1.18k reviews for:

The Correspondent

Virginia Evans

4.64 AVERAGE

cnimom's review against another edition

4.75

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kat3_b0nd's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Touching, poignant and so beautifully written. The audiobook was particularly good with multiple narrators. I so appreciate a story of an elderly woman who is not infantilized. She is a whole character with dreams and regrets and not just a “sassy little old lady.”

literarylawgirl's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

melisahebe's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sarahfenninger's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Will probably end up being my favorite read of the year 

cmolter's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jennlovesreading's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Wonderful, wonderful book. Very good on audio.

momsreadingera's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I'm neither the first nor the last to write a glowing review of this lovely book. You may know by know that it's an epistolary novel, written entirely in letters and other written communications. It doesn't sound like it'd make a fantastic audiobook, but believe me, it really does. The full cast did a fantastic job, reading emotions even into addresses, dates, and email subject lines that preface the substance of the characters' messages.

Sybil is a divorced, retired lawyer in her 70s, living near Annapolis, Maryland. The book tracks her many relationships, past and present, along with her fears, regrets, discoveries, and more. It's hard to convey the beauty of the book in a synopsis, so that will have to suffice for this review.

Reading this book you feel like you have truly met Sybil. Maybe she reminds you of someone you know. Either way, she jumps off the page. Even when you disagree with her opinions or choices, you feel for her. Or I did, anyway!

I also enjoyed many personal connections to the book. I'm a lawyer who lives in the Washington, DC region. I've had some similar professional experiences to Sybil's as well. These connections certainly enhanced my experience, but please rest assured there is something here for every reader to connect to, no matter who you are.

My reading experience was further enhanced by buddy reading with two Bookstagram friends, Danielle and Elyse. So glad that it worked out! 

sechewning's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

megkc's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes