A very sweet story. Beginning with a family who unselfishly sends their daughter to the US during the war, to keep her safe. Her journey through her growing up years and adulthood was so nicely written

Beyond That, The Sea is a nice coming of age book that feels like a warm cozy blanket to me. I was able to connect with the characters and felt like I wasn’t reading a fiction novel, but like I was reading about what actually happened to real people.

The book follows members of two families: the Gregorys and the Thompsons. At the start of WWII, the Thompsons send their daughter, Beatrix, to live with the Gregory family in Boston. Coming from London at the age of eleven, it’s a huge change, but within the five years she spends in the US, she blends in with the family perfectly. After the war, though, Beatrix heads back to London where the rest of the story is told over the course of the next 30 or so years.

The book is told from many different perspectives, but it doesn’t end up being confusing at all. I found myself enjoying seeing how everyone was thinking and what they had been up to through the years.

One of the things I didn’t like in this book, however, was the narration style. In the beginning of the book, all of the dialogue was in italics. In the next section, the dialogue was in quotations, but only for a few chapters. Then it went back to italics. It was a weird switch that I didn’t understand why for only a few chapters. Also, when the dialogue was in italics, sometimes it wasn’t clear who was talking, since it was all in one paragraph sometimes. I had to pause and come back to make sure I had the right character.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the eARC!

Short synopsis: Beatrix is sent from her home in London to live in the US during WWII. The story follows Beatrix, her parents in London, and the Gregory’s the family she lives with in Boston.

My thoughts: I’m going to start off by saying what I liked about this book. The story itself was told well, I cared about the characters and my heart broke along with them when they went through some very difficult times. The multiple perspectives was done very well, and helped the reader to get in depth insight into each characters thoughts and feelings.

The writing was done beautifully, and the audiobook narration was also very well done. I typically prefer multiple narrators when we have multiple perspectives, but I feel like it was still done well with the single narrator.

I felt like it was missing something, and after thinking it over for awhile I think I figured out what didn’t work for me. When I pick up a historical fiction set during a World War time period I expect the war itself to be a big part of the story. That was not the case in this one. In fact, very little wartime problems occurred. This was meant to be a very character driven story, but I felt like someone should have been affected other than just sending Beatrix across the pond.

Overall, enjoyable and engaging story with great characters.

Read if you love:
* Coming of age stories
* stories that span decades
* Fiction with historical elements
* multiple perspectives
* Emotional Depth

Thank you so much to Celedon and Macmillan Audio for the early copy of this book! Publication date is set for 3/21/2023

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
This book started off quietly, but quickly pulled me into the characters' lives and I found it hard to put down. I read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but I hadn't read before that some English children were sent to America to get away from the bombings at home. This is about Beatrice who goes to live in America with a family who become like her own. Their lives are forever entwined.

I loved this book! I’ve read so many historical novels set before, during or after WWII, that this was a refreshing take on the genre. It was so novel that I didn’t mind the numerous POVs (of which there were quite a few). I immensely enjoyed seeing the characters brought to life and how their expectations, dreams and ultimately, lives turned out. Each character was full of independent thoughts and I felt like I knew each character very well by the novel’s completion. Doesn’t hurt that the settings (state side) were pretty idyllic. Would 100% recommend.

I enjoyed this book. It's by no means a fast read, but that goes along with its ultimate message: life is long, people grow, and nothing is guaranteed except for change.

I've read a lot of historical fiction about WWII, and this was something different - the story centers on Beatrix (though it's told through 5+ additional perspectives), an 11-year-old sent from London to live with a family in the United States to keep her safe. And while that formative experience takes place over the course of the war, the book continues 30+ years after it ends. Based on its blurb and description, this was a surprise to me - but unexpectedly, I think I ended up liking the post-war part the best!

I wouldn't necessarily describe this book as well-written - there were no sentences or scenes that stood out as beautifully crafted, which would have taken it to the next level for me - but the story itself is thoughtfully and intentionally structured, and it came together in a compelling way. If you're someone who likes historical fiction and sprawling family stories (in that sense it reminded me of Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano), I think you'd enjoy this.

Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.25 - Here I am again judging a book entirely by its cover. Thankfully, what was promised visually did not disappoint. In fact, I think I actually enjoyed it more than I was expecting to.

When the Germans begin bombing London, Beatrix is sent by her parents to stay with a family in America. She remains in Boston with the Gregorys until the end of the war. It's a lot of change for an eleven-year-old, but she pushes through it and eventually bonds with her host family.

I'm not sure why, but I was surprised to see this book had multiple parts. First, we get glimpses of Beatrix's time in America. Subsequently, we see her life in the decades following the war and her reconnection with the Gregorys.

I enjoyed the writing style of this book quite a bit, though I'm not a huge fan of dialogue mid-paragraph or dialogue without quotations, I got used to it. The story was beautifully put together. I especially loved reading about Beatrix's adolescence in America. I haven't seen a lot of books that show British children that evacuated to America. A lovely read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me with a free digital ARC of the book to read and review!

Thanks to Celadon Books for a copy of Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash.

I absolutely loved this book. It is a coming of age, told in the backdrop of World War II of two families and a little girl and then the next twenty years of their lives.

I love historical fiction and while I was expecting a historical fiction, this is more of a coming-of-age book about an 11-year-old girl who was sent to live in America during World War II, but I loved the direction this book went and I couldn't put it down.

Bea is eleven when her parents put on on a boat to Boston to live with a family during the war. Shy, scared and angry we see Bea get more comfortable with the family of two boys as they take her in as one of their own. She loves summers spent on the Maine coast and she grows into a confident young woman during the five years she lives with the Gregorys. While she's looking forward to seeing her mom, she doesn't want to return to London. Bea struggles with finding her place and torn between the two families who love her.

This book was heartfelt, emotional and a book about family and relationships. This was much more character-driven than I usually love, but the beautiful writing and relationships between all of the characters had me falling in love with everyone. I loved the jumps to ten or fifteen years later and seeing how the relationships changed over time.

I know this book won't be for everyone, but I loved it.

Millie and Reginald make the heart wrenching choice to send their daughter, Beatrix, to the United States so she will be safe during the London Blitz.

Beatrix settles nicely into her new family. In fact, she settles so nicely that she does not want to return home when the war is over.

This story is told from a handful of characters' points of view, and that is an effective way to follow Beatrix and her two families both during and after the war. I found myself cheering for each character to find some peace, joy, forgiveness, and the ability to keep moving forward.

I was provided a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! A welcome different slant on the plethora of World War II novels published in the last few years.

Beatrix is a young girl whose parents have sent her to America to escape the bombing of 1940 London. They feel she will much safer across the pond. When Bea arrives she is naturally reticent, but quickly settles in w her host family the Gregory’s, and their two boys. She stays 5 years, but then heads back to her mother after the war has ended. Her dad while she was away.

Bea returns back to London a young woman ready to start her life. But her heart is still in Boston. The balance of the novel follows those years after the war, and how their lives keep intersecting, even across an ocean.

Beyond That, the Sea is a beautiful story of love, family and friendship centered around the main character Beatrix. This story is told from multiple character points of view, in passages perfect for the reader to sit and enjoy just a few more minutes of reading, which will inevitably entice you to stay for a few more hours. After a heart wrenching, but selfless decision from her parents in England, Beatrix is sent to live with an American family during WWII in Massachusetts. Growing up with the Gregory family in America is very different from the home she knows across the sea. I hesitate to reveal more details of her story because I very much enjoyed not knowing what was going to happen next while I read. I absolutely fell in love with so many of the characters in this story, especially Nancy Gregory. Laura Spence-Ash does a phenomenal job in describing several different settings, often literally an ocean apart, and as a Maine resident I felt as if I were also spending summers on an island with the Gregory family. This book made me reflect upon so many influences I had in my own childhood that left lasting impressions and shaped me into the person I am today. This is a story that will stay with me, and a story that will leave an impression on you as well. The gorgeous cover may have pulled me in, but the writing made me stay. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for this advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

Do I have a good historical fiction recommendation for you. Beyond that, the sea is a story that is set during World War II in London England. Bombings are becoming more frequent so many parents were sending their children to America or other places to stay safe. We have Beatrix (Bea/Trixie) and her family decided to send her to America to live with the Gregorys. We get to watch be grow up over the years and see her interactions with the Gregorys, William and Gerald, the two sons and the mother and father. This is not without that strain on her own family back in England. We see her interactions between these two different women that have become her mothers and these two boys who are like brothers but not really. We watch her grow from a teen girl all the way to a young woman, living a life on her own back in England. It’s a beautiful story with lots of heartache and love. You follow not only Bea’s life but the life of all the characters in the books you see where they start and where they end. I highly recommend this.

Thank you to @laura_spence_ash and @celadonbooks @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the gifted physical and audiobook copies of this book that comes out in March.

Beyond That, The Sea is an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming read. Set in both London and New England, spanning from 1940 to 1977, the author takes you on a journey of heartache, family, friendship, trust, and love. It is so beautifully written; I did not want it to end. This book is 5 star, without a doubt. Put your feet up with a cup of tea or glass of wine and enjoy….you won’t be disappointed.

As bombs are falling on London during World War ll, eleven yr. old Beatrix is put on a ship and sent to America by her parents to live with a host family to keep her safe.
The Gregory’s, in America are excited to have her, they have two boys one a bit older and one a bit younger then Bea.
Life is very good for her in the States.. loving family, idyllic summers on the Maine coast, she becomes very close to the boys ..William and Gerald.
After several years, at wars end, Bea goes back to London where things are very different for her.. she must navigate between two worlds as her heart is still with the Gregory’s in America.
The rest of the novel I will leave to you, the reader to explore. Do read it, it’s wonderful!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the Arc!

This is a beautifully written, emotionally charged, coming-of-age, historical fiction novel: one that I couldn't but down and I won't soon forget. It is the story of a young girl, torn between two families and two continents.

Laid out in three parts (I loved the first part best), the story follows London born 11-year-old Bea, who is sent by her parents to America during WWII, to keep her safe until the war is over. She quickly becomes a part of her "new family" in Boston, who become deeply attached to her and grow to love her. Each chapter tells the story from the perspective of one of the family members from either of the families.

These characters immediately melted my heart, as the author brought their thoughts and feelings to life. I truly felt their fears, sorrow, and loneliness throughout the book. Being a mother, I was genuinely moved by the emotions that were felt by the two mothers in London and Boston, and my heart ached for young Bea. I will definitely be recommending this book again and again.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this for an honest review. Beautifully written and an engrossing story. I was immediately hooked into the story and characters. A book I couldn't put down.

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash is a beautifully written story and one I had a hard time letting go of!

To say BTTS was moving is an understatement.
I felt as if I was right there with the novel’s main characters.
The writing was done so wonderfully and pulled me back in time during the World War II.
An engaging and entertaining read. It had me fully immersed into since the very beginning.
A powerful, tenderhearted love story I absolutely devoured.
This is one book you won't want to put down.
Such a captivating novel, full of grace and heartache, forgiveness and understanding, loss and love.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As World War Two begins to target England heavily with bombs, Millie and Reg make the difficult decision to send their young daughter, Beatrix, to America where she will be safer. The Gregorys take her in, a family that’s middle class and has two sons. As the stretches on for years, Bea becomes increasingly comfortable with her new family in America.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! I find historical fiction is hit or miss for me and this was a hit! The characters were so well developed and I feel like they were so easy to connect with. I loved the short chapters told from almost every character’s point of view. There was romance which surprised me but I really liked how it was written in. I had never really thought about this part of history before so I found it really interesting to read about Bea’s experience. The ending really surprised me and I’m unsure how I feel about it, but I really liked the first 90% of this book.

What a heart-warming story about what it is to love. It is about the folly’s of youth and how perspective changes as we age. It begins during WWII but it is not a story of war time tragedy, more about the gifts that can be gained even during times of great loss. It is just a story about living life.

This book is beautifully written, engaging, and definitely unputdownable.

This is a book I will be recommending over and over again to almost everyone. It is a timeless story and should be read by everyone.

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for providing me we an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley.com and Celadon Books for advanced access to this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.

Beatrix's parents make the difficult decision to send her overseas, to Boston, to live safely with an American family at the height of the Second World War and bombings in London. Bea is placed with the Gregorys and finds two new friends in the brothers, William and Gerald. Bea ends up staying in Boston for five years, taking summer vacations to the family home in Maine each year. When war ends and the time comes for Bea to return to London, a piece of her always remains with her American family, who she remains in periodic contact with through her adult life.

This book was so sweet and ultimately very readable. The chapters were short and the perspective rotated between the characters on both sides of the Atlantic. I flew through this one quickly because I was constantly wanting to see what happened next. I think some of my favourite chapters were those from the perspective of the mothers - Nancy in America, and Millie in London. The difficulty of both sending a child away and becoming a pseudo-mother to a stranger is hard to imagine. I feel like the resolution of this book was fairly set in stone from the beginning, but at the same time almost happened too quickly, but I was satisfied at the ending. I'd recommend this to anyone who's a fan of character-driven historical fiction.