This book was an emotional rollercoaster of a young mother finding her new way of life, healing, uncovering secrets and forging new relationships.

Seren our heroine has been through a lot. Her mother ran away when she was young, sending her father Lloyd into a spiral, which leads to a 30 year estrangement. She is running from her abusive ex and is recovering from cancer. So life has given this woman lots of lemons. When she reconnects with her father in Anglesey, a slow healing starts. While there she meets Jamie and a new relationship starts to develop.

The setting was pretty amazing. Lloyd and Enya were written well. And the mystery behind the h's mother is well thought out. I felt the relationship between the MC's could have been more built out. It lacked depth, maybe bacause there were so many plotlines and relationships to sort out.

Overall a good read

#TheLighthouseKeeperofAnglesey #NetGalley

This book really hit me emotionally—definitely had me in tears a few times.

It follows Seren, who returns to live with her aunt and uncle in London after escaping an abusive relationship, this time with her young daughter, Enya. As she faces a breast cancer diagnosis and tries to rebuild her life, she also sets out to reconnect with her roots in Anglesey, Wales, and her estranged father, Lloyd, a lighthouse keeper with his own heavy past.

The story handles domestic violence sensitively—it's emotional, but not overwhelming. Seren's journey of healing, along with her father’s, was really moving. Some parts dragged a bit, and I didn’t connect much with the romance subplot, but overall, it was a touching and memorable read. The friendships Seren and Enya form in Wales added some much-needed warmth too.

If you like emotional family stories with a mix of pain, healing, and hope, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and read it in one sitting! I loved the characters and the storyline. I thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

Caroline Young writes heart-warming stories about ordinary people and their everyday lives on the beautiful island of Anglesey. Living not very far from here and having visited, it is lovely to be able to visualise the locations that the author describes so well.

In the 4th book of the series 'Welcome to Anglesey' the storyline centres around the main female character Seren. Seren has returned to her roots on the island, leaving behind the stresses and problems of her life in London. She is slowly building a new and better life for herself and her young daughter, but it does not come without its trials and tribulations.

As the author herself says 'Life is often far from easy, but we need to remember what we all share rather than focusing on our differences.' Recommend this gentle story which reminds the reader that to be happy in life we need to feel loved, safe and to love others.

Thanks to Storm Publishing, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review 'The Lighthouse Keeper of Anglesey'

The description drew me in and, at one level, it was quite accurate. The details, however, fell short for me as the characters just did not live up to their promise. Seren was estranged from her father soon after the death of her mother when she was about 4, and brought up in London by an aunt and uncle. She and her daughter, Enya, return to Anglesey after serious cancer surgery and recovery for Seren and escaping her coercive relationship with Enya's father. She's hoping for peace, quiet, a new life and a relationship with her father. All very well. Then things start going pear-shaped - she meets a young Scot also damaged and falls for him, no-one will talk about her mother's death - apparently she got drunk, bought a motorcycle and ran off the road. I'm guessing the real reason right away.; there's a lot of repetition about Seren's feelings for Jamie which got boring. Her ex-partner's response did not seem real, he gave up trying to get her back too easily for the character he had otherwise been given; Her father's response to being told about his wife was, well, bizarre - almost as if they had been strangers. The context of Anglesey feels real and atmospheric. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

This is a nice story which isn't very realistic, more idealistic. It kind of sits across two different genres, the ideal, lovely getaway and starting again... and the tense, dramatic genre of coping with abuse... but it's just not realistic. When Seren tries to escape from her abusive, controlling partner, he gives up and let's her go completely when her new partner tells him she's found someone else. Really? Would it be that idealistic and easy? She meets Jamie early on in her new life but he's sulky and sullen yet she somehow falls in love with him and they talk love so early on, it's not believable. Nor is the fact that her first partner had a damaged background, why would she suddenly be falling for Jamie when he has a damaged background too and she's wanting to help him, just like she did and failed to do with her first? She regularly says how wrong she was to have made the choices she did with her first partner, so why is she freely making those dame choices again? The "mytsery" of her mother disappearing wasn't very exciting and when her dad finds out the truth, he literally just accepts it and there's not even a moment of sadness about it at all, in fact, he says he feels amazing! It just didn't make sense. It's like this story is just glossing over the terrible things that can happen in life and not actually giving them the respect they deserve, it's patronising almost to think that an abusive partner just needs another man to claim her to let him back off or that a 30 year old mystery can be sorted and delat with within seconds and everyone has closure immediately. I did like the descriptions of Angelsey, especially the winter elements. But the story itself wasn't great.

What a beautiful story. I was so immersed in this straight away. Starts off sad but gets much better as the story moves on and ends up as a happy ever after. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Oh wow, this was quite the emotional read!

Seren was brought up by her aunt and uncle in London - but she was born in Anglesey, Wales, the child of Kate and Lloyd Evans. Unfortunately, she finds herself back at her aunt and uncle's house but this time with her own child, Enya, a traumatised 5 year old, due to domestic violence.

Lloyd is deeply connected to the lighthouse on Anglesey due to his father and his father before him being lighthouse keepers, and the loss of his wife when Seren was only small, has devastated him. Not seeing his child for the better part of 30 years has also taken it's toll on him.

Seren finds herself at a crossroads in life. She is diagnosed with breast cancer, and this makes her review the direction her life is going in, especially since she feels unsafe around her unstable partner and she knows that Enya also deserves better. She decides to ask some probing questions of her aunt, Alice, and heads to Anglesey to get more answers.

This was a book which reduced me to tears, several times. At times, the momentum waxed and waned which is a shame, and I didn't really get all that emotionally involved when it came to Jamie, but overall I really enjoyed it.

There was a bit of romance as well and the DV aspect is discussed but not in an "oh, oh, I am going to be triggered" kind of way (I am a survivor myself, so this was something that I was wary of, going in). It IS emotional though, due to Seren trying to find where she came from and her and Lloyd's healing from past trauma. Some really lovely moments with Seren and Enya's friends that they make in Wales :)

Not an emotionally light read, for sure, but I really wanted to go to Anglesey and explore the area, it has to be said, after reading this book! Hopefully one day, I will :)

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

What a fantastic series and this was a lovely final
book to finish on. A brilliant setting, Anglesey beautifully explained and so good you can visualise the place. Having just returned from another holiday here this place really does have my heart. Brilliant loveable characters that are well written make for some good stories about love, loss and friendship. Second chances and heartbreak also feature. Definitely recommend the series and this book my favourite. Thank you!

Book Review ~ The Lighthouse Keeper of Anglesey by Caroline Young

I was first drawn to this book because I have a bit of ‘a thing’ for lighthouses and the particular lighthouse in this story is a real one that I’ve actually had the pleasure of visiting as my mum and dad used to live near by! I was familiar with alot of the places mentioned in the book too including Puffin Island and Beaumaris. Anglesey is such a beautiful place. Have you been?

The story centres around Seren, who in desperate need of a fresh start, moves back to Anglesey with her young daughter. We follow her as she is reacquainted with her dad, meets new friends and starts to build a new life for herself on the island (which is a bit of a bumpy ride).

I was cheering Seren on throughout and so wanted everything to work out for her and her daughter. I adored the setting which the author describes so beautifully - you’ll definitely want to visit Anglesey if you’ve not before!

This was my first Caroline Young novel and now I’m keen to read her other books (also set on Anglesey) after really enjoying this one.

Such a wonderful book filled with love, loss, unanswered questions, pain, joy, beauty, and overcoming hardships. This is a very real story filled with things that so many face on a daily basis; it wasn't all flowers and sunshine, but the characters, through their hardship and pain, managed to always find the sunshine. Each character in the story faces something to overcome and while they each feel the draw to close down and stay within themselves and their pain, they manage instead to open themselves up and be there for one another and form relationships that enrich all their lives. This book has a continual theme of perseverance and finding the beauty in life. The island of Anglesey sounds like just the right place to go to find the solace that a wounded heart is seeking. The sea is the balm for the soul, the lighthouse is the rock to lean upon, and the people are the treasures you find that get you through what you might not be able to face alone. A truly beautiful book with characters so real you miss them when you finish reading. Yet another terrific book in the Welcome to Anglesey series by Caroline Young. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Rounded up 3.5 stars

I always look forward to visiting Anglesey through Caroline Young's engaging and heartwarming series. In this installment, Seren Evans mother left she and her father when she was very young. A few months later, her mother was killed in a motorcycle accident. Seren's father was in deep grief, and so Seren went to live with her Aunt Alice and her family. Seren is now grown, with a young daughter of her own named Anya. She has been in a traumatic relationship with Finlay (Anya's father), and after a bout with cancer, she has decided she wants to get to know her father again, learn what really happened to her mother, and have a complete split from Finlay.

Lloyd Evans (her father) regrets the past, and is looking forward to getting to know his daughter again, as well as his granddaughter. Jamie is a young man who has become friends with Lloyd, and has a past trauma of his own.

I have mixed feelings about this one, so I will unpack what worked for me, and what did not.

What worked:
1. Anglesey! Once again, the setting is center stage. It is not just a place, but a way of life. And the land and weather and sea make themselves felt and known on every page!

2. The re-establishment of Seren and Lloyd's relationship. They are happy to be together again, but there are still secrets, hurts and shame. THey work together, and are committed to building their father/daughter relationship. This was very heartwarming.

3. Anya. She is a very sweet character and I feel that her growth and confidence in her character was written very well.

4. What happened to Seren's mother/Lloyd's wife??? I kept reading because I really wanted to know why this woman who seemed to be very in love with Lloyd, and was completely smitten and devoted to Seren would suddenly leave them! Although a bit sad at times, this was a compelling part of the overall story.

Struggles:
1. Seren. I liked her, and understood why she was cautious, anxious and even fearful. However, these sentiments were hashed out over and over, and I felt it became a little repetitive.

2. The relationship between Seren and Jamie. Slow, but sometimes a little unbelievable. Seren gets upset that he won't reveal things to her- but they have only known each other a couple of weeks! And although Jamie spends a lot of time with Seren, Lloyd and Anya- suddenly Seren is in love with him- but I did not see any build up that convinced me that this was realistic.

I still enjoyed the story for the most part- but not as much as the others I read. I just didn't feel a lot of the connections the characters were making. I am a complete outlier in this- so please visit other reviews! However, this will not stop me from reading Caroline Young. Anglesey has become a escape for me, and I always look forward to the next chapter!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a Beautiful novel based in Anglesey. Full of twists and turns and full of secrets. Full of emotions

Another story that I very much enjoyed!
Once you open this beautiful story you'll not want to put it down.
I felt like I was really in this place with the characters since the author described it so well. Wow!
I finished well into the evening.
Some twists and turns that I didn't see coming which is what I liked about this novel.
And the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
5 stars for an adventure. I highly recommend
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Had I not spent many wonderful holidays on Anglesey, Caroline Young's obvious passion for the area would have me packing my car and heading for this beautiful Isle.
Seren Evans had been deserted by her mother when she was a small child, she had been taken away from her distraught father and raised by her aunt Alice and uncle Neil in London. Seren never felt as though she belonged there although her aunt and uncle were good to her, she fell for the Irish charm of Finley O'Neill, Finley was controlling., he was abusive but Seren now had a five year old daughter to protect.
Seren couldn't remember her life in Penmon, a small coastal town in Anglesey but she had dreams of a lighthouse and a man who held her hand, her father.
After fighting breast cancer Seren made the decision to return to Anglesey, the place of her birth and find her father.
Lloyd Evans had been a lighthouse keeper as had his father and grandfather before him until mechanisation took over. Lloyd welcomed Seren and Anya with open arms and Seren at last felt as though she was at home.
This story follows Seren and Anya as they learned a new way of life with her father and quiet, introverted Jamie, a Scottish journalist who was fighting his own demons and whom Seran would come to love.
Why has Seran's mother left her and her devastated father, although she claimed to love them, what was the secret that no one would tell them, her father needed to know but no one would break the promises made to her mother.
This is a beautiful, emotional story of hurt and anger but most of all love.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is voluntary.

Seren has no clue about who her parents are, or why she was left to be raised by her aunt and uncle. Every time she tries to approach the topic she's brushed off and made to feel ungrateful for even asking. After surviving breast cancer, a mastectomy, and escaping an abusive relationship with her young child, she's decided she deserves to know about her family history, at minimum to know medically if anything else has the potential to arise.

*****

I really wanted to like this novel. It sounded like it had some mystery, even a bit of suspense that would draw me through her journey of uncovering her past and finding a happy future. Unfortunately, no one who is supposed to care about Seren actually supports her. This is instead a story of how a woman continues to let everyone treat her terribly, decide her life for her, and lie to her for decades, until she eventually settles for a man who barely shows up for her.

For a shorter novel, this one drags on with an incredibly slow pace and meandering conversations and scenes that progress at a snails pace. So many main characters were just so incredible unlikeable. Her dad was awful to her when his wife left, and continued to be secretive, quick to anger and meddlesome when she returned as an adult. Seeing her walk on eggshells to navigate conversations with him to keep him content, and him informing her how she could act with Jamie felt so off. Together they had a weird obsession with Dylan Thomas poetry to the point it was quoted twenty separate times in the book, which became annoying fast.

Her new friends and their mothers were secretive, and chose to hide things from her and speak about her instead of giving her a shred of truth about a woman that had passed away decades earlier. Choosing instead to make her feel ostracized from the small community she was trying to find a home in. Everyone refusing to speak directly, and nudging around pitfalls of conversation throughout the entire story was exhausting. Her aunt was the biggest villain of the story. She knew exactly what her mother did and why, and chose to not only not tell her grieving husband to give him peace, but steal his child and refuse to allow him contact - which was in no way the mothers directive before she passed. She refused father and daughter to have any relationship, nor granddaughter and grandfather. Then continued to talk bad about her mother to her for years until finally telling the father decades later when he's on his death bed. None of this was redeeming. She whined about Seren's ex contacting them instead of supporting Seren in moving on, was annoyed she wanted to find her roots, and consistently pushed back against her happiness to the point I was stunned she let her back into her life at all.

The entire novel was ridiculous when you hear the secret they kept for Seren's mother for so long, at the detriment of the two people that were closest to her. It made no sense to keep mum for decades, especially when she returned to her hometown and put down roots. It felt very much like everyone would rather see her and her father suffer than to give them any peace, in order to honour a ghost. It was unnecessarily cruel.

Also the love interest? Should have fallen into the sea, never to be seen again. There was no chemistry. He went from avoiding her - while also telling her very young child she and her grandpa were his only friends (RED FLAG) - to disappearing for a good month for an absolutely ridiculous reason. Then they're in love?? Or have the potential to be?? He say's he'll be back soon and disappears for months while saying her loves her then absolutely abandoning her and her daughter to the point she's depressed and trying to move on. He returns to admit he realized after a week he could have come home but chose to stay away. Then shows up to tell her how her life is going to be now (focused around his career and wants and needs - which destroyed his last marriage), and elevates their relationship to the next level out of nowhere? None of this makes sense. Then he says he'll be gone for three months starting tomorrow and AGAIN is gone longer while being secretive. While she deals with her father having two massive medical issues, discovering the truth about her mother, struggling with childcare for work, and he's still off galivanting around. When his previous "closest friend" finally passes he deigns to return and again inform her that he's made another massive change in her and her daughters life - that him and her father chose to keep from her. While avoiding being present during her current pregnancy - which he's proud to be responsible for, but again, hasn't helped her with at all. She isn't even a fan of what he's already chosen for their new life change, but agrees anyway because he's already done it. She literally changes her whole life multiple times at the whims of this man who she's slept with twice, and barely seen in the past 7 or 8 months. Nothing about this relationship is believable other than its a trauma bond. He wants to replace his family, and she wants a man who won't beat her. Her consolation prize is that she gets to do her art.

I genuinely thought the story would end with her seeing her worth, cutting off Jamie and her other toxic ties, and living a happy life with her and her children, and doing what brings her joy. Instead I felt horrible for her, which isn't the vibe for a conclusion of a Women's Lit Romance.

*****

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just exquisite.
Another great visit to Anglesey, another uplifting story of secrets uncovered and broken lives redeemed

This was a wonderful pallet cleansing book. A very relatable book for women that have experienced life at its best and worst. The life events in this book are all emotional. She is one strong woman.

I would recommend reading this if you wanted a shorter book comparable to Kristin Hannah.

The Lighthouse Keeper of Anglesey is a beautifully written, emotionally rich story about healing, homecoming, and the quiet strength of starting over. Seren is a deeply relatable heroine, and her journey—both personal and emotional—is handled with tenderness and authenticity. The windswept Welsh setting adds a hauntingly atmospheric touch, and the slow-burn romance with Jamie is both heartfelt and believable. With family secrets, emotional depth, and a sense of hope woven throughout, this book is a moving tribute to second chances and the enduring pull of home.

A beautiful story. Seren has had a tough ride in life. Growing up with her Aunt after her mother's death and her father's inabilty to cope, she's always felt like an outsider. She eventually leaves London with her daughter, after escaping an abusive relationship and having to face a health challenge. She returns to her estranged father on Angelsey and slowly regains her confidence, opening herself to new oppotunities and romance along the way. Such a stunning story, filled with family, friends, courage, love, and the sheer beauty of Angelsey. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Caroline Young for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.