The Correspondent

I’ll be honest — when I first picked up The Correspondent, I read a few pages and thought, this is going to be boring. Just letters, one after another… no real storyline? It didn’t grab me at all, so I put it aside and started something else.

But after seeing so many people in my book group calling it one of the best reads, I decided to give it another try — and I’m so glad I did.

The story follows Sybil Van Antwerp, a sharp, a bit stubborn but very intelligent woman who prefers writing letters over anything modern. She’s in her seventies and starting to feel life shifting around her — her eyesight isn’t what it used to be, her relationship with her daughter is complicated, and there’s something from her past that she’s been carrying for a very long time.

When she starts receiving unexpected letters from someone connected to that past, it forces her to slowly face things she’s avoided for years. As the story unfolds, you see her relationships evolve — with her family, a surprising late-in-life romance, and even a young boy who becomes important in her life.

It didn’t take long the second time around for everything to click. What felt slow at first quickly turned into something really engaging. You’re not just reading letters — you’re slowly piecing together a full life, one moment at a time.

What I loved most is how intimate it feels. The story unfolds so subtly that you almost feel like you’re part of it, discovering things alongside her.

It turned into such a touching and reflective read, full of emotion without ever being over the top. Definitely one of those books that sneaks up on you.

And a good reminder not to give up on a book too quickly — this one was absolutely worth going back to.