I'm so glad my book club chose Beyond That, the Sea as our March 2023 read. Candidly I'm not the biggest historical fiction fan, but this story was just something special. A WWII story about the family we're born into and the one we choose. Everything was so authentic and real. Ell Potter was simply sublime as the narrator. I'd read it again and it's an easy book for me to continuously recommend when someone asks for a historical fiction recommendation.


5 stars

Many thanks to @macmillanaudio for the ALC of Beyond That, the Sea. All opinions are my own.

When approved it only gave me 4 days to listen then the audio was archived, Was so bummed was enjoying the reading path it was taking me on.

4 sold stars!

When Germany dropped bombs in London in 1940, working-class parents, Millie and Reginald Thompson made a hard choice in sending their daughter to safety, across the sea to America. There Beatrix lives with another family during the ongoing war, staying safe until it is over.

Beatrix arrives in Boston to meet Mr. and Mrs.G and their sons William and Gerald. The story follows Beatrix as she becomes a part of their family, and they become a part of her.

Beautifully written, and very character-driven, I enjoyed listening to Beyond That, the Sea. The author has woven a gorgeous, though heartbreaking at times, story that stuck with me way after it was over.

I like Bea, and I liked watching her grow and develop as a character as well as how her friendship bloomed and differed between the two boys. I also enjoyed that the story had chapters with different POVs. It allowed you to get closer to their characters and observe their feelings. The ending left me full of different kinds of emotions, including heartbreak and happiness.

I am looking forward to more of Laua Spence-Ash books in the future and her fabulous writing.

I was excited to read this one after seeing so many people saying it was a new take on a WWII historical fiction. I couldn’t agree more! This multigenerational take on a historical fiction really was a fresh take. It still had a strong female MC, deep friendships, and a very impactful story line which draws the reader in. If you like historical fictions you should definitely check this one out!

Reginald and Millie are concerned about the war's impact on their eleven-year-old daughter Beatrix, so in 1940, they make the choice to send to her America, out of harm's way. There, in Boston, she is placed with the Gregorys. Before she knows it, she is part of the family with Mr. and Mrs. G, fitting perfectly into their life and between their two boys, William and Gerald. But when the war is over and she is called back to London, she has to wrestle with what home is to her and how to move forward.
_____
This is a book about relationships. Mothers and children, friends and siblings, over an ocean and through walls.

A book about choices and regret, following expectations or your heart.

A book about home and the places and people that are a composition of who you are and where you've been.

A novel about what could have been, the choices that alter the trajectories of our lives.

A book about what love is. How we can love the idea of somewhere or someone but living the day to day of love is in the details and intentionality. Love is a choice. Real love matures and grows with us.

I was entranced by this story. Pulled into the kaleidoscope of points of view as they were constantly shifting to alter my perception of the timeline of events. Much more melancholy than my usual reading fare, I felt like my heart was being wrung out to feel every desire and sorrow of these characters. Also, many of the characters were unlikable to me. I could not justify their choices which led to me having complicated feelings about this book as a whole.

But, if you like emotionally wrought family sagas, then add this one to your TBR.
_____

Content Warning: Death, infidelity, slight open door sexual content, WWII bombings

Thank you for the gifted book Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books. All opinions are my own.

Fabulous narrator. Loved this story and the characters. Different than other WW2 books I have read.

Such a well written story. I think the narrator gave these characters such a unique voice and brought them to life. I was completely immersed in this story and i enjoyed the multiple POV. The relationships within really kept me intrigued and sucked into the story and really propelled it forward. And bonus points for short chapters!

Really great story and gave me all the feels

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is on the short list for my favorite book of 2023. Snag this one on audio, ebook or in print asap! You will not regret it.

Read if you like:
•stories about family
•ww2 era fiction
•love stories
•multiple pov

Beyond That, the Sea transports readers to a charming and scenic coastal town in Ireland. Laura Spence-Ash's writing style is descriptive, and her character-building makes it easy to connect with the protagonist, Kate. The book's plot is well-crafted and emotional, exploring themes of grief, love, and self-discovery. The author's fondness for the Irish culture and landscapes is evident, making the setting an important and integral component of the story. Overall, Beyond That, the Sea is a heartwarming tale of healing and second chances.

Thank you to @netgalley @celadonbooks and @macmillian.audio for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Such an interesting story with a large chunk of it set during WWII. I never knew that children were sent over to the US from Europe during the war for protection. I can’t imagine what parents went through making the decision to send their children, let a lone say goodbye. The childs persepctive was equally fascinating. I also enjoyed the tie into current day life and the “children” coming back together as adults.

Lovely historical fiction novel. My only gripe was the first half of the book seeming to take forever, but then the second half just flying by.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #macmillianaudio #celadonbooks #ltbreaderteam #beyondthatthesea @lauraspenceash

Are you looking for a deeply moving historical fiction novel with a hint of romance, if so, stop scrolling. Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash is the book for you. You will however, be a hot sobbing mess but it will be worth it. This story is so beautifully written about a family who decides to send their 11 year old daughter to an American family, who they have never met to keep her safe during WWII. But what happens after the war you ask? Well, you’re just going to have to pick this one up and devour it just like I did. And tell your friends so you can all have a good cry together.

I HIGHLY recommend this inspiration book to EVERYONE!! Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Celedon Books and Netgalley for this physical copy, e-arc and audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of the top three books I have read in the first half of 2023. Laura Spence-Ash has written a family drama that will stay with you long after you close the book. During WWII, Bea, a child from London is sent to Boston to live with the Gregory family to stay safe.

This sweeping story is part coming of age, part love story, part tragedy, part family drama. And all of those parts create a moving and emotional novel that I highly recommend.

In this memorable debut, Bea is sent away from her home in 1940 England and sent to America as part of a short-lived program to keep British children out of harm’s way during the war. Bea stays in Boston with a wealthy family and immediately becomes a beloved member of the family. The mother of the family sees Bea as the daughter she never had. While she’s there, Bea falls in love with the oldest son, William. While she’s been away, her father died and at the end of the war, she returns home to a mother she barely knows and misses her American family.
I loved this book so much! I was so happy to receive this one early as part of @celadonbooks buddy read program and I can’t wait for this to publish and find a bigger audience. It’s a novel that takes a unique. It if history as it’s backdrop and tells a beautiful family drama and love story. It’s fantastic.
•
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I really enjoyed this historical fiction book - there have been a LOT of books published recently about the WWII era, which is where this one starts. But this one takes a different approach, looking at the war and its effects on two families - one British and one American. They're connected by Beatrix, whose parents send her at age eleven from Britain to the US to live with an American family. It's a heart-wrenching decision they make hoping to keep her safe from the air raids for the duration of the war. The two families live very different lives, Beatrix' family in Britain lives a very working-class life, even before the war. Her American family is much more well-to-do, and the at the heart of this book is Bea's journey between the two families, both of whom she loves, both of whom she resents at times. Just as she was torn about leaving Britain for the US, when the war is over she's equally torn about returning to her home and family - not only is she unsure about the changes there, she's learned to love her American family and her life there among them. The publisher's description of the book ends describing it as being "full of grace and heartache, forgiveness and understanding, loss and love". Frankly I couldn't describe it any better than that. It's a lovely story. The audiobook is beautifully narrated by Ell Potter.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

This is a story about an English girl that is sent to America for safety during WWII. She is sent to a well-to-do nuclear family with Mom, Dad, and 2 sons. Due to the length of the war, the daughter stays with the family for several years, so we get to see her grow, experience America, and how her relationships with the host family develop. All of the relationships are unique and distinct. We also get to see how her family that remained in England have fared.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. It was a long, sweeping, well told family drama that spans many years. I loved the relationships of all the characters. This book has all the feels but is not overly dramatic; I found it to be very realistically told.

I listened to the audiobook. The narrator was very good and I was engaged throughout the whole book.

Amazing read and audiobook! I'm loving this historical fiction! Many different point of views and great selection of characters! Back then when there's a war in London, Beatrix's parents made a hard decision to send her to America to keep her safe from the war. At first she was nervous living in a stranger's home, but later, she felt that she fit right into their family of 4 with 2 boys around her age of 11.. The dad was reluctant at first but soon grew fond of her after he taught her how to swim. Her parents' relationship changed after she left. Her American family were nice to her and when the war was over and she had to go back home, it was a difficult goodbye. Part 2 of the book was when they were older. William, the older brother traveled to Paris. Due to an unexpected event, he took a detour and visited Beatrix. It was a bittersweet goodbye for them too. Later other events occurred and Beatrix went to America to visit the family. It was a difficult goodbye again because even though there weren't blood relations, they love each other nonetheless. I love this story so much. I love seeing the different paths each of the characters took and the events in history that affected their lives. Highly recommend this read and audiobook!

Thank you Celadonbooks for the opportunity to read and review!

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The book follows two families, one from England and one from the US, as they deal with WWII. The story goes between different viewpoints.

Things I look for in a Historical Fiction include strong women, a generational story of family, and a potential love interest. I loved that Beyond That The Sea had all of those things, and a new take on the WWII narrative, as children were being sent to America for shelter from the war.

I loved this beautiful story and felt every emotion that Bea was going through. From her childhood alone on a ship to a new place, to the friendships and found family she builds with the family who take her in, and progressing in her years as an adult.

The audiobook was wonderful and I highly recommend!

*many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy

What a beautiful book written during WWII. It was interesting getting to know Beatrix (Bea) as she leaves her parents and the bombings in London and travels to the U.S. to live with the Gregory family. I cannot begin to imagine being an 11-year-old girl being shipped overseas to live with strangers. And how amazing the Gregory family was to welcome her into their home and their lives. Bea’s connection with her “adoptive” family causes guilt and anguish. It was interesting to read how Bea grew and matured through the years. Not so much historical fiction but more of a character-driven book of fiction. But a good and highly recommended read.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio/Celadon Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

"She had tried, as best she could, to braid her life with theirs. She never thought then that their futures would diverge. That there would be two lines, heading in very different directions...She was caught between two worlds...One old England and one New."

Wow. Wow. Wow! Okay, to preface HF is not my typical jam. I struggle with it. However, I adored this one. So much of this story took place in New England which is where I live and so many landmarks stood out to me. That played a huge role in the connection I had to these characters and the story.

I really enjoyed each character & their POVs, the short chapters and raw emotion of being displaced in the face of war.

I was gifted an advanced audio and listening made such an impact on the story and emotions portrayed.

Read if you like:
•WWII stories
•Multi POVs
•Multi timelines
•New England scenery
•Complicated family dynamic

This was generally a happy story and a totally different perspective than any other WWII book I’ve read. It felt fresh and new. I highly recommend the audiobook if that’s your jam!

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audio of this book as well as Celadon books for a physical copy for my shelf!!