Historical Fiction filled with a family feud, star crossed young love, and characters who love animals! I enjoyed every bit of this lighthearted story. Thank you #netgalley for the #ARC !!

This is a beautifully written, sweet, heartfelt story that takes place in update New York, in the early 1920s. Two childhood friends have not been able to see each other or talk to one another for years because of a disagreement between their families.

The Bradshaw’s and the Campbell’s were business partners in the manufacturing of shoes and close family friends, until they were not. Nobody seemed to know exactly what created the rift between the two families who are now competitors in the shoe business. Neither of the families have spoken to each other for years.
At age fourteen, Laura Bradshaw loses her mother to an accident when a car hits her crossing the street. Sometime later, at a park near her house, Laura stuffs a poem she wrote into the hollow opening of her favorite tree. When she goes back to get the poem a few days later, instead she finds a letter addressed to the poem writer. She responds with another letter that she places in the tree. This exchange of letters using the tree as a mailbox, goes on for seven years. The letters provide a welcome escape for Laura from her solitary, dull, lonely life.

Such a heartfelt, fascinating story as the letter writing continues for many years. When the identify of one of the writers is accidently discovered, it causes an unexpected dilemma. This is a fascinating story of commitment, the revelation of unscrupulous business dealings and the forgiveness of long-held grievances and secrets.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first book I read by Rachel Fordham and OMG…. I loved it.

The story, set in the 1920s, is about two families, the Bradshaws and Campbells, once close friends now enemies, which gave me Romeo & Juliet vibes. The world was described beautifully and the little details were amazing. It actually felt being there. The main characters are Isaac Campbell and Laura Bradshaw. I loved Laura and instantly connected with her, cause of her dreams, fantasy and love for animals. Her visits to the zoo and the memories of her mother and the emotions were well felt. The highlight for me was ‘her’ Maple tree, where for 7 years, she wrote and received letters from an ‘unknown’ person. The letters are so heartfelt that you just fall in love with handwritten letters again. Isaac is the sweetest protective guy and gosh, if I could fall in love with a fictional character, it will be him.

I can not wait to read more of Rachel Fordham books as this one was incredible. One of the best books I have read so far and definitely a must read if you like forbidden love, friends to lovers or enemies to lover tropes.

*Book Releases Oct 1, 2023*

Ever since I happened upon @rachel_fordham 's novels I fell in love and she is now one of my top 20 authors. So getting to read one of her upcoming books was a dream come true!

Her books are full of hope, romance, and heart. I absolutely love the main characters Isaac Campbell and Laura Bradshaw. It was amazing to read the letters they each wrote to each other and that trope of Friends to Lovers while also living the setting of real life Enemies to Lovers.

I loved that both Laura and Isaac just have the best hearts and good intentions. Laura's love of animals, whimsy and fairy tales rubs off on you and you want to dream and wish with her. Isaac on the other hand is such a protector and someone who you just want to gravitate towards.

The setting of early 1920's New York was perfection as well and I loved how Rachel described everything from the Brooklyn Zoo to the fringe dresses. It was just perfection.

If you are looking for a way to make time go faster while waiting for this book's release make sure to read the previous novels from Rachel Fordham. Her first one The Hope of Azure Springs will always be one that makes me cry when she pulls on my heartstrings and then swoon as the characters fall in love.

Seriously you cannot go wrong with any of her novels!

Long ago his words had stolen her heart, and now here he was, holding it in his hands. ~ Laura

If the eyes are windows to the soul, then letters are the gate way to the heart. There is just something about a handwritten letter. It is personal, it can be liberating, soothing, telling, unrestrained. There is a peace in putting pen to paper, letting your thoughts and feelings flow freely, allowing pieces of your soul to be bared. A release, an unburdening, a comfort. Letters are one of my favorite aspects of Rachel’s stories. She loves incorporating them and it is always special to experience the characters hopes, dreams, and fears this way.

The Letter Tree is the story of two feuding families, once close friends and business partners, William Campbell and Stanley Bradshaw, and their children Isaac and Laura. When William’s brother is drafted to the war and Laura’s mother dies in a freak accident, the world as Issac and Laura knows it crumbles. The business is split up, the children no longer allowed to see one another, and the families become mortal enemies.

Laura seeks solace in the park and zoo that she had spent so much time in with her mother. In a rush to get home undetected one afternoon, she hides a poem she penned in a tree. On her trip back to retrieve it, she finds the letter missing and another in its place. For the next seven years she exchanges letters with her letter friend, only to realize that it is the one person in the world she cannot befriend.

This story is a sort of Romeo and Juliet/You’ve Got Mail mash up. The feud is fierce between the families and any type of relationship that Laura and Isaac could have together would be strictly forbidden. But years of secretly communicating with a not-so-unknown stranger has laid the foundation for a beautiful, tender bond. Can they bring their families together by uncovering the mystery of the rift?

There are so many sweet moments in this story. I love how Isaac cares for Laura and tries to protect her even though he is supposed to hate her. Laura loves fairy tales and animals. Throughout the course of the book she finds her voice and some backbone, and she is determined to fight for the future she wants.

Loved this one, as I love all of Rachel’s books! She is an auto buy author for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.