Poetic Prose But Intensely SLOW Story. This is one of those tales where the actual words and descriptions are so incredibly beautiful - and yet the plot moves along about as fast as a snail in cryostasis. Basically somewhat similar to The Great Gatsby, but with a more poetic front end and where Gatsby has an action packed back end, this one manages to finally hint at some mysteries around the middle of the book that will compel you to finish it. Then, it even manages to pack a *bit* of action into the final 15% or so of the text, as one final calamity strikes - the first calamity of the book to happen within the "current" time period. For those who dislike dual perspectives/ dual timelines, know up front that this book has those - and that I would argue that you should read it anyway, because here they completely work together to show the mysteries more fully. Ultimately a satisfying read with an ending that some will love and others will hate, the only reason this book got dinged a star was because the front half in particular was *so* slow. Very much recommended.

Two elderly women are living on a desolate island, each with a secret. One of the elderly woman, Marianne, lives in a huge old house and collects butterflies. Tarteline, a young woman who is grieving the death of her mother, responds to an ad Marianne posted asking for an assistant. And one young man is there because the island the island is a good place to find spiders, and he is studying them. All four become entwined the the history of the island and with each other. The writing is lyrical and the shared stories become compelling. I highly recommend. Fun disclosure--I read this as an ARC and was under no pressure to review it positively. I loved it.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Truly a storytellers story. The stories of Marianne, Tartelin and Nan twist together with a haunting sadness as their story and the story of Dohhalund Island is revealed. The reader is pulled into their lives as these women of the sea share themselves and the Dohhalund family story. Finishing the book leaves you with the feeling of leaving a magical place that you will never visit again - sad but happy that you were able to visit for a short time.
#TheWomenOfPearlIsland#NetGalley

When 18-year-old Tartelin takes a position on a windswept island she expects to be able to find the work as an assistant to an eccentric old woman to be the mind-numbing work that she craves to help her move on past her adoptive mother's recent death. Having no one left to call a family, Tartelin needs structure to her days and hopes to find companionship in her new employer. Marianne Stourbridge is anything but friendly and is an exacting and critical boss who spends her wheelchair bound days killing and pinning butterflies that Tartelin must capture on the island. As the two women come to understand more about each other's past and the deep wounds caused by their families, secrets start to become revealed which explain why Mrs. Stourbridge is so obsessed with studying the sea and the wildlife on the island. A beautifully written dance between the young Tartelin and the aged Marianne and why the island and it's secrets are so compelling to them. Descriptions of the island, the wild sea that surrounds it and the few people who dare to try and inhabit it draw the reader into the characters' world and make us long for the story to continue in perhaps a sequel?

Interesting, fanciful tale of relationships, secrets and discoveries on an isolated island off the case of England. While this reads as realistic, possibly historic fiction, fantasy elements crop up occasionally. At times hard to follow, it is a thought provoking look at what grief and loneliness can do to ones life and what radiation can do to the environment.

This is one of my favorite reads of the year. The Women Of Pearl Island offers a breathtaking setting and a plot that will sweep you off your feet. The leading women are such strong characters who learn to overcome the obstacles in their lives and fulfill their dreams. And every time I see a butterfly I am reminded of this book!

The Women of Pearl Island is a deeply mysterious, atmospheric historical novel told in dual timelines. While there are no palm trees on Dohhalund, in the North Sea, this would be a great beach read. It would also be good for a book club.
A poignant coming of age story as Tartelin takes a position, sight unseen, interviewing via hand written letters, for Miss Marianne Stourbridge. Miss Stourbridge is a lepidopterist. She is elderly, reserved, demanding, secretive and obsessed with mutations.
Tartelin, a young woman, will be her assistant at Dogger Bank House on a mostly uninhibited small island. The once thriving herring fishermen and herring girls are long gone. The old military base is deserted and crumbling. The oysters no longer create their opalescent pearls.
Tartelin's Mum has recently passed, this will be her first time alone. Can she survive the isolation and challenges of the island? I felt the strength of these female characters through their years of adversity. It is a story of hope, loss, forgiveness, death and letting down emotional walls.
The book was a slow start for me. Then I got hooked and pieces came together. Next the twists and revelations took me by surprise and I couldn't wait to read more.
The author uses her words to paint the island with such clarity I could see the butterflies, taste the salt pans, and hear the silkworms weaving. I enjoyed much more than I expected to and am glad I read it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance digital copy and to the author, Polly Crosby.
This review is entirely my own voluntary opinion.

A huge THANK YOU to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced reader copy!! I really enjoyed every moment of this book. A little mystery, a little love, a little sadness, a little hope, and the beautiful Ocean. I connected with the book in a love for the ocean, mermaid believing kind of way. I was on the journey with both women as they revealed their stories, their secrets, and their lives. I felt like the women completed each other and felt the bond they created during their short time together. There were many passages with just perfect writing and so thoughtful. “I imagine the molecules of my mother moving through the water away from me and out into the world, and it occurs to me that we’re not designed to stay in one place, rather to always reach for the unreachable, to stretch out our arms and touch the myriad possibilities laid out before us.” I love when a book gives a gentle reminder that we are meant to stretch ourselves past what we think we should and strive to see all the possibilities before us. A captivating story with people that feel real and the strength of the Ocean. “…the tides move in cycles, washing the sand clean, removing any trace that anything was ever there. But sometimes-after a storm, or spring tide, or a blast-the sea can deliver unexpected surprises, reveal things that everyone believed to be gone forever.” I couldn’t imagine a better ending leaving me with the magic of the sea in my heart and the never ending curiosity about what is out there in the deepest parts that no one has ever seen.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I enjoyed this book, I loved learning about Mariannes' past and the history of the island. Once the mystery started to form I couldn't put the book down. The characters where also very easy to connect with and I felt like they all had there own goals and personalities, none of them felt overly flat.

"Set on a secluded island off the British coast, The Women of Pearl Island is a moving and evocative story of family secrets, natural wonders and a mystery spanning decades.". I loved this story. The author has shared some lovely writing, interesting characters, and a mesmerizing mystery.

This was 2.5 stars for me, rounded up as I thought the descriptions of the island were beautifully written. I also liked the story going back and forth in time. However, I wanted more from the ending and for things to be more wrapped up for each character. I feel like I was left with questions still at the end (but I that's partly the point).

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman reeling from the death of her mother takes an assistant job to an elderly woman off the coast of England. Told in flashbacks, the reader discovers the older women history with the island and her fascination with butterflies.

When the unusually named Tartelin takes a job as a personal assistant to Marianne, she’s not sure what to expect. Marianne may be elderly, but she enjoys life on the island her family has owned for years with her beloved butterflies and her treasured memories. As Marianne comes to trust and care for her PA, she begins to consider unburdening herself and sharing what she saw happen on the island after the British government commandeered the island. The combination of the beauty of the island and the brutality of was make a stark contrast in this wonderful story