Title: At the Water’s Edge

Author: Sara Gruen

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Spiegel and Grau

Format: Hardcover  

Pages: 348

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

*Warning: Mature Content. Parents please be advised *

Synopsis (Goodreads):

After embarrassing themselves at the social event of the year in high society Philadelphia on New Year’s Eve of 1942, Maddie and Ellis Hyde are cut off financially by Ellis’s father, a former army Colonel who is already embarrassed by his son’s inability to serve in WWII due to his being colorblind.

To Maddie’s horror, Ellis decides that the only way to regain his father’s favor is to succeed in a venture his father attempted and very publicly failed at: he will hunt the famous Loch Ness monster and when he finds it he will restore his father’s name and return to his father’s good graces (and pocketbook). Joined by their friend Hank, a wealthy socialite, the three make their way to Scotland in the midst of war.

Each day the two men go off to hunt the monster, while another monster, Hitler, is devastating Europe. And Maddie, now alone in a foreign country, must begin to figure out who she is and what she wants.

The novel tells of Maddie’s social awakening: to the harsh realities of life, to the beauties of nature, to a connection with forces larger than herself, to female friendship, and finally, to love.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book. While it takes place during the Second World War, it doesn’t focus solely on the events of the war, but of the people left on the Homefront and how they are meant to keep living their everyday lives.

Maddie is brought to Scotland from America by her husband and his best friend to find the Loch Ness monster. They travel in the middle of a war, and the journey isn’t easy. While in Scotland, Maddie learns a number of things about herself and her husband, and realizes things can never go back to normal. She finds herself feeling like she belongs in the small town, and starts to make friendships with the townspeople.

The beginning of the book was kinda boring and I thought the pace kinda slow. But then about halfway through it picked up and I couldn’t put it down! Maddie grew into a character I loved when at the beginning I kinda hated her! That’s amazing writing and character development!

I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy reading period pieces that take place during the Second World War.  

Happy reading!