What do you think?
Letters from America: Volume 1: 2025
153 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2026
About the author
Charlotte Richards
1 book2 followersCharlotte Richards is a writer, activist, and founder of Help Me Leave, an international not for profit organisation that helps at risk people find safe and legal pathways to lives in other countries
Through her work as an author and creator, her mission is to provide an accessible entry point for global citizens to take action and change the course of history.
She lives in France with her husband, three children, three cats and too many chickens to count.
Through her work as an author and creator, her mission is to provide an accessible entry point for global citizens to take action and change the course of history.
She lives in France with her husband, three children, three cats and too many chickens to count.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 19, 2026
It takes a special kind of person to offer to be a penpal to anyone in the US willing to share the details of how they are suffering under Trump's second term. If the cost of an international stamp was measured in the weight of heartache instead of ounces, I doubt the author would have received a single letter. At least, for now anyway, postage remains affordable, and thanks to Charlotte's efforts we are able to read first-hand accounts of what life is really like for the most vulnerable in the United States.
It would probably surprise a lot of people to learn just how bad things already are for many American citizens, which is why I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Charlotte deftly provides context from both history and current events as she records, in perpetuity, the testimony of those living through the rise of fascism in the United States.
While a lot of the material is understandably heavy, Charlotte's writing style makes it easy to consume, and she finishes with a wonderful chapter outlining all the ways people are helping their communities and fighting back. I think she perfectly captures the essence of what resistance in the US currently looks like:
"It is not a single movement; it has no single leader. It is people learning by doing – and they keep doing it, through their fear, while they also work keep the lights on at home and find moments of joy in the only life they’ll ever have."
It would probably surprise a lot of people to learn just how bad things already are for many American citizens, which is why I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Charlotte deftly provides context from both history and current events as she records, in perpetuity, the testimony of those living through the rise of fascism in the United States.
While a lot of the material is understandably heavy, Charlotte's writing style makes it easy to consume, and she finishes with a wonderful chapter outlining all the ways people are helping their communities and fighting back. I think she perfectly captures the essence of what resistance in the US currently looks like:
"It is not a single movement; it has no single leader. It is people learning by doing – and they keep doing it, through their fear, while they also work keep the lights on at home and find moments of joy in the only life they’ll ever have."
September 7, 2026
I want to be transparent in saying that I was given an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinion about this book.
Letters From America provides an inside look at the lives of people from many different walks of life and marginalized groups from the announcement of the win of the current regime to late 2025 as we live under its ever increasing nonsensical, and terrifying policies.
What I think Letters From America does best is explain the paradox many of us. Americans are living in right now. Many of us grow continually terrified as policies change to take away more rights and leave more people and groups most needing support behind. While many see what is happening and are reasonably taking steps to move to another country for them or their families safety. Others have been ignited with righteous fury that pushes them to fight for the nation we were all promised, and many may have thought we already lived in. Some are even beginning to re-imagine how we can build a better America than the one that was first envisioned by our founding fathers.
From stories of our Trans siblings seeking appropriate care as legislation cracks down, to families and community members trying to protect their communities from ICE. To the average mom, college student, and any other ordinary citizen wondering "what can I do?" Letters From America takes terror, grief and awareness in one hand, grit, resistance, AND HOPE in the other. Seamlessly holding space for all to coexist.
Were I to write anymore, this would be a novel about a novel so I will just encourage you to buy the book
Letters From America provides an inside look at the lives of people from many different walks of life and marginalized groups from the announcement of the win of the current regime to late 2025 as we live under its ever increasing nonsensical, and terrifying policies.
What I think Letters From America does best is explain the paradox many of us. Americans are living in right now. Many of us grow continually terrified as policies change to take away more rights and leave more people and groups most needing support behind. While many see what is happening and are reasonably taking steps to move to another country for them or their families safety. Others have been ignited with righteous fury that pushes them to fight for the nation we were all promised, and many may have thought we already lived in. Some are even beginning to re-imagine how we can build a better America than the one that was first envisioned by our founding fathers.
From stories of our Trans siblings seeking appropriate care as legislation cracks down, to families and community members trying to protect their communities from ICE. To the average mom, college student, and any other ordinary citizen wondering "what can I do?" Letters From America takes terror, grief and awareness in one hand, grit, resistance, AND HOPE in the other. Seamlessly holding space for all to coexist.
Were I to write anymore, this would be a novel about a novel so I will just encourage you to buy the book
August 17, 2026
Please note I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book really stayed with me. It’s a heartfelt mix of despair, hope, and that feeling of needing to keep digging in even when things feel overwhelming.
As someone currently living in the United States, I found the hope and optimism in many of the letters especially meaningful. It is a reminder that we are not alone even though to goal is isolation and separation. Some of the letters are heartbreaking, but there’s always this underlying thread of hope running through them. I came away reminded that community doesn’t just happen—we have to build it, support each other, and keep pushing forward and find happiness in the little things. Joy is an act of resistance.
This book really stayed with me. It’s a heartfelt mix of despair, hope, and that feeling of needing to keep digging in even when things feel overwhelming.
As someone currently living in the United States, I found the hope and optimism in many of the letters especially meaningful. It is a reminder that we are not alone even though to goal is isolation and separation. Some of the letters are heartbreaking, but there’s always this underlying thread of hope running through them. I came away reminded that community doesn’t just happen—we have to build it, support each other, and keep pushing forward and find happiness in the little things. Joy is an act of resistance.
August 18, 2026
Review of advance copy received from author
As an astute and truly empathetic global citizen, Charlotte Richards saw the writing on the wall when a new US administration took hold in January 2025. Within a few months, she offered on social media to be a pen pal to folks living in America. It might have seemed like a call into the void, but the messages started coming, ultimately to the tune of 200 letters from 41 states over the course of a year. Curated in this book, the result is a heartfelt gut punch.
Being a British citizen living in France, Richards was understandably concerned that the authoritarian turn in the US would also threaten Europe. But this book is more than a cautionary tale. It’s a clarion call for those here in America who still believe that “it really isn’t so bad.” The absurdity of that kind of denial was painfully obvious as I read the private thoughts of my most vulnerable neighbors: the disabled, immigrants, people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. Letters also describe the effects of families, societal norms and institutions being torn apart. But most of all, the letters revealed to me the humanity and courage of the writers.
The impact of the letters is heightened by Richards including succinct historical and current context. The fact that she gathered these letters, wrote her content and published in such a short time is the book’s superpower. We have the privilege of reading it in real time without the buffer of history to distort the narrative. I’ve never read another book like it.
If you can face the hard truths, want to learn more and are determined to help folks, read this important book. It’s stunning.
As an astute and truly empathetic global citizen, Charlotte Richards saw the writing on the wall when a new US administration took hold in January 2025. Within a few months, she offered on social media to be a pen pal to folks living in America. It might have seemed like a call into the void, but the messages started coming, ultimately to the tune of 200 letters from 41 states over the course of a year. Curated in this book, the result is a heartfelt gut punch.
Being a British citizen living in France, Richards was understandably concerned that the authoritarian turn in the US would also threaten Europe. But this book is more than a cautionary tale. It’s a clarion call for those here in America who still believe that “it really isn’t so bad.” The absurdity of that kind of denial was painfully obvious as I read the private thoughts of my most vulnerable neighbors: the disabled, immigrants, people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. Letters also describe the effects of families, societal norms and institutions being torn apart. But most of all, the letters revealed to me the humanity and courage of the writers.
The impact of the letters is heightened by Richards including succinct historical and current context. The fact that she gathered these letters, wrote her content and published in such a short time is the book’s superpower. We have the privilege of reading it in real time without the buffer of history to distort the narrative. I’ve never read another book like it.
If you can face the hard truths, want to learn more and are determined to help folks, read this important book. It’s stunning.
Review of advance copy received from Author
One of the most important things we can do when the world is in chaos is write the stories of what is happening. As we've so clearly seen, history is a fragile thing, vulnerable to the whims of those who want to control what we know about our past. In Letters From America, Charlotte Richards collects important stories from ordinary people: people trying to navigate a country that is losing its democracy, a country falling prey to the basest fears and prejudices of those with disproportionate wealth and power.
In these letters, we hear about the struggles, fears, loss, and hopes of people from across America — people simply trying to live their lives who have been forced into circumstances that were unimaginable a decade ago.
Richards weaves her observations as a person outside the U.S. into the chapters of the book. Informed by a deep knowledge of history, she guides us to look at these letters, and the experiences they convey, through a wider lens. Though the stories are individual in their specifics, they speak to broad themes of what life is like, especially for marginalized Americans, and, I believe, for many Americans — no matter their level of privilege — who may struggle to find the words to express what they are feeling.
The letters in this book both broke my heart and reinforced my belief in humanity at its finest. Read this book. Take to heart the letters of desperation, despair, hope, and the refusal to submit to tyranny. Let them deepen your understanding and compassion. Let them inspire you to do what you can to make the world a bit better — even just your tiny corner of it.
In these letters, we hear about the struggles, fears, loss, and hopes of people from across America — people simply trying to live their lives who have been forced into circumstances that were unimaginable a decade ago.
Richards weaves her observations as a person outside the U.S. into the chapters of the book. Informed by a deep knowledge of history, she guides us to look at these letters, and the experiences they convey, through a wider lens. Though the stories are individual in their specifics, they speak to broad themes of what life is like, especially for marginalized Americans, and, I believe, for many Americans — no matter their level of privilege — who may struggle to find the words to express what they are feeling.
The letters in this book both broke my heart and reinforced my belief in humanity at its finest. Read this book. Take to heart the letters of desperation, despair, hope, and the refusal to submit to tyranny. Let them deepen your understanding and compassion. Let them inspire you to do what you can to make the world a bit better — even just your tiny corner of it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am still reading it but I absolutely love how the letters are tied into recent history and more distant history. The author makes it clear how the current events and the events of the administration are affecting real people in very real ways. It also acts in such a way as to ground the reader and letter writers. They aren’t overreacting. Their experiences are a direct result of what is happening.
I’m a bit of a slow reader and life has been hectic. But I cannot wait to finish it!
I’m a bit of a slow reader and life has been hectic. But I cannot wait to finish it!
Did Not Finish
August 2, 2026DNF @ 4%
I fear this is too heavy for me to read right now. I may come back to it in the future, when the world isn't so bleak.
If you can handle heavy topics, do pick this up though!! The writing is good.
I fear this is too heavy for me to read right now. I may come back to it in the future, when the world isn't so bleak.
If you can handle heavy topics, do pick this up though!! The writing is good.
September 17, 2026
Uneasy about this book. Are the letter-writers in precarious situations who form the content of this book receiving any share of the royalties? It's also self-published, so there's no independent oversight to verify authenticity or accountability.
Review of advance copy
I received an advance copy of Letters from America in exchange for an honest review.
This book tenderly shares the experiences of Americans living through a shockingly difficult time in our history. Their heartfelt letters reveal the fear, anger, hope, and strong resolve of people who didn't think life in 2025 could so quickly and relentlessly become cruel and chaotic. Some were already dealing with personal challenges. Their letters paint a sad picture of a country that has never lived up to its promises. But across the letters there is hope and resilience – lightbulbs are coming on, communities are forming, and resistance is building. Americans have begun to understand that we're all in this together and need each other.
Letters from America is both a wake-up call and a love letter to us. It's well-written and carefully researched & footnoted - sometimes heartbreaking, often hopeful. Organized by key themes tied to our nation's unraveling, each letter is supported by historical context and insightful commentary that quantifies the price we pay individually and as a society. If you or someone you know wants to better understand why we must face this head on, get started on the enlightening journey of Letters from America.
This book tenderly shares the experiences of Americans living through a shockingly difficult time in our history. Their heartfelt letters reveal the fear, anger, hope, and strong resolve of people who didn't think life in 2025 could so quickly and relentlessly become cruel and chaotic. Some were already dealing with personal challenges. Their letters paint a sad picture of a country that has never lived up to its promises. But across the letters there is hope and resilience – lightbulbs are coming on, communities are forming, and resistance is building. Americans have begun to understand that we're all in this together and need each other.
Letters from America is both a wake-up call and a love letter to us. It's well-written and carefully researched & footnoted - sometimes heartbreaking, often hopeful. Organized by key themes tied to our nation's unraveling, each letter is supported by historical context and insightful commentary that quantifies the price we pay individually and as a society. If you or someone you know wants to better understand why we must face this head on, get started on the enlightening journey of Letters from America.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews