This is more than a story about a missing girl, it's about friendship and family and relationships and how the past impacts the present. Of course I wanted to know what happened to Hazel that morning on the island, but I also needed to know what happened in the lives of the three teenage girls after they went their separate ways. Between the Waves is beautifully written, atmospheric and thought provoking, such a pleasure to read.

Between the Waves is a novel that begins as a mystery but evolves into something much deeper—a poignant exploration of grief, secrets, and the long-lasting impact of silence. This is not just a story about a tragedy; it’s about how loss lingers, shaping people and relationships long after the initial heartbreak.

The three main characters are deeply flawed yet profoundly human, each carrying the weight of their past as they struggle to rebuild themselves. The author masterfully layers their emotional journeys, allowing readers to witness their fragility and resilience in equal measure. While the story moves at a slower pace, this deliberate rhythm enhances the book’s reflective and atmospheric nature rather than detracting from it.

What truly sets Between the Waves apart is its setting—a quiet Welsh seaside town where time feels fluid, seamlessly blending the past and present. The disappearance of a child is not just a mystery to be solved; it is interwoven with local folklore, creating a haunting and almost dreamlike quality to the narrative. The author’s prose brings this world to life, making it as much a character as the people within it.

Though it may not be a fast-paced mystery, Between the Waves is an immersive and beautifully written novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page. It is a book for those who appreciate deep character studies, atmospheric settings, and stories that explore the raw complexities of human emotion. A highly recommended read. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Three teenaged best friends are vacationing on a remote island in Wales with their families. One of the girls' 11 year old sister goes missing. For 20 years there are no answers until a podcaster contacts all three women claiming to have clues to Hazel's mysterious disappearance, bringing them all back to the island for interviews and to reveal what she has found.

The podcaster's "evidence" leads more to a bigger reveal of what really happened and this surprised me, but not as much as the hint of supernatural element to the story...for it had me scratching my head for a while making me wonder how it all fit together.

The story takes you through current lives of all three women and how the long ago tragedy affected them all, as well as see them make attempts to heal from the pain. Overall it was a quick, enjoyable read.

I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley.

As a devoted book lover, I am always on the hunt for novels that resonate deeply and linger in my thoughts long after the last page. *Between the Waves* by Hilary Taylor is one such treasure. This beautifully crafted story is a testament to the author’s remarkable ability to weave together compelling characters, vivid settings, and an emotional depth that is both moving and profound.

One line from the book stayed with me long after closing it: "Sometimes, it’s not the waves that drown you, but the silence that follows." This quote perfectly encapsulates the emotional weight and introspection that runs through the heart of the story.

The narrative flows effortlessly, much like the waves it so poetically references, pulling you into the lives of the characters with its heartfelt authenticity. Taylor’s prose is lyrical yet grounded, painting imagery so vivid that you can almost feel the salty sea breeze on your skin. The themes of resilience, connection, and self-discovery are handled with such care and nuance, making this a story that feels universal and intimate all at once.

Each page felt like an invitation to reflect, not just on the lives of the characters, but on my own experiences and emotions. Few books have managed to captivate me so completely. *Between the Waves* is more than just a novel—it’s an experience, one that I will undoubtedly return to and recommend to anyone who appreciates powerful storytelling.

If you love books that challenge your heart and soul while immersing you in a richly drawn world, this is a must-read. Hilary Taylor has cemented herself as an author to watch, and I eagerly await her next masterpiece.

An absolute 5-star read—highly recommend!

Both the cover and the description appealed to me, and this was the sort of novel I enjoy reading, so I expected to enjoy it and I did.

The pacing was fairly tight, although it did flag slightly in the middle and I did become a bit frustrated by some of the characters' actions but the story picked up again towards the end.

There was a mix of mystery and drama in the first half, where the reader wonders if Hazel's death was supernatural, murder or accidental along with Ros. The second half of the book, the reader knew what had happened and the book became more focused on the emotional drama and fallout. The ending tied up the loose ends, but felt realistic rather than too neat.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to others.

Between the Waves is less about the mystery and more about the emotional wreckage it leaves behind. And it wrecks in the best way. The atmospheric writing pulls you into the eerie beauty of Little Auger Island, while the tangled web of guilt, secrets, and long-lost friendships keeps you hooked.

The big reveal? It comes early. But the real punch is watching these flawed, haunted women unravel and rebuild. Moody, beautifully written, and packed with quiet tension. Perfect for readers who love their mysteries with a side of deep emotional turmoil.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an advanced copy of this book.

4 stars
Expected publication date- April 22, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

Three best friends are vacationing on a remote island with their families as teenagers. One of the girls' younger sisters goes missing early one morning. As no body is ever found, no one ever knows if she had an accident, was taken, or killed by a member of their group. The mystery tears the friends apart until 20 years later when a podcaster calls, claiming to have found clues. All 3 return to the island, hoping to find the truth.

I really enjoyed this story. There were a lot of side stories going on in each of the characters' lives that gave a lot of insight into who they are. It wrapped up neatly at the end.

all the vibes! i really liked this book and really hope i also get to enjoy with the audio! it was very well written and i really enjoyed the story!

Catrin, Roz and Nina spent time on Little Auger Island as children and enjoyed their sleepovers there until the year Roz's younger sister disappeared early one morning after the other 3 girls had went out on a hike.

Years later Stella, a podcaster doing a series on missing people reaches out to Roz and the others and invites them all to meet with her on the island. Stella has found an item that may tell something more about Hazel's disappearance. Reluctantly the others meet with her to tell her what they remember.

There is a great mystery to be solved in this book, and the characters are very well thought out and written. I read this book in a day and a half because I become so involved in their lives and wanted to find out what happened. I would highly recommend this book.

[a copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher from netgalley. thank you!]

4⭐️

a powerful book about friendship and tragedy set on a remote welsh island. beautiful prose, well-crafted characters and a compelling story.

An enjoyable read if you like general fiction with a mystery element! About half of this book surrounds figuring out what happened to a missing child, and the rest further develops the characters and where this resolved mystery leads them. There’s so many relationships being explored here — childhood and adulthood friendships, siblings, parent-child, mother-child — and with each of these relationships I took something valuable away. I love how multifaceted the characters are. Just as I was starting to dislike someone, it’s like the author was saying “just kidding” and dove deeper into why they acted the way they did, which made me sympathetic for their situation. The mystery hooked me, but it was moving at the same time.

Set on an isolated island off the coast of Wales, the reader meets three women who have returned there after 20 years to hopefully find out what happened to the litte sister of one of them. Weaving back and forth, we meet the three as young teenagers, then to the present where thery have tried to put this tragedy behind them. What happened to the little girl who went missing? Was it murder or an accident that caused her disappearance? A great read, I look forward to reading more from this author.

Amazing novel, very intriguing. I loved the caracters and plot to the story.

I can't wait to read more by this author.

This is my honest feedback. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.
This is an amazing debut novel, I absolutely loved it!
The story follows 3 women who were best friends as pre- teens and their families were vacationing on a small remote island when a little sister goes missing. It tore up the families friends for 2 years years until a podcaster contacts them individually, them onto the island to go over the missing little sister's case.
There is much soul searching, regret and pain between the 3 women and then the truth comes out ...
The ending was moving, uplifting and very satisfying.
I can't wait for the author's next book!

3.75 ⭐ rounded up.

This story follows three women, brought back together 20 years after the mysterious disappearance of one of the women's younger sister on a remote island whilst they were all on vacation.

I was expecting more of a suspense / psychological thriller vibe from this book, however I was pleasantly surprised when the main plotline was resolved a little bit after the halfmark of the story. The rest of the book was spent depicting the different ways these 3 women went on with their life.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Between the Waves is my third book and it explores how childhood mistakes can bleed into adulthood. A few years ago, when I was on holiday in Wales, I came across a tidal island and became fascinated by the idea of being cut off from the rest of the world by something that couldn’t be controlled. I am half Welsh on my father’s side and nearly drowned on Ogmore beach when I was about five years old. Now, after writing my third book, I wonder if this event had a bigger influence on my life than I realised. Thank you for taking the time to read my work and thank you for reviewing. I hope you enjoyed the book.