Unfinished Business

Writing the 5 Essential Letters of Your Life

by Frish Brandt

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Pub Date Oct 27 2026 | Archive Date Dec 27 2026

Convergent | Rodale Books

Nonfiction (Adult) | Self-Help

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Description

An inspiring and eminently useful guide to the art of letter writing, including prompts and exercises to help deepen our most important connections and heal old wounds, by a beloved “letter midwife.”

“A pragmatic, empathetic, urgent call to stop avoiding the hardest conversations and start enjoying the world beyond hurt and regret . . . A true service to readers.”—Kelly Corrigan, New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me More and The Middle Place

We all have “unfinished business”: thank-you notes we meant to write, goodbyes we never spoke, apologies we haven’t managed to give. Here to help us put those words on paper, letter midwife Frish Brandt provides singular guidance on how to write the five fundamental missives that underscore the meaning of our lives: Thank you, I’m sorry, I miss you, I love you, and Goodbye.

With real-world examples from her experience of teaching in universities, workshops, and individual sessions around the country, Brandt weaves practical writing prompts with gentle reflections on grief, connection, forgiveness, and closure, offering the tools—and the courage—to help you write what you have long held inside. At once an invitation, a guidebook, and an ode to the power of the written word, Unfinished Business will help deepen your most important connections and heal old wounds. It is a book to read, to write alongside, and to return to again and again.

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9780593980699
PRICE	$29.00 (USD)
PAGES	240

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Additional Information

Average rating from 6 members

Featured Reviews

Lauren H, Reviewer

I think this book is a great concept. I love writing and I loved the idea of the letter writing. I think it is therapeutic and part of a journey of healing and finding yourself. Great job by the creator of this book.
I work in the mental health field and I think this book would be great for some of my patients as well as myself!

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Mel J, Reviewer

Unfinished Business is a thoughtful and compassionate guide to expressing the words we so often leave unsaid. Frish Brandt combines practical writing prompts with heartfelt reflections on love, loss, gratitude, and forgiveness, making the process of writing deeply personal letters feel both approachable and meaningful. Filled with moving real-life examples, the book gently reminds readers that healing often begins with honest communication—even if the letter is never sent. Warm, inspiring, and profoundly human, this is a beautiful resource for anyone seeking connection, closure, or the courage to put their heart into words.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Joan C, Reviewer

We all have unfinished business. We have things we wished we had said, things we forgot to say, things we want to say before it's too late.

This book is subtitled Writing the 5 Essential Letters of Your life. What are they?

Thank You

I'm Sorry

I Miss You

I Love You

Goodbye

The author, Frish Brandt describes herself as a "letter midwife." She not only loves to write her own letters, she enjoys helping others find the right words to express their feelings in letter form. In her book, she distills her advice into easy chunks, including real life examples, writing prompts and thoughtful questions to guide readers through the process of writing the letters they always wanted to write. </p>

After a chapter on each type of letter, there is a section for "extra credit" which includes legacy letters and letters to and from your future self. There is also an appendix with a condensed step by step review of the letter writing process.

One important lesson you will learn from this book is -- it's never too late. Even if you have procrastinated about writing, receiving a letter is almost always meaningful to the recipient. What if the person you want to write to has passed away? Writing a letter can still be a helpful exercise for you to clarify and understand your feelings for them.