** Thank you to Netgalley and PanMacmillan Australia for my review copy. 
 5 stars!!! 
 This is the first book I've read in the YA realistic fiction category and I must say that it has been one of the best books I've read so far this year. Words cannot describe how I feel after having just read what I did but I will try my best to do this book justice in my review. 
 One, I absolutely loved the worldbuilding. The story is set in Australia which is just awesome :). But how do I describe 'Howling Books'? Well, it's a second hand library but what I really loved is how it's a place that connects people. I especially loved the Letter Library. It's a section of the store that has books where people write their thoughts in the margins or send letters to one other. They connect through words. I am thought it had a whimsical and captivating feel to it. I mean I wish there was a store that had something like it in real life. :) 
 Second, I thought that every character was just awesome. The book is told from 2 POVs - Rachel and Henry's. Rachel was an amazing character. She is getting over her brother Cal's death and is struggling with her emotions. She does come across as rude, but that's just her way of dealing with grief. She is trying to find herself and is in the process of learning how to live again. The author does a great job of showing us how Rachel learns to accept things and to see her life in a new light without Cal. 
 Henry, on the other hand, was the total opposite. He is a very optimistic person. I really liked his friendship with Rachel. I loved how even after years of being away from each other, they found a way to reconnect. Their banter and relationship is just so easy. The only part which I found irritating was how he kept on loving Amy after she kept on using him and how he wanted her back. But then it is easy to realise where he is coming from. That's the way he views life. It was also nice to see how he learns that he doesn't really need to change. I also loved Martin, George and Lola. Their side stories were thoroughly engaging and added another dimension to the book. The element which really stood out for me were the letters between George and Pytheas. That's what took this novel to whole another level. When I realised who Pytheas was it just stabbed my heart to read each of them. It was just so moving and heart wrenching. 
 Moving onto Cal, I really commend Cath Crowley for giving him such depth of personality. For a character that doesn't really exist, every description of him was pivotal to the story and he came across as a vibrant character. I nearly cried reading other character's reminiscences and stories of him. It was just beautiful. He was so well rounded, I hardly felt he was a secondary character. We got to see things through his eyes as you would a MC. 
 I though that this novel was a perfect story that captures the essence of what life is really about. It was thought provoking and emotionally charged. Though it deals with death, the language used leans towards hope. I loved how it incorporated elements of family, friendship and love. I don't think there was any instance where I actually disliked something or wondered what was the significance of that part of the story. It was just a marvelous read and I think it's going to be one of those books that's going to stay with me for a while. I would love to grab a copy of it for my library and for those of you who are wondering if you should pick it up? Please do. You won't regret it one bit :)