27 Comments
User's avatar
MJ's avatar

A perfect review. I’m so proud of you, Rosamond. I’m so proud to be your friend. One day we will lose each other, but I trust you’ll know the parts to keep. You get it. I love you very much. I love knowing Anna through you. The most important signature in my Ocean book is yours. ❤️

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Rosamond's avatar

cool cool now I’m crying. I’m so lucky to know you. You know I love you but you better believe I’m going to keep saying it!! Thank you for holding me.

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Nancy Anderson's avatar

Thank you for this powerful reflection on life, love, Anna, and books. This sentence stopped me in my tracks: “Books, for me, are artifacts of the parts of us that keep going.” This is Truth. Poetry. Sending so much love and gratitude.

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Rosamond's avatar

Thank you, Nancy!! It means so much to be read this way by you. I appreciate you so much. Sending love!!

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Laura Sackton's avatar

This line stopped me in my tracks, too. 💔❤️‍🩹

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Emily Poe-Crawford's avatar

This is such a beautiful reflection and I think you’re doing book reviews exactly right. Thank you for sharing your feelings and yourself with us—if I weren’t already planning to buy Emperor of Gladness at my local bookstore later today, your words would have absolutely made me run right out to get it. 🩶

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Rosamond's avatar

Oh my goodness, thank you Emily! This means everything to me. I truly mean it when I say I simply cannot wait to hear what you think. Thank you for reading and being with me!

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Stacie S (she/her)'s avatar

Rosamond. What did you do here. Omg. I braced myself before reading and I am still in absolute pieces. So much love to you and for your words. 🩷

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Rosamond's avatar

Ahhh Stacie to be honest I’ve been asking myself the same question 😅 but truly thank you for reading my words with such kindness - it means everything to me.

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Sharda A's avatar

I love you & I’m glad you’re here, too. And I’m grateful for your words today & how you always share a piece of your heart. You made me cry but in the best way. I have been excited about this since you first started screaming to us about it & I hope I can make it to see you (& ocean!) in July. The power of books, for real 💛

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Rosamond's avatar

For real for real!! Thank you for always receiving my work with open arms, Sharda. I am the lucky one!!

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Shannon's avatar

I was re reading your newsletter again and I sincerely look forward to finding it in my mailbox every Wednesday. This weeks newsletter was so touching and raw and I’m so appreciative of your vulnerability. You are an excellent writer and a fantastic book reviewer and I can’t wait to check out this book .

Thank you for sharing your heart with all of

us and trusting us with something so precious to you. 🙏🏻❤️

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Rosamond's avatar

Thank you so much, Shannon! It means so much to be read this way. I am the lucky one!!

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emma's avatar

Roz, thank you for sharing yourself and your words with us. We are so lucky! What a true honor it is to sell books (but let’s be honest mostly chat and share looks) by your side. 💗

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Rosamond's avatar

EMMA. I am the lucky one and that is a fact. We are truly in the trenches together and no one gets it the way you do 😅 thank you for taking the time to read! Sharing looks with you is a privilege and a lifesaver.

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emma's avatar
May 8Edited

🥹💗💐💕

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Victoria's avatar

OK, I have to say that was a FABULOUS book review, despite what you think about your book review abilities - I am going to have to disagree with you. AND I LOOOOOOOVE that photo of you and Anna. Two beautiful humans sharing love and connection over books. What could possibly be better than that???? Thank you for sharing your feelings with all of us. XOXO

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Rosamond's avatar

Thank you, thank you, thank you Tori. I love sharing this with family who knows how special Anna was and is. Thank you for being so supportive of me!

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COLLEEN DEVIRGILIIS's avatar

Thank you for sharing your beautiful reflections on this book, your passion for reading and your sister Anna. I look forward to this latest book from Ocean and will see him in Philly next week!! Your love for his work is contagious. Thank you for your endless enthusiasm ❤️

I too lost a sister to suicide just two years ago. The pain is deep and unending. Books and community have been healing ❤️‍🩹

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Rosamond's avatar

Oh Colleen, thank you for sharing with me. I hate that we have this common but I am glad that we can say it out loud and know we are not alone. I’m grateful to be in community in with you. I can’t wait to hear all about the event in Philly!

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Cristina Houston's avatar

Mmmm. Thank you for this. It was such a delight to read your writing for the first time and look forward to more! I'm about half way through this book and nodded along to everything you've shared. And yes, it is so damn funny. I have cackled so many times at Grazina and the whole crew. Sending love.

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Rosamond's avatar

Oh my goodness thank you, Cristina!! I’m so glad our paths have crossed. Also yes this is a book that will make you cackle and I need people to know that too! 😅

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Amanda hartman's avatar

Best book review. 🙏🏼❤️💔 book is on preorder!

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Rosamond's avatar

Ahh thank you so much, Amanda!

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Natalie G. (@readingtomydogs)'s avatar

THIS was the perfect review! I actually hate reviews that seem to be all recap/summaries. I want to know how the writing was but also how did it make you feel?? Do you want to shout about it?

I already preordered my copy.

My family has been affected by suicide- an uncle who died before I was born but I still saw the aftereffects for decades. Sending love for you and your sister.

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Rosamond's avatar

Thank you, Natalie, for reading and responding with such generosity and care. You get it. ❤️

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Heather Hoiness's avatar

I finally read this not-review. And all I can do is tell you how it made me feel. Or perhaps show you via the server’s perspective in the diner where I’m eating breakfast: the woman at table 7 is crying. I hope she’s ok. I hope her partner isn’t breaking up with her on text. Whatever she’s reading on her phone is making her cry.

I am ok. Thank you for this beautiful, vulnerable, reflection.

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