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bookstorian's review against another edition
3.0
Was super keen to pick up Allie Reynold's second novel 'The Bay'.
After being concerned for her best friend Mikki for some time Kenna travels to Sydney to surprise her only to discover she, and her new fiance Jack are about to head away on a surf trip to their favourite place, Sorrow Bay. Kenna tags along hoping to change Mikki's mind and bring her friend home to England. What she discovers at the bay is thrilling yet deadly.
I enjoyed the 'fish out of water trope' and learning about the tribe and their rules with Kenna. Similar to 'Shiver' I was also impressed with the amount of surfing knowledge (eg localisation) that was sprinkled into the book and felt like I was riding a wave or climbing up a rock with the characters. Characters who all fell under my suspicion at one time or another, there was so much for them to be responsible for! This made for a motivating to read, right to the very last page. I also liked how the landscape became a character (like in 'Shiver') and the reality of how the Australian landscape can just swallow someone whole, leaving no trace of them.
There were a few things that I struggled with this includes the matter of fact writing style, some of the plot holes (mozzie repellent came out three days into the trip?!?) and the solo narrator for most of the story. I do really enjoy thrillers that have a range of narrators. I did get bored of Kenna and felt that when the characters did get their moment it was very monologue and seemed unnatural.
Special thanks to Hachette Australia for the free copy.
Similar to Lord of the Flies and Survivor.
After being concerned for her best friend Mikki for some time Kenna travels to Sydney to surprise her only to discover she, and her new fiance Jack are about to head away on a surf trip to their favourite place, Sorrow Bay. Kenna tags along hoping to change Mikki's mind and bring her friend home to England. What she discovers at the bay is thrilling yet deadly.
I enjoyed the 'fish out of water trope' and learning about the tribe and their rules with Kenna. Similar to 'Shiver' I was also impressed with the amount of surfing knowledge (eg localisation) that was sprinkled into the book and felt like I was riding a wave or climbing up a rock with the characters. Characters who all fell under my suspicion at one time or another, there was so much for them to be responsible for! This made for a motivating to read, right to the very last page. I also liked how the landscape became a character (like in 'Shiver') and the reality of how the Australian landscape can just swallow someone whole, leaving no trace of them.
There were a few things that I struggled with this includes the matter of fact writing style, some of the plot holes (mozzie repellent came out three days into the trip?!?) and the solo narrator for most of the story. I do really enjoy thrillers that have a range of narrators. I did get bored of Kenna and felt that when the characters did get their moment it was very monologue and seemed unnatural.
Special thanks to Hachette Australia for the free copy.
Similar to Lord of the Flies and Survivor.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Death
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