Love, Aubrey - Suzanne LaFleur

Love, Aubrey - Suzanne LaFleur

Pages: 262
Publisher: Puffin
Release Date: 25th June 2009

Something heartbreaking has happened. Eleven-year-old Aubrey is on her own.

'It was fun at first, playing house. Nothing to think about but TV and cheese. A perfect world.’

She’s determined to hide away and take care of herself, because facing the truth is too much to bear.

‘I couldn’t let anyone know that I as alone. I was staying right here.’

But with the love of her grandmother and the letters she writes, can Aubrey begin to see that even though she’s lost everything - all is not lost?

Love, Aubrey is a heartbreaking tale of grief, loss and, ultimately, hope. You’d never guess that this is Suzanne LaFleur’s first novel. It’s beautifully written.

Though Aubrey is a much younger protagonist than I usually read about, she quickly became one of my favourites. Her voice is one that I connected with immediately and I felt like I was riding the wave of her emotions along with her. Sometimes, Aubrey was far more mature than her eleven years, having to make decisions that a child should never have to make. But she also hated doing certain chores, refused to get out of bed some days and liked to get messy. Aubrey is a completely loveable character.

Aubrey’s memories of before were scattered throughout Love, Aubrey along with her letter. I loved the insight they gave me into her life and family from before and also her innermost thoughts. What’s more, they showcased just how much she’d had to grow up. These were also the bits than made me cry!

But the thing about Love, Aubrey that captured me most was Suzanne LaFleur’s writing. Her effortless prose carried me through Aubrey’s story beautifully. The language wasn’t complex and the descriptions brought both the blistering heat of summer and bitter cold of winter in Vermont to life.

I loved every word of Love, Aubrey and I’ll read whatever else Suzanne LaFleur writes. She’s definitely an author to watch.

Sophie