Though it took me way too long to read this book, I look forward to devouring it the next time I pick it up. This is the kind of book you keep on your shelf and revisit, like an old friend. Because that is who Sybil is, an old friend. Not just to her family and colleagues and actual friends, but to the reader as well. And that is just how wonderfully written this book by Virginia Evans is.

Reminiscent of 84 Charring Cross Road (which, to my delight, was mentioned in this book), I can suspect or at least begin to understand how difficult writing a story through letters can be. To piece together a person's life through correspondence cannot be simple or done with ease. But Evans has done just that, and it was done with lyrical prose, her characters bursting with personality and wit and ambition. She weaved through the last years of Sybil's life with choreographed eloquence, introducing new characters to the old. I felt I knew Sybil, I wanted to write her a letter! I want to write Virginia Evans a letter! I want to write letters.

This epistolary novel is one of my favorites of the year.

Sybil Van Antwerp, a spirited woman in her seventies, has spent a lifetime writing letters—to authors, friends, family, and more. Blunt, strong-willed, and fiercely loyal, she uses her correspondence to reflect on her past, her relationships with her children, and her experiences as an adopted child. As her eyesight begins to fail, her letters take on a new urgency and poignancy, making for a deeply emotional and humane read.

I’m always drawn to stories that explore the world through the seasoned eyes of someone who has lived fully, but not without regrets. This novel is a standout. I was completely entranced by Sybil’s vibrant personality, her unmistakable voice, and the rich, complex life she’s lived—and continues to live. Though told entirely through letters, the book delivers a fully realized character and a moving, absorbing narrative.

A must-read.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved The Correspondent. Initially, I was skeptical about the epistolary format—entirely composed of letters and emails—but it quickly drew me in.

The Correspondent is a beautifully crafted novel that celebrates the written word and the complexities of human connection. It's a story that lingers, prompting reflection long after the final page.

What stood out most was how Evans made me care deeply for Sybil and her world. The character development is rich, and the emotional depth is profound. It's a testament to the power of storytelling that a novel structured entirely through letters can evoke such a strong emotional response.

This is a novel about Sybil, an accomplished woman in her early seventies, a retired law clerk, mother, grandmother, divorcee, devoted friend, and writer of letters and emails. It's one of those books you want to keep reading, but don't want to end. The pace of the narrative is enhanced by the varieties of correspondence, the recipients of which are friends, relatives, colleagues, and ex-husband. There are unsent letters to someone unidentified for most of the book, and threatening letters received from an unknown sender, adding suspense to the story. Any reader would appreciate and identify with the endearing way Sybil would share what she was reading with her friends. This book reminded me favorably of Elizabeth Strout in tone and topic, and as someone in her seventies I feel that Sybil's voice was spot on. The epistolary format worked well, allowing for gaps for readers to fill in. It's all so darn relatable.

The purpose, I assume, is for the reader to relate to the author's notes to friends and family, But a connection to the main character is never made, and we are left reading random social notes. The writing is also, somewhat bland. Overall, a disappointing experience.

This book was amazing in every way! I especially love epistolary novels and this one will be a favorite for me in 2025. It was a nostalgic read for me because the main character Sybil, who I adored, reminded me so much of my grandmother who passed away 6 years ago. She was the last person who wrote me letters. My grandmother was a big fan of letter writing like SybiI. I laughed and cried throughout the story. It made me appreciate how important expressing yourself through writing is to some people. Thank you to author Virginia Evans for writing this story!

Delightful is not a word I often use to describe a book, but it is a perfect descriptor for 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 by Virginia Evans. The story opens on a June day in 2012 as 73-year old Sybil Van Antwerp sits down at her desk (as she does most days) to write a letter or two. Over many years we come to know Sybil through the words she writes and through those written back to her. Sybil knows she’s a little old-fashioned in her means of communication, but the process holds meaning for her and that’s a comfort.⁣
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Yes, this is an entirely epistolary novel. The rare communication that isn’t a formal letter might instead be an email or a short note. Through these written words we get to know so much about Sybil, a character who at first felt quirky, but who over time I came to see as brave, honest, and heartbroken. She’d had a very successful career as a lawyer, but also paid a steep price for her dedication to the law. Throughout the story Sybil was trying to work through her younger missteps and circle the wagons around the people she loved. Some acts took weeks, others years.⁣
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Since every piece of writing in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 is either from or to Sybil, she is who the reader knows best. We see her as a parent, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor and much more. Evans also did a wonderful job developing other characters with relatively little space in this story. I so loved how Sybil built relationships through her missives, including letter exchanges with authors she admired. (A retrospective of books ran throughout this story.) Long before the end of this debut novel, Sybil had become a truly unique, very endearing character. I suspect she’s one who will live in the hearts of many for a long time to come. A true delight! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

I just love a epistolary novel and this did not disappoint. Loved the premise, the main character and the secret that haunted her, the story, the side stories. Really well done!

An epistolary novel done perfectly! I have fallen completely in love with dear Sybil! And I absolutely love that Evans made her a septugenarian who is so brilliant!

I could not help but contemplate a "letter in the works" for my life as Sybil has in progress. I delighted in her correspondence with authors whose books she has read! I delighted in the letters she wrote to the "help center" gentleman. Each letter drew me in deeper with Sybil's journey and the ending was just so poignant... and yes, I did cry.

I think Evans has done a brilliant thing of shining a light on a very lost art... she has made me want to pick up a pen and write a few letters (that I may or may not send!)

Five big, beautiful stars for The Correspondent!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the digital copy of this book. It was published April 29, 2025.

What a beautiful, poignant but powerful story about a woman coming to terms with herself. Sybil Van Antwerp is a quirky and often cantankerous septuagenarian who is exceedingly polite but very firm in her convictions. A former lawyer and clerk to a judge (her former law partner) and divorced mother of three, Sybil developed a love of letter writing which is how we learn her story. Through a series of letters, emails, and texts, we see Sybil’s very carefully constructed life come up against unaddressed issues which she must now face. The use of the epistolary format to tell Sybil’s story is brilliant! She emerges more real and personable this way and you grow to live her. I highly recommend this book.

4.5 stars rounded up! THE CORRESPONDENT is a true gem of a book. The story follows septuagenarian Sybil Van Antwerp, who has taken on many roles throughout her life—friend, sister, daughter, mother, wife, divorcee, lawyer, and, perhaps most importantly, correspondent. Most days a week at around 10:30 in the morning, Sybil sits down at her desk to write letters. Through her letters, she stays in touch with her family and friends, and even makes unlikely new connections. However, there is one person to whom she writes often but never sends the letter. But when letters from someone in her past force her to confront one of the most difficult times in her life, Sybil realizes that perhaps it's finally time for her long-written letter to be read...and for her to finally offer forgiveness, both to others and to herself.

I couldn't put this book down—I finished most of it in a day, and even when I was busy with other things, I couldn't stop thinking about the story and wondering what might happen next. Epistolary novels are so special in that they're a unique, creative way to find out more about the characters and lend more depth to the narrative, and this one was no different. By the end of the story, I felt as if I truly got to know Sybil and all of the different people she corresponded with! Some of my favorites included Harry, a young boy and son of Sybil's friend who she develops a close bond with; Theodore, Sybil's kind, supportive neighbor who just might become something more; and Melissa, the Dean of English at the University of Maryland, where Sybil desperately wants to audit a class. Each character felt real and complex, each dynamic had a lived-in feel, and the characters' personalities practically jumped off the page.

I also loved that this was a non-traditional "coming-of-age" story of sorts, showing that it is never too late to grow as a person and look at the world—and the people—around you in a new light. THE CORRESPONDENT will break your heart but also warm it again, make you laugh but also make you think. I would highly recommend it for a reading experience you won't soon forget! Virginia Evans is definitely an author to watch. Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC.

I didn't get to finish before it expired, but I am racing out to buy my own copy and one for my library! What a smashing debut! I'd say anyone that likes A Man Called Ove will love this book.

4.25/5 stars

This story is told entirely through letters, both from and to the central character Sybil Van Antwerp.

I think epistolary novels, at least for me, can be a slippery slope. By their nature, they are slower-paced and perhaps more introspective than the average novel. I find myself needing to be "in the mood" before starting to read one of these novels as I tend to enjoy mysteries/thrillers most often.

I will be honest; I found some of this one to be a little slow in places, especially the beginning. I had a bit of trouble relating to Sybil early on, but she did gradually grow on me as I began to see more of her overall life picture unfold. The letters cover bits and pieces of her entire life...the heartbreaks and the triumphs, the messiness and the order. And by the end of the book, we have a well-rounded, complex character who has gained hard-fought wisdom over a lifetime of experiences just as we all (hopefully) will do.

The book is beautifully written. There are moments for tears, moments for laughter, moments to just sit and ponder her circumstances and how we would feel in her place. And I think all of this adds up to what we look for in a very good and well-told story.

I believe this is Evans' first published novel, and if so, what a stellar debut it is. I'm looking forward to what's to come from her.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crown Publishing / Crown for providing the free early arc of The Correspondent for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

The Correspondent is one of the best books I have read so far this year. Told completely in letters, it is the story of Sybil Van Antwerp's life, as revealed through her correspondence. She writes to everyone - her children, her brother, her best friend, her favorite authors, her neighbor, customer service representatives, etc. She is in her seventies and has lived a full life, and yet more is to come. Her letters allow her to reflect on the past and express her thoughts about the present and even the future. Sybil sees herself as a "correspondent" and takes that role very seriously. She writes her letters every day at her desk, at times resorting to email, but pen and paper are preferred.

Virginia Evans' book is so very clever. She introduces mysteries from Sybil's past and then allows her protagonist to uncover clues and layers over time through all of her letters. The letters include grief and heartache but also joy and discovery. I was truly touched by this book and am heartened at the thought that others will soon experience it for the first time.

I'm grateful to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and look forward to adding a hardback copy to my shelves so that I can reread it.

Sybil Van Antwerp has lived a long life, full of people she has touched. Life can be documented by the people we connect with, and Sybil makes sure this is the case in her life through her treasured means of communication: letters. As an older woman living in the 21st century, the art of written communication seems to be lost, but not for Sybil. She writes to anyone and everyone, forming connections across the country and globe, and it is through these correspondences that you learn her story.

I loved the format of The Correspondent being told from letters and other written communications, like email. You get to see Sybil's different tones and how open she is with certain people. She can come off initially as a bit abrasive, but ultimately has a big heart and cares about people. You get to see her relationships grow even when she's not writing to a specific person, but instead about them, like with her neighbor. Sybil cannot help but make deep connections. Nothing in her life is surface level, like when even the customer service representative at Kindred becomes a close correspondent, she is set on finding a better job that better fits his qualifications. Sybil's story was fun and lighthearted, while also touching on some deeper and more difficult topics, like the turmoil that comes with aging, losing someone you loved but no longer know, and dealing with those who have not let go of the past.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
What a wonderful book! I’ve always loved epistolary novels, and this one reminded me why. The Correspondent is beautifully written, moving, and full of heart. I felt such a strong connection to Sybil I honestly wish she were real so I could write to her. I especially loved the letters she sent to real-life writers like Larry McMurtry and Joan Didion, and the fact that she received replies was just magical. This book made me want to start writing letters again. A quiet, powerful gem.

Sybil Van Antwerp prefers to correspond with people through the written word. A mother, grandmother, wife, divorcée, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a full life.

I'm very impressed by this epistolary novel. To my mind it's a most unusual presentation of a work of fiction. I got so caught up in Sybil's life that I had a hard time putting my Kindle down. Sybil will write to anyone at the drop of a hat and I was wishing I could develop a correspondence with her. Her communications are well written and lucid. I liked how Sybil would tell a recipient what she's currently reading and ask 'What are you reading?'. Amongst the letters to and from her brother, her friends, her children, various authors, and others, are a number of "unsent" pages of a letter and we're left wondering who the recipient is until the end. Just an amazing piece of literature that I highly recommend although it probably won't be to everyone's taste. I'll definitely be watching for whatever Virginia Evans does next.

Thank you to Crown Publishing, via Netgalley, for approving my request to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: April 29, 2025

Sybil is 78 and has been a letter-writer since she was 9. She writes to her brother, her best friend, even to famous authors (who actually write her back!) and this epistolary novel tells quite a story of her life. She was a lawyer, a wife, a mother, a friend, active in her garden club and in her own yard, and just a very busy person. However there is more to her life than what she really wants to reveal, yet slowly we come to know the real Sybil through her letters. Sometimes there is a hard shell covering up what we don't want others to know about and we especially don't want to think about in our own life.

This book pleasantly surprised me and touched me! I do enjoy a good epistolary novel and this one surely did not disappoint. I highly recommend this one!

My thanks to Net Galley and Crown Publishing for an advanced copy of this e-book.

Mesmerizing. Unique. “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans is about Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired 70-year-old woman who dedicates her days to writing to others, ranging from her children to famous authors.

Told entirely through letters and emails, this debut novel is an intimate look at the correspondences Sybil has over several years. Despite her age, she embarks on new adventures and expands her inner circle. The book does a great job of exploring dashes of grief and guilt while still being witty and entertaining.

Letter writing is such a rarity in this day and age and I treasure those I do have (particularly a handful from my Pappy who passed away last year). I love that it’s a way to preserve our lives on paper and stay in touch with those far away.

Thanks @crownpublishing and @virginia.l.evans for the NetGalley ARC (out now)!

The Correspondent is a delightful, redemptive epistolary novel told in letters and emails over the course of a decade or so. In her 70s, Sybil has dealt with a lot of heartache in her life, including the death of a child, but she has always written letters and it is through her correspondence that she deals with her feelings. We get letters to strangers (including authors, customer service representatives, and college deans) as well as to family and friends, and through these letters, we get to know and love Sybil. This lovely novel is about the power of connection and the ability to change over time. I loved it and can't wait for more people to read it!