In Search Of Us

Description

The new novel from Ava Dellaira, the author of the critically acclaimed Love Letters to the Dead. Marilyn is in search of freedom. She grew up as a child actor, her mother's meal ticket out of mediocrity. But it's been a long time since she booked a job, and she and her mother have no choice but to move in with her volatile uncle. Marilyn is counting down the days until she can escape to college, and the promise of her own future. That is, until she falls in love with James, the boy downstairs, who shows her that her life is worth living in the present. At 17, Marilyn is about to learn that everything can change in an instant. Angie is in search of answers. She is mixed race and has never met her father, but she knows she looks and thinks a lot like him. Though Angie grew up with her devoted mother, Marilyn, she's always felt the absence of the man she never knew. But after discovering that her mother has been lying to her, Angie sets off on a road trip to Los Angeles, in search of an unknown uncle - and maybe even her dad. At 17, she hopes to finally find out the truth about where she came from so she can discover who she truly is. Told in two perspectives, Marilyn's in the late 90s, and Angie's now, In Search Of is a sweeping intergenerational story about mothers and daughters, love and loss, holding on and letting go.

Ava Dellaira is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she was a Truman Capote Fellow, and trained as a poet. She grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and got her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago. In addition to being a producer of the film version of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Ava Dellaira is also Stephen Chbosky's protege. She lives in Santa Monica. Follow Ava on Twitter: @avadellaira

LOVE LETTERS TO THE DEAD is more than a stunning debut. It is the announcement of a bold new literary voice. * Stephen Chbosky, author of THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER * I soon found myself emotionally engaged, at times to the extent that I was moved to tears. I also felt that the writing captured a very vivid sense of time and place * Nudge Books * It was a perfect romance, portraying all of the lovely things along with the difficult things that can be an obstacle in a relationship * Becca's Bookmark * From the romance between Marilyn and James, to the dark twist, this book crossed genres and styles. It felt literary in parts, typically contemporary YA in others, but one thing is for sure: this is a thought-provoking and heart-shattering read pumped full of emotion. It stole all of my sympathy * Read By Jess * In Search of Us was just a beautifully written story, I couldn't praise Dellaira enough in giving us such a wonderful story. The overlap in stories from Marilyn and Angie was done majestically, with Dellaira constantly keeping us on our toes with us not knowing what could be around the corner. In Search of Us was really a gem of a read, one that I will be constantly thinking and talking about in the upcoming weeks * The Readers' Den * The ending made me shed a few tears * Booked By Bliss * The writing is beautiful and atmospheric and it's been so hard to put down * Julia's Bookcase * beautiful, engaging and thought provoking. It's a story that I will definitely be thinking about for a while! * ElMarie Stories * This generational family story is both compelling and wonderfully written. It was both joyful and heart wrenching to read * Night Resplendent * The descriptions of LA and California gave a warmth to this heart breaking tale * Jera's Jamboree * I would really recommend this book to you if you're looking for a contemporary that focuses on learning more about yourself, about your meaning in this world, on family and love and loss * The Cursed Books *