Parker's debut novel, THE LIGHTHOUSE, opens with an eighteen-year-old girl grieving the loss of her mother and barely keeping her shaky relationship with her father afloat. But upon a visit to a mysterious town and a chance encounter with a boy named Ryan, the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur.

To be fair, I went into this book knowing little about the story at all, and maybe if I had actually read the summary I would've known a bit more what to expect. This book hovers somewhere between paranormal and magical realism, but it's definitely more YA than adult.

Honestly, though? While I appreciate the book's gorgeous cover (okay, I admit it: the main reason I read the book was because of the cover 😅) and the twists, I had a lot of problems with this book. I think it really boils down to two things: the writing and the themes.

For one, I didn't feel connected to the characters because of how they were depicted. Amy, the eighteen-year-old main character, felt childish and whiny, at least to me. She felt very reactive and really didn't know what was going on half the time. And there were certain parts where the dialogue between her and other characters lacked realism, like nothing someone would actually say.

And secondly. The themes. *cough* It annoys me when books have such amazing potential to tackle some thoughtful themes, but because of the pacing and writing style, it doesn't fully have impact, y'know? I think that's what happened in this book. The themes felt very half-developed and were only introduced about halfway through the novel. While I did LOVE the killer twist, I felt like it could have come a little earlier and been a little more clearer.

However. I was surprised by how clean the book was (you never know with contemporary fiction nowadays ... 🙄). The romance was barely touched on, which some readers might be annoyed by, but I appreciated it as romance in fiction isn't really my thing.

Overall, I think THE LIGHTHOUSE is a gem in need of a good polishing. While I personally found the writing and themes distracting, I'm sure others would be able to pull something from this book. It just ... y'know, wasn't my thing. 😛

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THIS BOOK INCLUDES:

- 👀Somewhat-creepy undertones
- 💖Clean(ish) romance
- 🌊Seaside settings
- 😭Themes of grief & moving on
- 🤯A twist you won't see coming
- 🔍Mysteries & detectives

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CONTENT WARNINGS: profanity (d**n, s**t), usage of God's name in vain, death, grief depiction, creepiness, a few kisses

Something strange is happening in Seabrook. The town's lighthouse — dormant for over thirty years and famously haunted — has inexplicably started shining, and its mysterious glow is sparking feverish gossip throughout the spooked community.
Amy Tucker reluctantly goes on a work trip with her father, who is a police detective. She meets Ryan a local boy who is dealing with foreclosure of his family's ranch after his father had a stroke. Amy and Ryan have a misunderstanding when he attempts to help her. She goes to his horse ranch to apologize and ends up spending the day with him riding horses and going to a local fair. Throughout the day they share their heartbreaks with each other- Amy's losing her Mother a month ago and Ryan dealing with the foreclosure of his ranch which is just days away. Although the story had some tough issues to be dealt with this book had a light-heartedness to it. There is healing, closure, and new beginnings that make this a good feel book. When the plot twists were revealed, I did not anticipate there being magical realism elements and a mystery surrounding the lighthouse. I immediately was swept into the story and really enjoyed this book. I read very little of the premise which I think made the experience of the book even better. This is a departure from what I typically read and it was definitely a nice change. I have been in a weird reading mood and this was one I did not struggle getting interested in at all.

Thank you @NetGalley and Beacon Press Limited for a digital ARC of the Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse is a lovely story of the meeting of 2 young people, of romance and grief and delightful suspence.
I really enjoyed it, despite romance not being my go-to genre. And while the writing at times felt a bit disjointed, overall it was a read I'll not regret.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

The description of this book appealed to me - mystery, romance, long-held secrets. Unfortunately, none of that resulted in a cohesive story. The characters and storyline were difficult to follow and dialog maudlin at times. This is story about working through grief when a family experiences an unthinkable loss. It is not a mystery or a romance. If it was described as such, I probably would not have requested the ARC. I am sure there will be readers who thoroughly enjoy this book. I am not one of them.

This book was a romance, mystery, suspence and horror book. It was disjointed, confusing and frustrating to read. The characters could be both protagonist and antagonist at the same time.

This book was not what I expected, but in a good way. Exciting magical realism, emotional, engaging-- a fantastic and unique book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

4 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Beacon Press Limited for allowing me to read and review this ARC and for NetGalley for the digital download. Publishes October 26, 2021

A book full of mystical realism - mystical realism so real that until you are told you don't know it. Parker does a great job of depicting his characters and immersing them in the story. It is easy to come under his spell and not only root for Amy and Ryan, but enjoy the stories secrets as they are unveiled.

Ryan is not only trying to save the family farm, which has been in the family for generations, but is also trying to save his father from dying of cancer. Amy, who is visiting for the weekend, is trying to overcome the grief of having just lost her mother. They accidentally meet, in a most unusual manner.

It seems while Amy is there visiting the old abandoned lighthouse once again streams it's powerful beacon. The whole town is obsessed with this lighthouse and every one thinks it is haunted. So why does Amy end up inside the lighthouse? What will she learn? What will she gain? What will she lose?

I usually like magical realism in a story. I don't usually like romance stories. But the mixture of the two in this case worked very well. This is a book to suspend your belief and just enjoy for the sake of enjoyment. Well worth an afternoons read.

Lighthouses are in reality beacons of light providing safety to warn and guide ships at sea. Their presence anchors a coastal town giving residents an assurance of stability. The cover art of this novel draws the readers attention and lures the eyes toward the story, but unfortunately the time spent reading is disappointing. The author spends much of his writing efforts telling readers what to think instead of providing descriptions of the situations and letting readers transfer their own emotions to the plight of the main characters. Initially the storyline was reminiscent of a Hallmark movie scenario with tragic circumstances in need of a dramatic lifestyle improvement, but then quickly twisted into a ghost story that made little sense even for a late October release. Readers enjoy happy endings and the author certainly provided one to embrace, but the plot felt rushed and unrealistic for this reviewer.

An interesting concept and an emotional read. Well thought out characters populate the story.A story of grief dividing father and daughter and how the relationship leaves them emotionally unconnected and raw after the death of their wife and mother. How far will the relationship stretch before it breaks and how can they rebuild it before it’s too late.

Described as magical realism, it is a concept I find a little difficult to grasp or to really enjoy. I was under a misapprehension when I requested the book and for this falling short for me, is my fault not the authors at all.

More YA than older folk like me, this will definitely appeal to younger readers.

No violence, good characterization.

I'm not sure what genre this book is being promoted under, but it seems to be more of a YA book. In the book, Amy Tucker, an 18 year old woman who recently lost her mother, travels with her estranged father to Seabrook, Oregon, for the night. Seabrook is a small, coastal town with an allegedly haunted lighthouse that continues to intrigue the town's inhabitants. While in Seabrook, Amy meets Ryan, a hard working young man who is struggling to keep his ailing father's ranch from being foreclosed upon.

Amy and Ryan are both grieving over their life circumstances. As they share their stories, they begin to find solace in one another. That is, until Amy enters the haunted lighthouse and learns a shocking secret about Ryan. Can Amy use the information she acquires in the lighthouse to save Ryan? Can she use it to save herself?

This book contains paranormal events, which I am not a fan of. This book is also a bit slow in parts. Nonetheless, it is well written and has some intriguing twists.

Side Note: In the story, Amy's father goes missing and Amy is unable to reach him for hours. Yet she doesn't seem too concerned about it and continues to believe that he will just turn up at some point. This didn't make sense to me, but maybe it is because Amy was in a different realm? I am not going to post this review to Goodreads yet on the off chance that the author reads this and is able to provide some clarification.

This debut novel from Christopher Parker was put simply, just magnificent.

I don’t normally go for a love story, but the connection between Amy and Ryan intrigued me and held my attention for the full book.

Without risking any spoilers, I will be brief with my plot description.

The book follows Amy; who has travelled to Seabrook with her father for work just after the sudden death of her mother. While in town, her path crosses with Ryan; an instantly loveable character who is struggling with telling his ailing father that their family ranch is about to go into foreclosure. Together they get pulled into the mystery of the town’s lighthouse that is supposedly haunted and has unexpectedly started to shine it’s light again after many years of disrepair.

I have never in my life cried as much as I did reading this book. I had to keep stopping to gain my composure. The way the characters are portrayed during their grief broke my heart. It is a beautiful story and one I wholly recommend.

Amy is struggling after losing her mom when her dad invites her on a quick business trip. He needs to let a family know they are closing a missing persons case. But when she meets Ryan she finds someone she can relate to again. The town is trying to figure out how the old abandoned lighthouse is shining again and Amy worries when she can’t find her dad and Ryan suspiciously ends up with the necklace her mother gave her. A local girl, Chloe helps her find her way back to what she knows.

I really enjoyed this book!

I am thankful for the electronic copy of the book that I received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an unexpected story for me, equal parts charming and engaging while managing to be a bit more than you see in it at the beginning. Grief, loss, depression, human connection, and the power of the soul, even in death, all feature strongly here. I enjoyed this one, and I think most will as long as they let it be the story it is and don't get too lost in the details.

Christopher Parker, are you sure this is your first novel?! Words can’t express how much I loved this story. It has a little bit for everyone: humor, grief and loss, romance, and mystery. It’s a wonderful, heartfelt novel. The only downside (if I can even call it that) is that some of the dialogue between characters seemed a bit forced and/or lacking in depth. As the author continues writing I’m sure this will be something that only improves with time. The author has already mastered the art of magical storytelling. Can’t wait to see what he does next! A strong, solid 4 stars.

Interesting piece of writing, highly emotional I can say. Christopher did his best to show how someone's world can 'collapse' after losing important person in its life, how hard is to 'go on' and live.
It's hard to write adequate review without telling more about what people can read in this book and I think it could be not fair for all author's work. People need to decide if they want to read it or not without unnecessary spoilers.

This is really not my kind of book - teenage angst and ghosts - but I have to admit that the story succeeded on some levels. However, I felt that I was reading a young adult fiction, which (at times) I am a big fan; but I don't think this is how The Lighthouse is being marketed. The two young central characters are like mirror images of each other - both have lost their mothers, both have closed-off relations with their fathers and both are not asking for help.

This was an emotional roller coaster that I wish I could read again for the first time. A beautiful and insightful story!

A deeply emotional story written in such a manner as to pull readers along with Amy and Ryan as they explore their feelings for each other and work through the many questions brought up by the unexplainable "light" coming from a non-working lighthouse. As his first book, Christopher Parker introduces us to the town of Seabrook, a small town that he builds so well, you'd swear you've been there before. Into this back story, he brings us two young people who feel the world has forsaken them and are looking for something, anything to heal their emotional scars. A great, emotionally charged first book.

The Lighthouse is a unique mixture general fiction which meets the supernatural genre. Amy and her dad Kevin went to Seabrook for his job but also for a way to spend time together to reconnect their father-daughter relationship. It’s like Amy’s decision of needing sleep to keep her emotions, feelings, anxiety and thoughts of her newly departed mother at bay. Her decision had allowed her to slip into another universe and into Ryan’s world. Their off chance of meeting and spending some time together allowing them to grow close and share certain memories and secrets. This allowed Ryan’s world to break down walls and he could embark on the journey he needs to take. The unique plot opens up plenty of theories and a way for a ranch to be saved and kept going but running with an unexpected start. I love that a reader could journey beside the couple as they heal and open communication between them to be able to read between the lines and to be able to understand and move forward with their life. Certainly unable to put the book down as I was riveted and wanted to learn more on what was happening. I loved reading on what happened to Amy and being reunited with her first love Ryan. Such a unique ending but also a slight cliffhanger ending to which I want to know just a little bit more. The story is about the loss of a parent in a dramatic way so these details might cause a trauma trigger for some readers. The story only shares a minor part of the trauma event but it’s the emotional thoughts and feelings some characters are going through and explain might be the trigger for some readers. The plot also does show on how some people [characters] go to obtain the help or activities to help move forward in their lives. An inspiring story.

#JourneyToSeabrook #NetGalley

I received a complimentary copy of this book from via NetGalley for my honest review of the book The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book.

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