I went back and forth on what I wanted to rate this, but in the end I had to rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Was it a bad book? No, it actually was interesting and started out well! You know me and how much I love ghost stories!! 👻 Sadly, the ghost part of this story is very minor, so no major spookiness here, book peeps!

This book came across as the author was trying to incorporate too many stories into one: alcoholism, family drama, injustice towards Indigenous people, the Shakers, spiritualism and psychics, ghosts, you name it. And not only are they getting combined but it felt like these stories were being inserted all over the place! At times I felt like I was being given a history lesson. While it was interesting at first, it became boring fast. And some characters I’m still not sure what their purpose was, as they really didn’t add much to the story. 🤔 And the bane of my existence - long chapters! One was an hour long. 🫣

But what really upset me is the ending. With a story that focused quite a bit of time on stories of injustice, the author commits one by not resolving the injustice done by a character’s mishandling of their land. Not going to say more as I don’t like to give spoilers. 🙊 But this really upset me that this was not resolved in the end, and no other characters seemed to care. Almost in a way, the character was celebrated. 😡

Would I recommend this to others? Yes, because not every book is for everyone! ❤️ And I did enjoy parts of this book - that’s why I wavered on my rating! I wanted to rate it higher, but I just couldn’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

Sinking into the sixth J. Courtney Sullivan novel feels like returning to an old friend. I was so excited to escape into this novel and share it with you, as we had recently discussed Saints for All Occasions for book club. Inspired by the author's visit to Maine, she fell in love with an old farmhouse and its family plot, imagining what living among graves and ghosts might mean for a homeowner. In this story, readers trace a fictional home's rich history in a character-driven ghostly tale written for skeptics.

Despite all odds, growing up in a troubled home with an alcoholic mother and food insecurity, Jane crafted a new life thanks to a school program for at-risk children where teachers flagged her as deserving of an education. In pursuit of her fresh start, she eventually lands a dream position as an archivist for the Schillinger Library, researching women's history in America.

But, ten years later, everything fell apart. Jane's addiction to alcohol leads to dismissal from her job, and her marriage is now on shaky ground. Adding to her troubles, her mother passes away from lung cancer, and she's in charge of the daunting task of going through her mother's resale items and hoarded belongings to sell her property.

She doesn't know that this return will also launch her into a haunting new research project that could change Jane's trajectory. A shallow, wealthy woman recently renovated a historic home in town that was Jane's reading refuge when she needed to escape her troubled home environment as a high school kid. The new owner spared no expense in remodeling this historic property to her modern taste, even removing a family cemetery to make way for her dream pool.

So, it's not entirely surprising when her son begins to see a ghost visiting him at night. As these strange events alter the owner's sense of safety, she wants a full investigation into the home's history. When she discovers Jane's background, she asks her to investigate the home's winding backstory on the property and who might be disturbed by this family's disruptive presence.

For Jane, it's undoubtedly a welcome two-week research distraction with a sum rivaling a month at her previous job. This new assignment will lead her to places the reader will never expect in this page-turning story through the changing of hands as the keys to this home are passed down, including an unexpected visit by a Medium offering clues to help unravel this sweeping saga.

It's hard not to compare The Cliffs to The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois as they both excavate the history of stolen land, in this case, the rich history of the Shakers & Indigenous community. There were some initial pacing hurdles as Sullivan eagerly offered hour-long chapters on this history that rivaled a college lecture. But, at the halfway point, I found the story markedly hit its stride, weaving in a captivating history as this property changed hands and saw the women exploring elements of the Spiritualist movement.

More importantly, it offered a well-told story of alcohol addiction in a family that showcases recovery's slippery slope. I enjoyed Sullivan's take on family dynamics in this story, which is familiar territory from her past books. Keep it in mind for your spooky season book stack, as it's a surprisingly satisfying ghost story with great historic layers.

Endearing story of Jane who finds escape at an abandoned Victorian house on a cliff. She grows up and moves on but returns years later after getting fired from her job and losing her husband. She finds the cliff house completely changed.

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan is an interesting story about Jane. It blends history and personal struggles told over time.

The Cliffs is a slower novel. I enjoy history and the Cliffs provided that with many details. I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting of this remote house on the coast of Maine and all that passed through the house.

This was my first novel by J. Courtney Sullivan and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

From the book’s description I was expecting a ghost story. There’s a lot going on in this book, almost too much. The chapters jump back and forth. Some were more interesting than others, some were too long and drawn out. Some of the history in the book was interesting.

The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan is set in Maine on the seaside cliffs.

The story focuses on an abandoned house (a premise I love!) and the women that have lived in the home. I found the descriptions of the house to be interesting. For instance, how could there be marbles on the floor and clothes still left in the closets? What happened here to make the owner move so abruptly?

As the novel progresses, it dives deep into the history of indigenous people.

This book has long chapters and many different points of view. These are things that at times, I struggle with as a reader.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Jane, a Harvard archivist, finds herself back in Maine after a major blunder. Hired to research the history of a Victorian house, she delves into the lives of the women who once resided there. The narrative unfolds with tales of lost love, heart-wrenching grief, and the enduring legacy of colonialism in Maine's history.

J. Courtney Sullivan's latest novel, The Cliffs, caught my attention with its promise of a captivating story. Initially hesitant, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity of Jane's journey as she confronts personal and professional obstacles. Set against the backdrop of a coastal Maine town, the narrative intricately weaves together past and present, introducing a diverse cast of characters including a ghost, widows, and a Shaker. Sullivan's storytelling skill shines as she masterfully connects the threads of each character's story, offering insights into the lives of early settlers and the dynamics of women's relationships.

I love J. Courtney Sullivan but did not really enjoy this book. I liked the writing style, but there was just a bit too much going on and it felt disjointed. It was hard to get sucked into because of the number of subplots.

3.5/5

*The Cliffs* by J. Courtney Sullivan offers a complex journey through time and characters, delving into the intertwined histories of a house and its inhabitants. Spanning centuries, the novel explores themes of legacy, identity, and the enduring impact of the past on the present.

While some readers may find the narrative meandering, its meticulous exploration of characters and their connections proves rewarding. The story unfolds through various female perspectives, primarily anchored by Jane, whose portrayal, despite her flaws, adds layers to the narrative. The author adeptly weaves in themes of motherhood, loss, and grief, grounding the story in poignant emotional terrain.

The novel's strength lies in its rich historical context, particularly in its portrayal of indigenous cultures and the Shakers. Sullivan's meticulous research lends authenticity to these elements, enriching the narrative with mysticism and spiritualism. However, for readers seeking a conventional thriller or quick-paced plot twists, *The Cliffs* may feel slow-paced at times.

Despite occasional detours into lengthy side stories, the novel's exploration of cultural heritage and the enduring mysteries of an old house remains compelling. For those captivated by atmospheric settings and deep character studies, *The Cliffs* offers a thought-provoking exploration of how history shapes our lives and perceptions.

In conclusion, while not a book for every reader, *The Cliffs* stands out for its evocative prose and profound examination of familial legacies and buried secrets.

I had yet to read the synopsize of this book and it grabbed my interest. Historical factual fiction with a side of all genres Mystery, Romance , and paranormal ..
Through out the whole book your wondering why Jane the main character of the book keeps thinking she has lost it all .. This alone makes you keep reading page after page.. Not to mention all the historical facts mix in .. The mysteries held inside the purple house unlocks the Answers Jane needs to move forward …You may not know someone as well as you think …

I have enjoyed some of J. Courtney Sullivan’s other novels and was eager to read this one, but it just did not do it for me. The novel focuses on Jane, who as a teenaged girl found comfort in an abandoned house on a cliff in Maine. As an adult, who worked as a Harvard archivist, Jane learns that this house has been bought and that the new owner has gutted it making renovations that make the house unrecognizable from what it once was. The new owner, who believes the house is haunted, hires Jane to research the history of the house and the women who lived there. The storyline really takes off from here, a storyline that starts off with a bang but that sort of lost me about half way through. Although beautifully written, I had a hard time engaging with the story from this point on, perhaps because it had too much going on at the same time.

THE CLIFFS takes place in a beach town in Maine, but it is not your typical summer beach read. There is a present-day timeline that also incorporates quite a bit of historical information about the Native Americans who first populated Maine, as well as the Shakers who lived in the area. Jane, an archivist on leave from her job for the summer, is sifting through both family secrets after the death of her mother, as well as the secrets of an old house that ends up having a connection to her family. This is a quiet, thoughtful book with a lot of information in it, not a splashy, easy beach read, but it's well worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Knopf for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read and loved many other books by J Courtney Sullivan, but this book fell flat. I could not get into this book and kept forcing myself to pick it up before giving up. I loved the premise, but the characters were flat and the plot slow and dragging.

I'd say this book lost the plot, but I'm not sure it ever had it in the first place. What was this book supposed to be about?

The FMC has a frustrating lack of self-awareness. The plot dragged and dragged but also jumped around from thing to thing. We get different perspectives, not all of them compelling. The jumping around was hard to follow and jarring. It was so hard to figure out where the story was going and how it all fit together.

The topic of the experiences of Native tribes of the NE during the colonization of America was handled inconsistently and mostly superficially. Sometimes it's a throwaway comment about the trafficking of artifacts, sometimes it's the FMC reading about the return of remains from schools and museums, sometimes it's a whole chapter written from the perspective of a Native woman. Furthermore, a white author (based on bio) writing about the very traumatic events that Native tribes lived through gave me the ick. The topic is incredibly important, but please read about it from an own voices author. I highly recommend Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley.

I seriously considered giving this book 1 star. It was terrible.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

The Cliffs tries to be several things at once, with mixed results. Part domestic drama, part history lesson, it's an interesting combination but neither gets the attention it deserves. There's a dilapidated house on the coast of Maine where much of the plot takes place, a marriage in crisis, a woman in the throes of alcoholism, and a "spiritual advisor" who could be Whoopi Goldberg from Ghost. The writing is poetic and moody, the scenery spectacular, but these get lost in a plot that feels disjointed and stretched thin. The Cliffs is pleasant enough, and you'll likely learn a few things about the Indigenous tribes who inhabited the land that became the state of Maine and the horrendous treatment they received from settlers, but with so much going on nothing feels complete. J. Courtney Sullivan is a prolific writer with immense talent-The Cliffs won't change this, but is not her finest work.

Hello Fellow Reader,

I find that once again my reading outstrips my book reviews. Not that I aspire to write about every book I read. There are things I read as just “palate cleansers” or what I have in the past called “popcorn” books. When things are going crazy around here, I just want to read something I will finish fast. Something quick and absorbing.

Like social media, this blog is a curated show of my reading. If you are wondering about the full picture, check out my Goodreads. I keep track of my full reading on there. I do that for two reasons. I like to see how many books I read in a year, and I sometimes need to go back and see if I have read a particular book.

Today’s book is not a palate cleanser. The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan has elements of a great beach read. The characters stick to you while you read the book and you can remember where you are in the story every time you pick it up.

Jane Flanagan is the lead character. Jane grew up on the coast of Maine. She is bright and as the book opens, she is invited to a summer program at Bates College. Despite her mother’s discouraging words she starts attending the program. She overhears one of the professors talking one day about how the program is to help disadvantaged students become the first in their families to go to college. While when she reflects on this statement, she finds it true, she is still bothered by it. After that day she does not return to the program, although she finishes all the program readings.

As a part-time job, Jane works for a boat tour company giving tours. During the course of giving the tours, she sees a derelict house up on a cliff. She finds her way over to the house and explores the land and part of the house. The house was left with everything in tact as it was many years before. There are clothes in the closets and paintings on the walls. This became Jane’s spot. She would go up to the house sit in the yard and read for the rest of the summer. One day her mother finds out that Jane has been going to the house and tells her to never go there again. Jane doesn’t understand or listen to her mother. She continues to go to the house until she goes to college and then forgets about it.

Jane did very well in school. She went to Wesleyan in Connecticut and then on to get a PhD at Yale. After several years, she was hired for her dream job at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard. Right before her 30th birthday, she met David. Her boss had set them up and they fell in love.

Then we move to 10 years in the future. Jane has disgraced herself and is living in her mother’s house. Her mother died, and she is living there to clean out the house. She takes a trip to see “her” house and finds that someone has bought the house and has transformed it.

 Genevieve lives in Beacon Hill and is used to living a life of social achievement. She talked her husband into buying the house (and they had to jump through hoops to do that) and now she and her son are living in the newly refurbished house for the summer. She worked so hard to get the house the way she wanted it but things kept going wrong. A freshly painted wall would crack, a brown spot on a bedroom ceiling, and scratching sounds inside the walls. Was the house haunting her for some reason?

It seems that both Genevieve and Jane have secrets.

I enjoyed the book. There were enough twists and turns to keep me wanting to read more to find out what happens to the characters. The characters have real-world flaws that they have to work through during the story. I recommend this book. Put it on your summer TBR (To Be Read) pile and escape to a place of flawed characters that you aren’t related to.

I was given a copy of this book for my unbiased review. The book will be published on July 2, 2024.

Thanks for reading!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story focuses on a run down estate home on the beautiful coast of Maine and Jane, a historical archivist who found solace in the house while growing up in an abusive home with an alcoholic mother. Despite escaping her mother's lifestyle, its the very alcohol that costs her dearly in her career and marriage. On a much needed break, she returns to Maine to clean up her mother's house after her death. From here, the story takes an odd turn of mediums, past lives, early settlers and the original indigenous people. I think there was so much that the author wanted to accomplish that Jane's story got lost and so did my interest.

There were parts of this book I really enjoyed. Allison and Jane's friendship, Jane's early years, the relationship between Jane, Holly, and Jason all were done so well. Unfortunately, there were many elements that I feel left this book feeling disjointed. Every time the chapter followed a character that was not Jane had me wishing we had stuck with the main character. I especially found it disconnected from the story when we switched from third person to first person, even if only for a short time. Without running the risk of spoilers, even the end finding out how Jane's life was playing out two years later felt off and had me questioning. Overall, I feel like this book tried to do too many things at once.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Knopf for the early copy.

I have loved other books by this author. I see what she was trying to do, but it just didn’t work for me. I was so bored.
Digital copy provided by NetGalley. Opinion my own.

Jane, the main character, isn't very likable. She recently lost her mother, her job, and her husband—two of these due to her alcoholism. Facing these challenges, she moves back to her hometown, settling into her mother's house. Jane takes on a job to uncover the history of a house that fascinated her during her childhood. In the process, the author weaves in the history of the area, Indigenous culture, and even touches on psychics and ghosts, which became my favorite part of the story.