Thank you to NetGalley & Abbie Emmons for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

Writing felt a bit too juvenile to hold interest - characters felt wooden and two dimensional.

I loved Abbie Emmon’s debut novel, 100 Days of Sunlight, so was optimistic about reading her new book, The Otherworld, which follows Orca Monroe’s relationships with her protective father, and two potential love interests, Jack and Adam. Jack is searching Orca’s island home, looking for his brother, Adam, who has gone missing after a seaplane crash. Secrets, loyalty, romance, mystery, and relationships — and especially the location! — are all brought to the fore through Emmon’s beautiful prose.

However, I felt the romantic love triangle was a bit rushed and chaotic, and I struggled to get invested in either Orca and Adam or Orca and Jack. I did enjoy the multiple points of view from the characters, but did feel that there were too many red flags in the relationships for my liking, and I struggled with the men in Orca’s life influencing and/or prohibiting her from doing things. By the time Orca was making her own choices, they didn’t feel climatic, only meh. In the end, it was an okay read.

I received an e-ARC from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There are books and stories that are quiet and life changing and this was one. The Other World by Abbie Emmons was a soul piercing treat that I was not expecting.... a book for a lover of books to encounter.

There's something that happens in theatre when an actor masters their character. As the saying goes, "The actor just disappears for a while", because the spirit of the character has completely taken over their physical body to tell the story.

Reading this book is just like that. The Otherworld pulled me in from the very first page and took me over. Short of a very disruptive distraction in real life (that often scared me out of my reading stupor), there is no escaping this story. Abbie Emmons characters all feel 3D and alive, and she's completely mastered their individual voices--an amazing feat for a book of alternating narrators. As the story progresses, you're left wondering if we'll get another narrator than was originally set up, and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

As a storyteller myself (as well as a teacher), a big pet peeve in writing are inconsistencies. And while there was one small one, I'm not even mad about it because of the situation in which that inconsistency came out. It was a detail about a character, and in the moment, I probably would've changed my mind about that particular thing myself. The reason I bring this up is not to scold Abbie Emmons for missing this detail in the editing process; I actually really like that it's there. So much of this story is about our main female character, Orca, finding her own way, and I really like this moment of drastic reversal in a part of the story where things have been mostly worked out. Intentional or not, it is a wonderful moment that demonstrates a person's life is ever-evolving.

For future readers:
- first-person narration
- multiple narrators
- themes of innocence, self-discovery, heartbreak & love, adventure, and family
- clean enough to use in a classroom (I'd recommend late high school, as the protagonist is newly 18, but very innocent due to being sheltered all her life)
- heavy on the romance

If you are in need of a book to reignite your love of reading, I could not recommend a better book.

Abbie Emmons has a way of writing that makes me want to read anything she has written. I went into this book a bit wary because the summary, cover, and that mention of age gap did not really appeal to me. Boy, was I wrong.

I found myself forgetting that Orca is only 18. While she is quite sheltered and naive, in many ways, she has had to provide for the household. Her background, while leaving her lacking personal skills that are important for the other world, has also aged her and prepared her for her own future in unexpected ways.

I can see where some of the reviews are coming from with their choice to DNF, but I genuinely think the book got better as it continued and a great deal of the downsides work themselves out as the story builds.

All in all, I think the choice to read this book or pass will depend upon your ability to be patient and look past the things you may not relate to in order to see where the story leads.

This story exceeded all expectations I had going in, This is very different to any book I've read before, I found it to be original and very immersive.

The writing was wonderful and so descriptive I really felt I was living in the story, I enjoyed the characters and found they were really well thought out and written.

Highly recommend!

I have always been a fan of Abbie and her writing and this book didn’t change my opinion. The characters of Orca, Adam and Jack were all lovable and at times you had a reason to be angry with them. There was a lot of detail as well as character building that I forgot the short amount of time that passed by in the book. I would love to see more of these characters with the way that the book ended and would love to see how there lives continues, even if it’s just a novella or short story.

DNF at 40%.

I'm so sad. I really wanted to love it or at least finish it, but I started to get a really bad feeling and went to see more reviews and I'm not putting myself through this.

I love Abbie and her videos, they are very helpful and interesting. And what I will say is I actually loved her writing. It was very beautiful, simple yet complicated and evocative and I loved reading her prose.

The characters felt alive but I wasn't too invested in anyone except for Jack whom I actually really loved.

I wish I had known more of the book before reading it, and that's totally on me. I cannot explain how much I dislike Adam as a love interest. I didn't even see him as an option, I thought Orca would have a simple crush on him for the way she idolized him and looked up to him in a pedestal but when we get into his head and see him also catching feelings I could not deal with it.
The age gap felt too big. And I usually love an age gap in romance, but in this book in particular the age difference was too much, there was 0 chemistry between them, and she really felt like such a child in comparison to him so it ended up being just super creepy.

I immediately felt the connection with Jack, he felt like a more interesting and relatable character who had a real genuine connection with her, who was very similar yet different to her... and he saw through the dad's red flags right away, unlike Adam who somehow defended him and make Jack feel crazy about it.

Anyway, I just have no interest in continuing this, as I'm also not the biggest love triangle fan. I wish I could say better things of the book and I hope I can give her books another chance.

Thank you to Abbie Emmons and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC version of this book! As a warning, this is going to be a long review!

The best way I can describe The Otherworld is Disney’s Tangled meets Romeo and Juliet. Orca has lived a heavily sheltered and isolated life, resulting in wide-eyed fascinating with anything from “the Otherworld” (Tangled). But she unfortunately falls in love with someone much older than her that her father would never approve of, creating familial tension and a devotion to romantic love beyond simple logic (R&J).

At first, I was a little alarmed by the striking similarities to Tangled. Orca, like Rapunzel, has been tucked away from the rest of the world, making their curiosity crave the unexplored world. Both protagonists have only one parental figure who prevents them from seeing the world “for their own good.” Even the lighthouse would equate to Rapunzel’s tower and they both have their trusted pet as their only friend.
Luckily, the chapters in Jack’s POV helped balance the story out early on and create a unique dynamic unlike Tangled.

Throughout the novel, Abbie Emmons masterfully weaves many aspects of effective character building. She captures the impulsivity that many 18-year-olds indulge in and the emotional nuances they experience. Personally, I think the characters are actually a little less mature than what I would expect of a typical 18 year old, but you can chalk that up to the situations that the characters are in. The emotional capacity of the characters are also realistic in the sense that they are both simple and complex. The juggling of emotions between several people who are deeply loved in different ways can be a difficult one to convey in writing, but Emmons does a wonderful job. I think her decision to have multiple perspectives and numerous instances of dramatic irony crafted the perfect emotional conundrum.

Emmons impressively portrays how grief can influence us as individuals and as family units. Grief is used in a myriad of ways in this story, making me appreciate the way it serves as a subtle motif. There’s one part that says, “Even if I did what he [Dad] wanted, ‘accepting it’ wouldn’t be a onetime decision. […] I would have to accept it over and over again every morning when I woke up and remembered that he’s not here anymore.” That particular quote stuck with me and truly captures the raw emotions of loss and longing that we experience as readers.

The last point I’ll make is the fact that the romance seems to accelerate at a much faster rate than is realistic for most adults. The characters seem to fulfill middle school stereotypes of “falling in love” within a few days of knowing one another, suddenly unable to imagine a world without that other person in it. (This is why I mentioned Romeo and Juliet earlier.) I think of the world in grays, so it’s hard for me to vouch for characters’ drastic decisions like this—especially with the hyperbolic rhetoric and “We are two halves of the same soul” mentality. Then again, I’m typically a cynic when it comes to stereotyped love. BUT since I’m a cynic, that says something about Emmons’ writing because I still got swept up by the intricacies of infatuation vs familial love vs romantic love.
I could tell this was well-researched and well-loved during the writing process. I’ll definitely need to re-experience these characters’ dreams and devastations with them again in the future.

This is a book that combines the warmth of your favourite blanket, the excitement of a gripping adventure, and the sweetness of a perfect cup of coffee on a rainy day.

The story revolves around Orca, a young woman who has always dreamed of exploring the mainland, referred to as the Otherworld, beyond her secluded island home. Abbie crafts a vivid and enchanting narrative that keeps you engaged from the very beginning. The characters are the heart of the story, and each one is beautifully portrayed.

Orca, with her infectious optimism and yearning for the world beyond her island, is a delightful protagonist. You can feel her internal struggle between honouring her father's wishes and following her dreams. Jack and Adam, the two brothers who enter Orca's life, add depth and complexity to the narrative. Jack's wit and humour, coupled with Adam's kind and thoughtful nature, make them both endearing characters.

The relationships between these characters, especially between Adam and Jack, are beautifully written. Their loyalty towards each other is unwavering until, of course, the love triangle happens. Both of them bring out different sides of Orca, creating a captivating angle. The story's pace is well-balanced, although I wish the romance were a slow burn to make it more satisfying.

Abbie's writing shines throughout the book. Her descriptive prose and the depth of emotion in her storytelling make the characters and their world come alive. It's the kind of writing that makes the characters feel like real people you know in your life.

While the book is not without its flaws, such as occasional predictability and elements of insta-love, it remains a compelling read. The age-gap romance might not be everyone's cup of tea, but Abbie handles it with care.

In the end, this is a captivating journey filled with 90s nostalgia, great characters, and a perfect blend of romance and adventure. It's a book that offers both comfort and depth, making it an ideal choice for a cozy, rainy day read. The storytelling is engaging, and I recommend giving this book a chance to whisk you away into its enchanting world.

I struggled because it bears a lot of similarities to another popular lighthouse story from several years back. It took me a while to get past the sense of déjà Vu and recognize that this would indeed be a different story. I struggled with Orcas fathers controlling behavior! As we moved through the book and learned more, I began to see both sides of a just like Adam did but understanding still doesn't make it ok. Orca's father should have listened to her. Orca is young and sheltered and comes off As both mature and wise as well as impossibly immature call at the same time. IMO, The character development never fully evolved. Orca's mother was easy to dislike and for a person who played such a huge role in the overall story of this book, there was very few pages actually devoted to her. Jack comes off as an immature jerk, Adam seems like a saint, and their parents ended up being my favorite characters in this book. There were a few parts such as when Jack left his letter to orca in his journal. That were so well written. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Those few parts would get 4-5 ⭐️s giving this a 3 ⭐️rating overall for me.

This book is different, which is the first thing that jumped out at me. The premise is unique and I’m a big fan of the author so I was a little concerned this book couldn’t live up to the hype for me, but those fears were unfounded. It was everything I wanted and more. She built a beautiful world via detailed descriptions and gorgeous language. I really love her style of writing, from the pictures she paints of their world to the complexity of the characters. Orca is a sympathetic character from the moment we meet her because of the isolated, lonely life she’s lead. It hasn’t been an easy life but she’s positive and resourceful and brimming with energy to expand her horizons, although she knows her father doesn’t support her wanderlust.

She quickly develops a friendship with Jack as she searches for his lost brother and gets close to Adam as well once he finds her. I’ve seen the term love triangle used but it really doesn’t fit here in my opinion because for me there was never any question about which brother she belongs with, although at times I worried she might choose the wrong one. This verged on insta-love but it works here because of the unique circumstances. I loved these characters and really enjoyed everything about their story. I’d like to thank the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As many of Abbie's readers, I'm familiar with her Youtube channel, but this is the first book of hers that I've read. First thing's first, I have to say that I'm not at all surprised that she wrote it. Which is a statement to how open and authentic she is on her platform.

That said, I think my expectations may have put her on a pedestal too high to reach. Don't get me wrong, she has talent and there's one area where she excels more than in others - descriptions. She captures scenes in beautiful, vivid words that manage to immerse you.

However, this book was not for me. Orca is not a relatable character. The premise is also a tad far fetched. Isolated on an island with only her father since infancy and never questioning it or rebelling or... anything other than this shy complacency that she shows until the Otherworld is forced into her universe, I'm sorry but it pushes my imagination beyond its limits. That and more annoying questions like - did the supply man also bring period products in his yearly trip - made me decide to turn my brain off for this one and just enjoy the ride.

Which I did, partially. The hardest hurdle for me to get over was the love triangle involving two brothers. Although well-written, it still bugged me. Adam was too perfect for Orca, not fully relatable either nor with enough back-story and depth to his character. His seemingly blind acceptance of Orca's upbringing and even justifying her father's decisions rendered him unlikable. He redeems himself slightly with his empathy and his dedication to helping Orca find out more about her family.
Jack became an antagonist somehow, despite starting out with a fresh, likable voice. His personality is consistent and his flaws can be seen as immaturity that he eventually starts to grow out of. His arc is well managed.

This book gave me hope, actually. Abbie gives amazing advice on her channel, but writing is hard. When your mind is creating characters and imagining their interactions, these people you create sometimes move too fast, they develop a mind and a world of their own. Making them slow down enough to write about them is challenging enough, but doing it in a way that captivates readers' attention, that's where the real struggle begins.

The Otherworld keeps you engaged until the very end, although, in my case, I had to accept to shut off the part of my brain that continuously tried to poke holes in the plot and in the characters' motivations.

I'm forever grateful to Abbie for the resources on her channel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Abbie for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Abbie Emmons for the ARC!

Wow, this book reminded me why I love reading so much. I’ll be thinking about this sweet love story for a while. Emmons is masterful with her prose—I could feel the character’s emotions and imagine that I was right there in their world.

My favorite parts? The rainy coastal Washington setting, the brother relationship, the plot twists, the romaaaance 😍

I love love stories, especially the romantic, “you have bewitched me body and soul” types. That is what this romance is. Absolutely swoon-worthy, sweet, and worth tearing up over. 🥰

There are a few tropes that it’s possible not everyone will love, but personally I found them believable and well done.

⚠️Tiny potential spoiler:
I’ll admit, when I first learned there was a love triangle (the author said it in a post, I promise! 😆) I had already started the book and I was skeptical… love triangles are hit or miss for me. But I was pleasantly surprised; I think it was very well done. 👏🏻

If you’re a fan of swoony romance, gentle-but-strong heroines, and stories that show the ups and downs of family relationships, I think you’ll enjoy this one!

❗️mild language, plane crash, grief, fist fight, emergency room visit
🌶️ passionate makeouts

The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons

I’ve been trying for weeks to assemble my thoughts into some kind of coherent message about this novel without giving anything away, but I’ve decided that it is impossible to talk about this book without spoilers. Suffice it to say, this was one of the most captivating stories I have ever read and the best book of 2023 for me so far. I cannot wait to have this book on my shelf. If you love stories about love, life, and finding wonder and possibility in the everyday, then please pick up a copy of The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons.

I’ve been following the author, her YouTube channel, and her progress for years and it has been a joy to see her grow and flourish as a writer. Abbie’s first book, 100 Days of Sunlight, was an absolute delight and its sequel Tessa and Weston: The Best Christmas Ever was equally heartwarming. But this book, “the lighthouse book” as I have known it since she first mentioned it, in my opinion this is her best work yet. This book took me on a journey of love and self-discovery. This book is more than a coming of age story, it’s a love letter to life itself.

The following review will be somewhat glowing. But please know that these views and opinions expressed are entirely my own. Although I was generously supplied with an advanced reader copy (ARC) from Net Galley, I have not been paid, coerced, or compensated in any way to be anything other than brutally honest about what I thought of this book.

The Abridged Review

Also known as the, “I Didn’t Read Your Full Review Because It’s Too Long, Megan” Summation of My Thoughts:
The Otherworld is an excellent, near flawless novel. Beautiful prose. Realistic dialogue. Strong, believable characters (from main to supporting cast). Compelling relationships. Delicious, not contrived or cringe-inducing dramatic tension. Exciting plot with tight pacing and a satisfying, emotional journey from start to finish. Immersive, captivating setting. I have a few minor nitpicks and criticisms about some aspects that I go further into below, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the book for me or make me give it less than the five glimmering stars I feel it deserves.

The Unabridged Review

PRAISE:
Prose:
I have to start by talking about the craftsmanship of the writing itself. From the first page, Emmons draws you in. She gives Orca a voice that makes the reader feel like he/she has discovered a new friend and a magical, hidden world one cannot help but run to. Her descriptions of places and sights and activities are beautiful to the point of poetic. Her zeal for life and the things one might consider mundane are infectious. (It’s absolutely an island escape thing, but at times it gave me feelings of the joy I felt as a child reading the Anne of Green Gables series, Nim’s Island, Pippi Longstocking, and Robinson Crusoe). Orca’s mind is a delight to experience. Then two more points of view are introduced, those of the bush pilots Jack and Adam Stevenson, respectively. Their voices are also unique; believable, powerful, relatable, authentic. As others have said, I did not even need the heading to tell me whose perspective each chapter was written from because their voices were vividly individual. Orca was always obvious because her thoughts and observations are so whimsically effervescent. But one might worry, with two male characters it might be easy for them to become a blurred amalgamation of what the female author interprets as “guy thoughts.” This is understandable, but these fears are unfounded. Despite being young men who share some similarities, life experiences, and a close bond, there is a stark contrast in the maturity level and way of thought between Adam and his brother Jack. They may have shared an upbringing, but they undoubtedly view the world through different eyes. Emmons captures this distinction brilliantly on the page, bringing the reader deeply into each character’s point of view from start to finish.

Dialogue:
Even characters who aren’t featured as POV narrators feel authentic and believable such as Mrs. Stevenson, Mr. Stevenson, and Orca’s papa Lawrence Monroe; and this because of the excellent, realistic dialogue. I found myself stopping in certain places and wanting to know, “How would this chapter sound if it was told from Papa’s perspective?” or “I wonder what is going through Mrs. Stevenson’s mind right now.” and that’s because the dialogue expressed gave me enough of a hint of how they saw things that I wanted to see and read more from each of them. This is a story that makes you want to keep reading, mostly because of how well-told and completely immersive it is.

Characters:
What is a story without strong (I mean three dimensional, flawed, and believable) characters? It’s just a cardboard cutout of a person—a stand-in, a facsimile of an individual with real thoughts, feelings, desires, flaws, hopes, and goals—moving through a predetermined set of events until they get to the end. A lot of cool things might happen along the way, but the reader will never connect to or resonate with a cardboard cutout with the personality of a piece of toast (unless they insert themselves in the character’s place and paste onto this stand-in their own qualities out of necessity). This reader will always seek that connection and a story with a fully fleshed out cast of characters. Maybe it’s the actress in me, but I need a person to follow, through whose eyes I can see the world and step out of my own head to gain a different perspective. Fortunately for me, this is not an issue with The Otherworld. Emmons provides us with a rich albeit small cast. Each person brings their own voice to the novel and be they main characters or supporting cast members, they feel like actual people who really exist out there in the Pacific Northwest. I found friends to love in the pages of this book and it left me wanting to write them a letter or charter my own plane to see how they are doing today. If that doesn’t speak to the strength of the characters Abbie has created, I don’t know what else will.

Dramatic Tension:
As a result of these three dimensional, interesting, admirable, sympathetic, flawed, and fantastic characters, there is so much (If you know, you know. Say it with me:) internal conflict to parse through and enjoy. Like making sense of a puzzle, the reader is given all of the pieces from each person’s perspective and left to come to their own conclusions even as the characters sort through things themselves to make sense of their lives, their desires, their fears and anxieties, and the things they hold dear and true. It’s a deliciously wonderful thing to experience as one reads and it makes for some fantastic scenes, moments, and conversations between these characters without ever once slipping into heavy handed, soap-opera-esque melodrama.

Plot:
In my opinion, a good story needs a journey: an engaging beginning, a middle where mistakes are made and lessons are learned, and a resolution that feels satisfying. This story had all of this in spades. It shouldn’t be a surprise because Emmons devotes so much of her presence online to teaching writers the science of story crafting and building a good plot is a huge part of this. But if you were somehow worried that she cannot practice what she preaches, rest assured, this novel and the ones before it are evidence that she can and she does. The plot is gripping, engaging, and moves at a tight, exciting pace. There are definitely moments of introspection and quiet, but the progression of this novel is so fluid it feels like sailing across the water on a boat carried by a strong current. It’s almost effortless. The characters drive the story and the plot propels the characters. It’s a beautiful thing to behold.

Setting:
And speaking of beautiful, the setting of this novel is astonishing. There are two main settings: The mainland and Orca’s island. I was transported in space and time to each of these places when I read this book. The mainland took me back to the 1990's, a better time. It was only ten years, but what a magical, simpler time it was. Something about the limited technology, the pursuit of human connection, the music, the good writing on TV shows; it was just, pure. Alas, how I miss the 90's. But for a moment, this story took me back there and it filled me with so much happiness. Orca’s island was an escape all its own. Had I the talent in watercolor, I would paint so many scenes from this book based on the stunning descriptions. The island is a paradise, a place that seems to exist in a different dimension, and the reader is able to view it through several different perspectives to get a full picture of this seemingly magical place. I felt the seaspray on my face, heard the waves, the gulls, and the whir of a propeller as a plane flew overhead, and tasted the salty ocean air on my lips. It was such an immersive reading experience with a strong sense of place.

CRITICISM (AND DEFENSE):
I truly have little to say in this regard. Every story in the world can be nitpicked and scrutinized, and this book is no exception, but what it brings to the world in its pages means so much more than what it lacks. To me, this book was not unlike the idealized love stories from authors like Nicholas Sparks. Some things about the way the story unfolds might feel like a stretch, but if one allows oneself to take that leap, to suspend their disbelief, they are in for a wonderful journey. If I was pressed to speak of anything I found lacking or disappointing, it would be in the following areas. But for each, I will offer a defense:

Criticism: Adam and Orca seemed to fall in love too quickly.
Defense: Theirs is a story of love at first sight, of finding part of one’s soul in another person. Perhaps this is an unrealistic idea, but it is explored nonetheless. Orca and Adam have a transcendental connection for which time matters not. Their love might not feel typical, but it’s a lovely thought and not outside the realm of possibility. More than this though, their unwavering commitment to each other is what makes their love have true meaning and power.

C: There was a ten year age gap between an eighteen year old girl and a twenty-eight year old young man. That’s weird and uncomfortable.
D: It has been scientifically proven that men mature slower than women, about eleven years slower according to most studies. So, with that in mind, Orca falling in love with a man who is ten years older than her might initially seem weird, but it actually makes sense. Especially because Orca is emotionally mature for her age and thinks deeply and analytically about the world (partially because she isn’t jaded by life and society and she has a lot of time to think about larger, more important questions). She needs someone who meets her on an intellectual level and that’s exactly how Adam is. Also, I have known couples who are ten, twelve, sixteen and even twenty years apart (now, that’s a weird age gap). My own parents were seven years apart when they got married at 21(mom) and 28(dad) and that’s only a difference of three years for the gap in this story. As we age and leave adolescence behind us, the gap in age between two adult people ceases to matter that much. It’s really not as strange as one might think, and due to the way that Adam and Orca respect one another, there’s nothing creepy, predatory, or gross about it in this instance.

C: There were moments where it felt like the unhealthy dynamics between characters weren’t addressed as directly and completely as they could have been.
D: No characters who feel authentic should ever have it all figured out by the end of a story, only enough to where the reader feels good about their prospects of making it from here. That’s my opinion anyway. One can spend their entire life trying to work out where they went wrong and learning lessons to improve their life and relationships. That’s how I feel about these characters. They still have a lot to learn about things, but I have confidence that they can and will. I suppose there is certainly room for a sequel, but much like Love Never Dies is to The Phantom of the Opera I feel like it’s entirely unnecessary and may only tarnish the beautiful story that has already been told. Better to leave it there.

C: Orca seemed to pick up on the things of the modern day a bit too quickly.
D: It is established that Orca has books from the mainland that she has read as part of her education on the island. Maybe part of the books her Papa supplied her with included a set of encyclopedias and that just wasn’t explicitly stated. Perhaps she had a prior, academic idea of certain things she saw and experienced on the mainland, but she didn’t have an understanding of them in context until then. I choose to believe this is the case.

C: When Jack suggests they go swimming, he takes her to buy a bathing suit and purchases a bikini for her. Why not a one-piece? They were still pretty popular in the mid-to-late 90’s.
D: Multiple times in the novel, it is established (through showing the reader slowly) that Jack has an idea of what kind of girl Orca needs to be to be happier, when in reality he is trying to shape her into the kind of girl he wants her to be. For this reason, he doesn’t give Orca a choice. He leads her to believe that bikinis are the only option for bathing costumes on the mainland because he really wants to see her in one. Had she known that there were a variety of styles providing increasing levels of modesty, she might have chosen something she felt more comfortable in. But Jack only educated her about what he wanted her to know to achieve his desired result.

C: The ending felt a bit rushed and characters towards the end seemed to resolve their arcs very quickly.
D: To me, this book had the pacing of a movie, not a miniseries, and that’s totally okay. It flew in terms of speed and it never felt like it dipped or dragged once. Each chapter was strong and left me wanting more, but as a result, I have a small feeling that some things were only lightly touched upon when we could have spent just a bit more time lingering on them. It left things open-ended. That’s okay. It doesn’t detract from the story, only serves as evidence of how I felt like I ran out of book too quickly when I really, really wanted to stay in this setting with these characters and see things through their eyes a while longer.

Conclusion:
I loved this book. Why oh why are people (in astounding droves) wasting their time with melodramatic, badly written watpad drivel from authors like Colleen Hoover and Rebecca Yarros when they could be supporting an author who has a voice worth hearing and a talent for telling timeless stories. I will never understand it. Please, support indie authors like Abbie Emmons and her sister K. A. Emmons. Share little known books you love with others via whatever platform you have. Get the word out about new authors who deserve to have greater visibility than they can build for themselves without a big name publisher behind them. Help someone’s author dreams come true with your support. I’m glad I read this book and I’m excited to share it with my friends. I hope you’ll join me.

Thank you to Abbie Emmons and NetGalley for letting me read this beautiful story as an ARC reader.

A book that captivated me from the start. Beautiful descriptions that immersed me to the scenery, making me want to visit this place, and a plot that caught my attention from the prolog and constantly made me want to know more.

"𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓼 𝔀𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓾𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓼, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓲𝓼 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓱𝓾𝓻𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓮." - Abbie Emmons

The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons was stunning, told with gorgeous prose and powerful themes. It felt like the kind of dream you don't want to wake up from.

I felt so many emotions while I read this book. From the swoon, to the heartache, to the longing. Everything that happened to Orca mattered and I felt the weight of each decision she had to make. In this sense, Abbie practices what she teaches. She made her story matter! The characters had a depth, and the way she writes, I feel as though I truly got a glimpse of the deepest corners of their souls. Even the side characters had their own desires, fears, and misbeliefs - which is the most prominent writing advice Abbie gives on her channel. Also, each character had their own voice, distinguishing them from one another and making them more unique.

Although sometimes the main premise felt a little far-fetched, it made for a very interesting story and reminded me a lot of Rapunzel and The Little Mermaid. Also, love-triangles usually frustrate me but I felt that Abbie delivered on this aspect. It wasn’t annoying like the love-triangles in some YA fiction (ie. The Summer I Turned Pretty).

Some people seem to be disturbed by the age-gap romance featured in this book. Contrary to their opinion, I thought the age-gap was handled well. Adam was never disrespectful or forceful towards Orca. If anything, he was more respectful than his brother Jack, who was reckless and sometimes came on to her too strong, even without consent.

Another review said that Orca was very born-sexy-yesterday but the reality is that anyone in Orca's situation would show some traits of this trope. She grew up isolated on an island, so of course she is innocent and naive.

One thing I didn't appreciate was the inclusion of bad language. I didn't feel it was necessary, even though it was largely used as a way to distinguish Jack's character voice from his brother. In the end, it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book, but I don’t think it had to be there.

The Otherworld was definitely a gem I’d recommend. Honestly, I could convince you to read this book purely off of vibes. So go grab yourself a copy, and let me know what your thoughts are.

I have always been an admirer of Abbie's work, so was really excited to read The Otherworld. Th book took me by surprise in the best way possible, this book was completely different from her previous works but it proves how great Emmons is with her craft. This book is an example of how love triangle is done right! I cannot wait for the book to release, so I can get a physical copy of it! Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc!

Thank you to NetGallery and Abbie Emmons for the ARC,

The Otherworld is a entertaining book which deals with dreams, love, friendship, and family.

I picked up this book because I loved the cover. It is dreamy and beautiful. I also decided to read it because it took place on a island. Abbie Emmons' writing is poetic and pleasing to read, minus the swearing. The descriptions were realistic, authentic and I felt like I was living in the lighthouse with the Monroes.
I think the different points of view were well written, it gave depth to the story to look into each character's mind. I also really like Orca's quest to find herself, she is a good-natured, deserving character, and I loved her relationship with her dog.

But, I was not a big fan of the love triangle because the love story felt a bit rushed, awkward, sometimes uncomfortable. I also did not enjoy the relationship Orca has with her dad. He is a complex character, for sure, but I think Orca's dad behaviour is not tolerable.

3.5/5

I loved this book from the moment I read the first sentence! The characters are believable, and I really felt like their POV was distinctive and realistic. I wasn't sure who Orca would choose until the very end - loved that! Very beautiful language and comforting to read!