Virginia Evans' debut novel, The Correspondent, was a surprisingly lovely read. I wouldn't have expected a series of letters from/to a septuagenarian to be a page turner, but I found myself hooked, drawn in to Sybil's wry observations and the gradual expansion of her life.

I'll take so many lessons away from this novel, most of which I'm sure will only reveal themselves as I mull it over in the coming days. For now, I'm most touched by Sybil's openness to possibility in her letters, and the way it slowly creeps into the rest of her life.

The one element that gave me pause at first is the ease with which Sybil strikes up a correspondence with anyone. The first few letters to famous recipients reminded me of boomer parents who encourage their grown children to write letters to CEOs for jobs--it just feels out of touch. In Sybil's case, the underlying optimism feels charming and affirming... I think because she recognizes that most won't write back. And, with an exception or two, most of the consistent, intimate exchanges she begins with strangers are with average people.

Ultimately, Sybil's letters are a captivating model for how to build and maintain relationships with far-away relations and a gentle reminder to approach everyone with curiosity and openness.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is wonderful! The book description does not do it justice. Please take the time to read this! The story is told completely through letters, sent and received by the main character Sybil van Antwerp. Sybil is in her seventies, lives alone and is set in her ways. She enjoys gardening, reading and a few good friends, but her real passion is correspondence. Sybil devotes several hours a week writing and mailing letters. She writes to friends, her children, neighbors, authors, some famous personalities…just about anyone actually. And she usually receives a reply. We are brought into Sybil’s world through these letters.
Although a bit different I found this format easy to adapt to. The author did a wonderful job bringing each character to life through their letters to Sybil. Each had their own voice and I could really get a feel for all the different characters.
Sybil often declares that she hasn’t much time left. She is at an age where she is reflecting on her life which holds some past trauma. She adheres to a rather strict daily routine and seems to think she will follow this routine to her end, but life isn’t quite through with her yet. Through her correspondence she begins to develop some new friends and experiences at this time of her life when she least expects it and also begins to face some challenges from her past.
This was truly heartwarming. Sybil has a wry wit and humor and she goes through a period of self examination as she navigates her twilight years. I really enjoyed reading this and felt moved to consider how one person might leave a mark on their world long after they are gone thru their personal correspondence. I may have to just order some quality stationary and find a favorite pen and start writing some letters myself! Thank you to NetGalley and Crown for an opportunity to read this wonderful ARC.

This wasn't for me. The letter format I just could not get into. Leaving a medium 3 star rating as it's probably lovely if you can get into the format? 😕

i didn’t want to do anything else today but read and immerse myself in the correspondent so that is what i did! what a joyful experience!
sybil van antwerp’s life is a quiet one. she lives alone in annapolis, maryland and she spends three days each week (sometimes four), writing and sending out correspondence to her people…her sister-in-law, her brother, her daughter, her neighbor, and so many more. the entire novel is fashioned out of correspondence - mainly letters but the occasional email is peppered in. if you enjoy unique book formats, this one should please you.
reading sybil’s outgoing and incoming letters is like reading her journal. she shares so much in her correspondence - joy, pain, wonder, sorrow, regret - that you feel like you truly get to know her.
this was the perfect book to spend my sunday savoring and i’m thankful for the opportunity to experience sybil’s snippets of life.

thank you to crown publishing for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In a world increasingly dominated by fleeting digital interactions, Virginia Evans' "The Correspondent" offers a refreshing and poignant reminder of the enduring power of the written word.

This captivating novel unfolds through a series of letters exchanged between Sybil Van Antwerp, a sharp-witted and fiercely independent 78-year-old woman facing the twilight of her life, and a diverse cast of characters who have touched her life in profound ways.

Evans masterfully crafts Sybil's voice, infusing her letters with a delightful blend of humor, wisdom, and vulnerability. As Sybil grapples with fading eyesight and the weight of past regrets, her correspondence becomes a conduit for reflection, reconciliation, and unexpected connections.

Through her letters, we glimpse the tapestry of Sybil's life: her career as a lawyer, the tragic loss of her son, the complexities of her relationships with her children, and the enduring bonds of friendship.

But "The Correspondent" is more than just a character study. It's also a celebration of the epistolary novel, a form that allows for intimacy, introspection, and the gradual unfolding of secrets and revelations.

Each letter serves as a window into the lives of those who receive them, revealing their own struggles, triumphs, and perspectives. As the correspondence unfolds, Evans weaves a rich tapestry of human experience, exploring themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and the enduring search for meaning in life.

What sets "The Correspondent" apart is its ability to evoke both laughter and tears. Sybil's wit and candor are infectious, while her of vulnerability and moments of resonate deeply.

Evans has created a character who feels familiar yet extraordinary, a woman who embodies the resilience and complexity of the human spirit.

"The Correspondent" is a novel that is a reminder of the power of connection, the importance of reflection, and the enduring magic of a well-crafted letter. This story reminds us to not view a person's advanced age as a negative, rather to view each elderly person as an individual who has unique life lessons we can all learn from and be fascinated by - we need only to care enough to ask.

In a world that often feels rushed and impersonal, this novel offers a gentle invitation to slow down, savor the words, and appreciate the beauty of human connection.

For fans of Elizabeth Strout (especially Olive Kitteridge) and (of course) Helen Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road. My favorite: a slice of the life of an imperfect person, and positively riddled with literary references to boot.

I can't imagine a way that this book could be improved upon, other than having more of it.

The Correspondent is a book that stays with you well after the last page. It is the story of Sybil Van Antwerp. She has written letters throughout her life and feels most comfortable communicating like this. The author Virginia Evans does a wonderful job of developing her characters through their letters. We meet Sybil at 78 when she is losing her eyesight.She has a comfortable retirement but there is a sadness about her because of a tragedy that occurred years before. She lost a son when he was 8 in a swimming accident. Her life changed then. She developed a tenuous relationship with her daughter and she became divorced from her husband.
She was adopted at 14 months old and had a happy childhood with her family including an adopted brother. Her son gave her a DNA testing gift and it changed her life. It opens up a whole new set of relatives. Through her letters we learn she still loves her ex-husband although was not in love with him. She starts dating two men who are interested in her and begins a new chapter in her life.
When she realizes her vision is getting worse she tries to make things right with her family and friends.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is a beautifully crafted epistolary novel that captures the complexities of love, regret, and connection through the heartfelt letters of Sylvia, a retired legal professional. Evans masterfully balances humor and sorrow, offering a touching portrait of a woman reflecting on her relationships—with her children, old friends, and even those from her legal past. Sylvia’s voice is warm, witty, and deeply human, making her journey both engaging and profoundly moving. A poignant exploration of memory and meaning, The Correspondent is a novel that lingers long after the last letter is read.

Virginia Evans’ epistolary novel, THE CORRESPONDENT, moved me more than I expected. It is early in the year, but this may be my favorite novel of 2025.

For readers of advancing age (and who isn’t?), it seems almost obligatory reading. We see the life of Sybil Van Antwerp, seventy-something, ex-wife, mother, retired law clerk, friend and foe, through her own evolving consciousness, as expressed in a series of letters to everyone from nearly anonymous customer service reps to notable authors. She treats everyone as a person, with surprising results. By novel’s end, Sybil’s secrets have been revealed and we’ve come to think of her as a flawed, but oh so dear!

With thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early review copy of this book.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is an absolute treat. Told through a series of letter then span over a decade, The Correspondent is the story of Sybil, an avid letter writer, who reflects on her career and life and its many ups and downs.

Fans of Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett will love this beautifully told story of a woman in the winter of her life who writes and responds to people near and dear to her.

I love epistolary novels, and this one is my favorite. Sybil has a long life well-lived with all the joys and sorrows and regrets. Her life is spelled out in letters to family, friends and her favorite authors as the author develops her characters. Highly recommended.

The Correspondent is an epistolary novel consisting of letters to and from septagenarian Sybil Van Antwerp from 2012 to 2021. The letters tell Sybils story. She writes to family, friends and her favorite authors including Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. She is direct and grumpy, but also kindhearted and funny underneath.

The writing is beautiful and she makes a wonderful case for preserving communication in the written word. I can personally relate to this as my maternal grandmother died when my mother was 6 weeks old, and the letters she wrote while she was pregnant have become an important family heirloom.

I really enjoyed this heart wrenching and heartwarming novel. Thank you to net galley and crown publishing for this e galley in exchange for an honest review

I fell under the spell of this charming story very quickly. I do
love a well done epistolary novel and this is one of the best ones I’ve read. Sybil, our correspondent, is a wonderfully complex character that invites both your scorn and your sympathy. I just loved her. Her wit, her enthusiastic embrace of life’s challenges but mostly, the vulnerability she was able to reveal through her letter writing. The author masterfully developed all of the characters without relying on the framework of a typical he-said- she-said novel . I was sorry when this book ended. The story has stayed with me and the memorable characters were so alive that I find myself missing them. Write more, Ms Evans. Brava!!!!

"I've always felt it is like a scream living inside me."

Brilliant! #thecorrespondent by @virginia.l.evans is brilliant. Easily the best book I've read this year and perhaps in a long while. I loved the epistolary format, I loved why Sybil writes letters, and I loved Sybil. Deep relationships survive as a result of her letters, and others are surprisingly formed; yet ironically, it's something she's also hidden behind. I'm going to recommend it to everyone!

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is a stunning, wonderful work of epistolary fiction. Sybil Van Antwerp has built a career as a lawyer, later clerking for her law partner when he becomes a judge. She has also made a life as a wife and mother but lost one of her sons at the age of eight in a swimming accident. This tragic event had a ripple effect in her life, with those ripples still reflected in her relationships with her adult children years later. At age 78 and losing her eyesight, we learn about her life and the people in it through her letters to them, along with their responses. In writing about the challenges, sadness, and triumphs she encountered, we learn about Sybil as a flawed and realistic human being, but one who is also able to undergo changes and adapt even while she ages. There are literary references to Joan Didion and Ann Patchett, along with book titles that Sybil mentions in her letters. Olive Kitteridge is one of my favorite fictional characters, and I can now add Sybil Van Antwerp to that list. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates kindness, honesty, letters, books, and rich lives lived even by older characters. This one gets five big, gold stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on May 6, 2025.

A wonderful epistolary novel! Sybil's life has centered around her correspondence, with both those she knows and strangers. As a few years of selected letters unfolds for the reader, her relationships with her brother, daughter, former husband, and others allows an understanding of her complete life and her personality appears. Why she finds writing easier than conversing becomes clear, and her sadness and remove are explained through the events of her past, and in her encroaching blindness. Wonderful character development and unfolding of the plot.

I did not know what to expect when I first started this book. It ended up surprising me - in a good way! I loved the structure of how the story was told. It was like getting a more personal glimpse into Sybil's life then we would have if it wasn't told through letters. I finished this book over a day ago and it is still sitting with me and is all I can think about. The author has done a wonderful job bringing her characters to life! I highly recommend.

This is a beautiful, thought-provoking story told through the letters (and emails) that the main character writes and receives.

Sybil Van Antwerp has used letters throughout her life to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, she sits down to write letters—to her brother, her best friend, the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, Joan Didion, and Larry McMurtry to share her thoughts on their latest books, and to one person she writes to often but never sends the letters to.

Sybil expects her world to continue as it has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, and distinguished lawyer- and she has lived a full life. However, when letters from someone in her past compel her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read. She cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.

.What captivated me most about this book is its heartfelt depiction of life's journey. It addresses the complexities of aging and the challenges we all face while celebrating the wisdom and beauty at every stage. The author's insights on love, loss, and relationships are touching and inspiring, reminding us that every moment is valuable.

At age 73, Sybil Van Antwerp is cruising through retirement, thank you very much.

Her career is over, the children are gone and her husband is divorced. She has plenty of time to read, to garden and to write letters.

Her letters tell the other side of the story: the regrets, the hurts. She races against time to make amends as her eyesight fails.

Virginia Evans has written a book that rings true to us septuagenarians. The author is wise beyond her years.

I appreciate NetGallery for giving me access to this beautiful book. It’s a quick read, but painful. The format is unique, at least to me, but works. I’m richer for having read it.