"There’s nothing I can write here that could truly give enough praise or express how much this book meant to me—it might just be the best thing I’ve read all year. It made me scream-cry. It hurt me more than I expected. It shattered me into pieces. It opened up so many old wounds.

It made me reflect on the wildness of nature, the fragility of species, the instinct to survive, the future of humanity, broken families, grief, pure love, obsession turning into madness, claustrophobia, guilt, sacrifice, and motherhood. And yet, somehow, it also gave me a tiny glimmer of hope—that with the help of those we love, we can still stand up after hitting the deepest, most painful rock bottom.

I haven’t read something so tragic, heart-wrenching, and yet so achingly beautiful in a long time. The ending felt like tiny needles piercing my heart—I cannot stop crying. This is one of those rare books that delivers the most cathartic ugly cry and haunts you forever with its unforgettable characters, perfectly built mystery, and slow-burning intensity leading to a brilliant twist. As a work of fiction, survival thriller, and mystery, it took my breath away.

Picture this: a family of four—a father, two teenagers, and a young child—living on a remote island near Antarctica called Shearwater. Once a bustling hub for researchers, it’s now desolate, with only this family left behind, tasked with packing up seeds to transport to safer ground. The boat meant to retrieve them is five weeks away. But as the sea level rises, the electricity fails, the radio breaks, and there’s no signal, their survival becomes increasingly uncertain. Then, a mysterious woman washes ashore, bloodied and barely alive, claiming to have fled a tragedy—the house and land she built, now reduced to ashes.

Her name is Rowan. As she recovers, she finds herself drawn into the family’s orbit. Dominic, the father, is still grieving the loss of his wife, struggling to express his emotions while raising his children with strict discipline. He’s hiding something too—bloodstains he once scrubbed clean in the now-abandoned research facility. What happened there?

Rowan becomes suspicious. Why does the family act like they’ve seen a ghost after learning who she is? Why do they whisper behind closed doors? Even little Orly seems to be speaking to someone invisible. Is the island haunted? Or is there something even more sinister going on beneath the surface? Has Rowan put herself in grave danger by coming here? Is the family succumbing to madness bred by isolation? Or is the truth even more devastating than she imagined?

One thing is certain—Rowan should never have come.

Overall: As a thriller, the pacing, tension, climax, and gut-wrenching twist were flawlessly executed. As a novel, it absolutely wrecked me—in the best possible way. Some chapters felt like they bled off the page. I sobbed through more than one.

Ten gazillion stars—well earned. Don’t just add this book to your TBR. Buy a copy. Read it immediately. If you skip this one, you’re missing out on one of the best books of the year.

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"This story is heartwarming without being cheesy and is great for anyone who needs characters, with baggag, winning.

Someone described this as Homeward Bound combined with a police procedural, and I couldn't agree more. The legal stuff isn't super accurate, but also animals don't really bet at horse tracks, so you know, just be prepared to suspend your need for realism for a bit.

I listened to this audiobook in one day, pausing it only so I could explain a variety of plot points to my dogs who should also be able to aid in my criminal defense if I ever need because of how much Law and Order we've watched."