About This Book:
“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.
My Thoughts After Reading:
The hype is real on this one! The Correspondent was one of the most buzzed about books in 2025. In my opinion, its all well-deserved. I still can’t believe this is Evans first novel.
I am a big fan of ‘snail mail’. In today’s world, I crave the intimacy of putting pen to paper and the delayed gratification of receival. So picking up an epistolary novel was a no brainer. However, imagine my surprise when I discovered I prefer the audio version – choosing to listen to the letters, instead of reading them. The audiobook is performed by a full cast (my favorite!) who bring added emotional depth to the story.
And what an engaging story it is! Spanning years, we fully connect to Sybil and the people who receive her letters. For a 300 page book, Evans expertly packed in multiple story arcs: a coming-of-age tale, a love triangle, a beautiful female friendship, a complicated mother-daughter relationship, a thrilling mystery and the stages of grief.
In the same way I wished for a letter from Hogwarts, I now wish for a letter from Sybil Van Antwerp.
– Michelle
