I feel that if I give you “trigger warnings,” you may not pick up or select this book. And that would be such a disservice to you, to not have this journey. Let me just say that this is a book about navigating life. And that includes all the positive and negative things that could happen. No topic isn’t touched upon or mentioned in some way or fashion.
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I am not sure how this was the first choice for my 2026 Audible journey, but I am SO GLAD that it ended up in my algorithm. It was such a journey to travel with Sybil VanAntwerp and the audio production of this masterpiece truly kept me engaged and present in each sitting of listening.
Virginia Evans isn’t an author I have read before. But after this beautifully written novel, I look forward to engaging in more of her works. This book is written in letter format and through the pen and paper of our main character Sybil. Of course her entire network of memories, colleagues, friends and family weaves through the space and time flawlessly (unless you cannot let go of not knowing everything, as some letters are unanswered or simply not included in the book). I was reminded of my own letters: as a child, in military service, and then in COVID. E-mail and phone texts have robbed today’s culture of letter writing, of note exchanges. It made me long for those times again, when I would ride my bike to the post office hoping for a letter from a cousin, a pen-pal or my Aunt.
As a person who has spent extensive time on my own healing from trauma, the listener/reader has a seat on the window ledge as Sybil dances around, ignores, processes, then engages with her own traumas that shape who she is as a person- not just a character. Everyone has a piece of Sybil in their heart or mind. And everyone knows a Sybil. The heartstrings are tugged, strummed, and then pulled throughout the entire novel. You’ll laugh, you’ll roll your eyes, you’ll yell at Sybil, then cry. And at the end, you’ll have this sense of peace and presence that one can only hope Sybil truly found at the end of the book.
The Audible version’s performance is a resounding 10/10. Multiple characters read their correspondence to Sybil; and the emotion, tone and feeling pours through the speakers in such a way that no other audible production has provided me. I almost want to see this as a Broadway production.
The language and literary devices Evans sprinkles throughout is superb. I’ve painted a picture of Sybil in my mind and feel that I am well familiar with her home, her life, her experiences because of it. For any book lover, you’re given an entire recommendation of a TBR list throughout. And, if you’ve read the same works, you find yourself wanting to write Sybil in agreement or disagreement to her opinion. Truly interactive without even realizing it.
This book made me reminiscent about my own traumas, my own relationships and my own blindness.
If you’re looking for a book that takes you through all ranges of emotion, through (at the time) current events and their impact on life, and leaves you deeply satisfied at the end, this is a must read/listen.
I did read some reviews once I was finished. Some readers stated the letter format and jumping between times with the letters was “confusing” or “annoying.” If you had trouble following, I STRONGLY suggest the Audio version.