Letters from Strangers - by Susan Walter (Paperback)

About the Book

"Jane's father is far from perfect. But his sudden death brings crushing grief. As Jane grapples with her pain, life delivers another blow: a stack of letters pointing to a secret life. A life her father shared with another woman...who may have had his child. Across the country, sixteen-year-old Adam is self-destructing. His adoptive parents never intended to show him the unsigned letters from his birth mother, but he is desperate for answers, even if they hurt. Jane and Adam are on a collision course, but not for the reasons we might suspect. Because the letters do not tell the whole story. What is true is that Adam and Jane are both looking for a woman who does not want to be found. A family saga spanning two decades, this emotional story explores how good things can grow from the ashes of old scars."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

From the creator of the 2017 film All I Wish comes the heartbreaking story of two strangers searching for the truth about their families--and discovering a secret that will change their lives forever.

Jane's father is far from perfect. But his sudden death brings crushing grief. As Jane grapples with her pain, life delivers another blow: a stack of letters pointing to a secret life. A life her father shared with another woman...who may have had his child.

Across the country, sixteen-year-old Adam is self-destructing. His adoptive parents never intended to show him the unsigned letters from his birth mother, but he is desperate for answers, even if they hurt.

Jane and Adam are on a collision course, but not for the reasons we might suspect. Because the letters do not tell the whole story. What is true is that Adam and Jane are both looking for a woman who does not want to be found.

A family saga spanning two decades, this emotional story explores how good things can grow from the ashes of old scars.

Review Quotes

"Susan Walter spins an intricate tapestry of messy family secrets and long-denied truths, then weaves in a pair of hard-fought journeys toward self-discovery to produce her best book yet. Letters from Strangers is a crisp, compelling, and at times, emotionally raw story about shedding expectations in order to claim the life you were meant to live. Brava!" --Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Echo of Old Books

"Deftly executed...This tale of family, self-worth, acceptance, and forgiveness brought me to tears in a very good way...A gorgeous story!" --Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of Everything We Keep and Find Me in California

"A propulsive and poignant story about family, secret lives, and sacrifice. Walter knows the complexities of the human heart, and her emotionally rich characters ring true. Thoughtful, empathetic, and replete with deep meaning." --Paulette Kennedy, author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport

"Inspired by a true story, Susan Walter's Letter from Strangers beautifully explores not only the catastrophic damage done by secrets, deceptions and betrayals, but also the healing power of acceptance, authenticity and love. Walter creates an absolutely riveting tale in which she shows herself to be a writer of extraordinary compassion and insight into the human heart." --Joy Jordan-Lake, bestselling author of Echoes of Us, A Tangled Mercy and other books

"Letters from Strangers pulls you in from the start, unraveling family secrets with relentless pacing and twists. Susan Walter delivers a gripping tale where every revelation feels like a ticking time bomb--this is one you won't be able to put down." --Audrey J. Cole, USA Today bestselling author of Missing in Flight

"A refreshingly honest look at the choices we make, and the impact they have on the people we love. Walter delivers meaningful insights with nuanced prose, and keeps the reader turning the pages to find out how the two stories intersect." --Mansi Shah, bestselling author of The Direction of the Wind

"Letters from Strangers is a captivating exploration of the ties that bind us, the secrets that divide us, and the courage it takes to embrace our true selves." --Christine Nolfi, bestselling author of The Secret Library of Hanna Reeves

"From Susan Walter, bestselling author, comes the acclaimed Letters from Strangers, a heart-rendering, twisting family drama that had me at the edge of my seat. The knockout combination of compelling sympathetic characters, decades of secrets, and lies had me turning pages through the night, nervously waiting for the unsuspected truth to appear. Get comfortable--you won't move for hours." --Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Who Loves You Best

"With brilliant prose and secrets that upend everything you thought you knew, Walter shows us she's at the top of her game with this well-crafted novel full of tender moments--and gut-wrenching situations. Letters from Strangers will invoke every emotion inside and leave you begging for more. Poignant, smart, and utterly unputdownable, this one-sit read is sure to be a standout hit of 2025." --Jaime Lynn Hendricks, bestselling author of A Lovely Lie

"I loved reading Letters from Strangers, even when it was twisting my heart. Thoughtful and ultimately hopeful, this family saga is as good as it gets." --Wendy Walker, bestselling author of All Is Not Forgotten and American Girl

"Wow! What a story! Mesmerizing and gut wrenching, Walter is a captivating storyteller, weaving narratives that draw you in and leave you wanting more." --Patricia Sands, author of The Secrets We Hide and The Bridge Club

"Strap in for this emotional and suspense-filled roller-coaster ride...With relatable characters and well-executed arcs, this novel is a truly moving and heartfelt exploration of self-discovery and acceptance." --Marcy McCreary, award-winning author of The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon

"A delicate, emotional deep dive about good people trying, against the odds, to solve the complex puzzle of their lives. But in its tender examination of such major life issues as adoption, sexual orientation, self-image, love, and loss, it reminds us that sometimes the understanding and redemption we seek are there for the taking--if you're willing to face the truth." --Gary Goldstein, award-winning author of Please Come to Boston