As a teenager Jane discovers a Victorian house, painted lavender that sits abandoned on a cliff in Maine, overlooking the ocean. She begins to visit the house every day to escape her home life and pretend that she lives here.

Years later Jane is back in her home town after making a mistake that threatened her job and career; while also battling alcoholism. She is disappointed to learn the house’s new owner has remodeled; the house is now white, not lavender, and very little of its charm remains. The new owner insists that the house is haunted and hires Jane to dig into the history.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC!

Initially, I was not sure what to make of this book, because I was scared that it was too long. I told myself that if I did not like it, a quarter of the way through, I would not finish it. However, I was nicely, surprised, this seems like a genre of book. I would not usually read but I found it, engaging, cozy, and enjoyed it all the way through

Sullivan's "The Cliffs" masterfully weaves together past and present in a haunting tale set against Maine's rugged coastline. The story follows Jane Flanagan, whose teenage fascination with an abandoned Victorian house comes full circle when she returns home twenty years later as a Harvard archivist, grappling with personal and professional crises. When she discovers the house has been transformed by its new owner Genevieve, who believes it's haunted, Jane is drawn into researching its complex history.
The novel brilliantly explores themes of motherhood, marriage, and the weight of the past through multiple timelines. Sullivan's rich prose brings to life both the atmospheric Maine setting and the intricate web of stories spanning generations of women who lived in the house. While investigating tales of lost lovers, stolen artifacts, and family secrets, Jane must also confront her own demons.
What sets this book apart is Sullivan's deft handling of complex themes like colonialism, alcoholism, and generational trauma, all while maintaining a compelling narrative that blends elements of historical fiction with a ghost story. The result is an emotionally resonant novel that shows how places can hold onto memories long after their inhabitants are gone.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

Loved, loved "Maine" by the same author but this didn't hit the sweet spot for me. I can't put my finger on why though :(

This felt like too many different stories combined into one. There wasn't any plot line that I didn't like, exactly, it was just that putting them all together - and periodically inserting new, historic narrators - stifled the momentum, and many didn't come to a satisfying enough resolution to be worth it.

Jane has really been through the ringer, and really has her share of baggage.

This novel has family drama, addiction, historical New England settlement, dual time period, multi point of view, grave diggers (and robbers), entitlement, and well, tons of other topics.

I feel like this book covered so many topics, but it could have just been one? Also what ever happened to the son and the ghost? That just like disappeared, like right after the confrontation...

2.5 stars on Storygraph.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for my DRC

I almost passed on this book based on the description and the scope and the length, but it was so worth the read. I loved the format of each section telling one part of an interconnected story that made perfect sense at the end. A little bit of spooky magical realism, but the reader doesn’t have to suspend disbelief to enjoy the read.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC for my voluntary and honest review!

The plot of this book was severely disjointed (and practically nonexistent), broken apart several times by lengthy tangents that felt more like reading a history textbook. It was almost as if the author forgot the story they were writing and instead shoved a series of research papers into the book. 1.5/5 stars.

Definitely unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I don’t believe in spirits or the afterlife but this was fun to dive into.

What a beautiful sweeping novel that takes you through the history of the women who live in a cliff-side house in Maine. This will appeal to readers that look for historical fiction as well as those that just enjoy a deep look at what is required to be a woman. I recommend this book!

"Jane was often astonished that there were so many worlds. Ideas and obsessions that meant everything to one person, to which he might devote his entire life, which the next person knew and cared nothing about."

I absolutely loved The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan - thank you to Knopf for the free ebook to review, I also had to buy my own physical copy when I realized how much I was highlighting. If you want a fast moving, plot driven story - move along, this isn't the space for you today. But if you're in the mood to meander, to wander into some tangents, to pause to take in the ideas/the words/the feelings, please come in!

The book description promises "enthralling, richly imagined, filled with psychic mediums and charlatans, spirits and past lives, mothers, marriage and the legacy of alcoholism, The Cliffs is a deeply moving novel about the land we inhabit, the women who came before us, and the ways in which none of us will ever truly leave this earth." I loved this book and don't have the words to do a review justice but I hope if any of this sounds good, you'll give it a try too!

Jane Flanagan returns home to Maine to lick her wounds after steamrolling her life and career while under the influence. There she reckons with her mom‘s recent death, her family‘s legacy of alcoholism, and the unexpected history of a house she “adopted” as a teen. There is a lot going on in this book between Jane‘s story, diversions into indigenous history, and first-person deep dives into historical characters with connections to the house. Even though I often wondered why I was being lead on a lengthy tangent into local history, I was satisfied with how Sullivan brought everything together in a way that didn‘t feel artificial. Recommended!

I liked this book more than I was expecting to. I like Sullivan in general but ghosts are really not my thing. The plot description didn’t sound like I’d be very into it but it turned out to be really well done and compelling, and I didn’t find the ghost thing too disruptive. The characters were well developed and complex and I found myself rooting for them.

The Cliffs was my favorite book of the year, and yet I struggle to articulate WHY I loved it so much. J. Courtney Sullivan is at the top of her game here, and this novel weaves through times and characters flawlessly. It's one I want to reread each year and at each stage of my life.

The Cliffs isn’t your typical thriller it is a slow-burning story that digs deeply into its characters and their connections to a particular house and the surrounding area. The narrative rewards patience with a rich, layered exploration of how the past shapes the present.

Told through the perspectives of various women across different time periods, the story centers on Jane, the main protagonist, though her struggles with alcoholism and her fixation on her estranged husband can make her a challenging character to connect with. The novel shines in its exploration of indigenous history, motherhood, loss, and grief, weaving interconnected stories with care. Despite feeling overly long in parts and occasionally uneven in focus, The Cliffs is a beautifully written meditation on legacy and the weight of secrets passed down through generations.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I really enjoyed the unexpected parts of this book. It combines lots of history, lots of Maine vibes, lots of situations to ponder generational trauma and how we honor others and the full story even when it isn't pretty. It was a great combination of historical fiction and family saga, my favorite genre. It felt well-researched and unique to the market. I recommend to folks who love Maine, folks looking for a different take on historical fiction, or those into genealogy.

I unfortunately did not love this book. I wanted so very much to enjoy this and went into reading it full of excitement. And I was left wanting. The book itself ended up reading more like a history book. Don't get me wrong, the research and information were incredibly interesting, but it took up too much of the story. I was even left confused, thinking there would be a ghost story, but there wasn't. The Cliffs started off strong and while I finished it quickly, I kept waiting for more to happen. The story is well written, I simply felt we had two things going on here. A domestic drama and a history book.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is such an emotional rollercoaster—in the best way. It’s all about relationships, family, and those life-altering decisions we all face. The characters feel so real, like people you’ve known forever, and their struggles and triumphs hit you right in the heart.

What I loved most is how effortlessly the story blends humor and heartbreak. One moment you’re laughing at some snarky comment, and the next you’re tearing up over how raw and honest it gets. The setting is also gorgeous and plays such a big role in the story; you can practically feel the wind and smell the ocean.

It’s not one of those super fast-paced books, but that’s part of its charm—it gives you time to really sink into the characters’ lives. If you’re into heartfelt, character-driven stories that stay with you, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.