The Correspondent is a literal love letter to reading and writing, and a celebration of the messy beauty of life. This epistolary novel comprises the correspondence of Sybil Van Antwerp, a septuagenarian who sits down each morning to write her daily letters and emails. She writes to authors whose books she loved, to friends and family, to neighbors, to newspaper editors and strangers…And on many days, she adds a few paragraphs to one particular letter to an anonymous recipient, still unsent years after it was begun.

There’s something about the act of writing a letter that makes it seem less scary to be vulnerable. It’s such a deliberate process, from the time it takes to handwrite a letter to the time it takes for the recipient to receive it – it seems romantic and almost required to pour one’s heart out, to write profoundly and with honesty. It’s easier to write things, most of the time, than to say them – even given the permanence of the written word, or maybe because of it. Over the course of The Correspondent, we get the story of Sybil’s life – given to us by Sybil herself, and by the replies she receives to her letters. The result is a fully-formed portrait of a complex woman who, over the seven decades of her life, has had many accomplishments and many regrets that still crush her under the weight of grief and guilt. We learn that Sybil has a degenerative eye disease that will cause her to go blind, and that she effectively thinks her life is over. But we realize, along with Sybil, that her life and her relationships are still blooming and expanding.

The Correspondent is such a life-affirming book, so poignant and meaningful, and also very funny and clever. Sybil has an acerbic wit and strong opinions, which she isn’t afraid to share, but she’s gentle and kind beneath her prickly persona. And she’s not incapable of growth, either; she has a beautiful redemptive arc. Using only their own words, Virginia Evans really gets to the imperfect, gorgeous hearts of Sybil and the book’s other characters, creating so much empathy and love for all of them. The Correspondent was my favorite book of the year so far, and I’m going to be recommending it to everyone.

Loved this novel from beginning to end! This novel is so well written and the story is so touching. The story is told through letters and paints a picture of a thoroughly failed, imperfect and absolutely wonderful person. You will cry and laugh (sometimes at the same time) while reading this!

Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

When writing a letter, so much thought goes into what you put on the page. It's a lost art. We learn about Sybil's life through her letters. How each is different depending on who it is sent to. What the relationship is. Who Sybil is. Who she will be by the end of the book. Highly recommend.

"The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans is an epistolary novel that unfolds through a lifetime of letters written and received by its central character, Sybil Van Antwerp. Sybil is a retired, divorced septuagenarian and former legal clerk, who, despite her sometimes cantankerous and blunt personality, is a keen observer of human nature and a dedicated correspondent. As her vision begins to fail, threatening her carefully constructed life where letters often replace personal contact, Sybil is forced to confront unaddressed issues from her past, including a devastating loss and complicated relationships with her children and friends. Through her insightful, witty, and often poignant correspondence with various individuals—from her family and friends to literary icons like Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry—the novel offers a nuanced portrait of a woman's journey toward self-awareness, forgiveness, and finding connection in the "winter season" of her life.

Thank you to Net Galley and Crown for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I haven't read a novel with a correspondence structure since the Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It was a wonderful way for to develop the story through mainly through a first person perspective of the main character Sybil Van Anterwerp as well as about others or the person she is responding too and learning about situations in her life. Sybil isn't much for phone calls or emails and she prefers correspondence. We learn that Sybil has lead a very full life but she's wondering how to move through midlife and later, also needing to deal with the regrets and missteps in her life. She is quite a reader and will send a letter off to famous authors such as Joan Didion, Larry McMurtry and Ann Patchett, to name a few. It was a beautiful unfolding of a life that everyone can relate to.

I dont often write reviews like this, but I am very torn about this book (which I received as a NetGalley ARC, but did not read until after it had released, where I read it in conjunction with the audiobook)

Whenever a book gets very high ratings and I don't really care for it, I have to think long and hard about what did not resonate for me. That is why I am sharing this review as a list of things that I really enjoyed and things that frustrated me.

Things I liked:
1. I really enjoy epistolary novels in general.
2. The audiobook, voiced by14 narrators, is excellent. The woman who voices Sybil, in particular, is excellent. This book got an entire extra star because of the quality of the audiobook.
3. Overall, the story was compelling.

Things I didn't like (contains spoilers)
1. It is understandable why Sybil writes letters, as this appears to be a way to significantly control her relationship to the outside world, but why do other people write to one another? In particular, why does Theodore tell of Sybil's death to Hattie via an international letter (and not, say, an email or a phone call?) Especially when the funeral is a mere 2 weeks from him writing to her.

2. What was the goal of Basam's storyline, other than just to make Sybil likeable? And Sybil is naturally... pretty unlikeable, especially in the beginning. Her letters with Basam seem to be to prove that she has a heart (which we find out through her character development throughout the story anyway). Basam is one of the few non-white characters in the book and the major point in their relationship is that she helps him find work, which feels ... icky.

3. So many important events in the story happen off-page, hindered by the letter writing format. Fiona and Sybil's relationship, a major difficulty for Sybil, for example, is largely fixed out of the context of the letters being sent. In fact, we hear very little FROM Fiona, despite their repaired relationship being a major plot in the 2nd half of the book.

4. The book is dated as starting in 2015 and ending around 2021, but there is no discussion of Covid. It could definitely be argued that Covid may have just not happened in this "world," but Sybil et al. seem to live very firmly in the "real world," where they talk about current news events (like Donald Trump's rise to power) and exchange actual book recommendations. There is a letter dated Feb. 2020 that discusses family visiting from around the world and as I was reading, I thought, "Here it comes. A letter from February 2020 is fairly ominous," but there is no mention of what would happen world-wide just a month later.

5. The storyline of Sybil dating the Texan is confusing and unnecessary, as it is clear from the very beginning she will build a life with Theodore and that she doesn't even really seem to enjoy the other man's company.

I loved this sweet epistolary novel! I comped it to Love and Safron by Kim Fay. Both are quiet stories (written in the same style) that focus on the connections we have with others and the beauty of friendships sustained through correspondence throughout the years. The Correspondent focuses on Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired lawyer in her 70s, who knows she is going blind. Sybil decides to tell very few people this fact, and over several years, through many letters, we see how her decisions (both past and present) affect those around her, as well as Sybil herself. I cannot recommend this book enough to readers who are looking for something quiet and profound. I will warn against triggers such as child death and an animal death.

This is far and away the best book I have read this year. Sybil is the most amazing character. You’ll love her, root for her, cringe with her and cry with her.

Read this book!

What a beautifully written, emotionally absorbing surprise of a novel! I loved it and did not want to put it down, totally immersed in Sybil’s world, as told through correspondence with friends, strangers, and relatives. Sybil is in her ‘70’s, and has been a wife, mother, lawyer, clerk for a judge; the letters reveal her innermost thoughts and secrets, with warmth, intelligence, and many references to authors and books. Sybil knows she is losing her sight, and is worried because she has always written letters at all stages of her life, finding it the easiest way to express herself. I cannot recommend this book enough. Thanks to NetGalley for this wonderful ARC.

Perfection.

An epistolary novel where we read the mostly letters (and a few emails) between Sybil and those in her life. These people are her children, her ex-husband, her best friend, her friendly neighbor down the road, the tech company employee, etc. We learn all about her life, past, current, and future as Sybil pens her desires, concerns, hopes, and dreams on letters to different people. You see the goodness in Sybil and also the pain that Sybil carries, in an intimate way.

This was just so beautifully done. An easy recommendation for all my friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the gifted e-arc of this book.

I love epistolary novels and this was a triumph. I would compare this to France’s and Bernard for its portrayal of complex characters and relationships both romantic and platonic. Sybil was a joyful main character and her letters to authors and celebrities were a delight

The Correspondent was a good enough book maybe just not for me. I had a difficult time staying engaged with this. Overall, I am not sure how it got 5 stars, but I believe they came from much more discerning readers than myself.

Epistolary novels have never been my favorite, and I was hesitant to read this. However, I saw a ton of people proclaim it as the best book they read that month, and I decided to give it a chance. I am so glad I did!

Sybil loves to write letters and communicates with a variety of people. In the form of these letters, the reader discovers a lot about Sybil's life, and these discoveries help the reader gain a deep understanding of her trauma, grief, and joys.

It is impossible to fully describe this novel because the joy of it is unravelling a life, one letter at a time. I laughed, I cried, I reflected on my own life and my impact on others. I highly recommend this to others and think it would be an amazing book club selection that would lead to deep discussions.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Correspondent is such a dear little book. I love well-done epistolary novels, as they slowly bring us into the writer's world. At first glance, Sybil Van Antwerp seems a bit of a prickly character, and maybe a little self righteous. But as we get to know her through her letters, this image softens and I begin to feel admiration and liking for this interesting character. Sybil is 71 when the book starts, and she is becoming introspective over some of the incidents in her past. She is estranged from her daughter and this pains her.

The beginning was a little slow, because at first you have no concept of who this person is. But as the story blossoms and grows, I became invested in Sybil's life and in her wonderful letters.

Letter writing is such a lost art. In the late 1980s my husband and I lived in India and the only good way I could communicate with my family wa letters, as we had no phone. When my mother's letters would appear at my door after a three-week journey across the ocean, it was indeed a happy day! Letters bring a certain formality and importance to what is said. Sybil felt most comfortable talking to both family, friends, and total strangers in the form of letters.

I found this novel to be utterly charming and a breath of fresh air. Let's bring back letter writing! To hell with email!

I listened to an audiobook version of this novel, and it was excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley, Virginia Evans, and Crown Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Seemed like something my mom would have read in 1988 . Couldn't get past the fact that it felt like a shoehorn of a 20th century story into a 21st century world. And the kid wasn't believable.

I think this is likely a decent book, but I was really struggling to feel invested. The format is interesting and well done, but I prefer books to be in a traditional format. But mostly I didn’t like the main character. She seemed a bit abrasive, and that made it difficult to want to keep reading, so I’m quitting at 20%.

Virginia Evans' debut novel, The Correspondent, offers a poignant exploration of a woman's life through the intimate lens of her letters. Told entirely through correspondence—letters, emails, and notes—the narrative unveils the complexities of Sybil Van Antwerp, a seventy-three-year-old retired lawyer, mother, grandmother, and avid gardener. Her life, rich in experiences and relationships, is chronicled through her written words, revealing a tapestry of emotions, regrets, and revelations.

Sybil's daily routine involves writing letters to various recipients: her brother, her best friend, authors Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry, and even the president of a university she wishes to audit. These letters serve as a window into her thoughts and feelings, reflecting her wit, intelligence, and sometimes, her loneliness. As the story unfolds, Sybil begins receiving letters from someone in her past, prompting her to confront long-buried memories and unresolved issues. This catalyst forces her to examine her life, her relationships, and the secrets she has kept hidden.

Evans masterfully uses the epistolary format to delve into themes of isolation, aging, and the human need for connection. Sybil's letters are not just a means of communication but a way for her to process her emotions and make sense of her world. The novel touches on universal experiences—grief, love, regret, and the passage of time—through the lens of Sybil's introspective and candid writing.
The character of Sybil is both endearing and complex. Her sharp observations and dry humor make her a compelling protagonist, while her vulnerabilities and struggles add depth to her character. As she navigates the challenges of aging and the changing dynamics of her relationships, readers are invited to reflect on their own lives and the connections that shape them.

Virginia Evans' The Correspondent is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the nuances of a woman's life through the art of letter writing. It is a testament to the power of words and the connections they forge, offering readers a touching and introspective look at the complexities of human relationships and the passage of time.

This book was like a warm hug. I loved every bit of it. I love a spunky older character. She is whip smart and cares deeply about her family and friends. This book has heart and humor and I think it would please every reader!

It's quite a feat to make a reader cry over an epistolary novel where the characters and their relationships are conveyed solely through letters while sprinkling in humor. Virginia Evans' engaging writing style draws you in and captivates you from the first letter to the last.

We meet Sybil in 2014, a septuagenarian passionate about writing letters. Through her correspondence, Virginia Evans beautifully outlines Sybil's character, relationships, various interests, and story. You may not always agree with her, but as you continue to read her letters, the narrative unfolds into something beautiful, poignant, and sometimes sad, which can leave your heart aching.

This book evoked deep emotions in me. I admired Sybil as a character and empathized with her. She is flawed, but aren't we all?

**4.5 stars**