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sarina_langer's review against another edition
5.0
You know it's going to be a good year when it's only January but you already have a new favourite author <3 I usually give new authors at least two books before deciding whether they're worthy of my insta-buy list or not, but Ducarte did it in one. If you're thinking about self-publishing your debut novel this year, read this novel because this girl rocked it!
I love a main character I can connect with on a deep personal level, and Becky was that. I saw myself in her so much in so many ways (just, she's a great swimmer whereas I sink), which made this book quite personal for me and made it even easier to enjoy.
"I've always wanted magic to exist."
"A girl after my own heart," Shawn said. "But what if it does?"
Speaking of Ducarte getting personal--depression and schizophrenia are not easy subjects to tackle, and harder to do well. Ducarte smashed it. She did it so beautifully I was worried Shawn wasn't real (not saying he's not, either--no spoilers here!). The issues in this book--psychological and otherwise-- were so real it hit home big time.
This was really hard to put down for me. I always looked forward to coming back to it, and Ducarte's voice is a big part of that. It's melodic and lovely, and even poetic in places.
The banter was another strong point. I loved listening to the characters talk and argue, especially between Becky and Shawn & Becky and her father. Some of those conversations were the most realistic ones I've ever read. Ducarte dug deep into the human mind and why we do what we do, even when we know it's wrong and when we really want to but are too scared to move forward.
We're all like paper dolls. Happiest when linked to another, often unaware of our flimsiness. So easily torn. What happens when we reach out to find there's no one there to hold our hand?
How is that for an opening? #dies
I loved Becky and Shawn so much, and I'm heartbroken with how it ended. HEARTBROKEN
So, yes, this was excellent and YES, I recommend it. It's out in March and I urge you to add it to your tbr lists and snatch a copy!
I love a main character I can connect with on a deep personal level, and Becky was that. I saw myself in her so much in so many ways (just, she's a great swimmer whereas I sink), which made this book quite personal for me and made it even easier to enjoy.
"I've always wanted magic to exist."
"A girl after my own heart," Shawn said. "But what if it does?"
Speaking of Ducarte getting personal--depression and schizophrenia are not easy subjects to tackle, and harder to do well. Ducarte smashed it. She did it so beautifully I was worried Shawn wasn't real (not saying he's not, either--no spoilers here!). The issues in this book--psychological and otherwise-- were so real it hit home big time.
This was really hard to put down for me. I always looked forward to coming back to it, and Ducarte's voice is a big part of that. It's melodic and lovely, and even poetic in places.
The banter was another strong point. I loved listening to the characters talk and argue, especially between Becky and Shawn & Becky and her father. Some of those conversations were the most realistic ones I've ever read. Ducarte dug deep into the human mind and why we do what we do, even when we know it's wrong and when we really want to but are too scared to move forward.
We're all like paper dolls. Happiest when linked to another, often unaware of our flimsiness. So easily torn. What happens when we reach out to find there's no one there to hold our hand?
How is that for an opening? #dies
I loved Becky and Shawn so much, and I'm heartbroken with how it ended. HEARTBROKEN
So, yes, this was excellent and YES, I recommend it. It's out in March and I urge you to add it to your tbr lists and snatch a copy!
dearreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Death
motherhorror's review against another edition
4.0
I met Holly through Instagram and we became fast friends. Holly is a poet. I read her collection, HIDING BONES when it made its debut and I enjoyed Holly's voice immediately (even though poetry is not really my thing)
THE LIGHT OVER BROKEN TIDE (what a beautiful title) is not a book I would have picked up on my own. Being a horror lover, a reader of thrillers and dark, dark fantasies--a moody, YA story wouldn't be high on my TBR--and to be honest, after Holly sent it to me, it did sit around for awhile because books in my wheelhouse cycled through my hands over and over again.
But Holly is my friend and she's an amazing, supportive person and I was feeling bad for neglecting her book.
One weekend, I picked it up and I read the first page. Again, Holly's unique, lyrical voice captured my attention and I kept reading.
The protagonist, Rebecca (Becky) is all of sixteen. A tragic death leaves Becky feeling alone and retreating into herself.
Her father shows up and whisks Becky off to some remote, coastal town for a bit of fresh air and a change of scenery.
I was low key annoyed with Becky for the better part of the book-just because she's a typical teenager who primarily thinks of herself. She complicates everything and treats people poorly.
But I also felt sorry for her since sixteen would be an awful time in one's life to have to deal with the weight of death, abandonment and mental illness.
So I was patient with her. It's a testament to Holly's writing that she was able to plumb the depths of a young girl's mind like that a draw out the complexities of her struggles.
I don't want to spoil and reader discoveries but I wanted to mention that I loved the way Holly tied in some age appropriate coping mechanisms to illustrate some strong themes of growing up. Life deals us a tough hand sometimes and this book is an insightful look into one, young girl's journey towards mental health and stability. I would definitely buy this for an YA readers in my life but adults who love these kinds of coming-of-age stories will enjoy it too.
THE LIGHT OVER BROKEN TIDE (what a beautiful title) is not a book I would have picked up on my own. Being a horror lover, a reader of thrillers and dark, dark fantasies--a moody, YA story wouldn't be high on my TBR--and to be honest, after Holly sent it to me, it did sit around for awhile because books in my wheelhouse cycled through my hands over and over again.
But Holly is my friend and she's an amazing, supportive person and I was feeling bad for neglecting her book.
One weekend, I picked it up and I read the first page. Again, Holly's unique, lyrical voice captured my attention and I kept reading.
The protagonist, Rebecca (Becky) is all of sixteen. A tragic death leaves Becky feeling alone and retreating into herself.
Her father shows up and whisks Becky off to some remote, coastal town for a bit of fresh air and a change of scenery.
I was low key annoyed with Becky for the better part of the book-just because she's a typical teenager who primarily thinks of herself. She complicates everything and treats people poorly.
But I also felt sorry for her since sixteen would be an awful time in one's life to have to deal with the weight of death, abandonment and mental illness.
So I was patient with her. It's a testament to Holly's writing that she was able to plumb the depths of a young girl's mind like that a draw out the complexities of her struggles.
I don't want to spoil and reader discoveries but I wanted to mention that I loved the way Holly tied in some age appropriate coping mechanisms to illustrate some strong themes of growing up. Life deals us a tough hand sometimes and this book is an insightful look into one, young girl's journey towards mental health and stability. I would definitely buy this for an YA readers in my life but adults who love these kinds of coming-of-age stories will enjoy it too.
beverleyleeauthor's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars.
I always worry a little bit when I have a debut novel to review, because I'm fully aware that this is a writer at the start of their careers, and what happens if I don't like it?
But Holly DuCarte set my mind at rest and delivers a debut novel that does not read like a debut. Her grasp of language is strong, her ties to the setting so much a part of this story, as stable as the Canadian landscape.
This book deals with difficult subjects - mental illness is still seen as a weakness, a thing to be 'got over', by a lot of society, and it is a tribute to Ducarte's storytelling that she winds the complexities of this around a tale of young love and the search for a buried magical vial. I must admit that I didn't gel with Becky at first, I found her to be overly dramatic, but as the book progresses and we learn more and more about her, I found that my allocated chapter a day wasn't enough. I wanted to know what happened next!
I loved the alluring, dreamlike element of parts of this book (and it is up to you to decide what is real and what is not) and its links to Peter Pan. It paves the way for two lost young people clinging onto a dream and each other, whilst being forced apart. Grief and loss, hope and acceptance are huge themes to tackle but Ducarte negotiates her way through with ease.
'We're all like paper dolls. Happiest when linked to another, often aware of our flimsiness. So easily torn. What happens when we reach out to find there's no one there to hold our hand?'
An intelligent YA read, filled with splashes of poetic beauty and the rawness of grief. Pick it up when it releases in the spring of 2018!
I always worry a little bit when I have a debut novel to review, because I'm fully aware that this is a writer at the start of their careers, and what happens if I don't like it?
But Holly DuCarte set my mind at rest and delivers a debut novel that does not read like a debut. Her grasp of language is strong, her ties to the setting so much a part of this story, as stable as the Canadian landscape.
This book deals with difficult subjects - mental illness is still seen as a weakness, a thing to be 'got over', by a lot of society, and it is a tribute to Ducarte's storytelling that she winds the complexities of this around a tale of young love and the search for a buried magical vial. I must admit that I didn't gel with Becky at first, I found her to be overly dramatic, but as the book progresses and we learn more and more about her, I found that my allocated chapter a day wasn't enough. I wanted to know what happened next!
I loved the alluring, dreamlike element of parts of this book (and it is up to you to decide what is real and what is not) and its links to Peter Pan. It paves the way for two lost young people clinging onto a dream and each other, whilst being forced apart. Grief and loss, hope and acceptance are huge themes to tackle but Ducarte negotiates her way through with ease.
'We're all like paper dolls. Happiest when linked to another, often aware of our flimsiness. So easily torn. What happens when we reach out to find there's no one there to hold our hand?'
An intelligent YA read, filled with splashes of poetic beauty and the rawness of grief. Pick it up when it releases in the spring of 2018!
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