Goodreads Blurb

Salento, Italy, June 1934: A coach stops in the main square of Lizzanello, a tight-knit village where everyone knows each other. A couple gets off: The man, Carlo, a child of the South, is happy to be back home after a long time away; the woman, Anna—his wife—is a stranger from the North. Carlo’s brother is there to meet them, and he and everyone else can’t help but notice that Anna is as beautiful as a Greek statue.

But Anna is not like the other wives. She doesn’t gossip or attend church. She reads books no one else has ever heard of. She even wears pants, just like a man, and thinks a woman should have rights just like a man.

There aren’t many options for a woman with Anna’s sensibilities, so when she learns that the post office is hiring, she leaps at the opportunity. A female letter carrier? It is unthinkable. But Anna soon becomes the invisible thread connecting the town as she delivers letters between clandestine lovers, families waiting to hear news of loved ones away at war, even helping those who can’t read.

But for some in Lizzanello, letters come too little and too late. The seamstress, who was Carlo’s first love, can’t help but look at Anna as having taken her rightful place. Carlo’s niece has put herself in a loveless marriage after an impetuous act of jealousy. And Carlo and his brother find themselves trying to cover up a recently unearthed surprise that could shatter all of their lives.

The Letter Carrier taps into the universal feeling of connection—and what happens when that connection perhaps comes at the wrong time.

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

A love triangle with consequences. A story about a family with hidden secrets that will cause heartache in the wake of the truth. As much as you try to keep a secret, sometimes those secrets will come and haunt you.

I loved that the main character, Anna, was a strong-willed woman ahead of her time. She wasn’t afraid of pushing boundaries and didn’t let her husband dictate her life. She didn’t care if someone was not happy with the decisions she made or how outspoken she was. She was intelligent and a giver of hope. She brought change to this small town in Italy. She eagerly took the opportunity to apply for a job typically held by men. Despite many people opposing her decision, she overcame all the negativities. Anna was the key to holding her family and the small town together in peace.

Anna’s husband, Carlo, was outgoing and a dreamer, but his romance with Carmela clouded his judgment. When he discovered the secret that Carmela was keeping, he chose to keep it to himself, hoping to carry on with his life without his family finding out. However, Carlo didn’t anticipate that a forbidden romance would develop between Carmela’s son and Carlo’s niece. His arrogance caused the heartbreak of two people he cared for. I was disappointed that Anna never discovered Carlo’s indiscretion and the secrets he kept.

Antonio is Carlo’s older brother. He protected his brother, even after knowing about the secret Carlo and Carmela held. He had many opportunities to tell the truth, especially after learning about the relationship between his daughter, Lorenza, and Daniele. My heart broke with how Antonio and Anna’s friendship ended. They bonded over books and were supportive of each other. Antonio was in love with Anna, and he did everything he could to stop himself from making the wrong decision. I would have hoped that he would have told Anna the secret when everything fell apart with Lorenza.

This story reminds readers to be honest when a parent has an indiscretion, and a child is born. You never know if someone in your family might fall in love with a relative.