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schohayes's review
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
This was such a sad book. I was SO stressed the entire last third of the book!! Definitely had me hooked in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Death and War
jodieworton's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book I read with my book swap team, we all had a copy and have read this month.
The story surrounds a couple (Thomas and Isabelle) who live on an island with the sole purpose to look after the lighthouse that is stationed there.
After being on the island for a couple of years and the awful three miscarriages Isabelle endures, they find a baby lost at sea, their father has already passed away when their boat drifted ashore with him dead within.
In Isabelle’s state of mind she assumes the baby has no mother and no other family and that they should keep her, whilst Tom has conflicting thoughts. As lighthouse keeper everything has to be documented, this would mean him omitting what has happened.
They decide to keep her, and name her Lucy. For a few years all seems ok, they then need to head to the main land, it’s from this visit they meet Lucy’s real mother and a moral dilemma ensues.
In Toms mind it is clear what needs to be done, return Lucy to her mother, however for Isabelle that is not an option.
This is a slow burn and it needs to be to understand the motivation of the characters. Since reading, i’ve thought about it a few times and the predicament the main couple are faced with you do end up feeling for both sides.
The story surrounds a couple (Thomas and Isabelle) who live on an island with the sole purpose to look after the lighthouse that is stationed there.
After being on the island for a couple of years and the awful three miscarriages Isabelle endures, they find a baby lost at sea, their father has already passed away when their boat drifted ashore with him dead within.
In Isabelle’s state of mind she assumes the baby has no mother and no other family and that they should keep her, whilst Tom has conflicting thoughts. As lighthouse keeper everything has to be documented, this would mean him omitting what has happened.
They decide to keep her, and name her Lucy. For a few years all seems ok, they then need to head to the main land, it’s from this visit they meet Lucy’s real mother and a moral dilemma ensues.
In Toms mind it is clear what needs to be done, return Lucy to her mother, however for Isabelle that is not an option.
This is a slow burn and it needs to be to understand the motivation of the characters. Since reading, i’ve thought about it a few times and the predicament the main couple are faced with you do end up feeling for both sides.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Kidnapping
sydney2020's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Minor: War and Child death
udari's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death
Minor: Blood, War, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
maya_books's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Xenophobia, Cancer, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pregnancy
old_murr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was captivated and devastated by this book, including the characters and the plot. I didn’t want it to end but the resolution couldn’t get there soon enough. I kept finding myself asking the characters “what were you thinking?!?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Miscarriage
Moderate: War
ceaselesslyintothebooks's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child death, Death, Grief, and Kidnapping
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I think the book had a great set up, and the characters were compelling at first with complicated feelings, motives, and pasts...until second half/last third. A book disappoints me most when the ending is super rushed and doesn't make any sense with where the characters are. The ending was incredibly anticlimactic after an initially fascinating build up.
Spoilers:
After having to give up Lucy, there was no reason to keep Tom and Isabel together. There was irreparable harm done. And if they were married 30 more years, then it would've been nice to see them heal and grow together instead of literally ending it with: "And then Isabel died before Lucy got the chance to see her again, but that's life."
And why didn't we then get to see Hannah grow and heal? Why didn't we get to see Lucy learn to love her birth mother?</spoilers>
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you're content with only 80% of a story.
Spoilers:
And why didn't we then get to see Hannah grow and heal? Why didn't we get to see Lucy learn to love her birth mother?</spoilers>
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you're content with only 80% of a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
chronicallyplotting's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
5.0
So it three in the morning and I finished this book. This book was like not even reading. The authors style was so smooth and transitioned easily it was like watching a movie. Heartbreaking, romantic, timeless. So many adjectives for this book. Towards the end I thought it would be a 4 star review but without spoiling it the last few pages gave us closure. Great read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Grief, and Miscarriage
littlebookcastle_sam's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Grief, and Death