I’d like to applaud these 2 authors, for writing a book that tackled some pretty serious issues and doing so without sugar coating and miraculous recoveries. It was hard to read at times, emotional and heartbreaking but the connection between Luca and Griffin is strong and well developed throughout the book. I especially enjoyed Doc. Overall, a really good read.

Dirty Letters is an emotional and passionate contemporary romance about two pen pals falling in love before they even meet! I loved this book so much!! Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward made me want a pen pal myself and reminded me of the beauty of writing a letter. Their writing is both delicate, powerful, and affecting. I am currently looking for another tissue box because I have gone through a whole box reading this book. The characters faced many ups and downs and these two authors highlighted the power of love so beautifully.

The story follows Griffin and Luca who start of their friendship as being pen pals. They begin writing letters to each other from elementary school all the way up to high school. Their honesty and vulnerability in their letters were breathtaking.

I thought Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward created amazing characters that I could connect with and enjoy reading about. Luca is a woman who has been through hell and back. Her experiences have led her to have anxiety and agoraphobia. She has only been in love one time and that was with her pen pal. They used to write all the time, but then the letters stopped. Griffin is a rock star who has had a hard time trusting people. He trusted one person and she forgot to write back. He is kind, passionate, and did I mention he has an accent. *insert heart eyes emoji*
He always had Luca on his mind and one drunken night he writes her a letter telling her how he feels about her stopping her letters.

This letter changed their lives again and this time would be different. They have changed over the years, but the connection is still there. They have never met and don't know each other's real names so meeting each other isn't as easy as it seems. I believe fate wants them to meet as much as I wanted them to meet and they did! Yep, sparks were flying.

The truth of their identities makes having a real relationship tricky, but the story makes each one figure out if love is truly enough. It's an incredible read that is unputdownable. I loved how the authors put this story together and how they give readers an insight into their lives as young adults to adults.

I give Dirty Letters 5 stars. It is a fascinating story that shows the power of love, tackles the struggle of living with anxiety, and letting go of fears. Dirty Letters is so good that you won't be able to put it down!!

***ARC Provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley***

4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this story, I liked the characters and I was drawn to the story, the people in it, and the way in which the story was told. I loved the idea that Griffin and Luca were lapsed pen pals, that they kept in contact with one another for years, without knowing each other's real names, and that they drifted apart until one night, Griffin does something very human and something that we have all wanted to do, I think, in different situations. He writes to Luca, and he tells her how upset it made him when she stopped replying to his letters.

Luca has...struggles. We all do, and we rarely have reasons for them as good as the ones she has. I will not spoil it here, but I do feel that I can say it made Luca not only sympathetic but it also made it feel like she was dealing with something that all of us could potentially face, even though most of us haven't.

Griffin has secrets. Things that he doesn't want to tell Luca, as he thinks it will ruin the relationship they had in the past if she knows who he is in the present.

In order for them to work in the present, both of them have to find away to not only come to terms with the things that happened in the past, but also find a way to make the people they are now into people who can work in the lives they have each built.

It's hard to say more about this without spoilers, so I will avoid those and say that I enjoyed and recommend this title.

I've been meaning to read a book by these authors for awhile now and finally got the chance. Dirty Letters has a pretty serious vibe right from the start, as Luca deals with serious anxiety, panic attacks, can't handle crowds. Griffin was her pen pal back in school, and him randomly sending her a letter years later sparks the habit back up.

I love Griffin so hard. He's so real, and honest with his feelings, and will bend over backwards to make things work. He just deserves so much happy. And all he wants is Luca and a bit of normalcy.

Their journey isn't easy, but it's fate. I was rooting for this couple. Also, I loved the cover. This won't be the last book I read by Vi and Penelope.

As grade-schoolers Luca & Garrett’s schools were involved in an international pen pal exchange through their respective schools. The American girl and the British boy start up a friendship through their exchanged letters. The weekly letters continue into high school creating a strong bond between these two until one day a letter goes unanswered. The unanswered letter fuels 8 years of pent up frustration for Garrett. Unknowingly to him, Luca experienced a tragic event in her life. As part of her survivor's guilt, she has been punishing herself by not allowing herself the comfort of Garrett’s friendship.

Now that they are in their mid-twenties Garrett reaches out as a last chance ditch. To Luca’s surprise she answers back and they rekindle their friendship through their letter writing. The anonymity of their situation allowed them to share their deepest sexual fantasies among other things like sharing jokes and playing games like, 2 truths & a lie.

”I’ve been in a relationship with pieces of f*cking paper and words for the past several weeks.”

Once they finally had their face to face meeting it was unconventional but perfect for the two of them. It showcased their nervousness and quirkiness. And most of all it was playful.

Luca has a friendship with a fatherly figure and as a secondary character, he is spot on. He was supportive and encouraging and someone readers will want to be their friend.

DIRTY LETTERS is a standalone written by the fabulous duo of Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward. Dirty Letters is about childhood pen pals who have lost touch in their teen years and years later they strike up a friendship through their letter writing.

Dirty Letters is an emotional, second chance romance between pen pals. It was such a beautiful and heartwarming story. Griffin and Luca are pen pals from grade school. He is British and she an American. They kept in touch up until 8 years ago, when a tragedy changed Luca’s life. Luca’s father passes away, and when she finally decides to pack up his home, she finds an angry letter from Griffin about how they had lost contact. She writes him back to explain herself, and they continue to correspond via letters. She goes looking for him, and what she finds changes everything. They are two people who are about as different as can be and try to determine whether love is really enough. My heart hurt for Luca and all of her struggles. Griffin is absolutely everything you want in a book boyfriend. The two of them together didn’t make sense, yet it worked at the same time. The way Luca's issues were handled in the book by the authors was so incredibly well done. These characters will stay with me for a long time. The writing was great, paced well, and the epilogue was absolutely perfect. I would definitely recommend this.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I really wanted to like this book, but It felt flat and difficult to read at times, I don't know why everyone is raving about it because I just couldn't see it

I’m so sad this book is over. I read as slow as I could but I wish I could re read for the first time all over again.

“We all have light and dark inside us, love. We try to hide the darkness from others because we’re afraid it will scare them away. But your dark doesn’t scare me, Luca. It only makes me want to hold your hand and be your light until you can find your own again. That’s what people do when they’re in love. I won’t always be able to give you your light back, because sometimes you need to find that within yourself , but I’ll stand by your side and hold your hand in the dark so things aren’t so scary.”

I absolutely loved Griffin in this book. Luca suffers from crippling anxiety due to a past traumatic experience and can’t be in small places and large crowds. I loved how this book touched on anxiety issues especially since I suffer from anxiety as well. Griffin was so supportive and understanding and I loved the love he had for Luca.

My heart broke for Luca as I read this story because she has been through so much in her short life. I admired her strength and courage in this story. I also loved how when Griffin came on to the scene that Luca was magically all better. Her journey and transformation was authentic and real which I appreciated.
I have read many books written by Ward and Keeland and their stories just keep getting better and better. Name a better writing duo? I’ll wait! But on a serious note this story was flawlessly written as always. I love that you can't tell who wrote which scenes. I have also read their solo books and to this day I can’t figure it out. This story features characters you can’t help but love, cheer, cry and root for while reading.

What an original, fresh and oh so swoony story from this dynamic writing duo!

This beautiful story, which spans years, about Griffin and Luca is what a love story should be.

You get humor, heat and the swoons, all the swoons! I laughed, I cried and I fell in love hard with all the characters in this story.

The power of love prevails throughout this story.  This is also a story of loss and how it affects people in different ways.

Luca is a broken soul, trying to find a new place in the world.  Her devastating loss molds her into the person she is today. I could so empathize with her character and her bravery knows no bounds.

Griffin has got to be one of the swooniest heroes I have ever read! (And I have read a lot!) . The things he does and the strides he takes to make sure he can keep Luca in his world is amazing!

Destiny and fate play a huge role in this story, whether you believe in both or not, this story brings the magic of both and will make even the hardest of hearts believe!

Again, one of the most original stories I have read in a long time! This is definitely in the running for one of my "Best Reads of 2019!"

Now, let it be known I love this gifted duo and the books they create. They are always engaging, can’t-put-down reads. Some of the specific characters and situations, however, resonate better than others. It is strictly a personal thing depending on the reader.

And, for this reader, the heroine in this particular story was so frustrating that I couldn’t enjoy the overall journey. She is an extreme agoraphobe due to an incident in her past. I understand and completely sympathize with that struggle. I have never had to deal with that fear, though, so it is impossible to judge this character. However, her constant defeatest attitude drove me batty!

Griffin came up with ways to help Luca time and time again, only to have her refuse to even try or work toward finding a way to be together (with one small exception.) “I can’t” and “We’ll never work” were her mantras throughout the entire book! If you are given the most amazing love of your life, would you not be determined to find a way to make it work? Even if you had to get creative? NOPE! By the end of the story, I just felt bad for poor, longsuffering Griffin.

See? Even writing that makes me feel guilty! I’ve never lived with agoraphobia so I may seem callous just expressing that frustration! So, please accept my sincere apologies. It’s not the condition that had me impatient, it was the long-term, never changing reaction to the condition that was the problem. Suffice it to say the story was as great as all Ms. Keeland and Ms. Ward’s collaborations are. This one just didn’t connect with me, personally.

My favorite duo wrote another brilliant,emotional and heartwarming romance!I devour it in one sitting, I loved it so much!Dirty Letters was a captivating story, and it has an original story!

Luca and Griffin are my new favorite couple!I ach for them and I wanted to see them together!I loved the letters, I find it brilliant!I loved how the story begins and I liked how Luca and Griffin's relationship developed!Luca is a lovely heroine who has to deal with something serious, however she is strong and sweet.Griffin is sexy and fun!

I loved everything about it!

This book! I've read some spectacular books this year and I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite because there have been so many that have been so incredibly written, but I have to say, Dirty Letters knocked my socks off. I've read books written by both of these authors, separately and together, and have enjoyed them immensely, but this one thoroughly exceeded all my expectations of their writing style. Griffin and Luca stole my heart from the very first letters they wrote to each other and never let it go. This was such an emotional and intense read for me not only because it touches on anxiety and PTSD, but because these characters just burrowed into my heart. I suggest you read it with a box of tissues because I was a puddle of tears more than once. I also read it without reading the blurb because I like to be surprised--well, surprised is an understatement. I'm so in love with Griffin and Luca and Doc that I know they're remain in my head and my heart long into the future -- book hangover here I come. If you're looking for an intensely emotional, deeply satisfying and brilliantly written read, you've found it in Dirty Letters. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars -- extraordinary and incredible! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

I must admit that i have mixed feeling about this story.
I enjoyed every single page and i couldn't read faster and faster to see what happens next and where the authors are taking us with the story.
Pen pal childhood friends, reconnected through hate or better said heart letter after years of not hearing one from another. In this time a lot happened to both, life-changing situations made Luca live her life in solitude although she's very young. Griffin gets to live his dream as a big singer but never forgets about his pen pal and how she stopped writing.
I went through a lot of emotions throughout the story as Luca is battling a lot but there are some letters that will make you blush as well.
What i didn't like: the way he handled her before meeting her in real life and the same goes for her.
Their moments were hot and i loved how he was always protecting her and putting her needs first.
It's a story full of emotions that will pull at your hearts with every single page.

Such a sweet and magical story. The connection between Luca and Griffin was unbreakable. I loved the authors’ attention to detail with regards to Luca’s mental illness and the level of reality they brought to the story with regards to her everyday struggles.

Griffin gave me heart eyes from beginning to end. He was the ultimate book boyfriend. Yes, he had flaws and needed to prove himself time and time again but his love never wavered. He was so darn charming and sweet!

The letters, whoooaaaaa someone grab a fire extinguisher. They were HOT! I loved that through written correspondence, these two were able to open up about their deepest desires, fears, fantasies and more. At times the exchanges seemed extremely unrealistic but that’s what made it humorous and fun.

This story had ups and downs, which kept it flowing and left me wondering just how it’d end. It wasn’t overly dramatic and there really wasn’t that unrealistic suspenseful moment or scenario that we’ve come to expect from this duo. It was a rather safe read but I loved it just the same. This book warmed my heart. Left me in tears at the end. Luca and Griffin are so special and their story was incredible. This was a quick, safe, heartwarming read. Just a really endearing, feel good story to make you smile.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: severe anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks

This book!! Full of heart, healing, and love, Dirty Letters was EVERYTHING I never knew I needed in my life.

Luca and Griffin were two amazing characters that captured my heart. Their friendship goes back to a more innocent time of their lives and when everything finally comes together for the two of them, sparks fly! I love Griffin’s attention to Luca’s needs and the length in which he goes to for her. Luca, wow, she undoubtedly is one of my most favorite heroines ever. I enjoyed that this story was low on drama but big in heart! Truly, a story that made me laugh, cry and love.

DIRTY LETTERS is a standalone romance written by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. The book description intrigued me, but I haven’t read anything by these authors before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Initially, this book struck me as solely erotica, but it quickly took on classic romance elements and tropes. When they were just kids, Luca Vinetti wrote to a boy in England named Griffin. A traumatic incident made Luca stop writing to her beloved pen pal. Years later, both Luca and Griffin are very successful professionally but lack something in their personal lives. This unfinished business becomes crucial to finding a happily ever after.

I like that the misunderstanding about what separated them and what caused the silence for all these years got sorted out quickly. Even though that misunderstanding was soon resolved, Luca and Griffin both keep a few secrets from each other over the course of DIRTY LETTERS. They never lie about their feelings for each other, but Luca withholds some things in an effort to protect Griffin. I wasn’t initially sure I’d like Griffin. I thought I’d relate more to Luca because of her fears and general personality. Griffin definitely grew on me as this story progressed. Griffin is wild about Luca and accepts her for who she is. A man who’s a hottie, successful rock star, with a sweet side and who is devoted to his lady is swoon worthy. I also like that Griffin realizes that he can only do so much to move the relationship forward. He realizes, even though it crushes him, that Luca must get herself straight and be willing to love Griffin as he loves her for their relationship to succeed. Self- awareness and empathy are two highly attractive qualities in a hero. Luca’s therapist is a fascinating character – part wise mentor and part Mr. Magoo.

DIRTY LETTERS will have you laugh, cry, and root for this couple as you follow their tragedies and triumphs. The sexy scenes in DIRTY LETTERS are satisfyingly scorching and the humor breaks up the drama and moments of angst. This book has made me interested in checking out other books by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward.

It took me almost 3 weeks to read this. I thought it was because I was busy. But truthfully, the book just never really pulled me in. I feel like the authors sat around and picked two opposite issues for the characters to have. Then pasted them together with the only way they could figure out for them to come together since they otherwise would have never had contact with each other. Former pen pals. It just never really felt natural. Some scenes were mundane and needed to be trimmed down or edited out. It just dragged and made me put the book down over and over.

***Copy received from Montlake Romance via Netgalley***

Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward are a dynamic duo when it comes to romance novels. How they churn them out over and over and still impress me is quite amazing and I am forever looking forward to their next reads. In this one readers will fall head over heels for sweet Luca and her charming, long lost friend, Griffin. This book is LOW on drama, high and adorableness, and just an overall charming read. There are certainly some heartbreaking moments- Luca has had a hard time in the past few years, but seeing her (slowly) come out her her shell was nice to watch. Griffin was on pace with Luca the whole way though which us another aspect of the story I really liked. It's nice to see a softer hero and that's exactly what you get here.

All in all, this is a wonderful read and I recommend it to romance readers alike. Be prepared for a sweeter read here though, there aren't many heavy topics plaguing the book (or it's characters) besides one big thing that happened in Luca's past.

It was such a beautiful and inspiring read. It was simply wonderful. I recommend this book, and these authors.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Oh how I love Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward! This duo never fails to provide us with all sorts of goodness and Dirty Letters might be one of my favorites that they've penned. I found this to be a refreshing take on a friendship that turns into more, but it also had a topic that you rarely see in a romance book.

Griffin and Luca were pen pals back when they were younger. Griffin hails from England and Luca from Vermont. They had a strong friendship built completely through their letters, yet they lost touch when Luca cut off all communication after she went through the trauma of being trapped in a fire which took the life of her best friend. Fast forward to now when they are in their early twenties, Griffin reaches out once more, but the tone of the letter is not nearly as friendly as it once was.

Once the two reconnect, will Luca be able to make Griffin understand what happened all those years ago? And, will the path that Griffin's life has taken cause problems for them?

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved that Keeland and Ward were willing to explore an ailment that not many have tackled in a book and I loved the letters. I didn't want to put it down once I started. I highly recommend picking this one up!