This is a heartwarming story about a town that comes together for one of their own. Piper is a resident of Frick Island, a tiny island on the Chesapeake in Maryland. When her sailor husband Tom gets caught in a storm and is presumed dead, Piper is in denial that he's dead. Enter Anders, a reporter who is assigned to cover a cake walk on the island but ends up finding a much bigger story.

This is such a sweet story about the townspeople who look out for each other. It was also a story of love in many different facets. I enjoyed the author's writing style and description describing the island and characters. This was a more character-driven plot but enjoyable. There was even a nod to Virginia Tech - Go Hokies!

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by @writercolleenoakley is the charming story of a woman living on Frick Island (an island in the middle of Chesapeake Bay which is fictional but so absolutely perfectly detailed that I googled it to see if it really existed) who loses her husband in a fishing accident but carries on as if he is still there. Enter Anders, the socially awkward journalist from Baltimore who comes to the island for an unrelated story but gets sucked into what is going on with Piper and starts a podcast all about it. Oh, how I loved this book. I loved how the islanders rallied around Piper and went along with the notion that her husband is still there. I loved the quirkiness of the islanders. I loved how utterly endearing and clueless Anders was in every aspect of his life. I loved the snarky one-liners. I loved the small town vibe of an island living in the past, without wifi or any of the chaos of life in 2021. I loved that I cried and laughed in the same chapter. These were the most lovable and irresistible characters that I fell in love with all of them and felt so connected to them.

Anders is a rookie journalist who's wanted to break into the podcasting world, but all he's got is a small piece of a small newspaper. Part and parcel of that assignment is to cover community events nearby, so when the annual Cake Walk is set to take off on Frick Island, Anders arrives for what he believes will be yet another ho-hum piece of journalism. What he finds on Frick Island, however, defies all expectations, for the entire island is speaking to Tom, a man who's already dead. Piper, Tom's widow, couldn't bear to continue life as if he was gone, so she instead acts as if Tom is by her side like usual. The townsfolk play along, and Anders sees his opportunity to jumpstart his podcast, and begins spending more time with Piper as he researches her invisible husband and the sympathetic Frick locals. Anders's life is undoubtedly about to change, but in ways he never expected.

What a heartwarming read to uplift the soul! This is a tale of grief, of community, and of being there for others even if we don't understand them. Piper clearly had an out-of-this-world love for Tom, and she shows it by keeping him alive, and getting others to keep him alive, even when he's gone. That kind of love is rare, and I love when characters put their entire heart and soul into their love. Anders is a bit of a goof, but he grew on me. At first, he's not sure what to make of Frick Island, and he makes some assumptions about what's going on there that are soon overturned. As he engages in his research for his up-and-coming podcast, he begins to help the people of Frick Island in order to gain their trust, and the information they can provide, but he gains back so much more. A purely enjoyable read, The Invisible Husband of Frick Island is an excellent palate cleanser, warm blanket, and uplifting read all in one. Recommended for readers who love deeply, enjoy stories about islands and the people living on them, and who would do anything to support a grieving friend.

Looking for a beach read with depth and heart? Or perhaps savory descriptions of crab cakes is more your style? Look no further! Quirky and charming, THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND is a story you won’t soon forget!

Stuck in a bygone era, the tight-knit fishing community of Frick Island in the Chesapeake Bay has no cell phones and is leery of outsiders; they take care of their own. When Piper Parrish’s husband Tom dies at sea, she refuses to accept this loss. Piper continues on with her life as if the accident never happened, believing Tom remains physically present with her.

Although Piper is experiencing a delusion on a grand scale, the entire town plays along and interacts with “Tom” in a collective effort to avoid further heartache for Piper. When newcomer journalist Anders Caldwell finds his way onto the island he is left baffled and bemused, but has a fascinating story on his hands..

The novel shines in its portrayal of eccentric but loveable community members who make sacrifices for their fellow islanders without batting an eye. The way the story plays out is part mystery, part social commentary, and a side of sweet summer romance.

While Colleen Oakley has written a fantastic summer read, the story has substance and delves deep into timely questions. The novel explores what lengths we go to protect the people we love from harm. Is it better to tell the truth and risk heartache, or to go along with a façade and risk authenticity? Ultimately, themes of redemption, forgiveness and the power of community prevail in this heartwarming story.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Berkley books for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review currently posted to Goodreads. Review will be posted to https://www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks/ on 5/20/21

“Every human being-every single one of us-wakes up each morning hoping, believing, that today is not our day...That we will see the sunrise the next morning. That life is worth living.”

Love, loss, and grief are universal experiences that all of us go through and despite all the psychology and resources surrounding these topics now, there is no “ right” way to experience these emotions. It’s a personal journey all of us must undergo-and hope we make it to the other side.

Piper Parrish is the beloved adopted daughter of Frick Island, a girl whose mother’s entomological research brought her to the island...and whose love for the boy Tom she falls in love with, keeps her there. When Tom’s boat fails to return to harbor one afternoon and he is presumed dead, Piper becomes overwhelmed with grief. But then one day, she starts seeing Tom. The small community of people on the island are taken aback but also decide to go along with her delusion in seeing Tom, if only to help her cope with this stunning loss.

Anders is a newly minted reporter who reluctantly travels to Frick Island to cover their annual Cake Walk. He soon realizes that the scoop he has been looking for is right in front of him as Piper insists Tom is with her and the whole town complies to his amazement. Soon. Anders is developing a podcast about Piper’s story and acquiring a rabid fan base he had never thought possible. But as his feelings for the community of Frick Island-and Piper herself- grow, Anders has to figure out how to tell the story and do right by Piper and the people of Frick Island.

This is an utterly heartwarming story about love and the way those we love try to provide shelter for us in our grief. This is my first novel by the author and won’t be my last. Beautiful and heartfelt, I highly recommend.

This was my second book by Oakley and I was excited to give it a go. Her stories are so unique and heartwarming and are quite tame in the romance steam category. Lack of steam is fine but I wouldn’t have minded a few more sweet tender kisses. This one took me a week to read and I didn’t really feel the urge to pick it up that often. The characters and setting had so much potential but it just lacked something. Perhaps everyone seemed a bit lackluster and honestly all the characters seemed very similar to me. I love that it was based on a real island. I do think some readers will enjoy - but I wasn’t the right fit,

(4.5)
Welcome to Frick Island! A quaint fishing community nestled in the Chesapeake Bay. The townsfolk here are a tight-knit bunch and protect their own. When sweet young Piper Parrish’s husband Tom is lost at sea in a storm, people expect her to grieve. But when Piper begins to act like Tom is still alive, people just go with it.

Anders Caldwell, a struggling journalist and wanna-be podcaster from the mainland, is sent to Frick Island to cover the annual cakewalk. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. When Anders arrives by ferry, he notices that Frick Island is like walking back in time, with very little technology, no alcohol, no movie theaters; but everyone knows everyone.

A beautiful young widow catches his eye. She seems to have delusions of her dead husband, and the townspeople are pretending to interact with this invisible husband. Anders realizes this would make for a great podcast, and his listeners agree. But for his ten minutes of fame, will the sacrifice be worth it?

If you like seaside settings and peculiar characters, you’ll love this one! The townspeople had such amusing personalities; they added a good dose of humor and emotion. Oakley leaves out much of the romance but brings in a bit of mystery and a commentary on climate change too. I love that the story focused on loyalty and learning what’s important in life.

Thank you to @berkleypub @writercolleenoakley and @netgalley for this advanced copy.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for an advanced copy of The Invisible Husband of Frick Island.

So I knew immediately that Frick Island was based on Smith Island (and the note at the end confirms that the author went there on vacation with her grandparents twenty years ago and knew this type of setting would be perfect for the book). I've been fascinated with Smith Island since college when I learned about it.

In the book Piper has just found out her husband died when his crab boat capsized in the Chesapeake, but she has kept on going like her husband is still alive. Her neighbors oh the tiny island they live on decided to go along with it when she would talk to him as if he was alive and order 2 meals at dinner. Anders an aspiring journalist ends up on the island to write a newspaper article but after he sees Piper he's curious and wants to get to know her more and starts sharing about her on his podcast which only a few people listen to.

This was such an interesting book with a unique plot and a great cast of characters. I liked the look at change, the questions around modernizing a way of life and the impacts on a community.

This book reinvigorated my desire to go to Smith Island and was a delightful read!

I loved Colleen Oakley's You Were There Too. It had all the emotions I expect in a good story. The Invisible Husband of Frick Island was a bit of a bust for me. It was slow and to be honest I didn't like the characters a lot either. I got to 40% when I decided to throw the towel. The book and I just didn't work. While the hearts of the islanders were in the right place when it came to Piper's delusion I thought it was incredibly dangerous and unintentionally cruel. And maybe a little cowardly too.

When it took me more than a week to make it to this point I was ready to let it go. I'm sorry we didn't work out, book, but I won't give up on your creator.

Having lost my own husband less than a year ago, I wasn't quite sure I was ready for this one, but it ended up being more comfort to me than I would've imagined. You see, I have conversations with him all the time. Now, I'm not imagining that I see him, and I don't have a whole com,munity going along with it, but those conversations - simple things about my day, talking out decisions, etc - they make a world of difference to me. So, I can understand where Piper is coming from, and my heart went out to her. Then we have Anders - I just loved Anders to pieces. He's kind of an odd duck, but he's absolutely adorable. The Invisible Husband of Frick Island turned out to be a wonderful surprise. It's about grief, but there's also laughter, and it's about healing. This one turned out to be one of the best stories I've read this year, and Colleen Oakley is now firmly on my radar.

This wasn’t bad.
I was really intrigued by an entire island and a grieving widow. The potential was there.
Unfortunately, the characters were bland, and things moved slowly and I got lost.
While this wasn’t for me, it will definitely be someone’s cup of tea.

Thank you to Berkley Pub for my digital arc of this title. All opinions are my own.

One sentence review: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley is a character driven novel that combines a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance, and a whole lot of quirky characters into a really great book.

I really loved this one. The book centers around two characters, Piper Parrish and Anders Caldwell. Piper lives on Frick Island, a small island in Chesapeake Bay. Her husband died in a fishing accident but she continues on with her days as though he is still there - and so does the town she lives in. Anders Caldwell is a reporter/podcaster in search of a news story to increase the following on his podcast. He decides Piper and the citizens of Frick Island are just the ticket.

My thoughts:

- This story starts out slowly but if you stick with it you'll be rewarded with all kinds of riches.
- The characters in the book are just the type of small town quirky that I love. They are in each others business but there is also just a whole lot of love and protectiveness as well.
- The storyline felt refreshingly unique to me. I really wasn't at all sure where the story was going. I'd characterize this as contemporary fiction but there is almost like a very low key thriller element to it as well (okay that might be overstating it a bit but it definitely keeps you wondering). Honestly it is a hard book to characterize.

To summarize I'd highly recommend this to fans of slow burn, character driven novels. With elements of mystery and romance and even some twists and turns, there is a whole lot to like about this book.

4.5 Stars

On a tiny remote (fictional) island in the middle of Chesapeake Bay, Piper Parrish is grieving the loss of her husband in the most unusual of ways. She appears to think he’s invisible and goes about her daily routine of walking to the docks to meet him and Friday night dinner dates. The townsfolk love her so much that they go along with it and understand that people grieve in many ways. One day, Anders, a young ambitious journalist, comes to town and stumbles upon this story. Anders befriends Piper and spends more and more time with her. Even though he’s a “Come Here” and not a “From Here,” he makes some friends and begins to enjoy the small community…..until everyone finds out about the secret he’s been keeping.

Thanks to #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #LetsTalkBooksBuddyReads #ReadingIsATeamSport @LetsTalkBooksPromo for a complimentary eARC of #TheInvisibleHusbandOfFrickIsland upon my request. All opinions are my own. (Available May 25, 2021)

Have you ever had a book come to you at exactly the right time? I needed a brain break and quirky is a favorite go-to.

I was so in the mood for a book like The Invisible Husband of Frick Island! First, I accepted the blog tour because it checked so many boxes: quirky characters, quaint small-town setting….. I admit, though, that I was a little leery of the premise….an invisible husband? Once I started it, I couldn’t stop! This charming book almost read itself. When I read the last word, I thought, “That was an entertaining story!” My star rating is based almost entirely on the delight and amusement I felt during my reading experience. A certain suspension of disbelief is required for full enjoyment.

“What is going on?” is the question that kept me reading. 1. Why would the townsfolk go along with the pretense of an invisible husband? Should they be more concerned about Piper’s mental health? 2. Is Anders’s podcast legit? Are there ethical concerns involved with creating a podcast about a certain person without getting her knowledge or permission?

“When Pearl finally tells Anders how and when the town decided to go along with Piper’s delusion, she says: ‘It’s amazing what people will do for the ones they love.'”

What I loved most:

* Quirky characters
* Well-meaning and unassuming Anders
* Quaint small town
* Well-written
* Whimsical feel
* Slow burn romance
* Lovable, kind, and soft spoken main character (Anders)
* Supportive and kind community
* Strangers to lovers trope
* Balanced character-driven and plot-driven
* Unputdownable and engaging in the most gentle way
* The coastal setting
* The intriguing title

As with any great read, I love the thoughtful themes including trust, grief, mental health, second chances, kindness, supportive community and friendship.

“May we all be loved and love each other so insanely.”

I enthusiastically recommend The Invisible Husband of Frick Island for your next vacation, beach, poolside, or weekend read. Fans of quirky characters and small town settings will appreciate this, and it would make a unique and lighthearted book club selection.

Be sure to read the author’s note where she talks about her real-life inspiration for the setting.

Content Consideration: death of a spouse

Thank you SO MUCH to the publisher & Let’s Talk Books Promo for gifting me an advance e-copy of this delightful book!

What a unique and charming book! The story takes place in Frick Island, a tiny island comprised of about 90 people on Chesapeake Bay. Tom and Piper Parrish married as childhood sweethearts and continued to be deeply in love. On a stormy night, Tom’s boat capsizes and he’s assumed to be dead even though he was never found. Piper refuses to believe he’s dead and begins to “see” him as if nothing ever happened. The island folk go along with Piper’s delusions and pretend Tom is alive.

Four months later, Anders Caldwell, a fresh-out-of-college wannabe reporter is entrusted with reporting the Frick Island Cake Walk. He reluctantly agrees but quickly finds out about the Parrish delusion pretense rampant across the island. He forms “What The Frick” podcast that becomes his ticket to followers and fame. What becomes of Piper and the islanders when the podcast exposes the truth? What happens to Anders’ future? You will have to read to find out!

Y’all...this is such a cute, quirky, give-me-all-the-feels book! I generally tend to veer towards books with twisted,two-faced, unreliable main characters so this book was a welcoming change from my usual reads! This book fills your heart with tears and joy, happiness and hope. If I had the physical copy, I’d have kept hugging it after the last chapter. This is the perfect book for when you’re feeling down or save it for a gloomy, rainy day. You definitely can’t go wrong with this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital copy of the newest book by Colleen Oakley - 4.5 stars rounded up for a book that just made me happy!

Frick Island is tiny and is threatened by rising sea levels attributed to global warning. But for the people who live there, it is the only place on earth. So when Anders, a young journalist with hopes of making his podcast a hit, arrives on the island to cover a story for his local newspaper, they aren't very open to him. However, he can't help but notice something very strange on the island - Piper Parrish, whose husband Tom was lost at sea in a storm and declared dead, still talks to Tom and acts like nothing has changed. She still follows their same routine and talks to him like he's next to her. The town has gone along with it, much to Anders' bewilderment. As Anders becomes more engrained in island life while starting a podcast about Piper's invisible husband without her consent, secrets are bound to come out.

In alternating chapters with the present time, we learn the background of Tom and Piper's relationship. This was just a perfect book in which to lose yourself. I loved these characters - from the nosy neighbors to the salty ferry boat operator to Piper and Anders. But beneath that, it's also a story about grief, loss, hope and moving on and how much small towns look out for their own. I really liked the two worlds - Anders trying to make it as a journalist, Piper on the island and how those two worlds meld. Highly recommended for a great summer read!

Sometimes your goal isn’t really your destination. Anders, a rookie journalist, discovers this when he finds Frick Island to be the possible big story he has been waiting for to turn his podcast into a success. His goal was to learn more about climate change effects on this island. What he finds though is a bunch of close lipped islanders with quirky personalities. While looking for answers, he discovers a much more intriguing story of why a young widow, Piper, and everyone on the island seem to acknowledge that her husband, Tom, still exists after his boat sank.

As Anders tries to initially interview Piper on climate change, he decides that he really wants to know more about her, why she believes her husband is still alive, and how he can help her. She has different ideas about him & sends him on various “adventures” to try to get rid of him, but he keeps returning every weekend.

I fell in love with all the quirky characters on the island. This novel will leave you feeling warm inside and with the knowledge that your assumptions about how things should be aren’t always true. I also appreciate how mental health is discussed in the novel. Very appropriate for Mental Health Awareness month.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This lovely novel will be released on May 25th! A perfect summer read.

Thanks to Berkeley and Netgalley for my eARC! All thoughts are my own.

Picture a remote strip of land surrounded on all sides by water and neighbors who are like family; your whole world contained within a 1 mile radius. The love of your life makes your days joyful and your nights special...until it suddenly ends. Would you be ready for it to end?
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island follows Piper Parrish, a curious, intelligent woman who lives a life of bliss on this remote island with her beloved husband, Tom. When Tom is suddenly lost at sea in a tragic boating accident, Piper goes on living as if Tom is still beside her. Literally. Piper speaks to him, walks him to work, and dines with him at the local restaurant. In an effort to help Piper with her grief, her fellow townspeople pretend her delusions are real and also act as if Tom is still present.
Enter Anders, a hungry out of town journalist who is always on the hunt for the next big story. He is sent on assignment to Frick Island to cover the annual Cake Walk fundraiser, but finds a much bigger story than he expected as he learns of Piper and the invisible Tom.
I thought Piper’s character was fascinating. Her love of wildlife, learning, the island and most importantly, Tom, was so evident. I completely understood the people on the island’s aim to protect her and create this false reality for her. She is a part of their Frick Island family and they could not stand to see her hurting.
Anders’ character was complex, funny, soft hearted and maddening. I loved his passion for his work and his podcast. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between his ambition for the fast paced world of journalism and his growth in the slow, old-fashioned island way of life. As he continues to uncover the truth behind Piper’s invisible husband for his podcast, my loyalty to Piper and the island made me so frustrated with him for exploiting this painful situation.
Piper and Anders slowly form a friendship that turns into more. Piper struggles with keeping Tom’s presence alive while Anders becomes an important person in her life.
The book goes back and forth a bit between before Tom’s accident to present day. I really enjoyed seeing Piper and Tom’s relationship firsthand. Feeling their connection made his disappearance so much more effective. The book also changes perspectives between multiple characters, which I did find a little confusing at times.
One of my favorite parts of the book were all of the side characters. Each person on the island had such an intriguing personality. They were all so important to Piper and the overall function of the island’s day to day life.
My first thought when I read the synopsis was that Piper was crazy and she needed some medical help for this false reality she is living in. As I continued to read the book I thought, “Could I blame her?”. If your entire existence also went on living as if your soulmate was still alive, would I really not do the same? Wouldn’t we all try to spare that amount of grief?
Reading The Invisible Husband of Frick Island made me more compassionate and understanding instead of passing judgement as I unfortunately normally would.
This heartbreaking yet heartfelt book made me want to escape to Frick Island for the summer, live like a local, and love like Piper and Tom.

The synopsis of the book and the fact that I loved her previous book made me want to read this one. The first half of the book was very interesting and I really wanted to know what was happening, why people were going along with something which was not normal but the truth was slightly disappointing to me, I was expecting something more.

The mystery of Frick Island first captured my attention because it seemed like an underlying mystery without actually being labeled a mystery story. Tom is presumed dead, but does Piper know anything about his death that she isn’t letting on? Do any of the townsfolk know what really happened to Tom? Was anyone responsible for his alleged death? Where is his body? So many questions! I can see how this story pulled Anders in, as it pulled me in. I understood the townspeople being protective over their own, but it also seemed odd that they would play along with Piper’s fantasies of Tom alive and well. Was there a larger conspiracy at play?

THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND follows Anders, a young reporter sent to cover an event on Frick Island, a small out of the way fishing town on an isolated island which is slowly crumbling away due to climate change. On the island is Piper. Piper’s husband Tom’s boat was lost at sea, but one day he returned. Though no one else can see the Tom that she sees and interacts with, the community of Frick Island has rallied around Piper and has continued to treat Tom as if he was still there.

Anders is fascinated with this phenomenon, trying to get answers to what happened to Tom and why the community is supporting Piper in her delusional state. Are they helping or are they hurting her? He begins to focus on this for his fledgling podcast, hoping that this story will boost his career. As he spends more and more time on the island with the people there, his feelings on the story become conflicted.

I really enjoyed this book! On the one hand, Anders made some pretty big blunders when it came to handling the invisible Tom and the very real Piper, I loved following him as he learned about this unique community. It sounds like a lovely place to visit to disconnect for a bit from the world.

The author did a great job of leaving the reader questioning what exactly was going on with Pier and what happened when Tom was lost. Though not a mystery genre read, it did include some investigation and questioning which added to my enjoyment!

I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR! THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND is out on 5/25/2021!