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P is for Pearl
From the talented author of the celebrated novels In the Quiet and Ache comes a poignant and moving book that explores the stories we tell ourselves about our families, and what it means to belong.
Seventeen-year-old Gwendolyn P. Pearson has become very good at not thinking about the awful things that have happened to her family. She has also become used to people talking about her dead mum. Or not talking about her and just looking at Gwen sympathetically. And it's easy not to think about awful things when there are wild beaches to run along, best friends Loretta and Gordon to hang out with - and a stepbrother to take revenge on.
But following a strange disturbance at the cafe where she works, Gwen is forced to confront what happened to her family all those years ago. And she slowly comes to realise that people aren't as they first appear and that like her, everyone has a story to tell.
'P is for Pearl is a complex, authentic exploration of grief, friendship, mental illness, family and love, sensitively written by a writer whose voice will resonate with teen readers.' - Books+Publishing
Seventeen-year-old Gwendolyn P. Pearson has become very good at not thinking about the awful things that have happened to her family. She has also become used to people talking about her dead mum. Or not talking about her and just looking at Gwen sympathetically. And it's easy not to think about awful things when there are wild beaches to run along, best friends Loretta and Gordon to hang out with - and a stepbrother to take revenge on.
But following a strange disturbance at the cafe where she works, Gwen is forced to confront what happened to her family all those years ago. And she slowly comes to realise that people aren't as they first appear and that like her, everyone has a story to tell.
'P is for Pearl is a complex, authentic exploration of grief, friendship, mental illness, family and love, sensitively written by a writer whose voice will resonate with teen readers.' - Books+Publishing
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2018
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April 2, 2018
”FROM THE DIARY OF GWENDOLYN P. PEARSON
“My mum would dress herself up in scarves and nothing else and dance around the backyard.
Sometimes she’d light a fire. Or climb a tree. She’d whistle and sing and yell at me to join her until everything inside me hurt with the effort of refusing her.
She was a whirlwind. A rushing, spinning impossibility.
She called me by my middle name and always told me that I was destined for great things, and even back then I knew that I’d disappoint her. I knew that I was exceptionally ordinary. I just didn’t know how to tell her and then, quite suddenly, it was too late to tell her anything.�
Gwendolyn P. Pearson is a seventeen year-old girl living in a small, coastal town in Tasmania, along with her stepmother, a father, a stepbrother Tyrone, and a half-sister named Evie. A family, if an unconventional one, each person struggling in their own way with the fates that brought them together.
When a brother and sister move to their town, Ben and Amber � twins � Ben befriends Gwen, and Amber tries to sabotage this friendship when she senses an attraction beginning to take root.
Gwen struggles between the awkwardness of this budding friendship / attraction, and memories of her mother and her younger brother which have begun to inch their way back into her daily thoughts. She struggles with her relationship with her father and her relationship with her stepmother. They seem to be trying to give her some space to deal with whatever it is they sense she is processing, but maybe space is not what she needs.
For me, what Eliza Henry-Jones excels in is creating an atmosphere that sets such a calm, almost reverent tone while not shying away from small tensions that building slowly. You sense Gwen, or Pearl, as her mother used to call her, on a precipice, but of what is yet to be shared.
This is a YA novel, although the writing is as lovely as her ‘In the Quiet� and ‘Ache,� and much as Rita Sepetys novels, ‘Between Shades of Gray� and ‘Salt to the Sea� there is little difference in the way this is written, except perhaps there is nothing inappropriate. The writing may be simply lovely, but it is not simple. Dealing with topics such as mental illness, death, grief, the conflicted feelings and personalities in blended families, and the beauty and pain of memories, as well as the healing power of forgiveness. Still, this never veers too far to the darker side of these life-changing topics, but shares the promise of finding the joy of life beyond the pain.
I loved how slowly this story was unveiled, how naturally it felt as it evolved. And I loved this small town and the people in it, how connected they felt, and how slowly each of their stories came to light. I loved how closely we were able to see into Gwen’s thoughts and her heart through her journal entries. I loved that through the rhythm of this story, the ocean tides, I could feel each emotion tumbling through the waves, and coming out as if they’d been smoothed, polished by the tides.
Many thanks to my goodreads friend Bianca, whose review prompted me to read this story. Please check out Bianca's review: /review/show...
“My mum would dress herself up in scarves and nothing else and dance around the backyard.
Sometimes she’d light a fire. Or climb a tree. She’d whistle and sing and yell at me to join her until everything inside me hurt with the effort of refusing her.
She was a whirlwind. A rushing, spinning impossibility.
She called me by my middle name and always told me that I was destined for great things, and even back then I knew that I’d disappoint her. I knew that I was exceptionally ordinary. I just didn’t know how to tell her and then, quite suddenly, it was too late to tell her anything.�
Gwendolyn P. Pearson is a seventeen year-old girl living in a small, coastal town in Tasmania, along with her stepmother, a father, a stepbrother Tyrone, and a half-sister named Evie. A family, if an unconventional one, each person struggling in their own way with the fates that brought them together.
When a brother and sister move to their town, Ben and Amber � twins � Ben befriends Gwen, and Amber tries to sabotage this friendship when she senses an attraction beginning to take root.
Gwen struggles between the awkwardness of this budding friendship / attraction, and memories of her mother and her younger brother which have begun to inch their way back into her daily thoughts. She struggles with her relationship with her father and her relationship with her stepmother. They seem to be trying to give her some space to deal with whatever it is they sense she is processing, but maybe space is not what she needs.
For me, what Eliza Henry-Jones excels in is creating an atmosphere that sets such a calm, almost reverent tone while not shying away from small tensions that building slowly. You sense Gwen, or Pearl, as her mother used to call her, on a precipice, but of what is yet to be shared.
This is a YA novel, although the writing is as lovely as her ‘In the Quiet� and ‘Ache,� and much as Rita Sepetys novels, ‘Between Shades of Gray� and ‘Salt to the Sea� there is little difference in the way this is written, except perhaps there is nothing inappropriate. The writing may be simply lovely, but it is not simple. Dealing with topics such as mental illness, death, grief, the conflicted feelings and personalities in blended families, and the beauty and pain of memories, as well as the healing power of forgiveness. Still, this never veers too far to the darker side of these life-changing topics, but shares the promise of finding the joy of life beyond the pain.
I loved how slowly this story was unveiled, how naturally it felt as it evolved. And I loved this small town and the people in it, how connected they felt, and how slowly each of their stories came to light. I loved how closely we were able to see into Gwen’s thoughts and her heart through her journal entries. I loved that through the rhythm of this story, the ocean tides, I could feel each emotion tumbling through the waves, and coming out as if they’d been smoothed, polished by the tides.
Many thanks to my goodreads friend Bianca, whose review prompted me to read this story. Please check out Bianca's review: /review/show...
October 4, 2018
Seventeen year old Gwendolyn P. Pearson lives in a small coastal town in Tasmania with her dad, stepmother, stepbrother and half sister. Gwen was quite young when her mum and brother passed away and many people in the community knew of her mum. Some people would talk about her mum quite openly, others struggled not knowing what to say at all.
Gwen is in year 11 in high school and still unsure of what she wants to do with her life. She and her friend have a part time job at the local cafe. It is here where something occurs during one of her shifts that sets off memories of when she was younger that leave her more than a little unsettled. After what happened at the cafe, Gwen now wants to try and figure out what happened to her mum and brother, but Gwen soon realises not all is as it seems.
This book touches on everyday issues such as grief, mental health and families all of which the author has done an amazing job in compiling all of these together to write this moving and ever so entertaining novel. Highly recommended.
Gwen is in year 11 in high school and still unsure of what she wants to do with her life. She and her friend have a part time job at the local cafe. It is here where something occurs during one of her shifts that sets off memories of when she was younger that leave her more than a little unsettled. After what happened at the cafe, Gwen now wants to try and figure out what happened to her mum and brother, but Gwen soon realises not all is as it seems.
This book touches on everyday issues such as grief, mental health and families all of which the author has done an amazing job in compiling all of these together to write this moving and ever so entertaining novel. Highly recommended.
March 20, 2018
I loved Eliza Henry � Jones� previous adult novels so I was keen to read her latest offering as well.
The main character of this novel is Gwendolyn P. Pearson, who’s seventeen and is trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. An incident at the café she was working part-time triggers memories and feelings that make her feel sleepless and unsettled. She’s trying to piece together things from the past, as she was little when her mum and little brother passed away. She’s got her best friend, Loretta and their side-kick, Gordon, to support her. She’s also got a nice dad, gorgeous half-sister, Evie, a kind stepmother and a strange, older step Brother, Tyrone.
They live in a small coastal town in Tasmania. I particularly loved the atmosphere and the descriptions of this place.
There are two new kids in town, Ben and his twin sister, Amber, who are the same age as the Gwen. Ben is sweet and handsome. He’s a runner like Gwen. That brings them together.
P is for Pearl is a slow-moving novel, which suits the small town’s wintery pace. Again, Eliza Henry � Jones’s expertise in trauma and grief counselling comes in handy as this novel deals with grief, mental illness, families in all their diverse forms. While it didn’t affect me as deeply as her previous novels, I found it still a very enjoyable, worthwhile read.
I’ve received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, HarperColling for allowing me to read this ARC.
This book also goes towards my Australian Authors Challenge on
The main character of this novel is Gwendolyn P. Pearson, who’s seventeen and is trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. An incident at the café she was working part-time triggers memories and feelings that make her feel sleepless and unsettled. She’s trying to piece together things from the past, as she was little when her mum and little brother passed away. She’s got her best friend, Loretta and their side-kick, Gordon, to support her. She’s also got a nice dad, gorgeous half-sister, Evie, a kind stepmother and a strange, older step Brother, Tyrone.
They live in a small coastal town in Tasmania. I particularly loved the atmosphere and the descriptions of this place.
There are two new kids in town, Ben and his twin sister, Amber, who are the same age as the Gwen. Ben is sweet and handsome. He’s a runner like Gwen. That brings them together.
P is for Pearl is a slow-moving novel, which suits the small town’s wintery pace. Again, Eliza Henry � Jones’s expertise in trauma and grief counselling comes in handy as this novel deals with grief, mental illness, families in all their diverse forms. While it didn’t affect me as deeply as her previous novels, I found it still a very enjoyable, worthwhile read.
I’ve received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, HarperColling for allowing me to read this ARC.
This book also goes towards my Australian Authors Challenge on
March 3, 2018
Check out for more reviews!
An aching exploration of grief about Gwen, who her mother affectionately referred to as Pearl, slowly delving into her memories of her mother and brother who have passed away. When she gets inevitably pulled into an incident with a mentally ill man at a cafe, and she's caught between teenagers and adulthood, she starts wondering what the impact of her mother would have on her now.
The novel explores the possibilities of what happens after high school and how one figures out what they want to do in life. I liked how Gwen and her friendship with Loretta and Gordan felt easy and natural. The family dynamics was also fantastic, as Gwen and her father are both learning to move on and grieve in their own ways. I also liked how we were able to witness both Gwen's mother and brother through flashbacks, a direct contrast to Gwen's life today.
The small town setting in Tasmania was wonderfully vivid and captured the heart of coastal Australia, and the novel has some beautiful descriptions of the landscape.
P is for Pearl is undoubtedly Australian, and beautifully written with some complex character dynamics. It's more of a slice of life type of novel touching on grief and mental illness. Nothing much really happens in the novel which lends to its slow pace, and it's more of a slow awakening of grief rather than a rousing one.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
An aching exploration of grief about Gwen, who her mother affectionately referred to as Pearl, slowly delving into her memories of her mother and brother who have passed away. When she gets inevitably pulled into an incident with a mentally ill man at a cafe, and she's caught between teenagers and adulthood, she starts wondering what the impact of her mother would have on her now.
The novel explores the possibilities of what happens after high school and how one figures out what they want to do in life. I liked how Gwen and her friendship with Loretta and Gordan felt easy and natural. The family dynamics was also fantastic, as Gwen and her father are both learning to move on and grieve in their own ways. I also liked how we were able to witness both Gwen's mother and brother through flashbacks, a direct contrast to Gwen's life today.
The small town setting in Tasmania was wonderfully vivid and captured the heart of coastal Australia, and the novel has some beautiful descriptions of the landscape.
P is for Pearl is undoubtedly Australian, and beautifully written with some complex character dynamics. It's more of a slice of life type of novel touching on grief and mental illness. Nothing much really happens in the novel which lends to its slow pace, and it's more of a slow awakening of grief rather than a rousing one.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 25, 2018RTC.
I wasn't sure sure I was going to get into this one when I started reading, especially due to my difficulty settling on and enjoying books this month, but before I knew it I was almost half-way through and rushing back to it whenever I had a moment. (I'm listening to a lot of audiobooks because of the long drives for work, but sitting down and focusing is proving hard at the moment.)
It deals with grief, loss, mental health issues, blended families (including both step- and half-siblings), friendship, and coming-of-age. Oh, yeah, and there's a mermaid theme throughout, due to Gwen's mum's obsession with them.
I honestly couldn't put it down. Even though there's not a whole lot happening in terms of plot, and even though the answers to the mysteries are obvious to readers early on and Gwen only figures them out later, it is engaging and doesn't drag or feel boring.
Occasionally the romance stuff was a little silly, with the catalyst for Gwen and Ben getting close being his clumsiness, but it didn't get in the way of enjoyment too much.
I wasn't sure sure I was going to get into this one when I started reading, especially due to my difficulty settling on and enjoying books this month, but before I knew it I was almost half-way through and rushing back to it whenever I had a moment. (I'm listening to a lot of audiobooks because of the long drives for work, but sitting down and focusing is proving hard at the moment.)
It deals with grief, loss, mental health issues, blended families (including both step- and half-siblings), friendship, and coming-of-age. Oh, yeah, and there's a mermaid theme throughout, due to Gwen's mum's obsession with them.
I honestly couldn't put it down. Even though there's not a whole lot happening in terms of plot, and even though the answers to the mysteries are obvious to readers early on and Gwen only figures them out later, it is engaging and doesn't drag or feel boring.
Occasionally the romance stuff was a little silly, with the catalyst for Gwen and Ben getting close being his clumsiness, but it didn't get in the way of enjoyment too much.
March 8, 2018
I was so excited about the release of P is for Pearl because it’s been less than a year since Ache came out and I am a massive fan of Eliza Henry Jones. Her novels are always what I like to term, ‘quietly beautiful�, and in the case of her latest, P is for Pearl, this novel can quite simply be summed up as: P is for Perfect. Because it is. It really is the perfect novel.
Gwen is seventeen, in Year 11 at high school, living in a small coastal town in Tasmania with her father, step-mother, step-brother and half-sister. She has a couple of really great best friends and some other adults in her life that she can count on. Yet, an unsettling incident occurs one night while she is working at her part-time job and this sends Gwen’s life into a spin. All of sudden, she is remembering her mother and her little brother, the two people who are no longer with her, and she begins to question everything about herself and her life up to this point.
Once again, Eliza brings her knowledge of grief and trauma to the table and the result is a stunning examination of the effects loss can have, in the long term, on those who are left behind. The grief is no longer fresh for Gwen, but the loss remains sharp. After the incident at the café, Gwen begins to keep a diary of her thoughts, and all of these orbit around the death of her mother and little brother as she tries to make sense out of their passing at the same time as trying desperately to remember who they were. Her own sense of self becomes flimsy and she begins to enter a period of being lost, questioning everything and not really feeling as though she’s getting any solid answers.
There’s just so much about this novel that I loved. It’s a novel that makes you really appreciate the importance of being straight with children when it comes to the ugly truth about loved ones. The impulse to protect is strong but the implications of not being transparent can be far reaching.
The characters in this novel were excellent. I loved Loretta and Gordon, two terrific best friends to Gwen and the dialogue that bantered back and forth between this little group was like gold. They cracked me up so many times. I loved Biddy, with her steady support and Evie, with her wicked little sense of humour and obvious adoration of Gwen. I loved Gwen’s Dad, who was so obviously trying to preserve the memory of Gwen’s mother for her, while still internally grieving for the loss of his precious little son. And I loved Tyrone, best of all, because he was such an amazing brother to Gwen, a deep person despite what he liked to project to others, his devotion to Gwen apparent and ever present. I really loved him a lot. He’s the sort of young man who will make someone a great husband one day.
Gwen was a terrific protagonist. She really got under my skin in the best of ways. I found myself getting so invested in her, and I wanted nothing more than to reach into the book and give her a motherly embrace. She was wise beyond her years in some ways, and still very much finding her feet in others. I enjoyed the interactions between Gwen and Ben as they stumbled along finding each other, navigating the storm of their teenage attraction and balancing it out within the space they were currently inhabiting. Gwen just needed the truth. She needed to know who her mother was before she died and she needed to know what her mother was like leading up to her death; without this knowledge, it was impossible for her to make inroads into settling her own pain. The ripple effect of being protected from the truth, not only by her father, but also by her step-mother and even her step-brother; all of them with the very best of intentions and yet, what she needed to know was all that she was being protected from. How the family came to this realisation and the outcomes was beautifully rendered.
P is for Pearl is such an authentic novel. The setting was very much a part of the interactions between the characters and for Gwen, and Tyrone, the beach in particular was a big player. It was a go to place for them, despite the biting cold, which I could feel just as much as they could. (It was raining all weekend while I curled up with this novel, so the atmosphere was well and truly set). Eliza Henry Jones is fast on her way to being a master storyteller, and I am just so excited about her talent. Her words are so clean and quiet, so contained, yet she stirs within me the deepest of emotion. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
Gwen is seventeen, in Year 11 at high school, living in a small coastal town in Tasmania with her father, step-mother, step-brother and half-sister. She has a couple of really great best friends and some other adults in her life that she can count on. Yet, an unsettling incident occurs one night while she is working at her part-time job and this sends Gwen’s life into a spin. All of sudden, she is remembering her mother and her little brother, the two people who are no longer with her, and she begins to question everything about herself and her life up to this point.
Once again, Eliza brings her knowledge of grief and trauma to the table and the result is a stunning examination of the effects loss can have, in the long term, on those who are left behind. The grief is no longer fresh for Gwen, but the loss remains sharp. After the incident at the café, Gwen begins to keep a diary of her thoughts, and all of these orbit around the death of her mother and little brother as she tries to make sense out of their passing at the same time as trying desperately to remember who they were. Her own sense of self becomes flimsy and she begins to enter a period of being lost, questioning everything and not really feeling as though she’s getting any solid answers.
There’s just so much about this novel that I loved. It’s a novel that makes you really appreciate the importance of being straight with children when it comes to the ugly truth about loved ones. The impulse to protect is strong but the implications of not being transparent can be far reaching.
The characters in this novel were excellent. I loved Loretta and Gordon, two terrific best friends to Gwen and the dialogue that bantered back and forth between this little group was like gold. They cracked me up so many times. I loved Biddy, with her steady support and Evie, with her wicked little sense of humour and obvious adoration of Gwen. I loved Gwen’s Dad, who was so obviously trying to preserve the memory of Gwen’s mother for her, while still internally grieving for the loss of his precious little son. And I loved Tyrone, best of all, because he was such an amazing brother to Gwen, a deep person despite what he liked to project to others, his devotion to Gwen apparent and ever present. I really loved him a lot. He’s the sort of young man who will make someone a great husband one day.
Gwen was a terrific protagonist. She really got under my skin in the best of ways. I found myself getting so invested in her, and I wanted nothing more than to reach into the book and give her a motherly embrace. She was wise beyond her years in some ways, and still very much finding her feet in others. I enjoyed the interactions between Gwen and Ben as they stumbled along finding each other, navigating the storm of their teenage attraction and balancing it out within the space they were currently inhabiting. Gwen just needed the truth. She needed to know who her mother was before she died and she needed to know what her mother was like leading up to her death; without this knowledge, it was impossible for her to make inroads into settling her own pain. The ripple effect of being protected from the truth, not only by her father, but also by her step-mother and even her step-brother; all of them with the very best of intentions and yet, what she needed to know was all that she was being protected from. How the family came to this realisation and the outcomes was beautifully rendered.
P is for Pearl is such an authentic novel. The setting was very much a part of the interactions between the characters and for Gwen, and Tyrone, the beach in particular was a big player. It was a go to place for them, despite the biting cold, which I could feel just as much as they could. (It was raining all weekend while I curled up with this novel, so the atmosphere was well and truly set). Eliza Henry Jones is fast on her way to being a master storyteller, and I am just so excited about her talent. Her words are so clean and quiet, so contained, yet she stirs within me the deepest of emotion. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
April 23, 2018
‘I worked at the café down on the main surfing beach in town.�
Meet Gwendolyn P. Pearson. Gwen lives in a small coastal town in Tasmania with her father, step-mother (Biddy), step-brother (Tyrone) and half-sister (Evie). She remembers her mum: a colourful whirlwind of a woman, now dead. Everyone in the small community knew Gwen’s mum: some talk about her, others look at Gwen sympathetically and say nothing. Gwen tries not to think about losing her mother, or the death of her younger brother. Keeping busy helps. Gwen is now seventeen years old, in Year 11 at high school, trying to think about her future. One evening there’s an incident in the café, where Gwen and her best friend Loretta work part-time, and Gwen’s world is shaken.
Gwen tries to make sense of what happened to her mother and her brother. Trying to understand what happened leads Gwen to realise that life is more complex than she had realised. While Gwen is learning more about the deaths of her mother and brother, she is coming to terms with the fact that life is more complex than she’d thought, and that other people also have issues to deal with.
I read this novel, and then almost immediately reread it. I didn’t actually miss much on the first read, but the second read gave me an opportunity to think more about what Gwen was experiencing and her reactions. This is a beautifully written novel which explores the meaning of friendship, the impact of mental illness, as well as different configurations of family and grief. None of these issues are trivialised or glossed over. The characters came alive for me, especially Evie with her wicked sense of humour, Loretta and her dislike of sport, and Tyrone. It’s not just the story Ms Henry Jones tells, it’s the characters she peoples it with and the way in which she tells it.
I’ve been recommending this novel to family and friends. Unreservedly.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Meet Gwendolyn P. Pearson. Gwen lives in a small coastal town in Tasmania with her father, step-mother (Biddy), step-brother (Tyrone) and half-sister (Evie). She remembers her mum: a colourful whirlwind of a woman, now dead. Everyone in the small community knew Gwen’s mum: some talk about her, others look at Gwen sympathetically and say nothing. Gwen tries not to think about losing her mother, or the death of her younger brother. Keeping busy helps. Gwen is now seventeen years old, in Year 11 at high school, trying to think about her future. One evening there’s an incident in the café, where Gwen and her best friend Loretta work part-time, and Gwen’s world is shaken.
Gwen tries to make sense of what happened to her mother and her brother. Trying to understand what happened leads Gwen to realise that life is more complex than she had realised. While Gwen is learning more about the deaths of her mother and brother, she is coming to terms with the fact that life is more complex than she’d thought, and that other people also have issues to deal with.
I read this novel, and then almost immediately reread it. I didn’t actually miss much on the first read, but the second read gave me an opportunity to think more about what Gwen was experiencing and her reactions. This is a beautifully written novel which explores the meaning of friendship, the impact of mental illness, as well as different configurations of family and grief. None of these issues are trivialised or glossed over. The characters came alive for me, especially Evie with her wicked sense of humour, Loretta and her dislike of sport, and Tyrone. It’s not just the story Ms Henry Jones tells, it’s the characters she peoples it with and the way in which she tells it.
I’ve been recommending this novel to family and friends. Unreservedly.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June 23, 2022
P is for Pearl is the third title I've read by young Australian author Eliza Henry-Jones and I have enjoyed each of them. It's several years since I stumbled upon her book In The Quiet and couldn't wait to follow it up with Ache. P is for Pearl has been on my TBR for all that time and I was not disappointed. Better still, I just learnt she has since written two new titles so hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on these before too long.
Her books are heavily character driven and she captures the Australian setting so very well. In this case the story was set in a small coastal village in Tasmania and our protagonist was Gwendolyn P Pearson, a seventeen year old girl. Gwen and her best friend Loretta were working in the local café when a disturbed man began ranting, becoming violent and shattering the glass shopfront. This episode triggered in Gwen an onslaught on emotions and it became clear to readers that she was struggling to deal with unresolved grief over the loss of her beloved mother and younger brother.
I enjoyed the way the close knit community was depicted as looking out for each other. Even Tyrone, the annoying step brother she acquired when her father remarried, cared deeply and found ways to express his concern. This YAF had lots to commend it. The sensitive way Eliza Henry-Jones revealed the mental health issues which impacted some of the characters was very well done. So too was her portrayal of the grief Gwen and her father were dealing with as well as the positives and negatives of their new blended family. I particularly enjoyed the friendships between Gwen, Loretta and Gordon as well as the emerging romance between Gwen and Ben.
Overall, this novel was one I greatly appreciated and I look forward with anticipation to reading her subsequent novels. Highly recommended.
Her books are heavily character driven and she captures the Australian setting so very well. In this case the story was set in a small coastal village in Tasmania and our protagonist was Gwendolyn P Pearson, a seventeen year old girl. Gwen and her best friend Loretta were working in the local café when a disturbed man began ranting, becoming violent and shattering the glass shopfront. This episode triggered in Gwen an onslaught on emotions and it became clear to readers that she was struggling to deal with unresolved grief over the loss of her beloved mother and younger brother.
I enjoyed the way the close knit community was depicted as looking out for each other. Even Tyrone, the annoying step brother she acquired when her father remarried, cared deeply and found ways to express his concern. This YAF had lots to commend it. The sensitive way Eliza Henry-Jones revealed the mental health issues which impacted some of the characters was very well done. So too was her portrayal of the grief Gwen and her father were dealing with as well as the positives and negatives of their new blended family. I particularly enjoyed the friendships between Gwen, Loretta and Gordon as well as the emerging romance between Gwen and Ben.
Overall, this novel was one I greatly appreciated and I look forward with anticipation to reading her subsequent novels. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2018
Gwendolyn Pearl Pearson is on the brink of adulthood. She has friends she loves and a dysfunctional family she knows love her. Life is on the right track. Maybe most importantly she has learnt how to cope with the grief of losing her mother, and is no longer the broken little girl she once was. Until an unexpectedly traumatic event at work triggers an onslaught of memories and awakens something within her.
Suddenly Gwen can’t eat or sleep and is consumed by questions surrounding the strange circumstances of not only her mother’s death, but the death of the baby brother she never knew. What isn’t her father telling her, why is her mother’s family a town taboo, who was her mother really?
And why late at night when Gwen feels as though she’s drowning, can she hear the sea calling her name.
There’s also a new pair of siblings in town that hold their own secrets. Gwen’s blossoming relationship with Ben was lovely to see play out, a romantic subplot that doesn’t get in the way of character, especially female characters, is my favourite kind of romantic subplot. Ben provided a fresh take of Gwen that wasn’t informed by familial ties or years of friendship or town gossip. I was unsure of Ben’s sibling Amber but as the plot progressed and the themes of guilt and shame surrounding mental illness was further explored Amber’s path of healing and recovery was woven in beautifully.
The setting of small town, rural Tasmania is breathtaking. Eliza Henry-Jones writing holds so much love for the rocky, blustering coast that it extends past pathetic fallacy and nature becomes a crucial character. Gwen yearns for a maternal figure in such a pivotal point in her life, and so she turns to a source of comfort and constancy that has always held a connection to her mother - the ocean. Henry-Jones writing reads like the sea, a constant almost hypnotizing push and pull with rips along the way and unfathomable depth beneath a calm surface.
The reason this isn't 5/5 for me is the big climax of the book. The moment Gwen finally cracks. Throughout the novel Henry-Jones style seemed so particular the the sudden sheer amount of exclamation points was jarring and bizarre - and not in a good way. Maybe it's a gen z thing but to me exclamation points rarely can work in serious scenes as I have such an association to like 2013 zomg!!! tumblr days.
This book was understated but boy it is a gem. Gwen struggles to unravel the mysteries of the past in order to move forward, she must learn like the tide what to pull in and what to let go of. An incredibly touching book about grief, identity, and the complexity of family.
Suddenly Gwen can’t eat or sleep and is consumed by questions surrounding the strange circumstances of not only her mother’s death, but the death of the baby brother she never knew. What isn’t her father telling her, why is her mother’s family a town taboo, who was her mother really?
And why late at night when Gwen feels as though she’s drowning, can she hear the sea calling her name.
There’s also a new pair of siblings in town that hold their own secrets. Gwen’s blossoming relationship with Ben was lovely to see play out, a romantic subplot that doesn’t get in the way of character, especially female characters, is my favourite kind of romantic subplot. Ben provided a fresh take of Gwen that wasn’t informed by familial ties or years of friendship or town gossip. I was unsure of Ben’s sibling Amber but as the plot progressed and the themes of guilt and shame surrounding mental illness was further explored Amber’s path of healing and recovery was woven in beautifully.
The setting of small town, rural Tasmania is breathtaking. Eliza Henry-Jones writing holds so much love for the rocky, blustering coast that it extends past pathetic fallacy and nature becomes a crucial character. Gwen yearns for a maternal figure in such a pivotal point in her life, and so she turns to a source of comfort and constancy that has always held a connection to her mother - the ocean. Henry-Jones writing reads like the sea, a constant almost hypnotizing push and pull with rips along the way and unfathomable depth beneath a calm surface.
The reason this isn't 5/5 for me is the big climax of the book. The moment Gwen finally cracks. Throughout the novel Henry-Jones style seemed so particular the the sudden sheer amount of exclamation points was jarring and bizarre - and not in a good way. Maybe it's a gen z thing but to me exclamation points rarely can work in serious scenes as I have such an association to like 2013 zomg!!! tumblr days.
This book was understated but boy it is a gem. Gwen struggles to unravel the mysteries of the past in order to move forward, she must learn like the tide what to pull in and what to let go of. An incredibly touching book about grief, identity, and the complexity of family.
January 1, 2021
Nobody writes about grief and trauma like Eliza Henry-Jones. With qualificationsEnglish, Psychology and grief, loss and trauma counselling Henry-Jones knows her stuff, but I think her writing skills transcend the basic knowledge she has gained. Every novel by this author seems to get right to the heart and soul of her characters and I am always able to relate to her characters almost as though she is writing about my own personal experiences.
P is for Pearl only really fits into the YA genre because the main characters are in high school, but readers of any age will relate to Gwendolyn's story and her battle to unravel the mysteries of the past so that she can move on and heal her wounds. I know it seems strange to enjoy novels about grief and trauma, but Henry-Jones is so good at it. I found it remarkable to learn that the author wrote the first draft of this novel while she was in high school!
P is for Pearl only really fits into the YA genre because the main characters are in high school, but readers of any age will relate to Gwendolyn's story and her battle to unravel the mysteries of the past so that she can move on and heal her wounds. I know it seems strange to enjoy novels about grief and trauma, but Henry-Jones is so good at it. I found it remarkable to learn that the author wrote the first draft of this novel while she was in high school!
March 23, 2018
P is for Pearl is the tender-hearted story of seventeen-year-old Gwen growing up in regional Tasmania. An incident at the local coffee chop where Gwen works with her best friend, Loretta sends Gwen spinning into the realms of grief. The story follows the aftermath of the incident and Gwen’s acceptance of the death of her mother and brother some years past.
Life becomes more complicated when two strangers come to town. Handsome Ben and his troubled sister, Amber descend upon the town causing a flurry of excitement within the school community. Not least of all, Gwen who finds herself thinking more and more about Handsome Ben.
Threaded throughout the story are examples of positive teen relationships from the relationship of Gwen with her siblings, to the friendship she enjoys with her close friends, and my favourite of all, the intergenerational relationship Gwen enjoys with local police sergeant, Martin. Family relationships are also explored throughout, and Gwen’s father’s remarriage causes tension throughout the book.
Henry-Jones has used her setting of a wild, isolated coastal town to perfection. The town with its wild and violent ocean adds a strong element of atmosphere as well foreshadowing events and memories from the past.
The narrative is interspersed with diary entries by Gwen.
P is for Pearl explores themes of grief, friendship, and mental health and illness, and interestingly, the story was first written by Henry-Jones in her teens.
Although this book has been marketed to YA readers, I believe it would better suit younger teens and higher middle-grade readers.
My thanks to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for a copy to read and review.
Life becomes more complicated when two strangers come to town. Handsome Ben and his troubled sister, Amber descend upon the town causing a flurry of excitement within the school community. Not least of all, Gwen who finds herself thinking more and more about Handsome Ben.
Threaded throughout the story are examples of positive teen relationships from the relationship of Gwen with her siblings, to the friendship she enjoys with her close friends, and my favourite of all, the intergenerational relationship Gwen enjoys with local police sergeant, Martin. Family relationships are also explored throughout, and Gwen’s father’s remarriage causes tension throughout the book.
Henry-Jones has used her setting of a wild, isolated coastal town to perfection. The town with its wild and violent ocean adds a strong element of atmosphere as well foreshadowing events and memories from the past.
The narrative is interspersed with diary entries by Gwen.
P is for Pearl explores themes of grief, friendship, and mental health and illness, and interestingly, the story was first written by Henry-Jones in her teens.
Although this book has been marketed to YA readers, I believe it would better suit younger teens and higher middle-grade readers.
My thanks to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for a copy to read and review.
April 17, 2018
Absolutely beautiful, poignant novel. It reminded me so much of Sophie Hardcastle’s Breathing Under Water. They both have a great understanding of what’s it like to be a teenager going through loss and uncertainties. It was written in a way that’s believable and truthful.
P is for Pearl tells the story of 17-year-old Gwen who lost her mum and brother at an early age. An incident at the café where she worked part time prompted vivid memories, flashback and dreams of the time they died - she grieving all over again. Gwen knew her mum was different but as a young girl Gwen just accepted it. Now that Gwen is older she’s discovering there might be more to her mum’s eccentric behavior and uncovering hidden secrets from her mothers pasts. And the only person who can help Gwen with answers is her father but dealing with loss himself, he shuts down or avoids any questions raised.
This is a story is narrated by Gwen, looking at her grief and suffering from all angles, even seeing it from her friends and families pov and how they played an a vital part in her life to recovering - looking out for her, knowing what to say and do and just keeping it normal. But it’s also a lovely coming of age story and the complexities of growing up; first crush, friendships and the tough decision about a career when you leave high school.
Set in a small town of Tasmania everyone knows each other, and they know their stories. There is a special closeness and trust of the town’s community that’s warm, welcoming and very natural which I loved. They all seem to have each other back in a subtle way and there’s a gentle kindness in everyone. I enjoyed the playful dialogue between friends - Gwen, Loretta, Gordon and even her annoying step Brother Tyrone who gets a kick out of playing tricks on Gwen but can be surprisingly compassionate when she least expected.
This novel is pure gem, one I will treasure.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for my review copy.
P is for Pearl tells the story of 17-year-old Gwen who lost her mum and brother at an early age. An incident at the café where she worked part time prompted vivid memories, flashback and dreams of the time they died - she grieving all over again. Gwen knew her mum was different but as a young girl Gwen just accepted it. Now that Gwen is older she’s discovering there might be more to her mum’s eccentric behavior and uncovering hidden secrets from her mothers pasts. And the only person who can help Gwen with answers is her father but dealing with loss himself, he shuts down or avoids any questions raised.
This is a story is narrated by Gwen, looking at her grief and suffering from all angles, even seeing it from her friends and families pov and how they played an a vital part in her life to recovering - looking out for her, knowing what to say and do and just keeping it normal. But it’s also a lovely coming of age story and the complexities of growing up; first crush, friendships and the tough decision about a career when you leave high school.
Set in a small town of Tasmania everyone knows each other, and they know their stories. There is a special closeness and trust of the town’s community that’s warm, welcoming and very natural which I loved. They all seem to have each other back in a subtle way and there’s a gentle kindness in everyone. I enjoyed the playful dialogue between friends - Gwen, Loretta, Gordon and even her annoying step Brother Tyrone who gets a kick out of playing tricks on Gwen but can be surprisingly compassionate when she least expected.
This novel is pure gem, one I will treasure.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for my review copy.
March 1, 2018
A touching and poignant portrayal of grief and trauma. A YA book I actually liked!
May 23, 2019
Finally my review is here:
Basically this is an excellent book and I know because I am from Tasmania and it gave me feels.
Basically this is an excellent book and I know because I am from Tasmania and it gave me feels.
August 5, 2018
There’s a lot to like about this book, I think the characters and their relationships were amazing. I especially loved little Evie and Loretta, they were just brilliant. That being said it just wasn’t a standout for me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, I enjoyed reading it but it’s not one I’ll go back and reread. I think maybe it felt a little young for me I’m not sure. I definitely want to go and try the authors adult titles as I’ve heard they’re amazing.
August 5, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It explores grief and mental illness and family relationships really well, especially for a YA book, and I'm definitely keen to read the author's adult books now because I liked her writing style. There were some predictable moments, and at times the book seemed quite young, especially considering the heavy subject matter, but I liked the characters and their interactions with one another, and all the themes explored.
September 23, 2022
I am so completely broken over this emotional roller coaster, but I am so happy that I got to love this book. I will definitely be reading more by this author, and watch my heart shatter all over again
March 11, 2025
A poignant book about grief, friendship and family, that explores the life of Gwen, whose memory and mourning is triggered by an event in her small town. I love the friendships between Loretta, Gordon and Gwen, and also her developing relationship with Ben. Elize Henry-Jones examines grief through Gwen's distinct voice to communicate messages about reality and trust.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly!
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this book thoroughly!
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 6, 2018
WHAT I LIKED
- The location of the novel, how it felt like a real small town
- The family dynamics
- The acceptance of the MC issues with her past
WHAT I DIDNT LIKE
- how nothing really happened
- How it was over so fast
- How little focus there was on Amber and Pearl
- The location of the novel, how it felt like a real small town
- The family dynamics
- The acceptance of the MC issues with her past
WHAT I DIDNT LIKE
- how nothing really happened
- How it was over so fast
- How little focus there was on Amber and Pearl
February 28, 2018
Thank you Harper Collins for sending me an ARC of this beautiful book for review!
This contemporary YA book, set in Tasmania, is about grief and relationships and truth and figuring out who/what we want to be. It was BEAUTIFULLY written - it kind of felt like literary fiction - and had kind of a magical feeling (for me the vibe felt a bit like Maggie Stiefvater's Scorpio Races). Have your tissues at hand, because this gets real in a couple of places. Meanwhile, I'm off to read Eliza Henry James' previous novels... And check out coastal properties for sale in Tassie...
This contemporary YA book, set in Tasmania, is about grief and relationships and truth and figuring out who/what we want to be. It was BEAUTIFULLY written - it kind of felt like literary fiction - and had kind of a magical feeling (for me the vibe felt a bit like Maggie Stiefvater's Scorpio Races). Have your tissues at hand, because this gets real in a couple of places. Meanwhile, I'm off to read Eliza Henry James' previous novels... And check out coastal properties for sale in Tassie...
October 31, 2018
Beautiful and sad and utterly wonderful.
November 13, 2018
Read this for bookclub.
February 17, 2023
Enjoyable family drama, from a teen pov
November 5, 2017
I found this well written novel affecting and insightful.
February 28, 2018
This was pure poetry, it was such a beautiful and moving story for me to read, it spoke straight to my heart. A beautifully written story of loss and secrets and coming to terms with the truth of what life is. Set in Tasmania in a small seaside town, 17 year old Gwen is dealing with loss, not just the loss of her mum and brother, but the loss of all she believes to be the truth. I can't express how moved I was by this story, it is one I can see myself rereading just to immerse myself in Eliza Henry-Jones' words.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy in return for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy in return for an honest review.
April 16, 2019
Being an avid Fantasy reader, this is not my usual book.
This is the real world, one without magic or miracles, a place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. Where people die and music disintegrates and things just go wrong.
This is where you face real-life people with their real-life problems and it kind of stuns you a bit because most books help you escape reality and this is not that kind of book. It, in fact, reminds you of how horrible life could be sometimes.
This is the kind of book that when you are actually in a good mood one day, your brain suddenly laughs at you and casually reminds you of what happened in that chapter.
But there’s the dark and the light. P is for Pearl shows the best and worst things in life, in sort of a balanced way. It isn’t exactly what you would call a 100% sweet treat, but it not being so is what makes it good.
This story is about a troubled teenager in Year 11, a girl, who is struggling to live a normal life after some very traumatic events that have occurred to her family.
It’s an intense, painful read about a complicated individual who is constantly having to cope with grief and being conflicted with her feelings. There were parts that were so equally beautiful and painful, that they were conflicting my very own feelings.
This entire book was brimming with emotion, and it opened my eyes to a bit of what it really is like to deal with so much loss especially in a young age. Even if I’m some kid who hardly experienced grief as much as Gwen the protagonist the did, I could still relate and connect with her, perhaps even low-key grieving with her. The diary entries were also very effective in giving out a deep and solemn atmosphere, and it really suited how the story was going.
Another thing I really liked was Loretta and Gwen’s best-friendship. Or any of Gwen’s friendships in particular. Deep beneath the premise of this book is darkness, but you don’t really see it when you see Gwen with her friends. They’re funny, sarcastic and all the friendships in this book were portrayed so well. I especially enjoyed reading about Loretta and Ben.
Only one issue I faced whilst reading � the pace of book at the first half. This probably had something to do with me being not used to the genre however, making this very subjective. But, with that said, it’s a fantastic and well-done book nonetheless and I loved it. It’s one of the most meaningful books I’ve read this year and it has made some sort of impression on me though I can’t say what. I highly recommend it to high-schoolers like me, and the fact that the main characters are in high school too support this as well. I’d be happy to read more from this author again.
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars.
This is the real world, one without magic or miracles, a place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. Where people die and music disintegrates and things just go wrong.
This is where you face real-life people with their real-life problems and it kind of stuns you a bit because most books help you escape reality and this is not that kind of book. It, in fact, reminds you of how horrible life could be sometimes.
This is the kind of book that when you are actually in a good mood one day, your brain suddenly laughs at you and casually reminds you of what happened in that chapter.
But there’s the dark and the light. P is for Pearl shows the best and worst things in life, in sort of a balanced way. It isn’t exactly what you would call a 100% sweet treat, but it not being so is what makes it good.
This story is about a troubled teenager in Year 11, a girl, who is struggling to live a normal life after some very traumatic events that have occurred to her family.
It’s an intense, painful read about a complicated individual who is constantly having to cope with grief and being conflicted with her feelings. There were parts that were so equally beautiful and painful, that they were conflicting my very own feelings.
”The beauty of a pearl is in its imperfection.�
This entire book was brimming with emotion, and it opened my eyes to a bit of what it really is like to deal with so much loss especially in a young age. Even if I’m some kid who hardly experienced grief as much as Gwen the protagonist the did, I could still relate and connect with her, perhaps even low-key grieving with her. The diary entries were also very effective in giving out a deep and solemn atmosphere, and it really suited how the story was going.
Another thing I really liked was Loretta and Gwen’s best-friendship. Or any of Gwen’s friendships in particular. Deep beneath the premise of this book is darkness, but you don’t really see it when you see Gwen with her friends. They’re funny, sarcastic and all the friendships in this book were portrayed so well. I especially enjoyed reading about Loretta and Ben.
Only one issue I faced whilst reading � the pace of book at the first half. This probably had something to do with me being not used to the genre however, making this very subjective. But, with that said, it’s a fantastic and well-done book nonetheless and I loved it. It’s one of the most meaningful books I’ve read this year and it has made some sort of impression on me though I can’t say what. I highly recommend it to high-schoolers like me, and the fact that the main characters are in high school too support this as well. I’d be happy to read more from this author again.
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars.
March 10, 2018
I loved the comfortable feeling of this book. I connected with the feeling of the small town and the familiarity with all the residents there. It was a different kind of story that had a lot of focus on the characters and who they were rather than any big events. I liked that what looked like key plot points came to nothing and you realise Jones has a different direction in mind for the story.
What I also liked were the slow reveals and the shifting focus, it is also a great exploration of mental health and how that is dealt with at all ages and stages of life. Jones doesn't delve too deeply into this, it is very much shown from the outside, but that in itself is an interesting point of view.
I enjoyed the surprises and their reveals that were impactful but didn't feel like Plot Twists. They weren't suddenly thrown in your face but they developed gradually which I liked. It felt natural and it felt like a realistic moment of discovery rather than a sudden change in the story.
The characters are pretty wonderful as well. I liked the relationship Gwen has with her friends and the people in town. It has a great small town feeling and the friendships and the support the community provide to one another is heart-warming but doesn't come across as cheesy.
There is a natural feeling to the way Jones writes. Conversations are natural, more information isn't provided between characters just so a reader understands, and the events and actions of the characters are intriguing and fascinating without being unnatural or fanciful. I was drawn into Gwen's story and came out the other side satisfied and content which is never a bad way to feel at the end of a book.
What I also liked were the slow reveals and the shifting focus, it is also a great exploration of mental health and how that is dealt with at all ages and stages of life. Jones doesn't delve too deeply into this, it is very much shown from the outside, but that in itself is an interesting point of view.
I enjoyed the surprises and their reveals that were impactful but didn't feel like Plot Twists. They weren't suddenly thrown in your face but they developed gradually which I liked. It felt natural and it felt like a realistic moment of discovery rather than a sudden change in the story.
The characters are pretty wonderful as well. I liked the relationship Gwen has with her friends and the people in town. It has a great small town feeling and the friendships and the support the community provide to one another is heart-warming but doesn't come across as cheesy.
There is a natural feeling to the way Jones writes. Conversations are natural, more information isn't provided between characters just so a reader understands, and the events and actions of the characters are intriguing and fascinating without being unnatural or fanciful. I was drawn into Gwen's story and came out the other side satisfied and content which is never a bad way to feel at the end of a book.
April 19, 2018
A random but violent accident at the café where Gwendolyn Pearson works after school triggers a cascade of memory and emotion from past trauma. Gwendolyn takes to the beaches of her small town and uses her running as a kind of meditation and therapy. We come to know her blended family as she navigates their quirks and as she tries to figure out where she fits in the world.
When two new kids come to town under mysterious circumstances, Gwendolyn strikes up a friendship that will help her discover secrets from her past. She’d always thought she knew all about her eccentric Mum and her untimely death, but can she trust her memory?
With a cast of delightful characters, this charming novel is full of community and relationships and a real life circumstance. It’s the kind of town that we’d love to live in, where people support and care about each other. There’s a freshness to the story, and an intimacy that is accentuated by Gwen’s diary entries. Particularly touching is the relationship between Gwen and her stepbrother Tyrone, which at first appears simple but is much more complex.
Portrayal of mental illness is blunt but filtered through the eyes of a younger child; misconceptions are highlighted, truth is laid bare and the importance of communication is clear. The conclusion is moving and satisfying.
There’s no one who writes about the difficult subject of grief in the unflinching but tender way that Eliza Henry Jones does.
Recommended
Melissa
LOVEthatBOOK
May 2, 2019
Review originally published on 3 May 2019:
It’s been a while since I read something small town-y and character-driven. At first, I thought the story was taking a while to get going. But then I realised the characters are the story in this one. And I really loved them. This is a coming of age story about grief and loss and growing up and it explores its themes really well.
Eliza Henry Jones really captured the small town vibe in this. Little details like everyone calling each other in a storm to check if they’ve still got power or if they need anything really made me feel like everyone knew each other and like I could walk from one end of town to another in an hour.
Gwen and her two besties made such a great friendship group. I enjoyed their banter a lot. And Ben, who was just the most adorkable love interest. He kept doing such awkward things and he got all stammery and I loved it. I also liked how Gwen helped him help his sister, and how Amber hadn’t been terribly nice to Gwen, she was still willing to help when someone needed it.
I did think Gwen’s dad was� not terrible, and probably also dealing with grief in his own way. But he was really inattentive to her and I wanted to shake him a lot. Biddy, Gwen’s stepmother, is in a difficult position that I thought she juggled really well, trying to help Gwen through her grief but also sometimes just not knowing how to help.
This was one of those books where you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to the characters when you reach the end. Even though they were moving on with the next stages of their lives, I wanted to hang out with them in their small town with the beach and the mermaids for longer.
It’s been a while since I read something small town-y and character-driven. At first, I thought the story was taking a while to get going. But then I realised the characters are the story in this one. And I really loved them. This is a coming of age story about grief and loss and growing up and it explores its themes really well.
Eliza Henry Jones really captured the small town vibe in this. Little details like everyone calling each other in a storm to check if they’ve still got power or if they need anything really made me feel like everyone knew each other and like I could walk from one end of town to another in an hour.
Gwen and her two besties made such a great friendship group. I enjoyed their banter a lot. And Ben, who was just the most adorkable love interest. He kept doing such awkward things and he got all stammery and I loved it. I also liked how Gwen helped him help his sister, and how Amber hadn’t been terribly nice to Gwen, she was still willing to help when someone needed it.
I did think Gwen’s dad was� not terrible, and probably also dealing with grief in his own way. But he was really inattentive to her and I wanted to shake him a lot. Biddy, Gwen’s stepmother, is in a difficult position that I thought she juggled really well, trying to help Gwen through her grief but also sometimes just not knowing how to help.
This was one of those books where you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to the characters when you reach the end. Even though they were moving on with the next stages of their lives, I wanted to hang out with them in their small town with the beach and the mermaids for longer.
March 3, 2018
There's definitely budding romance, friendship, and conflicts with schoolmates as you would expect when reading about a teenager during her everyday life. However, the focus is not there.It's more about the emotional suffering and grief of a young lady who had lost her baby brother, then later her mother. The combination of YA and grief is unconventional and timely, I think. We don’t often put those two in the same room together when the reality is many young adults have experienced it.
Our main character is Gwendolyn, more known as Gwen, or as her mother nicknamed her, Pearl. This novel is told From Gwen’s point of view, told from her everyday moments and diary entries. Her grief and sadness surfaced after a man stirred up trouble at a café where she works by flinging tables off of the floor, hitting the cafe window in the process. Something about the shattered glass triggered Gwen’s memories about her late mother. Readers can see Gwen's sorrow and heartache from her diary entries, also from her monologues telling us that she’s having trouble remembering much about her brother Jamie except that he played the violin. Perhaps this was how Gwen liked to remember Jamie.
Full review on
Our main character is Gwendolyn, more known as Gwen, or as her mother nicknamed her, Pearl. This novel is told From Gwen’s point of view, told from her everyday moments and diary entries. Her grief and sadness surfaced after a man stirred up trouble at a café where she works by flinging tables off of the floor, hitting the cafe window in the process. Something about the shattered glass triggered Gwen’s memories about her late mother. Readers can see Gwen's sorrow and heartache from her diary entries, also from her monologues telling us that she’s having trouble remembering much about her brother Jamie except that he played the violin. Perhaps this was how Gwen liked to remember Jamie.
Full review on
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