Synopses & Reviews
Seventeen-year-old RJ always gets what she wants. So when her soul is accidentally collected by a distracted Grim Reaper, somebody in the afterlife better figure out a way to send her back from the dead or heads will roll. But in her quest for mortality, she becomes a pawn in a power struggle between an overzealous archangel and Death Himself. The tribunal presents her with two options: she can remain in the lobby, where souls wait to be processed, until her original lifeline expires, or she can replay three moments in her life in an effort to make choices that will result in a future deemed worthy of being saved. It sounds like a no-brainer. Shell take a walk down memory lane. How hard can changing her future be?
But with each changing moment, RJs life begins to unravel, until this self-proclaimed queen bee is a social pariah. She begins to wonder if walking among the living is worth it if she has to spend the next sixty years as an outcast. Too quickly, RJ finds herself back in limbo, her time on Earth once again up for debate.
RJ is a snarky, unapologetic, almost unredeemable, very real girl. Her story is funny and moving, and teens will easily connect with her plight. Prepare to meet the Grim Reaper, whos cuter than youd expect; Hawaiian shirt-wearing Death Himself; Saint Peter (who likes to play Cornhole); and Al, the handler for the three-headed hound that guards the gates of Hell. This cast of characters accompanies RJ through her time in the afterlife and will do their best to gently shove her in the right direction.
Review
"A snarky joyride of a book with a deep moral core; long after you've finished laughing, you'll still be thinking about RJ's journey and perhaps asking yourself: What defines a life well lived?" Mike Mullin, author of the Ashfall trilogy
"A great mix of mirth, myth and metaphysics." Daniel Waters, author of Generation Dead
"Just the kind of story I lovefull of snark, heart, and contemplation about the meaning of life! It's a Wonderful Death will get you thinking about what you want to leave behind and how you want to live until then." Kristen Lippert-Martin, author of Tabula Rasa
"A wonderful gem. Both snarky and uplifting, it sneaks inside you and makes you smile and cry at the same time." Sarah Beth Durst, author of Vessel and Drink, Slay, Love
"Smart, sassy, and humorously original with clever world-building and a host of interesting characters, It's a Wonderful Death will have you laughing out loud and rooting for RJ from the first page!" Amalie Howard, best-selling author of Bloodspell and Alpha Goddess
"RJ's witty narrative had me both laughing out loud and weeping into the pages. It's a Wonderful Death is a delightful read that questions the butterfly effect of choices made...and unmade." Danielle L. Jensen, author of Stolen Songbird
You know a storys going to be good when Death shows up as a surfer! I loved every bit of this funny and heartwarming tale of second chances.” Lisa Maxwell, author of Sweet Unrest
"For everyone whos wished for a do-over, for the chance to take back a mean word or an unkind deed, youll be rooting for sassy RJ to succeed in this satisfying tale of redemption." —Yvonne Ventresca, award-winning author of Pandemic
About the Author
Sarah Schmitt has bachelors degrees in political science and psychology as well as a masters degree in higher education administration, but she has always loved writing fiction. She is a K8 school librarian part-time and youth service professional for teens at her public library. Sarah currently lives with her husband and two kidlets near Indianapolis, Indiana.