Heart, healing, and connection await.
On my 40th birthday, I treated myself to a visit to my local bookshop. I’d been seeing this book everywhere on social media, so I knew it was one readers couldn’t stop talking about. Despite knowing nothing about the story, I couldn’t resist bringing it home. It joined my growing stack of birthday books and patiently waited its turn while I finished the last few titles from a previous splurge.
By August, I’d finally finished the last book from that earlier splurge and was in the mood for something lighter. I hoped this charming-looking book might be exactly that.
I read most of this book snuggled on my couch in front of the fireplace, seeking a little reprieve from the day’s work.
When I finished it, I was convinced it would be my favourite read of the year.
Why this one caught my eye
I choose books purely by their covers (unless they’re a gift), but this time social media played a role in catching my attention. Even so, I found the cover inviting.
I’ve seen three different cover designs of this book online. The version I purchased in South Africa is almost a creamy butter colour, with a pink salmon border. A simple sketch of a black post box sits at the centre of the cover. The cover offers a hint of the charm waiting inside.
There is a green sticker announcing Women’s Prize Shortlisted Fiction 2026. Under the author’s name is written in a gorgeous deep red ‘The International Number One Bestseller’. Those endorsements gave me confidence that this spontaneous purchase might prove worthwhile.
A quick look at the book
Once I started reading, I was blown away by the unique way this book is written. Don’t expect chapters or first or third-person narration. It’s an epistolary novel, and the format works beautifully. The book consists entirely of letters and emails sent by and to the main character. The story unfolds through this correspondence, allowing personalities, relationships, and histories to emerge gradually.
Virginia Evans is an American author who spent two decades facing rejections before publishing this bestselling debut novel. Her real-life triumph is a remarkable story of determination, perseverance, and hope. I’m so glad she did not give up writing.
In just 288 pages, she unfolds a beautiful story about forgiveness, grief, hope, and second chances. It explores the courage to change, the desire to belong, and the complicated relationships that shape our lives.
The story spans June 2012 to January 2022, making it a work of contemporary fiction predominantly set in America.
What stayed with me
More than anything, this book left me wanting to connect. Not necessarily through grand gestures, but through small, thoughtful acts of reaching out.
It is never too late to change, to ask for forgiveness, to repair a broken relationship, to take a leap of faith, or to be happy. However, missed opportunities do not always come around twice. So don’t let those chances pass you by. Clear the air. Ask for forgiveness. Be open. Take the risk.
In a world of rushed texts and endless notifications, there was something deeply moving about watching relationships unfold through carefully chosen words. It made me want to write the letter. Send the thoughtful message. Tell people what they mean to me while there’s still time.
The main character is strong, stubborn, independent, and intelligent, but at times she can also be frustratingly difficult. You love her, learn from her, and at points get frustrated by her. But I couldn’t help but love her and root for her. She is vulnerable yet determined, tender yet tough. Despite her flaws, I genuinely enjoyed getting to know her.
At its heart, it was a gentle reminder to cherish the ones you love, to say what needs to be said when it needs to be said, to choose honesty and openness over distance and blame.
As a mom, it made me more aware of being distracted or distant when my kids need me. As a wife, it made me more aware of being honest and present for that partnership. These relationships can be hard, but it’s a daily choice.
It also made me more willing to put myself out there and invest in building meaningful connections.
When I finished this book, I wanted to write letters to everyone I love. To tell them what they mean to me and thank them for the ways they’ve shaped my life.
I even found myself wanting to write to people I’d never met. Authors whose books had made me laugh, cry, reflect, or see something differently. To thank them for the small and not-so-small ways their stories had touched my life.
In many ways, this blog is an extension of that feeling. A love letter to books and the people who write them. To the ways stories shape us, sometimes subtly and sometimes profoundly, all through the power of the written word.
Who it’s for
It is a light read, for the most part, and the epistolary format makes it easy to slip into. If you enjoy a very human story, a strong female lead, stories about reconciliation, the feeling of peeking into someone else’s life, or epistolary novels told through letters and emails, then this is for you.
You should be aware of some sensitive themes, including the loss of a child, terminal illness, mental health struggles, stalking behaviour, and brief references to historical trauma.
Where to find it in South Africa
Given its popularity, finding a copy shouldn’t be difficult. It is widely available in store, and online delivery times are generally quite quick.
My verdict
This is the kind of book that invites reflection. It made me shed a tear, smile, and perhaps most unexpectedly, reflect on my own choices, actions, and the words left unsaid.
If you’re looking for a character-driven story filled with heart, wisdom, and hope, I think this one is well worth picking up. Beneath its gentle surface lies a surprising amount of depth, exploring the beauty and pain of love, friendship, family, and loss, while remaining an accessible and easy read.
I’d say it is not overrated. It is very much worth the popularity.
If you’ve already read this one, I’d love to hear what you thought. Did it live up to the hype for you? And if you haven’t read it yet, would this review make you consider picking it up?
Until the next book,
J
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