Can You Say Epistolary? My Favorite Letter-Written Novels

Nov 07 2025 Can You Say Epistolary? My Favorite Letter-Written Novels

Epistolary (adj.): written in the form of a series of letters — Merriam-Webster

I’ve come to realize that the epistolary novel sits at the top of my favorite fiction genres. Letter writing feels like a lost art and, that saddens me. There’s something special about being a fly on the wall (or on paper), reading as characters bare their hearts and bare their truest selves through ink and page. A letter reveals the writer as they truly are: hopeful, flawed, searching, tender, and relatable. The epistolary form lets us sit quietly inside a character’s heart.

There’s freedom in writing a letter, don’t you think? I have a friend with whom I correspond by mail, and I find myself far more open and reflective than I would ever be in a face-to-face or text conversation.

As a child and into early adulthood, I regularly exchanged letters with my grandmothers, a great aunt, and a best friend after moving to another state. Oh, how I wish I’d saved those letters — those sweet threads of connection between us, holding places in time and history in my life.

So, here are my best picks (so far) in this category:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: Published in 2025, this beautifully written story of correspondence follows Sybil, an avid letter writer who pours her heart onto the page, writing to family, friends, and even the famous. At first, I wasn’t sure I liked her blunt honesty and sharp opinions, but in time I grew to love her wit and sauciness. Poignant, profound, and occasionally salty in language, it’s a rich exploration of connection through the written word (and a few emails).

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson: A book club favorite that sparked rich conversation, Gilead grew on me the longer I lingered with it. This quiet yet powerful novel unfolds through letters from an aging pastor to his young son. It is a meditation on faith, legacy, and the beauty of small, meaningful moments. There’s little plot, yet a depth that lingers, with literary gems on every page. A Pulitzer Prize winner and a great choice for a group or reading partners.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff: A delightful true story that unfolds through letters between Helene Hanff, a New York writer, and Frank Doel, a London bookseller. What begins as a request for rare books becomes a twenty-year friendship marked by humor, warmth, and mutual affection. Set in the post–World War II years, this short gem is intimate and celebrates words, kindness, and connection across an ocean.

Love and Saffron by Kim Fay: Set in 1960s America, this novel traces the unlikely friendship between two women brought together by a packet of saffron and a shared love of food. Joan is a young food writer from Los Angeles; Imogen, a seasoned columnist in Washington State. What begins as a professional exchange soon blossoms into a tender, lasting friendship through letters. Warm, witty, and moving, a celebration of food and friendship mixed with sweetness and sadness.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: I’ve read this gem at least three times and the film adaptation is wonderful, too. Set just after World War II, it follows Juliet, a young writer searching for her next story, who begins corresponding with a man from the island of Guernsey. Through their letters—and those of his fellow islanders—she discovers their stories of courage, humor, and heart during the German occupation. Warm, witty, with touches of grief. I adore this tale of love, friendship, and the healing power of words.

For a slightly different take, try these journal-format stories:

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.” The first line of the book. Written as the journal of seventeen-year-old Cassandra, this 1930s coming-of-age story follows her life in a crumbling castle in Suffolk with her eccentric family. Cassandra is spirited, observant, and funny. I thought it was darling.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower: A fun (and popular!) series of eight novels following Emma, a 21-year-old orphan navigating life in 1880s London. I am on the second one. Through her witty and heartfelt journals, she records her return to the family home, her eccentric relatives, friends, and neighbors, and a parade of odd adventures. Lighthearted yet full of warmth and insight. PG-rated delight. And I hear this collection is great on audio.

Happy reading, friends!