Teddy is an interesting heroine in the sense that she is not at all interesting. She changed her entire personality for her boyfriend, and now that he’s broken up with her, she has to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with the rest of her life. The novel follows Teddy as she gradually becomes the woman she's meant to be. Her best friends Kirsten and Eleanor take her in and help her on this journey. They insist that she does one thing a day that terrifies her. This is to get her out of her shell and hopefully shed the fears that keep her from truly living her life. Of course, one of the things she does that scares her is write to a certain handsome host of a children’s TV show.

Everett St. James is an incredibly sweet character.  He's good-looking, thoughtful, funny, smart, and he’s always known what he wanted to do with his life. But he isn't quite perfect. His friends and family are constantly telling him that he spends too much of his life engrossed in his work. There’s more to life than puppets, Everett. 

I loved how Everett and Teddy complemented each other in their personal character arcs. Teddy is just now trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Everett has known his career trajectory since he was a child, but he’s being forced to take a step back and reassess what truly matters.  
This is a delightful book that can be enjoyed on both a superficial and a deeper level.  There is a “readers guide” at the end of the book that provides discussion prompts. I can definitely see this book being a fun and inspirational read--perfect for a book club to discuss over wine and bagel bites.

The interactions between side characters and the protagonists are also extremely well developed. Teddy’s best friends are hilarious and witty. They have a dynamic and clever banter that seems to leap off the pages. Despite this book not being characterized as a "rom com", it had me in stitches laughing on more than one occasion.

This book is chock full of pop culture references. They added another element to the reading experience that I personally loved so, so much. Winfrey casually mentions the millions of Old Navy emails that you get if you’re a subscriber (I died laughing--so true!), the joys of the McDonald's quarter pounder (LOVE them), and Bath and Body Works’ pumpkin pecan waffle scented candle (which I just so happen to have lit on my shelf as I write this review). While these references might end up eventually dating this book, I appreciated them so much and they helped me to dive even deeper into this realistic world that Winfrey has created.

One thing that did bother me a bit about the book was just how long it took Teddy and Everett to start writing to each other. As is expected with pen pal romances, they don’t meet right away, and I was relieved that the author didn’t use the pen pal ruse (my FAVOURITE trope) for only a few chapters. However, I was surprised by just how much of the book took place before Teddy finally put pen to paper (figuratively speaking--she sent an email!). That’s generally a “no no” in romance books. While I did find the early parts of the book slow paced primarily for this reason, the book eventually picks up speed.  I couldn’t put the book down once I got into the meat of the story.
I recommend this whimsical and light book to those who want a humorous pen pal romance with substance.
*This review will be posted on April 13, 2021 to https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/2021/04/13/very-sincerely-yours/*

“Waiting for Tom Hanks” is one of my favorite rom-com books, and I was so excited when I saw that Kerry had a new book coming out, but I don’t think it lived up to its predecessors. I enjoyed this book for the most part but I did struggle a bit with both of the main characters. Paige was such a doormat for her boyfriend and I really did not enjoy that aspect of her character and how she allowed herself to be treated by her boyfriend. I know that was the point at the beginning so she could grow, but it was still hard to read. I was happy that as the book progressed she became much stronger and stood up for herself and what she wanted. Overall I enjoyed Everett, but again, I did not enjoy how much of a workaholic he was. He didn’t seem to even realize that he was this way even though multiple people in his life pointed it out. He felt like it was fine and that there was nothing wrong with it. As the book went on, he realized that he needed a work/life balance to be happy, but it took almost all of the book for him to realize this. I actually preferred their email interactions over their in-person ones. The email correspondence has a playfulness that was somewhat lacking in their conversations in person.

My favorite part of this book were all the side characters. Eleanor and Kristen were so hilarious. I would love to read a book with them as main characters, or even standalone books featuring them and their search for love (although in Kristen’s case she has “Viking” already, but it would be very interesting to see how their love story began). I liked them more than the two main characters. I thought all the characters at the vintage toy store were great and I loved Everett's family, especially Gretel. She was an adult trapped in a child’s body and was so funny. Her relationship with Everett was perfect. I enjoyed how she teased him and all her sarcastic comments. I do think that many people will enjoy it and if they haven’t read other books by Kerry Winfrey, I highly recommend checking them out! The little sneak peak of her upcoming book seems like it’s going to be very good.

As someone who ALSO finds herself surrounded by toys all the time, I found this book to be relatable and thoroughly enjoyable. The romance is sweet, not too steamy, and will appeal to rom com fans.

I was drawn to this book because it sounded like it would be an epistolary novel. Letters (well, emails) are an important part of the story, but it's not entirely written in that format, but I still loved it. I was actually surprised by how taken I was with the characters in this sweet romance. I'm now going to check out what else Kerry Winfrey has written!

What a delightful treat of a book. What is Theodora "Teddy" Phillips to do now that Richard has broken up with her and kicked her out of the condo? Her sole purpose in life was to be the best girlfriend (and wife, she thought) to him, and now she has nothing going for her. Working at the vintage toy store is her only current purpose, along with watching Everett's Place, a cute kids show featuring Everett St. James, the very handsome host. In order to get her life back on track, her and her friends help her come up with a list of scary things to accomplish. First on her list? Email Everett for some advice.

Everett St. James has known his purpose in life since he was four years old, and that might make him somewhat (OK very much) a workaholic, but that's his passion! When he receives a message from a one Theodora. This is far from his normal clientele (children), and he's smitten from the first correspondence. Teddy throws him a curveball in life, making him rethink his priorities in life.

I've read Waiting for Tom Hanks (adorable!), so I was so excited to read this one. It was so much fun. Following both Teddy and Everett's separate adventures in life, to finally having them connect after virtually corresponding was just a whirlwind. HIGHLY recommended!!

I didn’t know I needed a Mr. Rogers Meets You’ve Got Mail romcom, but I am so glad that Kerry Winfrey did. Never saccharine and effortlessly inviting, Very Sincerely Yours is a breath of fresh air desperately needed this year.

A cute, sweet romcom and a mash up of You got mail meets A beautiful day in the neighborhood !

Teddy Philips spends her time literally in a toyland! ( the author’s Tom Hanks addiction works so well by put her heroine in a universe of Toy story meets You got mail)

She’s thirty, working in a vintage toy store, nursing her wounds after terrible breakup! There are two guilty pleasures she has: devouring Taco Bell products and listening to Everett’s Place: a local children’s show!

Don’t worry she doesn’t have issues about aging! She’s addicted to that show because of the charming host Everett St. James! And finally she gathers her courage to write him a letter and guess what? He writes her back! They turn into pen pals sharing their honest feelings, their lives, hopes, expectations. Actually I loved their letters more than their face to face interactions!

This was sweet, heartfelt, quick read for me! Only thing bothered me was Teddy’s self insecurities! The things her douchebag ex did to her and she didn’t stand up for herself and she just accepted them which made me pissed off. But I really relieved to see character’s evolving , gaining her strength by finding her own inner power, fighting against her fears!

The supporting characters are also likable! (Especially Everett’s family earned my hugs!)
The chemistry between the characters were good enough! It was solid feel-good reading!

I’m giving 3.5 stars rounding up to 4 lovely set in Ohio, sweet-swoon-soft stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This was my favorite of her 3 books. The first two were just okay, but this was better, more enjoyable, and had a better storyline. Chloe from the other books even makes an appearance.

Thank you for the chance to read this early!!

I enjoyed this book for the most part but I did struggle some with the main character. She was such a door mat it aggravated me! I know that was the point but it was hard to read. I was so angry that she allowed herself to be treated so poorly from her ex. I think some of it was supposed to be sort of funny but it read as just sad to me. I was happy that as the book progressed she became much stronger.

My favorite part of this book were all the side characters. I liked them more than the two mcs oddly enough! I thought all the characters at the vintage toy store were great and I loved Everett's family were sooo fun.

The two main characters had good chemistry but I actually preferred their email relationship over their real life one.

Overall this was a good read and I think many people will really love it! I wish the main character had worked a little better for me.

I loved Waiting for Tom Hanks, so couldn’t wait to read Very Sincerely Yours but found myself disappointed after only a few chapters. The whole book felt like it could be set in high school because although the characters are near 30, the dialogue was lackluster, it kept repeating the same thing over and over, the word HOT was used way too often as a description, and the main characters except for Gretel, who ironically was a child, seemed very juvenile.
It was a boring read as it wound its way to the inevitable conclusion. The chapter tease for her next book Just Another Love Song however is interesting and I look forward to reading that when it comes out