Chicago columnist Jennifer is still mourning the loss of her husband and unborn child when she’s summoned to her grandmother’s hospital bedside. Sam is in a coma and her prognosis is grim.
It’s been eighteen months since Jennifer became a widow and the thought of losing her closest relative and confidante is almost more than she can bear. Jennifer maintains a daily bedside vigil while spending evenings in Sam’s Wisconsin lake house.
It is in this house of happy childhood memories that Jennifer discovers a series of letters addressed to her and written by her grandmother. Though Sam remains in a coma, her penned life story is about to have a profound impact on her granddaughter.
Sam’s Letters to Jennifer is James Patterson’s second venture into the world of two-hanky tales. The loves and losses of Sam and Jennifer are examined and developed for maximum sentimentality. This work is similar to that of Nicholas Sparks minus the coastal Carolina setting. Patterson’s trademark short chapters keep the story simple with a fast pace.
The novel’s short length doesn’t allow for much background detail of characters. However, Patterson manages to include several heart-tugging plot lines in a single manuscript.
Sam’s Letters to Jennifer includes a surprise in the end. Resist the urge to peak at the final pages first and play along with Patterson’s “guess who” game. You’ll be glad you did.
