This may be my favourite story from White to date.
While the synopsis focuses on a young innkeeper, Evie, and a possible German spy, the reality is that White has invited readers into a tale that weaves itself through the decades and across the generations tied together in the small island of Okracoke.
Now, I'll be the first to admit, it took me a little while to catch the flow of this story.
White initially alternates each chapter between Lousia's experiences during WWI and Evie's in 1942.
Although many characters are the same in both timelines, the alternating plot and the multitude of nicknames did make my head spin for the first few chapters, but once I caught White's rhythm I could not devour this story quick enough.
So what did I like about this book? First, I have to highlight Grandma Elsie. I loved that White not only included a disabled character but also gave her equal character development to other secondary characters rather than relegating her to "inspiration porn" or a moral lesson. I love when disabled characters are simply living their lives and the descriptions of ASL were a nice addition to the detail of the plot.
White gives readers a plethora of characters with her dual storyline plot but I was quite impressed by Evie and Louisa's ability to anchor their plots. I felt like Louisa's storyline with her quest to understand her past, her complicated relationship with Rem and family, and her friendship with Celeste gave a lot more emotional depth and intrigue to latch onto as a reader. Evie's story was necessary to make the plot feel complete and properly resolved but Louisa was my favourite.
White provides an intricate, detail-filled plot that will take readers on a journey of love and loss, prejudice and restoration. This one's definitely a book I'll pick up again.
Trigger warning: Readers should be aware that aside from the obvious heavier nature that can surround wartime novels, White also includes a scene involving the last minutes of a torpedoed ship, racial discrimination and violence, and a storyline that involves the coercion and abuse of an intimate partner.
5 out of 5 stars
Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.
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