Member Reviews
I found I learned more about sailing than I did the characters. I'm not sure what it was, maybe I wasn't in the right mind frame, but I couldn't help but focus on all the sailing talk and not so much anything else. I loved the concept, but the execution was off for me. I can totally understand people's love of this story, and maybe when I am in a better headspace and re-read it I'll love it to, but for now, it's just fallen flat for me.
A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.
Great book. I enjoyed Reading it. The characters and plot were interesting life like and easy to connect with.
I wish I had bought this one when it was first released, I will certainly be buying all future books. This one was delightful, and a great book that shows how complex a relationship between a mother and daughter can be. A story of rebuilding, love, loss and family. I really enjoyed this one!
Good book that was well written and thought out. I liked the main character and felt overall it was enjoyable.
"Wherever the Wind Takes Us" by Kelly Harms is a delightful journey of self-discovery set against the backdrop of the open sea. The novel follows Becca Larkin as she embarks on a spontaneous sailing adventure with her daughter, Liv, after a challenging divorce. Harms weaves a tale of resilience, love, and the unpredictable nature of life.
One of the aspects I enjoyed about the book is the vivid portrayal of the sailing experience. Harms captures the essence of life at sea, making it feel like I was right there with Becca and Liv, navigating the waves and feeling the wind in my hair. The nautical details and descriptions add an authentic touch to the story, creating a rich and immersive reading experience.
The characters, particularly Becca and Grant Murphy, the Irish sailing coach, are well-developed and relatable. Becca's journey of rediscovering herself and finding a new sense of purpose is heartwarming, and Grant's charming yet wise personality adds depth to the narrative. The exploration of the mother-daughter relationship adds emotional depth to the story, making it more than just a sailing adventure.
However, there were moments when the plot felt a bit predictable, and some of the challenges Becca faced seemed conveniently resolved. Additionally, while the romantic subplot between Becca and Grant was engaging, the age difference felt somewhat cliché. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall charm of the story and the well-drawn characters make up for these shortcomings.
In conclusion, "Wherever the Wind Takes Us" is an enjoyable read that offers a refreshing escape into the world of sailing and self-discovery. Harms' writing style is engaging, and the novel strikes a good balance between heartwarming moments and a sense of adventure. If you're looking for a light and uplifting story about second chances and embracing the unknown, this book is worth setting sail with.
Becca's bold dive into a new phase of her life was truly inspiring. However, one aspect didn't quite resonate with me: the portrayal of Becca's age. found it hard to relate to the way she was depicted. She seemed much older than her actual age, which didn't quite match up with my own experiences.
Leaving that aside, the story itself was enthralling and vividly written. Although I'm familiar with the Chesapeake Bay, sailing was a new world for me. Nonetheless, I thoroughly appreciated the wealth of sailing knowledge woven into Becca's journey. The vivid descriptions brought every location she sailed to life. And her romantic escapades added a charming touch to the narrative.
While my personal discord with the protagonist's age affected my connection, I believe most readers will find this book a delightful and immersive read. It kept me eagerly turning pages throughout.
I am a fan of Kelly Harms' prior books, so I was glad to receive a copy of Wherever the Wind Takes Us. This book follows Becca Larkin, as she travels with her daughter Liv from Maine to Miami post-divorce.
This is a book both about relationships and self-discovery. It's a book about second chances and facing your fears. It's categorized as women's fiction, but it's a book many will enjoy.
A big thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.
After Becca's divorce of 22 years, all she is left with is a sail boat, her daughter, Liv, and not a cent to her name. With no idea what to do with a sail boat when she cannot sail herself she decides to sell it, to a buyer in Miami while she's in Maine. With the help of her daughter, how hard could it be to sail the boat 1700 miles? After Liv realizes they're never going to make it to Miami, she makes a pit stop calling in her sailing coach that she can't stand and switches out with him. Will Becca now make it with a more capable sailor? What happens with that spark she feels with a much younger man?
This book was just so-so for me. I really did not connect with any of the characters and was annoyed with some of the main characters immature antics. It took me to quite a while to pick it up and get through it.
2.5 stars rounded up. Thank you Net Galley for the e-ARC!
I give this book a solid 3.5 rounded to 4. I really did enjoy the story. A lot. I loved the chances Becca took on her second lease on life. However, and this was a big reason my score came down a bit, was the way Becca was portrayed. This woman is seemed as passed her prime, getting a second lease on life. She's in her early 40s! I am 41. I mean, I think of all these actresses in their 40s (Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon, Anne Hatheway) and I cannot picture them in the way Becca was written. She seemed to be written older and this really bugged me through out the book. I felt like I should've been able to relate to this woman, but I could not. She read, in my opinion, at least 10 years older.
Other that part that truly bugged me, this was a story I couldn't read fast enough. I'm familiar with the Chesapeake Bay, not at all with sailing, and I loved all the knowledge while being able to picture everywhere she went. And her little rendez-vous? Very nice.
Overall, my hangups were totally based on me only and this would be an enjoyable book to most who read it.
Kelly Harms is an auto-buy author for me! This book is really descriptive in sailing terms, but hang in there - the underlying plot is so wonderful and hit right at the right time in my life. I love the divorced heroine rep! So heartfelt and vulnerable!
A sexy summer family/romance novel that's perfect for the end of summer beach bag! Newly single Becca is 40, and on a sailboat trip with her daughter and the 26 year old man she's hired to Captain the ship for her. The plot is pretty obvious from the beginning, but that truly doesn't take too much away from the experience. I loved how Becca found her voice and started claiming and taking what she wanted and needed for herself. The one thing that slightly annoyed me was all of the sailing terms I'm just supposed to know? I've been on hundreds of boats just never a sailboat, so while that was foreign to me, a bit of explanation would have made it smoother. Even better, just don't go into such detail that seemingly was unnecessary. Either way, its still a solid romance novel with a delightful if expected happily ever after.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Kelly Harms. ❤️
This was an entertaining. story about a woman starting over and learning new things about herself. I really liked the main character and the romance was lovely.
*ARC provided through Netgalley*
This was very good and I would read anything from this Author. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters very much.
Because of her iron-clad prenup, the only thing Becca receives in her divorce is a sailboat that is named after her. After securing a buyer in Miami, she enlists her daughter to help her sail the boat from Maine. When her daughter bails, Grant comes aboard - he’s Irish and too young…and thoughtful and kind…
I really enjoyed this! I was happy when Becca and Grant got together !I was not expecting the twist at the end - but I loved every minute of Becca standing up for herself. The epilogue was perfect!
Frankly, I just didn't love the personality mix and the progression of the relationships in this one. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind, but it just didn't hit right for me.
Rebecca has ended her twenty something marriage and has to find herself after so many years doing what her husband and family wants her to do. However, by leaving her husband she loses all of the comfort and money that made her life comfortable. But she gets their boat and decides to sell it. Her adventure starts to get the boat to the seller. Grant, the guy who helps sell the boat ends up somehow being the captain.
This is a story about a 40 year old woman learning to love herself years later.
Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced read
I love a good 'riches to rags' story, so this one fit the bill for me. Throw in some family drama and mother-daughter issues and a handsome hunk and it becomes a great beach read for the summer.
WHEREVER THE WIND TAKES US is the latest novel by Kelly Harms, whose other work I have read and adored! As a big fan of her previous novels, I was thrilled to receive this ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, this book didn't land as well for me as Harms' other work. I loved the overall premise - Becky is a newly divorced mom who finds herself sailing a boat to Miami with a much younger man, Grant the dashing Irishman. The story had a lot of elements I love - redemption, second chances, family drama, romance - but I had trouble with a lot of Becky and Liv's dynamic and felt they both were pretty childish throughout the story. Grant and Becky's romance felt a little rushed as well, and I didn't find myself rooting for them as much as I have rooted for the romantic leads in Harms' other work. I would still recommend this story to Harms fans, and particularly to those who enjoy romance and sailing!
DNF @ 30%. Not the type of book I thought it would be after reading the excerpt. I'm sorry I can't give the author any more feedback but I felt like this book was pushing me to a reading slump.