When I open the pages of an epistolary novel, I feel as though I’m being let in on a good secret. It’s like getting to read over the character’s shoulder while they take note of what happened that day. While I wouldn’t want someone to read my personal correspondence, I love being led into a new world by reading someone else’s letters, diary entries, texts, or emails.
Epistolary elements are not easy to do well. Just think about what you typically include in your own correspondence. How often are you transcribing entire conversations you’ve had from day to day? How reliable is your memory? Do you typically include newspaper articles or photos? The author has to move the narrative forward by letting us in on what the characters have experienced but it still needs to ring true for the epistolary medium. When it’s done well, I can’t turn the pages fast enough.
Today’s list includes a mix of genres, offering something for everyone. The whole novel might not be told in the epistolary format but they all have a strong epistolary element. Though this book list includes 20 novels that are told in the form of letters and other correspondence, we’ve only scratched the surface! I hope you’ll share your favorite epistolary novels in the comments.
Get lost in these 20 enjoyable epistolary novels
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Spoiler Alert
Olivia Dade weaves television and movie scripts and fanfiction excerpts together in this romance about fandoms, friendship, and fame. Marcus Caster-Rupp stars on a popular TV show by day and writes fanfiction about that show under a pseudonym by night. April Whittier has hidden her hardcore fangirling from friends and coworkers for years. When she finally works up the courage to post a photo of her cosplay online, it goes viral and lands her a date with the hottest star of her favorite show: Marcus. The real plot twist? They've been connecting on fanfiction forums as writing partners and friends for years. Marcus discovers this first, but he can't reveal his identity without risking his acting career, leading to some serious fictional drama. Dade writes romance with realistic characters and a balance of serious and sweet moments. (Open door.) More info →
Divine Rivals: A Novel (Letters of Enchantment Book 1)
A 2023 Summer Reading Guide selection! From the author of A River Enchanted, a YA duology opener with the feel of WWI historical fiction, but set in a world suffering through a fantastical war and harboring mythical monsters. Iris and Roman are fierce rivals, competing for the same coveted position at the Oath Gazette. He doesn’t know of her difficult family circumstances; she doesn’t know the way his father pressures him. And yet unbeknownst to either, the two are connected by a magical typewriter, and are growing closer to each other with every anonymous letter they exchange. When Iris becomes a war correspondent on the front lines, Roman follows, and the two encounter dangers that threaten not only their burgeoning friendship but their lives. An immersive, slow-burning, genre-bending read with broad appeal. More info →
Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters
Hugely popular among readers who love books about language, this inventive story takes on a big challenge. In the quaint, imaginary island of Nollop a special council of government bans the use of specific letters from the alphabet, leaving its citizens to hilariously and courageously find new ways to communicate. As each letter falls from grace amongst the council, so do they fall out of the novel completely. You read that right: the author tasked himself with a seriously tough obstacle in writing entire chapters without certain letters. Within these creative constraints lies a lovely tale of freedom, linguistics, and epistolary fun. More info →
Ascension
Another 2023 Summer Reading Guide selection! Scottish author Binge makes his U.S. debut with this arresting speculative thriller (with a dash of horror) about the disastrous mission to investigate an enormous mountain that suddenly materializes in the South Pacific. Scientist Harold Tunmore was part of that expedition and has been presumed dead for nearly thirty years—but then his brother finds him in a psychiatric hospital, along with countless unsent letters from the mountain. In these urgent and intimate letters, Harold tells his then-teenage niece every detail of the expedition in real time: the impossible things he witnesses, the growing animosity among their group, his escalating terror as he observes how the mountain warps his companion’s minds. Thrilling and original, while echoing greats like Dracula and At the Mountains of Madness. More info →
Perfect on Paper
A YA novel about a girl who runs an anonymous relationship advice business at school…until someone figures out it’s her and initiates a blackmailing scheme. Each chapter opens with an anonymous letter left in Darcy’s locker. With a thriving relationship advice business, she gets plenty of notes—but when her blackmailer Brougham discovers her secret, he hires her as his private relationship coach to win back his ex-girlfriend. The plot turns a bit Cyrano de Bergerac as Darcy and Brougham work together, tangling their feelings in the process. More info →
This Is How You Lose the Time War
In this multi-award winning novella, enemy agents develop an unlikely correspondence after one discovers a letter. Red and Blue travel through different timelines in their race to win the time war, going back to different points in history to affect the outcome. The letters may start out as a taunt between rivals but they evolve into a sapphic love story. And yet, there’s still a war going on—and only one side can win. More info →
Attachments
Can you fall in love with someone just by reading their email? For Lincoln O’Neill, the answer is YES. When he takes a new job as an "internet security officer" he doesn't realize that means he'll be reading people’s emails. But it's the company's policy, and besides, all the employees know their emails are being monitored—at least in theory. Before long Lincoln has pored over countless personal emails between Jennifer and Beth, and he's sure of two things: he's in too deep, and it's too late to confess. You couldn’t ask for a sweeter love story. (Closed door.) More info →
Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love
Set in the 1960s, the publisher aptly compares this novel to 84, Charing Cross Road. When L.A.-based Joan writes a fan letter to Camano Island, WA columnist Imogen to thank her for her column in a Pacific Northwest-based magazine, enclosing a packet of saffron and a recipe, a lasting friendship is born. The women become pen-friends, exchanging letters that move from the topic of food to books (so many books!) to the troubles (and occasional triumphs) of their personal lives. This just may be the gentle, feel-good novel you're looking for. More info →
Dear Mr. Knightley
In this fresh update on Jean Webster's 1899 classic Daddy-Long-Legs, Samantha Moore spent her childhood struggling in the foster care system, relying on her favorite literary characters to survive. She even expresses herself using their words when she can't find her own. Samantha's big break comes when a "Mr. Knightley" offers her a full scholarship at the prestigious journalism school at Northwestern University. The only requirement is that Sam write her benefactor regularly to tell him about her progress. Through their correspondence, Sam begins to find her voice ... but then things get complicated. More info →
Violeta
Allende is prolific: her earliest works might be considered modern classics, yet her recent releases feel fresh. This sweeping epic begins on a stormy day in 1920. The titular heroine is born in the midst of the Spanish Flu—and tumultuous times have just begun for her family. Told in epistolary form, this novel almost reads like a juicy autobiography, following Violeta’s love affairs, heartbreaks, and responses to historical events. If you’ve never read any Allende, you can absolutely start here, then work your way back to see how she's influenced the historical fiction genre. More info →
An American Marriage
Roy and Celestial are young, middle-class, in love, and "on the come-up," as Roy likes to put it. But only 18 months into their marriage, Roy is sentenced to twelve years in prison—for a crime he didn't commit. Roy needs Celestial behind him if he is to survive. She needs to cut him loose if she is to do the same. In his letters, Roy writes, "I'm innocent." But Celestial tells him, "I'm innocent, too." If everyone is innocent, where does the fault lie? This is very much a book about mass incarceration—and it's no coincidence that Roy is arrested, tried, and imprisoned in Louisiana, the state with the highest per-capita rate of incarceration, with a 4:1 ratio of Black prisoners to white—but there's little talk of issues. Instead, this is a love story, though one gone horribly and irreversibly wrong. This is a book you'll need to discuss once you're finished: be prepared for a lively debate among your fellow readers. More info →
Something Wild & Wonderful
After Alexei saves hot hiker Ben from stepping on a snake, they keep running into each other on the 2,500-mile Pacific Crest Trail until they decide to hike together. The farther they go, the more they realize they might not be able to walk away. Letters—both sent and unsent—play a pivotal, emotional role. A 2023 Summer Reading Guide team selection. (Open door.) More info →
To Night Owl From Dogfish
This collaboration between two successful authors—one who primarily writes for kids, the other for grown-ups—features two twelve-year old girls living on opposite coasts who strike up an unwanted correspondence after they discover their single fathers fell in love at a building conference and are now dating. This relationship is not good news to either of them, as they make clear in the ensuing emails that comprise the book. Their situation goes from bad to worse when their fathers force them to attend the same summer camp, hoping they’ll become friends. Things go horribly wrong in more ways than one, but there's not a page here that doesn’t feel fresh, funny, charming, and real. A big-hearted story for readers of all ages. More info →
Yours Truly
I’m a huge fan and completist of Abby Jimenez’s romance novels, so when I say this is her best yet—it’s no hyperbole. She truly outdid herself with this grounded, funny, and deeply romantic story about two ER doctors who turn from enemies to friends to fake relationship to head-over-heels lovers. One of my favorite parts of the story involves a realistic exchange of letters between Dr. Jacob Maddox and Dr. Briana Ortiz, beginning with an apology note and a cupcake. Jacob struggles with social anxiety, so a letter proves to be the perfect way to break the ice with Briana, no confrontation needed. The notes are funny, heartfelt, and sweet; they’re bright spots in Briana’s stressful days working in the ER and going home to take care of her brother who awaits a kidney transplant. If you’re looking for a charming romance novel with layers of complexity, you can’t go wrong with Jimenez. (Open door.) More info →
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel
In this luminous debut about family and first love, a gay Vietnamese immigrant man writes his mother a letter in which he reveals their painful family history and gives her insights about his own life. His mother doesn't know how to read, but the letter is a window for her to better understand him, if she so chooses. With evocative prose, Vuong reminds us of the power in telling your own story, especially when your voice was previously silenced. More info →
The Neighbor Favor
I adored Kristina Forest’s YA novels Now That I’ve Found You and I Wanna Be Where You Are, so when I heard she penned a bookish adult romance, I was ready to be charmed. Lily Greene dreams of editing children’s books like the fantasy novels she grew up reading, but for now she’s stuck with nonfiction and no career advancement on the horizon. As a means of escape, she strikes up an email correspondence with the author of her favorite obscure fantasy novel, someone she admires and sees as a potential mentor. Unbeknownst to Lily, this author is actually around her age and moves into her apartment building a few months later. These two shy, quiet bibliophiles find friendship and perhaps something more, even as author Nick Brown discovers Lily is indeed his mystery pen pal. More info →
Meet Me at the Museum
The appeal of this touching novel is obvious for fans of epistolary favorites like 84, Charing Cross Road and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but you don't have to love novels-in-letters to thoroughly enjoy the correspondence between this Danish museum curator and British farm wife, as they discuss life's unexpected twists and turns, and find their lives unexpectedly entwined. More info →
Love and Friendship
From the collection of Austen’s juvenilia, this epistolary novella displays the author’s propensity for writing entertaining stories for her family, with early signs of her talent for social commentary and witticisms. Much like Northanger Abbey, this novella parodies popular works of Austen’s time with over the top drama and farcical scenes (like a series of hilarious fainting spells meant to poke fun at romantic swooning). Each letter details one episode in the life of Laura, the narrator; I like to imagine Jane reading them aloud to her family each night after finishing her writing for the day. If you’re curious about the trajectory of Austen’s career, her juvenilia provides a fun, frolicsome peek at her beginnings. More info →
The Flatshare
I read this entire novel in one sitting on a Sunday afternoon; it's contemporary fiction that manages to tackle serious issues while maintaining a light and breezy feel. Tiffy and Leon share a flat—but they're never there at the same time. They slowly get to know each other through exchanging notes left around the flat. Don't miss the backstory on how the author's personal life inspired the premise, and how she managed to write nearly every word of the 320-page novel on her own commute in and out of London. (Closed door.) More info →
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
This fantasy romance is part You’ve Got Mail, part Pushing Daisies, and part The Princess Bride. Mercy Birdsall and Hart Ralston clashed from the moment they met, but when lonely Hart writes an unaddressed, heartfelt letter to “a friend,” it magically lands in Mercy’s hands. Thus begins their anonymous, secret courtship in which they fall in love through letters while fuming at each other in real life. Set in a fantasy world with a warm cast of side characters and lots of dead things (Mercy is an undertaker, after all), this cozy novel combines detailed world-building with a grumpy-sunshine romance. (Open door.) More info →
What epistolary novels do you recommend?
P.S. 20 wonderful books about books and bookstores and 15 books about books for bibliophiles. And you may enjoy this What Should I Read Next episode about a vintage love letter project!
115 comments
Beautiful World, How Are You? is partially told in emails and I loved it. I’m also reading Illustrado, which is about a fictional poet, told in narrative, archival materials, etc.
I really like books that experiment with form.
Divine Rivals was fantastic and will leave you wanting the sequel immediately. I read it last month and I’m still thinking about it. So far, it’s the best book I’ve read all year.
I adore 84, Charing Cross Road. It’s funny, touching, and about friendship and books–a total win!
I was going to add 84, Charing Cross Road to the list, also. Agree completely!
Oh this is my all-time favorite!!! the movie is amazing too
One of my all-time favourite books! I also loved her Letter from New York and Q’s Legacy.
Great movie as well. With Anne Bancroft.
Agreed! A quick lovely story!
Loved that one!
I agree. 84 Charing Cross Road is wonderful. I saw the movie with Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. The movie was every bit as good as the book.
Funny story about Ella Minnow Pea. Our book club chose this book last summer and none of us liked it. However, it lead to one of the best discussions and we all wound up liking the book AFTER we discussed it.
Dawn, my book club has also found sometimes our opinion of a book changes after our discussion, which is so fun. Sometimes a book I didn’t like or felt neutral about I want to read again after hearing from others who loved it.
Taught this to my Honors 7th graders. An amazing book
My favorite book is These is My Words. A family with young children are part of a wagon train heading west for a better life. The young girl teaches herself to read and write by keeping a diary. The reader gets to watch her skills develop and sometimes read between the lines to discover the horrors, joys and challenges of growing up in that era.
I adore These is My Words. I was also thinking of the Griffin and Sabine novels by Nick Bantock with pull out letters and postcards to enjoy. Very Jolly Postman!
I agree with you. Such a wonderful story.
YES!
I, too, loved “These Is My Words!”
You missed one of the classics! Dracula is all epistolary
Yes!
I joined finished reading Dracula with my book club friends. I had no idea it was an epistolary novel until we got into it! It was my first reading. I felt like it was such a creative way to tell the story because it was presenting these “primary sources” about such a hard to believe story!
The Appeal by Janice Hallett is one of the best mysteries I’ve read, and it’s all in emails. Also, it features one of the most annoying characters ever. We all know someone like this.
I just read it and agree with both your conclusions!
I’m reading it now and was just thinking it would be perfect for this list!
I remember reading Dear Mr. Henshaw when I was younger. If I remember correctly, a boy writes his favorite author – Henshaw a fan letter and the author tells to write letters but not send to him – Henshaw wasn’t trying to be mean – but the boy talks about his struggles growing up in a single parent household which I related to as my father passed away when I was six. I want to say there may have been a sequel. A wonderful book!
I loved that book so much that I have kept my late-80s copy through multiple moves. It’s still on my shelf!
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one of my favorite books of all time, the audiobook especially ❤️
I know, I can’t believe this wasn’t on the list!!!
Agree!! To both. Thanks for saying it. It’s literary (&audio) perfection to me.
Definitely! So good
Letters From Skye and
The Guernsey Literary and Sweet Potato Pie Society
I loved this book.
Up the Down Staircase by Belle Kaufman is a series of memos issued to teachers in a public school.
My mom, who was a teacher for many years, loves this book! I had no idea it was epistolary! Will have to check it out.
Two suggestions here….
1) Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole – This is WWI and WWII historical fiction, spanning decades and told through letters. There is atmosphere, romance, and mystery too! A great read.
2) The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson. I LOVE this book even though it is a bit dated now… The Hunt sisters are wildly different – Olivia is a Hollywood producer with a snarky sense of humor whose life and career are unraveling, and Maddie, her sister, is a stay-at-home midwesterner who is dealing with a serious illness – leukemia, I think. The book is told mainly through letters written by Olivia. It’s funny, sad in parts, but also hopeful.
Happy Reading!
The audio of, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, read by the author, is breathtaking!!
Another for the audiobook of Gorgeous
Wow, I have just added so many to my TBR list. Thanks?
Epistolary novels are a favorite of mine as well. I would recommend 1000 White Women by Jim Fergus, though it’s in a diary format. Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher, which consists entirely of LOR (letters of reference) written by a miserable English professor stuck in a failing department and Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressman Taylor.
1000 White Women is in my top 10 of all time. Fascinating!!
I was going to post Dear Committee Members. It’s hilarious!
Another novel by author is variation of story told in letters. THE UNBEARABLE BOOKCLUB FOR UNSINKABLE GIRLS is told as reports for an AP English class showing how assigned books seem reflected in student’s own life–hilariously inspired by Jane Austen’s NORTHANGER ABBEY. Schumacher also has new novel coming out this August (see her website) titled THE ENGLISH EXPERIENCE, about a working trip by Prof. Jason Fitger, main character of author’s two books mentioned earlier.
Confessions of a Curious Bookseller by E Green – not as highly rated as some of the ones above, but a solid 3 stars
I agree that Dear Committee Members is a must read in this genre. As well as Ella Minnow Pea – which first introduced me to this genre/format..
I also really enjoyed these books:
Love, Rosie by C Ahern
I Hate Everyone But You by Dun & Raskin
Twenty-One Truths About Love by M Dicks
Texts from Jane Eyre by M Ortberg
Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith is an epistolary novel. I remember loving it but am unsure how it has held up so many years later. Lee Smith is a southern writer that doesn’t get mentioned very much anymore.
The French novel Dangerous Liaisons (published in 1782) is the book that taught me I loved epistolary novels. A racy and fraught love story, I loved this book (and for those that read French, I read it in French in college – the fact that it’s written in letters makes it more accessible.)
I also studied this excellent novel in University; it is wickedly funny and full of underhand acts and manoeuvrings. I read it in French as well, but assume there will be an excellent English translation available.
This is on my shelf because I read it in college. I’ve been eyeing it recently for a possible reread. I don’t remember it being epistolary so I think it took a big jump up my TBR list. Thanks for the reminder.
The best of the best. Named my kitty Ivy Rowe. Smith just published a new book. Wonderful storyteller.
I loved Fair and Tender Ladies! I met Lee Smith once at a reading and I adore her work. Fair and Tender Ladies was made into a stage show for a little while as well.
My all-time favorite epistolary novel (and one of my faves of all time) is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Love it so much!
That was one of my favorites too. That book made me realize I love epistolary novels.
What a great book!
My absolute favorite epistolary novel of all times is A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsyth Hailey. It was originally published in 1978 but is such a great story for all times.
Thank you for this recommendation! Added it to my unending TBR!
Yes! I just posted about this one. Sorry I didn’t see your post before I did. Such a great book.
I was just going to post this book. My all time favorite as well. I’ve read it several times. Might be time again.
This was my first epistolary novel and I was blown away. I had never imagined a story could be told with just letters. I’ll never forget it.
I had to read this book, and I found it and started the audio version. Interesting type of epistolary novel. And I look forward to finishing.
Loved this book – was trying to remember the title to add it to the post
Bridget Jones Diary and sequel are diary entries. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is epistolary – it is good BUT the movie of it is SPECTACULAR!!!
It’s not fully epistolary (only part 2 is told through emails), but Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy is a good one.
I was about to say this!! That was my favorite part of the book, which I loved.
I would also love to see a list of favorite epistolary novels with more classics and backlist titles on it. I love this type of genre. So intimate and usually flows so well.
A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsyth Hailey. An oldie (late seventies, I think) but a goodie. One of my all-time favorites.
I loved Attachments and Dear Mr Knightley. Can’t wait to add several of these to my TBR!
Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor has been described as a rediscovered classic. This fictional epistolary novel was originally published in 1938. It’s a short novel, only 94 pages or an hour as an audiobook. It is haunting and prophetic, and it is as relevant now as it was then. This book illuminates the horror that was beginning to spread in Nazi Germany. It should be required reading for all students. I highly recommend this book!
I recently listened to Love & Saffron based on your recommendation to a reader, and I loved it! Actually I loved everything about it, from the time period, to the relationships that developed, and of course the “foodie” theme.
I agree. One of my new favorites.
I loved this book so much,
I’m surprised you don’t include one of the best The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Flowers A Love Story by Jack Flowers and illustrated by Emmanuelle La Gal is an epistolary tale told in florist receipts, letters and notes❤️
The Illuminae trilogy by Amie Kaufman is a great one for sci fi/YA fans. It’s largely based on emails or chats between characters and the AI. While I’m a big fan of kindle and audio books, get a book book for this one since there are a lot of creative things done with the text.
Whole heartedly agree, I absolutely love The Illuminae Files!!
A middle grade novel that I just discovered and loved is Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O’Shaugnessy. It is written by Maureen “Mo” to her grandmother who has passed away and was her guardian. Before she passes, she tells Mo that she needs to find a hobby, and she does-collecting family recipes and cooking. The novel is told in diary form and addressed as letters to her Nan. You get to know both Nan and Mo through her diary. This is definitely a novel of how one so young deals with grief, loss, and life altering situations. It is a hopeful story with found family in unlikely places. It was delightful and a surprise reading experience this summer. When I saw this list of epistolary novels, I immediately added to my TBR. Thanks, Anne!
Dear Committee Members
By Julie Schumacher
Highly recommended! I love one review that says “puts the pissed” back into “epistolary “!
I have read a number of epistolary novels n the past couple of years:
Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers
The Curious Heart of Alisa Rae by Stephanie Butland
It Ends with Us and It Starts with Us, both by Colleen Hoover
Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter
Enjoyed them all
Ok – YOU are the one who has convinced me to try It Ends With Us.
I’m adding so many books to my TBR! My favorite epistolary novel is The Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger. It’s a YA novel about a boy who wants the autograph of his favorite Brooklyn Dodgers player. I reread it every summer.
Love, love, love this book.
One of my most favorite books ever. Would NOT survive in an audiobook format, but I have re-read quite a few times as well. I adore the relationships in this book. Who knew I would love a book about baseball so much!
One of my favorite epistolary-ish novels is Where’d You Go Bernadette.
this one is my all time favorite!
Last Christmas in Paris!
Yes, came here to recommend the same book!
I absolutely love Ella Minnow Pea. I’m excited to see a little-known book on this list!
The Balloon Hunter by Hugh Howey and Elinor Taylor is amazing. A post apocalyptic story the authors told by writing on real postcards by two survivors. Delightfully eerie with an ending that I didn’t see coming.
Funny that no one mentioned Where’d You Go, Bernadette. I really loved this mix of emails, faxes and other ephemera mixed with the POV of Bernadette’s daughter.
I would add To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey. I loved it even more than her The Snow Child.
This has been on my TBR list for a while because I loved The Snow Child so much. Now I’m going to move it to the top!
I read this this spring. It is one of the best books I have ever read. I cried when I finished it! I read it because I had liked The Snow Child so much.
Janice Hallett’s latest, The Twyford Code,, is also epistolary. It’s written as a transcripts from audio files from an IPhone. I’m hoping it’s great on audio. One of my favorite YAs is a three book series by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. The authors wrote letters to each other as characters then published those letters. The first book is called Sorcery and Cecilia or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot.
Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern is almost entirely told through notes, emails, chat room threads, and letters. I was in tears laughing by page two.
The Appeal and The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallet. Both really good, especially The Appeal. I listened to them on Audible, which meant every character had their own voice.
I read Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole a long time ago, but I never forgot it. I don’t remember details of the plot anymore, but I do remember that the ending left me sobbing. That happens rarely, but i love novels that move me so deeply.
I read An American Marriage and loved it, tho it was devastating. Alas, myTBR list continues to grow! Thanks for all the great suggestions. When I saw the subject title I was hoping you’d include the Griffin and Sabine series, by Nick Bantock. My hubby introduced me to them while we were dating and I fell in love with the books while also falling in love with him!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer includes letters back and forth. Our book club enjoyed it very much.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is awesome but my absolute favorite, because all three books are artistically beautiful, is the Griffin & Sabine trilogy.
Am not sure this would be to everyone’s taste but All Systems Red by Martha Wells, the first of the Murderbot Diaries, is really a diary. Written by a depressed robot that is a combo of the Terminator and Marvin the Paranoid Android from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I avoided reading the stories for years because I thought it was one type of depressing Sci-fi (military) which is not my favorite. Turns out, it is funny and also relatable. The main character hates its job but is afraid to leave, is terrified of people/social interactions, and wants to be left alone so it can watch TV. Seems very relatable to me. (Warning: language gets saltier as the series goes along, but the first story is fairly tame).
Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green
Yes! I was going to recommend Things We Didn’t Say. Such an interesting view of rural America in WWII. I also recommend Alice’s Tulips by Sandra Dallas, a series of letters from a newlywed in Iowa to her sister while her husband is away fighting with the Union army in the Civil War.
It’s been awhile since I read 1912 novel DADDY LONG-LEGS by Jean Webster, but might suit mood I’m in after re-reading 1963 TIME AT THE TOP and sequel ALL IN GOOD TIME by Edward Ormondroyd; 2nd book–written as diary/letter to specific person in the future–could fit into MMD’s post theme. For those interested in exploring the history and development of the “epistolary novel”, see interesting entry on Wikipedia (BTW, this cites DADDY LONG-LEGS as inspiration for 2020 Russian “first Instagram musical”.)
Mention in that article of influential mystery novel THE WOMAN IN WHITE’s use of documents to tell a story reminds me of one of many inspired by Wilkie Collins’ work, 1940’s LAURA by Vera Caspary (turned into classic film noir movie), in which detective investigating a murder falls in love with title character in part by reading her letters and diary–tho not cited in book itself.
Incidently, Hanff’s 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD isn’t fiction, but collection of actual (tho perhaps edited) correspondence between a sort of mid-century version of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy. Recently read 59 MEMORY LANE by Celia Anderson; important to story is large stash of family letters. Novel fits into recent MMD topic on “seasoned women”–feisty main character is 110 years old!
Wikipedia entry also cites
https://www.bustle.com/p/11-epistolary-novels-thatll-make-you-miss-the-days-of-letter-writing-2441871
Older epistolary novels which have stood the test of time include Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos. Both very entertaining comedies.
I absolutely loved The Appeal by Janice Hallett!
One more epistolary novel. Letters from Yellowstone by Diane Smith. As described on Goodreads, this is a “warmhearted and award-winning epistolary novel about a spunky young woman who joins a makeshift field study in Yellowstone National Park at the end of the nineteenth century.”
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/diane-smith/letters-from-yellowstone/
Although I read this years ago, all it takes is for someone to mention epistolary or letters and I am thinking about this novel.
The Last Christmas in Paris is my very favorite!! Can’t believe it didn’t make the list!
This is more of a short story than a novel, but I listened to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Evidence of the Affair, which is told in emails. I really enjoyed it!
Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith. One of my favorites all time. It was my first Lee Smith book and unfortunately, none of them even to come close to the loveliness of this dear book. I’ve never seen it in a list and I cannot figure out why.
Recently loved ‘The Impossible Us’ which is a (bitter)sweet love story told through emails – with a twist I won’t reveal!
Discovered this as a recommendation by Amal el-Mohtar–one of the co-authors of “Time War”–and it has become one I go back to when I need an audiobook to keep me company without trying to cheer me up.
Glad to see it recommended in the comments; thanks Anna!
I agree with many of the books in the post and comments. Adding to the list: Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery, Same Sun Here by Silas House and Neela Vaswani, Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar, Can I be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings and Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
84 Charing Cross Rd. and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society were mentioned, but not recommended as they should have bee. Believe it or not, there are people who have not read these wonderful books.
Lots of good recs here; I will add Sorcery and Cecelia (by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer) for those who enjoy fantasy.
I just finished the book, a real story, entitled, From Me To You : A bittersweet and heartwarming memoir, by Brian Greenley and Alison Hitchcock. He has cancer and journals about it. She offers to write him letters to cheer him up, even though she hardly knows him. His diary entries and her letters to him alternate throughout the book. Funny, touching, and the book resulted in the author’s starting a charity organization to assist people in writing letters to those living with cancer.
I have a long shot question
Anyone know of a book where a college student is emailing with a soldier, and he eventually comes to meet her. She lives with a roommate that is against the relationship, and encourages her to get back together with her ex boyfriend. While the main character and the soldier spend more time together, she takes him to meet her grandmother-during these visits her grandmother shares letters she had from WW2.
The main character is torn about continuing the relationship because she is anti-war. The book of course ends with them together.
I read this book years ago and have been trying to find it since