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bookswithlukas's review against another edition
5.0
THE FEELS PEOPLE. OMG THE FEELS.
"This is a story about right and wrong, and how sometimes they look the same."
This was quite simply, an amazing book. I'm not one for emotional reads, but come the end I couldn't help praying for a happy ending, despite knowing that one would not likely come.
This is the debut novel by the author, and she has hit it out of the park on her first try. Her character building is brilliant, she limits herself to a few characters (each of which get a chance to express themselves in chapters throughout the novel) and builds them up to be completely emotionally rounded characters who you really feel you get to know. The situations are created from the choices the characters make, and even when you know they are doing something wrong, like Izzy and Tom taking the baby, part of you wants them too, and just like they do, you forget all about the possibility of the baby's mum being alive somewhere.
The scenes with Hannah dealing with the loss and recovery of her child were especially heart-breaking, and again, felt completely real. From a book where so many people do so many things wrong, it's surprising to discover that there are no absolute villans present in the novel at all. It's a novel that seems fascinated by the repercussions of good intentions.
The Island of Janus was also beautifully described and detailed, to the point where I could clearly picture it in my head, and picture the three characters living their idyllic little life out on the ocean. The chapters in the mainland left me itching to get back to Janus, where I knew the characters were safe from the unfolding investigation, and also the guilt they had of their choice.
Overall, an astounding debut novel that easily belongs in my Top 20. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with in the future.
"This is a story about right and wrong, and how sometimes they look the same."
This was quite simply, an amazing book. I'm not one for emotional reads, but come the end I couldn't help praying for a happy ending, despite knowing that one would not likely come.
This is the debut novel by the author, and she has hit it out of the park on her first try. Her character building is brilliant, she limits herself to a few characters (each of which get a chance to express themselves in chapters throughout the novel) and builds them up to be completely emotionally rounded characters who you really feel you get to know. The situations are created from the choices the characters make, and even when you know they are doing something wrong, like Izzy and Tom taking the baby, part of you wants them too, and just like they do, you forget all about the possibility of the baby's mum being alive somewhere.
The scenes with Hannah dealing with the loss and recovery of her child were especially heart-breaking, and again, felt completely real. From a book where so many people do so many things wrong, it's surprising to discover that there are no absolute villans present in the novel at all. It's a novel that seems fascinated by the repercussions of good intentions.
The Island of Janus was also beautifully described and detailed, to the point where I could clearly picture it in my head, and picture the three characters living their idyllic little life out on the ocean. The chapters in the mainland left me itching to get back to Janus, where I knew the characters were safe from the unfolding investigation, and also the guilt they had of their choice.
Overall, an astounding debut novel that easily belongs in my Top 20. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with in the future.
winglady's review against another edition
5.0
This emotional story will challenge the reader with questions of how to right a wrong decision based in love, but wrong none-the-less. The characters ring true, complex and flawed. Finding the "right" answer isn't easy -- what's right for one person may be wrong for another. This is a thoughtful and moving story that will stay with you for a long time.
kelseystamey's review against another edition
3.0
The lighthouse/island atmosphere is enchanting, but I had a difficult time relating to Isabel's motivations (i.e., the premise for the entire book).
karenavila85's review against another edition
4.0
Tom and Isabel are great, loving, and respected citizens who lived in a lighthouse on Janus. One day, Tom notices a boat on the land. As he investigates he finds a dead man with a young baby on board. Tom is ready to do the honorable thing and report the accident, however, his wife Isabel has suffered multiple miscarriages and she convinces him to keep the baby. Tom, understand his wife's pain agrees and never reports the accident. Little do they know that the baby's mother is alive and searching for her infant. As they all crossed paths, Tom and Isabel must decide whether it is right to keep the baby or give her up to her biological mother.
Wow, what a conflicting story. I didn't know what side to be on because I understood every character's pain and life threatening choices. I honestly don't know what I would have done if I was put in Tom or Isabel's position. I understand that Isabel only wanted to give Lucy a good life but I know that if I had a daughter missing I,too, would do anything to get her back. Losing a child was so hard for Hannah and never finding any closure of her husband's death really got to me. I know all she wanted was to be reunited with her daughter but at the same time this issue was bigger than anyone's pride. All their decisions really put Lucy's well-being in danger. Lucy was only a child. She didn't know what was going in so in the end it really affected her. I don't think Tom's decision was completely selfish. I just thing that his guilt finally took over because he knew from the moment that he met and witnessed Hannah's pain over her daughter, that keeping Lucy was morally wrong. I know Isabel was hurt and betrayed but if she only placed herself in Hannah's shoes and stopped thinking about her selfish needs, she would understand. I will say the beginning of the story was slow as you learn how Isabel and Tom met. Things don't pick up until Tom is arrested for lying about Lucy. At that point you just can't put the book down, especially, when you don't know what each character is thinking or the decisions they are planning to make. It gets you fired up 'till the very end.
Wow, what a conflicting story. I didn't know what side to be on because I understood every character's pain and life threatening choices. I honestly don't know what I would have done if I was put in Tom or Isabel's position. I understand that Isabel only wanted to give Lucy a good life but I know that if I had a daughter missing I,too, would do anything to get her back. Losing a child was so hard for Hannah and never finding any closure of her husband's death really got to me. I know all she wanted was to be reunited with her daughter but at the same time this issue was bigger than anyone's pride. All their decisions really put Lucy's well-being in danger. Lucy was only a child. She didn't know what was going in so in the end it really affected her. I don't think Tom's decision was completely selfish. I just thing that his guilt finally took over because he knew from the moment that he met and witnessed Hannah's pain over her daughter, that keeping Lucy was morally wrong. I know Isabel was hurt and betrayed but if she only placed herself in Hannah's shoes and stopped thinking about her selfish needs, she would understand. I will say the beginning of the story was slow as you learn how Isabel and Tom met. Things don't pick up until Tom is arrested for lying about Lucy. At that point you just can't put the book down, especially, when you don't know what each character is thinking or the decisions they are planning to make. It gets you fired up 'till the very end.
letsreadmorebooks's review against another edition
3.0
it's a sweet and tragic tale that poses interesting questions regarding a difficult moral dilemma. having said that, it didn't make a lasting impression. in the time since reading the book, i haven't thought about it and in fact, forgot i read it.
liedora's review against another edition
5.0
Great book, I read far into the night. Thank heavens I didn't have work the next day.
guerki's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mysizereads's review against another edition
2.0
I found this story slow and frustrating. I liked the main character, Tom, but found his wife, Isabel to be a little nuts. Also tough to read about a child being torn between two worlds.
anina1736874's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75