YOURS FROM THE TOWER

An epistolary novel unfolding through letters, primarily round-robin correspondence between three young women in late-19th-century Britain.

Friends Tirzah, Polly, and Sophia were at school together and are now out in the world seeking their futures. Tirzah bookends the novel with her letters: A girl “in misery and exile,” she feels trapped and lonely in her grandmother’s house in Perthshire. Her story unfolds through her confinement, her actions to change her circumstances, and readers’ understanding of her mysterious childhood. Polly—the novel’s moral center—teaches in an orphanage in Liverpool. Her missives detail her happy family life, dedication to her students, and romance with the superintendent. Sophia, meanwhile, is in London with her aunt’s family during her first “Season,” where she feels duty-bound to secure a financially advantageous marriage. Her letters describe parties and suitors and her conflicting emotions around her prospects, and they introduce readers to the unconventional love match she eventually makes. The three girls, who are cued white, encourage each other’s best selves and turn tropes on their heads as they find some control over their lives despite their circumstances. This clever novel’s strength lies in its structure: The format effectively supports the drama, character development, voice, and pacing, even while it asks readers to pay attention and fill in details—or wait to see what the next letter will reveal.

A warm, gentle work with well-drawn characters and brisk pacing celebrating female friendship and independence.