Some stories feel like a quiet whisper on your heart—gentle at first, then suddenly so powerful you realize you’ve been holding your breath. Don’t Forget to Write by Laura DiTieri is exactly that kind of novel. Inspired by a true story and set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, this book invites you into a world of expectations, impossible choices, and a love that lingers long after the last page. If you love emotional, time-spanning romances with depth and sincerity, prepare to be swept away.
Title: Don’t Forget to Write
Author: Laura DiTieri
Series: N/A
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐
Disclaimer
Affiliate links can be found within this post. If you need additional information, please see the disclaimer.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
My Thoughts:
What a powerful and emotional story this turned out to be—and all the more moving because it is inspired by a true story.
Set in the 1960s, Don’t Forget to Write follows Trudy Kirchberger, a woman in her late twenties who is ready to shape a life of her own. She’s preparing to move out of her parents’ home, begin her first year as an elementary school teacher, and step into adulthood on her own terms. Until now, everyone else has had a say—especially her father, who believes a “good match” and a comfortable life are more important than love.
Enter Henry. Polished, wealthy, respectable… and quietly, unsettlingly controlling. Trudy senses early on that something in his demeanor dims her spark. Still, with her father’s unshakable approval, the relationship continues—until something shifts.
Then she meets Frank.
Frank, a friend of her brother’s, arrives simply to help her move—and in one moment, everything changes. Their connection is instant, gentle, and full of possibility. What begins as a quiet curiosity between them becomes something tender and profound, especially as letters become the heart of their growing relationship. The letter-writing in this book adds a gorgeously intimate layer, grounding the story in emotion and authenticity.
The second half of the novel had me in tears more than once. This is a story of true love, sacrifice, and a woman struggling to claim her autonomy in a world determined to define it for her. Trudy’s choices are both heartbreakingly simple—because she knows exactly what she wants—and unbearably heavy, because of what those choices mean for her future.
What touched me most was how deeply relatable Trudy’s emotional journey felt. Her longing to choose love over expectation, joy over duty, and authenticity over appearances echoed the kinds of battles women still face today.
Don’t Forget to Write is a beautiful reminder that love—real love—is worth fighting for. Even when the cost is high. Even when the road is uncertain. Even when heartbreak is inevitable. The joy Trudy finds, fleeting or not, is worth every moment she dared to choose it.
This book is for anyone who wants a timeless, soul-stirring love story—one that honors the courage it takes to break from expectation and follow the voice of your heart.
Publisher’s Blurb:
Impossible choices. Unforgettable love. A forever worth fighting for.
Trudy Kirchberger has always known what’s expected of her: teach, marry well, and live a life that looks respectable from the outside. With Henry, a polished young businessman who appears to be perfect, the path seems clear—until everything changes. In her first year of teaching, with the nation in shock after President Kennedy’s assassination, Trudy finds her world shifting in ways she never expected.
Caught between the polished life her parents want for her and a quiet, unexpected love that feels entirely her own, Trudy must choose which version of herself to fight for.
Inspired by a true story, Don’t Forget to Write is a sweeping, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about love, family expectations, and the courage it takes to follow your heart—even if it leads to heartbreak.
Where to Buy:
Final Thoughts:
Don’t Forget to Write is the kind of novel that lingers—softly, quietly, and with remarkable emotional weight. Trudy’s journey is a powerful reminder that choosing your own path, even when it’s difficult, can lead to the most meaningful moments of your life. If you love stories that wrap truth, tenderness, and timeless romance together, this one deserves a spot at the very top of your TBR.
Thank you for stopping by the blog today. I hope this review brings you closer to a story that just might touch your heart the way it touched mine. Until next time, may your coffee be warm, your pages be full, and your next great read be waiting right around the corner.
Have you ever read a love story that stayed with you long after the final page? Which one—and why did it touch your heart?
Related Reads:
Looking for book recs…
Adventures in Literature 
Leave a comment