Absolute perfection. This book feels like an epic love story with Romeo and Juliet vibes and You've Got Mail thrown in just to keep it completely engaging. I was hooked from the very first page and it unfolded so beautifully. A first time read for me by this author and I am now a huge fan. There is real character growth in the characters and I felt all the pains of despair and heartache. A word about the narrator. She has a very light almost whispery voice that quietly invited me to join her reading letters and I loved it. The voice of Isaac was impossible not to love and felt true to his character. I can't say enough good things about this story and the pacing. I wanted it to hurry and get to the end, but then enjoyed every stop along the way. It's a story about never giving up on love and finding our person. A person who truly sees us exactly as we are. Highly recommend!!

I'm glad I listened to this book in audio format. The narrator was great and did a good job on voicing all the characters.

The story was kind of exactly what I was expecting, but I chose to read it because it was set in my hometown. I'm happy to report the author did her research and was very accurate and I thought the book was well plotted and paced.

This isn't something I would normally read because it's kind of bland? I don't mean to criticize because it's a good book, it just isn't something that I will remember much after it is finished.

A lovely, lovely book!
Beautifully portrayed characters with great chemistry. I just couldn't help loving Laura and Isaac!
The narrator also did a great job with this book.

* I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.*

I really enjoyed this! I enjoyed how the Bradshaw-Campbell feud was brought up and how it progressed. The romance was sweet. I liked the side characters and I especially liked the role the maple tree played, the whole exchanging letters through a tree thing was really interesting to me! The pace felt off to me at times but overall it did meet my expectations and I liked it. I loved how the author mentioned what inspired her to write The Letter Tree and I would love to read more from her in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not stop listening to this audio book!

A romantic tale of correspondence, love, loyalty and forgiveness. Laura shares all her most intimate secrets and feelings with the unnamed pen pal. For years Laura would steal away to her letter tree to see if her friend had written.

When she decides it is time to leave her unknow friend behind fate decides to play it's hand.

A true love story, a definite must listen/read for any romantic at heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson Fiction for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Laura Bradshaw is a lonely girl after the death of her mother and loss of her best friend due to their families feuding. She begins a unique relationship with a pen pal through a tree at her local zoo. Years later she discovers the author of her treasured letters was from the boy (now a man) she was banned from seeing... her families rival, Issacs Campbell. This begins their torrid romance and quest to discover the real reason their fathers' friendship ended so many years ago.

This is a cute story but a basic Romeo and Juliet retelling...Tybalt included. The story is told from the dual perspectives of the two main characters. I liked both characters but struggled with the storyline itself. It was slow and never really went any where. I had the audio version read by Kira Fixx who does a nice job but voices were not too distinct and occasionally I wasn't sure who was speaking at the start of a chapter.

The Letter Tree is an interesting combination of a forbidden romance, a thread of mystery, and a friendship strengthened through letters all set in a wonderful 1920s setting. The Buffalo Zoo plays an important role, too, as the heroine aspires to care for animals and the zoo provides a special meeting place for the couple… once they work past their rivalries.

A history of broken family ties between the Campbells and the Bradshaws provides an intriguing setup for Isaac and Laura to join forces. Their letter writing absolutely pays homage to You’ve Got Mail, while their connection and intimate friendship plays out in its own unique way. A hint of the roaring 20’s society influences their world, bringing the machinations of others into their lives and revealing surprising family secrets in a tangle of mystery.

My favorite part of this novel is the depiction of the friendship-to-romance dynamic between Isaac and Laura. Laura’s love of books, Isaac’s steadiness, and the way the couple respects and honors each other’s dreams, aspirations, and personalities throughout are favorite aspects. I particularly enjoyed the audiobook version of this story and the way the narrator lent drama and personality to the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.

I loved everything about this story - the setting, the time period, the characters, the plot, and most importantly, the romance!

This was my second Rachel Fordham book, and she is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I love her clean historical romances. They warm my heart and always put a smile on my face. I adored this book!!

This is a Romeo & Juliet retelling with a dash of You’ve Got Mail, and it was so sweet and charming. I listened to the audiobook and couldn’t stop listening to it. It’s a dual POV from both the main female protagonist, Laura, and the main male protagonist, Issac. I appreciated getting both of their perspectives in this story, which helped me to connect and relate to both characters. You could see how they were both innocent young adults swept up in this family feud between their fathers, who worked together at a shoe factory until they had a falling out. Now, they both rival each other with their own shoe factories, constantly trying to exceed the other in business.

I really enjoyed this story being set in the 1920s. It was fun going back in time to this era, and through the descriptive writing, I was fully immersed in this time period and could picture what was being described, from clothing to housing to lifestyle to behavior of people back then. I also enjoyed the settings of the Buffalo Zoo and Niagra Falls toward the end of the book. The author weaves in real historical facts mixed with fiction, and at the end, she offers an author’s note about the story, what was made up, and what was real.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. They were fully developed and were easy to connect with and relate to. I felt fully invested in them and watching this relationship progress was really entertaining. We get depth from the characters and the overall story, which adds to the book. We feel the tension and exhaustion of this family feud that has been going on for many years. If you enjoy the enemies to lovers and forbidden love romance tropes, then you’ll love this story.

I also was really engaged with the plot. I thought it was creative and entertaining. It kept my interest the entire time, and I kept wanting to know what would happen next. The pacing was great. There was a wonderful balance of romance and drama to keep my attention. There’s even a bit of a mystery to figure out, which was unexpected and made the book even more interesting.

This is such a heartwarming, feel-good story that I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance stories and historical dramas. Absolutely loved it, and now I want to buy a physical copy for my personal library and reread it! This is an author I want to read to zero now.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

(3.5 stars audio)
This story oozes old world charm, just as its' description promised. Half way through the book, I was trying to describe this book to my friend. I described it as a pinch of Romeo and Juliet, with a pinch of the reality TV show Catfish, and a final pinch of the movie You've Got Mail. After listening to the author's note at the end of the book, I was thrilled to see that two out of the three were part of her writing inspiration. Does it work? Yes. It's a recipe for a sweet read with a little bit of drama.

Make yourself a cuppa, settle down and follow the lives of Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell, heiress and heir of two feuding shoe companies. Will two rivals make amends? Will romance be in the cards? It's just such a cute, wholesome read!

Thank you HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing this audio book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are my own.

One note worth mentioning. I listened to the audio version of this story, and I do think it might have impacted my rating. It is really hard to listen to, as I was not a fan of the narration. I sped it up to a considerable speed.

• historical fiction ⁣
1920’s, NY, Buffalo Zoo, Niagara Falls⁣
⁣
• clean romance⁣
forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, sweet⁣
⁣
• mystery ⁣
secret pen pals, family secrets, false identity⁣
⁣
The Letter Tree is a bit of Romeo and Juliet mixed with You’ve Got Mail. Also great for fans of historical fiction, animal lovers, and readers of clean romance. ⁣
⁣
Even though it is labeled as a “Christian romance,” there was no element of faith in the story. I was a bit disappointed, only because of being encouraged from her previous books.

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by this author. It pulled me in from the onset and held my attention until the very end. I found that The Letter Tree was well written, paced just right and had several strong and well developed characters. It took place in Buffalo, N.Y. during the 1920’s. I enjoy reading books that were written during that time period and The Letter Tree was no exception. The author, Rachel Fordham, relied on her positive experiences she had when she first read Romeo and Juliet and watched You’ve Got Mail to create The Letter Tree. Those influences truly worked in every way and made The Letter Tree a delight to read. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Kira Fixx.

The Bradshaw family and the Campbell family both resided in Buffalo, N.Y. Both families shared a special friendship and relationship with each other’s family. The fathers jointly owned a thriving shoe business together. Laura Bradshaw, the only daughter, enjoyed Isaac Campbell’s company and friendship as well, even though he was a little older than Laura. All of this was well and good until something happened between the two families that led them to immediately terminate their friendship and business. As close as they had once been they now considered each other enemies. The families avoided each other entirely. No one ever revealed why the rift occurred but they avoided each other entirely now. Thus, Laura’s and Isaac’s friendship ended as well.

All this drama occurred right around the time Laura lost her mother. Laura’s mother had died when she was hit by a car while she was crossing the street. Laura had accompanied her mother on an outing to the Post Office. Laura was waiting for her mother across the street from the Post Office. From her vantage point, Laura witnessed the tragic death of her mother. From that point on, her father became quite distant, strict, demanding and very overprotective of Laura. She felt the effects of her mother’s death on many different levels.

Laura grew up to become a very lonely and sheltered child. Her only companion and confidant was the housekeeper that her father employed. Laura possessed one very special thing, though, that was hers alone. It was something she came to look forward to. It was her guarded secret. There was an old yet familiar maple tree on the grounds of the Buffalo Zoo. The tree was quite close to the home she lived in with her father. Right after her mother’s death, Laura began leaving letters in the hallow of the tree. She soon discovered that someone had discovered her letter and replied to her. Over the course of seven years, Laura and her secret pen pal friend wrote to each other and shared their dreams, fears and secrets with each other. Laura never learned the identify of the recipient of her letters but over time the person became her confidant and best friend.


Laura was more determined than ever to escape her father’s house but she wasn’t sure how she was going to accomplish that. Then a handsome stranger appeared and seemed to take a romantic interest in Laura. His name was Abel and he was not only handsome but rich. Abel was interested in developing a business relationship with her father so Laura’s father encouraged her to pursue a courtship with Abel. Laura knew that a marriage proposal was her best way to escape the confines of her father’s home. Could Laura find happiness with Abel. Was she willing to leave her special tree and the person who she had written her most precious thoughts to behind?

Like Laura, Isaac Campbell was an only child. As he grew older, his father had him join him in his shoe business but Isaac’s father would not give Isaac the respect and responsibilities he so desperately wanted. Isaac’s father was also overprotective of him. Isaac soon became quite frustrated with his father’s treatment of him. His mother encouraged Isaac to choose a bride but Isaac was uninterested in anyone his mother chose for him. Like Laura, Isaac had also lost someone very close to him. His uncle was killed in the war and Isaac missed him very much. Even though Isaac and Laura were forbidden to communicate or see each other, their circumstances were very similar over the years. Could the families forgive one another? Would Isaac and Laura renew their friendship?

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham. It was such a feel good story. There was romance, two separate mysteries, strong characters and a well plotted feel good storyline. I really enjoyed the part the tree played in this book. It was very heartwarming to know that Laura had a special friend that she could share her thoughts with. I also enjoyed the relationship Laura had with the animals and nature. Laura and Isaac were by far my favorite characters but I also appreciated the housekeeper and the special bond she formed with Laura over the years after her mother died. Overall, I really enjoyed The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham and highly recommend it.


Thank you to Harper Collins Christian Publishing/ Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Handwritten Letters + You've Got Mail + Niagara Falls = The Letter Tree

I enjoy novels that include correspondence so the title of The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham definitely caught my attention. Even though the exchange of letters is a relatively small part of the plot, I liked this novel I read via the audiobook narrated by Kira Fixx.

Laura Bradshaw leads a lonely life in 1920s Buffalo, NY. Ever since her beloved mother died seven years ago, her father spends all of his time running the family shoe factory, and her only friend is a mystery man with whom she's exchanged letters for years by leaving them at a tree within the Buffalo Zoo.

Isaac Campbell is a very eligible bachelor who is heir to, but has little interest in, his family's business. Once his father and Laura's father were best friends and business partners, but the relationship ended badly, and they've been fierce competitors ever since. Laura and Isaac's childhood friendship was severed by this rift, and they're forbidden to have any contact with each other. When love interests come into both of their lives, are their motivations true, or are they pursuing bigger objectives?

This plot is a clever historical spin on You've Got Mail with representatives of rival companies unknowingly communicating with each other. It's also a subtle homage to Romeo and Juliet with a much happier ending. I feared two plot points would be drawn out due to lack of communication, but thankfully both were resolved within realistic timeframes.

The novel includes a secondary storyline that added an intriguing element. I also appreciated the Niagara Falls historical facts woven into this part of the story. I liked the characters Laura and Isaac and the pursuit of their goals. I also enjoyed Mrs. Gaskin, the Bradshaw housekeeper and Laura's confidant.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, Netgalley, and UpLit Reads for the review copies of this novel.

Family feud & drama, intelligent female main character, letters, growth, romance, New York 1920's.... I mean, do I even need to say anything else?! Alas, you know I will.

I was automatically interested in this when I heard there was a comparison to You've Got Mail vibes and it was set in the 1920s NY. The rest was just a bonus. If you've been around you might know that I am a NYer and love seeing NY through a lens of timeframes that are not in the present, that I'm obsessed with You've Got Mail so I mean, obviously- and I adore stories with letters & I think in our time it's underrated (even though it was clearly the means of communication then).

Every single character in this story was well written, which, while this is only my second from this author, seems to just be one of her gifts. As a character driven reader it's something I take extra note of and is a big draw to me. Even the side characters are ones that you will root for- Mrs. Guskin was a particular favorite and her motherly ways with Laura were so endearing.

The two main characters were so good both individually and together- and the tension with them together was palpable & cute. There was depth to it which made it my kinda novel & romance as well (even though it is more than a love story). Plus there's a little mystery going on which was done in just the right amount and was a nice addition.

I listened to this on audiobook when I had the house to myself for the weekend and it made the perfect companion- the narrator was outstanding and I absolutely recommend it. Every time I put it down I wanted to be back into the story because of the world & characters build by Rachel Fordham. I knew I'd like this story a lot but I walked away loving it. Five stars without a doubt- and I've already added it to my Christmas list so I can get a physical copy for my shelf because it was just that good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced listening copy of this story. All thoughts expressed are honest & my own.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC audiobook. Set in 1924, two Buffalo, NY shoe manufacturers are feuding. We meet Laura, the daughter of one widowed owner. She’s in her early twenties and has been a virtual prisoner in her home since she witnessed her mother being killed by a driver on an intersection. About this time the shoe company broke into two competing and feuding companies. As a lark, several years ago she left one of her poems in a tree in the Buffalo Zoo. The next day, while hoping to retrieve it, she found that someone had written a reply to her. That started years of anonymous letters left in the tree. Eventually, we find the other letter writer is the handsome bachelor son of the feuding family. This is a light chick lit read.

I loved this audiobook from beginning to end! This historical fiction love story is a breath of fresh air that has a young couple whose families have been feuding for years, decide to do away with hatred, against all odds. Laura is alone in her home after her mother dies, so she goes to the zoo where she decides to leave her poetry, hidden in a beautiful tree. Someone discovers her notes and they soon become pen pals. This goes on for years! Her dad forbids her to go outside until he finds a businessman that he is trying to make a deal with. He wants Laura to go out with Abe, be seen around town with him and maybe marry him.

The reader was amazing, which also added to the greatness of the story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The best historical romance I've read this year! Romeo & Juliet meshes with You've Got Mail. I loved the coziness and the brilliance of using a tree for the letters. Also, a great mystery threaded in this gem. My first novel by Rachel, but definitely not my last. The narrator was amazing!

This was a beautiful story about forbidden love. It was written and narrated so well that I, as the reader, felt like I was transported back in time.

I admit, I almost quit listening 1/4 the way through. I was having a hard time getting attached. I'm so glad I stuck it out! The story only got better, the narrator was wonderful, and the story ending was beautiful.

I loved this book so much. I expected it to be a pretty standard re-telling of Romeo and Juliet and was pleasantly surprised by its depth and feeling. This book takes place in Post WWI Buffalo, NY and most books I read set in that era focus so much on the tragedy and loss and the dark stories people came home with. While that is woven into this story a bit, the main characters were too young to be in the war, and are stuck in the consequences of how it affected the older generations of their families.
This book had hope, grief, romance, and family feuds, and perfectly blended all of it. I loved every chapter. The story of Laura and Isaac is so beautifully told, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a coming-of-age story with a little mystery, a lot of slow-burn romance, and something that is truly hopeful.

In a world where people seem more prone to disagree and argue than ever, it was enjoyable to read a novel about two young people who find a way to bring their feuding families together. Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell are the children of the Bradshaw Shoe Company and the Campbell Shoe Company. They remember playing together when they were little and their fathers were partners, but after Laura's mother tragically died, everything became fractured, along with the shoe business. From that point on, Laura was forbidden from associating with Isaac.

The author's notes confess she was inspired by Romeo and Juliet and You've Got Mail, and I loved how this combination came together in the setting of the 1920s. As much as Laura and Isaac know they're expected to
hate each other as their fathers do, they can't help but remember their childhood fondness. And unbeknownst to them both, they've been exchanging letters in a tree at the Buffalo Zoo for years, opening their hearts to each other in anonymity.
The author captures the 1920s well with the pop culture and fashion of the era. I was rooting for Laura and Isaac all the way to the very satisfying conclusion. This was such a sweet, heartwarming romance. Highly recommend!