Raelyn Argellis is a sophomore at Belner University, living a perfectly normal life. While at the school library, she stumbles on a book called Jeremiah Wood and the Secret of Life. When she sits down to read it, a note falls out that reads Is there a purpose? Assuming the note was left there by whoever had checked out the book before her, she writes back on a whim—and is shocked when the note falls out of the book again a moment later. She finds herself somehow trading notes back and forth with a boy named Elliot Barnes. Raelyn and Elliot hit it off, and it’s soon clear they’re made for each other—but they soon realize that they’re separated by time: Elliot is sending his notes from two years in the past.
Storms sets up this charmingly impossible premise in LOVE, DEATH, AND PEN PALS with aplomb, avoiding over-explaining or any sort of worry that her reader won’t be willing to suspend their disbelief. This actually makes it easier to go along with what’s happening on the page, which is further enhanced by Raelyn’s natural voice. She’s a funny and believably flawed young girl, and her slow descent into love for this unseen boy with better-than-average writing skills is compelling.
The central question that arises from this setup isn’t completely surprising, but Storms makes Raelyn’s increasing worry and desperation feel very real. She also keeps Raelyn’s efforts to investigate (with the help of some friends) admirably grounded. A more fantastical lean into a whole unseen world of magic would have been a mistake, but Storms wisely keeps things grounded as Raelyn troops around gathering information and making phone calls instead.
A secondary plot centered on her friend Anne Marie’s brother Josef (who has a serious heart condition) is written well, offering Raelyn (and Elliot) a chance to think about others. While this helps round out their characters, it’s given a little too much heft in the narrative (the author makes it clear in a note at the end that this is a very personal aspect of the story to her) and unbalances things a bit. Also, Elliot is dangerously close to being too perfect.
Yet LOVE, DEATH, AND PEN PALS has charm for days, as well as enough entertaining characters to make its magical premise work.
With an appealing main character and an intriguing central conflict, L. Ryan Storms's LOVE, DEATH, AND PEN PALS is a cozy romantic fantasy that sells its central conceit with confidence and a light touch.
~ Jeff Somers for IndieReader