The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior

by Beka Wueste, Liz Pipher (Editor)

When Lucy Prior died, she left many of the possessions you'd expect to find in an average house, with the exception of a peculiar set of letters. These letters were never sent in her lifetime, and were left with the intention of having someone else decide if they should be sent, thrown away, or published.



Written with the knowledge that her death was imminent, each chapter is a letter to an individual who played an influential role in Lucy's life, with whom she had severed connections decades before she passed away. In the letters, she revisits and confronts formative moments throughout her childhood and early adulthood which she had largely repressed or intentionally hidden from even her closest relatives and friends.



With each letter, Lucy's estate manager must determine the value of sending a letter so long after the relationships came to an end. Some are thank you letters, others regrets or apologies, while the rest are condemnations. As the letters vary wildly, the estate manager discovers there is no clear criteria for deciding the benefit or harm in communicating with people who mattered, for better or for worse, in a person's life.

192 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2025

About the author

Beka Wueste is an author whose debut novel, “The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior,” earned praise as a “deeply introspective and emotionally resonant novel” (-Kirkus Reviews) and “an explosive fictional debut… an emotional rollercoaster,” (-Reader Views) and whose second novel, “Fireflies in a Jar,” was welcomed as, “warm, funny, and quietly heartbreaking.” (-Midwest Book Review).

Her short story collection, “My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death,” received advance praise as, “An inherently fascinating and memorable read from cover to cover.” (-Midwest Book Review) and “lyrical and thoughtful… moving, imaginative, and unforgettable.” (- Readers’ Favorite)

She is also an award-winning visual artist who exhibits her visual work frequently in regional and national shows.


Born in Texas and raised in Virginia, Beka earned a B.A. in art history from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, and an M.A. in art history from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.


An enthusiastic traveler, avid reader, nature lover, lifelong cinephile, and collector of music on vinyl, Beka lives with her husband and their rescue Shiba Inu in Northern Virginia.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like no book I've ever read. The closest thing I can think of is A Visit From the Goon Squad, though they are very different. Each chapter/letter is a stand alone piece, but also contains pieces which fit into a larger mosaic. But instead of pieces in a plot, it's a portrait of a person, which remains incomplete. By the end, I felt like I knew Lucy Prior as a real person, yet wanted to learn more about who she was. Unsent Letters is a very novel premise, executed in dramatic fashion, and made me think about myself and those close to me in new ways. What more can you ask for in 150 pages?

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t miss this one! Short, beautifully written, poignant, and ultimately uplifting.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art Burleson is in an odd business. Burleson thinks of himself as an administrator of death. While he now has years of practice, he came to this role through his emotional detachment to items upon cleaning out the houses of dead friends and relatives. Sorting through the various things we all have, Art sees no purpose, meaning, or need to keep these items upon exiting this life. He’s seen it all, hoarders, clean houses, and families who hire him to save time, grief, and heartache, while others yet hire him because they can’t agree on things. Yet Lucy Prior is one case that really stands out to Art. Hired intentionally, Art finds her house full of neatly kept letters and specific instructions for everything else in The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior by Beka Wueste.

Thrown by the unique circumstances these letters place him in, he’s in a precarious position. Resting on his shoulders, Art must decide whether to send the letters postmortem to those they were intended for, or not. Reclusive and alone, Lucy Prior’s letters are decidedly published here within for all to soak in.

Lucy is relatable as she describes her deceased husband’s things as her “emotional support clutter” and the two years without him have been hard. Emotion radiates off the page as we get a sense of who Lucy was, through her letters, and her voice within. Only capturing her side of the story, we see the hard life Lucy has faced.

Readers immediately get a sense of sadness and regret from Lucy; the decisions and mistakes she’s made along the way. From laughing to vile language and passionate hate for some of the letter recipients it’s intriguing to imagine the roles each of these people has played in creating the Lucy her family knows and loves today.

Of course, the way these letters are written, readers are left with merely one side of the story, but what a story it portrays. Author Beka Wueste pens an explosive fictional debut as she captures grief and death in an uncanny way. The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior is an emotional rollercoaster as readers are left changed by the life of Mrs. Prior and the letters she’s left in her wake.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is relatable as she describes her deceased husband’s things as her “emotional support clutter” and the two years without him have been hard. Emotion radiates off the page as we get a sense of who Lucy was, through her letters, and her voice within. Only capturing her side of the story, we see the hard life Lucy has faced.

[Warren Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she died, Lucy Prior left behind a collection of unsent letters for her nieces and nephews. They were written to those in her life who affected her, for good and ill. These detailed, thoughtful letters range from love letters, heartfelt thank yous, and apologies and revelations. Those who hurt her, are named, including her abusive and cruel father and the teachers and others who did nothing to rescue her. The woman wrote these letters emerges a scarred and wounded woman who survives, and yes, triumphs.

Good is stronger and evil.

Recommended.