When I recently posted some mini-reviews, I talked about being blown away by Virginia Evans’ The Correspondent, so here is the promised post about that book! It’s an epistolary novel told entirely through letters from and to the protagonist, Sybil van Antwerp. She’s a retired woman who worked in law and now strictly structures her life around reading and her correspondence, and I really wasn’t sure in reading the blurb whether it’d actually be interesting for me: I thought it might be a bit too literary, or lacking in plot. Honestly, I picked it up mostly because I thought it’d be interesting for a review for Postcrossing! I wasn’t wrong about that, at least…
I’d also wondered how successful the epistolary format would be: apart from the preface and maybe one or two other sections, it’s entirely made up of letters (though some of them aren’t sent), which is also quite the feat. It can be hard to make a story run well through multiple different letters in a way that feels fairly natural but which the reader can follow, but Evans definitely nailed it.
The story doesn’t really have a plot as such, so I was right on that score, though there are a few themes and events that run through the letters. It’s definitely more of a character study, and the letters were the perfect way to show us Sybil’s character (and those of her family and friends)—flaws and all, because Sybil’s absolutely no saint, though she’s no devil either.
There were a couple of things I didn’t love, but they didn’t mar my enjoyment of the book: the main one was that it could be hard to tell whether the letters were directly responding to one another or whether there were gaps in between. They’re dated, and in the right sequence, but I realised after a bit that some of them were responding to letters that aren’t “included”. It makes sense as a decision to keep things a bit tighter and avoid padding it out, but it did feel like a bit of a leap between letters in terms of events or changing attitudes. It’s worth knowing going in that there are letters “missing” (so to speak, since of course, they aren’t real letters and the “missing” letters don’t actually exist), so you don’t always get the full story.
In the end, I absolutely tore through the book, and really enjoyed my time getting to understand Sybil and her circle through the letters. There are some hard-hitting themes (coming to terms with disability, family rifts, and the loss of a child) which it unfurls carefully, giving you a piece at a time and making sure it’ll land before you learn the truth about each bit of the story. Highly recommended!
35 comments so far
Another wonderful epistolary novel is "Ella Minnow Pea" by Mark Dunn.
I am about two-thirds of the way through this as an audiobook. There is a different voice actor for each of the letter writers, which makes it easy to follow. I am very much enjoying this book as well, and will likely give it a good review when I am done. I'll also be picking up a few extra copies for friends, as there are at least four I can think of whom I know will enjoy it. The fact that it is set (primarily) in Annapolis, and hour away from where I live, is icing on the cake!
"Meet Me at the Museum" by Anne Youngson is a short and moving epistolary novel I would recommend.
I requested the ebook version of this from my library. I started out at #160 on the list and I'm now at 97! I'll get it eventually.
Thank you for sharing! I am 25% into the book now.
Thank you for the review. Sounds like a fun concept. Not sure whether I'll commit to it. Mostly because I'm about to read Jane Eyre for the first time.
I, too, am listening to the audiobook and am loving it. I tried to read a hard copy borrowed from the library and put it down after a few letters. Listening to the various voices reading the letters has made the characters come to life. I’m enjoying it very much!
There is a series of books about Griffin and Sabine told through “real” letters and cards that I found delightful. Others might enjoy it, too!
This was my favorite book that I read in 2025! Such a great book, I highly recommend it.
Wonderful review! I read The Correspondent and reviewed it on my blog here: https://heartspoken.com/book-review-correspondent-virginia-evans/. The suggestions for epistolary novels from other commenters are excellent too. Of course “84 Charing Cross Road” is among my favorites.
Thanks for your review, looks like an interesting read.
My hubby read it out to me during our latest holidays. We both enjoyed it. So I recommended it to my postx penpals on the postcards I sent from there ...
Planned to be issued in Dutch 16 June 2026, I wait for the translation.
I haven’t read an epistolary novel in a long time. I should check this one out!
This is one of the best books I read all year. A character not to be forgotten!
The concept sounds fun. I am looking forward to reading this one soon!
Sounds quite interesting and I've added to my reading list. I appreciate your review! 😊
I will look out for this book at the bookstore. Thank you for the review
how funny: I just bought the book last week (in german "Die Briefeschreiberin") but had no time yet to start reading. Can't wait now!
After reading the Blog, I decided to read this book! So far, I like it very much! Thx for the recommendation!
this one is on my tbr for 2026, just need to wait for the audiobook from the library :D
I also loved this book!
"After all your positive comments, Post crossers, now I'm curios."
I will buy this book from my gift-card, I got from a bookstore with Christmas.
I am happy to echo others who have had a good experience with this book. The audiobook was a welcome companion on a long drive this summer. Sybil van Antwerp’s character comes through in all this correspondence we have to comb through, and I have thought about her when writing my own postcards. I loved, for example, how she just launches into correspondence with people like Ann Patchett as she does with her friends, or how she might cite a note written years before as if one would of course remember it. It’s nice to imagine writing something worth remembering like that!
Thank you for bringing your spotlight here.
This book was wonderful and made me so happy to have picked up Postcrossing as a hobby!
This book is in my to-read pile! Janice Hallett has been my go-to epistolary author for a while, her books are amazing!
I loved this book too! I'm in 3 different book clubs and each club read it, but it was so interesting that the conversations about it were all so different. There is a lot to unpack in this great novel. Sybil reminded me of Olive Kitteridge, another great fictional character. Loved this review. Thank you!
My initial thought of "The Correspondent" was, for lack of a better word, "meh." I kept with it for a few. I'm glad I did, too, because at some point I realized that I was adoring it. It was one hell of an audiobook, too.
I loved this book and appreciate your review. I thought of Postcrossing often while reading and also remembered my reading of 84 Charing Cross Road which the author mentioned was an inspiration for The Correspondent. Evans also talked about her own pen pal relationships with authors. I, too, had some difficulty "leaping" between letters. A friend mentioned that the audiobook was helpful in that regard, agreeing with eta55.
The only epistolary book I can remeber now is Letters from Skye.
As 84 Charing Cross Road is one of my all time favorite books, I naturally became interested in this as soon as I heard of it. For me that means being on the hold list for it both in ebook and audiobook form at my local library. I'll read whichever comes first. It'll be a few weeks, but that willl simply whet my desire.
I just finished this book and loved it. I am partial to epistolary books. 84 Charing Cross Road, Alice's Tulips, and Ella Minnow Pea are also favorites!
Based on this column I got the ebook of it from my library and I'm loving it!!
One of my favorites from 2025. The audiobook was fantastic. I think your age when you read it may impact your perception of the book. For me, a mid 50's woman, I could really relate to Sybil.
I am currently listening to the audiobook. I wasn't sure about it but once I got into it I have loved listening to each voice. I borrowed from the library also. I was excited when it was my turn!
Loved the book, and chose this when I host our book club in February!
I think I'll listen to the book on audio, too, because I'd like to hear the different voices. Thanks for the review!
↑ Back to top ↑