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A review by soletka
The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
1944, some time before the Omaha Beach Landing. The American kind of prodigal son, naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton is being located in London and falling in love with a fellow British servicewoman Dorothy Fairfax. He is a quiet type, she wants excitement.
This novel unfortunately does not work for me. The historical picture of the war liberation effort is interesting, but the characters are clichey and they feel unrealistic, two-dimensional. I think that the authoress is molding her characters to follow some patterns of seemingly ideal type (mostly in men), including that some character traits are contradictory (like supposedly quiet Wyatt can express himself very well and can be chatty, even wordy; also he behaves quite like a pushover for a strong and morally upright character).
The “prodigal son” story has potential, but we meet the character only when he is “fully recovered” of it, healed. I would love to see the messy, real way to healing. Same goes for Dorothy’s healing from the family situation.
This novel unfortunately does not work for me. The historical picture of the war liberation effort is interesting, but the characters are clichey and they feel unrealistic, two-dimensional. I think that the authoress is molding her characters to follow some patterns of seemingly ideal type (mostly in men), including that some character traits are contradictory (like supposedly quiet Wyatt can express himself very well and can be chatty, even wordy; also he behaves quite like a pushover for a strong and morally upright character).
The “prodigal son” story has potential, but we meet the character only when he is “fully recovered” of it, healed. I would love to see the messy, real way to healing. Same goes for Dorothy’s healing from the family situation.