Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for offering me a chance to read Cormorant Lake. This book has been compared to the works of the great Brit Bennet, and while I enjoyed the story and writing style, I do not find that a fair assessment as I found the story telling a bit more dry the other works dealing with past relationship and tragedy. The story starts with Evelyn, who "steals her roommate’s two underfed and neglected little girls from their beds and drives to the northwestern hometown she fled fourteen years earlier—Cormorant Lake." As the story unravels, you learn more about Evelyn's past and the tragedy that haunts her life. Overall, a strong novel just a little slow paced for my taste.

Cormorant Lake blew me away. I was instantly sucked in and read it in less than 24 hours.
It is disturbing and beautiful at the same time. Evelyn kidnaps two small girls and acts as their mother. Is it really that bad what she did? The girls were in horrible condition to begin with. Evelyn only did what was best for the girls.
She takes the girls to Cormorant Lake which is where she was raised and her problems began, she was adopted herself and through connecting with her adoptive and biological mother she sees what it means to be a mother.

I love mother/daughter relationship books and this is one of the best I've ever read, such a fresh story line. I can not believe this is the authors debut novel.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

4.5 stars. This book is a standout debut by Faith Merino. I could taste the descriptions, they were so vivid and felt so real. The characters are beautiful and I want to just wrap my arms around them and share a warm meal. This is a gritty and honest novel, and reminds me of Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, or evening Kristin Hannah’s more recent work. For a debut author this is really mature work. *possible spoiler, not really*
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My only issue is that the ending confused me, but that could be my own issue. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a mesmerizing, enthralling novel laden with atmospheric sense of place and a location that will stay in your mind long after the last chapter is read.

I dived into this book and let the written word wash over my soul. This is a woman's book, filled with family, friendship, love, jealously and secrets as deep as the waters of Cormorant Lake. There is also a touch of magical realism and the lure of nature with all that it can offer and all that it can take. Resilient women, strong women and the choices they make for the good of those they love abound throughout the story.

This is a beautiful book. Please don't miss it..

Stunning debut, ideal for fans of Brit Bennett.

I'm always on the lookout for unusual and daring literature, so the descriprion of Cormorant Lake got me really hyped up. This novel is even better than I had imagined it would be, especially since it's a debut. Faith Merino is certainly a huge talent..

Cormorant Lake a haunting, beautfully written and very disturbing account of a woman named Evelyn who decides to kidnap two small girls in order to act as a mother herself. Her startling crime was a really odd experience to me because as a reader, I was shocke,d but also ended up rooting for Evelyn because while what she did was wrong, she did it in good faith - the girls had been in a bad physical condition.

The place she takes them to is a highly symbolic element because it's where Evelyn got her problematic upbringing. In the course of the novel, she reconnects with her adoptive and biological mothers, meanwhile exploring what it even means to be a mother.. And this is just the beginning,

Overall, I was totally mesmerised by the exploration of good/bad motherhood and what it means to be a family, as well as by Merino's writing style. With all its elements, I think especially fans of Brit Bennett will really enjoy this one.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.