Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
(Audiobook) I enjoyed most of this book, but got tired of the status of the relationship in the last part.
This has been one of my most anticipated releases of the year from one of my all-time favourite authors. When I had the chance to read it early, I really couldn’t believe my luck
This is a beautiful book which gives such a honest, quiet and gentle read which looks at a romance between Addie and Sol, two people who are seeking something else and both have family difficulties in their lives which they are trying to escape from.
Addie feels trapped and seeks a world somewhere else and is interested in Sol when he visits a neighbouring island. She spends her time catering for guests at a retreat she runs with her mum and swimming and watching nature take up most of her time.
Sol is a man seeking solace and dealing with grief and is instantly attracted to Addie and like her loves watching wildlife. As he helps Addie out he finds himself on a path he didn’t expect. Addie herself has the opportunity to find a life for herself where she can thrive.
Sol and Addie are brought together again through fate and we follow them over the next couple of years as they try to find a way to live a life fulfilled. I was invested in their lives early on and it’s so beautifully written I could not put it down.
I found gentle to be the word for this book. Superb characters and a storyline which you will fall in love with.
Addie feels trapped and seeks a world somewhere else and is interested in Sol when he visits a neighbouring island. She spends her time catering for guests at a retreat she runs with her mum and swimming and watching nature take up most of her time.
Sol is a man seeking solace and dealing with grief and is instantly attracted to Addie and like her loves watching wildlife. As he helps Addie out he finds himself on a path he didn’t expect. Addie herself has the opportunity to find a life for herself where she can thrive.
Sol and Addie are brought together again through fate and we follow them over the next couple of years as they try to find a way to live a life fulfilled. I was invested in their lives early on and it’s so beautifully written I could not put it down.
I found gentle to be the word for this book. Superb characters and a storyline which you will fall in love with.
Elements of this I loved - the lyrical writing, the original characters. And elements I hated - the central love story dragged out to “will they won’t they”, the basic miscommunication between the characters. Some parts felt extremely unrealistic. But I did love the themes of grief, family, the allegorical references to animals. However the book could have been edited down to 300 or so pages. Haaaated the omniscient introductions to each chapter. I’ll read another Joanna Glenn book since reviews say it’s better than this one, but did not love this.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a slow burn but an emotional brilliant read. Addie is on an island Rokesbury who helps her mother run a retreat for women, and Sol is on a retreat, on Ora, the islands connected by a bridge at low tide. Both are unhappy, grieving, love nature, and are introverts with difficult pasts navigate. Gradually, they find one another. It's a love story that slowly unfolds, layered and moving. but at the same time, it's a quick, easy read that you just wanted to keep reading. There is a religious undertone, which I usually dislike, but I didn't mind that aspect finding it easy to overlook as the rest is so beautiful. Such loveable but damaged characters who find it difficult to communicate. Filled with hope, it's a romance for the awkward and shy. It's such a brilliant, well crafted, gentle, enchanting, beautiful, but powerful, special, exquisite, excellent read. I loved it so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Car accident
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Netgalley for making this ARC accessible to me