Review: The Blue

I think Lucy Clarke needs to be placed on my "must read authors" list. I've read all three of her novels now and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one. The Blue is her latest and it was no different. I was hooked from the very first sentence.

Here's the synopsis:

A group of friends.
A yacht.
And a disappearance-at-sea that turns paradise into a chilling nightmare.
Lana and her best friend Kitty leave home looking for freedom—and that’s exactly what they find when they are invited onto The Blue, a fifty-foot yacht making its way from the Philippines to New Zealand. The crew is made up of a group of young travellers bitten by wanderlust, and it doesn’t take long for Lana and Kitty’s dream of sea-bound romance to turn into reality.
Both women fall under the hypnotic spell of The Blue, spending their days exploring remote islands and their rum-filled nights relaxing on deck beneath the stars. But when one of their friends disappears overboard after an argument with another crewmember, the dark secrets that brought each of them aboard start to unravel.
At turns gorgeously scenic and entirely haunting, The Blue is a page-turning thriller about friendship, freedom and wanting to leave the past behind.

It's a testament to how much I adore Clarke's books that I agreed to review this one. Based on synopsis alone I may have decided to skip it because I have so many books to read and it didn't immediately seem like my kind of book. Once I reread the email and realized it was a Lucy Clarke novel, I knew I had to read it.

One of the things I love about Clarke's novels is the scenery. Her books are always placed near the water or, in the case of The Blue, actually on the water. The settings are picture perfect paradise type places which contrasts so well with the gripping and chilling storyline.

The Blue does have a great storyline though it also makes you feel just a bit uncomfortable, but kind of in a good way. You're almost forced to think about what you would do in certain situations while you're reading the novel. Would you agree with Lana or would you side with one of the other crew members? Who would you trust?

The Blue is a novel that will have you turning the pages as fast as you can because you need to know what happens next. The way this one is told, switching back and forth from "Then" and "Now", allows the reader to quickly understand that something has gone seriously wrong. You just don't know what that something is. Clarke kept me on my toes with various twists and I was never quite sure what would happen next.

The Blue is a definite must read for anyone who loves a good story (so, you know, everyone). There are intriguing characters and an even more captivating mystery woven in the pages of Lucy Clarke's newest novel. Don't miss this one!

*I received an ARC of this novel from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: A Single Breath

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed Lucy Clarke's debut novel, Swimming at Night, I needed to psych myself up before tackling her latest, A Single Breath. I knew it was going to be heavy and emotional but oh, so good. And I was right. Clarke's second novel had everything I loved about her first and so much more. I'd call A Single Breath a must-read for the summer.

Here's the synopsis:

A young widow discovers her husband was not who he claimed to be—and finds herself falling in love with the wrong man.
Eva has only been married for eight months when her husband, Jackson, is swept to his death while fishing. Weighed down by confusion and sorrow, Eva decides to take leave of her midwifery practice and visit Jackson’s estranged family with the hope of grieving together.
Instead, she discovers that the man she loved so deeply is not the man she thought she knew. Jackson’s father and brother reveal a dark past, exposing the lies her marriage was built upon. As Eva struggles to come to terms with the depth of Jackson’s deception, she must also confront her growing attraction to Jackson’s brother, Saul, who offers her intimacy, passion, and answers to her most troubling questions.
Will Eva be able to move forward, or will she be caught up in a romance with Saul, haunted by her husband’s past? Threading together beautiful, wild settings and suspenseful twists, A Single Breath is a gripping tale of secrets, betrayals, and new beginnings.

I'm a character person so I'm happy that I really liked Eva. She was multi-layered and real - which are things I always like in a heroine. I wanted to help her through this unimaginably tough time and I wanted to see how she'd be at the end of the book, where she'd end up after her incredibly hard journey. I also adored Callie, Eva's best friend. She wasn't in the novel a lot but when she was you could tell that she was probably the best BFF a girl could ask for. She intrigued me and I would love to read a novel from her perspective.

There's a mystery in A Single Breath but I wouldn't call it a mystery novel. There were so many little hints purposely sprinkled throughout and I loved it. Some were obvious but the reason behind it was not. I found myself thinking a few times that I had things figured out but I definitely did not. The uncertainty I had plays so well with the confusion Eva is feeling. This is a book where you're going to feel everything right alongside the main character.

I will definitely be looking forward to Clarke's next novel but I'm finding myself hoping that it's something completely different. Swimming at Night and A Single Breath were so similar and I want to see if Clarke can write something new. Both stories were good, don't get me wrong, I just want to see growth and a new kind of story from this author.

A Single Breath isn't a novel that would be on a typical beach reads list. It's not light, it's not funny, it doesn't have a brightly coloured cover. Instead, it has an incredibly gripping storyline and characters who will stick with you, all set in beautiful Tasmania. Lucy Clarke's second novel should definitely be on your summer to-read list and in your beach bag.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, in exchange for an honest review.*

Top Ten Tuesday: My Summer TBR Pile

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Ah, summer reading. There's something particularly awesome about the books you read in the summer - even when the season no longer means a vacation from school. A lot of great books are published in the spring and summer and the longer days with more sunlight allow for a lot more outdoor reading. That's really the best thing about summer reading, in my opinion. Being able to read in the backyard, on the beach, at the park...the opportunities are endless. For this week's list I've put together the ten books I'm most looking forward to reading this summer. Some are new releases, some aren't even out yet, and others are just finally making it to the top of my To Be Read pile. If you're wondering why I don't have Landline, Rainbow Rowell's upcoming adult novel and one of the most anticipated summer books, on this list it's because I was lucky enough to snag an e-ARC and I've already read it. (You should too...it's awesome.) What books are you looking forward to reading this summer? Links lead to Goodreads.

Open Road Summer - Emery Lord (April 15)
I don't have a copy of this one, nor does my library, but I've heard really good things about it. I should find a copy since it sounds so cute and awesome!

Since You've Been Gone - Morgan Matson (May 6)
This is another YA one that I've heard a lot about and I just can't wait to read. Luckily, I have a copy from my library just waiting for me to get to it before it's due back next week!

Goodnight June - Sarah Jio (May 27)
Confession: I haven't read a Jio book. I follow her on social media and she's just amazing so I can't wait to dive into this one!

Just One Night - Gayle Forman (May 29)
I freaking loved Just One Day and Just One Year so I was SO excited when I learned there was going to be an extra novella about Allyson and Willem. I just have to get myself a copy!

All Fall Down - Jennifer Weiner (June 17)
Weiner is amazing so of course her novel is going to make it on here. It's out today AND she's going to be in Toronto next Monday - for the first time in FIVE years! I'm so pumped.

The Silkworm - Robert Galbraith (June 17)
I really really liked The Cuckoo's Calling and I'm so excited that Rowling, er, Galbraith is continuing with the series.

A Single Breath - Lucy Clarke (July, in North America)
This will be a great rainy day book. I read Clarke's debut novel, Swimming at Night, and adored it so I cannot wait to read this one. (Review will be up July 3!)

Breathe, Annie, Breathe - Miranda Kenneally (July 15)
I haven't read any of Kenneally's books (yet) but this one looks so good.

The Book of Life - Deborah Harkness (July 15)

If this was in order of "most looking forward to" instead of release date, this would be number one. I freaking love the All Souls series and I cannot wait to find out how Harkness concludes the trilogy. Only problem is, it's been SO long since I read the last one that I can't remember every detail. I'd love to reread both books buuut...they're huge! It's a dilemma!

Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins (August 14)
SO FAR AWAY. Ahhhh. I think once this one is released I might treat myself to a nice box set!

Blog Tour: Swimming at Night + Q&A

Have you ever a novel that just floors you at the end of it? Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke was one of those books for me. And I mean this in the best possible way. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it.

Here's the synopsis:

A young woman travels the globe to retrace the final months of her sister's life in search of answers about her death in this dark, gripping debut novel of family, secrets, and loss.
Katie's world is shattered by the news that her headstrong and bohemian younger sister, Mia, has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Bali. The authorities say that Mia had jumped—that her death was a suicide.
Although they hadn't spoken to one another since Mia suddenly left on an around-the-world trip six months earlier, Katie refuses to accept that her sister would have taken her own life. Distraught that they never made peace, Katie leaves behind her orderly, sheltered life in London and embarks on a journey to find out the truth. With only the entries of Mia's tattered travel journal as her guide, Katie retraces the last few months of her sister's life, and—page by page, country by country—begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her death…

This novel ripped by heart out. I know that's not usually a positive thing but it was when it came to this book. I was so invested in Katie and Mia's world and wished for a way for everything to work out well. It couldn't, of course, because we know right from the get go that Mia is dead. Nothing can change that. What could change is what we know about the circumstances surrounding her death. Thinking back, I'm not sure if any answer would have made things better. There were really only three options - it was suicide, an accident, or a murder. Not very positive, is it? I wish I had someone to talk to after finishing this book because the end had me reeling. I actually finished it on the train ride home and I'm fairly certain I said, "Woah," out loud! It was a fitting ending for such a powerful and emotional story.

What made this story hit even harder was that we read both sister's perspectives. I think this was done well as it would have been hard to know things about Mia before Katie did. There weren't any duplications of stories, just details filled in.

The other thing I loved about this book was reading about Katie's journey. She needed to find the part of herself that was like Mia. I think, if she hadn't, her life would have carried on as it was and she would have been immensely unhappy. While the ending is a bit ambiguous, I like to think that Katie got her happily ever after, man and all.

I think Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke is a must read novel for fiction lovers. I don't always read novels that are this heavy but I am so so so glad I gave this one a try. I suspect that you'll relate to (and therefore be more affected by) this story if you have a sister, like I do. Check this one out - and then let me know what you think of the ending! I'm here to help you through the "Oh my god" moments!

I hope you enjoyed the review. Onto the Q&A!

Q&A 

Dear Kaley,

Thanks so much for your interesting questions – and please find below my responses. Books Etc. is a fresh and exciting blog and I really look forward to being included within it.

All best wishes

Lucy Clarke

Books Etc. - How did you come up with the idea for Swimming at Night?

Lucy Clarke - The idea that sparked Swimming At Night came from my fascination with travel journals. I love the colourful places they’ve been written, the pages thick with smears of sunscreen and grains of sand. Whenever I travel, I keep a journal and I’ve often thought how intriguing and tempting it must be to read someone else’s travel journal. What an insight it would give you into who they are. With this in mind, I asked myself two questions that were to be the fuel for the story:Who could the travel journal belong to? And, who finds it and why? From there, the relationship between sisters Katie and Mia was born.

BE - What is your writing process like?

Lucy Clarke
Credit: James Bowden

LC - A typical writing day for me means getting up early. I’m a morning person, so I set my alarm at 6 am and get straight to my desk. I’m hopeless by evening – it’s as if my creativity fades with the day. I generally write Monday to Friday, so that I have evenings and weekends free to spend with friends and family. Being a full-time novelist is a luxury I’m still getting used to because, until recently, writing had to be fitted around running a business.

I prefer to write by hand – there’s something about the simplicity of a pencil and a blank page that appeals to the romantic in me. I always have a notebook stuffed in my handbag so it means I can jot down ideas wherever I am. I love to write to music, too. There are certain albums I play to help me step into a character’s mindset, or to inspire a particular atmosphere in a scene.

I also take lots of tea and chocolate breaks, and usually a longer break in the middle of the day where I try and get outdoors, whatever the weather.

My biggest distraction is sunshine – I can’t focus if I’m indoors and the sun is shining, so I often decamp to the beach on my bike and then I’m focused once again!

BE - What made you want to write a novel?

LC - It wasn’t so much a case of something or someone inspiring me to write a novel, rather it was a desire within me that took time to find. I always assumed I’d have a career in business and I pushed aside all the signals that I’d perhaps make a good writer: I’ve always kept diaries and journals; I read voraciously; I studied English Literature at university; I’m at my happiest with a notebook and pen in my hand. 

I was about 24 when I realized that I’d love to be a novelist. Then there was the small matter of actually doing it. Like most people, I had to work to support myself whilst trying to make it happen, so I set up a small business delivering events in schools, which afforded me both an income, but also a flexible schedule so I could always make time to write. It took me until I was 30 to sign my first book deal. I sold my business and am grateful daily for the luxury of now being a full-time novelist.

BE - What do you like to do when you're not writing?

LC - Travelling, windsurfing, paddleboarding, hiking, camping, reading, hanging out with friends, dancing, and eating good food.

BE - What can we expect from you in the future?

LC - I’m just finishing my second book, which is set on a beautiful, rugged island off the coast of Tasmania. The story is based around a young woman who has been recently widowed. She travels to meet her late-husband’s family, but begins to discover that the man she married wasn’t who she thought he was. I can’t say too much more just yet, other than expect plenty of twists and turns!

One final thing: Lucy will also be taking part in an online book club Twitter chat about Swimming at Night on April 10th at 6:30pm. You can find out all the details of the chat by following @BookaliciousCA or on Wanda’s blog http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/blogs/wanda-lynne-young-bookalicious. This is a great opportunity to discuss the book with the author!

About the Author

Lucy Clarke has a degree in English Literature. She and her husband, a professional windsurfer, spend their winters traveling and their summers at their home on the south coast of England. Visit Lucy-Clarke.com.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, in exchange for an honest review.*