Book Review: Letters From The Past by Erica James

“Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” 

– Nicole Sobon

Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James tells a broad and gripping tale of treachery, love, and family in a typical Suffolk town.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

With its winding high street lined with a greengrocers, post office, pub and church, Melstead St Mary is the perfect English village. Neighbours look out for neighbours, and few things trouble the serene surface of the community.

But when residents start to receive anonymous letters containing secret information about their pasts - secrets that no one else is meant to know - life in Melstead St Mary is about to change, possibly forever...

My reaction to this novel...

I picked up Letters from the Past by Erica James expecting a sweeping, heartfelt read—something that would blend emotional depth, mystery, and that touch of warmth that family drama novels often bring. The premise sounded promising: a story rooted in family secrets, old wounds, and the unexpected arrival of mysterious letters that stir up the past. I’ve always been a fan of multi-POV storytelling, so I was curious to see how Erica James would weave all the threads together.

However, as I worked my way through the chapters, I found myself feeling disconnected from the story. One of the main reasons was the sheer number of characters. While multiple perspectives can enrich a novel, here it felt overwhelming. Instead of deepening my connection to the plot, the constant shifts in POV made it difficult for me to keep track of who was who. Some characters blurred together, and by the time I remembered a backstory or relationship, the narrative had already moved on to someone else.

Because of this, the emotional impact never quite landed for me. I love when books make me feel like I’m living alongside the characters—celebrating their joys, feeling their heartbreak—but here, the constant perspective changes kept me at arm’s length. I couldn’t form a strong attachment to any one storyline because there was so much happening at once.

The pacing was also affected. While the mystery of the letters had potential, the plot sometimes felt stretched thin, like it was trying to cover too many subplots at once. There were moments of warmth and touching insight, but they were often lost in the shuffle of side characters and secondary arcs.

That being said, I can see how fans of sprawling family sagas and complex relationship webs might appreciate what Erica James was trying to do here. The setting is atmospheric, the writing style has a certain elegance, and if you’re someone who enjoys diving into a large cast and multiple interwoven lives, this might still be your cup of tea. Unfortunately for me, it was just too crowded to fully immerse myself, and the story didn’t stay with me after I turned the last page.

In the end, Letters from the Past wasn’t a bad book—it simply wasn’t the right fit for my reading preferences. I prefer multiple POVs that are tightly connected and easy to follow, whereas here, the abundance of perspectives left me feeling more lost than invested.

If you love large ensemble casts, layered family histories, and don’t mind flipping back to remember who’s who, Letters from the Past might work for you. But if you prefer focused storytelling with just a few strong POVs, this could feel overwhelming.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐(2/5)