A review by jedore
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

dark hopeful 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

3.0

“In all its beautiful, tragic fragility, there was still life.”

This book is set during World War II and follows Maddie, her husband Ellis, and their friend Hank as they journey to the Scottish Highlands in search of the Loch Ness monster. While the men are obsessed with proving its existence, Maddie faces her own battles, grappling with personal revelations about her marriage and the war-torn world around her. Along the way, she uncovers secrets and builds unexpected relationships, leading her to question her life and identity.

Overall, this was a pretty average read for me. The story itself felt somewhat formulaic and lacked depth. There wasn’t anything particularly unique or insightful about the plot that made it stand out from other historical fiction.

The characters felt underdeveloped and didn’t have much complexity. Their motivations and personalities followed familiar tropes, making it difficult to fully invest in their journey. The emotional growth felt superficial, and I found the relationships and interactions rather formulaic.

The ending was also quite predictable, and I saw it coming well before the final chapters. It wrapped up neatly, but without any surprises or significant emotional impact.

I would characterize this as a solid "beach read." It’s light and easy to get through but doesn’t offer much in the way of depth or lasting impressions. If you’re looking for something quick and entertaining, it’s a decent pick, but I didn’t find it particularly memorable or thought-provoking.
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