What do you think?
Rate this book
Friendship & Secrets #1
Letters for Scarlet
Pain can take a lifetime to heal, but hope lasts even longer…
Corie Harper is twenty-eight years old when she is first visited by a ghost—in the form of a graduation letter she forgot she wrote. Although she spent a decade burying that desperate girl and her regrets, each page resurrects the past, dragging Corie back to a time when all she craved was Scarlet Hinden’s friendship and Tuck Slater’s heart. But she couldn’t keep them both and keep her word.
Scarlet is haunted in her own way, by memories of Corie and of a night that left her wishing she were dead. But Scarlet is not only alive, she’s carrying new life: a baby she never wanted and is terrified to have. Convinced she would be a disastrous mother, she questions whether or not she deserves the love of any man. Especially the father of her child.
"Letters for Scarlet" traces one friendship from deep roots to branches torn by broken promises and loss.
Corie Harper is twenty-eight years old when she is first visited by a ghost—in the form of a graduation letter she forgot she wrote. Although she spent a decade burying that desperate girl and her regrets, each page resurrects the past, dragging Corie back to a time when all she craved was Scarlet Hinden’s friendship and Tuck Slater’s heart. But she couldn’t keep them both and keep her word.
Scarlet is haunted in her own way, by memories of Corie and of a night that left her wishing she were dead. But Scarlet is not only alive, she’s carrying new life: a baby she never wanted and is terrified to have. Convinced she would be a disastrous mother, she questions whether or not she deserves the love of any man. Especially the father of her child.
"Letters for Scarlet" traces one friendship from deep roots to branches torn by broken promises and loss.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2016
About the author
Julie C. Gardner
9 books86 followersJulie C. Gardner is a former English teacher and lapsed marathon runner who traded in the classroom for a writing nook. Now she rarely changes out of her pajamas. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children and three dogs.
To find out more about Julie and her upcoming books, visit JulieCGardner.com or follow her on Twitter (@juliecgardner), Instagram (@juliecgardner), and her Facebook Author Page (Julie C. Gardner).
To find out more about Julie and her upcoming books, visit JulieCGardner.com or follow her on Twitter (@juliecgardner), Instagram (@juliecgardner), and her Facebook Author Page (Julie C. Gardner).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 16, 2018
3.5 stars
This turned out to be a really quick read for me. I settled down with it in the evening and finished before it was time to go to bed. Unlike my last book, this actually featured characters I was interested in which is probably why it was an enjoyable reading experience. This is the second novel in the series but can easily be read as a standalone.
Corie and Scarlet were best friends. Until they weren't. Ten years later Corie is married to the guy that came between them, Tucker. She receives a letter she wrote to herself years ago as part of a class assignment. Corie can't help but think of everything that happened between her and Scarlet and whether or not they could even be friends again.
Scarlet is working as an attorney when she finds out she is pregnant. Knowing that her own childhood was a mess, she is a bit scared at whether she is even capable of raising a kid.
I've heard about these writing assignments by teachers in which you write a letter to yourself in the future and I thought it made an interesting premise for this book. And while the idea of two best friends ending their relationship over a guy isn't exactly new, you still felt invested enough to want to find out if they would ever be able to get past it. Plus, the mystery of the other thing that drove them apart kept you reading.
One thing I did not like about the book was the ending for one of the characters. It's a trope I find annoying in books and movies because it always feels like such a cop out as it is the easiest way to end things rather than a realistic ending. Overall though, this was a pretty decent read and I recommend reading if you like books about friendships.
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
This turned out to be a really quick read for me. I settled down with it in the evening and finished before it was time to go to bed. Unlike my last book, this actually featured characters I was interested in which is probably why it was an enjoyable reading experience. This is the second novel in the series but can easily be read as a standalone.
Corie and Scarlet were best friends. Until they weren't. Ten years later Corie is married to the guy that came between them, Tucker. She receives a letter she wrote to herself years ago as part of a class assignment. Corie can't help but think of everything that happened between her and Scarlet and whether or not they could even be friends again.
Scarlet is working as an attorney when she finds out she is pregnant. Knowing that her own childhood was a mess, she is a bit scared at whether she is even capable of raising a kid.
I've heard about these writing assignments by teachers in which you write a letter to yourself in the future and I thought it made an interesting premise for this book. And while the idea of two best friends ending their relationship over a guy isn't exactly new, you still felt invested enough to want to find out if they would ever be able to get past it. Plus, the mystery of the other thing that drove them apart kept you reading.
One thing I did not like about the book was the ending for one of the characters. It's a trope I find annoying in books and movies because it always feels like such a cop out as it is the easiest way to end things rather than a realistic ending. Overall though, this was a pretty decent read and I recommend reading if you like books about friendships.
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
April 3, 2016
Epistolary novels–novels in which the narrative is entrusted to letters between characters–have long fascinated me. Ever since I read Clarissa by Samuel Richardson (or parts of it–it is very long), I have thought of this 18th-century masterpiece as the quintessential example of the form. Despite its length, it is exquisitely suspenseful because the author has such ingenious control over disclosure of the facts and the secrets, little by little. This feature should make the form attractive to authors of any era, but how does one go about writing an epistolary novel today? How does one craft a story through letters that feels both contemporary and natural?
In her new novel, Letters for Scarlet, Julie C. Gardner has figured out how do this beautifully by adopting a hybrid technique. The story unfolds through narrative and dialogue that we expect to find in a novel, but the main revelations that bind the story together and illuminate its characters’ motives occur in the abundant letters inserted throughout. Gardner handles both ways of telling her story with sureness of purpose and a very genuine voice. Or, should I say, “voices,” because the letters require her to speak in many voices. But nearly all the letters are intended for the same recipient, Scarlet Hinden, one of the novel’s two pivotal characters. Most of the letters are from her friend Corie Harper.
Both Corie and Scarlet are 28. Corie is an English teacher and aspiring writer, married to Tuck Slater. They would like to have children but so far have been frustrated by trying, something that deeply wounds Corie who already has some nagging doubts about her marriage. Scarlet is a busy attorney and in a relationship with Gavin; she is expecting a baby but struggling with paralyzing fears about being a mother; she is skeptical of ever finding happiness and holding on to it. What is the connection between these two couples, and how is it influencing their pain in the present moment?
Corie and Scarlet were inseparable friends in high school, and along with Tuck, they were a solid trio until something happened that destroyed the women’s friendship and upended all their lives. We know that the trio turned into a triangle when Corie and Tuck became a couple, but clearly much more must have transpired to cause the kind of unbridgeable rift they are suffering. It doesn’t seem like anything will change their situation, until Corie receives a letter from the past: the letter she wrote 10 years ago to her future self. It was an assignment in her senior English class (and a very clever mechanism to introduce the first letters into the story). Since she wrote it before her friendship with Scarlet fell apart, Corie feels the loss even more acutely, the aching absence of something that was once unquestionable. Corie begins to write a series of letters to Scarlet, ones she thinks she’ll never dare send, but which allow her to open her heart to the friend she still needs so desperately. Here are a few bits of her first letter:
Did you get your ten-year letter from Mr. Roosevelt? Until Tuck handed me that envelope, I had completely forgotten about the assignment. But since I read those words from the past, I’ve been prompted by a desire (more like a need) to say a few things to you. Some old. Some new. All of them true. For what it’s worth. …
I’m sorry we didn’t tell you about us sooner. I suppose the secrets we keep can be as dangerous as the ones we share. Maybe more so.
Sometimes I wonder how different our lives would be if the three of us had loved each other less….
In a surprising move, Scarlet’s mother visits Corie and entrusts her with Scarlet’s 10-year letter. Corie wants to deliver this powderkeg letter but she hesitates, since Scarlet has refused all contact since high school.
I read the last two thirds of this novel in one long sitting–it was that compelling and I didn’t want to stop until I discovered what tragedy drove these friends apart and how–or whether–they could move on from it. This fine debut novel convincingly explores the ties of love and friendship at the breaking point.
In her new novel, Letters for Scarlet, Julie C. Gardner has figured out how do this beautifully by adopting a hybrid technique. The story unfolds through narrative and dialogue that we expect to find in a novel, but the main revelations that bind the story together and illuminate its characters’ motives occur in the abundant letters inserted throughout. Gardner handles both ways of telling her story with sureness of purpose and a very genuine voice. Or, should I say, “voices,” because the letters require her to speak in many voices. But nearly all the letters are intended for the same recipient, Scarlet Hinden, one of the novel’s two pivotal characters. Most of the letters are from her friend Corie Harper.
Both Corie and Scarlet are 28. Corie is an English teacher and aspiring writer, married to Tuck Slater. They would like to have children but so far have been frustrated by trying, something that deeply wounds Corie who already has some nagging doubts about her marriage. Scarlet is a busy attorney and in a relationship with Gavin; she is expecting a baby but struggling with paralyzing fears about being a mother; she is skeptical of ever finding happiness and holding on to it. What is the connection between these two couples, and how is it influencing their pain in the present moment?
Corie and Scarlet were inseparable friends in high school, and along with Tuck, they were a solid trio until something happened that destroyed the women’s friendship and upended all their lives. We know that the trio turned into a triangle when Corie and Tuck became a couple, but clearly much more must have transpired to cause the kind of unbridgeable rift they are suffering. It doesn’t seem like anything will change their situation, until Corie receives a letter from the past: the letter she wrote 10 years ago to her future self. It was an assignment in her senior English class (and a very clever mechanism to introduce the first letters into the story). Since she wrote it before her friendship with Scarlet fell apart, Corie feels the loss even more acutely, the aching absence of something that was once unquestionable. Corie begins to write a series of letters to Scarlet, ones she thinks she’ll never dare send, but which allow her to open her heart to the friend she still needs so desperately. Here are a few bits of her first letter:
Did you get your ten-year letter from Mr. Roosevelt? Until Tuck handed me that envelope, I had completely forgotten about the assignment. But since I read those words from the past, I’ve been prompted by a desire (more like a need) to say a few things to you. Some old. Some new. All of them true. For what it’s worth. …
I’m sorry we didn’t tell you about us sooner. I suppose the secrets we keep can be as dangerous as the ones we share. Maybe more so.
Sometimes I wonder how different our lives would be if the three of us had loved each other less….
In a surprising move, Scarlet’s mother visits Corie and entrusts her with Scarlet’s 10-year letter. Corie wants to deliver this powderkeg letter but she hesitates, since Scarlet has refused all contact since high school.
I read the last two thirds of this novel in one long sitting–it was that compelling and I didn’t want to stop until I discovered what tragedy drove these friends apart and how–or whether–they could move on from it. This fine debut novel convincingly explores the ties of love and friendship at the breaking point.
January 25, 2016
This is one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished reading it. It's real and honest and I loved it. Family, friendship, and love are the focal points of this story and the characters were written with such depth that I was right there with them. I could feel the tension, the love, the decisions, and as much as I wanted to rush to read the ending, I couldn't because I wanted and needed time to digest every wonderful nugget. This book gave me all the feels and I can't recommend this debut highly enough!
March 10, 2016
I have to let this book settle in a bit. These are wonderful characters who you end up furious with but still loving. Sort of like most people in your life.
It's a great read.
It's a great read.
March 28, 2016
*Thank you to the author for providing a free e-copy of this book for a review!*
Actual Rating: 4.5
Wow, okay. I have to let this book settle for a little bit. The entire novel was an emotional roller coaster. I guess I should break it down.
First of all, Letters for Scarlet is written in two perspectives, which y'all know I usually don't enjoy very much. I kind of wonder what this book would be like if it was written from a single perspective, but I definitely know, that even though it took me a while to get into it and remember whose eyes I was reading from, without both the POVs the story would not have been such a wild ride.
I gotta say, Gardner pulled it off really well. All the characters were visibly flawed in the way where it was so easy to relate to, even if you'd never been in a situation similar to their's.
Because let's face it. Everyone's felt guilty, worthless, and alone.
And both the main characters, Corie and Scarlet, embody these emotions and present them in a way that truly breaks your heart every step of the way.
The character development is absolutely amazing - it happened steadily and so subtly (kind of like in real life) that you wouldn't have noticed until the end, how much the characters have matured and grown. But it's there, clear as day, and when I finished the book, I truly believed that happy endings were possible.
I love books that break my heart.
And oh, god. The relationships are so perfect. Not perfect in the "we-are-so-in-love-so-let's-be-sappy-and-cheesy" kind of way, but perfect in the way where there are so many holes and flaws in the relationship, and yet, at the end of the day, the two people remember how much they love each other and everything that's broken is pieced together again.
And the writing style is so amazing - there are so many quotes that I've loved and highlighted and I just love going back and rereading them, but I don't want to ruin anything, so I guess you'll just have to read the book. ;)
Honestly, I'm at a loss for words even now and my chest really hurts with all the feelings I've had while reading this novel.
I think I'm going to go cry.
Actual Rating: 4.5
Wow, okay. I have to let this book settle for a little bit. The entire novel was an emotional roller coaster. I guess I should break it down.
First of all, Letters for Scarlet is written in two perspectives, which y'all know I usually don't enjoy very much. I kind of wonder what this book would be like if it was written from a single perspective, but I definitely know, that even though it took me a while to get into it and remember whose eyes I was reading from, without both the POVs the story would not have been such a wild ride.
I gotta say, Gardner pulled it off really well. All the characters were visibly flawed in the way where it was so easy to relate to, even if you'd never been in a situation similar to their's.
Because let's face it. Everyone's felt guilty, worthless, and alone.
And both the main characters, Corie and Scarlet, embody these emotions and present them in a way that truly breaks your heart every step of the way.
The character development is absolutely amazing - it happened steadily and so subtly (kind of like in real life) that you wouldn't have noticed until the end, how much the characters have matured and grown. But it's there, clear as day, and when I finished the book, I truly believed that happy endings were possible.
I love books that break my heart.
And oh, god. The relationships are so perfect. Not perfect in the "we-are-so-in-love-so-let's-be-sappy-and-cheesy" kind of way, but perfect in the way where there are so many holes and flaws in the relationship, and yet, at the end of the day, the two people remember how much they love each other and everything that's broken is pieced together again.
And the writing style is so amazing - there are so many quotes that I've loved and highlighted and I just love going back and rereading them, but I don't want to ruin anything, so I guess you'll just have to read the book. ;)
Honestly, I'm at a loss for words even now and my chest really hurts with all the feelings I've had while reading this novel.
I think I'm going to go cry.
February 5, 2016
I loved reading this book. It's difficult for me to more eloquently articulate my feelings about Letters for Scarlet. Not because I didn't fly through my advance copy, thinking I'd solved the mystery twice, thinking I had the end figured out, only to be surprised with each turn of the chapters. Not because I wasn't drawn to her complex, achingly human characters, not because I didn't feel the California settings as if I were in them.
Because the story conjures up so many memories and feelings.
Letters for Scarlet resonates deeply with me. Objectively, no moment in my past is as desperate and charged as the one which defined a decade for Julie C. Gardner's protagonists, but there are relationships from those giddy heartbeats on the cusp of adulthood that certainly define parts of who I am, even now. Hope, betrayal, desire, love, romance, ambition... the entire heady cocktail of youth, and the ways we carry them forever.
Approachable, emotional writing and multi-dimensional characters make this one a not-to-miss.
Because the story conjures up so many memories and feelings.
Letters for Scarlet resonates deeply with me. Objectively, no moment in my past is as desperate and charged as the one which defined a decade for Julie C. Gardner's protagonists, but there are relationships from those giddy heartbeats on the cusp of adulthood that certainly define parts of who I am, even now. Hope, betrayal, desire, love, romance, ambition... the entire heady cocktail of youth, and the ways we carry them forever.
Approachable, emotional writing and multi-dimensional characters make this one a not-to-miss.
March 15, 2016
Letters for Scarlet is well-written with relatable, multi-dimensional characters and a setting that is so real you can almost touch it. I worried when I thought some of the characters were about to make a stupid mistake (no spoilers on whether or not they did) and wanted to cheer when they got through a particular hump. I was fully invested in the characters' lives and thought about the book when I wasn't reading it.
The story is about friendship, broken trust and a mysterious past, the messiness of life, and - more importantly and my favourite element of all - the beauty and perfection that is found in messy, complicated lives. At the end, the author manages to pull a phoenix out of the ashes, and out of the mess comes hope.
This is one I highly recommend.
The story is about friendship, broken trust and a mysterious past, the messiness of life, and - more importantly and my favourite element of all - the beauty and perfection that is found in messy, complicated lives. At the end, the author manages to pull a phoenix out of the ashes, and out of the mess comes hope.
This is one I highly recommend.
March 16, 2016
Mystery, hidden truth, betrayal.
The book tells two parallel stories about two ex-best-friends. Corina, a teacher, loves children and unsuccessfully keeps trying to get pregnant. Scarlet, a successful and independent woman, gets pregnant unexpectedly and considers an abortion. What had split them apart over 10 years ago? Will they be able to forget about the past?
The book is well-written and it reads smoothly. The curiosity about the mysterious past made me read the whole book at once. Corina was an interesting character, having an admirer at work and suspecting her husband of having an affair. I don’t regret reading the book, that time was well spent.
I received a digital copy of this book via Early Reviews on LibraryThing in an exchange for an honest review.
The book tells two parallel stories about two ex-best-friends. Corina, a teacher, loves children and unsuccessfully keeps trying to get pregnant. Scarlet, a successful and independent woman, gets pregnant unexpectedly and considers an abortion. What had split them apart over 10 years ago? Will they be able to forget about the past?
The book is well-written and it reads smoothly. The curiosity about the mysterious past made me read the whole book at once. Corina was an interesting character, having an admirer at work and suspecting her husband of having an affair. I don’t regret reading the book, that time was well spent.
I received a digital copy of this book via Early Reviews on LibraryThing in an exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2016
I received a review copy of Letters for Scarlet. I have had mixed experiences with books I get as part of the member giveaways.
This was one of the good ones. Very well written. You can connect to the characters and understand their struggles. I found it hard to put down the book until I got to the end.
The story revolves around two estranged friends Scarlet and Corie. There was a time when the two were inseparable. They were actually a trio with Tucker making up the third. A secret event (hunted at throughout the story) has split up the trio. Corie is now an English Teacher and is married to Tucker. She and Tucker have been trying unsuccessfully to have a kid. While Scarlet is a successful lawyer who is pregnant but does not think she is ready to have a kid. The story starts when Corie receives a letter she wrote to herself 10 years back as part of a school project. This gets her thinking of the past and wondering how life could have turned out if things had been different between her and Scarlet. The story culminates with a reveal of the event that shattered their friendship and impacted each one of their lives.
This was one of the good ones. Very well written. You can connect to the characters and understand their struggles. I found it hard to put down the book until I got to the end.
The story revolves around two estranged friends Scarlet and Corie. There was a time when the two were inseparable. They were actually a trio with Tucker making up the third. A secret event (hunted at throughout the story) has split up the trio. Corie is now an English Teacher and is married to Tucker. She and Tucker have been trying unsuccessfully to have a kid. While Scarlet is a successful lawyer who is pregnant but does not think she is ready to have a kid. The story starts when Corie receives a letter she wrote to herself 10 years back as part of a school project. This gets her thinking of the past and wondering how life could have turned out if things had been different between her and Scarlet. The story culminates with a reveal of the event that shattered their friendship and impacted each one of their lives.
March 15, 2016
Wow! I really loved this book! This is a story full of heartbreak; the disappointments and irony of life; and most (and best) of all, hope.
This story takes place after Corie Harper receives a letter she wrote to herself 10 years ago as an assignment in her 12th grade English class and is asked to deliver a 10 year letter to Scarlet Hinden, her former best friend whom she became estranged from on the night of their high school graduation. Corie, married the boy she and Scarlet both loved in high school is desperate to get pregnant. Scarlet, un-trusting and overly cautious when it comes to love, is pregnant with a child she's not sure she wants. Both of them are scarred by a tragic event from their past.
I found Ms. Gardner's prose to be beautiful and her storytelling kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a book not to be missed!
This story takes place after Corie Harper receives a letter she wrote to herself 10 years ago as an assignment in her 12th grade English class and is asked to deliver a 10 year letter to Scarlet Hinden, her former best friend whom she became estranged from on the night of their high school graduation. Corie, married the boy she and Scarlet both loved in high school is desperate to get pregnant. Scarlet, un-trusting and overly cautious when it comes to love, is pregnant with a child she's not sure she wants. Both of them are scarred by a tragic event from their past.
I found Ms. Gardner's prose to be beautiful and her storytelling kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a book not to be missed!
October 23, 2016
Get ready to be seduced by smart prose and fab observations. This is what I love about reading–discovering an author whose voice is funny, never clichéd, and has… that elusive wow factor. Julie C. Gardner's prose zips along at breakneck speed and you find yourself devouring this book in record time. There's something about how she captures the zeitgeist feel of the end of high school, and that fear of who-am-I? that can hit as 30 looms. This novel speaks to all that plus more.
The main characters here are Corie and Scarlet, ex-best friends, now estranged 10 years on, equally obsessed with their past mistakes and hoping to avoid future regrets. We switch between these two – with Corie narrating in first person present, and Scarlet in close third person simple past. Something bad, very bad, happened 10 years ago to bust up this duo’s lifelong friendship and we quickly need to know what happened.
I think female friendships can go badly awry and wreck lives for a while. We don’t mean to but sometimes we are so intense that when something blows, well, it’s a little bit like guys blowing up stuff or playing Minecraft, we can get pal-obsessed and slide into an inability to function without our sidekick and prop. Our other half of our personality. Then when it goes wrong you are left limbless and half blind. For a while.
The characters do stay with you afterwards; for me, Corie more than Scarlet. This would be a great book club read to discuss who you identified (or not) with. I hope Julie C. Gardner is busy writing another novel!
The main characters here are Corie and Scarlet, ex-best friends, now estranged 10 years on, equally obsessed with their past mistakes and hoping to avoid future regrets. We switch between these two – with Corie narrating in first person present, and Scarlet in close third person simple past. Something bad, very bad, happened 10 years ago to bust up this duo’s lifelong friendship and we quickly need to know what happened.
I think female friendships can go badly awry and wreck lives for a while. We don’t mean to but sometimes we are so intense that when something blows, well, it’s a little bit like guys blowing up stuff or playing Minecraft, we can get pal-obsessed and slide into an inability to function without our sidekick and prop. Our other half of our personality. Then when it goes wrong you are left limbless and half blind. For a while.
The characters do stay with you afterwards; for me, Corie more than Scarlet. This would be a great book club read to discuss who you identified (or not) with. I hope Julie C. Gardner is busy writing another novel!
March 15, 2016
I received this book as an ebook free from the author through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. The author develops each main character fully in this well written book. It has been 10 years since their high school graduation. The three main characters, Scarlet, Corie, and Tucker, were inseparable all through high school but a tragic event one night before their graduation changes their lives and causes Scarlet to completely cut herself off from Corie and Tucker. Scarlet blames herself for the tragedy and is ridden with guilt and so fearful of life and relationships that she is unable to trust and form a lasting or committed relationship. The book culminates with the revelation of the tragic event, its impact on all their lives, and what happens when the three of them connect 10 years later. This book is definitely worth reading.
March 23, 2016
"In the end, we take our pasts with us into the future, curls of smoke after a fire. Without the fire, there would be no smoke. And without who we were, we can't be who we are." -Letters for Scarlet
Do you have that moment that defined you, that sent your life down another path... most of us do, even if it isn't as dramatic as what happened to three high school friends 10 years ago. Letters for Scarlet tells the story of those three friends now while slowly revealing what happened on that awful night.
So much to think about. The choices we make and how we decide to let our pasts affect us.
I'm a longtime blog reader of Julie's and I've always admired the rhythmic flow of her words and I was happy to see this in her book, too.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book but all gushing is my own.
Do you have that moment that defined you, that sent your life down another path... most of us do, even if it isn't as dramatic as what happened to three high school friends 10 years ago. Letters for Scarlet tells the story of those three friends now while slowly revealing what happened on that awful night.
So much to think about. The choices we make and how we decide to let our pasts affect us.
I'm a longtime blog reader of Julie's and I've always admired the rhythmic flow of her words and I was happy to see this in her book, too.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book but all gushing is my own.
May 7, 2016
This haunting and evocative book looks at our closest relationships. Relationships between best friends, between husband and wife, between mother and child. The main characters in this book, Corie and Scarlet are captive to problems from their past which continue to haunt their present day lives. Their demons are, for the most part, common to young people coming of age, but the main thrust of this book is that it is not so much about the troubles, but rather how we face our flaws. We must all learn to know ourselves. "Over the years our layers are chipped away, revealing cracks and flaw and hurt." "This was a small comfort, learning to find value in herself." I enjoyed the beauty of the language in this book. Well done. Highly recommend.
March 16, 2016
Letters for Scarlet is a bittersweet tale of longtime friends, and wounds that need healing. Scarlet and Corie are not unlike many youthful friends, who, upon stumbling into adulthood, find that they cannot initially overcome the inevitably associated growing pains. The fallout from the blame they place on themselves and each other shapes their path as they move through life. Ultimately, it all catches up with them and everything comes to the surface, as it must. Julie Gardner weaves this story well, bringing readers into the heart of each character's journey. A must read!
April 8, 2016
Review rating 5+ Hopeful Stars.
Where do I start? There was just so much happening in this book and such amazing characters!
This is a story full of hope, expectations, loss and disappointments...
Letters for Scarlet describes the struggle of one woman, Corie, trying to win back her best friend, Scarlet, after a big fallout & a horrible event that spiraled out of control one fateful night...10 years ago.
Tuck, Scarlet & Corie were inseparable. Best friends. Until both Scarlet and Corie fell for the same boy in high school...their best friend, Tuck.
The two biggest issues in Corie's life are her guilt about what happened to Scarlet and the fact that she desperately wants a child. She can't seem to get pregnant and that puts more strain on her marriage.
"Pain can take a lifetime to heal, but hope lasts even longer…"
Corie misses Scarlet, hopeful that one day she may see her friend again, she starts writing letters to Scarlet...without mailing them...
As the story unfolds, you will be surprised by the outcome!
My first novel by Julie C. Gardner and I would definitely read more of her work in the future. This one topped the 5 stars mark by far.
I loved the characters, great story line & would highly recommend this to everyone!
Letters for Scarlet was published on 4 April 2016 & is available for purchase at Amazon US.
***Thank you to the author, Julie C. Gardner, via Library Thing, for providing me with a copy of Letters for Scarlet in exchange for a fair & honest review.
Thank you for reading my review.
Where do I start? There was just so much happening in this book and such amazing characters!
This is a story full of hope, expectations, loss and disappointments...
Letters for Scarlet describes the struggle of one woman, Corie, trying to win back her best friend, Scarlet, after a big fallout & a horrible event that spiraled out of control one fateful night...10 years ago.
Tuck, Scarlet & Corie were inseparable. Best friends. Until both Scarlet and Corie fell for the same boy in high school...their best friend, Tuck.
The two biggest issues in Corie's life are her guilt about what happened to Scarlet and the fact that she desperately wants a child. She can't seem to get pregnant and that puts more strain on her marriage.
"Pain can take a lifetime to heal, but hope lasts even longer…"
Corie misses Scarlet, hopeful that one day she may see her friend again, she starts writing letters to Scarlet...without mailing them...
As the story unfolds, you will be surprised by the outcome!
My first novel by Julie C. Gardner and I would definitely read more of her work in the future. This one topped the 5 stars mark by far.
I loved the characters, great story line & would highly recommend this to everyone!
Letters for Scarlet was published on 4 April 2016 & is available for purchase at Amazon US.
***Thank you to the author, Julie C. Gardner, via Library Thing, for providing me with a copy of Letters for Scarlet in exchange for a fair & honest review.
Thank you for reading my review.
September 7, 2016
Corie and Scarlet were best friends in high school. There was a third member of their group, Tuck. Corie fell madly in love with Tuck, which caused a definite rift in her friendship with Scarlet, but was that the only cause? Neither Corie nor Scarlet has had any contact with each other since the rift. In the book, both are now 28. Corie, married to Tuck, is a teacher. She and Tuck hope to start a family, but are having difficulty, which upsets Corie. Scarlet is an attorney, involved with another attorney, Gavin, and expecting a child she is not sure she will mother well. In addition to her childless marriage, Corie’s other big issue is her falling out with Scarlet. One day, Corie gets a letter she had written ten years ago as part of a school assignment—before her falling out with Scarlet. She wants to get the letter to Scarlet, but is not sure whether she can or should. Corie then begins writing letters to Scarlet, not sure whether Scarlet will ever even receive or read them one day. Can the two finally end their rift and become friends again? How will all this play out?
This book has a different story line as well as a different method of getting through the story line and plot. I found it interesting to read the many letters written, which provide a big part of the story plot. The two girls/women are both well developed and interesting. I really enjoyed reading the story, wondering how things would turn out. There was a lot going on in each girl’s life, and the book brought it all out, while tying it all into the big picture. The story definitely started me thinking about love, friendship, and learning enough about myself to face what I have been, am and will be as well as any flaws I might have or have had. Received this from Library Thing to read and review.
This book has a different story line as well as a different method of getting through the story line and plot. I found it interesting to read the many letters written, which provide a big part of the story plot. The two girls/women are both well developed and interesting. I really enjoyed reading the story, wondering how things would turn out. There was a lot going on in each girl’s life, and the book brought it all out, while tying it all into the big picture. The story definitely started me thinking about love, friendship, and learning enough about myself to face what I have been, am and will be as well as any flaws I might have or have had. Received this from Library Thing to read and review.
August 4, 2016
When I began this book, it seemed like a Debbie Downer. One couple broke up, another was taking a break from each other, and the man was hitting on another woman (and he has two children). The third couple are married, but the wife thinks he is about to leave her for another woman. Oy vey! Soon, you find out that two women and the one woman's husband were best friends in high school, then something happened. The two got married. The other girl liked him the same amount.
There are so many secrets that unveil themselves throughout the entire book. It is like an Easter egg hunt that keeps getting more and more exciting the further in you go. It is written chapter by chapter between Scarlet and Cori. It keeps going from one to the other. Usually, I don't like that in a book. BUT, it makes perfect sense in this book. The further in you go, the more you enjoy the book. It uplifts you in ways beyond description. You will get a whole lot out of this book! Mrs. Gardner, you did the right thing by changing careers, although your students may miss you. They knew you when. You are an excellent storyteller! Congratulations!
Thank you to Mrs. Gardner and Library Thing for giving me a free e-ARC of the book to read and give my honest review.
There are so many secrets that unveil themselves throughout the entire book. It is like an Easter egg hunt that keeps getting more and more exciting the further in you go. It is written chapter by chapter between Scarlet and Cori. It keeps going from one to the other. Usually, I don't like that in a book. BUT, it makes perfect sense in this book. The further in you go, the more you enjoy the book. It uplifts you in ways beyond description. You will get a whole lot out of this book! Mrs. Gardner, you did the right thing by changing careers, although your students may miss you. They knew you when. You are an excellent storyteller! Congratulations!
Thank you to Mrs. Gardner and Library Thing for giving me a free e-ARC of the book to read and give my honest review.
August 1, 2016
This debut novel by Julie C. Gardner examines what happens when the past and the present collide, unearthing secrets that can change relationships — for better and for worse. An old high school English project literally enters Corie's life, coaxing her to examine what she has, what she wants, and how the two of those things are connected to what she lost so many years ago. Scarlet has carved out the successful career she always wanted, but now she's being confronted with doubts about her own aspirations, and what she might have given up by going after her dreams.
Corie and Scarlet come to life easily (Corie grades papers with a purple pen, which instantaneously endeared her to me,) and readers will be invested in their decisions almost immediately. One of the joys of the novel is how three-dimensional the secondary characters are, as well, particularly Clara. Scarlet's coworker and friend does a little bit of scene-stealing each time she enters the story, and her comic timing brings an effervescence to an otherwise emotionally complicated story. Women's fiction fans will enjoy Letters for Scarlet; try it with your book club this fall after the kids go back to school.
Corie and Scarlet come to life easily (Corie grades papers with a purple pen, which instantaneously endeared her to me,) and readers will be invested in their decisions almost immediately. One of the joys of the novel is how three-dimensional the secondary characters are, as well, particularly Clara. Scarlet's coworker and friend does a little bit of scene-stealing each time she enters the story, and her comic timing brings an effervescence to an otherwise emotionally complicated story. Women's fiction fans will enjoy Letters for Scarlet; try it with your book club this fall after the kids go back to school.
March 19, 2016
I received a free eBook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was a very interesting story. It follows to two former friends Scarlet and Corie, 10 years after a horrific accident and a falling out between them over their other friend Tucker. Corie is now an English teacher, married to Tucker and are both desperately trying to get pregnant. Scarlet is a successful lawyer who shields herself from get to close to anyone, even her boyfriend Glen. The girls' lives become intertwined all these years later after a 10 year letter school project is delivered and they must face the past mistakes.
I really enjoyed this story. It's written from both of the girls' perspective and at times through letters. Overall I liked the story line but the ending seemed to drag on a bit.
I really enjoyed this story. It's written from both of the girls' perspective and at times through letters. Overall I liked the story line but the ending seemed to drag on a bit.
April 8, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Library Thing Early Reviewers.
"Letters For Scarlet" is about two women who were best friends, until one night tore them apart. Twenty-eight-year-old Corie is haunted by a letter she forgot she wrote. It was written to herself ten years earlier. Corie tried to bury the past, but the letter brings up painful memories. A time when Corie was desperate to be friends with Scarlet and fall in love with Tuck Slater.
Corie's ex-best-friend is haunted by memories. She wants to forget the night that made her wish she was dead. Now she is carrying a baby she never wanted and she is terrified.
I enjoyed this novel. The change in points of view made it interesting. Novels that have a past and present story are intriguing to read.
"Letters For Scarlet" is about two women who were best friends, until one night tore them apart. Twenty-eight-year-old Corie is haunted by a letter she forgot she wrote. It was written to herself ten years earlier. Corie tried to bury the past, but the letter brings up painful memories. A time when Corie was desperate to be friends with Scarlet and fall in love with Tuck Slater.
Corie's ex-best-friend is haunted by memories. She wants to forget the night that made her wish she was dead. Now she is carrying a baby she never wanted and she is terrified.
I enjoyed this novel. The change in points of view made it interesting. Novels that have a past and present story are intriguing to read.
April 15, 2016
I liked the formatting of this book. You switch between sections from one character’s point of view to the other’s. The author also mixes in letters that have been written from Corie to Scarlet. The book focuses on two women who used to be friends. You get glimpses of their current lives mixed in with pieces of their past via the letters. It is apparent right away that something happened to ruin the once strong friendship between the women. There are secrets you must discover in their past and present. This book does a great job of capturing the emotions of its characters. I loved that Scarlet and Corie are two ordinary women; I felt it was very easy to relate to them, especially Corie. Great book! Highly recommend!
May 5, 2016
This book surprised me. The story was haunting and beautiful. A sorrowful parting of ways, a yearning to reconnect, a desire for a family to grow. I loved reading every word because each was filled with insight and promise. I did, however, think I knew where it was going and was I ever wrong, which made it even better! Excited to read more by this author.
June 4, 2017
I can't believe this is the author's debut novel. It's very well written.
Three best friends are torn apart.
Two of them end up together, whilst the third is left alone.
They all suffer from the separation, and 10 years on the repercussions are still ever present.
This is a story of healing after tragedy.
I love the 10 year letters the characters receive, and the message their young selves wanted to convey to them.
The characters are well developed, and I was rooting for a happy ending (I won't tell you if it is or not).
Three best friends are torn apart.
Two of them end up together, whilst the third is left alone.
They all suffer from the separation, and 10 years on the repercussions are still ever present.
This is a story of healing after tragedy.
I love the 10 year letters the characters receive, and the message their young selves wanted to convey to them.
The characters are well developed, and I was rooting for a happy ending (I won't tell you if it is or not).
September 21, 2016
Long after turning the final page on this delightful read, I found myself thinking about the characters. What happens to them next? What is their future? To me, this is a mark of a great book. One that makes you CARE about the characters. The friendships described in the book are realistic - fraught with angst, filled with love, and always messy. The plotline and story were engaging, and I couldn't put the book down. Wonderful debut effort!
August 31, 2019
This story is one I think most of us can relate to as it is the story of two young girls who become best friends in high school and believe with all their hearts they will be friends for a lifetime.
They are wrong.
Told from alternating viewpoints and timelines, the story of Scarlet and Corie explores the impact and the long-term effects when a best friend betrays that friendship in what a high school age girl thinks is the worst way possible.
While they were in school, the girls had an assignment to write to their future selves (10 years down the road) about whatever they thought, dreamed of, or hoped the years would bring to them. Forgotten upon graduation, when Corie receives the letter to her younger self in the mail, the memories come crashing in around her, along with all the emotions she thought she had under control. The night Corie and Scarlet went their separate ways still causes intense pain.
Scarlet's life has been a difficult one to say the least, and a recent development has thrown her into a tailspin.
Both of these characters are extremely well developed. Their emotions are raw and you will feel them right to your core. Just like in "real" life, the emotions run the gamut of joy to grief, love to hatred, jealousy and on throughout every emotional imaginable.
I heartily recommend this book and thank the author and publisher for the opportunity to review it.
They are wrong.
Told from alternating viewpoints and timelines, the story of Scarlet and Corie explores the impact and the long-term effects when a best friend betrays that friendship in what a high school age girl thinks is the worst way possible.
While they were in school, the girls had an assignment to write to their future selves (10 years down the road) about whatever they thought, dreamed of, or hoped the years would bring to them. Forgotten upon graduation, when Corie receives the letter to her younger self in the mail, the memories come crashing in around her, along with all the emotions she thought she had under control. The night Corie and Scarlet went their separate ways still causes intense pain.
Scarlet's life has been a difficult one to say the least, and a recent development has thrown her into a tailspin.
Both of these characters are extremely well developed. Their emotions are raw and you will feel them right to your core. Just like in "real" life, the emotions run the gamut of joy to grief, love to hatred, jealousy and on throughout every emotional imaginable.
I heartily recommend this book and thank the author and publisher for the opportunity to review it.
March 11, 2016
Letters for Scarlet is an incredibly well-written book, and while it occasionally annoyed me that it switches between present tense, first person (Corie), and the typical past literary tense, third person (Scarlet) (the only reason I don’t rate this as a 5), I love how invested you get with the characters, how badly you want to find out what happened between them so many years prior. I love how each chapter as interspersed with a different letter Corie continues to write to Scarlet, once the 10 year letter is introduced to the plot. I love how much you can tell Corie still misses Scarlet every day, despite how happy she should be with her perfect life. This is just generally pretty fantastic book, and I highly recommend it!
March 29, 2016
I enjoyed this book mainly because I could relate to these girls – I also had friendships during my high school years that somehow vanished. Nothing really happened; we just stopped keeping in touch, but it makes you wonder how is it possible that you were almost 24 hours per day together in the past, and now you don’t know anything about their lives. So that’s what made the novel interesting to me: following Corie’s attempt to get closer to Scarlet again, and the latter’s reaction.
Full review on my blog
April 5, 2016
Julie C. Gardner's debut novel, Letters for Scarlet, is a terrific read. Her words jump off the page and her descriptions are quite vivid and alive. Almost immediately you have a connection with her characters. They are developed and fully dimensional people whom you care about deeply. Their stories are compelling and Gardner's language is precise. I didn't want to stop reading and had a difficult time putting the book down for very long. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. Although I received an advanced reader copy of this book for my honest opinion, I have no problem giving it a rave review!
August 21, 2016
I've admired Ms. Gardner's writing in the past and couldn't wait to dive into this book. I'm an English major, so I'm a little biased toward other English majors (and people named Julie). Anyway, this book of hers did not disappoint, from the first page on. The writing is a breeze, as is typical of her, and the story, characters, and relationships are messy and lovable and rich. The premise of the book with Corie receiving a letter she wrote to herself a decade ago for high school English class and being asked to deliver it to her estranged friend, Scarlet, was so relatable and intriguing. Lots of secrets! I was hugely surprised how this book ended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews