THE THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE SAID

An extraordinary collection of letters by ordinary people who have missed the chance to say something important to someone in their lives. Heartwarming, funny, and sad this book touches a nerve, as shown by the enthusiastic following for the eponymous blog.

In 2009, after hearing about the sudden death of the actress Natasha Richardson, Jackie Hooper wondered if there was a way she could help people dealing with abrupt loss. So, she started asking strangers for letters. She invited them to share the things they'd never gotten around to saying while they had the chance and found that, often, this offer opened floodgates. From there, a blog was born that attracts more than 40,000 unique visitors a month from around the world.

Featuring new materials, as well as a few enduring fan-favorites, THE THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE SAID is a fascinating compilation of the most moving and surprising letters Jackie has collected. By turns heartwarming, funny, sad, and wise, the letters showcase a remarkable range of voices and subjects. In one, a woman apologizes to her former classmate for being the mean, popular girl in high school. In another, an indignant 10-year-old boy sternly urges his friend to become "a better man." And in another, a man who fled the Holocaust thanks the woman who protected his family from the Nazis.

Jackie Hooper is the creator of The Things You Would Have Said project and blog. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit www.wouldhavesaid.com.