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Thursday, December 2, 2021

Review: The Island We Left Behind by Kate Hewitt

The Island We Left Behind
by Kate Hewitt 

Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 347
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  “I love you. Of course I do. But we haven’t any choice in the matter, do we? If our little boy’s health, even his survival, is at stake, we have to do whatever it takes.”

1928, New York City: Ellen and Lucas Lyman have made a heart-wrenching decision to leave their beloved Amherst Island behind in search of a new life. The island was once the home of their hearts: where they had met as children, become friends, and over time found love.

But New York City was calling, and it was everything they’d hoped for and more. With Lucas making money on the stock market, and Ellen finding fulfilment as a mother, at first they are happy raising their family, together, in the most exciting city in the world.

Until their beloved son Jamie becomes perilously ill, and Ellen is given an impossible choice. With Lucas unable to leave his job, it is down to her to take Jamie to a place he might recover even if it means making the journey across America without him.

Ellen knows what she must do. What every mother would do to save their child. Even if it takes her further away from the man she loves — and every place she has called home ‑ than ever before.


Kritters Thoughts:  The fourth book in a series and I haven't read the previous three books, so I can give honest opinions on how I feel about this book and this book alone.  

Ellen and Lucas Lyman left their family on Amherst Island for his job/career in New York City, but the city has been the best for the son's health, so they make an even harder decision to split the family and Ellen will take the kids to California in hopes that their son can grow and overcome this health obstacles and Lucas will stay behind to keep his career moving forward in NYC.  

Knowing history and Lucas' career in the financial world and knowing that the fall was about to happen caused me some anxiety as I knew where this family would end up and wondering how it was all going to go down.  I loved the dynamic between Ellen and her cousin, Gracie as they were figuring out how to survive in California.  It was fun to see them interact with real historical figures and weave in and out of fact and fiction.  

Starting midstream with this series was definitely weird and I felt as though I was missing out on some of the needed history about these characters, but even still the story was self contained within these pages.  BUT I finished wanting to go back and start at the beginning, so I think that is a good sign and something that I hope to do soon.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2021 Challenge: 149 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Bookouture.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.


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