Day: August 27, 2020

Let’s cut right to the chase.

I. Loved. This. Book.

I sometimes avoid stories like this because I’m not always keen on stories with family secrets or realistic family problems. Something about this one caught my eye, however, and I am so glad that I decided to pick it up.

In fact, I was so happy to pick it up that I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one sitting. For me, that is pretty much unheard of, not only because of our hectic family schedule but because I often have so much going on in my head, I can’t concentrate on one story all at once.

Aside from these positives, kudos to the author for so many other things.

For establishing a setting that could reflect the emotions of the characters.

For creating characters with depth and realism.

For capturing grief so poignantly and accurately.

For crafting a story that was heartfelt and emotional.

I loved Emily’s journey to becoming whole again. Tragedy strikes her in a one-two punch that would floor anyone, so she retreats to a place that holds special family memories. I could totally relate to the feeling of wanting to be alone and feeling even lonelier in doing so. Getting out of that cycle is difficult.

What Emily ultimately realizes is that it’s not always about what she thinks other people think. That’s another by-product of grief, in my experience. It’s easy to become so introspective that one doesn’t realize that other people may have different and helpful perspectives.

She needed to experience that through listening to other people and getting out of her own head. Fortunately, she had good (and patient) people around to help her, as well as a neat volunteer job that was therapy in its own manner.

I usually don’t like it when characters make assumptions about something thereby creating annoying drama. That happened with Emily a few times (and with Lucas). But, again, I am willing to give Emily a pass because peopling is sometimes difficult even in the best of times. When one is trying to find the way back to life again, it is sometimes harder to stop and think things through.

That being said, when I expected her to really lose it and go on a tirade at a particular person, she was calm. It was only later that her emotions caught up with her. I think deep down, she realized that the first person wasn’t worth the time or energy. That’s another lesson about self-realization that came through in her story.

I liked how Emily’s parents’ situation (no spoiler here, although I did guess the heart of the family secret) actually gave Emily the perspective and proper attitude to change for the better. I was especially touched by the reactions to art, both on Emily’s part and others who saw Emily’s art. Those were special moments in the book.

I see that this is book one in a new series set on Dune Island. I can’t wait to read more, and hope that at least some of the characters make appearances again. Do yourself a favor and pick up this excellent novel.

Author Bio:
Ever since she was a young girl, there were few things Kristin liked more than creative writing and spending time on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with her family. Eventually (after a succession of jobs that bored her to tears), she found a way to combine those two passions by becoming a women’s fiction author whose stories occur in oceanside settings. While Kristin doesn’t live on the Cape year-round, she escapes to the beach whenever she can. 

Twitter: @KHarperAuthor