The CorrespondentThe Correspondent
What it's about
Sybil Van Antwerp is a sharp, private woman in her seventies who has written letters nearly every day of her life: to her brother, to old friends, to her children, to authors she admires and to people who have annoyed her. Told entirely through those letters over several years, the novel slowly reveals the life behind them, including old regrets, a grief she has never faced and one letter she still hasn't been able to write, just as her eyesight begins to fail.
Why it's worth reading
It's a quiet, wise, funny book that sneaks up on you. Sybil is prickly and impossible not to love, and by the end readers say they want to sit down and write letters of their own.
You'll love it if you liked
Remarkably Bright Creatures
My Friends
Tom LakeGood to know
It's told only in letters, so the story builds slowly, from small details, before it becomes very moving. It's under 300 pages.
By the numbers
- Readers93 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics56 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller78 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz100 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #1 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #4 of the 481 new books we rank
- #7 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Gripping
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Quick answers
Is The Correspondent worth reading?
Yes. It's a quiet, wise, funny book that sneaks up on you. It ranks #7 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 94.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Correspondent about?
Sybil Van Antwerp is a sharp, private woman in her seventies who has written letters nearly every day of her life: to her brother, to old friends, to her children, to authors she admires and to people who have annoyed her. Told entirely through those letters over several years, the novel slowly reveals the life behind them, including old regrets, a grief she has never faced and one letter she still hasn't been able to write, just as her eyesight begins to fail.
How long does it take to read The Correspondent?
About 8 hours (305 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Correspondent won?
Women's Prize for Fiction winner (2026).
What should I read after The Correspondent?
If you liked it, try Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, My Friends by Fredrik Backman or Tom Lake by Ann Patchett.