Review of Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence

Hello Readers,

Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I adored Dear Fahrenheit 451, Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by Annie Spence. I basically Kathleen Kelleyed it on my instagram and told my followers to "read it, I know you'll love it." The first thing I think I need to discuss, before I even tell you what this book is about, is the cover. If there was ever a time to buy a book based on cover only then this is it. I secretly wish I was talented at painting with watercolors but I need to come to terms with the fact that that will never happen and realize that I can only paint geometric shapes just like my toddler. But this gorgeous watercolor cover with its beautiful oranges and blues makes me happy every time I look at it. Plus it's every book lovers dream to have book shelves so high you need  a step ladder of books to reach the book you want read. Need I say "swoon"? Now onto what the book is actually about. 

I love the jackets description of this book:

"If you love to read, and presumably you do since you’ve picked up this book (!), you know that some books affect you so profoundly they forever change the way you think about the world. Some books, on the other hand, disappoint you so much you want to throw them against the wall. Either way, it’s clear that a book can be your new soul mate or the bad relationship you need to end.

In Dear Fahrenheit 451, librarian Annie Spence has crafted love letters and breakup notes to the iconic and eclectic books she has encountered over the years. From breaking up with The Giving Tree (a dysfunctional relationship book if ever there was one), to her love letter to The Time Traveler’s Wife (a novel less about time travel and more about the life of a marriage, with all of its ups and downs), Spence will make you think of old favorites in a new way. Filled with suggested reading lists, Spence’s take on classic and contemporary books is very much like the best of literature―sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes surprisingly poignant, and filled with universal truths.

A celebration of reading, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is for anyone who loves nothing more than curling up with a good book…and another, and another, and another!"

I think every reader can relate to that moment when you finish a book and you LOVE it or when you finish a book and you HATE it. This book is written completely in letter form and I adored the format. I would be sitting on my couch reading this book and laughing out loud. This is so out of character for me because it takes quite a bit to get me to laugh out loud while reading a book. I could not help but giggle my way through this book. Spence has the funniest voice I have ever read. I honestly felt like she was on my couch sharing all her feelings with me about each book she wrote a letter to. Spence has read very diversely, especially since she is a librarian, and many of the book recommendations at the end of the book I had not even heard of. This was awesome and also completely frustrating because my TBR is already out of control and I added so many more from her list.

I don't want to go to deep into my favorite parts of the book because I don't want to take away from your reading experience. So again I will just say, "read it, I know you'll love it!"

I recommend this book for any reader who loves books about books. I think this would make a fantastic Christmas gift for any reader in your life. I already know several people I plan on gifting this book to. 

Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thank you to Flatiron Books for supplying me with an advance reading copy of Dear Fahrenheit 451, Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by Annie Spence. I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Dear Fahrenheit 451, Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks 

Author: Annie Spence

Release Date: September 26, 2017

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Hardcover: 288 Pages

Happy Reading,

Rachael