A review by readswithnatalieb
Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

5.0

 

BEYOND THAT, THE SEA will be a book that sticks with me for quite some time. I was a bit hesitant when Celadon first sent this because I’m not the biggest WWII girlie, but this story was not about WWII and the war, per se. The war is why this story exists, but the focal point is the characters and the lives they live. 

 

The format also includes two of my favorite things: multiple POVs and short chapters! Because of this style, it was so easy to get inside each characters head and understand how they’re feeling in that moment with the other characters around. It truly gave me the feeling as if I was a character as well, moving throughout life with them. I was sucked in and this was the quickest historical fiction/family drama story I’ve read in ages. 

 

Since this book is so character driven, there are a lot of themes that evolve over time. They include family relationships, love, how to be your own person, and creating your own happiness. This story had the perfect amount of emotions, ebbing and flowing never allowing me to stay up or down for too long. I highly recommend this one. 

 

Big, big thank you to Celadon for sending me a copy! 

 

Content warnings: infidelity, war, death, car accident, body shaming