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aplace_inthesun's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kenna makes the journey from Cornwall to Australia to surprise her friend Mikki, before Mikki’s upcoming wedding to a man she’s just met. When Kenna meets Jack, something seems a little off and not long after she arrives she is whisked off on a surfing trip with Mikki and Jack. They introduce her to a small band of other surfers drawn to a secret spot where outsiders aren’t welcome, and the price of belonging is high.
The Bay is marketed as a cross between the Beach and Point Break, which is pretty apt but there’s a Lord of the Flies, and The Island air about it as well. The setting is foreboding and eerie, the lure of the surf ever present, with danger just lurking. It’s the backdrop for the edgey band of characters Allie Reynolds assembles that form the tight knit crew. They all have secrets and recent experiences that draw them together and when Kenna is thrown into the mix, her very presence serves to upset their community utopia. She continues to ask questions that reinforce her outsider status while her lust for thrill draws her closer.
The book has parallels with Shiver, Reynolds blockbuster first novel. Shiver was snowboarding, The Bay is surfing. It’s high adrenaline, a ‘locked room’ mystery, and characters with ulterior motivations and varying allegiances. There’s strong themes of confronting fear, belonging, and grief. The Bay is primarily from Kenna’s POV with a sprinkling of chapters from other voices, throughout. It’s a page turner that had me up way past my bedtime though there’s a bit of a lull mid-way reflective of Kenya’s jockeying with the other players which sees the book a bit uncertain in its direction. It finds its way back within a few chapters.
Thanks to the publisher who sent me a copy of the book to read and review. All thoughts are my own.
The Bay is marketed as a cross between the Beach and Point Break, which is pretty apt but there’s a Lord of the Flies, and The Island air about it as well. The setting is foreboding and eerie, the lure of the surf ever present, with danger just lurking. It’s the backdrop for the edgey band of characters Allie Reynolds assembles that form the tight knit crew. They all have secrets and recent experiences that draw them together and when Kenna is thrown into the mix, her very presence serves to upset their community utopia. She continues to ask questions that reinforce her outsider status while her lust for thrill draws her closer.
The book has parallels with Shiver, Reynolds blockbuster first novel. Shiver was snowboarding, The Bay is surfing. It’s high adrenaline, a ‘locked room’ mystery, and characters with ulterior motivations and varying allegiances. There’s strong themes of confronting fear, belonging, and grief. The Bay is primarily from Kenna’s POV with a sprinkling of chapters from other voices, throughout. It’s a page turner that had me up way past my bedtime though there’s a bit of a lull mid-way reflective of Kenya’s jockeying with the other players which sees the book a bit uncertain in its direction. It finds its way back within a few chapters.
Thanks to the publisher who sent me a copy of the book to read and review. All thoughts are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
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
whatlexysaid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A brilliant summertime “holiday horror” read - If you lived Allie’s first book Shiver, you’ll love this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Self harm, and Drug abuse
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