Welcome to Litsy!

I resisted this book for most of the year and finally gave in. This is likely my favorite fiction book of 2025. A book of letters doesn‘t always appeal and the “older bitter person turns soft at the end of life” plot doesn‘t usually do it for me. Any on the fence about this, I urge you, it‘s so much more! I loved Sybil and the way this was told. I was in tears multiple times reading this lovely novel. Written without an ounce of sap. Love this!

The letter writer suggests some New Year's Resolutions...

I really enjoyed this one! It had some Olive Ketteridge vibes. I loved the way the story unfolded. Lots of tragedies and complicated relationships. I loved the fictional letters written by real authors dotted throughout the book. And the ‘what are you reading?‘ questions and answers at the end of some of the letters. What we read at different parts of our lives is all part of living a life well lived!

I‘m excited to read from your list in January! Nice to meet you.

#auldlangspine I‘m so excited about this list from @Erinreadsthebooks I‘ve already read Sunrise on the Reaping, so so good! These three are the ones I plan to start with. I will try to cross off every book on the list by next December! Thank you to @monalyisha for organizing! I know this takes a lot of work!

Currently listening to this on audio…it took a hot second to get used to the format. It‘s our December book club pick.

#bookspinbingo
#10BeforeTheEnd

This was as lovely as everyone said it would be. Sybil's voice is strong, her letters are an ode to the importance of the written word, and the gradual reveal of her backstory creates enough intrigue to keep the reader turning pages. I loved this reading experience.

Reading this on the way to Thanksgiving dinner with family was absolute joy. I‘m nearly halfway and loving Sylvia as everyone promised. Sure to be an easy winner for my personal #ToB26 long list. Also, I didn‘t realize how many books we‘d see name-dropped! I love that in a book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It‘s fascinating to think how one‘s correspondence can be pieced together to create a mosaic of a life. Evans pulled this off beautifully, painting a unique & vivid portrait of aging, regrets, forgiveness, & the art of letter writing. The epistolary format also allows us to read between the lines & notice what is revised, omitted, or unsent. The audiobook‘s brilliant full-cast narration makes this special novel shine even brighter. 🎧

I loved everything about this book! The epistolary style was engaging and made it a fast read. The depth of character development was on point. It‘s a great examination of life‘s complex ups and downs written beautifully. I couldn‘t put it down and I cried at the end. I‘ll need a few days before I can read anything else because this one needs to be processed and thought through. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I usually don't enjoy epistolary novels, but between the reviews and the fact that I know one of the narrators, I decided to pick this one up on audio, and I am so glad I did. It felt a little disjointed at first, but once I got the hang of it, I just loved it. Sybil's character arc is so moving and beautifully drawn. Now I feel like writing letters (I've already written notes to two neighbors to go with some treats we're giving them).

Yes, OK, you were all right - I loved it! ❤️😝❤️

It did take me a chapter or two to get into it and I was a *teensy* bit worried for a few minutes, but it all came good and it will probably be on my ‘best of 2025‘ list.

Pic: Henry being a little bit knackered after playing on the beach.

Loved every single word of this book. 5 ⭐️

This beautiful book has completely devastated me. It is astonishing how powerful a story is told through one woman‘s letters. I‘m off to drink a gallon of water to replace what I lost reading the last 30 pages. 💔

What a gem! This epistolary novel tells the story of Sybil Van Antwerp. From a decades-long correspondence with her childhood friend to notes to neighbors to emails with a customer service rep, the letters tell the story of her life. It's like 84 Charing Cross Road but with added depth & breadth. I absolutely loved her. She's a complicated woman; sharply intelligent, acerbic, & incredibly caring. I cherished this picture of an intentional life.

This was really lovely. I wasn't sure about listening to the audio but the narrator for Sybil was excellent. There was such a good balance of long-standing relationships that had their ups and downs with one-off letters - the letters to the authors had me in stitches sometimes! It was just so well done and I will be watching for more from Evans.

Beautiful book written through letters (like 84, Charing Cross Road) warm, wise, and hard to put down once it gets rolling.

It follows the life of Sybil a 70 something who‘s full of life even while looking back at books, regrets, and important people past/present.

Have been working the polls today. Voting has been steady all day, but I did manage to finish this book. What a delightful read! The epistolary format was perfect for letting the story unfold. It hit me in all the feels. I‘m already thinking about how many people I‘m going to gift this to for Christmas.

In Annapolis ‘with a dormer window‘ that looks toward the Severn River‘.
I can tell I am going to love this one already! ❤️
#whereareyouMonday
@Cupcake12

This book of letters- to others and to our main character- moves through years of grief, events, and the mundane. In these letters, to and from, you piece together what happened (without conversation), Sybil‘s processing of her long life, mistakes made and mended, and new opportunities. What struck me most, most likely influenced by my own life, is Sybil‘s ability to grow, reconnect, and evolve, even as her own abilities and life were waning.

Birthday books 😁
Thank you Caroline and Barbara - look forward to getting to these! Very kind gifts 😘

🎩 hat‘s off to the author 👏 THIS IS SO GOOD! The audio is extremely well done.

#Oct2025 Book96

Beautifully written book. one of my favorites this year

Absolutely loving this one! Pie in the first minute or two?! One of the characters is reading Crossing to Safety ?! Good stuff. Absolutely LOVING this so far.

📸 uh, lilacs are blooming? (Oct 18, 2025)

"I have found it absolutely astounding, all the trouble living has turned out to be.'
What a lovely surprise book. I read this in less than a day. I loved the literary references, it has been a long time since I have read an epistolary novel but this one really worked for me even if I didn't always like the MC. I thought it was a well done contemplating look at life and aging.

So glad everyone was raving about this! Especially @BarbaraBB
I picked it up last night and am already 3/4 in. A book lovers dream of a book I love how many books have been mentioned are many my own favorites. It is increasing my TBR but I am so enjoying it.

I‘m almost at a loss for words after finishing this absolute GEM of a book. I loved every moment. #readyourkindle

September #wrapup

Had a great reading month with some very interesting books and subjects. Hard to pick a favorite they were all good in their own way.

I loved this! I am almost always down for an epistolary book, and this one employs the form beautifully while giving me all the feels.

I love a good epistolary novel and this one is excellent. Sybil is a prolific and fearless letter writer. She is unafraid to bare her soul which makes her a compelling correspondent. Her letters don‘t always paint her in the best light, but as the book progresses, we see her grow and change. Flawed as she is, you can‘t help but love Sybil. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘ve read books feat. seniors reflecting on their lives & some r really great. This 1 wasn‘t. The Annapolis/Arnold, MD setting was cool since that‘s where I‘m from but overall this is just an ok book. I didn‘t gain anything from it. I listened to the audio & maybe that has something 2 do with it. The different narrators helped liven it up. Like it wasn‘t bad, it just wasn‘t anything special. I don‘t understand the really high rating 4 this book.

The epistolary telling here was such a great way to absorb the essence of septuagenarian Sybil Van Antwerp. I loved her confidence in writing to anyone in which she had interest (from young and old, bffs, family, authors, customer service, those who needed her, those she maligned, and even a next door neighbor). How the author kept all of this going through letters (some email too) was just so good. Well worth my months long library wait!

my book of the year wow &adebut too this lady‘s really got it she‘ll be an auto buy for me now. If someone would have told me a book of letters would be my favourite book of the year I‘d never have believed them but this is so so clever. I also think anyone who has dealt with grief should read this & perhaps even though it is a book for anyage send it to anyone depressed about aging because you really can lead a full life no matter what age youare

What an enormous tale of a small human life in all its fumbles and glory, missteps, successes, love, and pain. I don't know what makes me love epistolary novels so much, likely a nosey curiousity, but this one was unbeatable.

This was a lovely read - Sybil is determined to never give up the art of letter writing as its brought her joy over many years - we see her relationships with friends, family, penpals and strangers morph and change through the impact of her letter writing. This made me think of Ove a little bit although Sybil isnt quite that prickly! Definitely felt the feels with this one 💕

✒️𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓒𝓵𝓾𝓫 𝓕𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷🐦

Have you read 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭? My book club loved it & we had a wonderful discussion. We are all in awe at how masterfully author 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐬 tells a story that is moving, at times funny, suspenseful & richly poignant entirely through letters written by her characters. The characters & story will remain with us & live in our hearts for a long, long time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such a good book. I didn‘t think I‘d enjoy a story told entirely through letters, but this one really worked. The narrator, her family, her friends, her boyfriends, all came to life in beautiful ways. And their stories, all told so very believably. Very special, highly recommend.

I cried through several of the letters that make up this book, but I have truly loved listening to it. I love each and every character and every time Sybil and her best friend Rosalie would close one of their letters with what they are reading and asking what the other is reading my heart got all squishy. Highly recommend this sweet novel.

Most of us do this, I suppose. But do you ever feel like the guilt of not reading from your TBR but continuing to add to it will suffocate you…and then you wonder what you‘re even doing in your free time that doesn‘t allow you the luxury?

#bookloverproblems

Themes: Epistolary Format, “Looking back, while still looking ahead”, Never too old to fight

This was the perfect book for my somewhat melancholy mood this past weekend. I found myself at times loving the MC (Sybil) and then other times internally shouting, “What are you doing?!” and because of this, I was committed to reading her correspondence 😆 This debut is worth all the praise and accolades it‘s receiving 🧡

This story is told entirely through letters, both from and to the central character Sybil Van Antwerp.
I think epistolary novels, at least for me, can be a slippery slope. By their nature, they are slower-paced and perhaps more introspective than the average novel. I find myself needing to be "in the mood" before starting to read one of these novels as I tend to enjoy mysteries/thrillers most often.
I will be honest; I found some of this one to ?

Such a lovely read, perfect cottage book. Sybil is such a fabulous character, and I loved getting to know her through her correspondence. The ups and downs of life, the difficulties of aging, and the power of connection 💕📫

This week has been poopy and then the news of PBS and NPR getting defunded has just been the bird poop on top of a crap sundae. A new book and a pleasant day to read outside (low 80‘s and zero humidity) is very much appreciated universe.

#WeeklyFavorite

Not much reading going on but did manage to finish 2 books since the beginning of the month. All the lovely reviews of the tagged book were spot on and I really enjoyed Death of the Author for #CampLitsy.

@Read4life

The only thing I disliked about this book is that I'm very bad at paying attention to dates, so sometimes the passage of time between letters threw me for a loop, and the fact that it omits parts of the exchange had me convinced I'd missed something.

Otherwise, I thought it did really well at evoking character through letters. Poor Sybil.

I find I've been going really slowly with this book, because it reminds me of my own correspondence with my grandmother. She never wrote back, in the last years of her life, but I miss writing to her.

Neither of us was anything like Sybil, the protagonist of this novel, but... just the importance of letters to Sybil is a lot right now.

Thanks to @BarbaraBB for recommending this book and thanks to Evans for writing it. A story told through letters is always a pleasure to read and the main character is a pleasure to meet. We meet her in her early 70‘s. We experience her frustration as her eyesight begins to fail, we root her on when several men seem interested in her, and we share her sadness as she writes of some past events. I really enjoyed this.

I just adored this beautiful book. Sybil is in her 70s and has had a full life as a lawyer, a wife, a mother, and a friend. The one defining constant throughout her life has been letters. She has written and received hundreds of letters. And now, as she enters the last years of her life, we see the fruition of those epistolary relationships as she confronts some long buried truths.