What do you think?
Rate this book
A carta de amor acidental
Bea costumava ser uma rapariga enérgica, confiante e divertida… mas há muito que essa versão dela própria se extinguiu.
Hoje em dia, dominada pela ansiedade, encontra conforto na rotina e evita tudo o que não seja previsível. Para trás, ficaram as festas, os amores, a espontaneidade…
Mas a sua curiosidade não deixa de ser espicaçada no dia em que lhe surge à porta um envelope maltratado. Não está endereçado a si, mas podia estar… e isso é praticamente a mesma coisa, não?
A decisão de Bea vai acabar por dar um novo e inesperado rumo à sua vida.
Se estivesse no lugar dela, abriria a carta?
A Carta de Amor Acidental fala-nos de pessoas imperfeitas, das coisas que escondemos por medo, de tudo aquilo que queremos revelar sobre nós mas não conseguimos. É uma história de esperança e amor num mundo cada vez mais obscuro e egoísta. Terno e inspirador, este livro é o companheiro perfeito para uma noite tranquila em casa…
Hoje em dia, dominada pela ansiedade, encontra conforto na rotina e evita tudo o que não seja previsível. Para trás, ficaram as festas, os amores, a espontaneidade…
Mas a sua curiosidade não deixa de ser espicaçada no dia em que lhe surge à porta um envelope maltratado. Não está endereçado a si, mas podia estar… e isso é praticamente a mesma coisa, não?
A decisão de Bea vai acabar por dar um novo e inesperado rumo à sua vida.
Se estivesse no lugar dela, abriria a carta?
A Carta de Amor Acidental fala-nos de pessoas imperfeitas, das coisas que escondemos por medo, de tudo aquilo que queremos revelar sobre nós mas não conseguimos. É uma história de esperança e amor num mundo cada vez mais obscuro e egoísta. Terno e inspirador, este livro é o companheiro perfeito para uma noite tranquila em casa…
368 pages, Unknown Binding
First published October 17, 2019
395 people are currently reading
1107 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
September 17, 2019
Bea lives in a flat with two other girls. She likes things to be on a schedule with strict time frames and lives a quiet life.
One day a letter is delivered that has B on the envelope. Bea knows that it's not for her but is opens it anyway. Now she is scared that this decision will get her into trouble.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2019
Having read and loved The List That Changed My Life by the author, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest book and read it. It was everything I had envisioned and more.
Bea is a character who I just wanted to constantly give a big hug. Even though she has her two friends who house share with her as well as neighbour Joy, she feels very much alone. Her life seems to be going nowhere and you can feel her becoming more withdrawn until a love letter turns up and changes her life.
Who would have thought a letter could have an impact on your life, especially when it isn’t actually addressed to you. It does to Bea though and she finds herself being pushed into situations of which she would normally run a mile from.
I really enjoyed seeing Bea being pushed out of her comfort zone and it really makes for a heart warming read. She is a wonderful character who felt like an old friend by the end. In fact there are quite a few characters I really enjoyed.
The Accidental Love Letter is such an endearing read. Whilst overall it is a fairly light hearted read, as with the authors last book, this is another story that has a deeper meaning at the heart of it. This is definitely an uplifting read that leaves you on a high. Really can’t recommend highly enough.
My thanks to Anne Cater, Headline Review and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Bea is a character who I just wanted to constantly give a big hug. Even though she has her two friends who house share with her as well as neighbour Joy, she feels very much alone. Her life seems to be going nowhere and you can feel her becoming more withdrawn until a love letter turns up and changes her life.
Who would have thought a letter could have an impact on your life, especially when it isn’t actually addressed to you. It does to Bea though and she finds herself being pushed into situations of which she would normally run a mile from.
I really enjoyed seeing Bea being pushed out of her comfort zone and it really makes for a heart warming read. She is a wonderful character who felt like an old friend by the end. In fact there are quite a few characters I really enjoyed.
The Accidental Love Letter is such an endearing read. Whilst overall it is a fairly light hearted read, as with the authors last book, this is another story that has a deeper meaning at the heart of it. This is definitely an uplifting read that leaves you on a high. Really can’t recommend highly enough.
My thanks to Anne Cater, Headline Review and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
April 24, 2020
The contents of a letter can change someone’s life in very unexpected ways.
The Accidental Love Letter is a very insightful read. It tells the story of a young woman suffering from severe anxiety, who needs to schedule every single moment of her routine to feel safe.
I do not suffer from anxiety, so I cannot tell if the descriptions are accurate, but I could feel the tension flowing from the pages.
The beginning was a little hard on me. I felt sorry for the heroine (Bea), but at the same time, I felt overwhelmed by her insecurities. Her roommates were so egocentric they made me cringe. She had some co-workers from hell. Her whole situation seemed hopeless.
A few chapters into the story, things start to look less bleak. Bea receives a letter addressed to someone named 'B'. Deep inside, she knows it is not meant for her, but she cannot resist opening it.
The contents of that letter change Bea's life in very unexpected ways.
The story is so much more than a romance. It is a story about the power of love (in all its forms), friendship, and companionship. After reading this book, I will pay more attention to those close to me. I will try to be nicer to my neighbors.
Great read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Accidental Love Letter is a very insightful read. It tells the story of a young woman suffering from severe anxiety, who needs to schedule every single moment of her routine to feel safe.
I do not suffer from anxiety, so I cannot tell if the descriptions are accurate, but I could feel the tension flowing from the pages.
The beginning was a little hard on me. I felt sorry for the heroine (Bea), but at the same time, I felt overwhelmed by her insecurities. Her roommates were so egocentric they made me cringe. She had some co-workers from hell. Her whole situation seemed hopeless.
A few chapters into the story, things start to look less bleak. Bea receives a letter addressed to someone named 'B'. Deep inside, she knows it is not meant for her, but she cannot resist opening it.
The contents of that letter change Bea's life in very unexpected ways.
The story is so much more than a romance. It is a story about the power of love (in all its forms), friendship, and companionship. After reading this book, I will pay more attention to those close to me. I will try to be nicer to my neighbors.
Great read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2019
Having read and loved The List That Changed My Life by the author, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest book and read it. It was everything I had envisioned and more.
Bea is a character who I just wanted to constantly give a big hug. Even though she has her two friends who house share with her as well as neighbour Joy, she feels very much alone. Her life seems to be going nowhere and you can feel her becoming more withdrawn until a love letter turns up and changes her life.
Who would have thought a letter could have an impact on your life, especially when it isn’t actually addressed to you. It does to Bea though and she finds herself being pushed into situations of which she would normally run a mile from.
I really enjoyed seeing Bea being pushed out of her comfort zone and it really makes for a heart warming read. She is a wonderful character who felt like an old friend by the end. In fact there are quite a few characters I really enjoyed.
The Accidental Love Letter is such an endearing read. Whilst overall it is a fairly light hearted read, as with the authors last book, this is another story that has a deeper meaning at the heart of it. This is definitely an uplifting read that leaves you on a high. Really can’t recommend highly enough.
My thanks to Anne Cater, Headline Review and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Bea is a character who I just wanted to constantly give a big hug. Even though she has her two friends who house share with her as well as neighbour Joy, she feels very much alone. Her life seems to be going nowhere and you can feel her becoming more withdrawn until a love letter turns up and changes her life.
Who would have thought a letter could have an impact on your life, especially when it isn’t actually addressed to you. It does to Bea though and she finds herself being pushed into situations of which she would normally run a mile from.
I really enjoyed seeing Bea being pushed out of her comfort zone and it really makes for a heart warming read. She is a wonderful character who felt like an old friend by the end. In fact there are quite a few characters I really enjoyed.
The Accidental Love Letter is such an endearing read. Whilst overall it is a fairly light hearted read, as with the authors last book, this is another story that has a deeper meaning at the heart of it. This is definitely an uplifting read that leaves you on a high. Really can’t recommend highly enough.
My thanks to Anne Cater, Headline Review and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
March 1, 2022
Great depiction of anxiety and the harsh realities of loneliness.
April 20, 2020
This was an okay read but lacked real depth for me. It's a short novel and yet it couldn't always hold my focus. Bea is not always likable to me. I relate to her anxiety but her behavior can't always just be justified by that. While we get to read Nathan's letters here and there, we never know what Bea writes to him. I find that a huge shortcoming. But it's like with many things in this book: things are touched upon but never really dealt with in satisfaction.
December 7, 2021
O segundo romance da autora demonstra o quão bela é a sua escrita e o seu modo maravilhoso e simples de ver relações, quer sejam amorosas, quer sejam de amizade, ou até de amor próprio.
Este livro para mim não é o típico romance, pois aqui o mais importante de tudo é o amor que temos por nós mesmos. Todos somos merecedores de amor e ninguém deve estar só...
Uma história que demonstra de um modo diferente a ansiedade, e de que modo esta molda a nossa vida - mesmo que queiramos, por vezes somos incapazes de sair da nossa bolha... É extremamente fácil relacionamo-nos com a Bea, pois ela é tão humana, tão real que poderia ser qualquer um de nós. Revi-me nela em certos aspetos, o que permitiu que a leitura me tocasse de um modo tão profundo.
Por vezes, um acaso do destino acaba por ser exatamente o que precisamos para voltar à vida, para nos reencontrarmos... Se não tentarmos nunca saberemos como poderia ter sido, e mesmo que seja assustador, é bom atirarmo-nos de cabeça às vezes - as descobertas que surgem são inspiradoras, capazes de nos pôr no caminho certo.
Como se pode perceber, adorei este livro ❤️ mal posso esperar por ler a próxima história que a autora escreva.
Este livro para mim não é o típico romance, pois aqui o mais importante de tudo é o amor que temos por nós mesmos. Todos somos merecedores de amor e ninguém deve estar só...
Uma história que demonstra de um modo diferente a ansiedade, e de que modo esta molda a nossa vida - mesmo que queiramos, por vezes somos incapazes de sair da nossa bolha... É extremamente fácil relacionamo-nos com a Bea, pois ela é tão humana, tão real que poderia ser qualquer um de nós. Revi-me nela em certos aspetos, o que permitiu que a leitura me tocasse de um modo tão profundo.
Por vezes, um acaso do destino acaba por ser exatamente o que precisamos para voltar à vida, para nos reencontrarmos... Se não tentarmos nunca saberemos como poderia ter sido, e mesmo que seja assustador, é bom atirarmo-nos de cabeça às vezes - as descobertas que surgem são inspiradoras, capazes de nos pôr no caminho certo.
Como se pode perceber, adorei este livro ❤️ mal posso esperar por ler a próxima história que a autora escreva.
October 15, 2019
This was a real curl up on my sofa with a nice glass of something read as it warmed my insides, made me giggle and brought tears to my eyes. Bea lives by routines and schedules, set days for doing set things but it leaves little room to fit anything new into it, especially people. Her two friends that she house shares with have boyfriends, but not Bea, she is quite happy on her own. Life is so much easier just to agree with everyone than say what she feels and wants. Bea calls in on their neighbour Joy who had been a friend of her mum. If anything bothers Bea she calls her mum but always has to leave a message for her to get back to her.
When an unexpected letter arrives, with B on it she knows it isn’t for her but curiosity gets the better of her. Bea writes a reply but when one of her housemates sees it she posts it and so begins a double life for Bea as she is pushed into uncomfortable situations that bring new people into her life.
Bea is quite timid, accepting what others want rather than confronting them, it isn’t that the people she knows are horrid, she has simply become a pushover. When Bea gets a letter back to her unintentional reply she grasps it like a lifeline, I mean what harm could it do? I loved the world that opened up to Bea and the situations that she forced herself into. Life was no longer just about her. The characters she meets felt so very real with moments that made me chuckle till I cried followed by moments where I cried because I knew how she felt. A beautifully written story that made me glow just loved it.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
When an unexpected letter arrives, with B on it she knows it isn’t for her but curiosity gets the better of her. Bea writes a reply but when one of her housemates sees it she posts it and so begins a double life for Bea as she is pushed into uncomfortable situations that bring new people into her life.
Bea is quite timid, accepting what others want rather than confronting them, it isn’t that the people she knows are horrid, she has simply become a pushover. When Bea gets a letter back to her unintentional reply she grasps it like a lifeline, I mean what harm could it do? I loved the world that opened up to Bea and the situations that she forced herself into. Life was no longer just about her. The characters she meets felt so very real with moments that made me chuckle till I cried followed by moments where I cried because I knew how she felt. A beautifully written story that made me glow just loved it.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
October 23, 2019
The Accidental Love letter is my first but certainly not my last read by this author as I really enjoyed this gem of a story.
Although Bea lives with her two best friends she feels very lonely. When a letter arrives that’s not for her she opens it. She doesn’t realise that it’s about to change her life.
This is a well written story with lovely likeable characters. A really heart warming story that I’ll certainly be recommending to my friends.
Although Bea lives with her two best friends she feels very lonely. When a letter arrives that’s not for her she opens it. She doesn’t realise that it’s about to change her life.
This is a well written story with lovely likeable characters. A really heart warming story that I’ll certainly be recommending to my friends.
Read
December 30, 2023I enjoyed THE LIST THAT CHANGED MY LIFE from this author. In fact, I recall laughing myself silly. This one didn't hit quite as sweet. There was a lot of counting and it just wasn't that engaging.
May 20, 2020
I appreciate this book very much. I love it when books take the time to explore characters who others may so easily dismiss or overlook. A quiet and charming story not so much focused on romance but family, friends and the community. Also very much appreciated the exploration of anxiety and how that affects even the tiniest details of everyday life and Bea's job as a journalist.
December 5, 2019
a heartwarming read..
I needed this today.
I needed this today.
November 29, 2019
The Accidental Love Letter is a light piece of contemporary fiction.
Bea’s anxiety and loneliness are affecting her work and homelife. Her two flatmates are both in steady relationships while Bea spends her evenings and weekends alone, until she receives a letter. Although it is addressed to B rather than Bea, she opens it. It is from an incarcerated prisoner; Bea doesn’t know him, but she writes back, letting him assume that he is writing to the B that he knows.
The letters give Bea a purpose and lead her to a retirement home, where Nina, one of the residents, is known to the mysterious 'B'. Bea is made to feel welcome and builds friendships that fulfil her need for a family.
Sadly, I found this story very difficult to connect with. Bea relies on lists to help keep her calm and their inclusion in the text took me out of the storyline each time she made one. Secondly the movement between scenes didn't work for me; they often made the book feel like an outline sketch lacking in details. I wanted to know why, what and how about so much of the plot; I needed some depth to the tale.
Overall, I think this book might suit younger readers, or those who enjoy lighter stories.
Bea’s anxiety and loneliness are affecting her work and homelife. Her two flatmates are both in steady relationships while Bea spends her evenings and weekends alone, until she receives a letter. Although it is addressed to B rather than Bea, she opens it. It is from an incarcerated prisoner; Bea doesn’t know him, but she writes back, letting him assume that he is writing to the B that he knows.
The letters give Bea a purpose and lead her to a retirement home, where Nina, one of the residents, is known to the mysterious 'B'. Bea is made to feel welcome and builds friendships that fulfil her need for a family.
Sadly, I found this story very difficult to connect with. Bea relies on lists to help keep her calm and their inclusion in the text took me out of the storyline each time she made one. Secondly the movement between scenes didn't work for me; they often made the book feel like an outline sketch lacking in details. I wanted to know why, what and how about so much of the plot; I needed some depth to the tale.
Overall, I think this book might suit younger readers, or those who enjoy lighter stories.
April 27, 2021
A premissa do livro era interessante e a amizade entre as três amigas tem momentos muito giros, a carta de amor acaba por ser o catalisador deste romance onde conhecemos Bea, fechada sobre si própria, vive para o trabalho e chega a casa todas as noites depois de cumprir com rigor o seu dia cheio de listas para tudo e mais alguma coisa. Gostei da amizade que ela acaba por forjar com os velhotes do centro de dia graças as cartas de amor com o homem aprisionado mas que a levam a um mundo novo onde ela se reencontra e acaba por se apaixonar por uma pessoa que não tem supostamente nada a ver com ela. As amigas eram completamente chanfradas da cabeça e por vezes tinham atitudes sem nexo que não chego a perceber mas ela descobre-se no final e acaba por descobrir o seu final feliz! Leitura leve!
September 16, 2019
I got major Elenor Oliphant meets shopaholic vibes from this story!
Bea likes her life scheduled and neat - (she’s a little too much in love with lists! ) she likes knowing what she’s doing when and feels anxious and very uncertain around her friends and work colleagues. She lives with 2 of her best friends and feel completely alone.
A letter arrives addressed to B. It’s not for her but she answers anyway and her life is plunged into change.
Sad in some places and funny in others it was an enjoyable read and I loved the ending 😁
* I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review *
Bea likes her life scheduled and neat - (she’s a little too much in love with lists! ) she likes knowing what she’s doing when and feels anxious and very uncertain around her friends and work colleagues. She lives with 2 of her best friends and feel completely alone.
A letter arrives addressed to B. It’s not for her but she answers anyway and her life is plunged into change.
Sad in some places and funny in others it was an enjoyable read and I loved the ending 😁
* I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review *
April 21, 2020
I found this book ridiculous. Bea pretends to be someone else, she lives with housemates who don’t care about anyone apart from themselves, she works with people who don’t care, her housemates go searching through her room, the old woman next door is nosey, one of the care home residents is reading the same book for 5 weeks and then at the end everyone turns into someone caring and they all live happily ever after.
August 21, 2021
Que pena foi mesmo um fiasco…apesar de ter tido algumas partes comicas…não me convenceu…aliás fiquei mesmo com pena dado que adorei o outro da mesma autora.
Achei que para aí até metade do livro foi uma divagação completa sem enredo ou conteudo útil…depois disso tudo muito superfluo….Mas se houver proximo da autora vou ler claro.
Achei que para aí até metade do livro foi uma divagação completa sem enredo ou conteudo útil…depois disso tudo muito superfluo….Mas se houver proximo da autora vou ler claro.
December 27, 2024
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
This book disappointed me greatly. I was anticipating a sweet romantic read but instead was presented with frustratingly shallow characters and a plot that felt like an echo of Eleanor Oliphant.
This book disappointed me greatly. I was anticipating a sweet romantic read but instead was presented with frustratingly shallow characters and a plot that felt like an echo of Eleanor Oliphant.
April 19, 2020
Funny and sad in equal quantities.....
Help with a large serving of uplifting joy.
I did at times want to shake the girl for not seeing those who needed her in front of her eyes but then recalled how was after losing Mum.
A lesson to not judge others but to always be the best that you can be.
Help with a large serving of uplifting joy.
I did at times want to shake the girl for not seeing those who needed her in front of her eyes but then recalled how was after losing Mum.
A lesson to not judge others but to always be the best that you can be.
January 25, 2025
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
What would you do if you accidentally read someone else's letter?
This harmless, simple mistake started a journey that lead others towards paths and crossroads they never imagined. And well, you're just going to have to read it to find out how it all worked out.
A great book with insight and wisdom. I definitely recommend it.
What would you do if you accidentally read someone else's letter?
This harmless, simple mistake started a journey that lead others towards paths and crossroads they never imagined. And well, you're just going to have to read it to find out how it all worked out.
A great book with insight and wisdom. I definitely recommend it.
May 5, 2020
I received this copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This is very well written emotional story that will also have you crying with laughter. I really enjoyed this story and getting to know the characters. Thoroughly recommend.
This is very well written emotional story that will also have you crying with laughter. I really enjoyed this story and getting to know the characters. Thoroughly recommend.
October 19, 2023
Loved Bea and her journey! Such a beautifully written novel where I was crying one moment and laughing out loud the next. A lesson in seeing that all of us have a degree of loneliness in our hearts and the key is to let others into our lives, the beautiful and the ugly bits. Looking forward to reading more from Olivia Beirne!
January 17, 2021
a cute book!
February 11, 2023
Pulled me out of my reading slump, I couldn’t put this book down. It’s a heartwarming story about 24yr old Bea, who suffers from anxiety. One day she receives a letter that isn’t meant for her, she’s not sure if she can open it, considering it’s not addressed to her. From this point she’s brought loads of different emotions and learns that other people hide things too. This book had me smiling and sobbing.
November 21, 2020
Started slow but ended up loving it
August 9, 2023
De deixar o coração quentinho <3
October 29, 2019
*3.5 stars*
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book after smiling my way through Olivia’s debut novel The List That Changed My Life at the beginning of the year. I’ve come to greatly enjoy how she combines real depth into important topics in her stories, but in an easy, enjoyable and lighthearted reading form.
Loneliness is rife throughout The Accidental Love Letter and certainly when it comes to our main character, Bea – she lives with her 2 best friends but as they’re both in relationships they are usually often away from home. She works at the local newspaper but she doesn’t get to write the stories she wants to write, nor have much to connect her with her colleagues. Bea lives her life by schedules, lists and routine – she can be planned for days ahead leaving her little time to fit anyone or anything new in, she’d rather just agree with others rather than say otherwise and she’d rather a Friday night in alone with her pyjamas on, list of TV programs and full night sleep ahead of her rather than out at busy bars – but she’s content with this. Or is she?
When this letter arrives addressed to “B”- even though it’s not quite her Bea she writes out a reply to it anyway as if it was – not with the slightest intention of it getting posted. But this is a book, and the letter gets mistakenly posted – and it’s from here onwards that Bea almost starts to live a double life outside of her routine and comfort zones – she finds new friends and something to write about for the paper – is doesn’t matter if she’s not been 100% honest does it?
I must admit I was rather surprised by the love letter aspect of this story. Going into it I expected the love letter to be this huge focus – and whilst it is, it isn’t in this outright way I, or yourself might expect – it’s more an undertone that links all these little threads going on in the novel together – Bea’s story with her work place, her elderly neighbour, her mum, the residential home… there’s a little bit of mystery I guess surrounding them all and I couldn’t entirely predict the outcome of this novel.
Bea is a lovely character; you might not understand her at first if you’re more a confident, out-there person, but I found I resembled her in many ways – from the confidence issues to her routine – in fact it was a bit of a shock how well I understood her life. You could at times just feel the loneliness radiating out of her and just wanted to give her a hug – her (so called) friends infuriated me, I mean INFURIATED ME to the point I could’ve scribbled them out of the book! Joy, Bea’s elderly neighbour/friend of her mum’s was a true delight and my heart physically ached for her at times – I was urging someone to take up her invite into her home for a tea and a cake.
Loneliness and fear are masked in many ways; The Accidental Love Letter is a reminder of this written in a warm, gentle and inviting way.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book after smiling my way through Olivia’s debut novel The List That Changed My Life at the beginning of the year. I’ve come to greatly enjoy how she combines real depth into important topics in her stories, but in an easy, enjoyable and lighthearted reading form.
Loneliness is rife throughout The Accidental Love Letter and certainly when it comes to our main character, Bea – she lives with her 2 best friends but as they’re both in relationships they are usually often away from home. She works at the local newspaper but she doesn’t get to write the stories she wants to write, nor have much to connect her with her colleagues. Bea lives her life by schedules, lists and routine – she can be planned for days ahead leaving her little time to fit anyone or anything new in, she’d rather just agree with others rather than say otherwise and she’d rather a Friday night in alone with her pyjamas on, list of TV programs and full night sleep ahead of her rather than out at busy bars – but she’s content with this. Or is she?
When this letter arrives addressed to “B”- even though it’s not quite her Bea she writes out a reply to it anyway as if it was – not with the slightest intention of it getting posted. But this is a book, and the letter gets mistakenly posted – and it’s from here onwards that Bea almost starts to live a double life outside of her routine and comfort zones – she finds new friends and something to write about for the paper – is doesn’t matter if she’s not been 100% honest does it?
I must admit I was rather surprised by the love letter aspect of this story. Going into it I expected the love letter to be this huge focus – and whilst it is, it isn’t in this outright way I, or yourself might expect – it’s more an undertone that links all these little threads going on in the novel together – Bea’s story with her work place, her elderly neighbour, her mum, the residential home… there’s a little bit of mystery I guess surrounding them all and I couldn’t entirely predict the outcome of this novel.
Bea is a lovely character; you might not understand her at first if you’re more a confident, out-there person, but I found I resembled her in many ways – from the confidence issues to her routine – in fact it was a bit of a shock how well I understood her life. You could at times just feel the loneliness radiating out of her and just wanted to give her a hug – her (so called) friends infuriated me, I mean INFURIATED ME to the point I could’ve scribbled them out of the book! Joy, Bea’s elderly neighbour/friend of her mum’s was a true delight and my heart physically ached for her at times – I was urging someone to take up her invite into her home for a tea and a cake.
Loneliness and fear are masked in many ways; The Accidental Love Letter is a reminder of this written in a warm, gentle and inviting way.
March 2, 2020
Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review:
Rating: 3.5/5
Despite the word ‘love’ in the title, I wouldn’t necessarily class this novel as a romance. Yes, there is a some if you squint, but it’s not what this book is about. It’s a feel good, at times laugh out loud novel looking at the hardships one will associate with young adulthood, reminding us that sometimes everybody can feel a little bit alone.
The ‘romance' that’s there can easily be labelled as a budding friendship until it changes in the last two chapters or so. So what is this book about? Well, it’s about a girl Bea who has anxiety and her routines and a pretty mundane existence. She keeps a schedule in her head of her everyday routine, and rarely does anything unexpected pop up that would spoil it. That is, until one day she receives a letter, addressed to a girl with her initial, to which she replies in a moment of insanity. This causes things get slightly out of hand and suddenly Bea is thrust into a world of retirement homes where she makes some unexpected friendships that change some orderly routines and even Bea herself.
When I started reading I wasn’t too sure if I’d like the book or even Bea herself. At first she seemed to be lacking a back-bone, sometimes her narrative seemed almost childish. Yet, as more things started to go wrong and the more frustrated Bea became, the more likeable she started to become. She stopped agreeing to everything and started to show that she’s not always happy, and she does have her own opinions. It was lovely to watch, and after a few chapters I was hooked to the point that I ended up finishing the book is one sitting. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a lighter read.
Rating: 3.5/5
Despite the word ‘love’ in the title, I wouldn’t necessarily class this novel as a romance. Yes, there is a some if you squint, but it’s not what this book is about. It’s a feel good, at times laugh out loud novel looking at the hardships one will associate with young adulthood, reminding us that sometimes everybody can feel a little bit alone.
The ‘romance' that’s there can easily be labelled as a budding friendship until it changes in the last two chapters or so. So what is this book about? Well, it’s about a girl Bea who has anxiety and her routines and a pretty mundane existence. She keeps a schedule in her head of her everyday routine, and rarely does anything unexpected pop up that would spoil it. That is, until one day she receives a letter, addressed to a girl with her initial, to which she replies in a moment of insanity. This causes things get slightly out of hand and suddenly Bea is thrust into a world of retirement homes where she makes some unexpected friendships that change some orderly routines and even Bea herself.
When I started reading I wasn’t too sure if I’d like the book or even Bea herself. At first she seemed to be lacking a back-bone, sometimes her narrative seemed almost childish. Yet, as more things started to go wrong and the more frustrated Bea became, the more likeable she started to become. She stopped agreeing to everything and started to show that she’s not always happy, and she does have her own opinions. It was lovely to watch, and after a few chapters I was hooked to the point that I ended up finishing the book is one sitting. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a lighter read.
July 31, 2025
I almost didn’t finish it but was glad I picked it up again because it got a lot better and loved how the story turned out.
May 23, 2024
My second book by this author and I enjoyed it.
It’s definitely a “people are not what they seem” type of story.
I enjoy the author’s writing style and this is another great addition to your summer TBR list.
It’s definitely a “people are not what they seem” type of story.
I enjoy the author’s writing style and this is another great addition to your summer TBR list.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews