Jessica Hamilton (2)

This one had me with the first line and never let go:

“One hour before I died, I was sitting in a stuffy lawyer’s office dealing with the probate details of my mother’s will.”

As with most books, I went into this without reading the blurb. I loved the cover and saw that it had received good reviews, so that was enough for me, lol. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was a ghost story! So if you’re looking for a ghost story, but don’t like the scary kind, this one is for show more you. It is a bit sad, though.

It was easy for me to relate to the two sisters—May and June—because I also grew up with an alcoholic mother and had to deal with a lot of the same issues. And, like them, it pushed me and my sister into a very close relationship to endure my mother’s outbursts and moodiness. It’s always interesting to read about similar family situations.

The story is narrated by the two sisters. One is dead and the other is alive. They are both alive in the beginning, but May but dies soon after the book starts. There are so many family secrets in this one, I wouldn’t even know where to begin giving some details. If I got started, I’d go on forever, haha. I listened to the audiobook version of this one and thought it was wonderful. It fit perfectly into the October/Halloween theme. It seems this is another debut book for this month. I will certainly be keeping my eyes out for new books Ms. Hamilton comes out with!

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Published: April 13, 2021
Crooked Lane Books
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica Hamilton was born in Australia but grew up in Ontario, Canada. She has lived and worked in the Czech Republic, Taiwan, India and Japan. She studied writing at the Humber School for Writers as well as George Brown College. She lives in Orillia, Ontario with her husband, son and daughter

“My only thought—June’s going to be so mad at me.”

June returns to the island her family show more owns after losing her sister suddenly and tragically. June returns to the island that she thought her mother had sold years before. June returns to the island that holds more than secrets and more answers than she is prepared for. Upon her return, June is faced with many instances of the past. Small town gossip, and her first crush- Ezra. As she gets closer to the truth, the real question becomes will June survive Avril Island?

This was a different kind of thriller, but I’m not mad about it. I enjoyed how this story unfolded, and the way the truth gets revealed was clever. The way the characters were used within this book was brilliant.

The characters in this story were all fascinating in their own right. I enjoyed how the island took on a life force and that memories were also strongly represented.

There is so much to unpack in this book. The plot is really well written, the story is clearly defined, and the characters add so much to the mystery and the madness.

I enjoyed the themes throughout this book. Relationships, familial and romantic, bonds, trust, secrets, truth, and the past, are all heavily represented. But there is also a heavy focus on grief, loss, acceptance, and forgiveness.

This was a brilliant book. I did not see the twists coming, and the way they get revealed to the reader is so clever and original. There is a lot to like about this novel. There is also a lot of heavy, dark reality to be wary of.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Jessica Hamilton, and I am impressed. She is a gifted storyteller, and she paints a brilliant scene. If you are looking for a book that will make you think, make you feel, and most importantly- make you remember, this is the novel for you. show less

An incredible debut, this book is a superb piece of nostalgia that transported me to my own childhood summer. Unfortunately, that was where most of the similarities ended because I would love to have my own family mystery to unravel. The back and forth between the two sisters’ point-of-view, in addition to the paranormal aspect, gave this book a fun twist that I hadn’t expected nor seen since reading The Lovely Bones.

With innumerable moments of nail-biting suspense, it was difficult to show more put this book down. Characters and their dialogue are so expertly crafted, you come to love or hate them with an abrupt intensity.

The best part of this book was that you never knew what was going to happen, despite your best theories, and it was refreshingly unconventional in its conclusion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own. show less

“To what lengths would you go to protect your family, and what can you do if you’re no longer around?” Good book...and good question for the “ghost story junkie”. A story of love...loss... deep dark secrets...and whether it’s possible to ever truly escape your past; or who you are. It’s atmospheric...intriguing... and downright creepy at times. I was never sure May was actually in the house or if she was only real to June. In several chapters she was very present...others as show more only a constant memory. I learned this was a debut novel for Jessica Hamilton and I would have to say she has a winner. I’ll be looking for more by this author. show less