An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller.From New York Times bestselling authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward comes an unexpected love story that started with a boy and girl and heats up when the man and woman reconnect.I’d never forgotten him—a man I’d yet to meet.Griffin Quinn was my childhood pen pal, the British boy who couldn’t have been more different from me. Over the years, through … been more different from me. Over the years, through hundreds of letters, we became best friends, sharing our deepest, darkest secrets and forming a connection I never thought could break.
Until one day it did.
Then, out of the blue, a new letter arrived. A scathing one—one with eight years of pent-up anger. I had no choice but to finally come clean as to why I stopped writing.
Griffin forgave me, and somehow we were able to rekindle our childhood connection. Only now we were adults, and that connection had grown to a spark. Our letters quickly went from fun to flirty to downright dirty, revealing our wildest fantasies. So it only made sense that we would take our relationship to the next level and see each other in person.
Only Griff didn’t want to meet. He asked that I trust him and said it was for the best. But I wanted more—more Griff, in the flesh—so I took a big chance and went looking for him. People have done crazier things for love.
But what I found could change everything.
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I love this story. I adore this writing duo. I may have said this before, but this is my absolute favorite by them so far. I love the angst and the heart. I love the letter writing. I love how the issues were tackled in this story. I love the complex characters and how well they are developed. I loved everything about this story and it held me captive the entire time I read. I could not put it down. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Dirty Letters is an emotional, second chance romance between pen pals. It was such a beautiful and heartwarming story. Griffin and Luca are pen pals from grade school. He is British and she an American. They kept in touch up until 8 years ago, when a tragedy changed Luca’s life. Luca’s father passes away, and when she finally decides to pack up his home, she finds an angry letter from Griffin about how they had lost contact. She writes him back to explain herself, and they continue to correspond via letters. She goes looking for him, and what she finds changes everything. They are two people who are about as different as can be and try to determine whether love is really enough. My heart hurt for Luca and all of her struggles. Griffin is absolutely everything you want in a book boyfriend. The two of them together didn’t make sense, yet it worked at the same time. The way Luca’s issues were handled in the book by the authors was so incredibly well done. These characters will stay with me for a long time. The writing was great, paced well, and the epilogue was absolutely perfect. I would definitely recommend this.
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
4.5 Stars
Wow! These two authors always manage to create such fun and unique stories! Pen-pals turned lovers…such a cleaver idea! Not only did Dirty Letters have a great story but the characters were amazing as well! Luca, she had her own quirks that made her more of a non-traditional heroine but that is what I loved about her. She had flaws but watching her tackle those head on was inspiring. I loved watching her character grow throughout the story. These two authors did a great job on developing an engaging and interesting story. I laughed, I swooned, and I held on for dear life that all would be ok by the end! I did feel like it was missing just a dash of something. Something that would really push it above and beyond. But overall, it was a fantastic book! I thoroughly enjoyed all of it!
Dirty Letters by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. Luca needs to go clean out her dad’s apartment after his death. The problem is Luca can’t stand crowd and the feelings of being closed in. When she finally get to his place she finds a letter from a person she hasn’t heard from in years. Griffin was her pen pal from long ago matter of fact they were best friends until her accident. She remembers how much Griffin meant to her and decides to reply to him. The story is of them rekindling their friendship and deciding to take it to another level. Each has their own set of issues and problems. How can Luca have a normal relationship when she cant be around crowds or travel in a plane. Griffin once living in London now lives in California and Luca is Vermont. In addition to the fact Griffin is more than he says he is and that plays on rather a person wants him for who he reallly is or who he has become. Their journey was one of ups and downs with many obstacles. The letters used to communicate were everything. They were sweet, funny and down right dirty at times. Couldn’t put this book down. Like always I love these authors books and they never disappoint me. I am always left happy and satisfied after finishing one of their books. Another 5 stars for me.
OMG! Griffin is everything! This book has all the feels! Luca was Griffin’s penpal since 2nd grade. She stopped writing when she was 17. It is 8 years later when she finds Griffin’s last letter. Get ready for a journey you will not soon forget! A rocker who has forgotten what ordinary life is all about. An agoraphobic who has forgotten what it means to really live. Her therapist and friend, Doc, who loves birds and is truly more like a father figure. And last but not least, a pig named Hortencia, who will make you swear off bacon! I cannot say enough good things about this book! Just when you think, they cannot top their last book, Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward do just that! Loved this book! 5 stars
A sweet and sexy second chance friends to lover book that is full of pain and loss, a need for people to see the real person not the persona. If that is of interest to you then jump right in. I loved these characters and all their issues and quirks. Very original storyline.
Luca and Griffin started their relationship as pen pals through a school program. The American girl and the British boy. Their writing last way beyond what anyone would have ever imagined. But the lost touch when Luca began to close herself off. Can they reconnect and get back what they had? Will they be able to beat the odds?
Luca struggles with extreme anxiety and has basically re-arranged her entire life as a result. Loosing someone so close to you can cause you to react. She is slowly working on trying to take her life back with the help of a sweet older Doctor who, she has friended. She has resigned herself to be alone unless she can find a way to overcome these issues.
Griffin has gone against the odds and worked his ass off to become an American rock star. His father thought his dreams of a music career were ridiculous. But fame is not everything it is cracked up to be. It is a daily struggle to find some privacy, an even bigger struggle to find people that are true to you.
I love how the books that Vi and Penelope team write seem so complete. It is like they are one mind writing. I never get a sense of disconnect. I always feel the emotions of their characters and get sucked in when reading.
*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***
This is a new favourite by this duo. Griffin and Luca are incredible characters on their own. Together they are pure romance magic. This story has that quality of feeling real and recognizable in feelings, but still feel distinctly unique. This is one of those special books and it will stay with me for a long time. Don’t miss this jewel.
Another amazing and swoon worthy romance from my favorite writing duo! Absolutely loved Dirty Letters!
Griffin and Luca’s story is so much more than pen pals falling in love. Anxiety is something so many people deal with, but don’t talk to much about.
An absolutely sweet, fun and sexy read that will have you turning the pages and falling in love.
Part of Luca’s past really hot home for me. If you’re from Southern New England you’ll know what I’m referring to. Totally made my heartache.
Beautiful story and couldn’t recommend enough!!
5 Stars For A Love That Was Everything!!!
This incredible writing duo delivered an emotional journey that left my heart full. It wasn’t a picture perfect love story because love is messy. But it was filled with emotion and unconditional love. It was a love story that took decades of friendship to reach a HEA. It was worth every heartache and tear that was shed. Love is EVERYTHING!
This story was honest in it’s depiction of a woman struggling with her anxiety and fears. Luca describes herself as a bird living in a cage. She was once young and carefree until a tragedy stole her fearlessness and her freedom.
That tragedy would define the next eight years of her life. She couldn’t let go of the guilt that came along with being a survivor. She even gave up her British pen pal who had come to mean so much to her. Anything to punish herself for living.
Now eight years later Griffin, the boy she left behind, has sent a letter to get his own closure with his friend that just disappeared on him. He never knew why she stopped writing. This is her second chance to live the life she deserves. To fix what was broken when her world fell apart.
One letter. That letter would change everything.
Griffin may have had his secrets, but he was truly the best! Patient and forgiving. Willing to do anything to help Luca even if that meant putting aside his own wants. Everyone deserves a Griffin. He epitomizes unconditional, forever love.
I went through a roller coaster of emotions. I lived Luca’s pain and fears with her. I felt both of their sadness and heartbreak. I grieved beside them for their losses. I laughed at their bad jokes and swooned at Griffin’s romantic declarations. I truly fell in love with these characters. This was an amazing story of overcoming your past, your fears, your sadness because loving someone and being loved by them was EVERYTHING.
5 + STARS!!! Dirty Letters is a standalone romance. Man I love it when these 2 ladies get together and write this was another outstanding romance!
This was Griffin Quinn and Luca Vinetti story. They started off being pen pals at 7 years old and lost contact after Luca had a tragedy happen. Luca broke Griffin’s heart when she just stopped writing. He sent one more letter as an adult and he never expected a response back from her.
There was a part that I was crying and couldn’t stop. I loved this book.
Theirs is a sexy tale and I may have to look for a Furby key chain. Haha!
I felt that this book was different from others that I have read. It’s a romance but it was the story told that was different. Pen pals at an early age for years, lose contact with each other, then start back writing as adults.
Another great book to read by these 2 authors! Loved it!
Blind faith. Those are the two words that stuck out to me as I let these words pour over me. Griffin and Luca have both been through so much, and yet blind faith is what has carried them to where they are today. And their letters connected them to a before and after, each piece of correspondence connecting these individuals in a way that nothing else ever could. So their conduit of conversation is what first forced them to open up to each other and look deeper into themselves. And it’s also what brought them back together. Plus it allowed them to be more free with themselves. However, we know that Griffin wasn’t ready to meet face-to-face. And that takes us back to blind faith.
Luca knew what this boy, now man, has always meant to her. Blind faith is what opened her up – to write to him after so many years, to share parts of her reserved self, to want to find him. And when things become a little more difficult, blind faith is what could be the make or break in their love story. And it is indeed a love story.
I love that Keeland and Ward bring back the romanticism of letter writing. They show us how this medium can force intimacy and intrigue. It can also bring forth a stark honesty cultivated by, yes you guessed it, blind faith. There are some very apopros moments of chemistry – well laid out and built up. They also make you rethink furbies named Mee-mee! I enjoy their collaborations because they each bring something so unique yet well blended to their characters and plots. They create wonderful secondary characters (Doc & Hortencia), fun scenarios, and sizzling heat.
You’ll love the way Griffin’s loves and Luca’s quirks. Great read!
I can’t express how much I loved this book. I fell so hard for Griffin and felt his hurt. At 75% I cried non-stop. The tug of emotion was very strong. This was an incredible love story about two pen pals that have written each other since the second grade. Due to life circumstances they lost touch in adulthood and with the help of fate they reconnect and finally meet one another. Their lives couldn’t be more different and opposite. Finding a balance is going to be a slippery slope.
If you are a fan of Vi & P, then you will NOT be disappointed! This book is definitely going on my favorites shelf. Amazing job ladies! I loved this book!!!!!
I was provided an advanced reader copy and have voluntarily written an honest review.
This book was everything I didn’t realize I needed!
There hasn’t been a co-write these two have done that I didn’t enjoy. I immersed myself in all things Griffin and Luca. Getting to know this pair was so much fun. Her fear and honesty coupled with his passion and loyalty will lead to these two becoming your new favorite couple.
The mystery of the unknown holds such a grand appeal in this story. You’re rooting for them to figure out their way to one another and make all of our, “Don’t be a Catfish” fantasies come true. Their letters will knock your socks off, while leaving you cracking up at the absurdity of it all.
They are both clever, intelligent and passionate characters that deserve their HEA. Such an amazingly written story with great details and witty, sassy and sexy conversations.
Definitely a favorite read for the year!
It’s no secret that I LOVE Penelope and Vi’s books, individually and especially their co-written works!
This book is the epitome of everything I love about their books! A strong sexy hero that is sweet and kind and romantic and a strong heroine. I love seeing strong female leads in books.
Luca is sweet, and strong and resilient. I loved watching her story unfold and watching her become the heroine of her own story. She had a hard time frowning up and it affected her adulthood more in a way that she never thought. She’s strong though, more than she thought, and pushes through and became the woman she’s always wanted to be. And I just love that!
I love that PW and Vi mix in some issues that people struggle with everyday and does it with such finesse and you’re in awe of these characters and you’re fighting for them too. You know it’s a great story when you can relate to these characters and you think about them long after the story ends.
It’s so sweet that Griffin and Luca met thorough letters…and through letters Luca finds her healing. It’s beautiful. And I love Hortencia (Lucas pet pig lol!). I love all the “non-traditional” pets these two put in their stories.
Dirty Letters was a nice read. I liked the premise of the whole writing letters and how they kept at it especially in the age of electronics and social media. It brought a different type of feel to the book. Luca and Griffin were good characters and I enjoyed their story. You really felt for Luca as she deals with her struggles. And Griffin was so sweet being there for her and loving her. It was nice watching their friendship and eventual romance grow. Because of the bond that was always there it made the romance a little sweeter. I liked their interactions-it was sexy, sweet, and fun. Overall this was a likeable pleasant story.
It has been a long time since Luca has seen a letter from her pen pal Griffin, so when she runs across some while cleaning out her late fathers home, it starts to bring back some good memories… and a few bad ones too. They first met through a pen pal letter program at age seven, and were quick to strike up a friendship, one that lasted well into their high school years. They were the best of friends, well enough that Luca felt comfortable enough to tell him all her secrets.
But then Luca’s life derailed a bit and she stopped writing letters… and to her dismay she just discovered that Griffin never stopped writing. Now as she reads all his letters she feels compelled to finally write him back, and of course apologize for her absence, and explain why she stopped corresponding. Now she just has to put pen to paper and hope it’s not to late…
Dirty Letters is a story of friendship, love, and second chances. These two met as children, found an easy friendship that lasted well into their high school years, but then tragedy drove them apart. Losing Griffin’s friendship has always haunted Luca, he was the one person who understood her and she could turn to when she needed advice or support. She has went a lot of years without her friend, so when she discovers his letters it’s like life is extending her a second chance, one she doesn’t take lightly. It was so much fun watching these two re-connect and discover a new side to their friendship, their conversations had me smiling and blushing a bit too. This was a delightful friends to lovers romance that did my heart all kinds of good, it’s words brought feels, swoons, and lots of smiles! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
I loved Griffin and Luca!!! They are my newest favorite couple to love. Vi and Penelope bring so much life into this book, I could not put it down! I was memorized from page one! That is when I know that it was going to be a hit!
So the letters…I thought that was just amazing. Made me smile from ear to ear. Made me miss sending out a letter to a love one every once in awhile. Made me daydream again. Then something amazing blooms between Luca and Griffin, you really do not want to miss out!!! Make sure to grab your copy of Dirty Letters ASAP!!!!
Dirty Letters is an emotional and passionate contemporary romance about two pen pals falling in love before they even meet! I loved this book so much!! Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward made me want a pen pal myself and reminded me of the beauty of writing a letter. Their writing is both delicate, powerful, and affecting. I am currently looking for another tissue box because I have gone through a whole box reading this book. The characters faced many ups and downs and these two authors highlighted the power of love so beautifully.
The story follows Griffin and Luca who start of their friendship as being pen pals. They begin writing letters to each other from elementary school all the way up to high school. Their honesty and vulnerability in their letters were breathtaking.
I thought Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward created amazing characters that I could connect with and enjoy reading about. Luca is a woman who has been through hell and back. Her experiences have led her to have anxiety and agoraphobia. She has only been in love one time and that was with her pen pal. They used to write all the time, but then the letters stopped. Griffin is a rock star who has had a hard time trusting people. He trusted one person and she forgot to write back. He is kind, passionate, and did I mention he has an accent. *insert heart eyes emoji*
He always had Luca on his mind and one drunken night he writes her a letter telling her how he feels about her stopping her letters.
This letter changed their lives again and this time would be different. They have changed over the years, but the connection is still there. They have never met and don’t know each other’s real names so meeting each other isn’t as easy as it seems. I believe fate wants them to meet as much as I wanted them to meet and they did! Yep, sparks were flying.
The truth of their identities makes having a real relationship tricky, but the story makes each one figure out if love is truly enough. It’s an incredible read that is unputdownable. I loved how the authors put this story together and how they give readers an insight into their lives as young adults to adults.
I give Dirty Letters 5 stars. It is a fascinating story that shows the power of love, tackles the struggle of living with anxiety, and letting go of fears. Dirty Letters is so good that you won’t be able to put it down!! Dirty Letters Penelope Ward Vi Keeland
Dirty Letters is another great read by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. I really loved it. I loved loved Griffin, he was just swoony! Luca was sweet and I loved her. I Loved how he was with her! Griffin and Luca were just perfect together!
Eight years ago her life changed, and as a result of this a decade of written letters between them, came to an abrupt end.
Angry, confused and frustrated but the world loved his pain. His lyrics of them, brought him a hit record.
But enough is enough. There was never closure, and now he seeks an answer to the ultimate question of “why?”…
Wowsers!!! What an emotional read!
I laughed like a hyena, I bawled like baby, and now, now I’m emotionally spent.
So many emotions that only the best of writers can draw out. This isn’t merely a book to read, it’s an experience so magical, words won’t do this true justice.
I fell in love with the idea of them, the fairytale, their story of how they became a couple. I invested everything that I am into the possibility of what they could be, and this is very rare for me.
I loved her for her every day battle with her fears to do things we think of as mundane.
I loved him for trying to protect her from his invasive world and its predators who prey on the weak.
My heart soared, my heart bled and now my tears are drying upon my cheek as I sit and try to collect myself.
Beautiful, amazing and just simply wow!!