Surprised how much I enjoyed this—picked it up expecting a casual read, ended up ear-bingeing it like a Netflix drama with envelopes. I did predict the twist (my one moment of psychic brilliance this year), but it was still super satisfying. Lots of gorgeous prose, and the voice actors did a great job of reeling you in. Again, moved FAR more than I could have hoped.

Thank you Brilliance Audio and Lake Union Publishing!

What a surprise this one was! I’ve come to expect fast-paced thrillers from Walter, but this heartfelt family drama was a refreshing change. Centered around long-buried secrets, it’s a deeply moving exploration of family, identity, and healing.

Walter’s writing is graceful and emotionally rich. Her storytelling flows with sincerity and depth, capturing complex relationships and quiet revelations with striking clarity. Her prose is captivating—effortlessly drawing out unexpected emotions and layered truths.

This emotional journey, inspired by a true story, delves into the choices we make, the weight of expectations, what we deem acceptable, and the power of forgiveness.

A beautifully written tale of self-discovery—one you definitely don’t want to miss.

Susan Walter's "Letters from Strangers" is a compelling and emotionally resonant family saga that masterfully weaves together threads of grief, hidden lives, and the enduring search for truth. While the premise might suggest a predictable narrative, Walter skillfully steers the story in unexpected directions, creating a genuinely engaging and often poignant read.
The novel opens with Jane's crushing grief following her imperfect father's sudden death. This raw, relatable pain is quickly compounded by the discovery of letters revealing a secret life – another woman, and potentially, another child. This immediate jolt sets the stage for a story brimming with unanswered questions and the painful dismantling of a perceived reality. Simultaneously, we meet sixteen-year-old Adam, a troubled adoptee grappling with his own yearning for identity, fueled by the discovery of unsigned letters from his birth mother.
The brilliance of Walter's storytelling lies in the "collision course" she sets for Jane and Adam. It's not a straightforward revelation of shared parentage, but a more intricate and deeply human search for a woman who actively avoids being found. This nuanced approach elevates the narrative beyond typical family drama, transforming it into a quest for understanding and connection that transcends the immediate shock of discovery. The two-decade span of the story allows for a rich exploration of how past events ripple through time, shaping identities and forging unexpected bonds.
Walter's prose is evocative and sensitive, handling complex emotional landscapes with grace. The characters, though flawed, are deeply sympathetic, and their journeys of discovery and healing feel authentic. While the pacing occasionally settles into a slower rhythm, particularly in the middle sections, it ultimately serves to deepen the emotional impact and allow for the gradual unfolding of secrets.
"Letters from Strangers" is a testament to the idea that even from the ashes of old scars, good things can indeed grow. It's a story about redefining family, confronting uncomfortable truths, and the enduring human need for belonging. A four-star read for its emotional depth, compelling plot, and beautifully rendered exploration of the lasting impact of secrets.

Letters from Strangers by Susan Walter is a powerful exploration of love and loss, of unraveling and rediscovery. At its heart, it is a story about the enduring bonds of family—fractured, complex, and deeply human.

Told through multiple perspectives and shifting timelines, the narrative weaves together dark secrets, long-buried betrayals, and the tangled threads of a dysfunctional family. When Jane’s father dies, she stumbles upon a collection of letters revealing a hidden past—one that ripples far beyond her own life, altering the course of others and forcing her to confront painful truths. As she digs deeper, Jane embarks on an emotional journey to understand her father’s choices, her family’s history, and ultimately, herself.

Susan Walter masterfully examines the imperfections of parenthood, the often overwhelming weight of expectations placed on children, and the quiet, persistent hope for forgiveness and second chances. With sensitivity and depth, the novel touches on important themes such as eating disorders, self-acceptance, adoption, and the age-old debate of nature versus nurture.

What emerges is a richly layered, thought-provoking story about the search for identity, the healing power of honesty, and the resilience of love. It is a moving tribute to the complicated beauty of human connection—and a book I wholeheartedly recommend.

I read and listened to this book. The narrators did such a good job. It felt like I was right in the middle of the drama. And boy was there drama. But it was so good. A well written story. It will make you stop and think about what you would do in this situation. Both as the mothers and as the child.

This is a story of love and grief. Of loss and finding. A story of family.

It's told from a few different points of views and different timelines.

Jane's dad died and she found letters in his desk from another woman. Not from her mother. Jane's parents never separated or divorced so this is a shock to her. Jane takes the letters to her house and reads them. She finds that her dad may have fathered a child by this other woman who is only know by initials GM. And she lives in Boston, MA.

Apparently Jane's dad has been seeing this woman for many years. She knew he was married but still had a lifelong affair. I did not like her. She should have had better sense than that. How dare she. And yes part of me felt sorry for her. He was her first love and seems they both loved each other deeply. But he married someone else so how much could he really have loved her? Or respected her. Or himself.

You read some letters to a child that was given up for adoption almost seventeen years prior and letter from the mother to the child. Also the love letters from GM to Richie, the married man.

I didn't like Jane's husband either. He was not in the least supportive about her and finding out about this other woman. He was not supportive to her in her quest to find a possible half brother. I never believed he wanted a child either. He was just a jerk.

I think Jane's mother was a bit mean but I kind of understood her feelings. In a way. She had been done wrong throughout her marriage. She had two children by this man and he was seeing another woman almost the whole time.

I enjoyed reading this book even though parts sure made me mad. I liked the son, Adam and I loved Rowan. Though I do think he and Jane rushed into sex way to fast. I still liked him. I liked Jane and her brother Kenny. I finally liked her mother but it took a while. I didn't like Richie or GM.

This story keeps you turning the pages to find out who is who and what happened back then. Also what is going to happen now. It has a big surprise that I personally did not see coming for some reason. But I did love it. Well played...

This book hits on abortion, death, loss of baby, adoption, weight problems(both losing and gaining). It shows that people have real problems. Lots of real problems.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the arc of this book. Thank you @brillanceaudio

Following Running Cold, Susan Walter (favorite author)— from concert violinist, TV, screenwriting, directing, to novelist, and the creator of the 2017 film—All I Wish, comes her latest, a beautifully written, emotional, and captivating story of family, LETTERS FROM STRANGERS.

Two unlikely strangers seek the truth about their past with mysterious letters and secrets of the past that may change the trajectory of their lives.

About...

WEST COAST: After her father's sudden death, Jane is devastated to discover shocking letters from his past. This revelation not only deepens her grief but also shatters her perception of her father, leaving her feeling betrayed and lost.

Did her dad have another family with his mistress? It sounds like she may have been pregnant. When he was traveling for work, was he with his other family? Could she have a step-brother or sister?

She did not have an easy life with her self-image and acceptance, growing up with an eating disorder. She met a guy (her brother's friend) when she was a teen, but she never answered his letters, and she has never stopped thinking of him.

She has her secrets of the past and traumas, but now she is in search of answers to the past to deal with her current grief. In the meantime, she also has problems with her husband, Greg, infertility, and their marriage.

EAST COAST: Adam, a teen who lives across the country. He is sixteen years old, gay, with an eating disorder, and adopted. He is trying to find his place in life. His adopted dad wants him to play tennis, but he is over it. He wants something different and needs support. He learns of an unsigned letter from his biological mother and is in search of her to seek answers.

Jane and Adam are on a collision course, but things are not as they appear. There are letters from strangers that may break their hearts, but at the same time, they may find the answers they desperately seek.

My thoughts...

LETTERS FROM STRANGERS is a heartbreaking, yet poignant novel about family, hope, loss, and second chances.

From past to present, inspired by actual events, the author crafts a highly relatable character-driven novel. The characters' struggles with identity, self-worth, and relationships will resonate with readers, making the story feel personal and engaging.

I adored LETTERS FROM STRANGERS, and you will fall in love with these compelling characters and the secondary ones. Even though this one is slightly different from Susan's psychological thrillers, fans will enjoy this thought-provoking, tender, lovely story of family secrets, mystery, and betrayal.

A massive fan of the author, I enjoyed rewinding to the 80s when families kept things close to their belts and often not as open and communicative as they should be on the road to self-discovery. I loved the letters sprinkled throughout and characters, Jane, Adam, Rowan, the coach, and the fabulous ending!

Ideal pick for book clubs with discussion questions included. I enjoyed the Author's Note (do not miss it).

Told from the perspectives of Jane, Ellie, and Adam, the novel's unique structure and engaging characters make for a compelling and inspiring read. I'm eagerly looking forward to Susan's upcoming locked-in thriller, set to release in Feb 2026!

Audiobook...

I had the honor of reading the book and listening to the audiobook narrated by the talented Selah Victor, Eddie Lopez, and Moniqua Plante—all distinct voices for all the characters, further elevating the story and making them come alive. What a stunning and engaging performance. I highly recommend the audiobook.

Recs...

This gem is for fans of the author and those who enjoy character-driven family sagas. Fans of Susan Redfearn, Laura Lippman, Lisa Jewell, Wendy Walker, Tammy Greenwood, Liane Moriarty, Jennifer Weiner, Sally Hepworth, Celeste Ng, and Kristin Hannah will enjoy.

Interview...

Stay tuned for my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries QA with Susan, where we go behind the book and this mega-talented author. (May 28)

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing (e-book) via Netgalley, the author (paperback), and Brilliance Audio for an ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
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This story pulled me in right from the beginning. It’s one of those where the characters feel so real, you start thinking about them even when you’re not listening. The family dynamics are messy, raw, and painfully relatable—exactly the kind of emotional tangle that makes you want to scream and hug someone all at once.

The narrator did such a good job bringing the whole thing to life. Every voice felt distinct, and the emotion in their tone made the highs and lows hit even harder. You can tell a lot of love went into this production.

There's drama, sure—plenty of it—but it never feels over-the-top. It feels like life. Complicated, unpredictable, sometimes heartbreaking, but also full of small moments that catch you off guard with their honesty.

If you love character-driven stories that don’t shy away from the messiness of being human, this one’s a must. It’s the kind of audiobook you finish and immediately wish you could experience for the first time all over again.

✨This was such an incredible read, and I finished it in one day because I simply could not put it down. It’s a beautifully written family drama with a character-driven storyline, a reflective pace and filled with emotionally rich layers.

✨I love the way the main characters’ lives slowly reveal their connection as we watch their stories unfold piece by piece. They are authentically portrayed as fallible people who have important decisions to make and who may get it wrong before getting it right. Relatable.

✨It’s everything you want in contemporary fiction: compelling, thought-provoking, heartfelt and with a satisfying ending.

✨This is my first book by this author, but it certainly will not be my last. I loved it and highly recommend.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Dual timelines
✨Multiple points of view
✨Family sagas
✨Coming of age
✨Adoption narratives

🎧I loved the audiobook narration by Selah Victor @selahvictor, Eddie Lopez @eleddielo and Moniqua Plante @moniquaplante. The story and characters were beautifully brought to life, and the depth of emotion required for the sensitive subject matter was certainly present.

It's a hallmark movie in a book. I would have appreciated somebody saying "

Perhaps the the therapist (I mean, the author) doesn't know what conflict of interest is (she's the kid's adoptive mom's former roommate? That is not ok.) but the the lawyer does. "A patient is not allowed to talk about suicide" how is this therapist SO BAD? The kid is right, she was his mom's friend first, and he has no reason to trust her or listen to her. He needed a therapist he could actually talk to. The coach was less stupid than the therapist at least. Also no, the cross around her neck has nothing to do with how friendly that neighbor lady was.

I would have appreciated somebody explicitly saying "going forward please call / write / email us when you want to talk", and apparently we are pretending that a family history of eating disorders is not a medical condition worth discussing with the family from whence the history came. What the hell.

And I am sorry but if your parents have you focus so much on tennis that you don't have a drivers license then maybe they have control issues and things are not ok.

...This went from being a 3 star to a 2 star as I wrote the review. I would have made it 2.5, the characters seem to actually be trying to do the write thing and there were things I didn't see coming, but that boy needs a new therapist and his parents need to back off if they actually want him to survive out in the world.

Two strangers looking for answers about family...

On the West Coast, Jane discovers a stack of letters after the abrupt death of her father, revealing his secret life. He may have had a child with another woman...

On the East Coast, Adam, a struggling teen, is surprised when his adoptive parents hand him unsigned letters from his birth mother. Now he needs to know more...

"Letters from Strangers" is a well-written emotional story with important topics woven throughout. The short chapters kept me turning the pages and reading on as it explored themes of loss and grief, the consequences of secrecy, healing through forgiveness, and accepting oneself and others. There were more than just a few heartbreaking moments in this tale.

My one niggle is with my immersion reading experience, specific to the audiobook. The two narrators, voicing and recounting the story as Jane and Adam, sound overly young and animated, giving this a YA feel. I began reading more than listening, and was glad I had the digital copy to fall back on.

"Letters from Strangers" is a story about how life can gain new meaning through self-belief and connection with others. Be sure to read the author's note at the end to discover what inspired the writing of this story.

3.75⭐

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and Susan Walter for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I loved the use of three different narrators to tell this heartfelt story. The actor who read "Adam" was particularly good. He infused the performance with the perfect mix of gravitas and humor.
The twist really did surprise me. It was really well done. I had already read the book but wanted a second time through to see the hidden clues, and sure enough, they were there. I also was not expecting the romantic turn toward the end, but it was so gratifying. I teared up several times.
With thanks to the author and publisher for making this title available.

Ms. Walter is the author of this beautiful novel that overlaps 2 families and the actions that affected all of the people in their circle. I’ve not experienced any of this author’s other books but I found her writing to get to the heart of deep meaningful topics and peel back layers allowing the emotions to be felt deeply.

When we meet Jane she is mourning the death of her father. She discovers deep secrets that he held from her and it tilts her world and sends her on a search for a person from his past.

The story alternates between Jane and then 17 year old Adam. He is struggling with his life with a few life events and an awareness that he is different.


These two characters weave their stories around other supporting characters and will eventually cross paths. I enjoyed the mystery of piecing their story together. The audiobook is excellent and highly recommend this one. 4.5 stars.

Thus is a story of letters. Letters found in an old desk that will change lives forever. I loved this book!
Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union for an Advanced Reader Copy of Letters From Strangers. I enjoyed how well the narration was done with the audiobook. The story was told well and was heartwarming. Susan Walter is an amazing author.

B O O K ✈️ R E V I E W

Letters from Strangers by Susan Walter
Format: audio 🎧 ARC
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🚫
Narrator: Selah Victor, Eddie Lopez, Moniqua Plante

WOW. Went I requested this from NetGalley, it was because I had an opening and it looked interesting. I was unprepared for the emotional story that this audio contained. You have intertwined families with hard topics like cheating with a love child, closed adoptions, teenage pregnancy, eating disorders, found family, divorce, infertility, coming out to parents - and the writing is stellar.

My brain feels like this is very similarly written to the writing style of Taylor Jenkins Reid but has topics similar to Boys of Tommen & The Wish by Nicholas Sparks.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

The narration team did very well with this recording, I truly enjoyed it all

I did not expect to love this book so much. There were so many valuable quotes that I saved. The narration was done so well it pulls at your heartstrings. Thank you for the advanced audio. I will be recommending this one to my fellow readers and listeners.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Jane and Adam are both searching for answers about their past and why they make the choices they do. The story was intriguing, and had me wondering how it was going to end the whole way through! I did not see that plot twist coming!

I loved the narration of the audiobook, with 3 different narrarators! They were all very well spoken and did a great job with the voices for the side characters. The story flowed beautifully!

This story had everything! Mystery, thrill, and even a little romance! I couldn't put it down!

After Jane's father passes away, she discovers he was having an affair and may have another child in the world. 16 year old Adam knows he's adopted and is yearning to meet his birth parents. 

These two stories took me on such an emotional ride! I loved seeing them come together at the end too. Susan Walters' writing is fantastic as is the audiobook narration - I was hooked from the first page. I'm excited to read more by her.

Contemporary Fiction isn’t my typical genre of book but I was RIVETED! I read this in two sittings. I struggled with some of it at times as I recently lost my mother but the book was so touching and included some family secrets coming to light. I loved the ending and felt warm and fuzzy when I finished!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union for the Advanced Reader Copy of Letters From Strangers.
First off, I listened to the audiobook of this book. I loved that they used 3 different narrators. It really helped the story come to life. I loved all of the characters. They felt very real and well formed.
This book was very emotional, I found myself tearing up multiple times. I could not stop listening to it. I was so invested that I finished it in less than a day.
I highly recommend this book! I give it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.