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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Fisherman’s Gift explores the multifaceted nature of motherhood and identity, portraying the many roles women navigate throughout life. Yet, rather than a celebration, this story unfolds with a melancholic atmosphere, steeped in longing and introspection.
Set in the 1900s, the novel follows Joseph, a fisherman who rescues a child eerily similar to a boy who once vanished at sea. The incident is observed by the women at Mrs. Brown’s grocery store, including Dorothy, whose past resurfaces in the face of this uncanny event. As she offers to care for the child, memories begin to unravel, forcing her to confront long-buried secrets, ones that could shift the entire village’s perception.
There’s a lot packed into this debut novel, from love and grief to motherhood, identity, and even obsession. The author deftly weaves in the effects of small-town gossip, the skepticism toward outsiders, and the weight of trauma, all while crafting an immersive, atmospheric setting that heightens the story’s emotional depth.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for this book!
Set in the 1900s, the novel follows Joseph, a fisherman who rescues a child eerily similar to a boy who once vanished at sea. The incident is observed by the women at Mrs. Brown’s grocery store, including Dorothy, whose past resurfaces in the face of this uncanny event. As she offers to care for the child, memories begin to unravel, forcing her to confront long-buried secrets, ones that could shift the entire village’s perception.
There’s a lot packed into this debut novel, from love and grief to motherhood, identity, and even obsession. The author deftly weaves in the effects of small-town gossip, the skepticism toward outsiders, and the weight of trauma, all while crafting an immersive, atmospheric setting that heightens the story’s emotional depth.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for this book!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
This was a beautifully written, character driven story. It's set in a 1900s Scottish fishing village and doesn't move beyond that. There aren't any exciting action scenes, but the characters and story speaks for itself.
There are two timelines, before and after the loss of Dorothy's son, and multiple POV of those connected to his disappearance. When a child is found at sea, he is a poignant reminder of her lost son. The story weaves together different moments from the past and present ultimately leading to the discovery of what happened to Dorothy's son. A lot of the issues in the storyline stemmed from assumptions and miscommunication, which could've been avoided, but then the story would be 5 pages.
The book has themes of loss, grief, struggles to conceive, forgiveness and healing. While I didn't read The Light Between Oceans, I did watch the movie. The Fisherman's Gift evoked some of the same feelings in me as the movie, though I think the movie was much more depressing. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found my mind wander back to it several times after I finished reading it.
There are two timelines, before and after the loss of Dorothy's son, and multiple POV of those connected to his disappearance. When a child is found at sea, he is a poignant reminder of her lost son. The story weaves together different moments from the past and present ultimately leading to the discovery of what happened to Dorothy's son. A lot of the issues in the storyline stemmed from assumptions and miscommunication, which could've been avoided, but then the story would be 5 pages.
The book has themes of loss, grief, struggles to conceive, forgiveness and healing. While I didn't read The Light Between Oceans, I did watch the movie. The Fisherman's Gift evoked some of the same feelings in me as the movie, though I think the movie was much more depressing. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found my mind wander back to it several times after I finished reading it.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. I would rate it 3.75. It is a hard one to explain/describe. There isn't much plot, its more focused on the characters and their individual pitfalls in life. The ending of the book was very tender. It is definitely a slow read despite it's extremely short chapters but will keep you interested. I don't have a whole lot to say about it besides it being a quiet time kind of read.
Thank you @simonbooks and @jrkelly2 for this free finished copy 💖.
✨ What it is about:
In 1900, a mysterious boy washes ashore in a snowbound Scottish village, looking exactly like Dorothy’s son who vanished years ago. As she takes him in, past secrets resurface, blurring the line between grief and reality, and forcing the village to confront long-buried truths.✨
💭My thoughts:
This book was heavy, but so well written. It’s a debut and a thought-provoking read that explores grief and the harder sides of love: the heartbreak of losing someone, the lingering what-ifs, and the strength it takes to keep going when you’re already completely broken.
There’s a lot of pain, guilt, shame, and suspense in this one, right from the very beginning. Filled with symbolism, the story shows how cruel people can be, and how deeply miscommunication can affect relationships.
The characters feel incredibly real, shaped by everything they’ve been through, but written with so much care and compassion. Beware: There’s a lot of grief and sadness (it’s cold and somber at times), but it also warms your heart. It shows how vulnerability and opening up to others can bring about change, not just in yourself, but in those around you too. Great debut!
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
🎣Dual timeline
🎣Second chance
🎣Complex characters
🎣Multiple POVs
🎣Historical fiction
🎣Scottish setting
🎣Short chapters
⚠️CW: Loss of a child, grief, parental abuse, emotional abuse.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a lovely read
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated