For me, this was the first encounter with an author I didn’t know before, but I definitely want to read more of her work. I found it a beautiful balance between the adventure in the story and the personal relationships in which the characters grow. Wanting to seize opportunities based on experiences and thinking: I don’t want to miss out on everything—I’d rather be happy, even if there’s a chance something might go wrong.

The story takes place both in the present and in the past through letters, yet it’s always very clear where you are in the book, creating an intertwined but still distinct storyline.

Both the characters you get to know less well through the letters and the two main characters show a very natural development in their relationships. The connection grows, with ups and downs, but they move closer to each other. Alongside the personal relationship, there’s also the professional side: What kind of work do I want to do? What gives me energy? While staying realistic about the need to earn money—but also showing that you can definitely follow your passion.

The book entertained me, and I was eager to find out how it would end, especially the storyline from the past.

Hazel is a successful photographer who focuses on animal photos. Her ex-gf manages the business side of her art and has been pushing her toward high paying gigs of celebrities and their pets. But Hazel is feeling uninspired yet still caught up in pining for her ex. Then she receives a phone call from someone asking for her assistance with what the caller thinks are ghosts in her beachside house. Hazel has a gift for seeing reflections of other peoples' memories, but she's not a ghost hunter. When she gets to the house, she meets Jo, the cousin of the woman who called, and there's an instant attraction. She also feels the energy of the house and ultimately discovers a lesbian love story that took place in 1925 that includes a relative of Jo and her cousin.

The book is part romance and part mystery of the secrets of the house. That second element of the plot keeps the story moving more than the romance does, since there's minimal angst. The book is written from Hazel's POV with chapters from the past containing letters and journal entries. Overall, it's a decent book and by and large well written.

I was provided an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley.