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katemeadow's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tarajoy90's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cancer, and Gaslighting
loucille's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this book, it really brought the relationships of the characters to life and had you rooting for them all! However, the plot was pretty easy to predict and some of the characters inner monologues were a bit repetitive.
It does deal with some serious themes so not exactly a light read, but a good book to read on holiday or if you want to imagine yourself living on a beautiful remote island!
It does deal with some serious themes so not exactly a light read, but a good book to read on holiday or if you want to imagine yourself living on a beautiful remote island!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
jennabird06's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mymidnightbooks's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lorna1128's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
I loved this!
So fast paced and just wholesome. There are some tough topics talked about but they are handled so well.
I myself am from a small town so could relate to the sense of community and small town gossip, though I could never imagine living on a small isolated island, definitely not for me.
I originally picked this book up as I found out one of the main characters names was Lorna, slightly vain I know but it’s not every day my uncommon name gets used in a book. But in the end it was Alice who was my favourite character, her resilience and determination as well as how everyone looks to her just made me smile. If one day I can be like her, I’ll be happy.
Oh and one last thing… this made me cry! And that’s big as books never make me cry!
So fast paced and just wholesome. There are some tough topics talked about but they are handled so well.
I myself am from a small town so could relate to the sense of community and small town gossip, though I could never imagine living on a small isolated island, definitely not for me.
I originally picked this book up as I found out one of the main characters names was Lorna, slightly vain I know but it’s not every day my uncommon name gets used in a book. But in the end it was Alice who was my favourite character, her resilience and determination as well as how everyone looks to her just made me smile. If one day I can be like her, I’ll be happy.
Oh and one last thing… this made me cry! And that’s big as books never make me cry!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
salreads's review against another edition
4.0
I loved The Lido for its gentle and uplifting story and I loved The Island Home for the same reasons.
This is the story of Lorna, a single Mum of Ella, living in London and Alice living on the Scottish Island of Kip with Lorna’s brother, Jack, and their daughter, Molly. Lorna has been estranged from her family after running away, but following her parents death she is making her journey home.
What an absolutely lovely read! This is a story that you will feel a part of; a book that you will surrender to. The characters are beautifully drawn, particularly the main females but also Jack who is complex, brooding, unforgiving..There is an extraordinary sense of place. I totally fell in love with Kip, its little beaches, the lighthouse, the salty sea, the ferry providing the vital archery to the mainland. There is such a strong sense of community, about how it feels to be an ‘islander’, about what it takes for that community to work and how easily that community is threatened. The story is carefully paced, switching between the narratives of Alice and Lorna and then in the middle of the story the girls go missing and I couldn’t put my book down…There are some beautifully observed relationships - the unfolding romance between the rather lovely Malachy and Lorna (and you are so rooting for this one to work), between Alice and Jack, between the two girls and between the women and their friend Jean who has a cancer diagnosis and a secret. This is a community which I yearned to be a part of - I would happily pack my bags today and move to Kip.
A gorgeous and uplifting story with a wonderful Island at its heart.
This is the story of Lorna, a single Mum of Ella, living in London and Alice living on the Scottish Island of Kip with Lorna’s brother, Jack, and their daughter, Molly. Lorna has been estranged from her family after running away, but following her parents death she is making her journey home.
What an absolutely lovely read! This is a story that you will feel a part of; a book that you will surrender to. The characters are beautifully drawn, particularly the main females but also Jack who is complex, brooding, unforgiving..There is an extraordinary sense of place. I totally fell in love with Kip, its little beaches, the lighthouse, the salty sea, the ferry providing the vital archery to the mainland. There is such a strong sense of community, about how it feels to be an ‘islander’, about what it takes for that community to work and how easily that community is threatened. The story is carefully paced, switching between the narratives of Alice and Lorna and then in the middle of the story the girls go missing and I couldn’t put my book down…There are some beautifully observed relationships - the unfolding romance between the rather lovely Malachy and Lorna (and you are so rooting for this one to work), between Alice and Jack, between the two girls and between the women and their friend Jean who has a cancer diagnosis and a secret. This is a community which I yearned to be a part of - I would happily pack my bags today and move to Kip.
A gorgeous and uplifting story with a wonderful Island at its heart.
bookstarreviews_'s review against another edition
4.0
4⭐️
A heartwarming read packed with nostalgia and turbulence. ☺️
I really fell in love with the Isle of Kip and its inhabitants. I have to admit that this book had such a slow start as we were introduced to lots of characters (over 50 in the whole read) and it seemed to take Lorna a long time to get to the island. However, as soon as she was there, I flew through this read.
This was a book all about friendship, family and new beginnings. I loved all of the island gossip and the islanders and mainlanders coming together. The descriptions provided a vivid image of Kip and its wonderful mountain and the beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.
I absolutely loved how this read is a perfect example of a character and plot driven book. The characters were amazing and I felt like I got to know lots about them all. Two decades is a very long time and I was so excited to read about Lorna’s return to the island that brings back so many negative memories. I loved the awkwardness between Lorna and Jack and I was desperate to know the real reason why Lorna left all those years ago. I was also rooting for Sarah and Lorna to reignite their friendship. Alice was so accommodating and welcoming too and was a lovely character. I also loved how she spoke the truth when it came to her in-laws. Olive, Ella and Molly also had a very special bond and I loved the freedom they had on the island. The dual POV worked incredibly well.
This book makes you feel lots of emotions and I was rooting for that perfect ending throughout. I ended this read with a huge smile on my face.
A heartwarming read packed with nostalgia and turbulence. ☺️
I really fell in love with the Isle of Kip and its inhabitants. I have to admit that this book had such a slow start as we were introduced to lots of characters (over 50 in the whole read) and it seemed to take Lorna a long time to get to the island. However, as soon as she was there, I flew through this read.
This was a book all about friendship, family and new beginnings. I loved all of the island gossip and the islanders and mainlanders coming together. The descriptions provided a vivid image of Kip and its wonderful mountain and the beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.
I absolutely loved how this read is a perfect example of a character and plot driven book. The characters were amazing and I felt like I got to know lots about them all. Two decades is a very long time and I was so excited to read about Lorna’s return to the island that brings back so many negative memories. I loved the awkwardness between Lorna and Jack and I was desperate to know the real reason why Lorna left all those years ago. I was also rooting for Sarah and Lorna to reignite their friendship. Alice was so accommodating and welcoming too and was a lovely character. I also loved how she spoke the truth when it came to her in-laws. Olive, Ella and Molly also had a very special bond and I loved the freedom they had on the island. The dual POV worked incredibly well.
This book makes you feel lots of emotions and I was rooting for that perfect ending throughout. I ended this read with a huge smile on my face.
marloesleest's review
4.0
Lorna ontvluchtte het piepkleine Schotse eiland Kip, waar ze opgroeide met haar ouders en jongere broer Jack, halsoverkop toen ze achttien was. Ze zwoer dat ze nooit meer terug zou keren, verbrak het contact met iedereen en bouwde een leven voor zichzelf op in Londen. Nu, tweeëntwintig jaar na haar vertrek, keert ze terug, samen met haar tienerdochter Ella. Wat is er gebeurd waardoor ze de beslissing nam om weg te gaan? En kunnen verbroken banden nog worden hersteld?
Alice, de vrouw van Jack, leidt een prettig en rustig leven op het eiland, ze houdt van de gemeenschap, de natuur, haar gezin en de yogalessen die ze geeft. Ze heeft een hechte, gemêleerde vriendengroep die altijd voor elkaar klaar staat, ook wanneer het moeilijk wordt. En op het moment is het lastig, heel lastig. De gemeenschap staat onder druk en ook haar huwelijk heeft betere tijden gekend. Haar lieve man heeft regelmatig sombere, stille buien, en Alice hoopt dat Lorna haar wat meer inzicht kan geven in hun verleden, een verleden waar Jack nooit over praat.
Libby Page neemt je vanaf het begin mee in haar verhaal, in de gedachten en de bezigheden van haar hoofdpersonages, waardoor het voelt alsof je met Lorna op reis gaat, waardoor je haar twijfels, weerstand, een bepaalde angst en voorzichtige hoop meekrijgt. Wanneer je vanuit het perspectief van Alice leest, ben je onderdeel van het leven op Kip, voel je haar genegenheid voor haar gezin en hoop je met haar mee dat iedereen weer dichter bij elkaar komt.
Tussen Lorna en Jack zijn veel zaken onuitgesproken gebleven, en langzamerhand wordt ontrafeld waarom Lorna is verdwenen, hoe Jack tegen bepaalde gebeurtenissen aankijkt, wat ze elkaar kwalijk hebben genomen, waar de pijnpunten zitten. Je leeft mee met de personages en terwijl ze zich meer openstellen voor elkaar, kan het oude zeer eindelijk naar buiten. Dit is een gevoelig, emotioneel, warm, sfeervol, afgewogen en genuanceerd verhaal over een verscheurde familie, je plek op de wereld en binnen een gemeenschap, afscheid en een nieuw begin. Een verhaal over familiebanden, vriendschap, spijt, schuldgevoelens, verdriet, eenzaamheid, ambitie, wegvluchten en thuiskomen. Een erg mooi verhaal dat je raakt!
4-4.5⭐️
Alice, de vrouw van Jack, leidt een prettig en rustig leven op het eiland, ze houdt van de gemeenschap, de natuur, haar gezin en de yogalessen die ze geeft. Ze heeft een hechte, gemêleerde vriendengroep die altijd voor elkaar klaar staat, ook wanneer het moeilijk wordt. En op het moment is het lastig, heel lastig. De gemeenschap staat onder druk en ook haar huwelijk heeft betere tijden gekend. Haar lieve man heeft regelmatig sombere, stille buien, en Alice hoopt dat Lorna haar wat meer inzicht kan geven in hun verleden, een verleden waar Jack nooit over praat.
Libby Page neemt je vanaf het begin mee in haar verhaal, in de gedachten en de bezigheden van haar hoofdpersonages, waardoor het voelt alsof je met Lorna op reis gaat, waardoor je haar twijfels, weerstand, een bepaalde angst en voorzichtige hoop meekrijgt. Wanneer je vanuit het perspectief van Alice leest, ben je onderdeel van het leven op Kip, voel je haar genegenheid voor haar gezin en hoop je met haar mee dat iedereen weer dichter bij elkaar komt.
Tussen Lorna en Jack zijn veel zaken onuitgesproken gebleven, en langzamerhand wordt ontrafeld waarom Lorna is verdwenen, hoe Jack tegen bepaalde gebeurtenissen aankijkt, wat ze elkaar kwalijk hebben genomen, waar de pijnpunten zitten. Je leeft mee met de personages en terwijl ze zich meer openstellen voor elkaar, kan het oude zeer eindelijk naar buiten. Dit is een gevoelig, emotioneel, warm, sfeervol, afgewogen en genuanceerd verhaal over een verscheurde familie, je plek op de wereld en binnen een gemeenschap, afscheid en een nieuw begin. Een verhaal over familiebanden, vriendschap, spijt, schuldgevoelens, verdriet, eenzaamheid, ambitie, wegvluchten en thuiskomen. Een erg mooi verhaal dat je raakt!
4-4.5⭐️
maylanth's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75