The Correspondent

The BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick
A Good Housekeeping and Belfast Telegraph Summer Pick
An Amazon Best Book of 2025 So Far
Longlisted for the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize

'A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION' Ann Patchett

'I CAN'T PRAISE IT ENOUGH. AN ABSOLUTE TRIUMPH' Clare Chambers

'YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH SYBIL. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO LET HER GO' Irish Times

'I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE WITH A SOUL NOT LOVING IT' Lauren Bravo

'SHOWS US WHAT A GLORIOUS THING GROWING OLDER CAN BE' Florence Knapp

A heartwarming, witty story about the life of an extraordinary woman, told through her letters, for fans of Olive Kitteridge, A Man Called Ove and 84 Charing Cross Road
--
Every morning at around half past ten, Sybil Van Antwerp sits down to write letters – to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to attend a class she desperately wants to take, to her favourite authors to tell them what she thinks of their latest books.

Because at seventy-three, Sybil has used her correspondence – full of sharp humour and hard-earned wisdom – to make sense of the world.

But beyond the page, she has spent the last thirty years keeping the people who love her at arms’ length. Until letters from someone she had put out of her mind land on her doorstep, forcing her to reckon with her past mistakes.

For as Sybil is about to learn, it’s never too late to write a few post-scripts.

Funny, wry and bittersweet, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of connection, the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime, told by one of the most memorable characters you will ever meet.

Readers love THE CORRESPONDENT

'This is the book of the year! ***** Reader Review

‘This book touched my soul quite frankly.’ ***** Reader Review

'Should be required reading' ***** Reader Review

'Makes me hopeful that there's still plenty of good left in the world and my life. ' ***** Reader Review

'I found myself asking myself, “Is this the best book I’ve ever read?”' ***** Reader Review
'An amazing book; an examination and celebration of an extraordinary woman's life. Full of joy. Full of heartbreak. Perfect.' ***** Reader Review

'Left a profound impact on me . . . explores the reflections that come with the choices we make and a life well lived, and it does so with such grace and depth that it’s impossible not to be moved' ***** Reader Review
'I would highly recommend to anyone who is also a fan of A Man Called Ove or Olive Kitteridge' ***** Reader review