I really enjoyed this story of not only Sylvie but also her relationship with her childhood best friend Kase and the relationship between their two mothers. A beautiful story

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I had been so looking forward to reading Vanessa McCausland's third novel and it didn't disappoint! Such an amazingly beautiful, heartbreaking book. The story of Sylvie and Holden is beautifully bought together whilst unravelling both the distant and recent pasts of the characters. Highly, highly recommend!

An exceptionally beautiful book. Vanessa writes a gorgeous book that is hard to put down as you are swept away into these beautiful words.

Highly recommend everyone reads this one. Loved it!

A lovely book full of haunting stories of friendship, betrayal, love, despair and reconciliation. The writing is lyrical and the description of the setting in Tasmania makes you yearn to be there. I really enjoyed the slow unfurling of the mystery in this story, and the maturing and changing of the characters. A recommended read.

Sylvie is a lover of words and a collector of stories, only she has lost her own. She has no words for a night at a lighthouse that changed the relationship between her and her best friend and soulmate, Kase. What happened to rip them apart 23 years ago?

When Kase invites Sylvie to the wild Tasmanian coast to celebrate her 40th birthday, Sylvie accepts, perhaps reluctantly. She’s yearned to recapture their friendship but struggles to negotiate the undertow of memories between old friends and new.

I loved this story. It subtly weaves together the elusiveness of memory, the yearning for acceptance and closeness, and the healing power of words. At its heart the novel seeks to answer the question of whether it's ever right to keep a secret to protect the person you love.

The writing is powerful. I was carried away by the crafted sentences that created yearning for something elusive, just out of sight and undefined. Not only did I want to know the secret of that night at the lighthouse but also understand how it had influenced the characters since.

If you’ve ever considered how the stories we tell – to ourselves and each other – affect lives, read The Beautiful Words. You won’t regret it.

Thank you to HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley for a review copy.

*Sadly the NetGalley PDF version of this book (as opposed to a Kindle copy) spoiled any chance of enjoying this beautiful work of fiction to its full potential. It was so disappointingly illegible as a free flowing read, that I stopped at the first page and borrowed a copy from my library instead….not for the first time. NetGalley does such a discredit to the author to promote her beautiful work in that way. After many years of reviewing books from here, I’m very disappointed to see such such sloppy disregard from NetGalley in recent times.
Find my review of the paperback version below.

The Beautiful Words indeed…

This book…these words…so intuitively evocative…so touchingly raw and heartfelt.
I’m just blown out by its easy uninhibited honesty.
My goodness what a talented author is Vanessa McCausland!
Personally, I would consider this book to be a modern classic.

It’s taken me some time to write this review because I honestly don’t know how I could do it justice, it feels presumptuous of me to try…but I must…even if I gush!

First I listened to the beautifully delivered (by Tanya Schneider) audio version and was nowhere near ready to leave it at the end, so I bought the book and started again, absorbing it even deeper this time.

The evolution of deep friendships and their the unwitting roles in the slow demolition of their hopes and dreams.
The meeting of two souls who seem to be bound by destiny, or fated to play a role in a story that might have spanned generations.
This story is about so many beautiful and sad things, so many feelings; all leading inexorably to the same destinations.

It’s all here…

All the emotions are so realistically touched on with such intuitive sensitivity that you feel yourself empathising, like as a compassionate witness to the unfolding events.

Vanessa McCausland has an uncanny ability to put into words, those guarded things which are usually kept closest to the heart…sometimes even deeper…like soul deep.
She makes you pause, to dwell a moment longer on a particular scenario, because for just a moment there, you were caught unawares, touched in an unguarded moment.

This will surely be a hard act to follow. Definitely one for my “Keepers” shelf!

5 brilliant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s 💫

I've read Vanessa's first two novels and really loved them but unfortunately The Beautiful Words didn't live up to the others for me. I enjoyed the mystery around what happened at the lighthouse and between Sylvie and Kase's mothers but I found the parts set in the present just too slow going. I found myself easily distracted from the story.

Since it’s release, I have seen and heard nothing but love for this novel, The Beautiful Words, and now that I’ve read it for myself, I completely understand what all the fuss is about. What a gorgeous, heartfelt, deeply affecting novel this is.

‘The feelings of others were not something intellectual that Sylvie could regard at a distance, she felt them in her own body, she wore others' scars as though they were her own. Feelings were catching things. They were alive and physical.’

This novel was so much more than what I had anticipated going in. I thought it was going to be a story about a lost friendship rekindled with some secrets from the past aired out and then laid to rest. In keeping with this, I was expecting an easy going read. But while that is the theme going in, the story rapidly morphs into so much more and the depths the author took us to was stunning, the range of topics woven seamlessly together.

When I think about this novel from here on in, it will always be as a love letter to words. That more than anything else stood out for me. Sylvie was a collector of words, inscribing them into her notebook as a means, initially, to aid her damaged memory, but later, as a way of coping when stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. I just loved the wordy part of this novel so much. Words prefacing each chapter, Sylvie’s words that she would inscribe, the words that would pop into her head which formed part of her inner dialogue. All the beautiful words, just as the novel is named.

Please read this book. And then give it to a friend as a gift. It’s magnificent.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

The Beautiful Words by Vanessa McCausland

The book The Beautiful Words is simply just that, beautiful words.

Told in different timelines and several points of views, The Beautiful Words captured my heart.

I have to admit it took me a while to like Sylvie/Sylvia's and Kase's story, I think I was more invested in their mums Fran and Eve's story for quite some time and wanted to know the link between the mums. But once I got to the end of the book I was equally invested in Sylvie and Kase's story. It was fascinating to see how the stories joined together at the end.

I also loved the relationship between Holden and Sylvie in the book. It was wonderful seeing them breaking down each other's walls and showing the raw heartbreak they both had to deal with.

This book did take a darker turn than I expected so please do keep that in mind if you do pick up this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harpercollins for the digital copy of The Beautiful Words in exchange for an honest review.

*Please note I did eventually buy a physical copy because I had trouble reading a pdf format. I have solely based my review on the story.

It's 1996 and two girls, Kase & Sylvie, are the very best of friends.   From the outset we know there was a tragedy in which Kase's brother Tristan died.   A tragedy which Kase & Sylvie's friendship did not survive.  Sylvie herself almost did not survive. This night had lasting  ramifications for both girls and the events of the night were slowly uncovered throughout the story.

</i><blockquote> "Sometimes it is friendship that is our true life calling, our true soul connection"</blockquote></i>

Moving back to 1966 a fortune teller spoke those words to Franny and Eve, two young girls who were clearly best of friends.    She said their lives were intertwined and they should treasure their friendship.     Sometimes though even our true soul connections can become disconnected.    No sooner had she spoken the words than the girls lives were forever changed and their precious friendship was allowed to shrivel and die.


Female friendships were central to <b>The Beautiful Words</b> by Vanessa McCausland.   They were celebrated and were clearly precious to the girls and yet for one reason or another these friendships both failed.    There had been secrets, resentments, regrets and disappointments.   There were lies too.  But why were they told and who were they supposed to protect? 

Part of the enjoyment of the book was the non-linear manner in which the story was told.     Readers got glimpses into how things had been in the good times when the two sets of friends were young, and were left wondering how and why things had gone so badly awry so that such close friends had become estranged. 

I really enjoyed the writing and the story kept me wondering how it would all resolve.    I'm not sure if the resolution was entirely plausible but I was certainly not unhappy with the denouement.
In each time period there was the hint of a romance and I especially enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sylvie and Holden in the present day.    Their's appeared to be a true soul connection too, but instead of causing each other heartache as the friends had they supported one another and helped heal each others wounds.   The path to recovery was not an easy one and the author demonstrated the strength of character required to be able to move on after two decades of suppressing the associated fear, anger and emotions.

If you enjoy books with a great many literary references I think you'd appreciate this one - so many authors and books mentioned and many of the characters had a true love of books and words. I also appreciated the Australian setting, the beauty of our land so vividly portrayed.

Vanessa McCausland is an author I havent read previously but wouldn't hesitate to try her earlier works.   My thanks to her, to Harper Collins Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

Sylvie was a cleaner, but not just any cleaner. After someone passed away it was her job to clean out the last of the possessions and to get them ready for sale. Everything that was left was to go to charity or the tip. Sylvie felt a great deal of sadness as she went through people's precious items all of which has a history attached to them.

When Sylvie is invited to Kase’s fortieth birthday in Tasmania she accepts, but she hasn’t seen Kase for many years since the accident. Sylvie is unsure what kind of reception she will get, but she is hoping they can rebuild their friendship although deep down Sylvie knows the strong friendship they had all those years will never be the same again.

The Beautiful Words by Aussie author Vanessa McCausland is a well-written story about friendship, betrayal and forgiveness a story that will capture the hearts of anyone who reads it. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review. Highly recommended.

The title of this book is very appropriate. Beautiful words. This is a story of love, friendship, family, tragedy and betrayal.

The connection between Sylvie and Kase is captured so well and had you desperate to discover why their friendship had disintegrated. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Vanessa McCausland.

#TheBeautifulWords #VanessaMcCausland #netgalley

This was the first novel by this author that I have read. I finished The Beautiful Words in a few days.
I had looked up some reviews about it prior to starting it and unknowingly read a spoiler, so that was disappointing as I had a fair idea of what to expect, which lessened the experience somewhat.
Overall, I thought that this was a very well told story, and Vanessa has a real talent in providing the atmospheric descriptions throughout the story so that the reader gets a real feel to it. Her descriptions of beautiful Tasmania made me feel as though I was there.
The story does contain some serious themes that may be triggering for some.
I felt that the story may have benefited from smaller chapters as it reverts back and forth from past to present and I got a little lost at times, having to remember where the alternating story had finished up before following on again.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book and I was pleasantly surprised that it really drew me in and told me a story. Well really there was more than one story entwined to give us a bigger picture of past and present.

There is so much in this story, there is friendship, tragedy, heartbreak. It is dark, unguarded, complex and emotional. The characters are unique and each have something to bring to the whole story. And although there are some tough topics it is a book that is easy to read.

Great book and would recommend.

THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS is the third book I have read by Vanessa McCausland, and I enjoyed every one of them. In her latest books, she once again creates a beautiful, atmospheric Australian setting (this time in Tasmania) and complex characters whose relationships appear authentic and moving. As with her other books, THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS touched my heart as each character has to overcome their own struggles. And like in THE LOST SUMMERS OF DRIFTWOOD, the story revolves around the themes of friendship, family secrets, grief, reinventing yourself and ultimately healing and hope.

Readers who love the theme of female friendships in all its complexity will be pleased with McCausland’s portrayal of Sylvie and Kase, best friends at school and soul sisters, until a tragedy tore them apart. Now, over twenty years later, the friends meet again for Kase’s 40th birthday celebrations on a small Tasmanian island near Bruny. To repair the rift that cleaved their worlds apart, they must first face up to the truth of what happened when they were just teenagers ....

I love the way the author portrays her female protagonists, endowing each with a rich history that makes them relatable in many ways and gives them unique, multi-layered personalities as with people you meet in real life. And whilst the author has taken a theme that is very relevant today and close to her heart, you will find no preaching or lecturing here, just a gentle tug on your conscience and your heartstrings as she takes you by the hand and leads you down the path of her story with all the tumultuous emotions connected to it. Set in three different timelines – the 1960’s, 1990’s and today, three generations of women are linked by a secret that will have far reaching effects on all of them.

THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS transcends multiple genres: part mystery, part drama, there is also a light sprinkling of romance, leaving the reader with a sense of hope and light despite the dark themes explored here. McCausland is a talented storyteller who knows how to bring her characters and her settings to life with language that flows a smoothly and gently like the waves lapping against the beaches in her story, which made it a real treat to read. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy contemporary books centred around female friendships and family secrets that linger in your mind and heart long after the last page has been turned.

Oh my god. I couldn't put this book down. Loved reading this book as I wanted to know more. Vanessa McCausland is an author to watch out for.

‘… the heaving bookshelves … which told her whole story, in the way that books map one’s internal journey through the world. She had tried to part with some of them, but it felt like giving away pieces of her soul.’

I loved this book. I feel more in tune with who I am having read this book. The ‘beautiful’ words from this book will stay with me forever.I started reading Beautiful Words on my Kindle but such is the nature of this tale - how it speaks to the heart of every book lover - I quickly had to buy a paperback (in actual fact, my daughter got it for me as she realised the connection I was forming with this book) so that I could fully immerse myself in the experience though highlighting and creating tabs of the wondrous experience that Vanessa provides her readers with in this unforgettable tale.

Vanessa wrote an article on the HarperCollins website (HERE) that shines a light on her own motivation and other similar books she has read that were based around a love of words. She was thrilled to finally gift us her book about books. With a main character who is a logophile (a lover of words) it's ironic and sad how she has lost her own story. ‘It’s a story about the stories we tell ourselves, the fallible nature of memory, and the power of words to heal.’ (Vaness McCausland)

‘She slipped a few books out, smoothing their worn covers, their browning pages, wondering about the others who had read them, the tea that might have been drunk over them. How their stories may have shaped their readers’ lives.’

I have read and loved all Vanessa’s previous books but her latest offering demonstrates how her writing has gone to the next level. In the lead character, Sylvie, you will find a friend. Vanessa’s ‘beautiful’ words exemplify such exquisite use of language that it is intoxicating (thus the necessary tabbing for future reference). Yes, there is a wonderful tale full of mystery, there is romance and there are locales so vividly described as to lose yourself in. Overarching are themes ranging from fate and fortune, to abuse and heartbreak. The nod to literary classics from Salinger (The Catcher in the Rye) and Plath (The Bell Jar) will have you making your own investigations to cement links made.

Reading this novel is to partake in a love story … a love story in celebration of words. The title could not be more apt. Vanessa has penned the ultimate indelible tale, equally compelling and tragic. You may wish to savour the words but these words will carry you along with a force of their own. Thank you Vanessa for writing a book that I felt such a connection to - there are not enough ‘beautiful’ words to convey just how much I loved this book.

‘I want to believe that there are more lives for us. But maybe that’s why we have books. Don’t you ever find it sad that you’re confined to your own story? That your life is bounded by your mind inside your own head?’





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Beautiful writing! Sylvie is middle aged, lives alone in Sydney, and works as a sort of cleaner, clearing out the houses of deceased people. She suffered a traumatic head injury 23 years earlier in an accident where her best friend, Kase’s brother, Tristan died. Kase visited Sylvie in hospital once and then cut all contact with her until now, Sylvie receives an invitation to her fortieth birthday party in Tasmania.
Sylvie is damaged from that experience, even though she cannot actually remember the accident and the events leading up to it and it’s a tough decision for her to attend the party. What follows was such a brilliant read. The location is a small island near Bruny Island, it’s atmospheric, rugged with wild weather. The story is an exploration of friendship and secrets and lies. It travels back in time to the girls friendship in 1996(the time of the accident) and also the teenage friendship between their mothers in 1967. The characters are well written and I enjoyed how the story built slowly until the terrible events are revealed. [Definite parallels between recent events in Australia with historic rape accusations against powerful males (hide spoiler)] The importance of listening to women and supporting each other, I found it quite emotional reading the latter chapters. Another part of the book that adds a lot of richness to it is all the literary references as Sylvie is a big reader, she and Kase always wanted to be writers, now only Kase has achieved it. Bookshops, writing, reading, words and their meanings and particularly The Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar are all important elements. A powerful read.

Set in the present time and the 1990’s and 1960’s. Mostly on an Island near Tasmania.
This was about best friends torn apart by tragedy.
Sylvie enjoys her life. She works on her own cleaning houses of people who have died. Packing up and removing unwanted possessions deemed as junk. Sylvie is fascinated by the hidden stories she finds and writes her discoveries in her notebook. I loved the line on page 4 – “What does anyone know about their grandmother’s mother?” It made me think about my family history.
In one house Sylvie discovers notes in a journal where the owner had regretted spending her lifetime without her best friend. The notes in the journal remind Sylvie of her loss and regrets of her lost friendship with Kase and the tragedy that separated them. A letter inviting Sylvie to Kase’s 40th birthday celebration could help if only Sylvie can respond. Sylvie and Kase had not seen each other for 23 years. As teenagers they had been best friends, sharing a love of literature and writing.
Sylvie is hesitant about attending the party after so many years without contact but decides to travel to a private Island off the Tasmanian coast.
Sylvie and Kase resume their friendship but there are other friends at the birthday celebration that make things difficult for Sylvie.
This was about friendships, grief, and secrets.

Secrets. Lies. Intimidation.

Vanessa’s new novel The Beautiful Words is a wonderfully written story, a true delight, and one that will keep you reading well past your bedtime.

This is a story that will captivate you, as you read more about the characters are revealed and you will find yourself second guessing almost everything by the end.

I was forever jumping a head in my mind, thinking I knew what was coming, but not once was I right. Vanessa was definitely too clever with her plot than anything I was imagining.

I really enjoyed the setting of the story, who doesn’t love a Tassie based location, maybe I am a bit biased, but the setting was perfect.

The characters were well written, and I really loved the connections that were revealed within the split timeline of the story.