3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for allowing me to read this book early! I really enjoyed it! This book is about Piper. One day her husband, a fisherman, goes missing while he's at sea. His boat is eventually found, but his body never is so he is assumed dead. However, Piper thinks she sees him reappear days later and continues on as if life were normal. She talks to Tom and lives according to his schedule as always. Frick Island is a TINY community with no technology so she's really able to live in her bubble and everyone goes along with her. I really wanted to follow Piper and find out what happened to her husband, what was going on mentally with her and why, etc. but thats not really what this story is. The other portion (more than half) is from Anders perspective. Anders is a young reporter that works for a small newspaper on the mainland and he always gets fluff pieces. He was sent to Frick Island to cover their annual cake walk. He writes his piece and also puts it on his tiny little podcast and someone anonymously comments that he went to Frick Island and missed the biggest story he could've gotten. He doesn't know what that means, so he goes back to investigate. Due to rising sea levels, Frick Island is in danger of going under water in the next 100 years so he says thats why he's there, but he's trying to dig deeper. He finds out about Piper's story and tries to find out more. They had met at the local bar and grill when he was there for the cake walk so they already had a friendship growing but now he's got intentions (though they never feel malicious to me). He's so intrigued, as we all are, about what happened and why everyone's encouraging Piper to believe her invisible husband is actually there. His podcast grows immensely as he covers the story and he's finally getting the acknowledgement and opportunities he craved, but is it worth it? He starts to question it all as he falls for Piper. I really liked Anders story. He's got a sister and an absentee dad and a wonderful step dad and while that was introduced, it wasn't fully explored and I wish it would've. When we finally found out what all happened it was interesting, but I sort of expected more. I loved the writing style though and will definitely pick up more from Colleen Oakley.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
It was all a misunderstanding. After Tom had disappeared, she got a cat named Tom and people were confused and then she just went with it because it was kind of comforting, even though it was all pretend. She wasn't actually having any sort of hallucinations or psychotic break. Anders and she end up happy for now and I LOVE books that end that way. She leaves Frick Island to go to school and as of now he hasn't made a move but they're ready for what the future brings together.

Can I please gush about this lovely book?! Colleen Oakley keeps getting better. I’ve read all her books and while I can’t pick a favorite, this one was just so heartwarming and cozy and smart and thoughtful. I enjoyed every bit.

What I loved:
🦀 The premise! A young widow living on an isolated island believes her husband is still alive, and the whole town goes along with it. Why? You’ll have to read the book!
🦀 The voice! I adored the narrative style - dipping into the heads of various Frick Island characters
🦀 The setting! The physical location felt so well drawn and every character was unique and important
🦀 The emotions! I laughed and I cried, and I finished with a big smile on my face. I especially loved sweet Anders and his big heart.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

OUT NOW! Thanks @netgalley and @berkleypub for my free digital copy

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island is quirky and heartwarming with a unique premise and great characters. This is a book about dealing with grief, but it’s also about community and supporting loved ones. I enjoyed every minute of this book and definitely recommend that you add it to your tbr, if you haven’t already!

Anders is a local journalist sent to Frick Island to cover a cake contest and gets pulled into two big stories - the future demise of the island thanks to climate change, and the woman who believes her husband is still alive.

He decides to pull these stories into his podcast and keeps returning to the island to try to get to the truth.

The island is completely based on Smith Island in Chesapeake Bay, down to the B&B owner who teaches people how to make the legendary Smith Island cake. And now I'm obsessed with going there.

This is very much contemporary lit/ beach read fare. It does have some romance in it but that isn't really the central plot, at least not to me.

This is a delightful, quirky novel about grief, following your dreams, and connecting with others and community. Here is some of what I loved about the book:

I loved Frick Island. It’s a small, tight-knit community on an island without Internet.

Anders is trying to make a name for himself as a journalist and thinks he’s found an interesting story on Fire Island.

Piper has lost her husband, Tom, but she’s acting as though he’s still alive- and so is the whole island!

I really loved the themes of community and caring for each other in the book.

I also enjoyed the struggle to change- sometimes to move on we have to accept and change- at both the individual and community level.

I recommend this. Especially if you like a community of loving and quirky characters in a unique setting.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book brings quirky to a whole new level. It’s so unique and delightful. Definitely not what I was expecting, but honestly, with such a unique premise, how could you actually expect anything?

Piper Parrish sees her husband Tom. But she’s the only one who does. When a reporter comes to Frick Island in search of a mysterious story, he finds that Frick Island has many stories to tell.

3.5 stars = Good+

This was a fascinating story. I enjoyed the way the author constructed the story - the island, Piper's situation with her husband, Anders's situation with his work and his trips to the island. The story was bigger than just the invisible husband. I got a kick out of the ending and enjoyed the twists to the story. (Some language)

Frick Island, home to under 100 people, is a charming little community in Chesapeake Bay, where everyone knows everyone, tourists are tolerated, fishing and crabbing is the main livelihood, and a proposed new cell phone tower is the scandal of the decade. Frick Island is also dying — climate change has affected the sea life, resulting in smaller catches and dire times for the fishermen, and rising sea levels mean that the island itself will be uninhabitable in the not-so-distant future.

When Anders visits Frick Island on assignment, he’s startled by how foreign it all feels, from the unreliable ferry schedule to the lack of cell and internet service, to the peace and satisfaction (and oddity) of the people he encounters. When he sees a young woman — who strikes him as the most beautiful person he’s ever seen — sitting alone at a table for two at the island’s only restaurant, he gets up the nerve to ask her to join him… and is confused when she informs him that, as he can plainly see, she’s having dinner with her husband!

Piper and her husband have been together since their teens. Married for one year, they’re happy and in love, content with their small cottage and quiet life. When Tom’s boat is lost in a storm, Piper hides herself away in grief for two weeks, finally reemerging full of smiles, talking about Tom as if he were still present. The townspeople are confused, but end up supporting Piper by playing along — so when she walks Tom down to the docks each day, they all call out greetings to Tom as if they can see him too.

Anders has struggled to find his audience as a podcaster, but once he stumbles across Piper’s story, he’s inspired. He digs into the island’s history, researches post-bereavement coping strategies, and starts visiting the island week after week — ostensibly to learn more about climate change’s impact on the people of Frick Island, but in reality, looking to understand how an entire community could pretend to see a man who isn’t there. Anders begins a new podcast series, What the Frick, focusing on Piper’s story, then expanding the series to include all the stories of Frick Island that he can find. And it’s a hit — suddenly, his listens are in the thousands.

But as Anders spends more time on Frick Island, he’s also building connections to the people there and developing feelings for Piper. Soon, he realizes that with the cell tower nearing completion, the people of Frick Island will have access to his podcast, and they aren’t likely to be happy with him. He’s falling in love with Piper, but knows that she’ll feel horribly betrayed by his sharing of her story without her permission. He’s treated Piper, and the entire island, as an oddity to be marveled over, and he knows that unless he deletes the podcast completely, there’s going to be hell to pay.

In many ways, I was charmed by The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, although Anders’s behavior is hard to tolerate. He’s depicted as kind of gawky and young and afraid of everything, developing self-confidence and connections to others through his continued visits to Frick Island and his growing involvement with the community. He should have known all along how his podcast would be viewed if the islanders ever heard it. There’s no getting around that he crossed a huge line by sharing such personal stories without permission — even if there’s a benefit to the island in the end (which is a very rosy-eyed solution to the problem).

Piper’s behavior too is problematic, once we learn more later in the book. There are a lot of false leads about what’s truly going on, and the answers felt a little flat and unsatisfying. I tried to give both Piper and Anders some benefit of the doubt because of their ages (early 20s), but even so, their actions are both questionable. At least with Piper, she’s managing her grief and loss the best way she can, but there’s a lack of honesty about certain elements that made me like her a little bit less.

I was entertained by The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, but because of my issues with the main characters’ behavior, I couldn’t quite embrace the story fully. The island community is charming, if a little too much the typical fictional cute/quirky small town filled with cute/quirky/weird-but-memorable people. I did like that the book ends not with a swooning romantic HEA, but with a positive outcome for the characters and the island’s future — and I especially liked Piper’s next steps at the end, which (without saying too much) is the best possible course of action for her.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island would make a good choice for a summer read — it’s light and entertaining, despite the plot points I couldn’t quite get behind.

I loved this fun love story about a small island in the Chesapeake Bay. It was a fun Maryland story that I quite enjoyed. A little slow at first but the build-up was excellent. I truly enjoyed it.

"that was the one thing about loneliness. It made you susceptible to doing a whole manner of things you might not otherwise do."
Piper lost her husband, Tom, to the sea. Living on Frick Island the community of 90 some people is very tight knit and when Tom's boat is recovered without him on it, there is no choice but to believe he is gone. A few weeks after his death, Piper starts talking about Tom as though he was never gone and starts doing the things that she had done everyday, like walking him to the docks in the morning and waiting for him to return at night. She goes to dinner and church, with Tom, just like normal. The whole town loves Piper, and to avoid more hurt for her, they go along with this.
Anders is a reporter that has been sent to Frick Island to cover a story, but as soon as he sees Piper he wants to get closer. Little does he know she has an invisible husband to contend with. As he learns more and more about her story, the more he falls for her, but is he willing to wait for her?
Meanwhile, her story fascinates him. The woman who still believes her husband is with her even if she is the only one who can see him. He begins a podcast about life on Frick Island and about Piper and her invisible husband. No one on the island has much access to the internet so what is the harm? His podcast is small and doesn't get much attention, until it does.
To win the love of the people on the island he now adores, he will have to prove he is worthy of their trust. This book is more of a love story about a town and the people in it than a romance, but it still was beautiful all the same. If this is how love is, I know I want it in my life.
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley and Colleen Oakley for an early copy of this book.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island is a delightfully quirky read. Unlike anything I've read before, the story pulls you in with characters who truly warm your heart. The story moves quickly and keeps readers hooked through a beautiful setting, scenery, and main and side characters who are all so entertaining.

This story was enchanting. The plot was unique and delightful, it leaves you wanting more but not in a way that you feel slighted.

The first half of the book moves slowly, in fact one of Anders’s few listeners complains that nothing’s happening, and I was thinking the same thing about the book. But as the Podcast picks up and his subscriber numbers start growing, so too does the story. A mystery is also thrown in – is Tom really alive? If not, who is Piper meeting in secret?

If you like unusual stories with quirky characters and a lot of heart, then check out The Invisible Husband of Frick Island.

I love when books surprise me. This one surprised me in such a good way. It was a heartwarming book and I can’t wait to tell you more.


I love books about quirky small towns because I’m from a quirky small town. This one did not disappoint. The Invisible Husband of Frick Island was just a heartwarming book that I didn’t want to end. I love the writing and I didn’t want to let go of these characters. Everyone deals with grief in their own way and I think seeing different ways makes us all better people. I wholeheartedly recommend this one!

This was pretty charming! Frick Island is a quirky place, and getting to know its residents was a pleasure, even if they aren't necessarily big fans of their visitors. As Piper and Tom's story unfolds, it becomes a bittersweet story of love and loss and grief and community. Anders, the reporter who can't quite stay away from the island and the stories it holds, grew on me as the book went on.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island was a heartwarming story filled with love, hope, friendship, and just the right amount of crazy. This book gave me all the feelings. It shows the kindness we hope to receive from everyone around us.

Piper is a resident of the tiny Frick Island. Her husband boat capsizes and his body is never recovered. The residents presume Tom is dead. That is until the day Piper wakes up to find Tom lying in bed next to her! No one else can see him, but to protect Piper, they all Tom is right there with her.

Anders is a journalist with a podcast he is using to try and impress his stepfather. He comes to Frick Island to cover a puff piece, but finds so much more. He returns each weekend trying to understand this group of quirky people.

This book is a love story about a couple and a community. It's full of emotion covering the full range.

Thank you to @berkleypub @netgalley @writercolleenoakley @berittalkesbooks and @letstalkbookpromo for a #gifted copy of this book.

Book club people, take note! This is a good one.

Coleen Oakley’s latest novel will light up your senses and transport you from your reading nook to a fictional tiny patch of land off the Chesapeake Bay (inspired by the real Smith Island). Though it has less than 100 residents, “Frick Island” is chock-full of vibrant, heart-warming characters prone to gossip but also loyalty and love.

A young widow, Piper “Pipes” Parrish, lost her husband to a crab boating accident, but she goes about life as if he’s right there beside her. Rather than treating her like a weirdo, the island residents go along with it and act as if they still see him too.

Now this isn’t a story about ghosts. And surprisingly, it’s not a story about grief. It’s about supporting one another, silver linings, and second chances. Enter Anders Caldwell, a journalist and aspiring podcaster, who thinks the quirky characters of Frick and their participation in Piper’s delusions will intrigue millions of listeners as much as they have him. As he unravels the story week-to-week, he becomes more and more attached.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island is a very sweet book with just the right mix of intrigue and romance. It could easily be made into an all-family movie, and I, for one, welcome these types of reads from time to time. Escapist, cozy fiction at its best.

My thanks to Berkley Publishing for providing a gifted copy for me to review. The Invisible Husband of Frick Island is now available.

This is a book I grabbed off Net Galley strictly based off the blurb. The idea of an entire town acting like a dead man was still there was interesting.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island was a well written story that unfolded in several unexpected ways. We got to see the complexity of small town life and just how insulated that society can be - especially in avoiding “outsiders.”

Very much character driven, the cast was unique and I enjoyed getting to know them. Anders Caldwell, a wet behind the ears journalist/podcaster, was an interesting central figure. His evolution was one of maturity that I think almost everyone can relate too.

Seeing the secrets of the town unravel was enlightening and made me enjoy the cast that much more. This is definitely an author I would read again.

Piper Parrish lost her beloved husband Tom. But, not really. Everyone still talks to him, especially Piper. What is more is that she introduces him to strangers and expects them to converse with him. In fact, the newest stranger on the island is a journalist named Anders Caldwell. With a fledgling career, Anders hopes that visiting the island will jumpstart his career, especially when he discovers the strangeness that surrounds a former resident. While starting a podcast, Anders must decide whether or not he will play along, especially while he hopes his podcast will grow in popularity.

Since Anders assignment is to cover an upcoming cake walk on the island, that should be his focus. Instead, he delves into the situation involving Tom, talking to Piper and other village residents to get their take. But something more is happening with Anders. He finds himself more than drawn to the gentle beauty that is Piper.

Anders is most certainly at cross purposes when it comes to his assignment, whether it is the mystery of what is happening on the island, even with technical and environmental concerns on the rise, or his growing feelings towards Piper.

What an endearing story. I could not imagine how this story would go. Was Piper in fact delusional? What about the rest of the town? What is more is that was there a romance in the making? If so, then how? If Piper believed her husband Tom is still alive, how could this story turn? This story developed marvelously well and I loved every minute of it and was more than pleased as to how it ended.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you @netgalley & @berkleypub for #gifting me a copy of this ARC.

If you’re looking for a great light beach read, this is it! This book has a great small town atmosphere and is full of wonderful characters.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island is sweet and breezy, with just a hint of mystery. Anders visits Frick Island to cover a Cake Walk for the small town paper he works for. While on the island, Anders discovers that widowed Piper acts like her husband is still alive and so does the rest of the island. Anders sees this as an his next big story for his podcast. Little does he know, this little island is about to upend his life.

This unique story is told through an alternating POV, allowing you to see Frick Island and it’s inhabitants from several perspectives. I loved the contrast between an island stuck in the past, while the present is trying to push its way in. Honestly, it’s the community of this book that really pulls the story all together. My only complaint was that the beginning a was a bit slow, though it did eventually pick up.

As I read this book, I thought of a real island in the Midwest that has no cars and a slower way of life, but it depends almost entirely on the vacationers to keep their island going. I was picturing the quaint stores, the wonderful restaurants, and the citizens that do not always love having people intrude on their lives.

Ander’s starts podcasting about Frick Island and their resident widow, Piper. I liked how he started telling her story and then realized that her story may not be what he thinks it is. He wants to get to know her and know why she still thinks her husband is alive. I loved how the other citizens put him through the paces to protect Piper. They realized that outsiders would find her odd and did what they could to protect her.

Piper… what a wonderful character. I cannot give it away but the end of her story WOW! I loved how she lived her life, she was a caretaker for others, she allowed others to caretake her, and she lived a life that helped her be happy. Her quirks, her spunk, and her amazing will to keep living show her strength.