A review by danielle_w
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

5.0

This book really surprised me. I assumed this would be a good beach read, but it ended up being much more significant. Stedman is a good writer with a clear perspective. Her characters are so gritty. It's an easy story to read- you could read it in a day- but not because it's full of fluff and 'deus ex machines'. Rather, Stedmna's writing style has a natural flow and her story's tension is such a unique one. What caught me off guard is that this book is utterly human. There were moments that moved me- moments of forgiveness, loss, marriage, accepting life for what it is, and the courage to build again. I salute Stedman's work. She is real without being nihilistic, and hopeful without being saccharine. Truly an achievement for a debut novel.