Don't Forget to Write: A Novel

A lovely story.

Great story about generations who want make their own rules and not follow expected paths.

This was a fun easy to read book when you need something a little lighter with some sass; perfect for a summer read. It is 1960 and college student Marilyn is home for the summer when she is caught making out with the rabbi's son in the synagogue. When Marilyn refuses to marry the boy, she is sent off to her great aunt Ada in Philadelphia. Ada is a sharp, straight talking Jewish match maker. The story feels true to the time and place, especially the Jersey shore. Marilyn's dad wants to control everything Marilyn does and he believes Ada is the answer. But Ada has a plan of her own and that is to teach Marilyn to live her own life. As summer is winding down, her father is threatening to disown own, Marilyn has to make her choice for her future. The ending was great! I saw one thing coming (for a good bit of the story) but not the other thing!

Set in 1960, Don’t Forget to Write follows Marilyn Kleinman after a scandalous encounter with the rabbi’s son threatens her carefully mapped-out future. Sent away for the summer to live with her formidable great-aunt Ada—a legendary Philadelphia matchmaker—Marilyn expects strict supervision and constant judgment. Instead, she finds herself drawn into Ada’s glamorous, sharp-witted world, one that quietly challenges everything Marilyn has been taught to accept. Over the course of a transformative summer filled with trips to the Jersey Shore and behind-the-scenes glimpses into matchmaking, Marilyn begins to come into her own. She learns that independence often grows from missteps, and that lived experience can teach far more than the well-meaning expectations of others. As family pressures mount and the summer comes to an end, Marilyn must decide whether to return to the safety of the life laid out for her or risk choosing a future on her own terms. At its heart, this is a warm and thoughtful coming-of-age story about the unexpected bonds we form and the ways we often misunderstand the people closest to us. As Marilyn uncovers long-held family secrets—particularly about her mother—the novel gently explores themes of identity, autonomy, and self-discovery, while also touching on issues of racism and homophobia. While the plot twists are small and largely predictable, they feel earned and satisfying, reinforcing the novel’s charm. Don’t Forget to Write is a heartfelt, engaging read that celebrates growth, courage, and the quiet power of choosing oneself.

Great book! Fun read. Takes place in late 50s early 60s? in Phila and the Jesery Shore. A young lady gets into trouble and mischief, so her father sends to spend the summer with her Great aunt at the Jersey shore.