There are moments in all of our lives when we read a book, and it just sings to our souls. These novels don’t come along very often. It’s the kind of book that makes you lose your own identity, and the pages fly by while we secretly wish it would never end. This is how I felt reading Virginia Evans’ THE CORRESPONDENT. It made me cry, laugh, and shake my head at the wonder and delight.Â
The story is simply composed of the letters and emails written by a retired lawyer between 2012 and 2022. This, at face value, doesn’t seem like it would be personal and fascinating, but THE CORRESPONDENT was suggested to me by a dear friend, so I decided to give it a go even though it didn’t seem like a book I would be interested in reading. I had no idea how wrong I was. I loved every powerful page, and I recommended it to all my friends. It is a heartfelt, glorious read.Â
THE CORRESPONDENT was published in 2025. It was a slow burn to reach the masses and become popular, receiving widespread critical acclaim. It has since then found its spot on the New York Times Fiction Best Seller List. It won the PEN/Hemingway Award for a debut novel. The film version is also in production, starring Jane Fonda. I can’t wait.Â
THE CORRESPONDENT pushed all my buttons because it is a story about grief, facing a life-changing health problem, regrets about past choices, mending family fences, all while showcasing one headstrong, stubborn woman. It is a book for anyone, no matter how old or young you are. It features the theory that it is never too late to make our lives more joyous. I can’t stop thinking about it. I am planning on reading it a second time. This says it all for me, and I plan on writing letters to all who cross my path. Enjoy.
