The Light between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

The book was very well-liked, and it was generally agreed that it was gut-wrenching (though some of us connected with it more than others).

Highlights of our discussion:

• Beginning (first half) of novel very slow
• End of novel soooooooooooo sad
• Preyed on worst fears as an adoptive mother
• Book showed how you can be psychologically pulled into doing the wrong thing, even though you know it’s morally wrong
• Some found it hard to adjust to the way the writing switched perspectives
• In some places, it felt like the book built up climaxes that never happened – like Hannah testifying
• Not enough detail about Tom’s history with his mother
• Really affected if you’ve had a baby recently
• The whole story was a lose/lose situation
• Glad to have reconciliation between Tom & Isabel
• Took too long to get to the baby
• Not interested in Tom’s past
• Could you live a life of seclusion, like Tom & Isabel on the island?
• Tom tells Isabel to stay in “normal” mode