You know how you can buy a book because of the cover, knowing absolutely nothing about it? Well, I wanted to read The Missing Letters of Mrs. Bright because my fifth grade teacher was Mrs. Bright and she was the best teacher I had in school. That’s it. The human mind can be weird.

But it can also be kind to itself, because Beth Miller’s novel was a gentle rollercoaster of emotions and self-discovery that hit all the right notes as it told the story of Kay Bright.

Quite abruptly, it seems at first, Kay decides that the life she’s been living for thirty years has been good enough but it could be better so she leaves her husband and sets out to find and define herself in ways she never has before. This, of course, upends her husband and adult children so the journey becomes theirs too. And in doing so, Beth Miller is able to keep the wife and mother as a central figure in the story even as she moves away from it.

That seems to fit just right the idea of that role in a family.

Each member the Bright family goes on their own journey, spurred because Kay speaks for herself and herself alone. She doesn’t set out to help her son, daughter, and husband grow into themselves but she does because she is growing into herself. In a way, it’s a middle-aged coming of age story and maybe the world needs more of that.

My rating: 4 stars
Genres/topics: women’s fiction, contemporary, family, relationships, coming of age

I received a copy of The Missing Letters of Mrs. Bright through NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest & original review. All thoughts are my own.

A heartwarming tale of family and friendship, and a journey of discovery that will resonate with anyone who likes to reflect on the road not taken.

The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright by Beth Miller is a captivating story of 2 friends at opposite sides of the world who keep in touch with letters to each other. A story of beautiful friendship that is thrown into disarray when the letters suddenly stop.

This story was tantalizing, juicy, and fun! I found myself really enjoying this tale of thrilling twists and turns. A very addictive page-turner that I can highly recommend!

A beautiful, life affirming bookthat reminds you life is a gift, and to not take loved ones for granted.

A heartwarming story about mothers, daughters and friendship. I really enjoyed the format. Here we get both the perspectives of the mother, Kay and her daughter, Stella as well as the letters between Kay and Bear though the years. Similar to other books in this vein, characters are quirky, which sometimes I struggle with as a reader but I know that's a me thing!

Cute story, good format and will be enjoyed by many.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. All thoughts my own.

I waited so long to read this so it would be in the right moment as I was excited for it. But unfortunately it did disappoint a little. It had a sweet story line indeed but it didn’t match the blurb and it felt too corny for my liking overall.

This book was a train wreck. I have no words to describe this book at all. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

Kay Bright works in her husband’s Richard’s stationary shop called Quiller Queen in Winchester, they own four shops and Richards’s life revolves around his businesses. The couple have two grown up children Edward and Stella. Edward’s married to Georgia, they have twin boys and Stella’s dating Theo and runs a catering business with a friend.

Kay wrote a list as a teenager, all things she wanted to do before she turned thirty, so far she’s achieved only one of her goals, that’s have children and she’s in her early fifties. Kay loves Richard, but the shops have always come first, and she feels unhappy and trapped. Rose and Ursula (Bear) have been Kay's best friends since they were teenagers in the 1980’s, Ursula's family left England when she was sixteen and emigrated to Australia. Every other month she writes to Ursula, she replies, but she hasn’t written in three months and Kay’s worried. Ursula’s the only one who knows Kay’s big secret, in her letters to her, she shares her inner most thoughts and feelings and it’s very cathartic. Kay goes through the boxes of Ursula’s previous letters, to see if she has missed anything and everything seems fine.

One morning Kay packs her rucksack, walks downstairs, eventually gets Richards attention, and tells him she’s leaving him, puts her wedding ring on the table, walks out her yellow front door and Richard’s left behind totally confused. The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright is a story about Kay rediscovering herself, deciding what she wants out of life, how this effects all of her relationships, especially with her husband, children and friends. Kay's tired of waiting, putting others first, when is the right time, she wants to travel, see more of the world and dust off her camera.

I absolutely loved the book, it made me think about life, how short it is, I laughed and I cried.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and five stars from me.

This was an enjoyable read which made me laugh and cry.
This is a story about love, loss and friendship. Beautifully written and inspiring

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture. What a lovely book - exactly the kind of read I adore - escapist, emotional, funny and beautifully written. I loved the characters, the storyline, and the wonderful sense of place. Travelling to Sydney, Venice, Scotland and North Wales at a time when we can't travel was especially precious. I will be seeking out more of this author's books. Very highly recommended.

DNF at 25%. I think it’s time to accept that books that are described as heartwarming aren’t for me. Does that make me coldhearted? :) I don’t think so but I keep trying them and they don’t work for me.

This book starts with Kay leaving her husband to have adventures she feels he would never want to have with her. It’s told in alternating perspectives between Kay and her daughter Stella. At 25%, that’s about all that has happened. Kay has sent a couple letters to Bear and is planning to go to Australia since she hasn’t heard anything back.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

This was very interesting for me, not ever having experienced divorce but it is a well written account of a woman who changes her life and those around her. Very believable! Love how the importance of friendships is stressed!

It's been a while a book made me cry. This book has definitely done that few times.

Amazing story, beautiful characters and heartbreaking and heartwarming ending at the same time.

The Missing Letters of Mrs. Bright is an uplifting novel about, love, both in marriage and in friendship, loss and forgiveness. The story is told from 2 POVs - Kay Bright, the main character, and Stella, Kay's grown daughter. It deals with how families and relationships have changed over various generations. The story begins when Kay decides she no longer wishes to continue in her loveless marriage - she leaves and takes a trip to Australia when she she loses touch with her best friend, Ursula.
I really loved this touching story!
Thanks to Beth Miller, Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story was STUNNING! I absolutely loved it. It was an inspiring story of happiness, travel and friends. I thought Kay was so brave to want more than the life she had, and to just up and leave. I'd be happy to read another by Beth Miller any time.

Oh, it's ended. Loved this, the perfect summer read. Holiday romance, new starts, Venice ....it has it all and also some good characters and some sadness and humour too. I gobbled it up and felt better afterwards - that is a feel-good read as it should be! I will be looking for more by Beth Miller.

What a beautiful book, I really loved the story and how it was written. Really couldn't put it down.

I adore any book concept with letters, but I couldn’t get into this one. I always give a book until 25% and then I give up. Seems a fair amount to give the story and characters to grab me.

The Missing Letters of Mrs. Bright by Beth Miller is one of many books have been written recently about individuals at certain junctures of life deciding a change in needed. My reaction to these books has varied depending on the development of the main characters and depending on the authentic feeling of the emotions and relationships. For me, this one does not hit that note, and I don't necessarily want to follow along on Mrs. Bright journey to discover herself.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/05/the-missing-letters-of-mrs-bright.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.