Series: Heaven’s Cove #7 (Standalone)
Publication Date: 08th July 2024
Genre: Small Town Contemporary Fiction
3.8 stars
One Liner: A sweet read
Clara lives with her mother in the cottage on the grounds of Brellasham Manor. It has been her home all her life, with her mother being the housekeeper for the family at the Manor (and so was her grandmother).
River, the owner’s son, returns after fifteen years, still unsure about his relationship with his father and the Manor. He remembers his closeness with Clara, even if she doesn’t seem to want to.
When Clara finds the diary of Audrey Brellasham, the missing, presumed dead wife and stepmother of the owner, she becomes obsessed with the past. Clara wants to know what actually happened. When the owner announces that the estate will be sold to the developers, Clara knows she is running out of time to find the truth.
The story comes in Clara, River, and Geoffrey’s third-person POVs.
My Thoughts:
This is a standalone book that shares the location with other books in the series. Heaven’s Cove is a picturesque village with a sea, cliffs, cute streets, and a small community.
The triple POV works well to add depth to the characters. Surprisingly, I liked River and Geoffrey’s POVs more than Clara’s. While I was a bit frustrated with Geoffrey, I could also empathize with his position.
The pacing is steady and keeps the story moving even when we are yet to find the answers to some questions.
The diary trope is creatively handled here. We don’t get pages and pages of stories. Instead, we get crisp content, which nudges the FMC to find out more. I like how the diary has a vital role but also doesn’t take up too much space.
Now, Clara is 31 years old. I can see her situation with her family. Her mother belongs to the previous generation and follows the ‘rules’ way too much. I like that Clara doesn’t simply put her head down but asserts herself when necessary. However, I don’t particularly like it when the FMC becomes stupid in the case of a man. At least, the realization comes soon enough (or I’d have been even more annoyed at her).
Comparatively, River’s arc and POV feel better. His internal conflict and vulnerability come out very well and make him appear more fleshed out than the FMC. Not something we often see in this genre, but I’ll take it!
There’s no third-act breakup since the couple doesn’t get together until towards the end. Read this as contemporary fiction (men’s and women’s) rather than romance. You will enjoy it more that way.
While there are a couple of triggering topics, they are handled with care. We get just enough details, though you may still want to be a tad careful (domestic violence).
The ending (yes, there is an epilogue) is sweet and heartwarming. It shows things are a work-in-progress just like the characters. I like that it is not too neat but answers all questions satisfactorily.
To summarize, The Diary at the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming standalone set in a beautiful location and deals with second chances, moving on from past traumas, and becoming a better version of ourselves.
The author’s note says she working on the next in the series. I’m excited to see what she’ll come up with.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC.
#NetGalley #TheDiaryAtTheLastHouseBeforeTheSea
No comments:
Post a Comment