Here Beside the Rising Tide
This book was like a fever dream at times. It was quirky and weird and often delightful.
Jenni is a romance-adventure writer, bored with her career, recently divorced, and feuding with her ex-husband who is becoming more "self-actualized" through some male-empowerment self-help. She decides to take her kids off to the beach for the summer so she can meet the deadline for her next novel and finally clean out her deceased mother's home. But when she's there a young boy claiming to be her childhood best friend (the one whom everyone assumed drowned 30+ years ago) shows up and befriends her children. He sure does look like 10-year-old Timmy, but that can't be, can it? What ensues involves sea monsters, Pokemon-esque battles, and a little romance (this is the primary thing that didn't work too well for me as it just felt a little out of place or underdeveloped).
There were times I really liked this, but there were also some moments when I felt like I had no idea what was happening. It seems like the gist of it is Jenni's life is in transition. She's questioning her purpose and considering her choices and regrets. I related a lot to Jenni as a mother; there were many moments I nodded my head about the impulse to control and then questioning, "Why? Why do I need to be this controlling with my children? Who does it hurt to loosen the reigns a little?"
Through the lens of this fantasy world, grounded in the real one, this novel explored the ways that darkness can come for us all, as can hope. Overall I liked this title and would definitely pick up other work from Emily Jane.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the DRC. All thoughts are my genuine reading reactions and opinions.
Some of my favorite quotes:
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The romance in this is a subplot. Content is lightly descriptive and brief.
