, artistic, and healing, like a sunset. If you like coming of age stories where the characters have broken pasts and find healing, you will love this one! 10/10 would recommend!
Read
May 7, 2026This book is an amazing ride of self discovery and community finding...*actual* community. One's healing journey is never easy and this story gets to the heart of it through its main characters. Told through dual POV of 2 teens with very different life experiences, Hannah Stone brings her characters to life. Between slinging coffee drinks (or tea!) and navigating high school, Annabelle and Vance grow into a shared life - in standard circumstances they probably never would have intertwined, but Stone found a way. The 2 teens were struck differently by life and come together with the help of some amazing side characters. A healthy dose of music and running helps them along and leaves readers in awe of how life really can work out. The best part? Annabelle and Vance get to actually develop into themselves without the pressure of acting out on raging hormones 😉 As my 16 year old daughter said: I'm happy to get to know *them*...not what they *do* 🙄.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wish I could put into accurate words how much it meant to me to be able to read this book early thanks to the amazing Hannah.
She has quickly become one of favorite authors with her real and relatable characters in stories that wrap themselves around your heart.
And this book is no different.
We meet two people on two heartbreaking journeys who are destined to crash together in sparks of healing and self discovery. One through the death of her boyfriend and one who holds a secret about her boyfriend that could shatter her memories of him. While also dealing with his past with absentee dad and a mom lost down the neck of a bottle.
Hannah broke my heart and healed it all on one sitting.
I want to wrap these characters in bubble wrap with how precious they are. Their stories are ones that we can all relate to in some shape or form. Especially with the question: When our world shatters, how do you begin to pick up the pieces?
She has quickly become one of favorite authors with her real and relatable characters in stories that wrap themselves around your heart.
And this book is no different.
We meet two people on two heartbreaking journeys who are destined to crash together in sparks of healing and self discovery. One through the death of her boyfriend and one who holds a secret about her boyfriend that could shatter her memories of him. While also dealing with his past with absentee dad and a mom lost down the neck of a bottle.
Hannah broke my heart and healed it all on one sitting.
I want to wrap these characters in bubble wrap with how precious they are. Their stories are ones that we can all relate to in some shape or form. Especially with the question: When our world shatters, how do you begin to pick up the pieces?
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
I honestly didn’t expect this book to hit me this hard… but here we are 😭
This story is heavy in the best way. It starts off with heartbreak right away and just keeps pulling you deeper into all the emotions grief, confusion, guilt, all of it.
Annabelle’s pain feels so real. Like… you don’t just read it, you feel it. And Vance?? I didn’t expect to care about him the way I did, but his story adds so much depth. Both of them are just trying to survive in their own messy ways and it shows.
It’s not a light read at all, but it’s one of those books that sticks with you. The kind that makes you stop and just sit there after a chapter like… okay wow.
Also the writing?? So emotional and raw. There are so many lines that hit way too close.
If you like books that make you feel everything and then emotionally wreck you a little… this is it 🫠
Format: 📱
I honestly didn’t expect this book to hit me this hard… but here we are 😭
This story is heavy in the best way. It starts off with heartbreak right away and just keeps pulling you deeper into all the emotions grief, confusion, guilt, all of it.
Annabelle’s pain feels so real. Like… you don’t just read it, you feel it. And Vance?? I didn’t expect to care about him the way I did, but his story adds so much depth. Both of them are just trying to survive in their own messy ways and it shows.
It’s not a light read at all, but it’s one of those books that sticks with you. The kind that makes you stop and just sit there after a chapter like… okay wow.
Also the writing?? So emotional and raw. There are so many lines that hit way too close.
If you like books that make you feel everything and then emotionally wreck you a little… this is it 🫠
Review of advance copy received from Author
Every story is significant to an author, but Erase The Empty Sky will always hold a special place in my heart. This is the first manuscript I ever wrote and writing it taught me how to tell a story, but only because of Rachel. I found my author's voice by giving voice to Vance and Annabelle. This is a work of fiction, but so much of it is a mirror to my own heart, my own journey with grief, my own struggle to understand hope.
Whether you are already well acquainted with grief, or if it is not yet a shadow at your side, my prayer is that the story Annabelle and Vance have to tell within the pages of Erase The Empty Sky will be a comfort to your heart.
Never give up on hope.
Whether you are already well acquainted with grief, or if it is not yet a shadow at your side, my prayer is that the story Annabelle and Vance have to tell within the pages of Erase The Empty Sky will be a comfort to your heart.
Never give up on hope.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a beautiful book that broke my heart and then healed it again. Annabelle’s grief and Trent’s struggle with abandonment feel real and raw and deep, but the chemistry and friendship and joy they find with each other is just as palpable. They are real and flawed, but so very easy to love and root for. I loved watching little pockets of hope emerge like stars in the night sky to help them heal. If you’re looking for a book that will take you on an emotional journey toward life and hope amidst hardship, this is the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
For anyone who feels alone or misunderstood, for those who are drowning and fear they will never be able to touch the surface again, for everyone longing for an end to the pain: Erase the Empty Sky is for you. Stone delivers a relatable masterpiece that will leave readers with hope and courage, even in the face of despair. Grab your tissues, because this page-turner will touch your heart in the best of ways!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first Hannah Stone read several years ago as a beta reader and I immediately fell in love with Annabelle and Vance and I cannot wait for the world to meet them!!
Hannah’s stories feel like a mix of Sarah Dessen meets John Green but all her own.
Hannah’s stories feel like a mix of Sarah Dessen meets John Green but all her own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book! Highly recommend for fans of Sarah Dessen.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a great story. Be prepared for a couple tears.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews