A review by wardenred
Galaxies and Oceans by N.R. Walker

emotional hopeful sad 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

4.75

I know what it’s like to need someone around who doesn’t ask questions.

Such a quiet, beautiful hurt/comfort story. I loved how these two slightly broken men—one grieving, the other running from an abusive relationship—came together to heal each other. The pacing felt perfect, especially that “two steps forward, one step back“ stage around the middle. I just found it so realistic, this careful progression of feelings and needs and wants and fears, all pulling the characters in slightly different directions, but eventually coinciding into a single track.

I also really liked the setting: the tiny town on the southernmost tip of Australia, with the southern lights and penguins and the vast, vast ocean. The way it’s described here is so immersive. I felt like I was standing on that shore watching the stars and the waves, or exploring the cozy lighthouse under the critical eye of that moody cat, or tasting fish and chips at that tiny local place. And the side characters that inhabited the place were all great, too. I particularly loved how Collin turned out to be an ally rather than a villain at the end. And Penny in that one scene with Patrick where she was so casually supportive, and Mrs Whittaker’s humor, and Frank’s cranky kindness. So many nice fictional people.

There were perhaps a couple of small moments where certain interactions turned needlessly sappy/over-the-top, but overall, the narrative flawed so well and provided just the right degree of feels.
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