Dear Dylan

May 09, 2012 Clarabel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Grâce à un échange d'emails avec la maman de sa vedette préférée, une adolescente de quatorze ans va acquérir une confiance en elle, accomplir ses rêves les plus secrets et avouer à sa mère qu'elles ne peuvent plus endurer la brutalité du beau-père sans réagir. Inversement, la détresse de la jeune fille va aider sa correspondante à sortir d'un deuil difficile et envisager une nouvelle carrière de comédienne.
De cette rencontre improbable, naît une très jolie connivence qui servira aussi de levier...more

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Oct 06, 2012 hawwa rated it 5 of 5 stars

“I’m so tired of feeling sad. And waiting for other people to make me happy and they don’t. And if no-one else is going to make you happy, well maybe you just have to do it for yourself?”
I didn't really know what to expect when I first heard about this book as it was made up entirely of e-mails so when Siobhan Curham offered to send me a copy to review I jumped at the chance! The book explores the social media of e-mails and how a most unlikely friendship can be formed through the internet. .I n...more “I’m so tired of feeling sad. And waiting for other people to make me happy and they don’t. And if no-one else is going to make you happy, well maybe you just have to do it for yourself?”
I didn't really know what to expect when I first heard about this book as it was made up entirely of e-mails so when Siobhan Curham offered to send me a copy to review I jumped at the chance! The book explores the social media of e-mails and how a most unlikely friendship can be formed through the internet. .I needn't have worried. The book was heart-warming and totally frost-free as Georgie would say!
Fourteen year old Georgie Harris's summer holidays stretch out in a never ending path of boredom before her. It's meant to be the holidays for goodness sake but no, that's not possible with her life is it??!! Banned from going to the local drama workshop by her bully of a step-dad and her increasingly fragile mum, she is stuck with six long weeks of looking after her tooth-fairy obsessed kid sister. Sick of feeling like the outsider at home and at school, she starts emailing the one person she thinks might understand; Dylan Curtland, star of the popular soap opera Jessop Close. And when Dylan starts emailing back, Georgie finally feels a spark of hope. At last she has someone who really gets her, someone who really wants to help! But all is not what it seems in the faceless world of e-mails...

Into her e-mails Georgie pours all her thoughts, feelings and emotions about herself and is able to express all the things that she'd never be able to say in real life. Her emails are funny, thoughtful, amusing, insightful and frequently made me laugh and smile, as well as feel genuine empathy and compassion for her situation.
I loved Georgie's character. She was so strong and brave and full of spirit and I couldn't help longing that it really was Dylan e-mailing her, because I knew it would make her feel so happy and delighted. It wasn't meant to be though and soon, clues every now and then made me wonder, "It cannot be Dylan. Why would a famous actor take the time out to e-mail Georgie?" Georgie tried to hide the truth from herself too. Longing for something good to happen in her life but when the true person behind the e-mails reveals herself she can't hide it from herself any more.
I loved Nan. She was so helpful to Georgie and sounded so sincere that when she revealed herself I didn't think that she wasn't actually 'her'. After all, if she was someone fake then why didn't she just stay as ''Dylan!?'' I know that her real name was Nancy but she always signed off as 'Nan' and to be honest sometimes I would forget how old she was and think she was a grandma!

[[ The Girl Behind The Computer Screen: Blushes with embarassement. ]]

Georgie's Step-dad ''Tone-Deaf'' : Eurgh, don't get me started! He was a vile, repulsive, evil minded man who I could tell from the beginning didn't care a jot for Georgie or her mum. He always seemd to treat his daughter Michaela like a spoilt princess but really, he can't have cared that much for her otherwise he would have behaved better and given her a role-model to look up to; she was only young I felt so sorry for her. She just seemed to be ferried around and passed from one person to the next like a parcel and I know she didn't say anything as long as she got her jelly babies but who wants to have the kind of life where your dad dotes on you in public, your step-mum loves you really but doesn't show it a lot and your constantly being ''babysat'' by your big sister, who does not want to at all.

Georgie's mum sounded really nice, but a bit ''messed up''. She seemed to be having a hard time living with Tone-Deaf but I don't blame her. What I couldn't work out at the beginning was why she actually still lived with him but that became clearer as the book carried on. He was abusive and wild and didn't seem to care how much he hurt anybody and the way he treated Georgie and her mum was appaling. Georgie was more like a servant than a daughter, He would always be down at the bookies or drunk or sleeping on the sofa and would leave his daughter to be looked after by her or her mum, Angelica.
When Georgie started going to the drama work-shop I couldn't wait to see what happened. Finally, she would be able to do something she wanted. I was so happy for her when she got the part of Blousey and couldn't wait to see how she did but I could not believe the lenghts her step-dad went to to make her life a misery. GRRR! I was so angry and frustrated when I read what he did. What kind of horrible physco deliberately organises to go out somewhere ''as a family'' on the very day of their daughters performance, so she has to miss out on a trip and no-one can watch her debut performance?!
I was so glad when her mum turned up after the performance, naively thinking that everything was fine and she had managed to persuade Tone-Deaf to let her watch. Therefore I was so shocked and scared for her when Georgie pulled off her mum's sunglasses and saw her face. TONE DEAF AND PUNCHED HER because she wanted to go to her daughters performance!!! What kind of.....

[[ The Girl Behind The Computer Screen: : grinds teeth in fury, wanting to punch Tone-Deaf back and give him a black eye.]]

I was ECSTATIC when Tone-Deaf was sent to jail, although I still can't belive what he decided to do after he had been let out on bail. ( please correct me if I'm wrong, unfortunately i read the book a while ago so I cannot remember the exact details..he was let out on bail first wasn't he? ) He went back to their house to try and beat them up for landing him in jail in the first place and in the process terrorised his young daughter and then like an idiot, he still thought she would prefer to come to him, rather thsn Angelica and Georgie, who have practically looked after her her entire life and not hurt a hair on her head!...
*rant over.*

Dear Dylan is a poignant, heart-warming tale of friendship, trust, secrets, hardship and how two people can bring out the best in each other while helping each other stay on track with their lives and do what want to do.(less)

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Jul 21, 2010 nancy (The Ravenous Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I did not know what to expect from this novel and I was curious about the story concept because I had not read a book in an email response format and found that I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Siobhan Curnham has penned a heartwarming story that explores the social media of emails and how a most unlikely relationship can be formed via the Internet.

Dear Dylan is a story about fourteen-year-old Georgie Harris and her six weeks of summer vacation...well not so vacation, since she i...more I did not know what to expect from this novel and I was curious about the story concept because I had not read a book in an email response format and found that I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Siobhan Curnham has penned a heartwarming story that explores the social media of emails and how a most unlikely relationship can be formed via the Internet.

Dear Dylan is a story about fourteen-year-old Georgie Harris and her six weeks of summer vacation...well not so vacation, since she is forced to babysit her younger sister Michaela and unable to attend the local drama workshop that she longs to join. To ease her pain that is inflicted by her cruel step-dad, Georgie begins to email her favorite TV star Dylan Curtland and much to her surprise he responds. Georgie is so happy that she begins to spill her everyday happenings to him and a warm correspondence begins, but one day a confession is made and the circumstances of Dylan Curtland's emails come to light. Georgie is hurt but she continues on with her emails and makes an e-mate from some one that she never envisioned corresponding with. What transpires is a telling of truths, hopes, dreams, fears and a bond of friendship that is endearing to behold. A story to lighten the soul.

I adored reading this book and witnessing the relationship that blossomed between Georgie and her new e-mate and seeing how things transpired before my very eyes. Georgie has some very troubling issues at home that she finds the courage to face them while her e-mate realizes that it is time for a change in their life and heads off in a new yet old direction. They both came from different places in life yet together they helped each other break out of their inner shells and thrive and that is the heart of this story and how you never know where your next great friendship can come from. I laughed and cried and only wanted more. Siohban has done an amazing job and I cannot wait to read more from her, Bravo!

If you in the mood for a great read that will entertain and delight you while making you smile then you need not look any further. This is the book for you.
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Oct 17, 2012 Laura Besley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've had my eye on this book for some time for two reasons. The first thing that caught my attention was the front cover (the one above, not the original one - I didn't discover that until I started researching the book for this post). I love its simplicity and quirkiness.

Secondly I had read that it was all written in the form of emails between the main characters. I'm very interested in different writing styles and was intrigued as to how this would work. In my opinion it worked well! Through...more

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Apr 22, 2012 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, young-adult, contemporary-ya

'Dear Dylan' was a surprising and delightfully heartwarming read with a wonderful central character who by the end of the book felt like an old friend.

The format of the story is a series of emails over a period of three months between Georgie and her e-mate. Into her emails, Georgie pours all her thoughts, feelings and emotions about her life and is able to express all the things that she'd never be able to say in read life. Her emails are funny, thoughtful, amusing, insightful and frequently ma...more

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Jul 06, 2010 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, signed

Dear Dylan is truly a diamond of a novel. It's touching, funny, and full of heart; simply a novel I just couldn't give enough of.

I have to admit when I first saw this novel I was hesitant to read it because of the fact it was written entirely in emails. As it turns out this method of telling it by worked out perfectly with the story, and I feel that if it was told in a different way it would be missing something crucial, because it allowed for me to get such a personal look in the lives and tho...more

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Jul 31, 2010 Darlyn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Very endearing! Dear Dylan is a very interesting and fascinating story about a 14 years old girl, depressed, troubled and miserable with her family problems. When she starts emailing Dylan, everything changes and she felt like she could has her life back somehow.

It's like a story from 2 person; Georgie and Dylan. They emailed each other and become e-mates. I really love Georgie. Despite of her non-stop problem and her non-stop sulking and whining, kind of irritated me but when I think about it b...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Nolee Balaqua rated it 4 of 5 stars

CAUTION! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!! Wow! I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I bought this book. At first it was a bit slow, but then when shit was really beginning to go down and drama came into it I was just shocked by some of the things. Like when her dad came back and charged into the house.

Or when Georgie found out that she was actually emailing Dylan's mum and she just stopped emailing. Poor Georgie-getting her hopes up then having them taken away from her like that! But then agai...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Zoe Crook rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Never, EVER has a book changed by mind as drastically as this one. After reading the first few pages, my opinionated rate was: 2.5/5.. and now my rating it 4/5. "How did that happen?" you say, [just say it now if you didn't before, so you don't make me look stupid] and I'll tell you.

The book opens with Georgie, a quirky and lovable teenager who writes a letter to her celebrity crush, Dylan. As soon as I realised that the whole book is made up entirely of an e-mail format, I began to think that t...more Never, EVER has a book changed by mind as drastically as this one. After reading the first few pages, my opinionated rate was: 2.5/5.. and now my rating it 4/5. "How did that happen?" you say, [just say it now if you didn't before, so you don't make me look stupid] and I'll tell you.

The book opens with Georgie, a quirky and lovable teenager who writes a letter to her celebrity crush, Dylan. As soon as I realised that the whole book is made up entirely of an e-mail format, I began to think that this would be the exchange of letters between Georgie and Dylan and she realises that he isn't who he seems blah blah blah etc etc etc. When she received the first few replies from him, I just wanted to reach into the page and shake her. I just couldn't stand reading about her getting happy over what I thought was a automated reply from his message. To be honest, I was just getting fed up of her stupidity. I only didn't give up with the book because I was in the mood for a short and light read. Cue Nana... OK, I wasn't that much surprised by what happened... but wow, the twists after that blew my mind! It definitely changed my opinion and this isn't just a girly, light and easy read. It is an emotional rollercoaster which had me gasping and laughing until the very end.

As I mentioned earlier, this book is set out in an e-mail format. I haven't read a book like this before, and I found it really interesting how Curham made a whole story around this. Books I have read with e-mails in have had some sort of story inbetween them, but Georgie told her story through the emails. I didn't know what was going to happen in the 'big' events and if one of them couldn't reply... but the author seemed to pull it off.

Obviously, my criticism is the beginning. I am not sure if the author set Georgie up as a typical, girly teenager on purpose so the reader could be surprised, but it didn't really work for me. By her first e-mail, I expected Georgie to be one of the popular ones, who have their heart broken by someone they haven't met. I know that is a bit of a rich and shallow first opinion and I hadn't really ventured into her character more... but I guess that's what people do. For example, in Disney American films - you expect the mean cheerleader to be just mean, but it turns out she has a difficult life at home. Anyway, once I got to know Georgie, I loved her! She is just so much fun with a great sense of humour and I just squealed when things went her way, and sighed when things didn't. I loved her relationship with Jamie, the whole Jessica friendship trouble and her Mum and Tone Deaf issue. Without giving away any spoilers... the things Tone Deaf do are OMG-worthy! ;)

This is a short read which I definitely recommend to teenagers. The characters are relatable and by the end you'll want more. I am so glad I didn't give up!(less)

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May 31, 2010 Sophie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, signed, uk-author

Dear Dylan is a touching and emotional story of a girl finding a much-needed friend in a most unlikely place.

I must admit that Dear Dylan didn’t unfold in the way that I expected at all. And I’m glad it didn’t because I got something really special instead. The story goes so much deeper than the summary would suggest and upon finishing it I can definitely see why it has been nominated for the Young Minds Book Award. Being a part of the blogging community, I know how invaluable my online friends...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Book Angel Emma rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review by Madison

Georgie is obsessed with Dylan, the famous soap star, sending emails to him as a means of escape, she is shocked when she gets a reply. Georgie quickly discovers that the replies aren't from Dylan himself but from his Mum. An unlikely friendship is formed between the two via email. They help each other through good and bad time; both distraught from loss and battling their way through life this unusual friendship holds them together.

I really liked this story, the way it was tol...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, books-i-own-print, for-review-read, quoted

Georgie has a lot going on in her life and feels like she has no one to talk to about her problems. Feeling lonely she starts to email her favorite actor Dylan hoping desperately for someone who understands her. At first the replies she receives are just standard responses but as the person who is replying starts to discover more about Georgie's home life they reach out to offer her friendship.

When Siobhan Curham asked me to review Dear Dylan I was intrigued by the idea of a novel written purel...more

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Feb 03, 2013 TheBookCrazyPurpleCheeta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this in two hours

Okay so, this is about a girl called Georgie. She is going through a lot of trouble in her life and to get it all off her chest, she begins to send emails to her favourite tv star.

She then finds out that the person replying to her emails isn't really Dylan the film star. It's actually his Mum!

What I find lovely is the fact that relationships can be struck up anywhere, and age differences don't matter at all.

There were times where I wanted to cry, and others where I wanted...more

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May 02, 2013 Luna rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book came highly recommended as a feel good read. I can only second that recommendation.

Georgie is a lovable, realistic and emotional teen who emails her favourite soap star, only it turns out it’s not him that answers. Instead Georgie begins an eMate friendship with Nan, Dylan’s mother. The story takes place over the summer holidays and is narrated completely by the emails between Georgie and Nan.

Both characters are likable and have clear distinctive voices. What takes this book from good...more

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Jul 30, 2010 Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, 2010-read

For more info and reviews please visit my Book Review Blog here - A Life Bound By Books

3.5 Stars - When I first started reading Dear Dylan I wasn’t sure just what to think, it took quite a few pages to really get into. It’s written in alternating emails between a teenage girl and someone she believes is Dylan - a star from a well known TV show in England. She’s a teen with a lot of troubles at home and uses the emails to vent with someone – real and the character he played - who she felt she co...more

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Aug 16, 2010 Kelsey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: signed, finished-copies-review

Dear Dylan was an emotional and original novel and I'm so glad I had this opportunity to read it! It was written entirely in emails, but it worked SO WELL! The two characters exchanging emails put all their thoughts and experiences into these emails, so it felt like I was reading chapters instead of emails.

Georgie was a character I loved right away. She was so honest and sweet that I felt a connection to her from the start. Her family was in turmoil. Her mother was stuck in an abusive relationsh...more Dear Dylan was an emotional and original novel and I'm so glad I had this opportunity to read it! It was written entirely in emails, but it worked SO WELL! The two characters exchanging emails put all their thoughts and experiences into these emails, so it felt like I was reading chapters instead of emails.

Georgie was a character I loved right away. She was so honest and sweet that I felt a connection to her from the start. Her family was in turmoil. Her mother was stuck in an abusive relationship and had no time for Georgie. Her step father was cruel and thoughtless of Georgie and only cared for his daughter, Georgie's half sister, Michaela. I wanted to just grab Georgie's mother and shake her, get her to realize what an awful relationship she was in and how she was not paying attention to her daughter at all. The best thing about Georgie was how brave she was. Through it all she stayed strong and her emails always brought a smile to my face. She was so lively, spirited, and funny.

Not only did Siobhan Curham discuss abuse and how it can impact a family in Dear Dylan, she also proved that sometimes the friends who are liked and trusted aren't always the right ones after all. Jessica was awful to Georgie and she really got her comeuppance in the end!

While there were a few characters I disliked right away (and was supposed to!), Curham also introduced some fantastic characters that I will remember for a long time. I loved Nan! She was entertaining, honest, and so sweet to Georgie. She always offered great advice and was there for Georgie when she had no one else to turn to. The love interest, Jamie, was a caring and endearing guy who only wanted the best for Georgie. I loved watching their relationship grow throughout the story.

Dear Dylan was an entertaining novel, that dealt with some darker issues, but never the less proved you should never give up. Siobhan Curham is a great writer, and the email format made me become that much more attached to the main characters.

The plot was original and detailed, and there were a lot of sub-plots, but everything tied together in the end. Overall, Dear Dylan was an emotional, funny, and endearing novel that I loved from the start. I can't wait to read more by Siobhan Curham in the future!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Good Golly Miss Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: keepers

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Review TBC...

If you've ever had the chance to snoop into a friend's diary, this novel is for you! Basically, it's a major guilty pleasure for me atm. I'd equal it to reading a really great gossip mag filled with some slightly tragic pieces weaved amongst a very happy-go-lucky piece overall.

Okay, this book is bloody awesome.

Ever come across a friends diary and been attempted to read the entire thing...? Well, that's how Dear Dylan feels. It's so honest and believable that I just can't seem to st...more Review TBC...

If you've ever had the chance to snoop into a friend's diary, this novel is for you! Basically, it's a major guilty pleasure for me atm. I'd equal it to reading a really great gossip mag filled with some slightly tragic pieces weaved amongst a very happy-go-lucky piece overall.

Okay, this book is bloody awesome.

Ever come across a friends diary and been attempted to read the entire thing...? Well, that's how Dear Dylan feels. It's so honest and believable that I just can't seem to stop reading.

I was expecting a tale of an immature girl fawning over a rockstar via email communication and then maybe meeting him in real life and falling madly in love with him but what we actually found within the cover is a delightful tale of a mature young girl reaching out to what she thinks is her tv idol but in reality turns out to be the guys mum.

Luckily, Nancy aka Hot Boys Mum reveals herself rather early on in the story otherwise it may have turned a little cringeworthy and boring. I've always been the type of person to enjoy writing in a diary and to have my very own penpal and Dear Dylan seems to be a really nice mix between the two.

I am absolutely amazed to hear this book was originally self-published.

Oh, did I mention it's written entirely in emails. I love books in alternative formats... diary entries, emails, tweets, etc. BRING THEM ON! At times, other novels in this format can offer drag or create a little confusion with the back and forth motion but this one just flowed so well. I found myself flicking pages at rapid pace, I just got so involved with these characters and hoped the best for them.

I can already tell this one is going to rate really well with me so far I'm thinking 4 or even 5 stars.

I instantly loved Georgie and her little sister, Michaela. Those two were just so adorable and majorly likeable. It's true though that the family situation wasn't all happy days and usually with any type of darker themes, I usually find the story gets lost amongst the distress and I end up losing interest. But this novel just seemed to have a happy face on throughout the entire read even while bringing up some slightly darker aspects.(less)

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Apr 03, 2012 Rowan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've never actually read a book which was totally comprised up of e-mails so that was pretty cool. I've never seen another book written in this format but if I did find another one, I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy it.

The main thing that annoyed me in this novel was the text language. I know that it was written in the form of e-mails but still, the author didn't need to use text language. Okay, maybe other people don't mind text language and I'm just being picky... I don't like text language... Even wh...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Anya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

I don't know what I expected to happen in this book but I'm glad it didn't! I was pleasantly surprised to find how easy it was to read and how touching the story was. An amazing teenage story of growing up and standing up for yourself. Made me wish I had this book a few years ago for inspiration!

I'll admit, I started this book thinking I would dislike Georgie, stupidly just because she was so easily fooled by Jessica and the generalised emails. But luckily, I got over her slightly annoying teena...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Georgie Harris absolutely loves Dylan Curtland, aka the famous teenage star from the sitcom Jessop Close, and emails him whenever she can. At first he doesn’t reply, but when he finally does, she can’t believe it. She begins to pour out her problems to him, writing about her acting dreams and her sad home life with a horrible stepdad. But when he reveals a surprising secret, a new friendship begins.

Dear Dylan is told, oddly enough, in e-mail format. I had never read a book in e-mail format befo...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Stephanie (Stepping out of the Page) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, arc-or-review, young-adult, title-appeal, realistic-fiction, read-in-2012, cover-appeal

I picked this book up as I really like both the cover and the title - they're simple and fun. I also thought that this book would simply be a fun set of e-mails from a teenage girl to her crush, Dylan. It turned out that this was a fun book thanks to our main character, Georgie, but it also had quite a serious undertone too.

When Georgie contacts Dylan, a gorgeous, popular young actor, she is surprised when she actually gets personal replies. As it turns out, it's not actually Dylan that is reply...more I picked this book up as I really like both the cover and the title - they're simple and fun. I also thought that this book would simply be a fun set of e-mails from a teenage girl to her crush, Dylan. It turned out that this was a fun book thanks to our main character, Georgie, but it also had quite a serious undertone too.

When Georgie contacts Dylan, a gorgeous, popular young actor, she is surprised when she actually gets personal replies. As it turns out, it's not actually Dylan that is replying to Georgie, but instead it his his mother, a woman called Nan. I think that it could be quite a challenge for a writer to portray an online relationship between a young teenager and an adult, but Curham didn't do a bad job at all. This is fiction, but I think it was quite realistic, with both characters having their hesitations regarding an online friendship. It was interesting to see how Georgie and Nan's relationship flourished throughout the book. I found myself very glad that they had each other as they both helped each other to find some happiness and to improve their lives - it was really quite touching. I thought that the format that this book was written in was a very good idea. As well as being modern, the e-mails exchanged were frank, open and honest with the personality of both Georgie and Nan shining through.

Georgie was a wonderful, bright character. Though her actions could be a little cringe-inducing at times, she was quite humorous and this book will guarantee at least a couple of laughs! She is stumbling through her teenage years and gaining new experiences, sharing them with us on her way. Georgie does seem like a bubbly, quite confident girl from the outset, but she has a lot of problems at home, including an abusive step-father and trying to discover what her father was really like when he was alive. Though maybe not as complicated, Nan is also coming to terms with the loss of her husband and her grief. Though there was a big age gap between the two, there was a definite connection which was lovely to read about.

For all those who like a little bit of romance in there book, that is covered for you, with Georgie falling for a male friend - though there wasn't all that much detail on their emotional connection, you could still sense it and it was sweet. If you like drama, there's some childlike bitchiness between Georgia and her friends, which makes for quite funny reading and gave me some desire to shout out 'Go on, Georgie!'.

If you like Georgia Nicolson, you'll most likely warm to Georgie (they even have similar names!) - Georgie and the whole tone of Dear Dylan definitely has the same vibe as The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (Angus, Thongs etc.) books so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to any fans of Louise Rennison - this is probably the next best thing. This is a great book to pick up when you're in the mood for an easy read, with a little substance but not too much that it weighs story down. I'd quite like to pick up another of Curham's books.(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Kai (Amaterasu Reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teens, 2012-tbr-pile, arc, for-review

Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

The beauty of technology is it bridges people no matter where they are.Who would have thought the e-mails Georgie exchanges with 'Dylan' can save her life? Georgie is like every other fan who idolizes someone. At first her e-mails came off as annoying, but it was Georgie's willingness to share, her openness, her ability to give life and color to a bunch of words typed and sent electronically that makes her special. And 'Dylan' saw that spark in Georgie and before...more Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

The beauty of technology is it bridges people no matter where they are.Who would have thought the e-mails Georgie exchanges with 'Dylan' can save her life? Georgie is like every other fan who idolizes someone. At first her e-mails came off as annoying, but it was Georgie's willingness to share, her openness, her ability to give life and color to a bunch of words typed and sent electronically that makes her special. And 'Dylan' saw that spark in Georgie and before she knew it, they became e-mates. But Dylan's hiding a secret and when he comes clean, will Georgie still find it in her heart to trust her idol?

Siobhan's unique way of presenting the story, written as e-mails, add to the unique experience when reading Dear Dylan. It's not just about a fan interacting with an idol. Georgie wasn't even talking to Dylan, she was talking to his mom. And Georgie gets a glimpse into the life of the rich and glamorous. But sometimes it's not as happy as everyone made it out to be. Nan (short for Nancy) has retreated from the limelight of acting on stage and in front of the cameras, spending her days trying to move on with loss of her husband reminiscing the good old days. And Georgie just wants to act, overcome the shadow of someone who's more of an enemy than a friend to her and be free of a family that was slowly falling apart. It was terrifying to read of Georgie's life at home. To have a cruel stepfather and a mother who couldn't even find time to be one, Georgie had big shoes to fill in, and it wasn't easy for a teenager to do. Despite living in such an abusive environment and having toxic friendships, Georgie endeared herself to me, because she is such a sweet, kind, honest girl.

The heartfelt exchange between these two very different people, a fourteen year old struggling to be free of a life filled with fear and restrictions and a middle aged woman lost in her grief, finding that solitude sometimes isn't enough is what makes Dear Dylan a compelling read. Nan and Georgie lived completely opposite lives yet through their e-mails, they were there for each other, sharing thoughts and feelings and reaching out to each other even though they are miles apart. Both Nan and Georgie got each other through tough times, even those dreadful, scary ones. It's an unconventional, good thing that came about because of the internet. I loved reading about Georgie and Nan's life. There's something about those e-mail formatted pages that makes the reading more personal, sifting through the very thoughts of those who've written them, through their words, through their own eyes.

Dear Dylan not only explored and navigated through the fragile, complicated family dynamics of both Georgie and Nan's life, it also made room for some romance. Jamie is such a caring, teenage boy and even with Georgie's crush on Dylan, I wouldn't want her to end up with any other boy than Jamie! I loved how their relationship developed, slow, sweet, all too innocent and very cute!

Siobhan Curham's book tells of a story between a girl who's life is just starting to bloom, and a woman who's trying to find a reason to continue on with life. It's got stories about crushes, the joy of acting, the fear of a cruel stepfather and a mother too weak and drunk to protect her daughters, an up close and personal look into what goes on into the life of a celebrity mom, her discovery that life has more to offer than just taking walks on the beach and looking back at the times she was most happy. Dear Dylan was such a satisfying read. I felt so full with warmth and that contented feeling you get when you talk to someone who you know will always be there for you. Siobhan Curham's book is full of emotions, with beautiful and unforgettable characters. It's funny and entertaining, and over-all a very fulfilling read! Dear Dylan touched my heart deeply.(less)

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Feb 16, 2011 Roxane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, agency-author, self-published

This self-published has an interesting story. In 2009, Siobhan Curham was offered a two-book deal and turned it down. She self-published Dear Dylan in April 2010 and in November, it won the YoungMind Book Award. Earlier this month, it was acquired by Egmont as part of a two-book deal and it will be relaunch in July.

Dear Dylan is the last novel I read for my previous job and I consider myself very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to read it.

It's not often you encounter YA 'issue nove...more This self-published has an interesting story. In 2009, Siobhan Curham was offered a two-book deal and turned it down. She self-published Dear Dylan in April 2010 and in November, it won the YoungMind Book Award. Earlier this month, it was acquired by Egmont as part of a two-book deal and it will be relaunch in July.

Dear Dylan is the last novel I read for my previous job and I consider myself very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to read it.

It's not often you encounter YA 'issue novels' that are a) engaging and b) not actually depressing. That is not to say that I don't enjoy a nice tragic story once in a while, but there seems to be this trend, especially in YA, of novels that are just a succession of tragic events with no light at the end of the tunnel. And these novels tend to leave me feeling hollow, depressed and wondering 'what's the point?' I'm not a partisan of the 'every YA/children titles should have a happy ending' argument, but if I can't find any purpose to the endless stream of suffering, something to take away with me as I turn the last page, then I'm not a happy reader. I'm glad to say that Dear Dylan is not one such story.

The novel's format is unusual and presents a great many challenges for any author. The story is entirely told as a series of emails, recounting the life of 13-year-old Georgie whose Summer holiday is just about to begin when she decides to write to her favorite TV actor, the young Dylan Curltand via his website. And well, she's quite surprised when she starts receiving responses to her fan mail. Oh go on now, admit it, the teenager in you has fantasized about this... more than once, I think it's safe to say...

I'm not going to say anymore than that because there's no point in ruining the surprise.

I admit I was a bit skeptic about the whole epistolary aspect. I didn't think it could work throughout the novel. Surely, at some point, the author would have to find a clever way around this or risk the overall pace of the novel slowing down and the whole thing collapsing on itself. Well, it didn't. The narration stayed strong till the very end.

The very element that endangers the whole exercise is also what makes the novel's original and so engaging in the first place. The main character's voice is a strong one and the words flow, accessible, light and funny. You can't help but tun the pages to know what's going to happen next, but it's also just to follow the voice.

And yet, the story is far from being light and carefree. Curham broaches some very delicate and important issues, similar to those raised by Jacqueline Wilson or Melvin Burgess. In fact, there seems to be a discrepancy between the level of writing, the age ground targeted, and the maturity of the issues raised. Again, this goes to prove that children's writing is not and should not all be all teletubbies and smiley faces. I think most kids are able to approach and comprehend delicate issues, it's all a question of presentation or representation. And I must say that in Dear Dylan, it's done brilliantly.

I would recommend this to those looking for something different in children's literature, something a bit heavier than you'd initially expect it to be, but whose package you just can't resist.(less)

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Aug 04, 2010 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-books, uk-author, signed, books-i-am-quoted-in

I loved this book. It is written in email format throughout following an ongoing conversation between Georgie and her Emate over the course of 6 weeks. I initially was a little bit wary and wasn't sure if this idea would work but it did wonderfully.

When I first started reading the story I was a little skeptical as I thought the relationship between her and Nancy was a little weird. Georgie is your typical teenager (who is depicted exceptionally well might I add). She is normal was was wonderful...more

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May 14, 2013 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dear Dylan is a compelling, bitter sweet novel about ordinary teenager Georgie and the struggles she has to endure in everyday life.
This book has an original layout as it is all written in 'e-mails'. However, don't let this put you off- this book is well worth a read
i would say readers between 10 and fifteen would enjoy this, especially if you like romance novels, or books about realistic situations!

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Feb 27, 2013 Mabel rated it 3 of 5 stars

From the front cover and the blurb, I thought this was girly, easy read stuff, but I was suprised to find that it actually went a bit deeper.

The author wrote about difficult subjects such as abuse from the point of view of a young girl, and that worked to great effect! I enjoyed this book, but it's not one I could read over and over again.

Did love the fangirling element at the beginning though ;)

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Jun 04, 2012 Shannon Jackson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: covers-and-titles-that-drew-me-in, high-school, humour, read-in-2012, easy-read

I thought this book was very slow at the begining and I found myself reading other books before I came back to it. I'm very glad that I did pick it up again because it was such a good read.
It's funny and light but also touches on subjects such as abuse in an easier way, and without going into too much detail and making it uncomfortable.
The book follows 14 years aspiring actress Goergia as she goes through the summer holidays. It's told through emails which I really liked as it made it easy to...more

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May 22, 2012 Carmen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

LOVED this story about an unusual friendship!! A story about courage, adversity, depression, friendship and survival. It's rich in details and powerfully written in a format that teens will adore, told through emails through two emates. Curham creates magic on the page in this story about domestic violence and how the power of love and friendship can make all the difference in the world. The difference between life and death. 14-year-old Georgie (main character) is bright and brave and bullied a...more

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Aug 10, 2010 Anupama P rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

it is a realli good book.......it tells the story of fourteen year old girl....who has went through a lot of pain,struggle...etc.....and how she opens her heart and tells it all to a person.....who she knows through the net......its a good book.....

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Feb 02, 2013 Georgia from Books and Writers JNR rated it 5 of 5 stars

absolutely brilliant!! http://booksandwritersjnr.wordpress.c... is my proper review :)

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