Over 50 Epistolary Books

Why are books that seem to be written by the characters within them (through their letters, diary entries, emails, etc.) so particularly enchanting? Perhaps, in part, it is because it can feel very intimate to get to read someone else’s private writings. And reading them can help us feel like we more deeply understand what those who seem to have written them were thinking and experiencing.

It is also really impressive when authors succeed in making their characters’ writings feel realistic, and when authors succeed in telling compelling stories while being constrained to only convey what their characters could believably record themselves.

Personally, I have found myself drawn to epistolary books for as long as I have known they existed. And now I am sharing my favorite ones with you here. I hope you find them as enchanting as I do.

What is an “epistolary” story?

An epistolary story is most traditionally thought of as a story told through letters. Modern interpretations of the term also tend to encompass works told through other written forms like diaries or documents, as well as stories told through modern technologies that provide a letter- or diary-like feel; including emails, text messages, social media posts, audio and visual messages, etc.

Essentially, fictional epistolary stories are ones in which it seems like the characters within the stories are writing the books themselves through their own (usually written) recordings.

For the purposes of this post, I decided to not consider works to be epistolary if most of the characters’ writings/tapings are not self-recordings. Although I love the book Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (which is told via its characters’ recorded oral histories and has a somewhat epistolary feel), I did not recommend it below because the character who is presented as recording those oral histories mostly just records the accounts of characters other than herself.

What kinds of epistolary books are not included in these recommendations?

I have sampled a large number of epistolary books and finished a fair number of them. And I am only recommending ones here that I personally consider to be somewhere in the range of very good to incredible (3.5 to 5 out of 5 stars on a numerical rating scale). I am not recommending books here that I personally found to be not captivating enough to finish, or just okay, or even solidly good (3 out of 5 stars); even if they are popular, recent, buzz-receiving books or even if they are famous epistolary classics like Dracula and Frankenstein (although to be fair to these two particular famous classics, I did not finish either largely because horror doesn’t tend to be my cup of tea). In fact, gory stories are under-represented in this post in general because I tend not to be drawn to them.

In order to enjoy a story, I usually need to have at least one main character who I actively like and for whom I am rooting. So, there are some extremely creative and interesting epistolary works with not-particularly-likable narrators that aren’t included below, like Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher (the story of which is told entirely through letters of recommendation).

What are the different types of epistolary stories?

In monologic epistolary works, you only get to read the writings of one person or character (like one person’s/character’s letters or diary entries). Whereas in dialogic epistolary works, you get to read the writings (usually back-and-forth communications) of two people or characters. And in polylogic epistolary works, you get to read the writings of three or more people or characters. You can find some classic examples of each of these types of stories here.

Epistolary works can also be distinguished by the form through which they constrain themselves to tell stories. “Epistle” means “letter.” And epistolary stories are most traditionally told through letters. However, they can also be told through diary entries, emails, text messages, telegrams, voice messages, social media posts, memoranda, case files, complaint forms, post-it-notes, etc. Authors have found countless different and interesting forms (and combinations of forms) to help them tell epistolary stories.

What are some of the challenges of epistolary constraints?

Trying to tell a story entirely through characters’ recordings provides interesting opportunities for authors and also limits the tools they have in their toolboxes. On the positive side, when authors succeed in telling believable and compelling stories in particularly creative ways, it can lead to incredible reading experiences. On the negative side, not all authors manage to pull it off impressively well.

In rereading my old favorite epistolary works and trying lots of new-to-me ones for this post, this was the first time I have ever read or sampled a bunch of them one after another. And besides generally being very enjoyable, it was also eye-opening. I noticed that some parts of stories aren’t as easy to tell in epistolary books.

How to inform readers about in-person meetings between correspondents

One of the biggest challenges for authors of epistolary works is how to inform readers about what happens when their main corresponding characters meet in person. Many epistolary stories are about potential lovers, friends, or frenemies corresponding with each other while separated in some way. It is relatively easy for authors to show the slow development of their relationships through their correspondence when they are not communicating in person. But the climaxes of the stories often involve the characters actually meeting. And the main characters don’t need to write to each other about what happens when they meet because they are there themselves and already know what happened. So how can information about those in-person interactions believably be conveyed to readers?

This challenge often can be easily overcome in polylogic epistolary works told through a number of perspectives. Sometimes side characters can be present at the main characters’ in-person meetings to record their own real time perspectives about what they witness. Or main or side characters can write to side characters who weren’t present at the in-person interactions and explain what happened.

Some authors of dialogic epistolary works, in which there are only two perspectives, will stop using the characters’ writings when the main characters meet, switching to first- or third-person narration.

The author of one book mentioned below brilliantly doesn’t let her readers know much about what happens when her two corresponding characters meet in person, leaving readers with a lot of questions, which are only answered by the revelation of the surprise twist at the end.

In another book recommended below, the story ends right before the two correspondents are finally about to meet, which elegantly avoids the challenge of how to convey information to readers about their encounter.

Another author mentioned below much less successfully (and not very believably) decided to have her two main characters write to each other at length to tell each other what they both already knew about their in-person meetings.

How to alter the pacing

Another big challenge for authors of epistolary works has to do with their generally being slow paced, especially when they are written as end of the day diary entries or old-fashioned letters. While these types of forms can be great for telling slow-burn romances and thoughtful stories; they can pose challenges during moments that should be fast paced. How can their authors create a sense of real-time, fast-paced, growing excitement as their stories’ climaxes near?

One way to overcome this challenge is to tell the story through a polylogic work that involves multiple perspectives so that a side character can provide real time, rapid reporting while the main characters are too busy to sit down and write about what they are experiencing.

Some authors choose to have their characters take their diaries with them to crucial in-person meetings to make the pacing more exciting, having the characters briefly record their thoughts anytime they can get a moment to themselves.

Using a variety of epistolary forms can help authors solve pacing problems as well. For example, an author could have a character switch from once-a-day diary entries to rapid, real-time text messages to quicken the pace of a story. Or a character could jot down thoughts on the side of a paper menu during an important in-person encounter to add to the moment’s drama, instead of waiting to recount events until hours later.

The author of one unique book mentioned below started with a character’s slow-moving, long, written account of recent events and then switched to almost daily diary type entries as the climax neared; which created a change in tempo.

And authors can switch to first- or third-person narration at crucial moments in their stories for pacing reasons.

How to provide readers with background information

Switching epistolary forms can provide opportunities to get lots of background information to readers quickly. Notices, bulletins, newspaper articles, brochures, report cards, and telegrams are some of the kinds of forms that can be used to help provide important background information to readers.

Whose perspectives to include

In fully epistolary works, readers can only know what is known and conveyed by the characters who get to record their perspectives. So, there is a lot of weight on the authors’ decisions about which characters’ perspectives to include.

Sometimes an author’s decision to not let us know an important character’s perspective can be very interesting. One particularly impressive book recommended below doesn’t include the main character’s writings at all.

Specific side characters’ perspectives can be added for comic relief or gravitas, or to otherwise add breadth to the emotional journey of the story.

It can also be very interesting and dramatic when an author includes an unreliable narrator in the mix. For example, diary entries can be written by someone who is unreliable because of a mental illness or temporary fever, or from temporary drug/alcohol consumption. Or a character can write a letter, email, text, or log entry in someone else’s name. Unreliable narrators can add exciting or amusing twists and turns to the epistolary reading experience.

How to make the recordings believable

Another challenge (which many authors of epistolary works don’t successfully overcome) is creating fictional letters and diary entries that read like real letters and real diary entries. Often the characters’ writings are too long and too detailed to be believable as the handwritten missives of busy people. Frustratingly, it sometimes can feel almost like an author just wrote the book using first person narration and then afterwards slapped on the trappings of letters and diaries.

And of course, there have to be reasons that make sense to readers why the story is being told through epistolary means. For example, a story told through letters either has to be set in a time before email was invented, or else have a believable justification like a pen pal program for students. There also often needs to be a reason why the correspondents can’t just talk to each other—like they don’t know each others’ identities, or they are far away from each other and living before telephones were invented.

It can be very enjoyable to see how different authors creatively utilize the unique strengths of epistolary variations and also overcome the unique challenges of their constraints.

How to use this post

I have organized my recommendations below by genre to make it easier for you to skip to the books in the genres that you most enjoy.

There are a lot of wonderful epistolary books recommended below. If you want to learn how to use library apps to keep track of the ones you want to read and, perhaps, be able to check many of them out for free, check out this previous Bookishly Delightful post.

And click on the books’ titles if you want to be linked to those books’ pages on Goodreads, where you can see cover images, read official book summaries, and find lots of other readers’ reviews.

An epistolary classic humorous short story

The Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain (fictional diary entries)

Mark Twain uses his cleverly humorous fictional diary entries for Adam and Eve as a vehicle for poking fun at both men and women. This is a delightful, quick read.

An epistolary classic YA romantic comedy

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster (fictional letters)

The author of this book is Mark Twain’s grandniece and the daughter of one of his publisher’s, and Twain’s influence on her writing is wonderfully apparent. First published in 1912, this classic YA romantic comedy is absolutely delightful. And it has aged surprisingly well. An anonymous (very tall) wealthy benefactor gives orphan Jerusha “Judy” Abbott a college scholarship after he becomes acquainted with something funny that she wrote. In return for the scholarship, he asks only that she write him letters to which he will not respond. The book consists almost entirely of Judy’s letters to him. They are spirited, amusing, imaginative, and full of her love for books, learning, and life. It wouldn’t be surprising if any mysterious gentleman who read them fell in love with her. There have been many adaptations of this (chaste) romance for both screen and stage. If you enjoy romantic comedies and haven’t already read this fairly short, wonderful classic yet, you have a treat in store for you. It is in the public domain, and you can find free electronic copies of it in many places.

Epistolary contemporary comedies

Nuclear Family: A Tragicomic Novel in Letters by Susanna Fogel (fictional letters and emails)

If you enjoyed the humor in the movies Booksmart or The Spy Who Dumped Me (both of which Susanna Fogel co-wrote), you are likely to find this book of her’s laugh out loud funny. The book is completely epistolary, and all of the letters and emails within it are sent to the main character—mostly from members of her dysfunctional Jewish family, but also occasionally from others (including from pets, her mother’s rabbi, and inanimate objects). You never hear directly from the main character; you just get to see how charmingly ridiculous those in her life are. The multi-cast audiobook narration is excellent and fun.

Please Be Advised by Christine Sneed (fictional workplace memoranda)

If you are a fan of the sitcom The Office, the humor in this comedy may appeal to you. The book consists entirely of one fictional company’s silly workplace memoranda, some of which are laugh out loud funny. The memoranda explain company policies on everything from shoes (“Clogs are permitted, but only on Wednesdays and Thursdays during months that include the letter ‘y’”) to doughnuts (“forthwith and without exception, all doughnuts that appear in Quest Industries communal spaces must be shared with everyone”). A memorandum about cleaning up after oneself in the office kitchen exclaims: “Please be advised that no one in this office, as far as we know, is your mother!” There is a little bit of office romance that is reported on by memoranda, as well as some other slow-moving (but over-the-top dramatic) storylines. The personalities and silly histories of a number of the office employees (and IRS agents auditing the company) often work their way into memoranda. It is a creatively unique, entertaining read.

“If anyone at Quest Industries has plans, or foresees having plans on a future date, to play a practical joke on a colleague, you will need to submit a detailed request to Wilma Joon in HR no less than one week in advance of your practical joke enactment.”

Epistolary classic literary fiction short stories

Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor (fictional letters)

This classic short story, which is told entirely through letters, is absolutely brilliant. It was written shortly before World War II began by an American who was very concerned about what was happening in Europe. The story is told through a correspondence between business partners, one living in the US and the other in Germany. All of the elements of this book’s well-planned, twisty plot come together like perfectly fitting puzzle pieces. I listened to the audiobook edition and the forward is great, the afterward is great, and the narration is great. The story itself is masterfully plotted, emotionally complicated, captivating, and overall outstanding. It is also extremely short. If you only read one book recommended in this post, this is the one I most highly recommend you read.

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (fictional secret diary entries)

A classic, dark, feminist work that was first published in 1892; this short story is written as a series of secret diary entries by a mentally ill woman whose physician husband has largely confined her to a room with yellow wallpaper. Her unreliably narrated musings could be considered a horror story, as well as a critique of how the patronizing, male-run medical establishment treated emotional women. It is extremely well-written and remains thought-provoking.

Epistolary literary fiction in translation

The Easy Life in Kamusari and Kamusari Tales Told at Night by Shion Miura (fictional written accounts of recent events)

The Japanese narrator of these books was an aimless young man who was signed up, without his knowledge or consent, by his parents for a rural forestry work program. His first written account of recent events—typed on a dusty, old computer—details how he slowly (and initially begrudgingly) came to love living in a small, rural, Japanese village and working in nature. In the sequel, he makes an effort to record local legends too. He is surrounded by colorful characters and local customs, as well as by natural beauty. He also falls in love. Most of the time the books just seem like captivating, colorful, cozy stories well-told in the first person. However, there is a very amusing unreliable narrator interlude in the second book when someone else briefly takes control of the computer on which the narrator has been writing his accounts. Both books currently are available on Kindle Unlimited with audiobook editions included. The first book was made into a movie in Japan.

Epistolary contemporary fiction

The Correspondent: A Novel by Virginia Evans (fictional letters and emails)

The life story of an endearingly complicated elderly woman leaps off the pages of this lovely book through her charming correspondence. She is full of both bristles and heart. And some of her letters are delightfully bookish.

—added 05/25

Epistolary historical fiction

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows (fictional letters)

Delightfully bookish post-war letters between a British writer, her old friends, and her new friends on the island of Guernsey tell the story of how some Guernsey residents endured being occupied by German troops during World War II with the help of books and each other. The characters are colorful and endearing. The large cast audiobook narration is wonderful. And the post-war romance in the story is sweet (as well as chaste). Not all of the book’s important characters survived the war. I highly recommend this mostly cozy book to those who enjoy literary romantic and/or bookish historical fiction.

The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan (fictional journal entries, letters, notes, notices, and telegrams)

If you enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and want to read another epistolary, British, World War II, home front drama full of colorful village characters; this is a very good book to try. As many men have left for war, a new village women’s choir is established, and it serves as a focal point for the interlocking dramas in this story (which are told mostly via letters and journal entries written by a variety of characters). There is a scheming midwife, a baby switched at birth, family drama, a spy, blackmail, an abusive father, and a young Jewish refuge. And of course there is the war. The most appealing character, from my perspective, is the kind, savvy widow whose son is away at war. She sees through schemes and comes to the aid of many of the other main characters in one way or another. She also has a nice romance. The story is very well-written.

Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reed (fictional letters)

This is a captivating and well-written short story set in the 70’s and told through letters between a woman and a man who discover that their spouses are cheating with each other. The characters in this book, interestingly, don’t write to each other about all of the details of their in-person encounters, leaving readers to guess what exactly happened between them. As a result, the ending provides a surprising twist. I really appreciated this very smart approach to, and use of, the constraints of the book’s epistolary form. If you are a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reed’s other works (like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Carrie Soto Is Back) then you are likely to find this short story of her’s to be of interest.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (partially epistolary, fictional emails)

Depending on how long ago you think historical fiction needs to be set, you may or may not consider this story to be historical fiction. This angsty story is set right around the start of the year 2000, when many people feared there would be a tech meltdown (which of course didn’t happen). A newspaper only just started providing its employees with email accounts, and it also hired someone to monitor what its employees were using their new email accounts to write. Part of this book consists of email exchanges between two good friends who work at the newspaper, while the rest of the book is told in the third person and follows the shy IT security employee who falls for one of the correspondents after secretly reading her emails. Although they don’t have an in-person conversation with each other until very near the end of the book, they seem so perfectly meant to be together that the ending is very satisfying.

Epistolary dark literary fiction

North Woods by Daniel Mason (partially epistolary in a variety of forms)

I started this title because it is on so many “Best Books of 2023” lists, not knowing (to my delight) that it is partially epistolary. And the use of a variety of epistolary forms in it is excellent. However, I also hadn’t known that it is a book better suited for readers who are drawn to dark, violent, creepy, sad books than it is for me. I finished it because it is so extremely well-written and clever. The multicast audiobook narration is also fantastic. It contains a series of overlapping, interconnected short stories within a larger framework (they all take place at the same New England house over the long course of post-European-settlement American history). The stories are often about miserable people and often end with someone dying violently and/or tragically. The stories alternate between being told by third person narration, through poems, and through a variety of epistolary variations written by different characters. If you enjoy doing seasonal reading and like very well-written, dark stories; it might make for a good, haunted house type of a Halloween read. It also may appeal to readers who live in very old houses and like trying to imagine creepy things that may have happened in their homes in the past. Although I don’t love this book myself, I respect it a lot and it is not hard for me to imagine why many readers might appreciate it.

Epistolary nonfiction

Lots of real diaries and compilations of real letters have been published as books. While they provide rich fodder for historians and others making study of their subjects, many of them are tough going for those merely looking for literary delights that stand on their own. Real letters and real diaries often discuss mundane matters and unfamiliar-to-us people. Often real-life plots go in very frustrating directions, and they don’t always have happy endings. Nevertheless, if you have a beloved literary or historical figure who lived when letter writing was common, or if there is a historical period that particularly fascinates you; you may enjoy seeing if you can find nonfiction books of letters or diaries that can help you explore those interests. I included one such example that interests me for such a reason below, the letters of Jane Austen (since I am an avid Austen fan). The rest of the recommendations in this section are books that stand on their own as literary masterpieces that I think many readers are likely to enjoy greatly. You do not already have to be fascinated by the writers or by the times in which they lived to get a lot out of them.

Letters from a Stoic by Seneca (nonfiction letters)

Ancient Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca lived from 4 BC to 65 AD. This collection of his letters to a friend of his often reads almost like a great, modern self-help book (but with mentions of ancient stuff like togas). The epistolary responses from his friend are alluded to, but not included. Seneca’s letters are full of wise, interesting, and thought-provoking insights. If you are new to reading ancient philosophy, these letters are a relatively accessible entry point. And if you are trying to figure out how to cope with current or potential future suffering, you may be particularly interested in delving into Stoic philosophy. To learn more about Seneca, you can check out philosophy professor

Massimo Pigliucci

’s interesting Substack post “In defense of Seneca” about Seneca’s strengths and weaknesses (including his sexism).

The Letters of Jane Austen by Jane Austen (nonfiction letters)

If, like me, you are an ardent Jane Austen fan who has reread her books many times, you may enjoy reading Austen’s letters as well. They are vibrant and full of her sharp observations and wit. It is interesting to see how similar her life was to her characters’ lives and how many of the names of the people she knew in real life became the names of her characters. It is also delightful to learn what she thought about her own books and how they were received by others. However, if you are not already a very serious Jane Austen fan, this book is not for you.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (nonfiction diary entries)

Although many people read this diary for its thought-provoking, humanity-inducing, and historical significance (which are important reasons to read it); it is also an incredible work of literature. How could a pubescent girl write a diary that is more captivating than many real and fictional diaries written by people who are/were older and better educated than she was, including many who also wrote during trying times and including diaries written by literary and historical greats? It is true that a diary written by someone who was hiding from the Nazis in a secret apartment during World War II, has tons of the kind of drama and suspense built in that authors of fiction often work hard to achieve. And being confined in a restricted living space for a prolonged period of time with a variety of people who have big personalities naturally creates the kind of drama that many reality shows often try to manufacture. Her real story is also a captivating romance as well as a coming-of-age story. And her reflective nature led to her diary even—at times—being an inspirational self-help book. And of course, her story is also a tragedy. Remarkably beyond all of that, Anne’s writing talents shine on their own. She expresses an emotional complexity that is riveting and takes her readers (who she apparently was contemplating when she revised an earlier version of her diary after hearing a radio broadcast about preserving writings for posterity) on an emotional rollercoaster full of emotions—the kind of rollercoaster that researchers have found makes a story more satisfying. The older Anne got, the more she contemplated her desire to be a writer and to impact others with her writing. One of the most effective ways to change opinions is through great storytelling. I am therefore not surprised that her incredible storytelling has had the enormous, positive social impact that it has had. If you haven’t read her story yet or haven’t read it since you were younger, consider giving it a fresh try.

Letter from Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (an open, nonfiction letter)

In 1963, while confined in a Birmingham city jail cell, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an incredible open letter to “My Dear Fellow Clergymen” in response to being criticized by some Birmingham religious leaders. Besides being morally, historically, and philosophically remarkable; his letter about the importance of nonviolent action for civil rights is also an absolutely captivating, powerful read. You can easily find free electronic copies of his letter online. There is also a wonderful (51 minutes long on regular speed) audiobook edition of it narrated by Audie Award winning narrator Dion Graham.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail

Epistolary literary nonfiction graphic novel scrapbook

Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home by Nora Krug (graphic nonfiction scrapbook)

In this remarkable work, Krug takes readers along with her on a thoughtful, philosophical, psychological, and geographical journey to try to reckon with her German grandparents’ and uncle’s actions during World War II. Scrapbook style, her almost poetic entries are mixed with illustrations, photos, letters, and news clippings. It is a very special, thought-provoking work.

Epistolary creative nonfiction

Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence (creative nonfiction letters)

Librarian Annie Spence wrote lots of short, snarky letters to books. Yes, to inanimate books. She wrote letters to books she loves, books that are outdated, and books she is just not that into. If you enjoy both epistolary works and books about books, this is a double whammy. Some of her letters are more amusing and insightful than others. None of them made me laugh out loud. And unfortunately, she seems to use swearing as a crutch to try to add a little extra drama. Nevertheless, some of her letters are very enjoyably clever, and the book is interestingly unique. Book lovers are likely to appreciate Spence’s abundant love of books.

Epistolary science fiction

You can also find an additional science fiction recommendation in the middle grade graphic novel category further below.

The Martian by Andy Weir (partially epistolary, fictional log entries, messages)

If you enjoy science-heavy science fiction, this near future science fiction story may be your cup of tea. An astronaut was accidentally left behind by his colleagues on Mars because they believed he had died. Now he is trying to figure out how to survive with limited resources and (initially) no direct means to communicate with NASA. He records log entries about his efforts to get more water, grow more food, etc. There is also news coverage about him being left behind, messaging, and third person narration. And there is swearing. The movie adaptation of this book stars Matt Damon.

Epistolary fantasy

You can also find additional epistolary fantasy recommendations in two of the romance categories further below.

A Choir of Lies by Alexandra Rowland (a fictional, increasingly journal-like written account of recent events that is annotated and altered by another character in an almost letter-like manner)

Although this is the second book in a series, it can be read alone. A likable, young, gay, wandering storyteller is temporarily depressed and trying to find his footing after his uneasy parting from the man to whom he was apprenticed in the first book in the series. His written account of what he has been experiencing recently increasingly becomes more daily journal-like, which adds to the feeling of a quickening pace as the plot’s drama heightens. When he finishes them, he gives his writings to a professional peer who responds by marking them up with foul-mouthed, sarcastic, critical, and at times supportive messages addressed back to him. Their deliciously dysfunctional and complicated method of communicating with each other on paper matches their deliciously dysfunctional and complicated relationship in person. And the form of their written communications provides a uniquely interesting reading experience. The young male narrator is led astray into using his storytelling skills to create a market for an exotic flower, and it takes him awhile to extricate himself from the mess that ensues. Parts of the story seem to be inspired by the 1630s Dutch tulip mania. The book is a well-written, unique read about the power and dangers of storytelling, full of enjoyably complicated characters living in an interesting world.

Epistolary rom coms

The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot (fictional emails)

Meg Cabot is masterful when it comes to writing entertaining, epistolary rom coms very well. This story, which takes place during the heyday of email, was first published in 2002 and is told entirely through emails. Both of the romantic leads are very likable, and it is only a comedic situation that is standing in their way. Two reporters from competing publications fall in love after one of them moves into the apartment next door to the other while pretending to be someone else. Besides getting to read their emails, readers get to read the emails of the co-workers of one of them (from The New York Journal), their friends, their frenemies, and their relatives; all of whom share (often amusing) opinions about what is going on.

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot (fictional emails, instant messages, voice messages, diary entries, notes on found papers, receipts, forms, etc.)

This is another entertaining epistolary rom com confection from Meg Cabot. It is set in the same world (with many of the same characters) as The Boy Next Door. One of the main characters works in the HR department of The New York Journal. After her difficult boss fires a widely beloved employee, an intriguing lawyer tries to sort things out. Once again, a number of characters want to share their opinions about the budding romance between a likable pair. But this time, instead of the story being told just through emails, a variety of other media are used in addition. The story moves smoothly and easily, despite the frequent changes in storytelling media and perspectives.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (fictional diary)

When it comes to funny, comedy-heavy rom coms in diary form, Bridget Jones is among the top of its class. Jones is a British singleton who writes in her diary about her amusing dating travails in an entertaining, but realistically diary-like manner. The entries are often short and may contain lists, abbreviations, self-flagellations, fears, hopes, random musings, etc. The underlying story is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice. If you enjoyed the Bridget Jones movie, but haven’t tried the book yet, you may want to give it a try. There is a lot more to dig into in the book than in the movie.

Chemistry for Beginners by Anthony Strong (a fictional scientific paper)

This is a delightfully nerdy romantic comedy written in the form of a scientific paper on female sexual dysfunction. The paper is frequently annotated/footnoted. Some journal entries are included as well. The paper’s author is an intellectually focused, socially oblivious, Oxford neurobiologist (who would rather be studying hiccups). One of the study’s female subjects develops a crush on him and lots of cleverly silly, science-related shenanigans ensue. The research the paper is founded on turns out to not be as trustworthy as the paper’s author had thought it was. Despite the many “scientific” discussions about sex in the book, the main romantic couples’ interactions with each other are more comedic than steamy.

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine (partially epistolary; a fictional Craigslist ad, emails, text messages, letters, etc.)

Although only a fraction of this fantasy rom com is told via epistolary means; those letters, emails, text messages, etc. are so amusing and integral to the story that I think this book deserves a mention in this post. An endearingly clueless (“marshmallow” of a) vampire has awoken from a hundred-year coma to find himself in a befuddling modern world. So, he decides to find a roommate who can help him navigate things that perplex him, like social media and pop culture. The book starts with his Craigslist ad for a roommate and then follows his slow-burn, silly romantic relationship with his new roommate. The parts of the book that aren’t epistolary are told from her first-person point of view.

Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho (fictional diary)

The official summary of this book describes it as “Crazy Rich Asians meets Bridget Jones’s Diary.” That is fairly accurate, however while it is an enjoyable read, it is a debut work that isn’t quiet on the same level as its inspirations. The fictional diary entries are often too long and detailed to be believable as diary entries, the narrator isn’t as endearing as Bridget Jones is, and the excesses of wealth aren’t as captivatingly excessive as those in Crazy Rich Asians. There is also an annoying dependence on characters refusing to listen to each other to create drama when some basic decent communication skills could have easily resolved conflicts. Nevertheless, it is a captivating read. My favorite part is how one of the narrator’s suitors woos her via fictional web comics that he creates and then posts on Instagram. My father, to whom I recently recommended this book, loved it. He laughingly agreed with all of my quibbles about it and then said he didn’t care about any of them because the story is so much fun.

Epistolary contemporary romance

The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren (mostly epistolary, fictional emails)

This epistolary romance is a well-written, fun, quick read. Most of this short novella is told through emails, but it does occasionally slip into alternating first person narratives after the couple finally begins meeting in person. The story starts with an accidental message to the wrong email address on Valentine’s Day when the two main characters are in high school. For the next ten years, they email each other every Valentine’s Day without sharing their identities. And then, they finally have their meet cute. It is an Amazon Original, and it is available (along with its audio edition) through Kindle Unlimited.

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (fictional letters)

If you loved reading Daddy-Long-Legs (mentioned above) and want to read something similar, you may enjoy this modern retelling of that story. It has the same basic plot and format; a bookish orphan writes captivating letters to the anonymous wealthy benefactor who is paying for her schooling and a chaste romance ensues. This retelling is angsty and focuses more on the difficulties of being an orphan. It is not frothy like its inspiration. It is also more religious than the original. The letters are enjoyable, but unfortunately often too long and detailed to be realistic as letters. Book lovers will enjoy the book’s frequent literary references (many of which are to Jane Austen’s works, including the reference in the title). The narration switches to third person near the end.

Epistolary fantasy Regency historical romance

Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace (fictional letters)

In this magical, historical, queer-friendly Regency, male-male romance; Gavin Hartford is a misanthropic, bookish, younger son who meets a charming, bisexual rake during his first independent stay in London. Hartford is well-aware that he is a “horrid grump.” And his endearing grumpiness is a large part of what makes this a fun read. His chaste love story is largely told via the letters that Hartford writes to, and receives from, his colorful family members (including his beloved sister who is very magically talented). He also corresponds with his suitor, who he—for an amusingly long amount of time—cluelessly doesn’t understand is courting him. It is utterly delightful.

Epistolary contemporary YA

Dairy Queen, The Off Season, Front and Center, and Heaven Is Paved with Oreos by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (the first three are fictional written accounts of recent events, the last is a fictional diary)

The first three books in this series technically are epistolary, but they mostly just seem like very captivating and very good YA novels written in the first person. At the end of each of those books, narrator D.J. Schwenk reveals why she has written an account of the recent events in her life. D.J. is extremely shy. Her family is complicated and likable; and they are beset with a variety of problems, mostly medical, financial, and communicative in nature. D.J. keeps stepping up to hold her family (and family dairy farm) afloat. At the same time, she tries out for the guys’ football team, falls for the quarterback of her high school’s rival team, and gets a basketball scholarship to college. D.J. has a lot of gumption and tries really hard to do the right thing. It is a pleasure to root for her as she faces her challenges and grows as a person. Her romance is satisfyingly angsty and complicated. It is also fairly chaste, and even what very little physically happens in it is closed door. The fourth book in this series is narrated—in a more traditionally epistolary journal form—by Sarah Zorn who is the romantic interest of D.J.’s younger brother Curtis (Curtis is even more endearingly shy than D.J. is). The younger couple experiences an amusing spin on the fake dating trope, which they call the “Brilliant Outflanking Strategy.” Their super nerdy and shy romance is adorable, however this fourth book (like the first three in the series) is primarily a family drama and personal growth story. Sarah’s journal entries use abbreviations and a casual style that make them seem realistically diary-like.

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra (fictional letters)

If you enjoy very angsty, slow burn YA romances between complicated characters, this male-male one may interest you. Two high school guys who seem very different on the surface start writing each other letters as an English class assignment. As both turn out to be poetically-oriented writers (one surprisingly so) who find it easier to express themselves on paper, they end up writing each other much more than is required. Although the reason for their frequent correspondence is believable, what is not so believable are their justifications for why they spend so much time rehashing conversions in their letters that took place between them in person after they start spending time together. This book deals with heavy issues and is not a good fit for readers who are not up for reading about homophobia, severe bullying, and domestic abuse. I would have appreciated the book more if both characters had gotten the help they needed sooner than they did. It is an imperfect, yet very captivating epistolary read.

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West (partially epistolary, fictional letters)

Lily and Cade, who attend the same high school and think they can’t stand each other, sit at the same desk for Chemistry class during different periods. Cade responds to something Lily scribbled on the desk, which leads to the start of their anonymous exchange of letters with each other—through which they eventually fall in love. The majority of this book is told from Lily’s perspective in the first person, but their full letters are frequently featured and make up a significant portion of the book. This is a well-written, satisfying YA romance.

Epistolary middle grade fiction

To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holy Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer (fictional emails)

If you enjoyed either version of The Parent Trap movie, you also may enjoy this delightful, modern, epistolary, retelling of its tale. This time two girls are sent to the same summer camp when their fathers are dating and considering a future together. The girls start off wary of each other but end up, after their fathers break up, adorably plotting to try to get them back together. The book consists of emails between a variety of characters, although mostly between the two girls.

Same Sun Here by Silas House and Neela Vaswani (fictional letters)

Two 12-year-olds with very different backgrounds and voices become penpals and appreciate sharing their experiences with each other in this lovely, well-written story told through letters. Meena is a recent immigrant from India, living in New York City. River is a young environmental activist who lives in a coal mining region in Kentucky that is experiencing environmentally devastating mountain top removal. They are both very observant, thoughtful, layered, interesting, likable characters and they kindly support each other through challenges. The book ends on a hopeful note right before they are about to meet in person.

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (fictional diary)

If you have fond memories of watching the movie version of this story, you may enjoy both Anne Hathaway’s (the movie’s star’s) narration of the audiobook edition of this book and seeing how much the book differs from the movie. This story falls somewhere on the older end of the middle grade spectrum to the younger end of the YA spectrum. Meg Cabot does a great job of capturing the feeling of a young person’s actual diary (which is—of course—better written and more amusing than most real diaries). Your enjoyment of this book may depend a lot on how much patience you can scrounge up for a well-meaning but overly dramatic and ditzy (including being stereotypically bad at math unfortunately) young narrator who thinks it is a horrible tragedy to find out she is a princess who is heir to a very wealthy kingdom. On my recent re-listen of the audiobook edition, I really struggled as an adult listener (who had recently been reading lots of books about people who experienced World War II) with the narrator and her “problems.” However, nostalgia kept me going, and I found the narrator increasingly likable as the book went on. There are some lines in this book that haven’t aged well, but overall, it is enjoyable.

The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato (fictional emails, letters, and diary entries)

This book is utterly delightful. Seventh grader Frankie realizes that her single father has started a long-distance relationship. And she is determined to scare off her father’s new love interest. She uses her father’s email account to email his new girlfriend a bunch of (amusing) lies intended to make her father seem less desirable. The new girlfriend, who is a zookeeper in charge of naked mole-rats, responds to Frankie’s emails by conveying the life lessons she has gleaned from her study of rodents. And somehow, surprisingly, it works brilliantly. Their exchanges are charming. Plus, Frankie’s frequent misspellings, like “I’m going to fall into a comma (coma?)” add both humor and verisimilitude. And the correspondents’ creative email sign offs, such as “Opinionatedly yours,” also add to the fun. Eventually, Frankie comes to greatly appreciate her father’s girlfriend and tries to encourage the two lovers to reconcile after they stop talking. Besides being fun, the book also has some depth as Frankie and her family are still grieving the loss of her mother.

-added 05/25

Epistolary middle grade graphic novels

Dear Sister by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Joe Bluhm (fictional letters)

This book is filled with funny, heartwarming, and absolutely delightful letters from a big brother to his little sister as they both grow up. It is very well-illustrated too.

Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes, translated by Matt Bagguley (fictional diary)

This charmingly written and illustrated, sapphic, Norwegian, coming-of-age fictional diary (+ texting dialogues) is a treat. The narrator is grappling with a maturing body, changing friendships, and her first crush. Her sweet relationship with her supportive single father helps her navigate it all.

The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatow (a fictional notebook full of research, notes, drawings, and plans)

If you want to read a book that will make you laugh out loud a lot, this is a great one to try. The conclusions that the fictional fifth grade narrators reach from their research into how to become popular are very funny (and lead them to take up hobbies such as stick fighting and knitting). The two best friends record their observations in their notebook with different colored pens, different penmanship, and unique voices. The style is note-passing-conversational as they respond to each other’s comments in writing and add drawings. The humor is cleverly ridiculous and a lot of fun. One of the girls is being raised by two fathers, and the other is being raised by a single mother.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown (mostly epistolary; letters, emails, brochures, report cards, journal entries, notes, school newspaper pages, etc.)

This science fiction, comedy, epistolary, middle grade story is absolutely delightful! Roan Novachez, like Luke Skywalker, is from Tatooine and wants to become a pilot. Unlike Luke Skywalker, he also likes drawing comics and making posters. This book tells the story of Roan’s first year at a middle grade boarding school Jedi Academy through a mix of epistolary forms that are interspersed with comic book type graphic panels. Roan deals with lots of typical middle grade issues, but there is always some clever Star Wars humor mixed in. The creativity is very impressive. I highly recommend this book for even moderate Star Wars fans, middle grade aged and up.

Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Anne Frank, adapted into graphic form by Ari Folman, illustrated by David Polansky (graphic interpretations of nonfiction diary entries)

This graphic novel adaptation of Anne Frank’s real diary is extremely special. So many other illustrated adaptations of her account of her Jewish family’s ultimately unsuccessful efforts to hide from the Nazis during World War II are (while very well-meaning) completely, flatly, depressing. However, this one is well-rounded in that it charmingly captures how spirited, entertaining, and angsty Anne was; while not shying away from the awfulness of her situation. It well honors Anne’s appealing qualities that have captured so many of the hearts of the readers of her original diary.

Epistolary middle grade novels in verse

Love That Dog and Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech (fictional poetry journals)

It is a pleasure to watch the young narrator of these books slowly learn to love reading and writing poetry by reading his (fictional) poetry journals that he writes for his teacher. These books are creative, clever, poetic, and very touching.

What was up with

the snowy woods poem

you read today?

Why doesn’t the person just

keep going if he’s got

so many miles to go

before he sleeps?

Epistolary middle grade historical fiction

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani (a fictional diary written in letter form)

Starting on July 14, 1947; the extremely shy, young narrator of this book writes diary entries in her journal in the form of letters to her dead mother. The entries continue until November of that year. Twelve-year-old Nisha has mixed Hindu and Muslim parentage. She and her family are caught up in the upheaval when Pakistan and India divide into two countries following independence from British rule. The area where they had been living is no longer safe for them. They become refugees who need to make a perilous journey. It is an interesting and captivating read. Unfortunately, the author had the narrator make an obviously very bad decision at one point to create more drama in the plot—which is a pet peeve of mine.

Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar (fictional dairy-like letters)

Esther, a Polish Jewish girl, travels to join her father in Cuba where they then try to earn enough money to help the rest of their family escape Europe before World War II begins. The story is written via (unrealistically long) diary-like letters from Esther to her sister (which she does not mail). Not super believably, but perhaps enjoyably for some young readers, young Esther achieves financial success in Cuba as a fashion designer. What is particularly captivating about this book is the window it opens to the experiences of Jewish refugees in Cuba at that time. The author brings those colorful, historic, Jewish refugee experiences in Cuba alive, as Esther learns to love her new warmer home. I wish this had been published as a full color graphic novel because I would have loved to see Esther in her new tropical environment. The story was inspired by the author’s Jewish Cuban grandmother’s experiences.

Epistolary-adjacent read aloud book

The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine, illustrated by Steve Cox (fictional diary)

This very clever “crime” story (with a twist at the end) is a fun read. Is Tuffy the cat (who is known to have killed small animals before) really as wicked as his human family thinks he is? What should readers make of his daily diary-like confessions? The story will keep you guessing how things will turn out, and occasionally chuckling. And the illustrations are amusing. I am describing this book as epistolary-adjacent as even most anthropomorphic, fictional cats can’t write, and no explanation is given for how his diary entries were recorded. One of this author’s other books was made into the movie Mrs. Doubtfire.

Epistolary picture books

Shooting the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914 by John Hendrix (a fictional letter)

During World War I, in the winter of 1914, many enemy soldiers holed up in trenches on opposite sides stopped fighting at Christmas time and instead celebrated the holiday together. This well-illustrated picture book tells that true historical story via a fictional letter from one English soldier to his mother. You can also read a real letter about the same event via the Letters of Note Substack here.

The Gardener by Sarah Stewert, illustrated by David Small (fictional letters)

During the Great Depression, a girl who loves to garden leaves home and goes to work in the city at her uncle’s bakery. While she is there, she finds a way to make her new urban home bloom and bring joy to those she meets. The entire story is told through her lovely letters and through lovely illustrations.

Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind by Cynthia Grady, illustrated by Amiko Hirao (partially epistolary, nonfiction post cards)

This absolutely lovely, touching, partially epistolary, nonfiction, biographical picture book is about a compassionate librarian who corresponded with, and sent books to, a number of the Japanese American children who used to visit her library before they were sent to internment camps during World War II. She also wrote to advocate on their behalf. Content from a number of the post cards sent to her by children during that time is included in the book.

Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen (partially epistolary, fictional letters)

This very heart-warming story (inspired by the author’s grandmother’s real post-World War II experiences) is about a Dutch girl who corresponds with, and receives much-needed post-war aid from, an American girl. Both of their communities became involved in the exchange as well.

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin (partially epistolary, fictional letters)

The cows on this farm are cold, so they type letters to their farmer refusing to provide milk until they are given electric blankets. Besides being an adorably illustrated story for very young readers, it also teaches an important lesson about the power of collective organizing for change. Plus, there are some amusing twists to the story as additional kinds of animals get involved with typing letters to the farmer.

I’m Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Julie Kwon (fictional letters)

It takes a child a number of tries to learn how to write a good letter of apology in this story that teaches how to kindly and effectively communicate.

-added 05/25

Tabitha and Fritz Trade Places by Katie Frawley, illustrated by Laurie Stansfield (fictional online messages)

This story is about a wild elephant and a domestic cat who decide to swap homes via Lair-BNB. The story is told through their online messages to each other about their experiences as well as through cute illustrations. It is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

-added 05/25

Interested in even more epistolary delights?

If you haven’t already read the previous Bookishly Delightful post about a wide range of additional epistolary-themed content (including movies, TV series, anime, podcasts, songs, poems, works of art, etc.), you can find it here.

What are your favorite epistolary books? You are welcome to share your recommendations in the comment section below.

Enjoy your reading!