You all know I love words! And I love letters (the ones we used to write once upon a time, and sometimes many of us still do and still love to)! Of course, I also love books. So it follows that I love love letters found in books! 💌📖

As someone who cherishes the power of words—sentences, paragraphs, verses, stanzas, and beyond—I hold a special place in my heart for those that begin with ‘Dear…’ and end with expressions like ‘Yours affectionately,’ ‘With love,’ or similar. 💌 Letters therefore hold a unique place in my affections.

Which is why, when I stumble upon a letter nestled within the pages of a book, it feels like uncovering a hidden gem—delightful, touching, and altogether precious. In this month devoted to love, I’m excited to share a few of these literary treasures that have captured my heart. Inspired by the love freebie theme over at ThatArtsyReaderGirl for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday

While this post is making its way to the blog later than I expected, I am fine with it. I have so many more such discoveries that I know I have missed including here, both due to trying to keep it to ten in number, and the simple fact that I can’t recall some of those books. So you might see another post sometime in the future with the title 20 (or 50) literary love letters! 💌 📖 But until then, hope you enjoy these finds!

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support. Please see the full disclosure for more information. I only recommend products I definitely would (or have already) use myself. 💖

Love Letters Found in Books: A Literary Treasure Trove

Captain Wentworth to Anne Elliott (Persuasion by Jane Austen, Ch 23)

First up: Jane Austen… and I think one of the most famous literary love letters of all. Below is a part of the letter from Captain Wentworth to Anne Elliott. I still can’t recall when I read this book but …this letter makes me want to go read it all over again.

You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.

Will Traynor to Louisa Clark (Me Before You by Jojo Meyes)

Did I read this book? Well, I think this was one of the books I read after watching the movie, and I did enjoy them both. And most likely, my daughter and I will watch the movie together next week (during her winter break)

You are scored on my heart, Clark. You were from the first day you walked in, with your ridiculous clothes and your bad jokes and your complete inability to ever hide a single thing you felt.

Noah Calhoun to Allie Nelson (The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks)

Watched the movie, read the book, loved them both. Cliched to say that and maybe even cliched to do so (love them both), but there it is. And when this is what one hears from a loved one, it makes us feel complete, don’t you think so?

The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more. That plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me.

Gerry to Holly (P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern)

Have you watched the movie? Again, another book I read after watching the movie but loved them both, and cried a few tears too.. (well, for many books/movies on this list, tears were shed, shamelessly.. Yes, I am one of those who gets teary eyed watching even those cute commercials)

Don’t be afraid to fall in love again. Open your heart and follow where it leads you… and remember, shoot for the moon.

Lara Jean Covey to Peter Kavinsky (P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han)

From P.S. I love you to adding a P.S. to say I still love you! This is one I have neither watched nor read but my daughter has done both and she enjoyed the book (which I am thankful for). So here is something I discovered because of her. A treasured discovery indeed for me!

Sometimes I like you so much I can’t stand it. It fills up inside me, all the way to the brim, and I feel like I could overflow. I like you so much I don’t know what to do with it. My heart beats so fast when I know I’m going to see you again. And then, when you look at me the way you do, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Gus (Augustus), not to, but of Hazel (The Fault in our Stars by John Green)

Way too many tears shed over this book and the movie.

I am so lucky to love her… You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers.

The Wishing Girl to the Boy with the Pinecones (The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham)

This one is part of a letter from the Wishing Girl to the Boy with the Pincecones, left in the letter tree.

If you find this, know that I came, and that I waited.

Bluebird to Wolf (Tweet Cute by Emma Lord)

Not really a love letter but definitely one of the many things that made my heart smile when I read this adorably cute and delicious (literally) book. This was in response to when Wolf makes Bluebird an app to find cupcake places in the area!

Bluebird: Oh my god. YOU DIDN’T.

Bluebird: YOU MADE A CUPCAKE VERSION?!?!

Sir to Lady (To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne)

A message on the anonymous dating app they are both on… at one of the turning points of the novel. I picked up this book for many reasons. First, the title – it is the same as one of my favorite books ever. Second, the references to You’ve Got Mail and Shop Around the Corner (two movies I love and have watched way too many times to count). It is for fans of these movies for sure…

My dear Lady,

First, my apologies for the delayed response. Out of respect for everything you are to me, I wanted to give your suggestion the consideration it deserves.

I’m tempted. You have no idea how tempted, how long I’ve wondered what you look like, what it would be like to hear your voice, to see your face as we talk about nothing. And everything.

Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)

Starting and ending this list of love letters with Austen. A book I read much later in life than expected but worth the wait.

 Of all weapons in the world, I now know love to be the most dangerous, for I have suffered a mortal wound. When did I fall so deeply under your spell, Miss Bennet? I cannot fix the hour or the spot or the look or the words which laid the foundation. I was in the middle before I knew I began. What a proud fool I was. I have faced the harsh truth: that I can never hope to win your love in this life.

Related Reads

• The Magic of the Handwritten Note
• The Art of Letter Writing: Dear Reader, With Love
• A Love Letter to Wondrous Words and the Letters Within
• Book Review: The Little Bookshop of Love Stories

And Now, the End of this Post

Dear reader, have you found something within books that delighted you? What about love letters found in books – maybe even an actual one?! As for me, in addition to the delightful words themselves, I have found receipts, post-it notes with to-do lists, tickets (plane/train/bus/event), and candy/chocolate wrappers within books I borrowed from libraries or bought in used book stores!