By now, you’ve probably seen The Correspondent on every book club list and library endcap, so here’s your sign to finally pick it up. Virginia Evans' debut novel follows Sybil Van Antwerp, a 73-year-old retired lawyer and law clerk who lives near Annapolis, Maryland. With her remaining family living far away, her letters are where her relationships live: the ones she's still tending, the ones she let slide and the ones she's trying to repair.
She writes letters and emails to her family, her neighbor, her old friends, a former teacher, a few famous authors and even the customer service department of a DNA testing company. More on that later.
The Correspondent is unique because the whole story is told through emails, letters and postcards. There are flashbacks woven in, but there’s no narration outside her writing. This technique makes it what is known as an epistolary novel, which comes from the Greek word for letter or message. Other famous examples that use this format include Dracula, The Color Purple and We Need to Talk About Kevin.
What Are Readers Saying About The Correspondent?
Our consumer advertising manager Kate describes herself as an avid audiobook listener. “Unless I have a moment to sit down, which I don't, listening to an audiobook is the only way I can get it done,” she shared.
However, in this case, the audio version was a bit tricky. Even with a Post-it Note listing the eight primary characters, it was still difficult to follow along, so she ended up borrowing a copy from the local library for a more pleasant reading experience.
The verdict? Kate said, “I found it an interesting way to tell a story, and I became attached to Sybil. Her exchange with the DNA company's customer service department is one of my favorite vignettes. Watching her repair old relationships and build new ones also made me wonder how my own mother might react in these circumstances.”
Awards and Book Club Selections
Evans’ debut novel won the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. It was selected as the first pick in Katie Couric’s new book club, which launched in January 2026. It was also a BBC Radio 2 Book Club selection, and it’s being adapted into a film produced by and starring Jane Fonda.
About Virginia Evans
Virginia Evans earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from James Madison University in Virginia and a master's degree in creative writing from Trinity College Dublin, so she has ties to both regions that shape Sybil's story.
While this is her first novel, she wrote seven other manuscripts that never found a publisher. With more than 2 million copies sold globally and a top spot on the New York Times Best Seller list, we’re sure to see more from Evans in the future.
Enough about the story behind The Correspondent. It’s time to put the kettle on and get on with our reading guide and recipe pairings.
The Correspondent
by Virginia Evans
Discover the word-of-mouth hit hailed by Ann Patchett as "A cause for celebration" -- an intimate novel about the transformative power of the written word and the beauty of slowing down to reconnect with the people we love.
"Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. ... Isn't there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one's life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?"
Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.
Sybil Van Antwerp's life of letters might be "a very small thing," but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.
Cookbook & Recipe Pairings for The Correspondent
In the book, Sybil’s neighbor Theodore shows up with a cherry streusel cake, which provides one of the small, sweet comforts in Sybil's world. Sticking with the theme but diverting slightly, we're pairing the book with a luscious cherry tart.
Below are three versions for every kind of baker: a quick one built on canned cherries, a traditional almond tart with fresh fruit and a cream-topped showstopper spiked with kirschwasser. Whichever you choose, you can’t go wrong. Find the recipes below.
- Easy Cherry Tart by Flour On My Face
- Traditional Cherry Almond Tart by Adina Beck of Where Is My Spoon
- Elevated Cherry Tart With Kirsch Pastry Cream from Martha Bakes
Drink Pairings for The Correspondent
Whether the chapter calls for something stiff or something smooth, we've got you covered. For the heavier moments in the book, there's nothing like a generous pour of Scotch, just like Sybil would have. For everything (and everyone) else, there's a strong cup of tea.
Scotch on the Rocks
No cocktail shaker required. All you need is good Scotch and some ice. It's the perfect drink for a celebration or difficult times. Since there are no mixers or garnishes, choose a good quality bottle you'd happily sip. Large ice cubes melt slowly, so your drink chills without watering down too fast. Aim for a 2-ounce pour over two to three large ice cubes or five to six regular-sized ones. Here are a few top-quality single-malt Scotch brands to consider.
Award-Winning Single-Malts:
- Ardbeg
- Lagavulin
- Ben Nevis
- Loch Lomond
- Glen Scotia
For more award winners, visit The Whisky Barrel.
Budget-Friendly Scotch Under $50:
- Glenfiddich 12 Year
- Glenlivet 12 Year
- Glenmorangie 12 Year
- Ardbeg Wee Beastie
- Glen Grant
Find more budget-friendly options at Tasting Table.
Perfect Irish Breakfast Tea
For a nonalcoholic alternative, try a fortifying cup of Irish breakfast tea sweetened with milk and sugar or lemon and honey. In fact, the book opens with Sybil carrying a mug of Irish breakfast tea with milk to her desk. You probably don’t need a recipe, but if you’re feeling fancy or unsure, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger have a recipe for Perfect English Tea on the Food Network.
- Harney & Sons 100% Assam Irish Breakfast Tea
- Equal Exchange Organic Irish Breakfast Tea
- Stash Irish Breakfast Black Tea
- Twinings Irish Breakfast Black Tea
Stationery Pairing for The Correspondent
Here’s one more pairing, for anyone inspired to answer the call and write a letter of their own. This boxed set comes with 20 sheets of writing paper, 20 matching envelopes and 24 envelope sticker seals.
The Correspondent Stationery Set
by Virginia Evans
Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestselling novel The Correspondent, this exquisite 20-piece stationery set--complete with two sheets of beautifully designed stickers--invites you to deepen your relationships with others through the lost art of letter writing.
Packaged in a beautifully designed box with a slide-out drawer and adorned with an unforgettable quote from The Correspondent, this set makes a thoughtful and stylish gift for calligraphers, stationery lovers, or anyone seeking a new way to connect with their loved ones.
Cookbook Pairing
Discover regional dishes like crab cakes, crab pudding and cheese bread popularized near Annapolis and Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay region. We’re confident that Sybil would approve. The book also includes a number of vegan and vegetarian recipes to accommodate your family's different dietary preferences.
The New Chesapeake Kitchen
by John Shields
The latest cookbook by the "Culinary Ambassador of the Chesapeake" encourages us to cook in a way that is not only healthy for us but also for the Bay.
Captain John Smith, upon entering the Chesapeake, wrote in his diaries that the fish were so plentiful "we attempted to catch them with a frying pan." That method sums up classic Chesapeake cooking--fresh and simple. In The New Chesapeake Kitchen, celebrated Maryland chef John Shields takes the best of what grows, swims, or grazes in the Bay's watershed and prepares it simply, letting the pure flavors shine through.
In this scrumptious book, enhanced with beautiful full-color images by former Baltimore Sun Magazine photographer David W. Harp, Shields urges readers to choose local, seasonal ingredients. Presenting what he dubs "Bay- and body-friendly food," he advocates for a plant-forward and sustainable diet, one that considers how food consumption affects both your health and the environment.
Shields offers many vegan- and vegetarian-friendly options, as well as innovative new takes on Chesapeake classics. You'll find recipes for dozens of delicious dishes, from Aunt Bessie's Crab Pudding and Hutzler's Cheese Bread to "I Can't Believe It's Not Crab" Cakes, Blue Cat Seafood Hash, and an array of savory soups, braised meats, luscious desserts, and green breakfast smoothies--even recipes for a locavore cocktail party! … Count us in!
Book Club Discussion Questions for The Correspondent
Told entirely in letters and led by a character who is equal parts prickly and tender, The Correspondent gives book clubs plenty to talk about, from the relationships Sybil mends to the ones she can't. Spoiler Alert: These questions discuss plot points from throughout the book.
- The whole story comes to us through letters, emails and postcards. What did you learn about Sybil without traditional narration? What did it keep from you?
- Over the course of the book, we learn that Sybil is slowly going blind and refuses to tell anyone. How did that secret influence your perception of her?
- Sybil has a close relationship with a former colleague’s son, who runs away and stays with her. How would you describe their bond, and how do they support each other?
- Sybil writes to real-life authors, including Joan Didion and Ann Patchett (who actually endorsed the book!). Seeing those letters come off her desk helps establish a personal connection. What author would you write to?
- Sybil has never been on an airplane and is afraid of flying. How does that fear affect her relationships with her family?
- Sybil lost her young son Gilbert in a freak accident. How did the guilt over this incident shape the person she became in her later years?
- Of all the relationships depicted in the book, which one spoke to you the most and why?
- If you had to write a letter to someone important in your life, who would you write to and what would you say?
Related: 5 Books to Read After The Correspondent
If you love stories told in letters or novels about personal reckonings that take place later in life, here are a few more to add to your TBR once you finish The Correspondent.
1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer - Annie Barrows
2. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
3. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
4. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
5. Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher
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