Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Letters From Abroad: A Holiday Novella

Rate this book
For the child of an active military service member, making friends was not always easy, but when Benson Gladwyn arrived at Mrs. Compton’s fifth-grade class, he and Selena Francis became best friends.
When Benson’s family had to move away, he and Selena planned to stay in touch, but life happened, causing them to lose contact.
Almost twenty years later, Benson, serving in the military overseas, receives a letter from his long-lost friend.
A friendship is reunited. A bond renewed.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2022

37 people are currently reading
31 people want to read

About the author

Bailey West

31 books201 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
131 (75%)
4 stars
32 (18%)
3 stars
9 (5%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Dahyana.
697 reviews92 followers
December 23, 2023
Selena x Benson

This story was different and hella sweet. Benson is overseas serving in the army. After years apart, he received a letter from a best friend/crush from grade school; Selena. 
Selena and Benson got to know each other again and fell in love through those letters. The exchanges were sweet between them. 
As always, Bailey gave us a Word….or rather pastor Israel gave us a Word. 
This was quite wholesome, cute, and sweet. Love army representation.
Profile Image for TrueBookJunkie.
645 reviews16 followers
December 26, 2022
Bailey West came through right on time with one! I truly love every book she has ever released, and this one was no different. The letters in this book gave such a different aspect to long lost loves reconnecting. Benson and Selena learned so much about one another and also in my opinion grew stronger with the distance they faced. When they finally met back up in person I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt 😆.
If it wasn’t clear I enjoyed this book although I liked/loved all the characters in this book getting to have some time with Pastor Israel and Lady Leona was absolutely a highlight. I always love reconnecting with past characters, but this couple has always held a special place for me. I’m excited to see what Mrs. West gives us next I know whatever it is it will be amazing!
507 reviews8 followers
January 22, 2023
Good for my spirit

This Christmas was hard for me. I almost lost my mom to a stroke and pneumonia that she developed during her hospital stay. God provided and she's still on this side of life. I'm the caregiver for her and my dad who has Dementia and it could be taxing but I wouldn't have any other way. This book was a reminder of giving hope to the hopeless. Life to the weary spirit. Love to the loveless. It made you feel like God is still working on your next story. I enjoyed the love journey between Selena and Ben. Very heartwarming
116 reviews
January 6, 2024
Took me back

I am of the age where letter writing was a thing especially during high school and college, this book had me sentimental thinking about how letter writing which allowed for a slower, thoughtful, and more intentional courtship or simply even acquaintance-ship.

I love that Selena and Benson’s relationship was built on a solid friendship that served as a launchpad for a whirlwind love story. I so dug this couple and their family and friend circle. Bailey definitely has another one!

Profile Image for Marsay Book Club Babe.
1 review10 followers
December 27, 2022
the sweetest story

Benson and Selena’s story was so cute and sweet 😍. The friends to lovers always hit different. One of my favorite things about this story was the letters they wrote each other. I remember writing this guy a letter and I had so much anxiety waiting on him to write back 😂. That took me back to that point in my life and made me smile. Bailey is definitely one of my fav authors 😘
Profile Image for martha fountain.
843 reviews18 followers
December 29, 2022
Great honor to our service members

This was a beautiful love story. As a retired Army officer, the writer nailed it on what our service members endure overseas during the holiday season. I absolutely loved how Selena and Benson reconnected through written letters, not texts, emails or DMs. It made the story so intimate and authentic. Of course I wanted more but the author gave us a great love story. Well done.
1,142 reviews8 followers
January 3, 2023
Letters from Abroad

I loved this book and the concept of the main characters communicating and reconnecting via letters. It was easy to see their chemistry and love for each other from their letters and once they got together in person. I loved that Selena’s friends kept encouraging her and pushed her to reach out to Benson and continue to reach out and not think too far ahead and to just enjoy the moment for what it was. It was also nice to hear a word from Pastor Iz.
729 reviews
January 10, 2023
Vickie J

Benson and Selena story was beautiful both didn't want to Ness up the friendship and confess that they loved each other when he had to leave and go with his family overseas it was too late, but 15 years later who do she see his mom back in town. Sometimes it takes a while but it's a worth the wait they both had become adults and experienced life.
67 reviews
January 19, 2023
Wonderful

Being an Army veteran, I could relate to Benson's character. Receiving care packages from home made being deployed away from families bearable. So love the theme of this book. I have not celbrated Kwanzaa before and after reading, I have a better understanding, thank you. Oh yeah, come through with the fish dreams. LOL. Over all loved this holiday novella.
Profile Image for Gussie Porter.
222 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2023
distance can work.

This story was so very well told, the wring of the letters made my heart cry. This story will be recommended to all my sister readers and a few cousins. I don’t want to give anything away so I’m telling you my fellow readers Bailey West has done it again. I absolutely Loved this story, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥all that and then some.❤️👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
241 reviews7 followers
December 21, 2022
loved it

Such a wonderful story of Benson and Selena rekindling their relationship and knowing who and what they wanted. It was heartwarming! As always, with Ms. West’s books, you get a great love story, messages of faith with a little steam on the side.
Profile Image for Donna Scoggins.
557 reviews
December 24, 2022
Rekindled Love

Sometimes that childhood relationship can be that rock you need as an adult. Getting through life’s challenges until love is rekindled is the hard part. Always appreciate Bailey West!
Profile Image for Tina Jackson.
615 reviews12 followers
December 26, 2022
Totally enjoyed it

Second chance romance friends to lovers Benson and Selena's story was both. These two friends reconnect first via letters and realize they each had feelings for each other during their teenage years and pursue those feelings. Such a sweet story.
215 reviews
December 27, 2022
Nice and Sweet

Selena and Benson's story was nice and sweet. A story of young love reunited. After years of being separated due to no fault of their. Ben and Lena are reunited as adults to form an everlasting love.
Profile Image for Marshall Thompson.
413 reviews
January 9, 2023
short but sweet

Second chance at love rarely happens… I truly enjoyed Benson and Selena HEA! Thanks to the men and women that serve and protect this country! May God bless each one ☝️ of you!
15 reviews
January 21, 2023
Quick read

I love Bailey West. The novella was cute and the writing was great. I love the letter writing . I prefer Bailey's longer works because of the depth of the characters and storytelling.
It's a good read if you're short on time.
110 reviews
December 12, 2024
I Need More!!!

This was the perfect holiday novella. I enjoyed the personal touch of the letters!! Not to mention catching up with some of my favorite characters. I hope to see Benson and Selena again. Job well done!!
375 reviews2 followers
December 25, 2022
So sweet!

That was the sweetest story, I loved every minute of it! Nice quick read for my holiday weekend off! Benson and Selena didn’t waste any time, lol.
Profile Image for Kendra.
44 reviews1 follower
January 1, 2023
Loved this book. Made me cry. I loved how they were able to reconnect and write letters. No third act breakup. Just a perfect novella.
842 reviews2 followers
January 12, 2023
good read

Very good read short and sweet. I loved how everything played out. Makes you remember soldiers need constant communication in order to make serving easier.
1,757 reviews7 followers
December 27, 2023
Good book

This was a very nice read. I enjoyed Selena and Benson's story. I'm excited that they found each other. Everything happens for a reason.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews