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Return to Sender
Brodie has three mysteries to solve—what actually happened to the mystical Adder Stone she was accused of stealing, who sent the love notes left behind in the Dead Letter Office, and how she lost her two best friends—in this layered and compelling US debut about found family, first love, and one town’s tragedies, perfect for fans of Melina Marchetta, Kristin Dwyer, and Nina LaCour.
Brodie McKellon didn’t leave town in handcuffs, not exactly. But all the same, in only one night, she lost her best friends and her home. And that same night, the town of Warwick lost the Adder Stone, a supposedly magical ring of local legend.
The events, Brodie maintains, were not related.
Four years later, Brodie’s returned to Warwick, ready to get back everything she lost by solving the mystery of who actually stole the Adder Stone. She can clear her name, win back her friends Elliott and Levi, and save Gran’s house from the bank.
But as Brodie starts investigating, she gets pulled into a different mystery, of three friends and their “dead letters”—mail that’s been lost over the years. And soon she finds that there are times when the things you find aren’t the things you even knew you had lost. A house becomes a home. Some friends become family. And other friends, well, they might become something more. As long as Brodie can be brave enough to find herself.
Brodie McKellon didn’t leave town in handcuffs, not exactly. But all the same, in only one night, she lost her best friends and her home. And that same night, the town of Warwick lost the Adder Stone, a supposedly magical ring of local legend.
The events, Brodie maintains, were not related.
Four years later, Brodie’s returned to Warwick, ready to get back everything she lost by solving the mystery of who actually stole the Adder Stone. She can clear her name, win back her friends Elliott and Levi, and save Gran’s house from the bank.
But as Brodie starts investigating, she gets pulled into a different mystery, of three friends and their “dead letters”—mail that’s been lost over the years. And soon she finds that there are times when the things you find aren’t the things you even knew you had lost. A house becomes a home. Some friends become family. And other friends, well, they might become something more. As long as Brodie can be brave enough to find herself.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2024
28 people are currently reading
4288 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
August 11, 2024
Return To Sender starts off strong, then flatlines a little – it takes a while for Draper to find the rhythm of the story. I was expecting something Veronica Mars-y, with a hard-boiled troublemaking teen doggedly pursuing the truth, but it’s a lot softer and more wistful than that. It’s one to read while you listen to Taylor Swift’s folklore album (indeed, that record gets a shout-out in the author acknowledgements).
My full review of Return To Sender is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Return To Sender is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
April 18, 2025
A character-driven YA story, which offers a mixture of friendship, reconciliation and some mysterious elements, in a coming-of-age tale.
Brodie McKellon has been away for three years at boarding school, following the death of her mother. Then she returns to Warwick, to live with her eccentric grandmother, above the last Dead Letter Office – the place where letters go when no one claims them.
Brodie is attempting to reconcile with her former best friends, Levi and Elliot, and the trio become consumed by two unsolved mysteries – the unclaimed letters of a group of teens who seemed to vanish years ago, and the missing valuable Adder Stone. Working together, the teens are drawn into unraveling events of the past and learning it is never to late to put things right.
What a fun story about friendship and family, by Australian author Lauren Draper.
Format: Paperback, from my local library
Page count: 373 pages
Brodie McKellon has been away for three years at boarding school, following the death of her mother. Then she returns to Warwick, to live with her eccentric grandmother, above the last Dead Letter Office – the place where letters go when no one claims them.
Brodie is attempting to reconcile with her former best friends, Levi and Elliot, and the trio become consumed by two unsolved mysteries – the unclaimed letters of a group of teens who seemed to vanish years ago, and the missing valuable Adder Stone. Working together, the teens are drawn into unraveling events of the past and learning it is never to late to put things right.
What a fun story about friendship and family, by Australian author Lauren Draper.
Format: Paperback, from my local library
Page count: 373 pages
September 6, 2024
genuinely one of the best books ive ever read. rtc for sure.
ok so it’s been about a month and ive just realised i haven’t written a review for this masterpiece. everything was so stunning about this book. the mystery, the friendships, the romance, the aussie-ness and the general vibes. like i want to be friends with these people they’re so amazing.
also i just want to say how much i love brodie as a girls name ITS SO PRETTY I LOVE IT <3
OK THATS ALL I CAN REMEMBER BUT THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD GO READ IT NOW !!!!!!
ok so it’s been about a month and ive just realised i haven’t written a review for this masterpiece. everything was so stunning about this book. the mystery, the friendships, the romance, the aussie-ness and the general vibes. like i want to be friends with these people they’re so amazing.
also i just want to say how much i love brodie as a girls name ITS SO PRETTY I LOVE IT <3
OK THATS ALL I CAN REMEMBER BUT THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD GO READ IT NOW !!!!!!
Read
June 30, 2024Laughing, gasping, weeping.
July 28, 2024
The story keeps you invested with funny banters, solving mysteries, the letters, betrayal, and forgiveness.
The banters between Brodie and Levie from friends-to-enemies to enemies-to-friends-turns-to-lovers. Took them a while but both are so cute and funny.
Also, Elliot is such a wonderful soul. I feel sad for him but he did what's best and peaceful at the end.
I really admire their friendship. Though it has blurred after Brodie left but became stronger after her return four years later. These three people are protective, sweet, and cared for each other. It was heartwarming and beautiful to witness their found family. I laughed, gasped and cried a little.
Thank you for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The banters between Brodie and Levie from friends-to-enemies to enemies-to-friends-turns-to-lovers. Took them a while but both are so cute and funny.
Also, Elliot is such a wonderful soul. I feel sad for him but he did what's best and peaceful at the end.
I really admire their friendship. Though it has blurred after Brodie left but became stronger after her return four years later. These three people are protective, sweet, and cared for each other. It was heartwarming and beautiful to witness their found family. I laughed, gasped and cried a little.
Thank you for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2024
Get ready to fall in love with all the characters of this book and wish you could find your own pile of mystery letters! I couldn’t put the book down as it was such a captivating story and such beautiful writing!
July 26, 2024
Three years ago, Brodie McKellon left the town to live in the city with her father and go to boarding school after her mother died. The caveat? The treasured Adder Stone, the local legend, disappeared that same night, and Brodie... well... had a history of getting in trouble with the law previously. No wonder everybody made the connection although there was never enough proof for any official charges. In the present, Brodie returns to town for her final semester at high school, as things didn't go smoothly at the boarding school either. So, she returns to face the implied accusations, to figure out why she had fallen out with her closest friends, and to revisit a mystery that had haunted her for years. The thing is, Brodie's grandmother is running the local post office, including its Dead Letters Office (for mail that had never been claimed), and there's a bunch of letters from some twenty years back among three local teens, so Brodie and her friends have been trying to figure out for years who those people were and whether they still live in town or left for good.
I am not fully sure about the constitutive features of 'cozy' genres but as I read this, I repeatedly wanted to identify this book as a 'cozy mystery.' There are some larger stakes mentioned (like the fact that once Brodie is not a minor anymore, her clashes with law enforcement might have a much larger effect on her future - so it's better to clear her name before that; or the need to save the grandma's house from the bank - this theme kicks in a bit later in the plot, I only mention this because it is in the blurb, so not a spoiler), but they don't really define the atmosphere or the tone of the story. There isn't even the usual angst of stories set in a high-school environment about fitting in, making friends, and deciding what to do with your life once you graduate. Instead, most of the focus is on unraveling the story of the letter authors from the past, which dictates the somewhat melancholic tone to the narrative.
What do we want of a good mystery/detective story? That all "clues" fit in together ultimately, I guess, and that there's more clarity to the world than there was before. Along this vein, this is definitely a good mystery. If you are bothered at first by one seeming discrepancy - why would there be so many letters between the letter authors at Brodie's disposal - just trust that it's not an oversight, and everything will click into place ultimately.
This book is a textual analog of a warm blanket and hot chocolate with marshmallows on a dark and lonely November night. If you need a reminder that though the world is a pretty sad place but there are ways to find how to be fine.
4 stars.
I am grateful to HarperCollins for providing me with a free eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
I am not fully sure about the constitutive features of 'cozy' genres but as I read this, I repeatedly wanted to identify this book as a 'cozy mystery.' There are some larger stakes mentioned (like the fact that once Brodie is not a minor anymore, her clashes with law enforcement might have a much larger effect on her future - so it's better to clear her name before that; or the need to save the grandma's house from the bank - this theme kicks in a bit later in the plot, I only mention this because it is in the blurb, so not a spoiler), but they don't really define the atmosphere or the tone of the story. There isn't even the usual angst of stories set in a high-school environment about fitting in, making friends, and deciding what to do with your life once you graduate. Instead, most of the focus is on unraveling the story of the letter authors from the past, which dictates the somewhat melancholic tone to the narrative.
What do we want of a good mystery/detective story? That all "clues" fit in together ultimately, I guess, and that there's more clarity to the world than there was before. Along this vein, this is definitely a good mystery. If you are bothered at first by one seeming discrepancy - why would there be so many letters between the letter authors at Brodie's disposal - just trust that it's not an oversight, and everything will click into place ultimately.
This book is a textual analog of a warm blanket and hot chocolate with marshmallows on a dark and lonely November night. If you need a reminder that though the world is a pretty sad place but there are ways to find how to be fine.
4 stars.
I am grateful to HarperCollins for providing me with a free eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
January 16, 2024
*NETGALLY ARC Review*
While she never wanted to leave the town of Warwick, Brodie isn't quite sure what her reception will be when she returns four years later to live with her grandmother after getting kicked out of her boarding school. She anticipates a less than warm reception due to a number of mishaps in her youth, the most serious of which was being accused of stealing a precious town artifact known as the Adder Stone. She didn't steal the stone, but she did lose one of her two best friends. At a loss for how to fix the friendship, she turns to solving the mystery of what actually happened to the Adder Stone and discovering the real identities of those who wrote the love letters left in the Dead Letter Office run by her grandmother.
This is a lovely piece of YA fiction that touches on a number of important themes including friendship, found family, romance, death, and grief. The juggling of all these themes is done relatively seamlessly through the incorporation of chapters from Brodie's point of view and passages from the mystery letter writers. I love the evolution of the friendships between Brodie, Elliot, and Levi. Brodie and Elliot pick up where they left while things between Brodie and Levi remain more complicated due to the mystery of the Adder Stone's disappearance (Levi's dad is in law enforcement and his mom in local politics) and their budding romance. All of these characters are also dealing with loss and/or neglect in their own way, whether a parent has died, is physically absent, emotionally withholding, or a complete mystery. This is, to a degree, balanced out by the unconditional love (and coolness) of Brodie's grandma and Elliot's mom's love. The mystery element of the stone and the letters is fun with the stakes becoming increasingly high due to reward money and deeper town secrets.
While she never wanted to leave the town of Warwick, Brodie isn't quite sure what her reception will be when she returns four years later to live with her grandmother after getting kicked out of her boarding school. She anticipates a less than warm reception due to a number of mishaps in her youth, the most serious of which was being accused of stealing a precious town artifact known as the Adder Stone. She didn't steal the stone, but she did lose one of her two best friends. At a loss for how to fix the friendship, she turns to solving the mystery of what actually happened to the Adder Stone and discovering the real identities of those who wrote the love letters left in the Dead Letter Office run by her grandmother.
This is a lovely piece of YA fiction that touches on a number of important themes including friendship, found family, romance, death, and grief. The juggling of all these themes is done relatively seamlessly through the incorporation of chapters from Brodie's point of view and passages from the mystery letter writers. I love the evolution of the friendships between Brodie, Elliot, and Levi. Brodie and Elliot pick up where they left while things between Brodie and Levi remain more complicated due to the mystery of the Adder Stone's disappearance (Levi's dad is in law enforcement and his mom in local politics) and their budding romance. All of these characters are also dealing with loss and/or neglect in their own way, whether a parent has died, is physically absent, emotionally withholding, or a complete mystery. This is, to a degree, balanced out by the unconditional love (and coolness) of Brodie's grandma and Elliot's mom's love. The mystery element of the stone and the letters is fun with the stakes becoming increasingly high due to reward money and deeper town secrets.
June 30, 2024
3.5 stars ⭐️ this was a bit of a slow burn and the overall timeline of events in this book kind of hurt my brain a little (or maybe it’s just because i’m tired and read half of the book in one sitting therefore everything is blurry). also felt weirdly americanised? considering this is an OZ YA book i didn’t expect that, it all just feels very ambiguous in the setting/time which kind of bothers me in books bc i like being able to ground the narrative in a place i know exists — this could very well be to do with the fact that it is meant to appeal to US audiences. romance felt a little rushed but then i guess also not? like i was waiting for it to happen the whole time and then it did so why am i complaining?
overall a nice wholesome novel and enjoyable read. well written, just nothing life changing enough! would still recommend!
overall a nice wholesome novel and enjoyable read. well written, just nothing life changing enough! would still recommend!
October 22, 2024
Great mystery, great friendship story, but also sad.
February 6, 2025
DNF at 33%
I saw this book at my local library and decided to give it a go. I quickly realised that this is a slow-paced cozy mystery which is something I don’t typically read - I prefer reading mystery books with a fast-paced plot and high stakes.
The banter felt a bit random and the pacing felt way too slow especially with the lengthy chapters. I also felt like I was trying to solve two different mysteries at once.
It’s not a bad book per se, it just wasn’t for me.
I saw this book at my local library and decided to give it a go. I quickly realised that this is a slow-paced cozy mystery which is something I don’t typically read - I prefer reading mystery books with a fast-paced plot and high stakes.
The banter felt a bit random and the pacing felt way too slow especially with the lengthy chapters. I also felt like I was trying to solve two different mysteries at once.
It’s not a bad book per se, it just wasn’t for me.
January 4, 2025
Great Aussie book. Interesting story, great characters and easy read
June 24, 2024
I loved this. Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with an e-galley.
Brodie is your standard awkward teen who just doesn't know what to do with herself when her life crumbles. Her dad is distant, her mom has died, but the few people she can count on are constant. Her and her best friends set out on a quest and in turn find themselves.
I loved this story - part coming of age, part mystery, part betrayal, part forgiveness. Beautiful and heart-warming.
Brodie is your standard awkward teen who just doesn't know what to do with herself when her life crumbles. Her dad is distant, her mom has died, but the few people she can count on are constant. Her and her best friends set out on a quest and in turn find themselves.
I loved this story - part coming of age, part mystery, part betrayal, part forgiveness. Beautiful and heart-warming.
October 29, 2024
3.5 rounded up
This didn't go where I expected it to go! I thought it would be very edgy and prickly, but it was, in fact, sweet and sentimental. I appreciated the prickly banter, however! It saved it from being schmultzy.
Great start, good middle, cracking ending.
Y9 Y10 Y11
CW: death of a family member
This didn't go where I expected it to go! I thought it would be very edgy and prickly, but it was, in fact, sweet and sentimental. I appreciated the prickly banter, however! It saved it from being schmultzy.
Great start, good middle, cracking ending.
Y9 Y10 Y11
CW: death of a family member
November 19, 2024
Eh
The blurb sounded sooo promising but did not meet expectations. Albeit a cute YA read, nothing much happens in the first 75% of the book but filled with random bits ??
I did however, enjoy the ending. It’s a cute read, but I was bored but understand I’m not the target audience
The blurb sounded sooo promising but did not meet expectations. Albeit a cute YA read, nothing much happens in the first 75% of the book but filled with random bits ??
I did however, enjoy the ending. It’s a cute read, but I was bored but understand I’m not the target audience
September 9, 2024
Return To Sender is the emotional and consuming new YA novel from Melbourne author Lauren Draper and it was a story filled with nostalgia.
Brodie McKellon has retuned to Warwick to live with her grandmother after three years away. Nicknamed The McKellon Felon following multiple brushes with the law, she reconnects with her best friend Elliot, who often seeks refuge at her grandmother’s place above the Dead Letter Office. The DLO is full of memories, with letters that no one has claimed and Brodie has always been intrigued by the unclaimed correspondence between a group of three teenage friends whose identity she is determined to discover.
As she also attempts to clear her name regarding a theft three years prior, she is drawn into solving the riddle of the letters and soon uncovers secrets from the past and old wrongs that need to be righted.
I adored this coming of age story and the friendship between Brodie and Elliot. The blossoming romance between Brodie and Levi was also a highlight, even though their interactions for most of the book were quite frustrating. However, Brodie’s pranks and her banter with Levi were hilarious and had me laughing out loud. The found family aspect of the story was strong and incredibly heartwarming. This small community was such a welcoming place and it was fabulous to see Brodie fit back in to somewhere she obviously belonged, even after a prolonged absence.
The tension and mystery of the book was also done incredibly well and I loved seeing Brodie play amateur detective to solve this old puzzle. Lauren has also written some beautiful emotional scenes which made me have a few tears, the bittersweet nostalgia of the story really shone through in these parts.
Return To Sender was a wonderfully written coming of age novel with just the right amount of mystery, suspense and romance. One I highly recommend for lovers of YA, both young and young at heart.
Brodie McKellon has retuned to Warwick to live with her grandmother after three years away. Nicknamed The McKellon Felon following multiple brushes with the law, she reconnects with her best friend Elliot, who often seeks refuge at her grandmother’s place above the Dead Letter Office. The DLO is full of memories, with letters that no one has claimed and Brodie has always been intrigued by the unclaimed correspondence between a group of three teenage friends whose identity she is determined to discover.
As she also attempts to clear her name regarding a theft three years prior, she is drawn into solving the riddle of the letters and soon uncovers secrets from the past and old wrongs that need to be righted.
I adored this coming of age story and the friendship between Brodie and Elliot. The blossoming romance between Brodie and Levi was also a highlight, even though their interactions for most of the book were quite frustrating. However, Brodie’s pranks and her banter with Levi were hilarious and had me laughing out loud. The found family aspect of the story was strong and incredibly heartwarming. This small community was such a welcoming place and it was fabulous to see Brodie fit back in to somewhere she obviously belonged, even after a prolonged absence.
The tension and mystery of the book was also done incredibly well and I loved seeing Brodie play amateur detective to solve this old puzzle. Lauren has also written some beautiful emotional scenes which made me have a few tears, the bittersweet nostalgia of the story really shone through in these parts.
Return To Sender was a wonderfully written coming of age novel with just the right amount of mystery, suspense and romance. One I highly recommend for lovers of YA, both young and young at heart.
September 30, 2024
Return to Sender feels quintessentially YA, which is a silly thing to say because YA is a very broad marketing term that encompasses a multitude of genres. It does though. Maybe it’s the quips and banter the characters engaged in; the particular feelings of teenage romance and found families; or the overall sense of being a teenager – that you’re grown up enough to make decisions and have your own opinions, but young enough that you still need the adults in your life to step up and make changes.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about the book is the characters and how they interact with each other. Even the side characters are fun, such as the turtle-loving customer of the post office. The dynamics among Brodie, Elliot, and Levi are fun and tender, and highlights how you can really be yourself when you find your people. I also love the letters and how the writers’ personalities and relationships shine through despite us never quite meeting them.
Grief is one of the major themes in the book. Brodie’s grief over the death of her mother rises up in small reminders, and other characters grapple with different types of loss throughout the story. I appreciated how the book explores the various ways grief impacts each of the characters. I also liked the balance of light and dark in this book: there’s plenty of quips and banters, but there are gentle moments and sad ones.
I also felt that “Return to Sender” effectively illustrated the experience of being trapped in the cycle of domestic violence for the woman and the child in that household. It also touches on the community’s responses (or lack thereof) at times, which becomes particularly compelling as certain relationships are revealed later in the book.
There is also, of course, the plot. The mystery of the dead letters was fun to follow, and while I could not have guessed the answers, I was pleased with myself for recognising a particular literary reference! (I’m being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers.)
Overall, Return to Sender is an enjoyable read with loveable characters and compassionate depictions of grief, loss, and found family.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for the review copy.
Review by Priscilla from Novel Feelings blog and podcast - where two psychologists take a deep dive into your favourite books
One of the things I enjoyed the most about the book is the characters and how they interact with each other. Even the side characters are fun, such as the turtle-loving customer of the post office. The dynamics among Brodie, Elliot, and Levi are fun and tender, and highlights how you can really be yourself when you find your people. I also love the letters and how the writers’ personalities and relationships shine through despite us never quite meeting them.
Grief is one of the major themes in the book. Brodie’s grief over the death of her mother rises up in small reminders, and other characters grapple with different types of loss throughout the story. I appreciated how the book explores the various ways grief impacts each of the characters. I also liked the balance of light and dark in this book: there’s plenty of quips and banters, but there are gentle moments and sad ones.
I also felt that “Return to Sender” effectively illustrated the experience of being trapped in the cycle of domestic violence for the woman and the child in that household. It also touches on the community’s responses (or lack thereof) at times, which becomes particularly compelling as certain relationships are revealed later in the book.
There is also, of course, the plot. The mystery of the dead letters was fun to follow, and while I could not have guessed the answers, I was pleased with myself for recognising a particular literary reference! (I’m being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers.)
Overall, Return to Sender is an enjoyable read with loveable characters and compassionate depictions of grief, loss, and found family.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for the review copy.
Review by Priscilla from Novel Feelings blog and podcast - where two psychologists take a deep dive into your favourite books
February 6, 2025
Confused about everyone’s ages but enjoyed this story about love, grief and growing up. And I love a dead letter office!
Library love.
Library love.
June 30, 2024
I don't have any coherent thoughts right now, only that I loved this and the sobbing emoji so here you go:
I loved this. 😭😭😭
Huge thank you to the author (hi Lauren!) and Pan Macmillan for the early copy.
I loved this. 😭😭😭
Huge thank you to the author (hi Lauren!) and Pan Macmillan for the early copy.
August 2, 2025
Yuh .
(Idk what to write 👽 but this is good soooo yeahhhhhh ummmmmm)
If you are in the mood for a YA mystery (that can be enjoyed by adults too) with hidden secrets and touch of romance hit this uppppppp.
(Idk what to write 👽 but this is good soooo yeahhhhhh ummmmmm)
If you are in the mood for a YA mystery (that can be enjoyed by adults too) with hidden secrets and touch of romance hit this uppppppp.
April 24, 2025
RETURN TO SENDER by Lauren Draper is a YA Contemporary novel that begins with Brodie returning to her small town to live with her grandma again. She’s been away at boarding school, desperately lonely, and harboring all the same grudges she held since she left. Coming back means facing her former best friend, Levi, her other best friend Elliott’s worsening home situation, and the mystery of the old letter writers from the Dead Letter Office. As she tries to uncover the truth of their identity, she also has to grapple with the truths in her own heart and risk breaking it all over again.
The voice in this novel is one of a kind. I loved it from the first sentence. It’s so refreshing and felt like I was talking to a witty friend. Not only that, but the tone of the novel strikes the balance between comedic, surprising, and evocative. It’s deliciously nostalgic as the author makes the reader yearn for a past time, both Brodie’s and the letter writers’. She also brings the setting to life on the page, and despite the tragedy that surrounds the main characters, there’s something comforting and enduring about it.
While I was confused as to how the Dead Letter Office would house all the correspondence of the mysterious writers, it made sense later on. Other than that, the plot is engaging, and the slow burn between Brodie and Levi kept me turning the pages. I do wish they had a moment where they told each other they loved each other, especially Brodie. However, it was of course understood that they do.
Overall, the combined elements of RETURN TO SENDER make a near-perfect read. This is a book I would return to again and again, and I’m very excited to explore the author’s other and future work.
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://yabookscentral.com/return-to-...
The voice in this novel is one of a kind. I loved it from the first sentence. It’s so refreshing and felt like I was talking to a witty friend. Not only that, but the tone of the novel strikes the balance between comedic, surprising, and evocative. It’s deliciously nostalgic as the author makes the reader yearn for a past time, both Brodie’s and the letter writers’. She also brings the setting to life on the page, and despite the tragedy that surrounds the main characters, there’s something comforting and enduring about it.
While I was confused as to how the Dead Letter Office would house all the correspondence of the mysterious writers, it made sense later on. Other than that, the plot is engaging, and the slow burn between Brodie and Levi kept me turning the pages. I do wish they had a moment where they told each other they loved each other, especially Brodie. However, it was of course understood that they do.
Overall, the combined elements of RETURN TO SENDER make a near-perfect read. This is a book I would return to again and again, and I’m very excited to explore the author’s other and future work.
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://yabookscentral.com/return-to-...
November 9, 2024
📚Return to Sender
🖌️Author: Lauren Draper
🖋️Publication: @harpercollins360
📝P.g.: 416
🗂️Genre: Young Adult Mystery
4,5/⭐️
📌Summary:
Brodie McKellon didn’t leave town in handcuffs; not exactly. But all the same, in only one night, she lost her best friends and her home. And that same night, the town of Warwick lost the Adder Stone, a supposedly magical ring of local legend.
The events, Brodie maintains, were not related.
Four years later, Brodie’s returned to Warwick to identify the real thief and get back everything she lost. She can clear her name, win back her friends Elliott and Levi, and save Gran’s house from the bank.
But as Brodie starts investigating, she gets pulled into a different mystery, of three friends and their “dead letters”—mail that’s been lost over the years. And soon she finds that there are times when the things you find aren’t the things you even knew you had lost. A house becomes a home. Some friends become family. And other friends, well, they might become something more. As long as Brodie can be brave enough to find herself.
📌Review:
I love books that the characters go through their own journey to find themselves and figure out the truth. This is such a book, i loved the pace of the story and the relationship between the characters. The banter between Brodie and Levie was chef’s kiss.
📌Thoughts:
All in all a sweet romantic mystery.
❤️P.S.
Alexa please play “Mirrorball” by Taylor Swift
I would like to thank @harpercollins360 for the free copy.
#returntosender #laurendraper #harpercollins360 #instabook #love #bookshelf #read #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #libros #reader #bookphotography
#b #booklove #art #author #libri #literature #instabooks #booklovers #books #bookstagram #book #booklover #reading #book
🖌️Author: Lauren Draper
🖋️Publication: @harpercollins360
📝P.g.: 416
🗂️Genre: Young Adult Mystery
4,5/⭐️
📌Summary:
Brodie McKellon didn’t leave town in handcuffs; not exactly. But all the same, in only one night, she lost her best friends and her home. And that same night, the town of Warwick lost the Adder Stone, a supposedly magical ring of local legend.
The events, Brodie maintains, were not related.
Four years later, Brodie’s returned to Warwick to identify the real thief and get back everything she lost. She can clear her name, win back her friends Elliott and Levi, and save Gran’s house from the bank.
But as Brodie starts investigating, she gets pulled into a different mystery, of three friends and their “dead letters”—mail that’s been lost over the years. And soon she finds that there are times when the things you find aren’t the things you even knew you had lost. A house becomes a home. Some friends become family. And other friends, well, they might become something more. As long as Brodie can be brave enough to find herself.
📌Review:
I love books that the characters go through their own journey to find themselves and figure out the truth. This is such a book, i loved the pace of the story and the relationship between the characters. The banter between Brodie and Levie was chef’s kiss.
📌Thoughts:
All in all a sweet romantic mystery.
❤️P.S.
Alexa please play “Mirrorball” by Taylor Swift
I would like to thank @harpercollins360 for the free copy.
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September 22, 2024
After three years away, seventeen-year-old Brodie McKellon has returned to live with her eccentric grandmother above the last remaining Dead Letter Office - the place letters go when no one is left to claim them.
Soon, Brodie is consumed by an unsolved mystery - the unclaimed letters of a group of teens who seemed to vanish many years ago - while also attempting to reconcile with her former best friends, Elliot and Levi.
I was having a mini reading slump when I picked this up, and it got me out of it! Brodie and her rebellious streak managed to capture my heart. This was out of the ordinary because I’d usually be annoyed by teenage angst.
The three-way friendship Brodie, Elliott and Levi had was so special to watch. Their banters were hilarious, I chuckled out loud! I loved the exploration of coming-of-age and self learning through mysterious old letters that Brodie found.
I loved the depth of the story, and the way Brodie’s struggles were portrayed. I laughed and (almost) cried with the characters. The ending was surprising, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I’m glad to have found Lauren Draper’s writing. Can’t wait to read more!
(Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
Soon, Brodie is consumed by an unsolved mystery - the unclaimed letters of a group of teens who seemed to vanish many years ago - while also attempting to reconcile with her former best friends, Elliot and Levi.
I was having a mini reading slump when I picked this up, and it got me out of it! Brodie and her rebellious streak managed to capture my heart. This was out of the ordinary because I’d usually be annoyed by teenage angst.
The three-way friendship Brodie, Elliott and Levi had was so special to watch. Their banters were hilarious, I chuckled out loud! I loved the exploration of coming-of-age and self learning through mysterious old letters that Brodie found.
I loved the depth of the story, and the way Brodie’s struggles were portrayed. I laughed and (almost) cried with the characters. The ending was surprising, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I’m glad to have found Lauren Draper’s writing. Can’t wait to read more!
(Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
October 24, 2024
Thank you to the publisher for the earc!
I had no idea what I got into when I started Return to Sender, but I ended up loving it so much.
We follow Brodie as she returns to her old home after being expelled from a fancy boarding school. She reunites with her grandmother, her best friend Eli, and her “arch nemesis” Levi. Brodie picks up a stack of old discarded letters, to figure out a mystery that’s been haunting them for years.
I was immediately drawn to the book, mostly because it starts with Brodie a the local police station after she tried to trespass a private property. Absolutely loved her character, she was smart (maybe a bit too criminal mastermind for an 18-year old), and funny. The whole mystery with the letters and the stone was so well written, I was at the edge of my seat, I needed to know what happened.
I loved Levi and Eli so much. The balance between the 3 of them was amazing. Was the romance a bit cheesy for me? Probably. But I still enjoyed it, I was practically yelling at the characters to make up their minds and just kiss already!
Nan was amazing, can I have a grandmother like her please?
I want to say I was surprised by the writes of the letters, but in all honesty, I was expecting something similar. I knew they had to be a connection between the kids and the letters, but it was even better than what I anticipated.
If you like YA romance with a hint of mystery, highly recommending to add Return to Sender to your TBR!
I had no idea what I got into when I started Return to Sender, but I ended up loving it so much.
We follow Brodie as she returns to her old home after being expelled from a fancy boarding school. She reunites with her grandmother, her best friend Eli, and her “arch nemesis” Levi. Brodie picks up a stack of old discarded letters, to figure out a mystery that’s been haunting them for years.
I was immediately drawn to the book, mostly because it starts with Brodie a the local police station after she tried to trespass a private property. Absolutely loved her character, she was smart (maybe a bit too criminal mastermind for an 18-year old), and funny. The whole mystery with the letters and the stone was so well written, I was at the edge of my seat, I needed to know what happened.
I loved Levi and Eli so much. The balance between the 3 of them was amazing. Was the romance a bit cheesy for me? Probably. But I still enjoyed it, I was practically yelling at the characters to make up their minds and just kiss already!
Nan was amazing, can I have a grandmother like her please?
I want to say I was surprised by the writes of the letters, but in all honesty, I was expecting something similar. I knew they had to be a connection between the kids and the letters, but it was even better than what I anticipated.
If you like YA romance with a hint of mystery, highly recommending to add Return to Sender to your TBR!
October 9, 2024
I enjoyed this story of friendship, first love, and reconnecting with the past.
The best part for me were the relationships among the characters. Brodie has an amazing grandmother who takes most things in stride and loves her unconditionally. Then there's the friendship Brodie has with Elliot and Levi. They were incredibly close before Brodie left town and the way they fall back into things when she returns was so sweet.
The mystery was okay but easy to see where it was headed. I also thought the plot fell a bit flat in the middle, but picked up again in the last quarter.
This was a good sophomore book for Draper and I think I'll go back and read her debut after this.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Harper Teen and NetGalley for the copy.
The best part for me were the relationships among the characters. Brodie has an amazing grandmother who takes most things in stride and loves her unconditionally. Then there's the friendship Brodie has with Elliot and Levi. They were incredibly close before Brodie left town and the way they fall back into things when she returns was so sweet.
The mystery was okay but easy to see where it was headed. I also thought the plot fell a bit flat in the middle, but picked up again in the last quarter.
This was a good sophomore book for Draper and I think I'll go back and read her debut after this.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Harper Teen and NetGalley for the copy.
February 13, 2025
This was a slow read, particularly the first half of the novel. The second half improved, but by then, I had lost interest and just wanted to reach the end. Although I couldn’t connect with the characters, I did enjoy the banter between Levi and Brodie, and Elliot and Brodie’s grandmother were sweethearts.
Return to Sender tackled some heavy themes, such as family and domestic violence, death, friendship, and grief. While I loved the concept of the dead letter office, I think the author could have made the transitions between the two timelines smoother, as they were sometimes a bit disjointed and confusing. Overall, this was an okay read, but not one that left a lasting impression.
Return to Sender tackled some heavy themes, such as family and domestic violence, death, friendship, and grief. While I loved the concept of the dead letter office, I think the author could have made the transitions between the two timelines smoother, as they were sometimes a bit disjointed and confusing. Overall, this was an okay read, but not one that left a lasting impression.
September 26, 2024
Return to Sender by Lauren Draper
I want to thank Harper Collins and the author for allowing me to review this ARC.
This book is well written with several stories and generations involved before the mystery is solved.
After 4 years away at school Brodie returns home to Warwick and her aging grandmother's house/small-town post office. Before long the 3 pals that grew up together are in charge of separating mail and trying to solve the mysteries of the dead letters that have piled up over the years.
I want to thank Harper Collins and the author for allowing me to review this ARC.
This book is well written with several stories and generations involved before the mystery is solved.
After 4 years away at school Brodie returns home to Warwick and her aging grandmother's house/small-town post office. Before long the 3 pals that grew up together are in charge of separating mail and trying to solve the mysteries of the dead letters that have piled up over the years.
October 4, 2024
This book kept me on my toes since the beginning and I was not able to stop at all. The mystery behind stone and the mysterious letters that had no address on them was messing up with my mind. I had to solve it all but the ending is way too heart breaking . To know what happens between our trio and how it build the trust more than ever between had make me cry till my eyes went dry...
to know the importance of friendship, trust & love is most beautiful thing ever to witness in a lifetime. I really enjoyed this one.
Thankyou Harper360ya & netgalley
to know the importance of friendship, trust & love is most beautiful thing ever to witness in a lifetime. I really enjoyed this one.
Thankyou Harper360ya & netgalley
December 17, 2024
3⭐️
⚠️ - Long Chapters.
No Spoilers.
Really enjoyed this palette cleanser. Based on a story about 3 friends with a history in their home town. When one of the 3 return to town things take a turn when the FMC discovers an old mystery.
You really get to understand and know the FMC in this story while she's growing and learning alongside.
A couple little plot twists in there that made sense and was a good conclusion to the story. I loved the relationships and friendships in this story, the connections between all the adults and kids in this story is amazing.
⚠️ - Long Chapters.
No Spoilers.
Really enjoyed this palette cleanser. Based on a story about 3 friends with a history in their home town. When one of the 3 return to town things take a turn when the FMC discovers an old mystery.
You really get to understand and know the FMC in this story while she's growing and learning alongside.
A couple little plot twists in there that made sense and was a good conclusion to the story. I loved the relationships and friendships in this story, the connections between all the adults and kids in this story is amazing.
January 2, 2025
I’d give *Return to Sender* by Lauren Draper 4 stars. It was a very easy read, and I loved the concept of discovering who the letters belonged to. The way the main characters life paralleled the lives of those in the letters was intriguing, and it added a unique depth to the story. The ending was really cute and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. As a hopeless romantic, I thought it was such a sweet and heartwarming book. It wasn’t overly complex, but it was charming and left a lasting impression. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something light but meaningful.
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