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Letters to Laura
Letters to Laura is the story of one woman’s journey from heartbreak to healing. Told through a series of letters, this unique epistolary offers insight into coming out of the closet, losing your virginity, and learning how to genuinely grieve in the face of loss. People don’t have to die to leave us and when two women—madly in love—break apart, the leaving is all too real. In this inspiringly raw work, grief shows its true nature: that of a healer. How much pain have you shoved down into the depths of your broken heart? Perhaps the light needed for your darkness lies between the lines of one brave woman’s willingness to be exposed.
ebook
Published March 17, 2016
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About the author
Wesley Rivers
2 books2 followersWesley Rivers is a no–nonsense individual with a strong disgust for fruitless endeavors. However if you point out how whimsical she can be, she will simply smile and reply: "but with a purpose." Wesley never avoids being brash when it’s needed, determined to see herself through her own heart rather than anyone else’s. She finds staring into one’s own darkness to be very therapeutic and so shies away from stories, movies, or entertainment that hinges too heavily on formulas, trope–ing, or "feel good" material.
Wesley is enthralled with Asian pop culture, expressing her adoration for anime, K–pop and historical Asian folklore on a daily basis. Much of her inspiration comes from the various art forms of these cultures. She adores foxes and often times plays with the idea that she is indeed the reincarnation of a Kitsune (Japanese nine-tailed fox Yokai).
Being part of the community herself, Wesley has strong ties to LGBT advocacy and social activism. She will also be the first to admit that she finds two men engaging in sexual acts to be too stunning for words, never hiding that she hopes to come back in the next life as a gay man "…in a better world of course."
She is a dedicated minimalist, quoted saying… "The hoarding of things is death to all the experience life can offer." Wesley Rivers adores the refinement of tea; she believes there to be more culture in a bag of tea leaves than in the entire world. Wesley sees no difference between children with fur and children without, having five fur–babies: two cats and three dogs. She believes all life matters and the idea that some matter more is primarily what’s wrong with the world.
Bio blurbs like this make Wesley cringe, mainly because she despises being tied down or forced to represent herself in a certain way. Loving change for the sake of change, her work spans several genres.
"Being pinned to one genre or style is the equivalent of staying in the right lane, going 20 miles an hour. It gets you there, but in the most boring way imaginable. Writing is my way of landing on the moon, flying with angels, fighting dragons, doing the impossible."
–Wesley Rivers
Wesley Rivers is charmingly cocky beyond reason, willful beyond words, and warm beyond understanding. She is a spitfire for the ages, but still classy as fuck. Wesley embodies the idea that we don’t have to define or identify ourselves with petty human concepts, but instead we can embrace each present moment—the NOW—and just BE.
"Let your DO be playful, and your You just BE."
–Wesley Rivers
Wesley is enthralled with Asian pop culture, expressing her adoration for anime, K–pop and historical Asian folklore on a daily basis. Much of her inspiration comes from the various art forms of these cultures. She adores foxes and often times plays with the idea that she is indeed the reincarnation of a Kitsune (Japanese nine-tailed fox Yokai).
Being part of the community herself, Wesley has strong ties to LGBT advocacy and social activism. She will also be the first to admit that she finds two men engaging in sexual acts to be too stunning for words, never hiding that she hopes to come back in the next life as a gay man "…in a better world of course."
She is a dedicated minimalist, quoted saying… "The hoarding of things is death to all the experience life can offer." Wesley Rivers adores the refinement of tea; she believes there to be more culture in a bag of tea leaves than in the entire world. Wesley sees no difference between children with fur and children without, having five fur–babies: two cats and three dogs. She believes all life matters and the idea that some matter more is primarily what’s wrong with the world.
Bio blurbs like this make Wesley cringe, mainly because she despises being tied down or forced to represent herself in a certain way. Loving change for the sake of change, her work spans several genres.
"Being pinned to one genre or style is the equivalent of staying in the right lane, going 20 miles an hour. It gets you there, but in the most boring way imaginable. Writing is my way of landing on the moon, flying with angels, fighting dragons, doing the impossible."
–Wesley Rivers
Wesley Rivers is charmingly cocky beyond reason, willful beyond words, and warm beyond understanding. She is a spitfire for the ages, but still classy as fuck. Wesley embodies the idea that we don’t have to define or identify ourselves with petty human concepts, but instead we can embrace each present moment—the NOW—and just BE.
"Let your DO be playful, and your You just BE."
–Wesley Rivers
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 30, 2016
Okay, you know how when you get your heart-broken you have so much anger, hate, sadness, all pent up that you don't know what to do with it? Then 10 days later, 2 weeks later, 8 months later you think of all the things you could've...should've said, and the regret that you didn't say them holds you down. Then you sit there, staring at that dot on the ceiling and you have no choice but to contemplate all the horrible things you did say.
Oh yeah, you know. We all do.
In all honesty, I loved this. The author takes us through a journey that we've all been on, (or at least one that I've been on) but she took me all the way to an end I never thought I'd reach. There were at least two phrases per letter that I highlighted just because I want to come back to it. I could re-read those phrases over and over and they’d still bring me some kind of satisfaction.
Sometimes it was the feeling that I am not alone in heartache "But today... I missed you. The kind of missing felt when someone has died and you know you'll never see them again, they're forever beyond your reach." My God, if that didn't hit me right in the gut. I remember one of the few times my heart was broken; I looked to my side while laughing at something, and they weren't there. Just like that quote, it was one of the ugliest feelings I'd ever had.
The descriptions of when the pain was still fresh and so real, I felt it too. The author has a way with words, where I can relive certain moments with her, the details so embedded in my mind I am left thinking about them long after I've read about them. Then there are the other times, the times that aren't as bad and you start to realize that all the effort it's taken and all the pain you've been feeling is just not worth it; it's too exhausting. So exhausting you start to understand and accept that it just didn't work out.
I commend this author for her strength and logic. There are certain places where the sadness and bitterness shine through the words. To me, it doesn't come off as nagging or whiny, but realistic. As a reader, I don't think I could believe it had she been only happy and understanding.
I feel like the parts where she is most accusing and upset are my favorite. They are thought-out and mature, never immature or spontaneous. I wish I could've been this mature in my past. "You desired someone to hide with you. If I was being outspoken or opinionated or openly passionate, I was a threat to your well-constructed little hiding shelter." BAM!!!! How many times did I think about this?!?
I'm telling you, it's like the author went into my heart and took out everything I wanted to say to that one person but either never knew how or never had the right words. It just got to me on so many levels. I will share some of my favorite lines just to give you an idea of how and why I loved this:
• "I will no longer defend myself to anyone. I won't hide. I won't scream. I won't be ashamed... I just need to accept me." You go! Hear you roar!
• "Unconditional love is not a challenge, it is not something you can earn." Can everyone share this with everyone? Please? Thanks.
• "We are both open people with brave souls" Hell yes we are.
• And "You're hiding even now. Behind the lies you tell about me ...behind a well-established hate campaign...." Why is this so familiar? and YASSSSS! Mmm, it hurts so good.
I really like how this worked backwards. I don't know if that's what the author intended but I like that we got to know the author before we got to know how it all went down. For a second there I thought the ex messaged her back and said "oh hell no." Part of me is screaming "NO. NO! You were right! You shouldn't have known better, you're human! Forget her!" sigh. So many damn emotions right now.
Without giving too much away, I have to say that the fact that it was only a relationship of four months makes me so sad. Okay, the fact that I said 'only' defeats my point! Because it’s not that it was such a short time. In fact, it proves that in even that short amount of time there was clearly so much pain and that so much of this person was fully invested in a relationship where she deserved better. It really makes me think of all of us and how we deserved better at one point.
Now that I'm done, I don't even know what to say. I feel so much and I even feel a little bitter myself. Ha! Although this is not a self-help book, I kind of see it like that. In my opinion, that's not a bad thing, I LOVE THOSE. The reason I say this is because it did help me get over something I thought I had already gotten over. Crazy. Maybe this just forced me to go back to a place I didn't want to go back to...for obvious reasons. But I feel good about it now, and I am so happy with the way this ended, my favorite being "I saw you and I didn't die." Right?!
Well, I highly recommend this to everyone who has been hurt, who thinks they are better, and everyone who enjoys ALL THE FEELS. I'll leave you with my favorite quote from this book:
"Sincerely, A woman who is grateful that you broke her heart."
Oh yeah, you know. We all do.
In all honesty, I loved this. The author takes us through a journey that we've all been on, (or at least one that I've been on) but she took me all the way to an end I never thought I'd reach. There were at least two phrases per letter that I highlighted just because I want to come back to it. I could re-read those phrases over and over and they’d still bring me some kind of satisfaction.
Sometimes it was the feeling that I am not alone in heartache "But today... I missed you. The kind of missing felt when someone has died and you know you'll never see them again, they're forever beyond your reach." My God, if that didn't hit me right in the gut. I remember one of the few times my heart was broken; I looked to my side while laughing at something, and they weren't there. Just like that quote, it was one of the ugliest feelings I'd ever had.
The descriptions of when the pain was still fresh and so real, I felt it too. The author has a way with words, where I can relive certain moments with her, the details so embedded in my mind I am left thinking about them long after I've read about them. Then there are the other times, the times that aren't as bad and you start to realize that all the effort it's taken and all the pain you've been feeling is just not worth it; it's too exhausting. So exhausting you start to understand and accept that it just didn't work out.
I commend this author for her strength and logic. There are certain places where the sadness and bitterness shine through the words. To me, it doesn't come off as nagging or whiny, but realistic. As a reader, I don't think I could believe it had she been only happy and understanding.
I feel like the parts where she is most accusing and upset are my favorite. They are thought-out and mature, never immature or spontaneous. I wish I could've been this mature in my past. "You desired someone to hide with you. If I was being outspoken or opinionated or openly passionate, I was a threat to your well-constructed little hiding shelter." BAM!!!! How many times did I think about this?!?
I'm telling you, it's like the author went into my heart and took out everything I wanted to say to that one person but either never knew how or never had the right words. It just got to me on so many levels. I will share some of my favorite lines just to give you an idea of how and why I loved this:
• "I will no longer defend myself to anyone. I won't hide. I won't scream. I won't be ashamed... I just need to accept me." You go! Hear you roar!
• "Unconditional love is not a challenge, it is not something you can earn." Can everyone share this with everyone? Please? Thanks.
• "We are both open people with brave souls" Hell yes we are.
• And "You're hiding even now. Behind the lies you tell about me ...behind a well-established hate campaign...." Why is this so familiar? and YASSSSS! Mmm, it hurts so good.
I really like how this worked backwards. I don't know if that's what the author intended but I like that we got to know the author before we got to know how it all went down. For a second there I thought the ex messaged her back and said "oh hell no." Part of me is screaming "NO. NO! You were right! You shouldn't have known better, you're human! Forget her!" sigh. So many damn emotions right now.
Without giving too much away, I have to say that the fact that it was only a relationship of four months makes me so sad. Okay, the fact that I said 'only' defeats my point! Because it’s not that it was such a short time. In fact, it proves that in even that short amount of time there was clearly so much pain and that so much of this person was fully invested in a relationship where she deserved better. It really makes me think of all of us and how we deserved better at one point.
Now that I'm done, I don't even know what to say. I feel so much and I even feel a little bitter myself. Ha! Although this is not a self-help book, I kind of see it like that. In my opinion, that's not a bad thing, I LOVE THOSE. The reason I say this is because it did help me get over something I thought I had already gotten over. Crazy. Maybe this just forced me to go back to a place I didn't want to go back to...for obvious reasons. But I feel good about it now, and I am so happy with the way this ended, my favorite being "I saw you and I didn't die." Right?!
Well, I highly recommend this to everyone who has been hurt, who thinks they are better, and everyone who enjoys ALL THE FEELS. I'll leave you with my favorite quote from this book:
"Sincerely, A woman who is grateful that you broke her heart."
August 27, 2017
We all have been there, at some point in our lives our hearts have been broken. and it´s really hard to know how to move on... the hurt, the sense of losing control and the tears that keep coming only make it more difficult to see the light at the end. However, just like the Fenix we all have to reborn and move on.
Wesley, being an artist herself, found her way her back to love herself through writing. In this book, she writes letters to her ex. And it is so easy to relate to most of the letters. I don´t care if you are a man or a woman if you're gay, straight or an alien. If you ever loved someone and got your heart broken you will understand what she is talking about.
I adored the photographs with quotes before each letter, they are beautiful.
If you are in love, were in love or just love the idea of something as powerful as loving someone, read this.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
Wesley, being an artist herself, found her way her back to love herself through writing. In this book, she writes letters to her ex. And it is so easy to relate to most of the letters. I don´t care if you are a man or a woman if you're gay, straight or an alien. If you ever loved someone and got your heart broken you will understand what she is talking about.
I adored the photographs with quotes before each letter, they are beautiful.
If you are in love, were in love or just love the idea of something as powerful as loving someone, read this.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
June 8, 2023
Letters to Laura is a set of letters, told from the heart with atypical honesty and bluntness, as recommended by a counsellor. They detail the feelings of a woman on the receiving end of a breakup and everything that entails. They are raw, angry, loving, and kind, basically all of the emotions that you will feel if you allow yourself.
There are so many points to this book that I could agree with, indeed some of the comments made, I've actually made myself. Some of them, I still feel to this day. There is no right or wrong way to work through a breakup, but the worst thing you can do is ignore it. The author of these letters puts it so much more distinctly than I ever could. There is a part where she talks about 'shrapnel' which is totally mind-blowing. I adored that part!
'This book' is not of the norm that is out there.
'This book' is different, in such a good way.
'This book' should make you think.
'This book' should make you look in your own mirror and see yourself honestly.
'This book' is one that you should keep and re-read! Highly recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 22, 2016
There are so many points to this book that I could agree with, indeed some of the comments made, I've actually made myself. Some of them, I still feel to this day. There is no right or wrong way to work through a breakup, but the worst thing you can do is ignore it. The author of these letters puts it so much more distinctly than I ever could. There is a part where she talks about 'shrapnel' which is totally mind-blowing. I adored that part!
'This book' is not of the norm that is out there.
'This book' is different, in such a good way.
'This book' should make you think.
'This book' should make you look in your own mirror and see yourself honestly.
'This book' is one that you should keep and re-read! Highly recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 22, 2016
May 4, 2016
3.5 stars
A creatively clever method of storytelling, told from the perspective of a wronged lover, pouring her heart out to the person responsible for her heartache. A cleansing mechanism of sorts slowing her the opportunity to vent the frustration she feels at how she has been treated.
I liked the fact that the story allowed the evolution of heartache to play out, to ride the wave of emotion that being dumped as such heaps upon you. The transition from hurt to hate to healing, all being given freedom to express themselves.
I felt that the story oozed grace, it gave the writer and the reader an opportunity to take a good hard look at what love and loss really bring to the table and to deal with the emotional aftermath.
This was a journey to find purpose, not only to move on but to change the way that the author of the letters looked at herself, to examine the person she not only was but needed to be.
Time to reflex is the one that as adults we are often denied but it is something that we care rarely do without. We all need the chance to look inside and to decide what we can and cannot accept and what we can and cannot change and what we do with that is what defines us.
This book was about changing your definition, how not only you but other see you.
A creatively clever method of storytelling, told from the perspective of a wronged lover, pouring her heart out to the person responsible for her heartache. A cleansing mechanism of sorts slowing her the opportunity to vent the frustration she feels at how she has been treated.
I liked the fact that the story allowed the evolution of heartache to play out, to ride the wave of emotion that being dumped as such heaps upon you. The transition from hurt to hate to healing, all being given freedom to express themselves.
I felt that the story oozed grace, it gave the writer and the reader an opportunity to take a good hard look at what love and loss really bring to the table and to deal with the emotional aftermath.
This was a journey to find purpose, not only to move on but to change the way that the author of the letters looked at herself, to examine the person she not only was but needed to be.
Time to reflex is the one that as adults we are often denied but it is something that we care rarely do without. We all need the chance to look inside and to decide what we can and cannot accept and what we can and cannot change and what we do with that is what defines us.
This book was about changing your definition, how not only you but other see you.
May 4, 2016
A unique, raw picture of the emotions we feel after a break-up. Worth the read.
December 28, 2016
Do not be discouraged by the length in which it has taken me to read it. I am catching up on my reads as I am not just an Author myself I am an Editor, so I don't have much time to do a lot of independent reading.
This is a wonderful story told by what seems at first a struggling woman coming to terms with her sexuality. Begins with the thought that maybe she is bisexual and falls in love with her roommate Laura and continues the story beautifully with this enchanting love story of letters and memories of their time together. Even the downfalls which were also enlightening since life isn't always ups and relationships do fall. This was a beautiful and well worthy read of 2016. Thank you for the read W.R x
This is a wonderful story told by what seems at first a struggling woman coming to terms with her sexuality. Begins with the thought that maybe she is bisexual and falls in love with her roommate Laura and continues the story beautifully with this enchanting love story of letters and memories of their time together. Even the downfalls which were also enlightening since life isn't always ups and relationships do fall. This was a beautiful and well worthy read of 2016. Thank you for the read W.R x
June 14, 2016
A story of how one person became honest with herself, found love, suffered heartbreak and learned to not only love others again but most importantly love herself again. This book is written through a series of letters to Laura, the woman who broke the writer's heart. As the letters progress the writer becomes more self aware and learns to love herself again.
April 7, 2016
I have to admit I was skeptical at first about reading book based solely on letters. But once I finished I realised it had been like an emotional journey. Lesley Rivers has written her story beautifully. A beautiful read I would recommend to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews