Dear Aaron

I stumbled upon 'Dear Aaron' during a weekend binge-reading session, and it completely blindsided me with how charming it was. The epistolary format—letters and emails between the main characters—gave it such a cozy, intimate vibe that’s rare in romance novels these days. It’s not just fluff, though; the emotional depth sneaks up on you, especially as the characters’ vulnerabilities peek through their witty banter.

What really hooked me was how relatable the slow burn felt. The pacing mirrors real-life long-distance relationships, where misunderstandings and small gestures carry so much weight. By the time they finally meet, I was practically yelling at my book like it was a rom-com movie. If you enjoy character-driven stories with a side of heartfelt pining, this one’s a gem.

The heart of 'Dear Aaron' is Ruby Santos, a sweet but introverted girl who starts writing letters to a soldier, Aaron Hall, as part of a pen pal program. What I love about Ruby is how relatable she feels—she’s not some overly polished heroine, just a regular person with doubts and quiet hopes. Her voice in the letters is so genuine, full of little quirks and vulnerabilities that make her endearing. The way she slowly opens up to Aaron, sharing bits of her life and fears, feels like watching a flower bloom.

Aaron, on the other hand, is technically the other main character, but the story really revolves around Ruby’s perspective for most of it. He’s this charming, slightly mysterious guy who’s deployed overseas, and their dynamic starts off lighthearted but deepens into something really tender. The book does a great job balancing humor and emotional weight, especially through Ruby’s self-deprecating yet witty tone. By the end, you feel like you’ve grown alongside her, which is why she sticks with me long after finishing the novel.

The ending of 'Dear Aaron' is this beautiful culmination of long-distance pen pals finally meeting in person after months of heartfelt letters. Ruby and Aaron, who started off as strangers assigned to write to each other through a military program, slowly open up about their lives, fears, and dreams. By the time they meet, there’s this unspoken tension—will their chemistry translate offline? And it totally does! The way Mariana Zapata writes their first meeting is so tender and awkward in the best way; you can feel the nervous energy radiating off the page.

What I love is how real it feels—no grand gestures, just two people figuring things out step by step. Aaron’s quiet protectiveness and Ruby’s stubborn independence clash just enough to keep things interesting. The ending leaves you with this warm, satisfied feeling, like you’ve watched two people earn their happiness. Plus, there’s this subtle hint about their future that makes you want to imagine more for them.

Maru's 'Dear Aaron' is one of those sweet, slow-burn romances that hooked me from the first email exchange between the characters. I totally get wanting to read it online for free, but as a fellow book lover, I’d gently suggest supporting the author if you can. Scribd sometimes offers free trials where you might find it, or check your local library’s digital catalog—mine had it as an ebook loan!

That said, I’ve stumbled across snippets on platforms like Wattpad where fans share unofficial excerpts, but the full experience is worth the legit purchase. The way Maru builds tension through letters just hits differently when you’re reading the complete, polished version. Plus, the physical copy has those cute doodles!

If you loved 'Dear Aaron' for its sweet, slow-burn romance and epistolary format, you might enjoy 'The Flatshare' by Beth O'Leary. It’s got that same vibe of strangers slowly falling for each other through written communication—except instead of letters, it’s notes left in a shared apartment. The characters are so endearing, and the way their relationship builds feels organic and heartfelt.

Another great pick is 'Attachments' by Rainbow Rowell, where a guy falls for a woman after reading her emails (sounds creepy, but trust me, it’s charming). The humor and emotional depth make it a standout. For something with more drama, 'P.S. I Love You' by Cecelia Ahern mixes letters with grief and healing in a way that’s surprisingly uplifting.