3.5* Kind of horrifying in how evil a couple of 18yos were, and what they've turned into.

I so wanted to smack at least 3 of the characters in this book. Their actions as barely-adults, 20 years ago, and now, were quite despicable. Lies, deceipt, cheating, optics, evil, entitlement, murder, looking down at others - you name it. These were friends? Who needs enemies when you have friends like this?

I loved how Audrey pursued the truth, how she valued herself despite not seeing herself as good as the others because of not going to uni. I loved how the truth got outed and how the baddie's world got wiped out from under them, after starting to unravel yonks before, because it was built on lies. I loved seeing her in the place she'd dreamed of, better late than never, not having changed from the very decent person she was. It's sad that another's life was ruined through lies, too, but that it's unlikely there'd be justice for him, although personal happiness seemed like it might finally be theirs.

A slight criticism would be that there were a few too many characters in this, so it was a tad hard keeping track of all, especially as none were likable, but overall, it was a decent read.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Bonnier for my reading pleasure.

I’ve always loved this authors books and find her writing to be incredibly engaging as she brings her characters and their stories to life. Dear Future Me doesn’t sound like the psychological thriller that is behind the cover as it doesn’t convey the sheer depth of emotions that the letters unleash in their authors once delivered back to them. The reactions of the characters varied from person to person with a very extreme level of response from Miranda and one that shocks her friend Audrey into seeking out the truth behind the facts revealed. Audrey is a wonderful character creation, one who hasn’t lived up to the expectations she had as a young adult but I found her story to be relatable and inspiring and her determination shone through every decision she made.
I adored this book and it totally lived up to expectations for me (which were probably unrealistically high in the first place) so I can highly recommend it to new readers of Deborah O’Connor as well as fans of her previous books.

The title here, Dear Future Me, felt rather soft for what turned out to be a gripping mystery. However, the typical suspense genre cover goes a long way to setting out what to expect.
It’s a premise I’ve come across only once before, in an Australian TV drama called Black Snow. On that occasion, the digging up of a time capsule at a school revealed previously hidden crimes and became the catalyst to new ones.
In the case of Dear Future Me, a class of sixth formers in the early 2000s is asked by their English teacher to write letters to their future selves, outlining their hopes for career and adult life. He collects in the assignment and tells them he'll return the letters at a future date.
Some twenty years later, when the letters finally land on doormats, they set in motion a chain of events that leads one recipient, Miranda, to drive out of the home she shares with her husband and children, park on a cliffside and fall to her death on the rocks below.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Audrey, Miranda’s long-time best friend.
Audrey's own letter reminds her of how far short of her aspirations her life has turned out to be. She’s always put this down to the unexpected and tragic turn her life took when she was eighteen. However, she now wonders if a lack of resilience and a fear of rejection have prevented her reaching her potential. Audrey is a likeable, tenacious and hardworking protagonist. (Personally, I think holding down a twenty-year career as a cleaner to pay off a mortgage and raise a child is a fine achievement and I also think there are plenty of exciting and worthwhile educational options besides Oxbridge, but I guess Audrey and I will have to agree to differ.)
Miranda always believed in Audrey and wanted the best for her. As a tribute to this unwavering support, Audrey decides to find out what caused Miranda to end her life. After she reads Miranda’s Future Me letter, she wonders if Miranda’s suicide could be linked to the death of another classmate years earlier on a school trip. Audrey sets about tracking down everyone who was on the trip to see whether something sinister happened to cause the accident and how that involved Miranda.
I liked the way the story was structured: we see the Future Me letter of each former student before we meet them. We then see how their lives have turned out.
I had an inkling which character was going to be the most significant and I spotted the clues the author set, although I didn’t know at the time what that person was guilty of and I was delighted by the unexpected thunderclap at the midpoint.
Weather plays an important part in the novel. The setting is a coastal town in the northeast of England, so there is plenty of atmospheric wind and rain coming off the sea. The author does a great job of describing the sights and smells of the seaside: the locals going about their daily business, the sightseeing tourists, the neglect of some buildings and the gentrification of others.
I really enjoyed this mystery and will seek out other books by the author.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

On publication, I will post my review on my blog, Amazon and GoodReads.

Saltburn 2003
Audrey and her school mates are set an assignment in Mr Danler’s class is to write a letter to their future selves. Twenty years later these same letters are sent to the pupils of the class. Some of the letters are hiding secrets and regrets that is for Miranda is so bad that she commit suicide. Audrey decides to contact the other recipients of the letters to get some idea that might have causes Mirandas death.
I thank the publisher for a copy of Dear Future me by Deborah O’ Connor. I really like the premise of this story, and I was gripped from the first part. But I found it overwhelming with the number of characters and what was going on that I felt it just lost it way from the main objective of the storyline. I must add that this is not a bad book but, for me personally I found it too slow and with so much going on I lost interest 3 stars from me.

Audrey's life hasn't turned out quite how she expected when she wrote the letter to her future self but that doesn't mean she's unhappy about it. She loves the brother she raised after their parents died and has a great relationship with her best friend's young family. When her former classmates receive their letters though, it starts a chain of events and revelations that will change all of their lives forever.

I really enjoyed this book. It was pacy enough to keep me interested but not so quick that the characters and story couldn't develop. I liked the descriptions of living by the sea. There were some parts that are clearly not print-ready - some spelling mistakes and repeated sentences - but this didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.

DEAR FUTURE ME BY DEBORAH O'CONNOR.
Release date set for the 12th of June 2025.
This was a slow paced book for me personally.
However i did get into the story and thought it was an enjoyable read.
I did enjoy how the story all came together.

I enjoyed this it was a slow paced but one it started to get there I couldn’t put it down
The twists like what they were so unexpected blew my mind.
Loved the whole list of potential suspects I love trying to guess what’s gonna happen next I couldn’t guess a thing right
Loved it amazing thriller great characters unique story

20 years after writing them at school, former pupils receive letters they wrote to themselves, one classmate dies by suicide immediately after. Or was something else afoot?

This is a heady, clever, fast novel, that has both heart and mystery in equal amounts.

I enjoyed Audrey’s character, she has spent her whole life doing good and for very little in return and it’s beautiful the lengths she goes to, to make things right.

This book is perfectly suited for those who enjoy mystery, or thriller but be aware it’s not a fast paced thrills affair.

I really enjoyed this book.

I received this eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review which this is. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

This is a gripping thriller with a plot filled with unexpected twists and turns.
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
The setting is vividly described, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall reading experience.
I would highly recommend this book

This book had a great start which gripped me straightaway.
However, I did get a little lost with trying to remember whom was whom so i nearly gave up.
BUT it is so worth sticking with it and remembering that it does grip you from the start as overall its a really good read.

Great concept and good characters, overall probably more of a 3.5 than a 4 star for me! Enjoyable but not a can’t put down! Thank you for the opportunity to read this early!

2.5 maybe a 3⭐

I loved how the story starts it gets you gripped from the start,
At one point in the middle I felt to much was going on with to many people and I felt I lost the purpose of the story
However it quickly got me back hooked
And I really enjoyed the story overall

I wish there wasn't so many names at one point as I couldn't work out who was who as some of the names were similar

But the story is such a good story and I really love the idea of this outside a book (the letters only not the rest) 😅

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the concept of the letters intertwining the past and present together. It kept me really engrossed and I couldn’t put it down.
A thoroughly thrilling read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

Thank you for the opportunity to read this early! I loved this book and found I couldn’t stop thinking about it and wanting to pick it up and keep reading! Love the concept of the letters and intertwining the past and present. The twists near the end definitely kept me on my toes. Would definitely recommend this!

This was my first book by Deborah O'Connor and it absolutely did not display, fantastic storyline & extremely gripping from the get go!
4 stars!

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

I enjoyed the concept of this book in which the characters now adults receive letters they wrote to their future selves whilst they were at school.

I liked the characters within this book and really enjoyed seeing how their future selves had panned out.

Overall I found this book a good, solid read that kept me intrigued throughout.

Well this book was a surprise. Who would have thought that letters written to future versions of themselves would have such an impact.

Intricately woven all the way through. Bens death and the circumstances leading up to it change the course of several peoples lives.

Audrey is determined to find out what happened to her friend but no one could have guessed what this would unravel.

Just brilliant - read and enjoy

This was a nice easy read as we followed Audrey who was trying to work out what happened to her best friend on the morning of her death and how that ties into letters they'd received from their younger selves and the death of one of their old schoolmates.

With a cast of potential suspects, Audrey has her work cut out for her as she follows leads, which sometimes lead her up the garden path as she tries to piece this puzzle together much to the chagrin of the police. Audrey reminded me of a bit of a Jessica Fletcher trying to solve it all herself.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, This is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book and it’s unique and intriguing plot. Once I started it, I really couldn’t put it down. It’s packed with interesting characters and plenty of twists. A great read and one that I’d definitely recommend,

Dear Future Me by Deborah O’Connor is a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that masterfully blends mystery, emotion, and self-discovery. The story follows a woman who receives a series of letters written by her teenage self, forcing her to confront long-buried secrets and the life she’s built compared to the one she dreamed of.

O’Connor’s writing is deeply evocative, perfectly capturing the raw vulnerability of adolescence and the bittersweet complexities of adulthood. The protagonist is richly layered, with a journey that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. As the story unfolds, the twists and revelations are carefully woven, keeping you engaged while exploring themes of regret, resilience, and the power of hope.

The structure of alternating between past and present is handled beautifully, with each timeline offering insight and emotional depth that enriches the overall narrative. While a couple of side characters could have been developed further, the focus remains firmly—and effectively—on the protagonist’s journey of rediscovery.

Dear Future Me is an uplifting yet poignant exploration of what it means to reconcile who we were with who we’ve become. A strong 4.5 stars—this is a book that will resonate with anyone who’s ever wondered about the roads not taken.