Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - The Ocean at the End of the Lane

So I went into this book thinking it was a kid's book and would be a fun frolic in a fantasy world. A kid's book it most definitely is not, despite the main character being 7 through the main part of the story. Once I realised and came to terms with my own assumptions being wrong, I found the book to be really enjoyable.

It tackles a few quite mature themes through the wonder of a child's perspective, which is something I don't think I've seen before. It takes place pretty much in our world but with a bit of magic thrown in, some being things that are still magic to us as children, giving the impression that there is magic to be found in the real world, if you look through that child-like lens.

I did also appreciate some of the little call backs to things that previously seemed unimportant.

I also liked that it ends in such a way as to facilitate re-reading.

Content Warnings

arlingtonchamberofgay's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

nicolinebl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I don't know what to say other than I adore Neil Gaiman and his writing, and this was yet another fantastic novel by him. The beautiful illustrations from Elise Hurst made it even better, and are very fitting to the story. An element of spookiness, but not too spooky.

Content Warnings

bookwormabby54's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

startjpw23's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

At the beginning of this book, the main character is in the town where he grew up to attend a funeral. In his grief, he is driving around town before going to the funeral parlor. He drives to a local farmhouse. He is welcomed by an elderly woman from the farmhouse. This visit brings back memories of a period of time when he was seven years old that he had forgotten. The farmhouse kind of abuts a different dimension where there is a realm with some amazing creatures. A woman starts to work as a nanny for the boy's family. The boy dislikes her immediately. The rest of the family loves her. She menaces the boy. She isn't what she seems. The remainder of the story is the boy fighting back against the nanny. He is helped by the grandmother, mother, and daughter at the farm. They have special powers. There are some fantastical creatures. The book is told in the first person by the boy. I thought he really sounded like a seven-year-old boy. Not an adult trying to sound young. Neither the boy nor his family members are ever names. There were a lot of scary tense moments. I really liked the book.

Content Warnings

amaliesofie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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