the setup…
Sybil Van Antwerp is a retired lawyer of distinction. When her story begins, she’s 73-years old, divorced, living in Arnold, Maryland and has two children; daughter Fiona married and living in London and son Bruce also married with two children. Every morning she begins her day at her desk, organizing her correspondence, preparing to write her letters…to brother Felix, her children, her best friend Rosalie, to authors of the latest books she’s finished and loved, any anyone else she needs to communicate with about matters simple or complex. It’s a life, one shared through all of her correspondence over the years.
the heart of the story…
One of the reasons I love the epistolary form is because it’s unembellished and exquisitely simple and freeing in its storytelling. Sybil’s letter writing is more like an art form in its directness and expression. You truly see the woman she is at that moment. It didn’t take long for me to be swept into her world and enthralled by it. She’s imperfect even if her writing is grammatically correct. There were times I found her rigidity frustrating but then I experienced her growth even at her advanced age.
the narration…
A multiple cast of performers were used to narrate the letters and it was spectacular! Some managed multiple roles but they all sounded different to me. I especially loved Maggi-Meg Reed’s performance as Sybil as she completely captured this complex woman. It was a special listening experience.
the bottom line…
The premise suggested that Sybil might be the most memorable characters I’d encounter and it delivered on that statement. Letter writing is becoming a lost art and Sybil was a master. But it was the woman who I deeply connected with through her own words. I felt her losses, her grief, joys and disappointments, surprises and contemplations; laughing with and crying for her. This is indeed a gem of a novel and Sybil a character I’ll never forget.
Book Info
- Release Date: April 29, 2025
- Narrators: Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, Jeff Ebner, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Peter Ganim & Jade Wheeler
- Audio Length: 8 hours, 36 minutes
- Publisher: Random House Audio
Listen to a Sample!
Blue Mood Café 
I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. Wonderful review, Jo!
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Thank you, Marialyce💜 I noticed you and Jan came away with differing reactions. I can see how Sybil can be a controversial character.
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What a great premise! Wonderful review Jonetta.
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Thank you, Jodie💜 I had no idea it would be this profound.
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I’m very keen to read this. It’s on my Amazon wish list and I’m hoping the Kindle version will go on offer.
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I think you’ll love it💜
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I’m THRILLED to know that you’ve met Sybil and love her! What a masterful characterization! This one will go on my lifetime favs list. The audio was fabulous! I read it in print first and when I heard about the audio I did an immediate reread!
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Yay and thank you, Carol💜 I was hoping you’d read this and wonderful you went back and listened to the story. I think it will be on my lifetime list, too (when I create one).
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Sleeper hit of the summer!
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Excellent review, Jo. I have the audiobook just waiting for me, and I can’t wait to get to it after reading your review.
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Thank you, Carla💜 I think you’ll be pleased.
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There’s more to Sybil than we meet on the page, but that’s what also makes her letters so compelling. There’s a fine line and when she crosses it…
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She’s one of the more complex characters I’ve met in a story. She enchanted me💜
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