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sivujaselaten's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
tsetse's review against another edition
5.0
Coming back to write this review 18 months later because even after all this time has passed I am STILL thinking about it weekly. I don't think I've ever read something with such vivid imagery, I truly felt like I was on the Isle of Kip and 18 months later I'm homesick for this beautiful little island I only visited through a book. If you want a purely feel good, lighthearted read - this is it. The characters are authentic, it's beautifully written and the sense of community is guaranteed to tug on your heart strings.
gloriamitchell821196844's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aliciagriggs's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book; it's a lovely read.
I think the only thing I would say is how exaggerated some of the characters are, and how they'll feel one emotions in one moment and then an opposite moment in the next sentence.
This is the potential spoiler: Also, one of the characters nearly died of hypothermia due to traumatically falling in the sea and yet, ridiculously, less than a week later, she gets back into the sea for a jolly swim, seemingly completely forgetting her awful experience days before...and the sea is still freezing, so hardly wise so soon after hypothermia! And then to top it off, again, less than a week after the accident, she's on a boat, no PTSD or fear or anything. Absolutely baffling.
Well, rant over, but aside from the above, it's a very good, wholesome book.
I think the only thing I would say is how exaggerated some of the characters are, and how they'll feel one emotions in one moment and then an opposite moment in the next sentence.
This is the potential spoiler: Also, one of the characters nearly died of hypothermia due to traumatically falling in the sea and yet, ridiculously, less than a week later, she gets back into the sea for a jolly swim, seemingly completely forgetting her awful experience days before...and the sea is still freezing, so hardly wise so soon after hypothermia! And then to top it off, again, less than a week after the accident, she's on a boat, no PTSD or fear or anything. Absolutely baffling.
Well, rant over, but aside from the above, it's a very good, wholesome book.
whatkatiemariereads's review against another edition
5.0
Libby Page has done it again!
Another beautiful comforting story that feels like curling up with a snuggly blanket and a hot cup of tea.
The descriptions of the island and the characters are so vivid that you feel like you're there with them. The storytelling flows seamlessly and it's one of those books that you just don't want to put down. The hours are flowing by but you can't stop reading - it's such a wholesome escapism and a joy to read.
If it were possible to dive into fiction, I'd love to live on this wonderfully created Isle of Kip amongst these unique personalities. I really want to know what happens to the characters in the next phase of their lives.
Definitely a 5* read. One of my favourite books this year and possibly my favourite from this author so far.
Another beautiful comforting story that feels like curling up with a snuggly blanket and a hot cup of tea.
The descriptions of the island and the characters are so vivid that you feel like you're there with them. The storytelling flows seamlessly and it's one of those books that you just don't want to put down. The hours are flowing by but you can't stop reading - it's such a wholesome escapism and a joy to read.
If it were possible to dive into fiction, I'd love to live on this wonderfully created Isle of Kip amongst these unique personalities. I really want to know what happens to the characters in the next phase of their lives.
Definitely a 5* read. One of my favourite books this year and possibly my favourite from this author so far.
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
We're on a tiny island off Scotland - somewhere nearby Paul McCartney is striding around with a baby tucked in his jumper singing "Mull of Kintyre". The island's small and tight knit population is doggedly hanging in there but the potential closure of the local school is putting everything at risk.
Lorna grew up on the island, raised by very controlling parents, but she ran away at the age of 18 and has never been back. Nor has she spoken to her younger brother who still lives there since she left. Now her parents have died and she has returned with her teenage daughter for the funeral. Lorna has survived by keeping her life very small and minimising interactions with other people. She basically wants to get in and out as fast as she can.
Quite early on in this 437 page book I knew exactly how everything would pan out and that's exactly how it did. There were no twists, there were no surprises. It wasn't a bad book but it was super predictable and therefore a bit too long for what it was.
Lorna grew up on the island, raised by very controlling parents, but she ran away at the age of 18 and has never been back. Nor has she spoken to her younger brother who still lives there since she left. Now her parents have died and she has returned with her teenage daughter for the funeral. Lorna has survived by keeping her life very small and minimising interactions with other people. She basically wants to get in and out as fast as she can.
Quite early on in this 437 page book I knew exactly how everything would pan out and that's exactly how it did. There were no twists, there were no surprises. It wasn't a bad book but it was super predictable and therefore a bit too long for what it was.
jo_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Teenagers Ella and Molly have found each other through social media and have started a burgeoning friendship and why shouldn’t they – they are cousins.
They have never met.
Ella’s mother Lorna, left the island where Molly is at the age of eighteen and has never returned.
Molly’s father Jack is Lorna’s brother and has not seen his older sister since she left all those years ago.
Now Lorna is returning, back to the Island of Kip that she once called home and she is going back to her parent’s funeral. Two people she hasn’t spoken to or seen since she left.
So many questions need answering for Lorna and her brother Jack, and for us as readers. Ella and Molly’s friendship naturally goes from online to real life with ease and as Lorna watches she can see what Ella may have been missing all of her life. In fact maybe Lorna has been missing it to?
Told from the perspective of Lorna and Jack’s wife, Alice which I thought an interesting choice, as we only learn about him through the eyes of someone who has not known him all his life. We learn how Alice came to be on the island and the life she has created for herself and her small family. Whilst she may only have Jack and Molly, she has the whole island as a family too.
As the days unfold on Lorna’s visit, as we keep tenderly turning the pages there is a sense of something not quite right and it takes a long time for you to find out what the ‘not quite right’ was. Gently told and slowly unfolding is typical of Libby Page’s writing and is what draws me back to her stories. Sometimes you do not need the thrilling, racy page turning that you get in some books. Slow and paced can have just an affect and it did for me, as tears ran down my face between one interaction Lorna has with her old school teacher.
Of course the book is focussed very much on Lorna and her daughter’s story, but the island community feel is strong and we learn of people from Lorna’s past who have become close friends with Alice. It was if Lorna returned and saw the life she could have had, that Alice was having with all the people Lorna left behind.
A real thoughtful book which concentrates on the simplicity of family and friendship, with some difficult moments that leaving you thinking, even if it seems that all works out alright on the surface. I think for Lorna, Alice, Jack, the children and the island of Kip, you know that life will have some more tough moments to follow. Through the whole story, the author has made us aware of that, a skill which is not always used well with some authors. The story of these people will continue long after you have finished reading.
They have never met.
Ella’s mother Lorna, left the island where Molly is at the age of eighteen and has never returned.
Molly’s father Jack is Lorna’s brother and has not seen his older sister since she left all those years ago.
Now Lorna is returning, back to the Island of Kip that she once called home and she is going back to her parent’s funeral. Two people she hasn’t spoken to or seen since she left.
So many questions need answering for Lorna and her brother Jack, and for us as readers. Ella and Molly’s friendship naturally goes from online to real life with ease and as Lorna watches she can see what Ella may have been missing all of her life. In fact maybe Lorna has been missing it to?
Told from the perspective of Lorna and Jack’s wife, Alice which I thought an interesting choice, as we only learn about him through the eyes of someone who has not known him all his life. We learn how Alice came to be on the island and the life she has created for herself and her small family. Whilst she may only have Jack and Molly, she has the whole island as a family too.
As the days unfold on Lorna’s visit, as we keep tenderly turning the pages there is a sense of something not quite right and it takes a long time for you to find out what the ‘not quite right’ was. Gently told and slowly unfolding is typical of Libby Page’s writing and is what draws me back to her stories. Sometimes you do not need the thrilling, racy page turning that you get in some books. Slow and paced can have just an affect and it did for me, as tears ran down my face between one interaction Lorna has with her old school teacher.
Of course the book is focussed very much on Lorna and her daughter’s story, but the island community feel is strong and we learn of people from Lorna’s past who have become close friends with Alice. It was if Lorna returned and saw the life she could have had, that Alice was having with all the people Lorna left behind.
A real thoughtful book which concentrates on the simplicity of family and friendship, with some difficult moments that leaving you thinking, even if it seems that all works out alright on the surface. I think for Lorna, Alice, Jack, the children and the island of Kip, you know that life will have some more tough moments to follow. Through the whole story, the author has made us aware of that, a skill which is not always used well with some authors. The story of these people will continue long after you have finished reading.
lynseyross's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.5
kathrynmhairi's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was a perfect holiday weekend-away read - enjoyable, escapism, Scottish island setting.