Susan Walter's Letters from Strangers is a heartwarming and thought-provoking collection of stories. The book explores the power of human connection through letters exchanged between strangers. Walter's writing is engaging, and the letters reveal deep insights into the human experience. The stories are poignant, humorous, and sometimes heartbreaking, showcasing the complexity of human emotions. This book will resonate with readers who appreciate stories about connection, empathy, and understanding. Letters from Strangers is a beautiful tribute to the impact of kindness and the written word, leaving a lasting impression on its readers. It's a truly uplifting read.

This book drew me in from the beginning. First to figure out the format, then to learn more about the character's lives. Susan Walter immediately invested me into Jane and her family and all adjacent characters. The book was heartwarming and told a story in a different style than I'd read before. Books that incorporate letters to/from the characters are not new, but the different perspectives and authors of the letters kept you wanting to know more about each of them. Some events of the book were sweet and predictable and some threw me for a good loop. It was even more about learning one's own way and each character found different ways to the answers they needed. Sometimes, the motivation each character needed to succeed came from others, but sometimes it came from within themselves before someone else offered the answer they were seeking. Many books leave me with more questions and hungry for more of the story, but this one left me mostly satisfied with the ending. I wouldn't mind knowing more of some of the character's stories, but I'd be OK not knowing, as well (which, I feel was a theme in Jane and her family's stories). And this was not expected considering how some of the interactions happened. Family secrets and their effects abounded throughout this story, and not all were meant to be found out. The use/need/introduction of therapy was very well-done in this book as well. I'll absolutely keep an eye out for more of Susan's books in the future. This is my first read of hers.

This was my first book by this author, and while it didn’t fully win me over, it certainly left an impression.

The story opens with Jane mourning the sudden death of her imperfect father, only to uncover a stack of letters that suggest he led a secret life. On the other side of the country, sixteen-year-old Adam is struggling to hold himself together after discovering letters from his birth mother, letters his adoptive parents never meant him to read. As both Jane and Adam seek answers, their lives begin to intersect in unexpected ways.

What I appreciated most was the emotional depth and the exploration of family, identity, and the tangled legacies we inherit. The author has a gift for portraying grief and confusion in a raw, believable way, and I was intrigued by the interwoven timelines and perspectives.

However, while I was invested in the premise, I found myself wanting more cohesion in the execution. Certain character arcs felt underdeveloped, and the resolution didn’t quite land with the impact I was hoping for.

Letters From Strangers written by Susan Walter was complicated, messy, beautiful, heart breaking, and full of secrets. After loving Lie by the Pool by this author, I knew I had to get my hands on her newest book Letters from Strangers and I'm so happy I got to because this book was absolutely beautiful and gut wrenching. When I saw that beautifully detailed cover, I didn't expect to be so emotionally distraught while reading the heart breaking words inside. From the very beginning all the way until the very last page, my eyes were like a waterfall, I couldn't keep the tears back. Susan Walter is one talented author, I don't know how she can write a thriller and then go and write a family saga full of secrets that's so heart breaking. All of the characters felt so authentic, their stories were so powerful, it was extremely hard not to root for them as they navigated their struggles during this difficult time. Letters From Strangers is a beautiful story about two strangers who are searching for the truth about their families after discovering a box of letters that contain so many secrets. If you are looking for a book about a family saga with hidden secrets, and you want to bawl your eyes out, look no further than Letters From Strangers written by Susan Walter and make sure your calendars are marked for May 27th, 2025 for the release of this book. If anyone does decide to read this book, please be mindful and check the trigger warning's, which will also be listed below in my review. Please read the author's at the end, it's so important that you don't skip over it.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND LAKE UNION PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
Mentions of Suicide
Eating Disorders
Unplanned Pregnancy
Infidelity
Infertility

"When God gives you a miracle, you don't give it back".

"Why cry alone when you can cry with Celine Dion?" Tears were water falling into my open mouth.

"Losing a parent is largely inevitable, but when it happens, it's as incongruous as losing a piece of the sky".

"Ignorance may not be bliss, but being in the dark is better than stumbling around in the haze of mistrust".

"People choose closed adoption for a variety of reasons, often it's to put a difficult chapter behind them".

"Crying on your therapist's couch is so cliched".

"You only get one chance at life, you should spend it with the person who brings you joy".

Jane Berenson's father's death was as startling as it was unremarkable, he was Jane's protector, her backstop when life hurled a curve ball at her, his charisma was his song. After her father's passing, Jane found a stack of letters left behind that held so many secrets, but the biggest one is that her father was having an affair with a mystery woman and she was pregnant with his baby. In 1983, when Jane was just a teenager, she spoke to her father's mistress on the phone but had no idea who she was. As Jane is going through these letters, the last one was written in September 1983. After some time passes, Jane decides to go to Boston, Massachusetts to get answers from this mysterious woman, but with no such luck along the way. Jane now lives in Southern California, but grew up in Boston. Jane's back story broke my heart, she had an eating disorder is her early teens, intermittent tobacco and marijuana use in her twenties, and had three surgeries for early stage skin cancer right before she turned thirty years old. Richard "Richie" Berenson was a look at the bright side kind of guy. Richie was a complicated man who lived life to the fullest. Richie had an airplane- a single engine four seater that he kept at a private airport in Boston- he was hardly ever home. Richie had another life on the side, he had a forbidden love affair for nine or more years because he claimed he was unhappy in his marriage to Jane's mother. Richie would take "business trips", but secretly he was just visiting this woman. Richard left behind thirty three letters in his office after he passed away.

Adam Ross is sixteen years old, he was born June 7th, 1984. Adam struggles with an eating disorder, so his parents hired a dietitian to help him lose weight. His mom wanted him to be a healthy sports superstar and they also wanted Adam to be a professional tennis player, but in his junior year of high school, Adam discovered his love for football in gym class. The Summer before second grade when Adam was seven years old, he found out he was adopted, his adoption was closed which meant that the identity of his birth parents was sealed. Adam's adoptive parents, Gloria and Marvin Ross never met nor knew Adam's birth mother's name because of the closed adoption. On April 29th, 2001, Adam wrote a letter to his birth mother that he wanted to meet her. How could Adam possibly know who she is if it was a closed adoption? You will have to read this book to find out. The last and final letter confirmed a truth I didn't see coming at all, I was truly shocked. My heart broke for Adam, but he made so much progress throughout this book, it was truly inspiring to read. I know Adam's adoptive parents were hard on him and even rude to him at times, but I think it truly made him open his eyes and push himself to be the best version of himself he can ever be. Despite how heart breaking all of these characters stories were, they were also so powerful, it was just hard not to root for everyone involved, including this mysterious woman because after you read her perspective, you will know why she did what she did. During my time reading Letters From Strangers, it felt like I was right there witnessing all of the secrets unravel.

Thank you @amazonpublishing @susanwalterauthor @netgalley for the gifted digital arc!

A heartbreaking story of two strangers searching for the truth about their families—and discovering a secret that will change their lives forever.

Wow! I was truly blown away by this beautiful story. I loved the alternating storylines interspersed with the letters and how everything came together towards the end. The ending really touched my heart and I will be thinking about this book for a long time and recommending it to everyone!

Rating 5⭐️

Oh wow, this is my first Susan Walter book, but it certainly won't be my last, this was simply incredible. Jane just lost her dad when she finds out that he had led a double life. Then there is sixteen-year-old adopted Adam, who's going through some typical teenage angst when he finds letters written to him from his biological mom. Eventually, we learn how Jane and Adam are connected through decades of family trauma and drama. Still, it's not what you think. These two characters took me along on their emotional journeys and gave me all the feels. There are heavy topical themes within this story, such as infertility, grief, and other mental health issues abound.

This book sucked me right away with all the family secrets. The author seamlessly weaves Jane and Adam's story together with such talent and sensitivity. Both characters are complex, yet relatable. I loved how surprised I was reading this one. It was a truly emotional and heartwarming story that I will not soon forget. The twists and turns had me furiously flipping pages and made me think of my own many recent losses, including my dad seven months ago. I can't recommend this one enough. All. The. Stars.

Two strangers looking for answers about family...

On the West Coast, Jane discovers a stack of letters after the abrupt death of her father, revealing his secret life. He may have had a child with another woman...

On the East Coast, Adam, a struggling teen, is surprised when his adoptive parents hand him unsigned letters from his birth mother. Now he needs to know more...

"Letters from Strangers" is a well-written emotional story with important topics woven throughout. The short chapters kept me turning the pages and reading on as it explored themes of loss and grief, the consequences of secrecy, healing through forgiveness, and accepting oneself and others. There were more than just a few heartbreaking moments in this tale.

My one niggle is with my immersion reading experience, specific to the audiobook. The two narrators, voicing and recounting the story as Jane and Adam, sound overly young and animated, giving this a YA feel. I began reading more than listening, and was glad I had the digital copy to fall back on.

"Letters from Strangers" is a story about how life can gain new meaning through self-belief and connection with others. Be sure to read the author's note at the end to discover what inspired the writing of this story.

3.75⭐

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and Susan Walter for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This story truly touched my heart. As an adoptee, I’ve had some of the same feelings expressed in this book. The author did a fabulous job of giving us a look into the lives of several people affected by adoption, while also creating a wonderful story about hope and love! This was both emotional and heartwarming.

𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌.

I stopped and started this book so many times, but when I finally sat down with this beautiful story, it was the beginning of some healing that I have been in dire need of.

I love books about how lives intersect, and this book does it perfectly. Jane’s father is far from perfect and was even the root cause of the eating disorder that she would struggle with throughout adolescence. However, those flaws doesn't mean his sudden death didn't devastate her. Jane is trying to navigate her own grief while making sure her taciturn mother is ok when she finds a stack of letters in his desk that are clear evidence of another life that her father was leading--a life with a woman identified only by her initials, and a woman who may have had her father's child.

Across the country, sixteen-year-old Adam is grappling with his self-worth. He deeply loves his adoptive parents, but he's always felt 'less than' and can't understand how a mother could abandon her child. His parents never intended to show him the unsigned letters from his birth mother, but they are desperate to get him off the collision course he's on. Adam just wants answers, even if he doesn't like what they may be.

I lost my mom in August, and it's hard to talk about her without a lump in my throat. When I was clearing out her house, I found a drawer full of letters that she and my dad wrote to each other when they were dating. I read a few, and it felt like I was intruding into something that wasn't mine, so I put them away...just like I've done with so many things I didn't want to deal with. Those containers are now overflowing, and it's reached a point that I have to open them and deal with all the things I've shoved inside. This book gave me the courage to do so.

Many thanks to the author for sending me an early copy and for including me in her book tour. She got everything right--the Gen X "we don't talk about our feelings," the internal struggle of being an adoptee, and realizing that although our parents had their own trauma they never talked about, most of them did the best they could. This book will publish May 27, 2025.

Jane and Adam are both looking for answers. Jane's been having a tough go with infertility and the death of her father when she discovers letters that indicate that he had another family. Adam was adopted and now 16, he's struggling with a sense of self and wants to find his mother. This moves between them and uses the device of the letters both of them have link their stories. It's a gentle tale of family secrets and lies. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Heartwarming.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Family Drama
Review (Spoiler-Free):

Letters from a Stranger is a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that explores family, identity, and the unexpected ways our lives intersect. Susan Walter crafts an emotionally rich story told through multiple perspectives, each adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

The writing is warm and honest, and the characters feel real—flawed, relatable, and deeply human. The use of letters adds a touching layer to the storytelling, connecting past and present in meaningful ways.

I loved how the story unfolded gradually, drawing me in with emotional weight and subtle mystery. It’s a book about discovering truth, healing old wounds, and finding where you truly belong.

If you enjoy layered, emotional stories about family secrets and personal growth, this one is well worth the read.

Perfect for fans of:

Jodi Picoult
Kristin Hannah
Books with emotional twists and found-family themes
Would I recommend?
Absolutely—especially if you’re in the mood for something heartfelt and deeply human.

Oh, did this book resonate with me! When Jane finds a stash of letters in her recently deceased father’s belongings, it sets her off on a journey of self-reflection and eventual awareness of a happier future.

Adam, a high school athlete, is on a journey of his own trying to find a place where he feels accepted while also appreciating where he has come from.

Piecing together the lives of both Adam and Jane through flashbacks and letters was a beautiful process to experience. Each has a storied life but both hide parts of themselves from the ones they love.

I adored this novel! After reading Susan’s thriller novels, I was excited to read this contemporary family drama and I’m so glad I did!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union for an Advanced Reader Copy of Letters From Strangers. I enjoyed how well the narration was done with the audiobook. The story was told well and was heartwarming. Susan Walter is an amazing author.

I did not expect to love this book so much. It was my first book from Susan Walter and I will definitely read more of her books. This book is about love, acceptance, family dynamics and so much more. It details found letters, truths discovered and finding your way back to lost loves. I will be recommending this to everyone.

When Jane’s father dies, she discovers a stack of letters that point to a secret life. A life he shared with another woman and Jane can’t help but investigate. Who is this woman?

This was such an incredible story (for fans of Diane Chamberlain!) about family and what ties us together! There was a pretty good twist in this one that I didn’t see coming. Very heartwarming!

As a reader, I always get a little nervous when an author decides to change genres. So when I saw that Susan Walter, a go to thriller author, was now releasing a family drama I was a bit hesitant. Who am I kidding?! I immediately grabbed it.😂

So…did she pull it off? She hit this one out of the ballpark! Susan, you just delivered a true home run!

Two storylines, winding their way towards each-other until converging in an emotional ending.
Jane- just lost her father, and as she cleans out his office she comes across a deeply buried secret. One she can’t let go of
Adam - sixteen years old, feels a hole in his soul. His only way to fill it is with food. Can he find the answers he searches for in order to heal both body and mind.

Loved the characters and their journeys to find the answers they desperately needed in order to move forward.
A beautiful family drama that delivers all the feels. Deeply enough that it caused some misting up on my part. I’m such a softie!🙄🤦🏻‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing

This novel takes one on a journey. When Jane’s father dies, she finds it hard to cope. Sadly she finds out something about her father which sends her on a difficult journey. He had an affair and she might have a sibling.
The other main plot we find Adam who is adopted and wand wants to find his birth mother.
This story is emotional and is it possible for Jane and Adam to heal or will their journey make things harder for each of them?

Letters from Strangers by Susan Walter

We follow two characters in the present day, getting their POV about found letters and the events that are triggered by these found letters. Thirty something year old Jane and her husband are going through the infertility treatment steps but have gotten waylaid somewhat early on by Greg's lack of enthusiasm for his part of the testing phrase. Sixteen year old Adam is struggling with so much, first the pressure to excel at tennis from his father and then the disappointment he knows his parent feel about him quitting tennis and gaining so much weight that he's now obese. Both Jane and Adam have other serious concerns, too, and each of them seek out knowledge after finding two different sets of letters. These letters are going to bring these two together and I couldn't help wondering if the knowledge they gain might help them to move on with some of the things they suffer over in life.

There is so much going on here and the feeling of abandonment is one of the emotions running through the story. Abandonment of children physically but also emotional abandonment of children. Abandonment of people who have been made promises in one way or another. There is also emotional abuse by parents who expect too much of children who are trying their hardest and who need to be allowed to be themselves. Growing up is hard enough without parents pushing, chiding, haranguing, and making it clear that the child does not meet expectations.

The story is full of surprises and I feel compassion for so many of the characters. There are a few devious characters that I would have a hard time forgiving but for the most part, we see that everyone is suffering in one way or another. I want to mention a coach in this story. I really appreciate the way his is written, he's not a caricature of a screaming, ranting, raging buffoon who only cares about scores and winning. I like the way the story ends, I wouldn't want it to have ended any differently than it does. This was a great buddy read with Jayme, Mary Beth, and DeAnn.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Susan Walter may be known as the creator of the 2017 film “All I Wish”, and as the author of FOUR thrillers, but this time she has penned a family saga, spanning two decades, which was inspired by true events…

It’s a story about two strangers who are each searching for the truth about their families—after discovering a SECRET.

The sudden death of Jane’s father, Richie brings more than grief. It also delivers a stack of letters pointing to a secret life with another woman-GM-who may have had his child.

Across the country, sixteen-year-old Adam is grappling with his own issues. His adoptive parents never intended to show him the unsigned letters from his birth mother, but he has recently began to feel an aching hole that can only be filled with answers.

BUT LETTERS ONLY TELL PART OF A STORY…

And, their search for the truth will lead them toward each other.

This was an EMOTIONAL story which had SO MANY HIGHLIGHT WORTHY passages. The characters felt authentic, and as they navigated their messy lives, their emotions rang true. I found myself teary eyed more than once.

This was VERY different from previous work-a slower, more reflective pace…but, I really enjoyed it! I am a fan of the author’s work and all FIVE of her books have earned 4 shiny stars from me!

Available May 27, 2025

TW: Eating Disorders, Infidelity, Infertility, Unplanned Pregnancy

Thank You to Lake Union Publishing for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

This book is definitely an emotional read. When Jane’s father dies, she’s left with a stack of letter indicating he was having an extra marital affair with a woman whom Jane wants to meet. Jack’s adoptive parents give him letters from his biological mother and he hopes finding her will help with his deteriorating mental health.

The letters play a big part in how the story unfolds and the connection Jane and Adam share. The book explores family dynamics and the impact on family relationships when secrets are unraveled. There are a lot of heavy topics that are mentioned with care by the author. This a great heartfelt and emotional book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.