The Little Island Secret by Emma Davies #bookreview #womensfiction #contemporary #chicklit #romance

Title: The Little Island Secret

Author: Emma Davies

Publisher:  Bookouture

Publication Date: July 21, 2021

Page Count:  261

My rating: 4 stars

About the book:

At the bottom of the meadow is a tiny crescent of beach, and beyond it the wild grey sea. I’ve pictured this view in my head so many times, and now I’m here, I know it will change everything. The whitewashed cottage with a peeling green painted door to my right must be his house…

When Abby steps off the ferry and onto the tiny island of Kinlossay, she squeezes her daughter’s hand and prays this trip will be the escape they both so desperately need. For now, at least, Beth is safe from the bullies making her life a misery, and perhaps Abby might find out more about the mysterious man behind the letters she’s been receiving…

Cameron first got in touch to see if Abby’s shop stocked his favourite book. And has written every day since to tell her of his life on his rugged little island, where buttercups dance on rolling fields and the sky never stops moving. The weekend he once came to visit her – singing with Beth in the kitchen, kissing Abby’s lips so tenderly – is a memory she will treasure forever. But then, one day, the messages stopped. Abby received the heartbreaking news that Cameron had passed away.

As she watches her daughter run laughing along the windswept beaches he described so perfectly, Abby wonders if this goodbye trip could also be a new beginning. But then she sees a face across the street that she recognises instantly, and her heart shatters. If Cameron is dead, who is this man? What devastating secrets has this little island been keeping? The truth will change Abby and her daughter’s life forever – but only if they let it…

Lose yourself on the wild shores of a remote island in this absolutely gripping and heart-wrenching story about holding on to hope and the incredible things we do for love. Filled with secrets and surprises, fans of Debbie Macomber, Rosanna Ley and Sheila O’Flanagan will adore this stunning and totally uplifting page-turner.

The Little Island Secret by Emma Davies is a contemporary women’s fiction title that does have an element of romance. The relationship in the story is one that actually started over correspondence so it’s not a matter of watching a budding relationship with two characters interacting.

Abby is first and foremost a single mother trying to do the best for her daughter while she runs her own bookstore. Abby received a letter from man looking for an obscure title that Abby was also a huge fan of herself which began a back and forth exchange between them.

As time passed Abby and Cam grew closer and he did come to visit Abby and her daughter and they both fell in love with him. Afterwards though Cam stopped contacting Abby so of course she worried and tried to get in touch only to find out that Cam had died. Abby struggled with coping with the loss and her daughter was going through a lot at school so she decided they would take a vacation to the island where Cam had lived.

While I completely enjoyed reading The Little Island Secret it’s another I don’t think the tag lines quite fit. This wasn’t absolutely heart breaking to me in the sense that while I felt empathy towards Abby losing the chance at love I wasn’t that invested in Cam with his not being in the story other than briefly. I got caught up in wanting to know what would happen after the news broke and was more invested in the twist to the story. I found the overall plot to be thought provoking and just romantic enough to wish for a happily ever after.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Find this book online: 

Goodreads  /   Amazon **

About the author:

**This is an Amazon affiliate link which will allow me as an associate to earn a small commision on any purchase made through the link of the products I share and that commission in no way changes the pricing of any items for the buyer.