This is an absolutely perfect novel, utterly satisfying and so beautifully conceived and written. Ten out of ten, flawless. If you're looking for your next great read, especially something heartwarming, pick up Virginia Evans' "The Letter Keeper" – you won't regret it. A true gem in contemporary fiction.

This novel unfolds entirely through letters Sybil wrote to family, friends, ex-lovers, and even strangers – there isn’t a single line of third-person narration. Virginia Evans drops the traditional all-knowing narrator and hands all the puzzle pieces to us. As readers, we have to play detective, piecing together Sybil’s life from shifting dates, subtle changes in greetings, and scattered hints. That slow, piecemeal reveal feels fresh and immersive, even giving off a bit of a voyeuristic thrill...

SYBIL!!!!! LET ME WRITE YOU A LETTER!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!Seriously, this was just a wonderful read. The whole story unfolds through letters to and from our main character, Sybil – a woman in her 70s living on her own. She's writing to family, friends, authors, literally anyone and everyone. We get to see her humor, her regrets, her innermost feelings, everything in between. It felt so REAL, so HUMAN, and I absolutely loved that! If you're looking for heartfelt book reviews, definitely check out *The...

5 epistolary stars!Oh, Sybil, you are a character I will never forget!Sybil enjoys letter writing. It’s her primary form of communication. She has been proudly writing letters for decades to everyone in her life—her brother, her best friend, authors of the latest book she loved, neighbors. Sybil feels pride knowing how much thought, planning, and precision goes into each letter. Nearing the end of her life, Sybil reflects on what these letters mean to her now and what they have meant over the de...

Okay, I get it if you're wondering how I could only give "The Letter Keeper" by Virginia Evans three stars. Let's talk about it.Honestly, I found the main character, Sybil, incredibly unlikable, and that's a big reason for the lower rating. She had so many traits that just rubbed me the wrong way. I absolutely understand how devastating the loss of a child can be. Thankfully, I haven't experienced that specific pain, so I can't claim to know how someone truly overcomes such a tragedy. But, I tru...

Sybil van Antwerp is one feisty seventy-something. Armed with her trusty pen and paper, she doesn't mince words in any letter she writes. She writes to her brother, her friend, a special gentleman friend, a neighbor, a customer service rep—literally anyone and everyone. She gets letters back, though not all of them are filled with sunshine and roses. This story unfolds through letters, which isn't usually my cup of tea, but wow, did it ever work in "The Letter Keeper" by Virginia Evans. Sybil'...

Dear Sybil, People will think I’m crazy for writing a letter to a fictional character, but if Virginia Evans hadn't done such a fabulous job of making you seem real, I might not be doing this. If my Goodreads friends hadn't loved you so much, especially Diane who had named you her “literary best friend”, and guaranteed that I’d love this book, I might not have discovered you so soon. A link to her review is below. Truth be told, you’re not the first fictional character I’ve written to. I also w...

Audiobook Review A truly beautiful debut novel, "The Letter Keeper" by Virginia Evans, brought me to tears. What a story! Sybil is in her 70s, retired from law, divorced, and carrying the heavy grief of losing one of her three children in his youth. She also has an estranged daughter. Adopted as a baby, her only family is one adopted sibling. Sybil copes and connects by writing letters to people; it’s simply her preferred way of communicating instead of face-to-face interactions. Initially, sh...

June 18, 2025 - UPDATE: I went to Virginia Evans's bookstore event in Charleston last night. She's so warm, witty, and charming. She was really open about her 20-year writing career, all those rejected novels, and then finally the success of "The Letter Keeper" when she least expected it. Funny, self-deprecating behavior always wins me over. It's hit bestseller lists all over the country, though not the NYT yet, but it's being published in 20 countries, with more to come. I'm just going to say ...

Absolute perfection! Bravo to the audio narration! Maggi-Meg Reed as Sybil was beyond incredible. The full cast brought me to tears.Reading epistolary novels like *The Letter Keeper* is a reading experience unlike any other. The depth at which we get to know these characters, especially Sybil, meant so much to me. By the end, everything came together so beautifully in Virginia Evans' *The Letter Keeper*. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for emotional book reviews!“I’m sorry I didn’t do...