Thank you to Abbie Emmons and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Otherworld before its publication date for free in exchange for an honest review.

"The Otherworld" is a very well written novel with beautiful descriptions and an atmosphere that pulls you in and makes you feel inside of the story, sheltered in the lighthouse under those heavy storms and hearing the waves crash around you. It's the first book I read from the author and I can tell Abbie is great with words and building stories.

That's why at first I was very captivated by the book, the island and Orca's life there. The idea was very attractive to me: a girl who hadn't met anyone but her father and a man that brought them supplies twice a year. She dreamed of visiting the mainland (the Otherworld, as she calls it), but her father wouldn't let her. The beginning of the book was my favourite part, I felt as if I was right there with Orca, looking for a missing pilot across the island with her.

And then Adam showed up, and I liked him until he started to have feelings for Orca. I mean, I knew he was going to, but I didn't expect such an insta love. I understand it from Orca’s POV, since she’s never seen a young person before, so I guess teenage hormones must have been all over the place. Adam, on the other hand? He just made me roll my eyes over and over again. I'm totally fine with characters feeling sexual attraction to each other right when they meet (which was definitely the case) but don't try to disguise it as "oh this must mean that we're soulmates leT'S GET MARRIED because our feelings WILL NEVER EVER CHANGE" after knowing each other for like... five seconds and having a few conversations about philosophy.

I mean, I'm sure there are plenty of women out there that enjoy talking about interesting stuff, but somehow Orca is the first profound girl he's met. I guess Adam hasn't actually met many girls in his life. Anyway, he and Jack wouldn't shut up about how much "not like the other girls" Orca is, because she eats pizza (wow how quirky of her i don't know ANY girl who eats pizza 🙄) instead of being in a diet, doesn't "hide her face behind make up", and talks about serious stuff, not like the rest of women out there that are shallow and don't have any sort of personality. I thought we had already left that misogynist trope in the past. That was probably the most disappointing thing in the whole book and what doesn't allow me to give it any more stars.

Jack, on the other hand, was my favourite character, and his POVs were the ones I enjoyed the most. Although he was very hotheaded, he made some good points along the book (like, keeping an adult secluded in an island is kidnapping lol I don't care if she's her daughter, she's not her property) and actually tried to help Orca. Everyone treated him like the villain towards the end, although it must be said that Orca was actually misleading him but got away with it by saying that she didn't know he had any feelings for her. (I'm not sure about that, I mean... he kissed her??). I did enjoy the apologies and emotional hugs, though, they felt very real and genuine.

Nevertheless, I liked the way things wrapped up in the story for everyone, and the ending was very satisfying, even if I wasn't very invested in the relationship. The pace of the novel is in general very fluid, and every chapter makes you want to read the next one to see what's going to happen, so although the middle part felt a bit thick and there was some innecesary drama at the end it was an easy and entertaining book to read, and I will probably give Abbie's other book a try!

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

‘The Otherworld’ by Abbie Emmons (my ARC debut).

#TeamAdam. Immediately. Just gonna leave this here. (hehe!!!)
From the second I got the email from Net Galley, I was in the zone with Orca, Adam and Jack. Abbie Emmons really did it with this one. List all of the book’s amazingness you ask? Impossible but if I really had to then umm…I definitely can’t miss these :

The Smooth triple POVs. Orca’s bravery infused with naiveness.
Adam’s NOTEBOOK!!! (Who would’ve thought philosophical was a guy-must-have). Jack’s drive for adventure. THE BROTHER BANTERRR. The perf world-building. THE PLOT TWIST. The healthy transformative papa-daughter relationship. And of course, my own personal favorite, Jack’s voice in the book. YESSS!

So…I know what you’re thinking, why not 5 stars? RIgHt!?!?
well, it was the ending for me…more like the beginning of the ending, I just couldn’t help but feel like it was a bit rushed, just a bit you know? NONETHELESS, It was a read to remember and as an Abbie Emmons’s fan, I’m glad to have been part of her The Otherworld’s ARC Team.

This story is indeed a very beautiful and marvelous. I can't describe how magnificent it is with words but all I can say is WOW ✨

When you’ve grown up on an island with no one other then your father for 6,570 days, it’s safe to say, his words shape your world (your very very small world)
______

I find myself a little puzzled with this book. It’s a historical fiction, yet a New Adult, but also a YA contemporary?
It doesn’t fit any one mould, and thats ok, but I’m questioning if the author knew what her target audience would be?

On the surface, this is an adorable innocent love story between an 18 year old called Orca, who’s never left the island, her father being the lighthouse keeper, and small plane pilot Adam, who’s 10 years her senior. A story of surviving again the odds, new friendships, love triangles, and growing into your own mind - being autonomous, and choosing the path for yourself. There is a deeper level of meaning behind this story then what meets the eye. This story explores how the world taints our experiences, turning us into angry and cruel people.

<b><I> When Papa spoke of the thunderstorm people in the Otherworld, he emphasised how much we don’t belong there. How much I don’t belong there</b></I>

It took me a hot second to really get into this book but once I did, I was drawn in with some 80’s nostalgic vibes/scenes between Orca, Matt and Adam.
I deep attachment Ocra and Adam share - I adored.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. But to a very select few.
This book (in my opinion) more geared towards people that where in their late teens/ early 20’s during the 1980’s
______

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Abbie Emmons and NetGalley for the opportunity
______

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I am not kidding when I say that I read this book three times over the course of a couple months. The story itself was very compelling and from the very beginning I was pulled into this well-crafted world and character’s journeys.

The writing itself was very well done and the characters were interesting and kept me hooked into the story throughout.

After I began reading, I couldn’t stop. It only took me a couple days to breeze through the story and want to find out how it ended.

If there were any downsides to the story it would be that there were times some of the descriptions were a little overly flowery, the characters actions sometimes didn’t seem to fit all that well, and the mother plot line was so interesting in the beginning and ended up being a little bit of a let down when it finally came to fruition.

All in all, it was a truly enjoyable read and I enjoyed being transported into this Otherworld!

Another story that gives me stormy autumn vibes. Even though I think it’s set around summer, the storm is definitely there ⛈️⛈️

Abbie’s YouTube channel is one of my go-tos when I need some fun and educational content. So I was super excited when I got approved for this ARC!

The Otherworld is a story told from 3(!) POVs. But mainly it’s a story of Orca — an eighteen year old that lives on a secluded island with her father, and together they manage a lighthouse. Orca has never been outside the island — on mainland that she calls the Otherworld — and has never met any other people. Until one l day a mysterious backpack washes on the shore belonging to a pilot whose plane crashed in the ocean.

It’s hard not to spoil anything, so I’ll just suggest you read the book. You will love it if you like young adult stories of love, family, self-discovery and growth! And it’s a fast-pacing, emotional read, so you won’t be bored 😉

The story made me feel joy and wonder, but also made me frustrated at multiple characters at different points in the book.
I enjoyed the writing a lot, and the plot is unique and would make a great movie. I believe I am a bit old for it though, and that’s what made me frustrated at characters’ decisions.

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I remembered my youth and my maximalism and my fascination with all things adult, especially older guys 😅😅


Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🚪(YA)
❤️❤️❤️❤️

This book failed to capture my imagination. Not a fan of age gaps I guess I should have considered that before requesting. Overall I found it a little weird.

In her well-crafted third novel, Abbie Emmons takes us on an adventure of forbidden love, betrayal, and family secrets.

The Otherworld’s structure is seamless; we weave through three points of view, and it’s easy to distinguish who’s speaking based on tone. The plot flows well, the story has fluid momentum, and every scene feels organic. The pacing blew me away– it’s a page-turner; after each chapter, I was instantly eager to read the next. The love story moved a little quick, but it’s a romance and is in keeping with its genre. It’s a truly sweet and romantic book. Overall, the tone Emmons creates with The Otherworld is the modern-day Victorian era novel.

“Everything else ceased to exist, and I felt like I was being seen, truly seen, for the first time in my life.” - The Otherworld, Abbie Emmons

The love triangle is specifically noteworthy because the author builds steamy romantic tension; we are never told who is truly in love– we feel it. I thoroughly enjoyed this romance, and it’s a relief to read one that’s simply pure and sweet. It feels lost today in modern storytelling, so thank you Abbie.

It’s not a simple novel by any means: the complexity and psychology of Orca’s family dynamics takes a brutal toll on the main character. Emmons shows us how Orca experiences true heartbreak and how she grows through it. The author isn’t afraid to make a flawed world because she understands life's imperfections, so her characters and plots feel real.

I loved this reading experience and I look forward to many more stories by this author!

The full book review + analysis will be released on my website after the publication of the book, [September 19th] in respect for the author since it reveals spoilers. Visit www.serenamontoya.com to read it (I’m breaking down two specific themes over there)! Thank you and happy reading!

Thank you Abbie and NetGalley for making me part of the ARC team! I received the e-book in exchange for my honest review and I’m truly grateful for this experience.

I really wanted to love this book, especially after having loved 100 Days of Sunlight, but it didn’t quite let me love it when there were so many things that I found problematic. I love Abbie’s writing and worldbuilding, but I didn’t really like most of the characters in The Otherworld and I couldn’t fully enjoy the romance due to the big age gap.

Abbie’s writing is very accessible and I really enjoy her descriptions of both character’s emotional experiences and settings/worldbuilding. I particularly loved the greenhouse scenes, all of them completely immersed me and got me wishing I could visit this beautiful greenhouse and see the orchids in real life! I also liked the parallel between the memory of Jack flying alone for the first time and taking off now in search of Adam, it was a very effective way of showing us a good memory and contrasting it to the present. It also showed us just how important Adam is to Jack. Abbie is certainly good at showing us instead of telling us.

But Jack made me so angry so many times! I really didn’t like him most of the time. He was o terrible and in ccomplete disregard of his mom's feeling so many times. I knew he’d get a redemption arc so I kept holding on to that hope, but I think Abbie went a bit too far with his anger problems making him a bit too dislikable.
I felt so many times that everyone in Orca’s life was terrible! Even Adam wanted to make decisions for her (ie. not giving her a change to be with him) and Jack who kept insisting he let her make her own decisions never took her to see the things she wanted and asked for, opting instead to show her the things he enjoyed. And her father also took away her agency by going behind her back to demand Adam and Jack stay away.

--- SPOILERS for the love triangle in this paragraph ---
I did not like the age gap romance. I couldn’t forget about it and was really hoping that Jack would win Orca’s heart in the end. The book starts on the day Orca turns 18. Then she goes and falls in love with the first man she ever meets which I find problematic on it’s own but then you add the fact that he’s 10 years older than her… I did like their relationship but I just couldn’t remove myself from the fact he was so much older. I think the books would’ve been much more enjoyable if he was say 20/21. And nothing else would’ve had to change. To make matters worse for the age gap, Adam was self aware of this problem and it was part of the reasons he backed off for a time, it made me feel like it was known this was problematic and we went ahead anyway… And lastly, her mother was also 10 years younger than her father, and they also got married when she was very young, therefore it’s all well and fine, right? Another problematic thing in my view that this plot point was made, all to make it be okay and justify the fact that he was so much older than her.
But I really enjoyed their discussions about philosophy and their life views. These were some of the scenes I enjoyed Orca and Adam's relationship the most.
Regarding the love triangle, I didn’t really think there was one at all! There was no tension, Orca always knew it was Adam… So it didn’t feel like a love triangle in the least, it just felt like a romance between Orca and Adam and an unrequited love on Jack’s side.

I gave this book 3 stars mostly because of the 10 year age gap romance that I could not look past. It took away from my enjoyment of the book greatly. The other major reason was that I was promised a love triangle and felt like it was nowhere to be seen. But to focus on some of the positives, I really liked the writing, the descriptions and I did like the plot with her family history. I also did enjoy the romantic scenes with Orca and Adam on the moments when I managed to forget the age gap.

After reading Abbie's first book I was happy to find out she was writing another one. This one has a lot more atmosphere and vibes. Abbie's writing is very solid and readable. The characters are fleshed out. The only thing that I personally liked less was the tone. It read more YA then her previous book, especially the romance.

The quick cut: An 18 year old girl who lives in a lighthouse with her father desires to see the mainland when an injured man arrives on their island. Chaos ensues when she gets her wish and it isn't what she expected.

A real review:
Thank you to Abbie Emmons for providing the arc for an honest review.

For some, the perfect life is filled to the brim with people and vibrant activity. For others, it's isolation and solitude. If you only ever knew solitude your entire life, would you be curious what the rest of the world is like? For newly 18 Orca, it's all she's ever wanted to learn about.

Orca has spent her entire life living with her dad on their small island, caring for the lighthouse they live in. Now that she's 18 and an adult, all she wants to do is go to the mainland and experience what life is like there. When her dad vehemently denies her request and goes to the mainland for a business meeting, she saves a man who crashed his plane and washed ashore on their island. Is this the beginning of her mainland journey? Or the end of her life as she knows it?

This book is filled to the brim with emotion and questions. Every person in this story goes on a deep and meaningful journey, better understanding what they want their life to be in the end. It's intense and powerful if that's the experience you want out of this book. For a casual reader, it's likely to be too overwhelming of content.

Orca grew up in isolation and in many ways is very naive to the world. She knows what she wants though and is so educated, she also in many ways is wise beyond her years. Seeing her experience the world for the first time and understand the unique childhood experience she had makes her better appreciate what she has with her father. Watching her also realize the hard truth her dad his from her is heartbreaking though. I would've fallen apart in her shoes at that age.

The other lead characters are brothers Jack and Adam. Orca saves Adam's life on the island and their time together alone bonds them in a different way. Like this book, they quickly get deep and understand what the others deepest desires are. Jack, meanwhile is the younger brother who begs Orca to find his brother Adam. He's like Orca in the way that he desires adventure and freedom and to experience life on his terms.

These two both go on a journey of love. They both fall for Orca, but each experiences it in a different way. One finds a life partner, the other learns what it looks like to have a true friend. I don't want to reveal which is which, but both end up irrevocably changed. It's an experience that forever changes them.

A powerful emotional story not for the faint of heart.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5

Orca Monroe is an 18-year-old young lady living on an island with his father. All she’s ever wanted is to see the Otherworld, but her father thinks she’s not ready for it (he has his reasons) until the Otherworld comes to her. At least a part of it. The Stevensons.

I’ve read Abbie’s first two books; all I can say is her writing has evolved! I wanted to read this ARC so badly because I know this is another good read from Abbie (boom, rhymes).

I live in the PNW, and this gave me all the feels. It was the warm hug I never knew I needed. The world-building, imagery, and tension are on a different level. Orca is cute, sweet, and innocent. But she’s young, isolated, and longing for connection. So when I learned that she’s falling in love with Adam after only being with him for a few days, I guess I understood. Adam is mature and conflicted, among other things. I rooted for them since the beginning. Jack was a little childish for me initially, but his character is why things happened the way they did. And I’ve grown to love his character towards the end.

While reading this book, I can’t help but notice the low ratings on Goodreads. And when I read them, I thought they made sense. But I keep liking the book every time I get back to it. Final verdict: This is one of those “it’s called fiction for a reason” books because it seems to be a hit or miss. I’m glad it’s the former for me. And I would give anything to read a bonus epilogue someday.

Tropes/Vibes: age gap, small town, love triangle, forbidden love, family secrets, coastal/pacific northwest

Really liked this book. I feel like it sucked me in in a way I wasn’t expecting. Abbie did a good job at incorporating elements of different worlds by connecting characters to emotions and events that would only fit those characters. Such a nice story.

“Perhaps we are all butterflies, and the world is our hurricane.”

A thought-provoking message in a novel set in 1990s coastal Washington where seemingly small choices lead to consequences separating and uniting friendships, families, and love.

Things I liked:
—Imagery, setting, and fluency: Abbie’s voice as a writer engages the reader with her word choice, from the carved wooden figures in Orca’s room to the night sky surrounding the lighthouse, and from the abundant island greenhouse to the modern but barren Seattle penthouse. Most readers will quickly adapt to the shifts in narration by chapter and glean insight from the trio of characters’ points of view. Some of the details with the songs, CDs, and other cultural references provided a nostalgic throwback to the 90s. The inclusion of Bryan Adams’ music mirrored Jack’s freewheeling spirit and Adam’s romanticism, enhancing the mood.
—Character development: Orca’s innocence, Jack’s adventurous attitude and passion, Adam’s depth and determination, and Papa’s love and protective instincts… I found qualities to admire in each, but their flawed decisions made them more realistic. And furry friend Lucius often reflected my feelings as a reader.
—Plot: Though gently paced at times, the story still kept me reading. I correctly anticipated the outcome, but wondered how things would turn out for each of the characters, and found the resolution believable and satisfactory.
—Theme: The universal concept of how our lives intertwine and affect others, often without intention or realization, reminded me of the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life.

Quibbles:
—Jack’s abundant use of profanity fits his emotional swings and his immaturity, but it didn’t seem as appropriate for Adam’s reflective thinking and personality.
—Though perhaps helpful as plot devices, some actions seemed overly convenient. Why does Jack have Orca not tell her father about Adam? Even if he believes her father is overly protective and wrong concerning Orca, wouldn’t Jack do anything for Adam to be rescued? There is no reason for him to believe her father wouldn’t care. Later, upon his return, why doesn’t Adam tell Jack right away about his growing love for Orca? As the older, more mature brother, it seems he would do so even if it caused some temporary hurt. He could still allow Orca to make her own choice.
—Stereotypes/cliches: I admittedly rolled my eyes more than once at the descriptions of the chiseled, square jaws and muscular physiques of the two brothers. Orca, of course, is also stunningly beautiful, and beyond pretty. Don’t people with various facial types and body shapes fall in love and find others with similar traits attractive? Yes, I know it’s a romance novel. The repeated focus on knuckles tightening and whitening as they grip the backs of chairs, steering wheels, or the hands of others also seems to be an odd motif.

If I deducted half of a star for each of my perceived issues, the story would still rate 3.5, yet there is too much beauty in the book for me to lower it below 4 stars.

I gratefully received an ARC of the book from NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

This story was beautifully crafted, and I could really see so many elements of what Abbie Emmons talks about in her videos being used in this story.

The characters weren't perfect, they had their flaws, and that is what made you connect with them in a way that some other books don't have. Orca was so naive it was painful at times, but that is who she was as a character- a girl who has literally never seen outside of her little island, meaning she has no idea what goes on in our big crazy world.

It was really interesting to me how I felt about Jack. In the first half of the book I was like okay, I can get behind you being the love interest, and then almost immediately after Orca came to the mainland I was like this dude sucks. He was very controlling and wanted Orca to do whatever he told her to, which I understand in some aspects, but I found it kind of icky (which was the point the author was trying to make so great job).

I loved Adam. He was such a cinnamon roll character that even though he has his own flaws, I was smiling when I would read his parts of the book. Orca is the kind of girl that Adam needed, and I'm so glad that in the end, everything worked out of them.

The plot point with the mom was a little bit underwhelming for me. I didn't really enjoy how she was only brought up that one time and Orca didn't even mention her anymore after she goes back to the island (after she told her dad) but I do see why that choice was made since the mom wasn't the best person that Orca had built up in her mind up to be.


Overall, this was a really great read!

The cover of this book is beautiful and I loved the Pacific Northwest setting. The Otherworld is a coming-of-age story about Orca Monroe who has never been off the island where she grew up as the lighthouse keeper's daughter. To Orca, the mainland is the Otherworld. The last half of the book was disappointing for me. I felt Orca was portrayed as too childish. Thanks to the author Abbie Emmons and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Captivating. A beautiful story. I loved orca and her innocence she was a breath of fresh air someone who is adventurous but also loves home. Jack oh Jack he is wild I enjoyed his character and how he bulldoze through life. Adam my sweet and broody Adam I LOVE HIM so much. He is so wise and patient and kind. I loved the love triangle trope, I loved the brother relationship. Oracas papa got on my nerves lolol I kept thinking "You are like Papa!" (Stranger things reference) whenever he was around. I really needed to get to know him through the story and I did I give no opinions until you read the book for yourself on that subject. You really get invested in this story though you live on orca's Island and long for the other world like her even though you are in the other world and part of you wants to shake her and say no no no the island is beautiful and wonderful don't ever leave don't let the world corrupt you! I definitely recommend this book.

I received an early copy thanks to netgelley and the author and am so thankful. My opinions are my own I wasn't required to give them.

This book was literally everything I hoped—and more.

Basic plot summary—eighteen-year-old-Orca lives on a beautiful, secluded island in a lighthouse with her father and her dog, Lucius. Her greatest wish is to visit the "Otherworld"—aka the Mainland, which her father visits occasionally, but never takes her with him.
One day, while her father is away, Orca finds a cell phone washed up on the beach and has her first conversation with Jack Stevenson, whose older brother has gone missing. Orca vows that if Adam is on the island, she'll find him. No matter what. I won't go into too much detail about the plot since the book description is pretty detailed and probably sums it up better than I can.

THINGS I LOVED
1) Every setting—coastal, ocean, big city, Seattle—was described with so much detail I felt like I was living the story. The figurative language was amazing—kind of made me jealous since my own attempts at metaphors/similes never sound that good. Bottom line is: I have NEVER read a book with such beautiful, vivid imagery.
2) The romance. Yes, it was a bit insta-lovey, which I've seen a lot of reviewers complain about. But it was realistic. And understandable since Orca has never met a man in her life other than her father. And it was so sweet.
3) "Philosophical musings" (Abbie's words). Orca and Adam's conversations on philosophical topics gave the story an added layer that the story just wouldn't have had otherwise. It made it feel deeper and more meaningful, which is something Abbie strives to do in her writing. She definitely accomplished this in "The Otherworld".

CONCERNS?
A lot of other reviews have criticized the age-gap between Orca and Adam, since this is supposed to be a YA/NA book. I didn't think it was that bad, considering the realistic way Abbie portrayed it. There were quite a few kissing scenes, and although some of them had some spice, they were mostly sweet. Nothing sensitive/graphic was described.

There was quite a bit of swearing from Adam and Jack (especially Jack), but it really made their character voices stand out and feel more realistic. I know there will be some who don't agree with me on this, since some people are sensitive to this kind of thing. But in my opinion, it wasn't horrible and is appropriate for ages 16+ (in case any are wondering: Yes, I am a Christian and I have my limits. But I wasn't put off by the language since I hear much worse in real life—which is super annoying, but anyway.)

Final verdict: FIVE STARS all the way. This was a gorgeous novel. (A HUGE thank you to Abbie for the ARC copy—I am so grateful I had the chance to ARC read this book!)

thank you so much to the author and netgalley for gifting me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!!

i don't know why i thought this book was a fantasy 😂😂 maybe it was the fact that i hadn't paid much attention to what Abbie had been saying about her book because i wanted it to be a surprise, and it was when i found out what the title was refering to 😂🤦‍♀️
the first 5% was hard, not gonna lie. Orca's POV wasn't calling my attention until the other's POV started to show up and then i was hooked, i needed to know what would happen. the good thing is that everything she speaks about in her videos, about character development and plot and all minor details, was there in her book. the writing was inmaculate, every POV different from the others. i really felt for Jack most of the time because i'm also the rebel and the one people expect it will mess up. but Adam's thoughts really got to me, specially about having another mentality and thinking things differently than younger people.
the only reason this book doesn't get the 5 stars is because... she ends up with the one i didn't want to 💔💔 the love triangle broke my heart several times because the sibling relationship was truly beautiful and they deserve the world, basically.
it has so many thoughts about life it almost made me sob, made me think about stuff in my own life as well, something i really appreaciate when books make me feel like this.
i'm so happy i gave Abbie a chance, now i need to read her other books as well 💕

I felt rather meh about this one. I liked her previous book, but this one fell short. The premise and characters were interesting but it felt like I was reading a book that was written. That doesn't make any sense, probably, but I kept be pulled out and being like "oh, yes, someone really wrote that." Usually, in a book that I love, I am immersed.