The Island Girls by Noelle Harrison

I guess our life on the island was one which never fit you right. I like to imagine you some days when I look out the window across the harbour, all those miles of sea and land between us. But, sister, we are always connected.

When young nurse Emer loses her beloved sister, she is haunted by grief and desperate to escape her memories. Taking a job in Vinalhaven, a rocky outpost in the wild Atlantic, feels like the refuge she so badly needs.

Her patient, Susannah, has lived in isolation for many years, since the tragic death of her sister Kate caused her to withdraw from island life. However, when Emer discovers a bundle of letters in a rainbow quilt in her bedroom and shares the story of her own loss, Susannah opens up. She begins to tell the story of Kate’s brutal and secret past, and her marriage to a man with a heart as cold as the ocean.

But when Emer starts asking locals about Kate, the island air sizzles with hostility. There are people who would rather that Susannah kept quiet, who have no qualms about threatening Emer. But despite the warnings to stay away, Emer is determined to find out what really happened the night Kate died – and the final secret that is keeping Susannah a prisoner to the past.

An unputdownable and unforgettable story of impossible choices and two sisters who would do anything for one another. Set on a bewitching sea-scented island, The Island Girls will burrow into your heart. Perfect for fans of Lisa Wingate, Anita Shreve and The Light Between Oceans.  

Author Bio:

Noelle Harrison is the Irish author of nine novels and five plays and has been translated into over 13 different languages. Her short stories have been published in Lines of Vision, Irish Writing on Irish Art, & Gutter Magazine of New Scottish Writing. In 2016, Noelle co-founded Aurora Writers' Retreats building on 20 years’ experience of teaching creative writing in Ireland, Scotland, Norway and England.

Review

I really enjoyed this book, it was heartbreaking, but at times charming, heartwarming and is beautifully written.

I have to admit I was more interested in Susannah and Kate’s storyline as this was the sections that came across as more authentic and were beautifully written. I think it was also because Susannah’s story bridges the two timelines and therefore she was the strongest character. I loved her tenacity and loyalty to those around her.

I did enjoy the parallels between the two timelines - two sets of sisters, both suffer a loss of a sister, trying to find themselves and what matters to them in the world.

This is a good read for a period like we are in - it’s transports you to a tiny island in the middle of nowhere and it’s very heartfelt. It definitely a cosy read, even with it darker themes. I would recommend it to people.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2VAKYDH

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2KbNElX

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Google Play: https://bit.ly/3ctnpmW