Took me a while to get in to this book. The narrator through me because I just really didn’t connect with her voice—it was a little Disney princessy—and especially her male voices were cringey. Plus the story is quite slooowwwwww. It felt like the whole story happened in the first 20% of the book and then just stalled. The beginning was the portion that was a “Romeo and Juliet” meets “You’ve Got Mail” and was intriguing, but then it just dragged on for me until about 60% when the Able mystery started up. It felt like it could end and then I just kept going, I think it could have been about have its length and been a solid book. Alas, overall it was nice story. I think of lot of readers would enjoy the book, but it was a little bland for me.

This book was fantastic!!! I am I huge fan of the movie You’ve Got Mail and so I had to read this when I heard about it. It’s wonderful mix of a family feud and a sweet love story!

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

2.5. Pretty formulaic story about a couple going against their family's values and rules about who they can love. Story involves a family fued, and the heirs/heiresses of the families' principals. Rather a slow read. Not particularly appealing to me.

The Letter Tree was such an engaging story that had both historical fiction and some mystery. I love when books have a mix of genres to them, which captured me right away.

Featuring themes of friendship, love, and resilience, it was such a great story that left me with all the heartwarming feels when I finished.

🎧I paired the book with the audiobook format and always love to immersive myself into a story this way when I can. It really had me connected to the characters, and I thought the narration was great!

*many thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

Rachel Fordham’s novel, The Letter Tree, was an enchanting blend of historical fiction, romance, and a touch of mystery, reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, albeit with a much happier ending.

“I wonder whether you and I ever cross paths when we stroll through the park…. Have our eyes met, and we didn’t know it?” ~ Rachel Fordham

The characters in this novel were showstoppers! Despite her hardships and isolation, Laura radiated kindness, forgiveness, and unwavering hope. Her dreams for a better life and true love were so pure, making me enjoy her character arc all the more. Simultaneously, Isaac’s quest for a life with purpose and his unwavering integrity made him a standout lead. His respectful demeanor, accountability for his actions, and genuine kindness made him someone to admire.

The Letter Tree weaved a delightful tapestry of friendship, loyalty, and love. I especially loved reading Laura and Isaac’s letters. Unlike Romeo and Juliet, they faced their forbidden relationship with resilience, grace, and determination to reconcile their families rather than running off in disgrace.

Of course, I must give a shout-out to Charlie, Isaac’s best friend, and the one responsible for most of my laughs. He brought humor into the serious themes of this novel and made me appreciate what true friendship looks like. Charlie was devoted to Isaac, but made sure he wasn’t masked in the shadows of the upper class.

The Letter Tree was my first, but not last, novel by Rachel Fordham. I found her writing engaging and evocative, drawing me into every detail. I appreciated how she handled the story and didn’t allow her characters to succumb to bitterness after they were mistreated. The narrator also did a great job of bringing everything to life, putting a voice to the words so I could immerse myself in the book while going about my daily chores.

Overall, The Letter Tree is a captivating and heartwarming read that will leave an impression on readers. If you’re looking for a comforting yet engaging literary escape, The Letter Tree is the book for you.

I didn’t care for this I got lost and found myself making excuses to read I would pass but had some high points

This well written story is told from the two main characters points of view and using a Romeo and Juliet scenario. Definitely recommended when you are looking for a soothing historical read with a lovely mix of sweet romance and family mystery. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, I simply loved this book! I mean what’s not to love when there is a family feud, enemies trope, friends trope, love, love letters and the age old classics kind of feel. I absolutely adored the book and would’t want to change a thing!

This book was slow-going. Do I think that any of it could have been left out? No, that would have subtracted from the story. However, it all felt as though it were building up to something, and then the actual climax felt like a bit of a letdown.

The characters were good, and the plot was interesting enough. The best part about this book was its historical accuracy.

Romeo and Juliet love story . It is syory in 1920's between two families that are in fued. The main segying is Buffalo Zoo and tree next to it. I loved characters that we more advence then time they were in, but still behive as per time.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a sweet read. A little drawn out at times but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and see the story build. Well written and the narrator did great! I would read more by this author.

This is a fascinating story with a wonderful concept. The narration is excellent, adding to the story rather than distracting from it. I enjoyed it and the way it transported me back in time.

This was not an easy book to get into but it was alright in the end. Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it instead of listening to it. The narrator was not my favorite.
This is a reimagined Romeo and Juliet story, except the star-crossed lovers used to be childhood friends and are now separated by a feud between their families, or rather fathers, who both own a local shoe factory. The book is set in 1920s Buffalo, NY.
The reason for the feud is strange and something that could have been remedied with a simple conversation - I feel like it could be a bit more dramatic to warrant all the spiteful things the families were doing to each other.
The pacing could be a bit better - we get a very drawn-out story of Laura and Isaac and literally their everyday routines. And then the story wraps up rather neatly in the end.
The letter tree is cute but really? They did not figure out who the other correspondent was for seven years and then one just catches the other next to it? After we are told repeatedly they are both in the zoo all the time yet somehow managed to avoid each other to the point where Isaac almost doesn't recognize Laura.
Laura's dad is awful. Again, a simple misunderstanding, and instead of a loving father he became this money and success-obsessed person who shit-talks his dead wife to his heartbroken daughter. Male fragility and self-centeredness have no bounds.
Laura is very quaint with her love for books and animals and desire to "just get away." I get that the zoos were an ok thing to love in 1920, but she could love it a little less or at least understand that her beloved animals should clearly be in the wild, not in cages for her and Isaac's enjoyment.
I finished it because I was invested at that point, but it was overall a bit too lovey-dovey for me.

I loved every minute of this book. The narrrator did a fantastic job. I was pulled in from the very beginning. It is a wonderful mix of You’ve Got Mail and Romeo and Juliet. Two families torn apart from scandal and war. The fall out affects the two children who were friends before. After unexpected correspondence and years between, Laura and Isaac are thrown together again.

This story has so many twists and turns that will keep you hooked until the end. I loved the era, that romance, the intrigue. I loved all of it!!

Thank you so much for this book.

I bought this book as I was not able to download it on time when it was available. It was heart-warming and the characters were all charming. If there's a word to describe this book, then it is"UNPUTDOWNABLE".

Recommended!

Thank you so much!

This was such a cute premise. Set in 1924, The Campbells and Bradshaws in Buffalo, NY have become enemies in the corporate world of shoe manufacturing. A fallout happened years before, and the children who used to be friends have been banned from speaking to each other. Laura Bradshaw is just a pawn in her father’s fight to stay on top. Isaac Campbell doesn’t care about the company or the rivalry the way his father wants him to. When Laura bares her heart out in a letter that she leaves in a tree, Isaac happens to find it and he unknowingly becomes penpals with someone he is supposed to have no contact with.

It does have a little bit of a Romeo and Juliet feel, but not as tragic. I thought the letters were a cute way to tell the story. Laura’s naiveté sometimes bugged me, but it probably wasn’t beyond possibility considering the time this is set in.

Clean, sweet, and would recommend. I did prefer reading it to the audio book this time around. But maybe just because I did read it, then tried to listen? Maybe in time I'll go back to the audio book.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this sweet story about two rival families and their children who were once friends, and then told they could never see each other again. A delightful and easy read.

Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for my advance reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

I knew that this would be a very nice book, but I did not expect that I would love the book.
Laura and Isaac sounded so sweet and yet so courageous. We had our villain, who was easily defeated with no harm.
The mildness and softness of the book and the characters appealed me so so much, So much cuteness together - Laura's parrot, Ms. Guskin, other side characters all had to bring something valuable to the scene.
We cannot even say that this was a modern Romeo & Juliet, as the story's timeline is not that recent and modern - 1924!

The Letter Tree is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a much happier ending. This novel is a sweet romance with loveabke characters. The story takes place during the 1920’s and has lots of interesting history. I enjoyed reading about the real life places and people that were included in the story.

This audiobook is narrated by Kira Fixx. She does a good job of bringing the story and characters to life.

The Letter Tree is a light and satisfying read with characters that the reader won’t soon forget.

I read both the ebook and listened to the audiobook. I loved the idea of this story when I read the synopsis. It turned out to be a sweet romance with some historical backdrop. This will appeal to many readers but I found it to be rather slow moving and a bit saccharine.