Reviews

An Impossible Return by Caroline Laurent

sebbie's review

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

cat_uk's review against another edition

informative reflective

megansoetaert's review

emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

i loved this book- i see why it’s won so many awards en français bien sûr ! it’s a beautiful piece of historical/political fiction describing the life of Chagossians living on Diego Garcia and their forced removal in the early 1970s by the British and Americans.

I only knew a tiny bit of Chagossian history prior to this novel (and i’m glad I did, for ease of understanding the book!). Laurent creates a heartbreaking story of family and homeland while educating & creating fury in readers over Chagossians’ past and present conditions. 

even if (especially if) you don’t know the story of the Chagos Archipelago and it’s people, y’all should read this. you might have to do a few Google searches but it’s so worth it. 

katsam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense 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

An incredibly important and poignant read - skilfully intertwines compelling characterisation and storytelling with the underrecognised reality and ongoing atrocity of British colonialism in the Chagos.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Deportation, and Rape

Moderate: Death of parent and Racism

05hamiltonk's review

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

A very important part of the UK's recent history that is extremely shameful and more people need to know about. 

Although the book ends on a high, the reality is that Chagossians have still not been able to go back to the islands. They also haven't been given proper compensation. Chagossian Voices is a great organisation to follow if anyone wants to support the cause!

charlotte_louisee_'s review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

3.75

rubydubydoo's review

adventurous inspiring 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? No

4.0

caillahess's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

iamkim's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

4.25

ahumphrey10's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

4.0

An Impossible Return is a challenging novel that tackles the fight of people forcibly removed from the island they call home. While I found the first quarter of the novel moved at a strange pace, the rest of the novel really flew. This was an emotional tale that I highly recommend to lovers of both historical fiction and romance. The back and forth between the present and the past paints the narrative in an almost poetic way, with both love and justice as the novel’s driving forces.