Reviews

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

grooovyzeee's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

spookydook's review against another edition

5.0

This was one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. There was so much emotion involved by the end of the book I was crying my eyes out. I feel no matter how you look at this story lives were going to be torn one way or another. Just amazing.

bookdragon_sam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

smreads24's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage

jjhende's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

bookish_olga's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-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

3.75

 

"The Light Between Oceans" is an emotional rollercoaster that leaves you reeling long after you've turned the last page. As a self-proclaimed tear-jerker aficionado, this book hit all the right notes, making me reach for the tissues more times than I care to admit.

What struck me most was the intricate balance between love, loss, and the haunting weight of decisions made in the face of desperation. Stedman weaves a tale set against the breathtaking backdrop of an Australian lighthouse, drawing readers into the moral quagmire of Tom and Isabel's choices.

While I was engrossed in the haunting beauty of the narrative, I couldn't shake the feeling that Tom's character deserved more depth, especially considering his wartime experiences. A deeper exploration of his past would have added layers to his motivations and struggles, enriching the overall story.

Despite this, Stedman's prose is as captivating as it is poignant. Each page is imbued with a sense of longing and heartache, pulling at your emotions until you're fully invested in the fate of every character, especially little Lucy.

Admittedly, the pacing can feel sluggish at times, akin to the ebb and flow of waves against the lighthouse rock. Yet, it's precisely this deliberate pace that allows for the gradual unfolding of the narrative's complexities, ultimately leading to a crescendo of emotion that leaves you breathless.

In the end, "The Light Between Oceans" is an experience that lingers, inviting you to ponder the depths of human nature and the enduring power of love, even in the face of heartbreaking decisions. Despite my yearning for more depth in certain aspects, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone willing to embark on an emotional journey they won't soon forget. 

andiemags53's review against another edition

3.0

I would give this 3.5 to 3.75 stars. Really great read! The book is about love, struggle, loss and love again. It was a beautiful story.

nicoleroberts19's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.0

katykelly's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars

Heart-tugging story of family, love and loss

Possibly not the book to read with a newborn baby! But I wanted to read it before considering the film, and I am glad I have read it, though it really does resonate when you have a small child.

The first 100 pages show the relationship of Tom and Izzy, the man broken by war and reignited by a love for the young woman, who live together manning a lighthouse on an island off Australia. Then a small boat is found one day, with a body and a baby on board. What they choose to do next will echo in their lives and the lives of others...

This really makes you consider what you might do, given their circumstances, who is in the right, who is MORALLY right, what should be done for the best, and just what the consequences would be.

There are several questions contained within, not least about parenting, but also discrimination, love, revenge, family.

It's hard to guess just how the story will end, the characters feel quite real and as such you can't predict just how they are going to act. I felt for Tom and Izzy, but also the baby's birth mother and her extended plight, horrifyingly sad. And of course, the baby...

Very well-written and considered from every perspective. Quite a hard read, if you're likely to get emotionally involved, but uplifting and bittersweet in the end.

I think I will see the film, but I might wait a while, let my hormones settle down before I subject myself to the emotions a second time.

Excellent choice for book group discussions, for those who like historical or family stories.

t_juniper's review against another edition

5.0

Made me tear up any number of times.