The Last Letter

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of the death of a child.

The letters are an important recurring motif and narrative device in the book. As a narrative device, the letters appear non-linearly at the beginning of most chapters, foreshadowing a particular event or idea that will be explored shortly after. For instance, Chaos’s letter about Maisie’s health appears at the beginning of the chapter in which she receives her diagnosis. Similarly, shortly after the letter in which Chaos asserts that he doesn’t want to be a father, Beckett ends up adopting the twins.

Ella and Beckett’s relationship begins through their letter writing, and the novel opens with the first letter Ella ever writes to “Chaos.” Despite having never met, their mutual vulnerability causes them to fall in love with the selves they show each other in their letters. For Ella, Chaos is a source of support in tough times; for Beckett, Ella’s letters are a source of connection and comfort. In this way, the letters highlight the themes of Building Trust Through Vulnerability and Commitment and The Healing Power of Love and Relationships.

The title of the book also points to the importance of letters in the story.