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Letters From Elena: the heartfelt and wholesome story of one woman's search for her childhood friend
'A captivating and gorgeously written tale of nostalgia and renewal' Sophie Hannah
'A warm and heartfelt examination of what attracts us to others and what keeps us connected over the years' Catherine Simpson
'A perfectly woven story of past and present friendships' Valerie Griffin
April Zarney was ten when her best friend, Elena, disappeared. It was July 1974 and rumour was that Elena’s family had headed back home to war-torn Cyprus.
Thirty years later, with two failed marriages behind her and her career as concert pianist in jeopardy, April decides to run away to Cyprus to find out what really happened to her friend.
Letters From Elena is a love story exploring family, identity and displacement through the faulty memories of three generations of women, each on a journey to make sense of their lives and the world around them.
'An evocative and mesmerising tale of three generations of women, Letters from Elena sweeps you into the heart of Cyprus' Lucy O'Callaghan
'A truly immersive read' Ruth O'Leary
'A masterful, melodic symphony of words that will enthral readers from start to finish' Clo Carey
'Full of love, acceptance and ultimately, hope. A perfect read' Sharon Black
'A warm and heartfelt examination of what attracts us to others and what keeps us connected over the years' Catherine Simpson
'A perfectly woven story of past and present friendships' Valerie Griffin
April Zarney was ten when her best friend, Elena, disappeared. It was July 1974 and rumour was that Elena’s family had headed back home to war-torn Cyprus.
Thirty years later, with two failed marriages behind her and her career as concert pianist in jeopardy, April decides to run away to Cyprus to find out what really happened to her friend.
Letters From Elena is a love story exploring family, identity and displacement through the faulty memories of three generations of women, each on a journey to make sense of their lives and the world around them.
'An evocative and mesmerising tale of three generations of women, Letters from Elena sweeps you into the heart of Cyprus' Lucy O'Callaghan
'A truly immersive read' Ruth O'Leary
'A masterful, melodic symphony of words that will enthral readers from start to finish' Clo Carey
'Full of love, acceptance and ultimately, hope. A perfect read' Sharon Black
380 pages, Paperback
Published July 3, 2025
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23 people want to read
About the author
Anne Hamilton
63 books7 followersLibrarian Note:
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There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 21, 2025
Disclaimer: Blue Weaver kindly sent me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April Zarney was best friends with Elena Zacharia in 1974 when they were both 10 years old. Elena's family had moved to England, and for a year the two girls were inseparable. A year later, Elena and her whole family left to go back to Cyprus without a word—just as a war was about to break out between the country and Turkey.
For years, April never heard from her friend again until she was handed a hand-written letter and a postcard from their former school teacher. Realizing that 10-year-old Elena didn't forget her, April becomes obsessed with finding her old friend.
April sets off for Cyprus. She has nothing tying her down—she's twice divorced and, having just left a relationship with a man who cheated on her and is about to have a baby with another woman, a 30-year-old long-lost friendship seems as good a reason as any to travel to a foreign country.
In Cyprus, April meets and befriends a host of colourful characters including a priest, an orchid specialist, and an artist and his wife who want to help her find her old friend. The only clues that April has to where Elena might be are a photo of some elusive 'treehouses' somewhere between Cyprus and Turkey.
At 40, April feels as though she is somehow starting over again, and maybe that's the truth. Searching for Elena, whom she last saw 30 years ago, is not just geographical, but an eternal search. The question is whether she wants to find the grown-up 40-year-old Elena, or the friend from her past, the child. Or, on some subconscious level, is it herself, the past April she's looking for instead?
In an alternate POV, the story also follows Elena, her two sisters, and their aunt and uncle in 1974 as they navigate war being declared on Cyprus. Elena, through letters to April, documents the first few terrifying weeks of traveling across the country they called home, and being displaced and losing everything. Knowing they can never return to England, Elena continues to update April with her stories of a family running from war.
Where does a story end? What is Elena's conclusion? What is April's? Will they meet again? Do they need to? Hamilton's storytelling is meticulous and engaging. Her characters are very much alive, and even the past is filled with hope through the eyes and the pen of a ten-year-old girl with dreams of camping with her best friend. This is a story of hope, friendship, childhood, and second chances. Beautifully executed.
April Zarney was best friends with Elena Zacharia in 1974 when they were both 10 years old. Elena's family had moved to England, and for a year the two girls were inseparable. A year later, Elena and her whole family left to go back to Cyprus without a word—just as a war was about to break out between the country and Turkey.
For years, April never heard from her friend again until she was handed a hand-written letter and a postcard from their former school teacher. Realizing that 10-year-old Elena didn't forget her, April becomes obsessed with finding her old friend.
April sets off for Cyprus. She has nothing tying her down—she's twice divorced and, having just left a relationship with a man who cheated on her and is about to have a baby with another woman, a 30-year-old long-lost friendship seems as good a reason as any to travel to a foreign country.
In Cyprus, April meets and befriends a host of colourful characters including a priest, an orchid specialist, and an artist and his wife who want to help her find her old friend. The only clues that April has to where Elena might be are a photo of some elusive 'treehouses' somewhere between Cyprus and Turkey.
At 40, April feels as though she is somehow starting over again, and maybe that's the truth. Searching for Elena, whom she last saw 30 years ago, is not just geographical, but an eternal search. The question is whether she wants to find the grown-up 40-year-old Elena, or the friend from her past, the child. Or, on some subconscious level, is it herself, the past April she's looking for instead?
In an alternate POV, the story also follows Elena, her two sisters, and their aunt and uncle in 1974 as they navigate war being declared on Cyprus. Elena, through letters to April, documents the first few terrifying weeks of traveling across the country they called home, and being displaced and losing everything. Knowing they can never return to England, Elena continues to update April with her stories of a family running from war.
Where does a story end? What is Elena's conclusion? What is April's? Will they meet again? Do they need to? Hamilton's storytelling is meticulous and engaging. Her characters are very much alive, and even the past is filled with hope through the eyes and the pen of a ten-year-old girl with dreams of camping with her best friend. This is a story of hope, friendship, childhood, and second chances. Beautifully executed.
October 16, 2025
I read Anne Hamilton's first novel; The Almost Truth in April last year and adored it. It has become one of my all time favourite books and I recommend it regularly. I was really excited to find out what was next from this talented author and I have not been disappointed.
When April’s childhood friend Elena disappears without a word in 1974, she’s left with unanswered questions. Thirty years later, now a concert pianist at a crossroads in her life, April travels to Cyprus to uncover what really happened. What she discovers, through old letters, is a story of friendship and displacement.
Anne Hamilton's writing is so powerful, it is full of nostalgia, beautifully observed, and sensitive to the difficult histories of both the characters and the place.
From the opening pages, the author's prose feels so evocative. Her decision to use letters as a structural device is so clever: it gives voice to the child’s perspective in 1974, alongside the present-day narrative. The letters feel authentic.
I was really impressed by the realism of the descriptive prose with the dusty paths and heat-wilted afternoons. April’s search is beautifully handled: not a melodrama but a quietly urgent quest.
The author gives Cyprus and its divided history real depth. The geography, the political tremors, the shifting borders, they’re not just backdrop but part of what haunts April’s journey.
The story spans three generations of women, all dealing with displacement, belonging, memory and identity. Their voices are so strong.
A beautifully written, quietly moving novel about friendship, loss and the long shadows of memory. Thoughtful, tender and immersive
When April’s childhood friend Elena disappears without a word in 1974, she’s left with unanswered questions. Thirty years later, now a concert pianist at a crossroads in her life, April travels to Cyprus to uncover what really happened. What she discovers, through old letters, is a story of friendship and displacement.
Anne Hamilton's writing is so powerful, it is full of nostalgia, beautifully observed, and sensitive to the difficult histories of both the characters and the place.
From the opening pages, the author's prose feels so evocative. Her decision to use letters as a structural device is so clever: it gives voice to the child’s perspective in 1974, alongside the present-day narrative. The letters feel authentic.
I was really impressed by the realism of the descriptive prose with the dusty paths and heat-wilted afternoons. April’s search is beautifully handled: not a melodrama but a quietly urgent quest.
The author gives Cyprus and its divided history real depth. The geography, the political tremors, the shifting borders, they’re not just backdrop but part of what haunts April’s journey.
The story spans three generations of women, all dealing with displacement, belonging, memory and identity. Their voices are so strong.
A beautifully written, quietly moving novel about friendship, loss and the long shadows of memory. Thoughtful, tender and immersive
July 28, 2025
I loved Anne Hamilton's latest book, Letters from Elena. It's a poignant exploration of friendship and love across the decades, at times funny, at other times heart-wrenching, but ultimately full of hope. Highly recommend!
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March 17, 2025rfw
November 16, 2025
Entertaining. Witty. Interesting story!
July 24, 2025
I loved this story. Anne Hamilton is a master at deftly weaving past and present, history and friendship together into a mesmerising tale. I highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews