⭐⭐⭐⭐
As a Scrabble enthusiast, I couldn’t resist a novel featuring my favorite word game. But high-stakes Scrabble tournaments? Who knew there was such a thing? Apparently, I’ve been playing in the minor leagues!
In The Last Letters of Sally and Walter, Cammie McGovern introduces us to two unlikely friends at Golden Grove, a retirement community. Sally is a newcomer hoping to find her place, while Walter is a cantankerous old fellow whose passion for Scrabble borders on obsession. When Sally joins his rather sparsely attended Scrabble Club, an unexpected friendship blossoms, and Walter discovers that life might still have a few surprises in store.
But this book is about much more than triple-word scores. It’s a thoughtful, heartwarming story about friendship, aging, loneliness, and the importance of human connection.
As a woman of a certain age, I found some of the frank realities of growing old and its accompanying health challenges a little tough to swallow. McGovern doesn’t sugarcoat them. Thankfully, she balances those sobering moments with humor, tenderness, and hope.
A lovely reminder that it’s never too late to make a new friend—or learn a new word!
** Thanks to Edelweiss Plus and Sourcebooks Landmark for a complimentary review copy. Opinions are my own.