Recently divorced Helen MacFarquhar, a middle-aged bookseller, after sending her daughter off to summer camp, is ready to move on in her life.

One morning, going through the mail, she discovers an anonymous blue love letter, without an envelope or a name.

At first, she thinks it is from George Matthias, the local fireman, but decides it couldn't be him, after giving him subtle hints ("Have you ever been 'on fire'?").

Not having any idea who may be the writer of the love letter, she just puts it away in her purse, trying to forget about it.

Then, Johnny, a college student working in Helen's bookstore for the summer, is invited to her house for dinner.

In the next few weeks, Johnny and Helen meet and begin an affair, each thinking the other wrote the letter.

They break up on amiable terms but, unfortunately, George hears the breakup and is left heartbroken and confused.

Amidst all the confusion, it is revealed that the letter was actually written by Helen's mother's lover to another woman, early in her life.

The website's consensus reads: "Poor character development and scripting hamper any romantic chemistry.

"[1] Being the only new release opposite Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, with a theatrical premiere on May 21, 1999, DreamWorks believed The Love Letter had a counterprogramming appeal to stand its own.

[3] The following week, marking the Memorial Day holiday, the film fell to sixth place while expanding to only 19 more theaters as another romantic comedy, Notting Hill had a wide release,[4] and by its third weekend The Love Letter was out of the top ten entirely.