A very different book to my usual reads, and I am so glad I was approved. The writing is beautiful and the descriptions really transport you. I would read other books from this author.

I have mixed feelings about this book and have been generous with 3 stars. I can't really put my finger on it but I got unsettling vibes from it. There seems to be an underlying melancholy that pervades the writing and the island itself. The couple's time on the island is marked by struggle, misery and deprivation. I sense little joy. There is even a scene where the writer walks into the sea, contemplating suicide. Perhaps a case of the wrong book for the wrong reader at the wrong time, but the tone of sadness and regret in this book left me a little disturbed.

I was interested in this book due to its Cornish setting. The authors have such a strong connection with the house they live in (on an island in Cornwall) and grew up having holidays on the island. The previous owners sounded really interesting and it was nice to see such past respected and a feeling of this couple being the new 'gatekeepers'. Due to the hardships of living on an island, it is not the glamourised Cornwall that some expect and that made it more interesting. Also - I love the new PB cover for June.