Epistolary Recommendations || My Favorite Novels & Nonfiction Written As Letters

[@selissabl]

📝 Didn't realize that I'm an epistolary book fan until I watched this video. I'm a fan of many you mentioned, especially 84 Charing Cross Road and the Griffin and Sabine books. Enjoy your channel VERY much. Thanks for all your hard work and great recommendations!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my content! Epistolary novels are so wonderful. Happy New Year! 🎉😊

[@MJ-in-Canada]

“Love & Saffron” by Kim Fay was one of my reading highlights of 2024. 😃You praised it a few times on your channel so I knew it must be worth reading. I’m excited that Kim will be releasing a new book, “Kate & Frida” on March 11th. Thanks, Jen!

[@jensreadinglife]

I’m so glad you loved Love & Saffron too, MJ! I can’t wait for the next book in March! Happy New Year! 🎉

[@katnissfire5605]

Wonderful epistolery recommendations. I plan to re-read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (♥️), 84, Charing Cross Road (❤) and Business As Usual (great autumn read). Adding to my TBR Love & Saffron and Frances and Bernard. Happy New Year 📚🎉

[@jensreadinglife]

You have lots of great reading ahead! Happy New Year to you too! 🎆🎉

[@JacquelineCaron]

'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' is one of my favorite movies - and a book that I return to often, as is '84 Charing Cross Road'. Another one that was good - and to my surprise at being epistolary ( well, letters and journal entries ) was 'Dracula'. I remember years ago my Dad gifting one of my older sisters the Griffin and Sabine books at Christmas; very unique. Thanks for all these recommendations. 📝 and happy new year!! 🥳

[@jensreadinglife]

Happy New Year, Jacqueline! 🎉🍾 I appreciate all of your support of my channel this year. ❤️ Dracula is a good one! There are lots of classics written as letters. I’ll have to do a video focusing just on those!

[@maryclarke9894]

Great recommendations. MY TBR pile grows every time I watch one of your videos. I will try to get to one of these in epistolary January. BTW, you have so many cute tops (and maybe pants, too, but we usually only see the tops! Thanks for all your recommendations, Happy New Year!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you so much! I do like cute clothes though not quite as much as I love good books! 😉 I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my recommendations. Happy New Year! 🎆🎉

[@taneesewilson8844]

Epistolary’s are one of my fav genre’s. Thanks for sharing😊💌📝📚

[@jensreadinglife]

You’re welcome! I love epistolary novels!

[@debbiew7496]

So many great reads and some new to me ones I am excited to look for!

[@jensreadinglife]

I’m so glad you have found some new titles to try! 😊

[@pennyhouston9959]

Love this video! So many great recommendations here. Adding more to my TBR! 😀 I checked out 84, Charing Cross from my library- looking forward to it. Happy New Year! 🎉

[@jensreadinglife]

Enjoy Charing Cross! It’s a perfect book to read in the new year! Happy New Year to you too! 🎆😊

[@Lora.Crawford]

Loved this video! I read Guernsey years ago but remember it being very good. Love 84 Charing Cross Rd! I've got Business as Usual; you've reminded me of it so I'll read it soon. I saw someone else commented about Dracula. I don't like vampire stories but I loved reading Dracula last Oct! You said you should do a video on classic epistolary books...that would be awesome! Thank you for such enjoyable videos! Happy New Year! 📚🥰

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you! I will definitely do a video on classic epistolary novels! Happy New Year! 😊

[@Preoccupied_Platypus]

So many lovely recommendations, Jen. Thank you! For Christmas, I gifted Love and Saffron to one of my dear friends, and it was a favorite of mine in 2024. I’m going to add Meet Me at the Museum to my list. Thank you for sharing your light ✨ and love for reading with us this past year. Happy 2025!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you so much for your sweet words and all your support of my channel! It really means a lot to me. 🥰

[@kellireadsalot]

So many wonderful recommendations here! Thanks for putting this out. 😊

[@jensreadinglife]

You're so welcome! I love this Readalong idea! 😊

[@elizabethboccio3877]

📝📖 so enjoy your video book reviews, thank you Happy New Year 🎉

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed them. Happy New Year! 🎉😊

[@jenniereece1158]

✍️ 📝 what a fun video! I’ve read several on the Los, however there were some I’ve never heard of and a few I just haven’t gotten around to. I’ve added 84, Charring Cross Rd, Love & Saffron and Frances and Bernard to my ever-growing TBR list. Thanks for sharing.

[@jensreadinglife]

You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy the books when you get to them. 😊

[@loispa]

I read my paperback copy of 84, Charing Cross Road so many times it fell apart and I had to buy a new copy. I love Helene Hanff's other books too. I enjoyed the Guernsey Potato Peel Pie book and your recommendations are intriguing.

[@jensreadinglife]

I love her other books as well too! I just read Letter From New York which Manderley Press published this year and I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it yet.

[@loispa]

@@jensreadinglife Thanks for your reply! I checked my Hanff stash and I have a U.K.mass market paperback edition of Letter from New York published in 1993. My copy of The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street seems to have gone missing though.

[@loispa]

I found the Duchess! It was included with 84 in my old U.K. paperback that I bought 40 plus years ago.

[@MarthaBlevins-fo4cm]

I finally ordered Love and Saffron to read in 2025. Thank you for sharing books that you love!

[@jensreadinglife]

You are so welcome! I hope you enjoy Love & Saffron! ❤️

[@teresaglasco6082]

Happy New Year! I've so enjoyed your videos this year!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you so much, Teresa! Happy Nee Year! 🎉🍾

[@julie-bh1pj]

Jen, thank you for another wonderful reading list. I love your book recommendations! I blame you for my extensive TBR. Another novel that I think you would enjoy with great epistolary elements is Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher. It's about a jaded English professor tasked with the tedious task of letters of recommendations for his students. It's a laugh-out-loud funny concerning so many ridiculous elements of the humanities academic world. It should be required reading of every English major.

[@jensreadinglife]

lol…I’m sorry I’ve made your TBR so long! 😉 I have heard of this book but haven’t read it…now you’ve added one to my TBR! 😁

[@kimberly.b123]

📝Dear Jen, new subscriber here and I’m excited to get into reading more this year. All the books you picked sound interesting. I read the Griffin and Sabine series back in the early 90’s. Maybe I will have to read the new ones. Thanks for mentioning that. Kim✉️

[@jensreadinglife]

Welcome, Kim! I’m so glad you found me! 😊 Reading more is a wonderful goal. I was just looking and it appears there are now 8 books in the Griffin and Sabine series! I think I may have missed a couple.

[@elaineshultz9544]

I was thinking about the Sabine books the other day but couldn’t remember the names of the books! And then here they are! I had those books in the 90s when they came out. Lovely books.

[@jensreadinglife]

They are wonderful, aren’t they? 🥰

[@michaelmccarty]

📝 I love epistolary novels -- Thanks for the recommendations!

[@jensreadinglife]

You are welcome! 😁

[@paulamoreshead1694]

So many of these books sound so delightful! I look forward to following along with you in the New Year😊

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you! Happy New Year! 🎆😊

[@starlasell5698]

❤📚📚❤️ So many wonderful recommendations Jen. Thank you. I have a vintage copy of Daddy Long Legs and need to read it!

[@jensreadinglife]

You’re very welcome! 💕 And yes, please read Daddy Long-Legs - it’s wonderful!

[@starlasell5698]

@jensreadinglife I saw the old movie years ago, and I'm really excited to do a read of the book. Thanks again for recommending.

[@Eldertalk]

Nice recommendations, thank you. I'm making a list, for next year. ❤

[@jensreadinglife]

You are welcome! I hope you find some books you enjoy. 😊

[@sherylstretcher1973]

I recently re-read “84, Charing Cross Road”, as it had been many years since I first read it. I appreciate the many epistolary suggestions; I added several to a TBR list, and plan to re-read Daddy-Long-Legs this month!

[@jensreadinglife]

I’m so glad you enjoyed this and found some books to add to your TBR and a reread! 😊

[@rebeccaharris4823]

Just put Love & Saffron on hold at my library! Thanks 📔

[@jensreadinglife]

You’re welcome! Enjoy!

[@delltaylor9678]

I love epistolary books also and got some great recommendations! Thanks, Jen. As always, your choices are right in line with mine… Happy New Year🎉

[@jensreadinglife]

I’m so glad you found some recommendations! Happy New Year! 😊🎉

[@forevermrsQ]

I do not think I have heard of the term "epistolary" before watching your video. However, I have read, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I'm inspired to read more of these types of books! :)

[@jensreadinglife]

I hope you find some epistolary books to enjoy! They are so wonderful!

[@alireadsbooks3597]

Thanks for another great video, Jen! I plan to read Love and Saffron in January! Happy New year. 🥂🎉🎊

[@jensreadinglife]

I hope you love it! Happy New Year! 🎆

[@karronwhite9134]

Happy New Year Jen, my favourite books are 84 Charing Cross Road and Nella Last’s War which was made into a wonderful film called Housewife 49 starring Victoria Wood. I am currently reading Miss Buncle’s Book on your recommendation and really enjoying it 😊

[@jensreadinglife]

Happy New Year! I have Nella’s Last War on my TBR shelf! I definitely want to get to it this year and then watch the film. 😊

[@jensreadinglife]

And I’m so glad you are enjoying Miss Buncle! I love her. 🥰

[@BernasBookishAdventures]

I love epistolary books, thanks a lot for the recommendations 🤗🤗

[@jensreadinglife]

You’re welcome, Berna! I’m so glad you enjoyed this. 😊

[@verodunstan7864]

Thanks for your suggestions Jen. I wrote some in my tbr. Happy new year!

[@jensreadinglife]

Happy New Year! I’m glad this gave you some TBR ideas! 😊

[@lizanelson4777]

📝 I’ve read “84, Charing Cross” (loved it) and I have “Love and Saffron” So yay! I have one to read in January!

[@jensreadinglife]

Perfect! I hope you love it!

[@RosemaryG65]

Thank you for the recommendations! 🖊️📄

[@jensreadinglife]

You’re welcome! ❤️

[@rebeccaharris4823]

I needed a reminder to read the 84 Charing Cross Rd series! ❤️📚

[@jensreadinglife]

It’s such a good series! I hope you love it. 😊

[@rebeccaharris4823]

@jensreadinglife I have read them a couple of times, but I'm due for a reread

[@michelled.3849]

Shared your channel with someone today!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you SO much! I really appreciate that. ❤️❤️❤️

[@nonisnest9718]

I don’t know if you read Annie Barrows other book but it was wonderful also! On your recommendation I purchased Love and Saffron which is in my top 5 of 2024.

[@jensreadinglife]

I haven’t read her other book but it sounds like I need to now! I’m so glad you enjoyed Love & Saffron! I can’t wait for the sequel. 😊

[@susanmay4215]

I so enjoyed Love & Saffron. And Meet me at the Museum. Now I'll be looking for Ella Minnow Pea, as well as Letters to a Young Poet. Soon!

[@jensreadinglife]

I think you will love them! 😊

[@MLLatUtube]

I am adding Business As Usual and Love and Saffron to my TBR. Many of the others I have read and enjoyed. (Regarding the Fountain is a favorite.) I will also recommend Dear Enemy, which is the sequel to Daddy Long Legs, which is a great book.

[@jensreadinglife]

I think you will love both of those! Yes, Dear Enemy is great too. I really need to get a copy of that one because it’s been years since I read it!

[@helenramsay2085]

📝 😊

[@jillbellaus385]

I am picking up the Griffin and Sabine trilogy and The Guernsey book!

[@jensreadinglife]

Enjoy! They are all wonderful! 😁

[@michelelearner297]

My favorite from the author of Regarding the Fountain is Letters from Camp. Hilarious. I've read several of these and I know of Nick Bantock from my interest in arts/design/inks etc. I can read The Guernsey Literary... from my shelves. I also have an unread nonfiction book about letters -- that's all I can remember about it!!

[@jensreadinglife]

I will have to read Letters From Camp! Thank you for mentioning it. I have a few other Nick Bantock books as well. His work is very intriguing.

[@BorderCollieInALibrary]

Thank you for the great recommendations. Frances and Bernard sounds fascinating. A friend of mine just recommended Griffin and Sabine to me. Both she and her daughters LOVE these books. Do you recommend reading all three one after another or spacing them out a bit?

[@jensreadinglife]

I think you can read them back to back. They are very quick reads. Maybe give yourself a few days to digest each one but it’s probably more effective to get the whole story in quick sequence. 😊 Let me know what you think of them!

[@MyBookHauledLife-Essie]

Ella Minnow Pea sounds perfect! Thank you for sharing it!!!

[@jensreadinglife]

You are welcome! It’s a book I never hear talked about and I adored it!

[@Airforcewife21]

I’ll be reading Daddy Long Legs! It fits my ongoing category of “books made into my favorite classic movies”🤩📚📽️

[@jensreadinglife]

It’s so good! And be sure to read the sequel too! Also I need to know what other books fall into that category! That sounds so fun!

[@Airforcewife21]

@ I’ve discovered so many good ones this past year! Auntie Mame, Topper, Goodbye Mr Chips, Woman in White, Ghost and Mrs Muir, Cheaper by the Dozen were some of my favorites…started intentionally doing this after reading a few Agatha Christie mysteries made into favorite classic movies 📚📽️😄

[@ReadBrucey]

I’ve read Guernsey. I’m reading Lady Susan, and Daddy Long Legs for sure!

[@jensreadinglife]

Enjoy! Those are both wonderful.

[@SharonReads]

The Griffin and Sabine books sound like an adult version of the Jolly Pocket Postman. Ha! Katherine Reay has written an updated version of Daddy Long-Legs titled, Dear Mr. Knightley which was a fun read. :)

[@jensreadinglife]

I’ve read the Katherine Reay retelling. It’s a good one. I don’t know the Jolly Pocket Postman but it sounds delightful! 😊

[@emmareads734]

I am going to read Emma M. Lion #1 for your read-a-long, Anne of Windy Poplars, and re-read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

[@jensreadinglife]

That sounds like perfect January reading! Enjoy! 😊

[@joyceredman2136]

I have read the Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society but for wintertime I am reading To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey about an expedition up Wolverine River in Alaska as recorded in Colonel Forrester's journal that he's writing for his pregnant wife, Sophie, left behind in Vancouver in case something happens to him.

[@jensreadinglife]

That sounds very intriguing! I’d love to know what you think when you finish it.

[@cassandra3399]

Paper and ✏️

[@katekono]

📝

[@glendaslanina9939]

📖

[@eileennielsen5165]

I have read and re-read The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society. Same with 84 Charring Cross Rd. Two of my favorite bks. I have ever read. So much so... they are going in my coffin with me!

[@jensreadinglife]

Both are so, so wonderful and favorites of mine too! ❤️

[@gracetaylor7351]

✏️📝

[@bonnieshelangi]

📝❤

[@vanessaedwards-so1fi]

📝📝

[@deborahracette9755]

✏️ 🖊 ✉️

[@susanbaird4552]

Thank you for a wonderful literary year. Your videos and recommendations have brought such added depth to my reading year. Frances and Bernard is such a great under discussed epistolary novel! Looking forward to all of your videos and recommendations in 2025!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you, Susan! I appreciate your support of my channel so much! ❤️ I agree about Frances & Bernard…it was such a wonderful surprise! 😊

[@allisonryder4781]

📝❤🇨🇦

[@katekono]

📝

[@coffeelovingmaria]

📝

[@susanmccoy1992]

📝

[@melissawatson9974]

📝

[@jeterhome2354]

📝

[@AdrianaRobinson-l5j]

📝

[@kamicastillo1451]

📝

[@brucedippold4294]

📝