“Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?”

Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.

Sybil Van Antwerp has, throughout her life, used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.

Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.

Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.

Usually, I’m not much of a contemporary fiction reader. It’s just not a genre that typically grabs my attention. But after seeing all the hype surrounding this book, I knew I had to check it out for myself, and I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved it. This felt like such a rare gem of a story filled with universal, relatable themes and messages that deeply resonated with me. 

I listened to the audiobook, which features a full-cast narration, and I cannot recommend it enough. The performances were incredible. I was a little nervous going into it because the story is told entirely through letters, and I worried it might be difficult to follow without physically reading along, but I had no issues at all. The audiobook was immersive, engaging, and beautifully done.

As for the content, there’s no spice and no strong language. However, there is some wokeness sprinkled throughout the story that personally turned me off a bit. Thankfully, it wasn’t overly heavy-handed or preachy, and it stayed fairly subtle overall, but there were enough liberal leaning comments and viewpoints woven into the book to make it noticeable. There are several feminist remarks, some racial commentary, and Sybil openly expresses that she liked Obama but not Trump, and wants to switch her political affiliation to the Democrats. There’s also a gay side character in a relationship. None of it overtakes the story, though, and while I definitely found some of those additions unnecessary and occasionally eye-roll-inducing, I was still able to look past them and really enjoy the heart and emotional depth of the overall story.

I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews for this book, and honestly, I understand why. I don’t think this will be a story for everyone because I can absolutely see some readers finding it slow or uneventful. But I went into this book pretty blind and simply allowed the story to unfold at its own pace, which I think really helped my experience. This is definitely a character-driven story rather than a plot-driven one. The narrative slowly forms through the letters, and while there is a storyline throughout, this book is much more focused on the characters, their relationships, and their emotional growth than on big dramatic events. If you go into it expecting a fast-paced or tightly structured plot, this probably won’t work for you. But if you enjoy quietly emotional stories centered around human connection, I think there’s something really special here.

I’ve also seen many readers criticize Sybil, our seventy-something main character who spends much of her time writing letters to people. She is absolutely not an easy character to love at first. She’s rigid, blunt, socially awkward, harsh, and at times downright rude. The way she speaks to people can be painfully cringey, and she often comes across as cold or abrasive. I completely understand why some readers struggled with her character, especially because many people prefer warm, lovable older characters in stories like this. But honestly, I adored Sybil. Beneath all her rough edges is a woman carrying an overwhelming amount of grief, loneliness, heartbreak, and pain. Once I learned more about her past, the tragedies she’s endured, and the difficult reality she’s currently facing after learning she’s going blind, my entire perspective shifted. I found myself feeling so much compassion for her. And what I loved most is that we truly get to see growth throughout the story. If you stick with Sybil, you’ll witness her slowly soften and open her heart, and I thought her personal development was handled so beautifully. She was also genuinely hilarious at times. I laughed out loud so many times while listening to this audiobook.

This book really takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, cried, reflected, and highlighted so many meaningful moments in my mind while listening. In fact, I loved this story so much that now I want to buy a physical copy just so I can annotate it and revisit it someday. This feels like one of those books you could reread over and over again and still discover new layers and messages each time.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was Sybil’s passion for letter writing. It truly felt like a love letter to readers, writers, and anyone who cherishes meaningful human connection. Letter writing feels like such a lost art nowadays, and I loved how much joy and purpose Sybil found in sitting down to write to others. Honestly, this book inspired me to go buy some stationery and write letters to loved ones I haven’t spoken to in a while. I also loved how much Sybil reads and discusses books with her best friend. As a reader myself, those moments felt especially cozy and comforting.

Overall, I was genuinely shocked by how much I loved this book. By the end, I was sobbing while simultaneously smiling through my tears. The themes of family, forgiveness, second chances, grief, redemption, love, loss, and the reminder that it’s never too late absolutely touched my heart. There are so many profound, heartfelt, and relatable messages woven throughout this story. Watching Sybil’s heart slowly soften by the end was incredibly moving, and I’m so grateful the hype convinced me to finally pick this up because, in my opinion, it was absolutely worth it.

I’ve heard this may be getting adapted into a movie someday, and honestly, I would love to see that happen.

If you enjoyed 84, Charing Cross Road or The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, then I really think you’ll enjoy this one too. This is the perfect cozy book to curl up with under a blanket alongside a hot cup of tea or coffee while you spend time getting to know Sybil and immersing yourself in this heartfelt, emotional, and ultimately uplifting story. Highly, highly recommend, especially the audiobook!

**This book is part of a contemporary fiction real-time reaction episode, which you can listen to here.