Night Letter
Sterling Watson

Our tale begins at Bridgedale School for Boys in the early 60s. Travis has spent the last six years as an inmate at the school. He is eighteen and just released. He hitchhikes his way to San Francisco to see his mother; but realizes she has started over and doesn’t need him in her life. His next move is Panama City, Florida to find his Aunt Delia. He takes a job as a busboy at Sam’s Shrimp and Slaw. He makes a friend with the fry cook Emil and an almost friend with Jimmy.
I’m still not sure what to make of this tale. I struggled to finish it. The characters did not appeal to me. Travis was obsessed with his Aunt Delia. It was definitely and inappropriate “relationship.” The voice of the narrator grated on my nerves. I would classify this as a coming of age book.

It’s hard to classify what genre this book was for me. It was part suspense, part coming of age, part twisted romance. I think I expected a little more of Travis’ past and experiences in the juvenile facility to be the focus of the book. There was a heavy creepy element to his obsession with his aunt Delia. I didn’t really follow the storyline with Donnelle but I was still interested in seeing where it went. This book touched on a lot of sensitive issues for the time period it was written about -race, sexuality, abuse.

Overall it was an entertaining book, just very different from the thriller/suspense I was expecting.

Loved the narrator, and will certainly listen to more books narrated by him.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for giving me early access to this Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t decide if I liked this one or I didn’t. I really enjoyed parts of it and other were just blah. I will say the beginning really hooked me but then didn’t go on as I expected. Travis was a very like-able character who had a troubled past and was trying to grow and overcome his tough childhood. His story was a great story of growing up, overcoming challenges, friendship and a little bit of love.

I really enjoyed the audio version of the book and the narrator was great! Even though I have mixed feelings on this one I would recommend it. It is out Jan. 31st!

While it is not indicated anywhere at this time, this is actually a sequel to [book:Sweet Dream Baby|883801]. I did not know this when I began reading, but found out shortly after.

(When I requested an advance copy, I did not remember it being listed as historical fiction. I normally avoid all reviews when reading an advance copy. But I did some research, which is when I realized that Travis and Delia's story starts in [book:Sweet Dream Baby|883801]. )

While I suppose this does technically work as a stand alone, I always felt as if I were missing some pieces. I assume they are in [book:Sweet Dream Baby|883801].

This was just OK for me. And I have no idea how much of that has to do with never reading [book:Sweet Dream Baby|883801].

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job, but I did speed it up a lot to get the book over with. It made some pacing changes more noticable. But I barely noticed and was not bothered prior to speeding it up.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Night Letter was a Netgalley audio arc for me, and even as I write this review, part of me loved it, and part of me struggled with it - likely a good effort by any author to have the reader continue to evaluate even after the book is finished. First, I think I would have preferred to have read a paper copy vs the audio. I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator, and often the subject was cringy. Being able to read at my own pace (perhaps peruse to get past difficult scenes) would have made this a better book. For me. We are all different and I'd encourage you to listen in case the narration hits you differently.

I hate summing up books in a review (too much like elementary school book reports, and you can always read the publisher summary), but just briefly - a coming of age story with a troubled teen who was dealt an unfair hand. My struggle as a human, a mom, a woman from my own troubled childhood, was liking the main character, and accepting choices he made were often uncomfortable.

The writing was excellent and Sterling Watson knows how to turn a phrase.

First off I want to thank @netgalley & RBmedia for my free ALC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I went into listening this one completely blind, I'm glad I did as I don't think i would've been tempted by it or else. The narrator was excellent and kept me intrigued all throughout.

It was sometimes a hard one to hear in terms of content. So many secrets from this troubled youths past. I think the author did a great job in portraying all the characters and events.

This is a story of forbidden love, life lessons, growth and redemption. I thought it was well done. I was expecting more to happen and to actually be able to see all the Delia book. It was different from my usual reads but still found it interesting.

If you want a lightning a good story about forbidden love, life lessons, growth and redemption you will be charmed with this one.

Overall, not a great read but not so bad. Part of it was that I personally didn't relate to the protagonist, but again that's just personal so it didn't effect my review. The plot was a bit slow to pick up and parts were a bit graphic sexually, although part of that is to be expected in a novel where the main character is a coming of age male. I would not be interested in reading more from this author but other people may find his work more enjoyable and worth the time.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the advanced audiobook of this title for review.
This is a story of forbidden love and life lessons. Travis Hollister is released from reform school after 6 years following a crime he committed at the age of 12. Now 18, Travis is on a mission to find himself as well as searching for Delia, the aunt he has been in love with for years. After traveling to Panama City, Travis meets a young girl who he befriends during his search. Will Delia still feel the same or is it time for Travis to find new love?
The narration on this audiobook was excellent. I would recommend to fellow readers.

This story is told by Travis Hollister who has been incarcerated in a Nebraska reform school for six years because of a violent act he committed when he was 12. He’s now 18 and upon his release he first goes to San Francisco to find his mother and when that isn’t going to work out, he goes to Florida near where the incident he was incarcerated for occurred and his aunt Delia. Delia is who he spent the eventful summer with when he was 12 and now he wants to find out how she feels about him after all of these years.

In Florida Travis gets a job bussing tables and makes a couple of friends while being near Delia and considering what to do next. In the backdrop of the 1960’s this atmospheric novel takes on the social issues of the time as the story unfolds. It’s a story of forbidden love, trauma and coming of age under extenuating circumstances. The narrator for the audio version does an outstanding performance of the varying character voices.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of Night Letter.

Night Letter is a coming of age story, where the main character , Travis, travels back to Florida after spending time in a reform school. From here he tries to reconnect with his family and most importantly his aunt Delia who he feel in love with years ago.

The story includes lots of depths and explores the problems that occur when parents fail their children, but that it doesn't have to define them as Travis shows immense character development. The writing was detailed and delved into a lot of traumatic scenarios and scandals. However I was confused in parts and didn't find the book to be a thriller, although I did like Travis and rooted for him the story was more focused on his inner developments not the mystery of his past and problems he faces in the future. Therefore I did enjoy this but not as much as I thought I would as it wasn't what I thought it would be.

A beautiful mix of forbidden love and finding yourself, this was a well woven story coming from a troubled time in America's history in the deep south.

With well turned characters and a good deal of perceived character growth, I loved the pacing and hopeful look to the future we were left with.

While a times a bit disturbing in terms of content, and a few trigger warnings, I think Watson did a good job of telling a conflicted story while not giving over to salaciousness.

Too, the audiobook narrator did a good job of bringing characters to life, and keeping attention on the story!

Nice job here, and I look forward to future works!

Night Letter by Sterling Watson and narrated by Nick Walther is absolutely exceptional. I wouldn't be surprised if it became a modern classic.

We meet 18 year old Travis Hollister as he is getting ready to leave a reform school in Nebraska after 6 long years. He was placed there at just 12 years old after some turbulent and tragic events that led him to an act of violence. As soon as we meet him, we know that Travis is a troubled soul and that the road to redemption will be long and thorny. Is there even a chance of redemption for this extremely well-read, cynical, abandoned by everyone young man?

This is a stunning coming-of-age story about a youth that is trying to find his place in this world, learning to love and BE loved, trying to let go of his unrequired love for his young aunt Delia. His aunt. I'm not easily offended but it is still pretty appalling by today's standards. I applaud the bravery of the author. Travis' feelings of being abandoned make it difficult for him to accept help from his new friends and carve a place for anyone new in his heart. Also, Travis has an unusually high emotional intelligence, street smarts and overall cleverness. He is perceptive and kind. But he still manages to make some rather questionable choices due to his young age and being institutionalized during his most important and impressionable years.

The language of the book is rich, poetic, and immersive; the details of the 1960's USA and in particular of the Deep South are impeccable. It made me feel like I LIVED during that era (I didn't). It's been a while since I've read it but I got very strong Catcher In the Rye vibes from this book.

The narrator, Nick Walther, was a fantastic choice for this production. He did an outstanding job portraying characters of various ages, races, genders, and social backgrounds. His narration definitely contributed to my positive review of this book. What a talent!

Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media, for providing me with an advanced copy of the audiobook ahead of its publishing day of January 31, 2023. My review is voluntary and was not influenced in any way. I highly recommend this book.

Night Letter is well written, atmospheric, and has strong character development. The writing is descriptive and lyrical. It’s a coming of age story, where the main character is back in the Florida panhandle after spending time in a midwestern reform school. The story is full of small town scandals, inappropriate relationships, families failing their children, heartbreak, and issues that have been faced in every Deep South town. My only criticism is that this book was billed as a mystery/thriller and I did not find it to fall in this category; however, it is a great work of southern literary fiction that I recommend checking out. The audiobook is well narrated. The narrator does a fantastic job giving a voice to the diverse characters in the novel.

Thank you @recordedbooks and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Utterly captivating!

I loved Sterling Watson's NIGHT LETTER! The audiobook was exceptional, narrated by Nick Walther. My first book by the author, and I cannot wait to read more.

An evocative tale of a young man struggling to find his way. My heart went to Travis—you will fall in LOVE with the main character, 18-year-old Travis Hollister.

A thought-provoking coming of age, full of wisdom, life, humor, and superb storytelling!

The book picks up from the first book, 2002’s Sweet Dream Baby (which I rushed to buy, and now reading). You can read this as a standalone; however, you will be dying to know more about Travis/Delia.

Travis has spent six years in a Nebraska reform school for the crimes he committed in the first book in rural Panama City, FL, where he finds work as a busboy at a seafood restaurant.

Still haunted by his troubled childhood and the sins of his past, including stabbing a boy in self-defense, Travis wants to reunite with Delia, his aunt whom he idolized and fell in love with when he was 12, and she was 16. She is now married to a lawyer. (His dad's sister) His dad (former marine-now attorney) is remarried. His bio mother is in California and is mentally challenged.

The past and present converge as Travis tries desperately to find his way. A hard worker, he wants to be independent. He is pulled by his past with Delia and his present. What a cast of colorful supporting characters!

The author's writing is lyrical, poetic, and spellbinding!

I cannot believe I have not read this author previously—and that is about to change. Cannot wait to order his backlist. I listened to this in one day and could not put it down. Check out Watson's impressive bio.

The supporting characters are hilarious. Loved The Widow (the motel), and the girl he tries desperately to save, Dawnell Briscoe, from her abusive homelife, while he risks it all. Travis cannot seem to catch a break and runs into some evil and mean characters on this road to redemption.

An atmospheric, bittersweet tale of innocence, regrets, and second chances.

An emotional coming of age with a twist of Gothic Southern hardboiled noir. Inspiring and heartwarming, the characters will stay with you long after the book ends. Thought-provoking, and an ideal pick for book clubs and further discussions.

For fans of authors John Hart and Dennis Lehane. Also, fans of Amor Towles' Lincoln Highway will enjoy it. Highly recommend NIGHT LETTER! As a Floridan, I love books set in my state. (even though I am on the east coast).

Thank you to #RecordedBooks and #NetGalley for a gifted ALC.🔉 Also pre-ordered the hardcover.

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My Rating: 5 🌟 STARS +
Pub Date: 31 Jan 2023
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