I am so sad that I didn’t enjoy this one, as I was really hoping I’d want to read the whole series! Unfortunately, there was just way more that I disliked than liked. The book read as YA rather than adult, and I struggled with that feeling the entire time. Evie was clearly meant to be a “say what’s on her mind” type of girl, which was supposed to come across as funny, but it fell flat most of the time for me. The dialogue really didn’t add much value at all. Beyond not finding the humor, I also struggled to connect with the attempted relationship-building between most of the characters. The buildup around different plot points, like what made the villain evil, was so long and drawn out that when I finally got the payoff, it felt like I’d missed something, the reveal itself was that lackluster.

Hmph. I really am bummed about this one!

The Correspondent was a phenomenal book, and I feel I got even more out of it in audiobook format. Sybil is a complex and deeply realistic character. Her career, her friendships, her relationships with her children, her parents and extended family, her grief and her regrets all come together to build an amazing picture of a person who clearly didn’t make every right decision, but still has to live with those choices. The audiobook especially captured how much emotion Sybil carries, and how she’s only truly able to express it through her letters. I got this through Libby, but will be adding to my personal collection to come back to again!

I am going back and forth on this one. I think I was expecting more from a book that I’ve heard recommended so often. It was very formulaic and repetitive. To the point that it was almost comical how much I could guess what the next life would be with pretty good results… I also was not a fan of the ending at all… it was beautifully written, though… I will give it that. I felt as though I was in the library and lives along with Nora.