Overall Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Synopsis:
The Salt family lives on and are the caretakers of Shearwater, a small, remote island that houses a lighthouse and the largest seed bank. During a storm, a strange woman washes ashore. When the woman wakes up, she can’t help but notice that the family seems to be hiding something.
Review:
Coming into this novel, I had extremely high expectations. Nearly every review I encountered praised it as an incredible read. McConaghy is undeniably a talented writer, crafting a setting that feels like a character in its own right. Shearwater perfectly embodies the eerie, isolated atmosphere of the story, drawing readers into its mysteries from the very first page.
Unfortunately, the characters didn’t work as well for me. While I understood that each member of the Salt family was grappling with grief and isolation, they often felt disconnected from one another. The family dynamic, particularly a father trapped in a bygone generation and unable to effectively communicate with his children, created more frustration than emotional investment. Additionally, some of the relationships felt sudden and out of place, making it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
Ultimately, while the writing and setting were beautifully executed, the characters and their relationships could not carry the novel for me.
I hope you enjoyed this review! Stay tuned for my next one! – Jules