When I first heard about this book, I wasn’t that interested in it, but then I saw several people on Instagram raving about it, and FOMO set in. I went ahead and added it to my July Book of the Month box. While I wasn’t as blown away by it as a lot of people have been, I did enjoy it. It’s funny because when I finished the book, I thought, “Meh,” but then I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I definitely had a delayed reaction.

Set on a remote island in Washington state, the story follows the lives of Sam and Elena, two sisters struggling to make ends meet in a harsh and unforgiving world. It’s always been just Sam, Elena, and their ailing mother. Neither of the sisters knows who their fathers are, and the only man they remember being much of a presence in their lives was a large, imposing, controlling man who treated them all like his servants. Since he left, it’s just been the three of them. Elena is the sensible one, taking on most of the responsibilities of caring for their mother and making sure bills are paid. On the other hand, Sam dreams of the day she and Elena can finally sell the house and start new and exciting lives off the island.

One night, while working on the ferry that shuttles wealthy vacationers to and from the island, Sam spots a bear swimming in the dark waters of the channel. This encounter sets off a chain of events that will forever change the sisters’ lives. As the bear reappears in their lives, each sister reacts differently, leading to a rift between them and raising questions about their future.

At its heart, this story is about family and connections and how the world around us often throws curveballs that send us off course. The bear, a symbol of both danger and wonder, is a metaphor for the wild forces that lie beyond our control. Through the sisters’ interactions with the bear, Phillips explores themes of fear, desire, and the far-reaching consequences our actions can have . It also acts as a metaphor for those unexpected situations that arise that consume us – almost pushing us over the edge.

But ultimately, this is a story about love and resilience. Despite the challenges they face, Sam and Elena are united by a deep and unbreakable bond that carries them through even the darkest moments. As they grapple with their conflicting desires and fears, they must come to terms with the choices they have made and the unexpected paths that lie ahead.

The author skillfully portrays the deep bond between the two sisters and the secrets that have shaped their lives. The book is pretty short (I read it in just over three hours), but she packs a lot in. We learn about the sister’s difficult childhood, their complicated relationships with their mother, and their dreams of escaping the island for a better life.

The Pacific Northwest really is a place of beauty and wonder, and the novel is filled with rich and atmospheric descriptions of the island and its inhabitants. Phillips has a keen eye for detail, and her prose is both lyrical and precise. She captures the rugged beauty of the landscape and the harsh realities of life on the island, creating a vivid world that draws the reader in from the very first page.

While I wasn’t as blown away by this one as some, I still enjoyed it and thought about it long after I finished reading. This is a thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of literary fiction and family dramas alike. With its compelling characters and atmospheric setting, this novel is a must-read for anyone looking for a story that will challenge their expectations.