Dear Reader,

What a beautiful, heartbreaking and yet heartwarming tale! I stayed up in the wee hours of the morning just to finish this as I didn't want to put it down. It has to be one of the best books I've had the pleasure to read. It is so unique in style and format, told in the form of letters and diary entries, emails and text messages that it gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of the writer in a way that seems so private it is almost voyeuristic. We are taken on a journey throughout the ensuing messages between the parties and we miss out on nothing.

LETTERS TO A STRANGER is a dual timeline tale that is cleverly woven in which the author is adept enough to leave nothing to the imagination as we are given a complete picture in such a unique narrative. It is such a personal style that it makes the reader feel as if the letters are written to us as the writer unveils their hopes, dreams, fears and overall impressions. You may think you would miss out in the various nuances that the usual format would provide but, believe me, you don't. Mitchell has very cleverly woven every nuance into each of the narratives that should we miss them at first, they are revealed to us further on. It is the second book in a row that I have read in such a format with the previous one being a psychological thriller and much different in content, but still very cleverly done.

Cassie is a twenty eight year old mother of six year old Noah who, we soon learn, has been ill though with what exactly isn't revealed until later but what we do glean from the little Cassie reveals in her messages is that it was serious. Serious enough for her to pack up in the dead of night at 2am, bundle Noah and their belongings into her car and make the five hour long journey to sleepy Norfolk at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Despite being in lockdown, Cassie breaks the rules by travelling to the remote area by the sea in an attempt to keep her vulnerable son safe. Should he contract the dreaded virus, his body may not be able to fight it or survive.

It is while they are staying in this little caravan on the Norfolk coast that her partner Stuart forwards on some mail, one of which details a letter writing scheme between students and residents of a local nursing home. Cassie is puzzled as Noah hasn't the ability to maintain a pen-pal programme, having missed so much school, but fearing the recipient awaiting his reply may feel somewhat left out should they not receive one, Cassie decides to respond in his place. And so begins the narrative between the two women as they each form a bond with the other.

Ruby is 96 years old and has lived a fulfilling life despite the heartache of the war years, now seemingly such a distant memory but with it a guilt that is real as it was yesterday. She begins exchanging letters with Cassie as they each slowly reveal parts of their lives to one another in what turns out to be a cathartic experience for both women. While her letters to Cassie are in the present, she decides to send Cassie letters and diary entries dated 1939 and 1940 which then tell her story in the past.

Seventeen year old Ruby lives in a Norfolk village and has been stepping out with Edmondo, whose family run the local grocery shop, for the past year. No one has had a problem with this...until war broke out and it soon became clear that Mussolini (Italy's fascist leader) would side with Germany, thus making them clear enemies of Britain. Despite the fact Edmondo was born and raised in Britain, nor that his family had lived here since the end of the Great War. Suddenly they were seen as enemy aliens and soon found themselves targeted. Ruby, a highly intelligent young woman who had dreams of going to Cambridge to study science, soon found herself in the most awkward of positions. Especially when she was placed there by someone very close to her who held the promise and the power to change her life. But could be betray those she loved?

Such a unique and creative way of telling a story, the letters give us a peek inside the hearts and minds of these two women at their most vulnerable and the impact is heartwarming. I loved the little texts between Cassie and Stuart, Cassie and Austin then building to emails which soon also become letters. While some of the texts were short and to the point, we are still able to see the bigger picture that is being painted around it...it is all so very clever.

LETTERS TO A STRANGER bring back the dying art of letter writing. There really is nothing like receiving a letter that someone has taken the time to write to you. These days it's all about text messages and chats, even email has been left in social media's wake. There is nothing quite so personal as an actual letter. I can go days without anything ever being delivered in my mailbox which is quite sad. And then when I do, it's political or advertising leaflets. Even utility bills are online now! That's what makes this book so special. So heartfelt.

I was intrigued by the premise but I never envisioned the format the story took or how invested I would become in each of the characters' stories. I loved every single minute of this book that I never wanted it to end. But when it did, everything was woven together seamlessly to give us a more than satisfactory conclusion and leaving us with the tendrils of those emotions firmly wrapped around our hearts. It is one of the most endearing and beautiful stories I have read. My only complaint was that the anonymous writer was never revealed. I would have been interested to discover who that may have been...but in the grand scheme of things, it was of little importance anyway.

I did find a few inconsistencies, mostly editting issues with the wrong date applied or a change in name, but the biggest I found was with Ruby's age. At the beginning of the war we learn that she is 17 years old. And yet in 2020, she is 96...when in actual fact, her age would have been 98. Maths isn't my strong point but the only reason I know this is she was the same age as my grandmother in 1939 and therefore would have been born in 1922.

The other thing of note was that this book tackled the pandemic and lockdown, and the emotions that ran high amongst everyone at the time. And while COVID does feature in part, it is the focus on lockdown being something of a blessing in disguise. It enables those involved to discover, or re-discover, the art of letter writing and really seeing the world around us and counting our every blessing.

There are many things that come to light through the course of what is said, and what isn't said, that I did pick up on a few clues here and there. Some reveals that came weren't a surprise but the final one was a lovely one to savour. It was indeed a most beautiful, heartbreaking and heartwarming tale that both sweeping and all-encompassing.

Overall, LETTERS TO A STRANGER is a wonderful sweeping tale that delivers a beautifully happy ending. A well deserved 5 stars. If I could give more, I would.

Love
Stina

PS...I would like to thank #SarahMitchell, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #LettersToAStranger in exchange for an honest review.

PPS...This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of Books on Tour! Letters to a Stranger is by Sarah Mitchell. This is my first book by her, but it won’t be my last!
This story is told with a dual timeline using letters, text messages and emails. Most of the messages are short so this book is a quick read.
Ruby 1939: We travel back 1939 and 1940 during WWII. Ruby is in love with an Italian man and we see the struggles she has because of that relationship.
Cassie, Covid- Spring 2020: Cassie is trying to navigate life with her young son during a pandemic. She is trying to keep him safe. Cassie befriends Ruby during a letter writing exchange.
It was interesting to see the Covid pandemic addressed in fiction. Covid was definitely the catalyst for Cassie to reset her life. I loved how Ruby and Casssie’s lives are intertwined. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

READ THIS BOOK IF YOU
Like historical fiction
Enjoy a dual timeline

Trigger Warning: Covid 19

It’s 1939 and the world is about to go to War, but Ruby is seventeen and in love.
Eighty years later Ruby takes part in a letter-writing scheme, connecting her with Cassie. But their lives are already connected and this novel will take you on a journey of how and why.

This novel was beautiful! Mitchell writes with incredible description, giving us strong and realistic characters we can connect with and feel so much emotion for. This is set over multiple timelines, which may seem complicated but Mitchell writes so well that do not get confused.

Letters to a Stranger was a wonderful story about Ruby Summers, who had lived an amazing life. She is now ninety-six years old and lives in a retirement home. Meanwhile, Cassie and Noah, mother and son, are living life at the start of the pandemic in March of 2020. The storyline’s dual timelines are 1940 and 2020. During the eighty year time span of this story, so much happens through handwritten letters, texts, emails and diary entries. I found Ruby’s story about her past to be completely intriguing, and it ties up all the loose ends of how all the lives are intertwined. I was flying through the pages at a rapid pace as I couldn’t wait to find out the end of the story.

I am a huge fan of time slip novels and Letters to a Stranger did not disappoint. Author Sarah Mitchell does a fantastic job of keeping the different timelines separated so that they don't become confusing. I enjoyed this story very much and I found the characters to be both relatable and likable. This multi-generational story was heartfelt and very engrossing with all the letters, texts and emails. I loved it from beginning to end. This brilliantly written and captivating, time slip novel is one that I highly recommend.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'Letters To A Stranger' by Sarah Mitchell.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sarah Mitchell, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous


Publication date 9th March 2023.


This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that
'This totally gripping and irresistible story of wartime love and heartbreak will captivate readers who love Lorna Cook, Fiona Valpy and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.' I am a huge fan of Fiona so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of a prologue and 7 parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in London Cambridge, Norfolk, Ipswich, Surrey and Oxford, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧 and France 🇫🇷. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times.

This book is written in first person perspective and the protagonists are Amanda Gibbons, Cassandra Ross, Ruby Summers and Austin Davy. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.


'Letters To A Stranger' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Sarah discusses/includes Covid and War.


WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!


This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.


What an absolutely stunning, gorgeous and unputdownable read!! This is one of the most unique books I have ever come across!!! I absolutely LOVE the fact that the whole book gives us the storyline via letters, emails, texts, postcards and newspaper articles and I have never come across a book that has done before. Sarah you have managed to weave not only multiple characters but multiple time lines together perfectly which cannot have been an easy feat at all!! The fact that one timeline was set during the war whilst the other was set during covid and although they are many years apart you can sadly see many similarities, one being how people would treat each other during them both. This was something I actually discussed myself during Covid, how it must have been similar during the was with people alienating the unvaccinated during Covid and people turning on their friends when they did exactly the same during the war to different religions, faiths and people from different areas even though they had lived in the UK for many years. This book is devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful. It is an absolute rollercoaster ride of emotions filled with heartbreak, family, love, loss, deceit secrets, friendship, war, caring, moving on, and so much more. Sarah's writing and descriptions are so evocative I really felt I was write next to both Cassie and Ruby during the present and past. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with them and going through their pain, love, struggles and suffering. While you are reading this you are going through a journey of love and loss, heartbreak, secrets, deceit, love, and forgiveness and so, so much more. It really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. I was carrying my phone to read it on kindle every chance that I got and I had tears absolutely streaming down my face by the time the gorgeous, heartbreaking and heartwarming ending(s) came. I was completely mind blown at the end and just when I thought I had run out of tears they started pouring out again. I absolutely loved the twist that came in several of the parts too. I was not expecting any of them so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Sarah!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me considering how many books I read but you certainly managed it!! The fact that instead of using chapters Sarah seperate the book into seven parts was also very cleverly done and I really enjoyed reading through it and jumping from one timeline to the other at just the right time.

Part One sets the storyline with Cassie moving into a caravan with her ill son Noah during Covid to keep him safe as her partner is a key worker who could bring Covid back to him. Noah is given a project by his school to write a letter to his new 'Best Friend' penpal in a care home. Cassie contacts the school to explain Noah is not in the year it is meant for and starts writing to the penpal (Ruby) instead. It is written using letters, emails, notes and texts from and to Cassie Ross, Ruby Summers, Amanda Richards (Cassie's previous neighbour and previous best friend), Stuart Rowlings (Cassie's partner), Austin Davy (owner of the caravan), Rosemary Ross (Cassie's mum) and Margaret Fleming (from Noel's school). This part is set in the year 2020 during lockdown.

Part Two takes us back to 1939 and 1940 during the war where we discover Ruby's history. It is written using letters, news articles and diary entries and tells us about Ruby's struggles with her family and her romance with an Italian during the war. We are given the story mainly through Ruby's diary entries but also from new articles and letters from Clementine Isles (Ruby's sister), Charles Whittaker (Ruby's uncle and Godfather), Helen Wodehouse (college mistress), Edmondo Brambilla (Ruby's boyfriend), Lillian Whittaker (Ruby's aunt and godmother), George Summers (Ruby's brother), Mary Cartwright (from the college) and an anonymous writer.

Part Three brings us back to 2020 with letters, emails, postcards and texts to and from Cassie, Ruby, Austin, Stuart, Rosemary and Stanley Ross (Cassie's Dad).

Part Four takes us back to 1940 where we read letters, notes, news articles and diary entries to and from Ruby, Clementine, George, Edmondo, Wilfred Ross and Helen. I

Part Five beings us back to 2020 with letters, texts and postcards from and to Cassie, Stuart, Austin, Ruby, Stanley, Rosemary and Amanda.

Part Six takes us back to 1940 with diary entries and letters from and to Ruby, Charles, Mary, Edmondo, Dr Rupert Godwin (Latin tutor) and Clementine.

Part Seven wraps the whole gorgeous storyline up and ensures the book ends with several breathtaking reveals which you will have to pick up your copy today to discover!!

Sarah has clearly done her History research. Well done Sarah as there's nothing much worse that reading a novel filled with silly errors as the author hasn't done any research. It definitely gives you something to think about in regards to the sacrifices many made during the war, the way people acted during Covid and shows you how much emotion and strength is involved from both Cassie and Ruby as well as their families to move from one place that is warm and bustling to somewhere that is isolated (Cassie) and to decide who you need to protect and what is right and wrong (Ruby) The two stories are woven together perfectly and each of the chapters ended in a way I just HAD to know what was going to happen next!! You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down and it had me in tears by the end and I do not cry easily!!! This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time. This book isn't just gorgeous but also incredibly thought provoking and shows so much human emotion and makes you think how easy some people turn on friends and family. I loved that there is so much going on that it completely sucks the reader into the pages from beginning to end. There were so many moments I looked up from the book and had completely forgotten where I was!! I devoured this in one sitting!!


It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.


The characters are strong, realistic and I became completely invested in both Cassie and Ruby along with so many of the other characters involved. I felt each of their pain, heartbreak, betrayal, guilt , anger, sorrow and so much more My heart broke for each of them who went through so much change and more (but I can't say more as I don't want to spoil the storyline for anyone) . Both women were such strong protagonists and being female myself I live seeing strong kick butt women fighting for what they believe in. Although it was mainly through Cassie and Ruby's eyes that the story unfolds there are several many other characters that were affected by all the changes and the emotions charging through the characters and I was completely invested in Noah, Austin, and Badger (Austin's dog), Ned (Austin's sheep), George, Clementine, Edmondo, and many of the other characters who all came to life every time I turned a page. My heart went out to Edmondo, Cassie, Ruby and George, I absolutely loved Ruby, Rosemary, Cassie, Edmondo, Austin, Ned, Badger and Noel and I could not stand Amanda, Stuart, the Anonymous letter writer, and Charles. I won't say anymore about the characters as I don't want to go into too much detail at the risk of spoiling it for other readers but yet again Sarah has done an amazing job at bringing each of the characters to life. Well done Sarah !!!


Congratulations Sarah on an absolutely gorgeous, heartbreaking beautiful book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books especially if they are set out like this one is. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! Welcome to my favourite historical author list and here's to your next success 🥂


Overall an absolutely unputdownable, thought provoking, addictive and compelling devastatingly beautiful, heartwarming and heartbreaking book!!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Sarah's 'The Lost Letters' which promises to be just as beautiful and addictive as this book and one I'm looking forward to reading myself!

Genres covered in this book include Women's Domestic Life Fiction, Family Life Fiction, Historical World War ll Fiction, Women's Friendship Fiction, Spiritual & Historical Fiction, Women's Writers & Fiction, Women's Contemporary Fiction, Women's Romance Fiction, Romance, Women's Sagas, Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Family Drama, Sagas, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Historical Fiction and Contemporary Romance Fiction and amongst others.



I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley, Barbara O’Neal, Jojo Moyes, Debbie Macomber, Susanne O’Leary, Pamela Kelly, Nancy Thayer. Lorna Cook, Fiona Valpy, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Amanda Prowse, Diane Chamberlain and anyone who loves a page turner.



453 pages.


This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £10.99 in paperback at time of review, via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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Sarah Mitchell's LETTERS TO A STRANGER is an exquisite multi-generational story of love, loss, and family secrets

At the heart of this unique, heartfelt novel is a shattering loss that irrevocably changes the lives of a cast of complex, unforgettable, and endearing characters.

A heartrending tale of two women, Cassie (young) and Ruby (old), with dual timelines: the 2020 pandemic and World War II—told in a fresh, clever way in its entirety solely through letters, emails, diary entries, and text messages.

These two brave women will connect in ways they cannot imagine.

England 1939, Ruby, age seventeen, is in love with her childhood sweetheart, Edmondo. With the war approaching, she cannot believe the hatred in her village toward Edomondo's Italian family.

Ruby makes a critical decision that will mean she has to keep a secret from everyone she knows, maybe forever…

Present day. 2020 Ruby Summers has lived a full life. She was also an influential scientist that saved the lives of many— and now, at age ninety-six, living in a quiet countryside retirement home, her memories are still vivid. She takes part in a letter-writing scheme with a total stranger, Cassie.

Ruby may be an elderly lady, but her memory remains perfect. Will she finally share her secret with this stranger?

"The great advantage of old age is that some memories fade to dust while others retain such colour that they continue to brighten every day."

2020: Cassie is a young single mother who escapes London to the countryside with her six-year-old son, Noah, during COVID pandemic. He has recently recovered from Leukemia, and due to his weakened immune system, she moves out of the house with her partner, Stuart, the dentist, since he is around patients and high risk. She rents a caravan.

Noah's school created the letter-writing scheme; Ruby and Cassie, two strangers, become entwined with each other's lives through letters.

The 'past' follows Ruby through her diary entries and letters written to her from various others people, family, and friends and her Italian boyfriend, Edmondo. Is Edmondo the son of a traitor? Will they find one another again?

I particularly loved Ruby since I appreciate the wisdom of this generation and the heartaches and journey they have traveled. We learn so much about this brave, intelligent woman as she slowly tells her story through the war and after. From grief, regrets, forgiveness, and long-held secrets.

I also enjoyed Cassie's story in the present day and how their lives are interconnected. A story of hope in the face of war and present uncertainty.

"Whenever you're away and I want to hear your voice all I'll have to do is unfold a piece of paper and you'll be standing next to me. It's the closest thing I can think to magic."

Meticulously researched and beautifully written, the author tells of her inspiration from an article in The Week about how the Head of a primary school encouraged children to become penfriends with the residents of a care home during the pandemic. The untold stories and her love of letters.

My first book by this talented author, and I cannot wait to read more.

LETTERS TO A STRANGER is a bittersweet tale of loss, destiny, and the strings of deep love that bind us together over the years. This heartrending, captivating tale of family, first love, and fate will transport you and may just inspire you to write your own letter.

For fans of authors Kathryn Hughes, Patti Callahan Henry, and Kristin Harmel.

Thank you to #Bookouture and #NetGalley for a gifted e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 9, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
March 2023 Must-Read Books

This book covers a dual time one is during Covid and then WWII 1939. In the present Cassie, lives with boyfriend whose a dentist. Cassie moves her son and herself to a caravan on the beach to protect Noah her son who is immunosuppressive. Carrie corresponds with owner Austin who becomes partial to her son and sends by text interesting topics like tractors, animals, clouds, he owns a farm.

Noah’s school starts a pen pal project with a resident care facility. Noah can’t write so Cassie takes over..
Ruby Summers, 92 yrs, starts to feed her story thru segments of a diary. She had an interesting life living thru war. She lived near Italians and when Mussolini joined the war friendship was strained. Yet her closest friend was Edmundo the son.
The story has so much emotion such as fear and isolation.. But one discovers love and being true to yourself.
The characters are clear and descriptive. The war is all sorts of emotion including betrayal and friendship.
I would recommend this book if you like reading how lives are affected by war and when Covid is also fearful..

In this touching book, a beautiful story is told in the form of letters, text messages, as well as emails. This dual-timeline story goes back and forth during the World War II era and present day during the height of the pandemic.

Our characters are elderly Ruby, nearing 100 years of age, in present day exchanging letters with a complete stranger due to a correspondence program set up with local residents of a retirement home where they were meant to write letters back-and-forth with students. However, Cassie, the mother of the student meant to write the letters, takes on the task because her six-year-old son was mistakenly included in the program.

There is more to learn about both Ruby and Cassie. For Cassie, she has taken her son away to keep him as far away from anyone infected with the virus, as he has had seriously poor health and is she feels that he would be too vulnerable to Covid. Cassie exchanges emails with her partner but also letters with the owner of the place where she is staying. As far as Ruby is concerned, her story begins when she is about 17 years of age and has found love, but because of the war and the ideals associated with the war, her love is a forbidden one.

This story had me utterly enthralled. While the story started slow because it was all in letter format, it quickly became very engaging. I suddenly found myself very immersed in both Ruby and Cassie’s stories, more than eager to see how their lives evolved based on each of their experiences. Quite a bit of the story was heartbreaking, especially when we read of Ruby’s life, especially as Cassie starts to read some of Ruby’s actual writing when she was younger.

Sarah Mitchell wrote the story in a compelling fashion, which will no doubt, inspire some to think about how written letters can have a very powerful affect on one’s life.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to join the blog tour for Letters to a Stranger by Sarah Mitchell and a digital review copy.

Regular readers of my reviews will know that I enjoy dual timeline historical fiction novels linked to the Second World War. This is the first one I’ve read that has the modern day time period set during the first Covid lockdown of 2020 and I’m happy to confirm that it worked well.

In 2020, Cassie is trying to keep her young son safe from the global pandemic by hiding away at a deserted caravan park. She rediscovers the joy of letter writing, including to a new elderly pen pal.

The new pen pal, Ruby, talks about how the war changed Britain, including how neighbours were suddenly seen as the enemy because they were born abroad despite have lived here for years. She feels guilty about the events of the early 1940’s and starts to share her story with Cassie.

One of the saddest sections of the book is when Ruby’s usual companion in the living room at her retirement home isn’t there anymore. Although Covid isn’t mentioned here, it was a poignant reminder about how many of our elderly people died during that first lockdown.

I loved how Cassie and Ruby’s lives became intertwined in this story. The book starts gently but the pace quickly picks up and I was desperate to find out more about what happened to Edmondo and his family. A lovely, emotional read from a new author to me and I look forward to reading more from Sarah in the future.

I wondered often during the pandemic lockdowns when we would start to see books and TV start to include this in their narrative – I have the answer from my point of view, as Letters to a Stranger is the first novel I’ve read in which the pandemic takes centre stage.

It’s actually quite cleverly used as it is something of a reset for Cassie as she heads to rural Norfolk to keep her son safe – despite the negative responses of some of the local people, we will find out exactly why this is as we go along.

During this time, Cassie receives a letter from an elderly lady as part of a letter-writing programme through her sons school – little does she know how this will change her life.

Interspersed with this are scenes set during WW2, featuring Ruby Summers who is trying to have those normal experiences of teenage life, but set against prejudice and fear at the start of the war. We know that Ruby is Cassie’s correspondent, but exactly how these two stories that are based in fear of a nameless enemy relate to each other will all become clear.

I think I am about ready to see the pandemic in fiction – even in current contemporary novels, there seems to be little appetite to address it and if you read much contemporary fiction you wouldn’t know anything had happened. It’s certainly used to great effect here, acting as a catalyst to help Cassie completely reassess her life and, perhaps without it she would not have had the headspace to strike ups. friendship with an elderly letter-writer!

The whole novel, in the modern and historical sections, is set out in letters, diary entries and texts, which give it an immediacy that I thought was really effective. We rarely see the other side of some of the letters, but when we do, they hit hard.

All the historical sections are all based around the fear of spies in the early stages of the war – the internment of Italian and German residents is well-documented, but this novel really brings those horrible actions, the fear and persecution, to life. The parallels to the fears of people during the pandemic were put across really well.

I very much enjoyed this – the dual timeline works well and, although it does resolve in a happy way, there is significant pause-for-thought of what might have been were it not for the interference of frightened strangers.

I throughly enjoyed the written style of this novel. The entire book is set up in a correspondence of text messages and letters. I find this type of style easy to read and ultimately one I did not want to put down.
The dual timeline follows two women, Ruby a British teenager living through the beginnings of the war in 1939 and Cassie, a single mum trying to protect her son during the Covid Pandemic in 2020.

The characters were truly compelling and came to life very easily through the authors narratives.
I really loved that although the present day characters had the option to use technology they ultimately chose to resort to the art of letter writing as well. There is just something so personal about a written letter.

I thought the ending was a little abrupt and I would have liked to see what happened next but all in all a very enjoyable read!
Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for the advanced copy.

Letters to a Stranger is an absolutely unique and charming read. Narrated in epistolary form, the storytelling was just perfect and drew me in quickly. The dual timelines alternating between the 2020 pandemic and the past during WWII are entirely told in letters, emails and diary entries. The story is well executed and just pulls at your heartstrings all along.

The characters are fascinating, likeable and relatable. Reading about Cassie and Ruby felt like connecting with old friends while they share their stories of love, duty, loyalty, betrayal, secrets, family and friendship. An incredible, emotional and delightful read.

Thank you @netgalley @bookouture and @sarahm_writer for having me on the #booksontour and providing me with a digital ARC to read and review.

Letters to a Stranger by Sarah Mitchell is set during the early years of World War Two and the outbreak of the modern day pandemic which we recently slowly emerged from. The entire story is told through texts, emails, letters and diary entries and yes this is a bit disconcerting at first but once the story finds its rhythm you tend to forget about the brief texts etc and just get on with reading the story. At times reading of Cassie in the present day, I found myself flying through her sections because of the briefness of some of messages and I don’t think I always took in all of the necessary information because I was reading too quickly. I find paragraphs of pure narration or conversations between characters require more concentration and I retain much more information so that’s why I think I preferred Ruby’s story to Cassie’s as it’s told in the form of diary entries. Yet the loss, turmoil, danger, suffering and in a way suffocation felt by both women as they share their stories was definitely felt by this reader.

March 2020 and Cassie has disobeyed all the rules and fled London with her young son Noah. She has left Stuart her partner behind as he can continue to work as a dentist when the vast majority of society has shut down to due to Covid. Instantly, I wanted to know why didn’t she stay where she was given the rules were not to travel? Her reasons soon become apparent and I could understand her actions. She arrives at a caravan park in Norfolk close to the sea. There are no other residents and she has kept the prearranged booking for a holiday from farmer Austin. She extends her stay and as time passes both herself and Noah despite some hostilities from locals start to feel at home and more settled and comfortable despite the pandemic and its impact growing by the day.

Cassie also has to deal with the fact her neighbour and best friend, Mandy, is no longer talking to her and again I had endless questions running through my head as to what could be the cause of this? Cassie communicates with Austin through letters, texts and emails and although they never see each other for the vast majority of the story a friendship is built up. We learn a lot about Austin living on his own on a farm and a bond is formed between himself and Cassie. She starts to feel as if life in London had never happened and you can see her reluctantly communicating with Stuart only when she must. It was interesting to read of the dynamics of their relationship and how it ebbed, flowed and altered over the course of the pandemic. When Noah’s school organises a letter writing initiative to alleviate loneliness during lockdown he is matched with Ruby Summers age 96 and although Noah is in the wrong year group and too young for the project Cassie decides to keep up the communication and the pair write to each other becoming ‘Dear New Best Friends’. So begins the revealing of an incredible story.

From this point on the story moves back and forth quite seamlessly between the past and present and my attention was fully caught by Ruby’s story. Through Ruby’s diary entries we learn that she lives in Ipswich and the threat of war is looming. She is stepping out with an Italian boy named Edmondo Brambilla whose family have lived in the area for years and have served their community well through their shop. There is no doubt about it the pair have an intense love for each other but it is about to be severely tested. As war breaks out and the consensus is that Mussolini will join Hitler’s side the Brambilla family come under attack and Ruby too receives warnings to keep away from them. How can a family who have nothing to do with Mussolini or don’t back his beliefs go from valued members of society to aliens who are deemed worthy of being locked up and entered?

Ruby’s loyalties are severely tested. She is confused about what is unfolding but knows that she loves Edmondo. How can he and his family be treated as a friends one day and enemies the next? Ruby comes under pressure from her family and one person in particular. She is tasked with something impossible and unjust which goes against everything she believes in and stands for. You could feel the weight of her burden as her diary entries progressed. When the consequences of the war hit far too close to home for herself and her family she is faced with the ultimate decision. One which cannot be made lightly but instead needs careful consideration and thought. For whatever she decides will devastate people and have such disastrous and overwhelming consequences and all because of the madness human beings inflict on each other. As for what Ruby decides you will have to read to discover the answers for yourself? Suffice to say she was a brave young girl put in a tough and distressing position.

If I’d known the format of the book prior to reading I don’t know would have I chosen to read to it as I didn’t think the letters, texts etc could sustain an entire novel especially without any specific face to face communication/conversation or entire chapters told through just narrative. But I suppose it does reflect how people had to live and exist during the pandemic and during the war years also. Although a book which stirs memories of those awful days of chaos, fear and uncertainty and really the sheer at times laughable rules enforced upon us in the not so recent past did I really want to go back to that time? Especially when it’s only in the last 6 to 9 months or so that life has returned to some form of normality.

I felt it was brave of the author to tackle the subject of the pandemic given how fresh it is in our minds and when we just want to forget about those times and try and move forward. These were my initial thoughts as I read through the first few chapters but it was only around the halfway point that I thought yes the format of the book does work and it did sustain itself for the entire way through until the end which came with twists and turns I hadn’t seen coming from a mile away. I liked the comparison and contrast between what Cassie was experiencing in the present day and what Ruby was going through during the early days of the war. It reminded us that those who have gone before us suffered too although to a much greater extent than we had to and that amidst the bad and difficult times hope and happiness in whatever form be it big or small can be found.

I enjoyed Letters to a Stranger and to be honest it was Ruby’s story which really held my interest throughout. She is faced with a very challenging and emotional decision and whatever she decides there are long lasting consequences for all involved. She really battled with everything she was going through and faced such emotional inner turmoil, upheaval and instability. Love, betrayal, treachery, loyalty and devotion are all themes explored throughout this engaging and engrossing story. Although, I did question did the twist come completely out of nowhere and was it just that bit too far fetched? I understand some sort of link had to become apparent but I felt like I had missed out on some clues and it felt a bit like it was put there simply to bind the strands together almost as if it was a lastminute decision and for me just a bit too random.

Or else am I just that little bit bitter that I didn’t see it coming and in fact it’s sheer genius. To be honest, I’m torn as to what I think. I would have liked a little bit more development of the revelation and the ending was rather abrupt. I was at the 93% mark and thought I had a nice little bit to go to wrap things up and with a turn of the page that was it. I was left wanting that little bit more. Even an epilogue but it wasn’t too be. Saying all that I definitely would recommend this book, its different from what’s out there at the moment in the historical fiction genre and it’s a dual timeline story done in a refreshing way once you settle into the format. After a slow start it really does pick up and it is a different and innovative read.

The power of the written word.

Letters to a Stranger is a wonderful and unique book that has the characters interacting through the use of letters, texts and emails. I enjoy reading along as they shared about their lives, gave advice, and helped others with information.

Letter writing and receiving a letter in the mail can be a lovely thing. In this day and age, people rely on texts and emails to communicate. There is convivence and instant gratification in that and yet putting a letter in the mail, waiting, and then receiving one in return can, does and did give people something to look forward to.

Pen Pals, remember those? I remember having a pen pal as a child and it was nice to see a pen pal relationship develop in this book.

In the beginning of this book, it is 1939 and the world is on the brink of war. Seventeen-year-old Ruby is beautiful, full of life and in love with a young man named Edmondo. It is a tough time to be alive, there is danger, mistrust and Ruby makes a decision that means she must keep a secret.


In 2020 Ruby is 96 years old and has become a pen pal to a young single mother named Cassie. There was a mix up at Cassie's son's school and her six-year-old was assigned a pen pal. When they receive the letter from Ruby, Cassie writes back to inform Ruby of the mistake and in the process the two women become pen pals.

Cassie's son has been sick, and she has rented a caravan for them to live in outside of London during the beginning of the pandemic. When not writing to Ruby, she is texting and emailing the man she rented the caravan from and her boyfriend back in London.

This was a heartwarming and lovely book which shows how words have meaning. There is power in the written word. How can be vulnerable and open when sharing. How having someone to share with and help is not only comforting but needed. During a time of isolation, those in this book build bonds, form relationships, support and help each other.

I found this book to be unique, lovely, and heartwarming.


#LetterstoaStranger #NetGalley #SarahMitchell

I wasn’t sure about this book when I began to read. Cassie and Noah (mother and son) are camped out in a caravan in March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, and their reasons for being there become clear as you read. With dual timelines of 2020 and 1940, the entire book is made-up of letters and diary entries (1940) and letters, texts and emails (2020). By the middle of the second part of the book, (there are seven), I was well and truly hooked!

Dive in and find out for yourselves just how all the characters link up. I can honestly say that it wasn’t until Ruby - a ninety-six-year-old woman - explains the achievements in her life - that I worked out how everything interlinked!

Sarah Mitchell is just so expressive in her writing and she has made me want to find out more about cloud formations and telling the weather from them (wouldn’t you just love to be having a drink with me in a pub)!!!

My favourite quote from the book is an old Maori proverb "Turn your face towards the sun and the shadows fall behind you".

Recommended for anyone who has a love of historical fiction, particularly that which is set in WWII. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review Letters to a Stranger by Sarah Mitchell.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book, written entirely in letters, was something strange for me to read. The only book I’d read like this was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. However, Letters to a Stranger was a beautiful surprise for me. Although told entirely in letters, the transition between present and past was effortlessly seamless and flowed so well together! I loved watching the characters fall in love, betray each other, and find their friends without actually meeting each other. Being apart gives people so much perspective, but if a person is meant for you, they will find their way to you eventually. This is what this book really meant for me.

The only issue I had with the book was that it was difficult to get into due to it being entirely in letters. The first part seemed to take forever to read through, but this is just my personal opinion and my preferred books. However, as I immersed myself into the book, the letters made it much more personal and interesting.

I highly recommend this book for those looking a different historical fiction based in World War Two. It is truly an unforgettable tale!

Written through letters and emails from war time to present. Took a bit to get into the way it's written and jumping back and forth but as I continued reading I found myself totally involved in the people and their lives.
Go in prepared for this concept and you just might find yourself enjoying it as well.

Thanks to the author,the publisher ad Netgalley for am early release of this book.

BOOK TOUR!!! I just finished Letters to a stranger by Sarah Mitchell and here are my musings.

Imagine 17 in 1939 and being in love. In England during a war and the love of your life is italian. It is an imperfect world. Ruby has her whole world change then and the secret she keeps haunts her 80 years on.

Ruby is now an old lady and finds herself in a letter exchange program with a local school where she begins corresponding with a stranger, a mother of a small boy. Ruby feels the urge to share her secret after all these years but this truth has the power to destroy their friendship and change their worlds forever.

Did you get chills? You should have! This book is a one in a million read. I don’t usually connect so well to books written in the format of text messages, letters, emails etc but this actually worked quite well in laying out this story.

I felt like I was connecting with old friends in Cassie and Ruby and reading about them unfolding on the pages was a pure literary delight. I loved the two timelines and it was so artfully done too. It was quite the story being weaved and it was executed with precision and class.

I especially loved all the story building. So beautiful and devastatingly heartbreaking that you won’t be able to help but ugly cry. You won’t be able to help being captivated by this majestic novel that the pages practically turn themselves.


5 stars. If you love a book that will break your heart in all the right ways, this has to be your next book.


Thank you @bookouture for having me on this tour and to @netgalley for my review copy

I absolutely loved this book which captured two different time zones superbly.
It was very different in the way it was written as it was done entirely in letters, emails, texts & diary entries.
If you are thinking does that even work ? Then the answer is yes it certainly does.
It was based around the pandemic & WW11 & it was a cleverly engineered plot.
A beautiful interesting story that built in to a wonderful read, I just couldn’t put it down in the end.
Cassie is a single mum with a son named Noah who is now in a relationship with Stuart a dentist.
Noah is recovering from Leukaemia & Cassie is in a panic about him catching Covid.
Stuart is at high risk of catching covid due to interactions with patients.
Cassie feels the need to remove herself & Noah
to a rented caravan in Norfolk that originally was arranged for a holiday before the pandemic hit.
Although she knows she shouldn’t be doing it the panic to keep Noah safe is uppermost in her mind.
It’s closed so nobody will be there so it will feel safer.
Our second time line is 1939 & the world is on the brink of war.
Ruby who is only seventeen is madly in love with an Italian named Edmondo.
Edmondo & his family have always been well thought of & run a local business.
However with war looming everything is about to change drastically for the young couple.
Present day we see Cassie & Ruby’s lives become connected by a series of letters.
This comes about by Noah’s school taking part in a writing scheme to involve local care homes for the elderly.
Beautifully written this was a real page turner for me & it certainly held my attention throughout.

This book absolutely amazed me. Both Cassie and Ruby are captivating characters, complex and likeable. Mitchell really surprised me with not only the parallels she drew between the two time periods, even though circumstances were vastly different, but also with how she brought so many layers to this story. The book is told entirely through letters, emails, diary entries, and text messages. It made it easy to read, easy to follow, and read quickly. I love books that don’t take the normal way to handle the prose, especially because it felt like it was one constant conversation. This book also taught me something new about WWII that I did not previously know, and that is the treatment of Italians in Great Britain. I love the idea of a pen pal, as I had one when I was much younger. This book has inspired me to maybe find a pen pal again! Brava to Mitchell for such a fantastic novel.