Julianne MacLean writes another beautiful story! If you’ve read her other books, you’ll love this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Really a lovely book that stays with you. I enjoyed this one and learned so much. Definitely wanted to keep reading! One of my favorites by Julianne MacLean.

Queue music
🎵"...When did the rain become a storm
When did the clouds begin to form
Yeah we got knocked off course by a natural force
And well, we'll be swimming when it's gone
And I remember your eyes were so bright
When I first I met you, so in love that night..."🎵
~Beautiful Goodbye by Maroon 5

As the sun peeked from behind a raincloud, I finished the last pages of Julianne MacLean's All Our Beautiful Goodbyes...As if Mother Nature was reading over my shoulder, weathering the storm and the elements, both inside and out of the novel!

MacLean’s latest novel is a windswept historical fiction tale of love, of loss, of promises made and secrets kept, and of hope, second chances, and the ability to “soldier on.”

Readers with a wanderlust soul will love that MacLean takes her readers on an incredible journey to a place vastly unknown to time, history, and the world at large: Sable Island, a petite isle off the coast of Nova Scotia. Her meticulous research into the ~25 mile-long, North Atlantic “glorified sandbar”, its topography, its history (known for shipwrecks), and its flora and fauna (horses!), is woven into the fabric of MacLean’s FMC, Emma Clarkson.

And though touted as dual timeline, I believe MacLean has written a chronological depiction of a young woman’s coming-of-age in the 1940’s/1950s, showing us the important, life-changing moments, and skipping the years we can imagine on our own. While the novel started a bit slowly for me, I found myself highlighting many a passage/quote, and endearing myself to the characters as they navigated their life’s ebbs and flows.

Thank you to @juliannemaclean, @#netgalley and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#Bookstagram #read #historicalfiction #FreeReview #booktours #AllOutBeautifulGoodbyes #readingonthebrink

I am a huge fan of Julianne MacLean and her stories. I have read quite a few of her books and I've loved every one of them. I was so excited to start another one. I seriously need to make more time to read the rest of her books!

All Our Beautiful Goodbyes swept me away to the beautiful, rugged land of Sable Island. Rich with deep, memorable characters who are living through the drama of their lives, I loved all the ups and downs that Emma was experiencing. She found what she thought was her soul mate and then lost him. Star-crossed lovers for sure.

Years later, a granddaughter puts the pieces of their lives together and helps bring some closure. This is such a beautiful, heartwarming, while also a heart-breaking, love story. I loved all of the characters, well almost all of them anyway, and the intertwining stories of their lives kept me captivated until the very end.

I loved this story and highly recommend All Our Beautiful Goodbyes. Julianne MacLean has penned another great one. This is the perfect historical fiction story and love story all rolled into one. Check it out!

TITLE: All Our Beautiful Goodbyes
AUTHOR:Julianne Maclean
PUB DATE: 03.25.2025

From USA Today bestselling author Julianne MacLean comes an epic tale of unrequited love that is by turns breathtaking, heartbreaking―and utterly unforgettable.

THOUGHTS:

It is 1946 at the end of WWII where Emma Clarkson from Sable Island meets a British captain Oliver Harris during a shipwreck rescue. Things didn't work out despite an undeniable connection. In another timeline Joanna discovers her grandfathers' long lost love named Emma from Sable Island and she travels to Nova Scotia to learn the truth about this mystery.

Oh my gosh this was such a wonderful story of families, loves lost and loves found, disappointments and hopes. I was completely enthralled by the story of the island and the wild horses in Nova Scotia. I just want to make my plans to fly there and learn more about it's amazing history that is the backdrop of this fantastic book.

I highly recommend this beautiful dual timeline historical fiction.

A nostalgic story about love and loss on a small Canadian island.
I adored this book, both the characters and the setting. A perfect read for someone who loves character development and reflection

A dual timeline historical fiction novel about Emma, who wants to go to college and leave Sable Island, Nova Scotia behind. Her plans change when she falls for a sea captain. Things don't work out with the captain but she moves on with Logan and has a son only to find that relationship didn't work out either. We also meet Joanna in the 1990's who learns about Emma, her grandfather's lost love. I found Sable Island in the wild horses to be so beautiful. The characters were so feelable and the hopeless romantic that I am really loved everything about this. What a beautiful story. I highly recommend.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

This book did not appeal to me. Observing Emma’s immature behavior with Captain Harris felt awkward. While the characters are well developed, the story did not keep my attention and the dialogue was rather simplistic. However, I did enjoy learning about Sable Island and the beauty of Nova Scotia. Just a melodramatic read that left me disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Book Club
Canada
Fiction
Historical
Historical Fiction
Romance

I really enjoyed the writing in this book—especially the vivid imagery of Sable Island, which felt haunting and beautiful. The story had emotional depth and a strong sense of place, but the plot was a bit predictable. The jump from past and present also felt a little abrupt.

Overall, a well-written and atmospheric read, just not as surprising or seamless as I would have liked.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm not a fan of historical fiction. In fact, I usually run the other way when I see one coming my direction. But years ago, I read a story by Julianne MacLean and I've not yet stopped thinking about that book. It's taken me way too long to read more by her, but when I saw this book come across my feed one day, I was intrigued. I've never heard of Sable Island before, where this story takes place, but after reading this story, I want to know more! It seems like such an interesting place and it made the perfect setting for this story. I really enjoyed the dual timeline and was thoroughly entertained and engaged through the shawl story. If I can read this historical fiction and enjoy my time, you can do the same! You must read this story!

if you're in the mood for a beautiful, emotional, character driven novel, then look no further. Emma's story is one of love and loss and personal growth. It reminded me a bit of Where The Crawdads Sing, following the path of a young woman on her way to adulthood and discovering her place in the world. Emma is loyal and smart and ambitious but she is often held back by the men in her life. I loved her relationship with her father, and thought the author did a wonderful job depicting the desires of a father who wants his only child to seek their passion while also never leaving him. While Emma's life didn't go according to her plan, she was remarkably adaptable in forging her own path. I love the setting of the book, a remote island with few people and could picture the ocean and all its beauty.

A heart wrenching story of lost love spanning decades. Oh how misconceptions and fate can forever steer lives down different paths. The story has a great premise and is beautifully told for the most part. But I thought the original love story was a bit weak and unbelievable. Still a good work of historical fiction which was well researched. I will be checking out more from Julianne MacLean in the future. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of All Our Beautiful Goodbyes which came out in March.

This is a beautiful story and I loved the Nova Scotia setting and dual timeline for this wonderful book.

A celebration of life and love that stands the test of time. All Our Beautiful Goodbyes is spellbinding. A journey that sticks to the soul. Maclean puts emotion on full display. From endearing to heartbreaking, beautiful to messy, love spins a haunting tale.

If Julianne MacLean writes it, I am going to read it! Her ability to write completely addictive historical romances in the most stunning of settings, never ceases to amaze me. While the characters and their drama were all captivating, it is the setting that makes All of Our Beautiful Goodbyes truly shine. This was a bingeable read that I enjoyed! For readers who love some escapism with depth, check out All Our Beautiful Goodbyes!

I LOVED Julianne's book "A Fire Sparkling," so I was really excited about this one. This one just didn't hit the mark for me. It took to almost half the book (and taking a break to read another one) for me to get into it. Miscommunication and lies just left wrecking her life. Other people inserting their needs and wants into Emma's life drastically altering the course of her life. Yet through it all, she showed grace. Positives ... I loved learning about Sable Island and the horses. Emma is poster women for resilience and grace. The power of a mother's love and determination.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.

I agree with some other reviews that this story is epic and unforgettable. Props to MacLean for crafting such a story that I will not forget!

An epic tale of unrequited love that is by turns breathtaking, heartbreaking—and utterly unforgettable.

And that’s truly the best description of this story: epic and unforgettable.
I love Julianne’s stories. I read my first one a few years ago, and since then, I’ve always been on the lookout for her next release. This one took my breath away, gave me all the feels, taught me about the beautiful setting, and captured my heart.
What better way to end the month than with a five-star read? Loved it.

All Our Beautiful Goodbyes by Julianna MacLean is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking novel that explores love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The story follows Elizabeth, a woman grappling with grief and the remnants of a past love, as she navigates the difficult journey of healing.

MacLean’s writing is poignant and beautifully crafted, pulling readers into the emotional heart of the story. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the exploration of their struggles with forgiveness and moving forward feels both raw and real. This book is an emotional rollercoaster, filled with moments of hope, sorrow, and redemption.

If you're in the mood for a heartfelt and moving read that lingers long after the final page, All Our Beautiful Goodbyes is a must-read.

All Our Beautiful Goodbyes by Julianne Maclean is a sweeping, emotional romance set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of Sable Island. The book spans several decades, following the life of Emma Clarkson, a woman whose heart is shaped by love, betrayal, and the unforgiving passage of time. The author’s prose is undeniably beautiful, and the setting is rich with atmosphere—Maclean does an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of life on the island, and I could almost taste the sea air and feel the isolation Emma faces.

The plot, however, feels a bit familiar. The story centers on Emma’s heartbreaking love life, from her first passionate but ill-fated love with a shipwrecked British captain, to a second chance with a seemingly perfect man who harbors dark secrets. While the twists and turns of Emma's life certainly kept me engaged, some of the plot points were predictable, and I found myself waiting for the next dramatic revelation to occur, which sometimes felt more like a formula than a fresh narrative.