*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Eliza Levinger is many things-- she's the beloved best friend of Mo, annoying little sister for Scott, powerhouse nonprofit employee, and, now, an orphan at almost thirty. After losing her mother at only sixteen, Eliza struggled with the decisions her father made in the years after her mother's passing (especially in regards to his quick remarriage and choice of wife). Now, after a sudden death, Eliza will never have the chance to reconcile with the man who raised her.

However, an unexpected (and in many ways, unwelcome) letter from her long-gone mother reveals a family secret that turn's Eliza's family inside out. Suddenly, her rock-solid older brother feels more distant than ever, her step-mother has let her know Eliza's cut from her father's will, and Eliza... well Eliza has to come to terms with the fact that the man she's mourning isn't her biological father.

DEAR ELIZA tenderly explores the deeply complex web of grief and familial relationships. As you read, you can feel how personal this story is to the author-- how much of herself Stein wove into the characters and plot. What stuck out most personally while I was reading this book, was how real the story felt. While the plot was never action packed, it was still gripping and familiar in that this story, Eliza's story, could be about anyone.