Meh. This one unfortunately felt disjointed. I liked certain aspects of the story but it felt long and like two disconnected story lines. It wasn't for me but I know others did enjoy so it could be just me.

This book is ultimately about the main character coming to terms with her past and trying to move forward, not necessarily in the way she expects. For me, this book was trying to include too much (Native American history, ghosts & mediums, and side characters pasts), and the amount of characters became confusing; it just didn't flow for me. If it would've just stuck to the main character and her family, I think I would've enjoyed it more.

I was really looking forward to this one but it was not for me. It started off strong and I was very engaged. However, the many different storylines quickly became confusing for me. Many parts were long, drawn out, and I found myself very confused or zoning out. I really wanted to love this one, but it wasn't for me.

I’m a big fan of J. Courtney Sullivan’s work, and this was no exception. There is so much complexity to this novel that I’m actually astounded as I sit here and try to reflect on the most impactful parts. In fact, she may have tried to do too many things in this book, but overall I think it worked. I saw this marketed as a ghost story for people who don’t believe in ghosts, and as someone who doesn't (I think), that really caught my attention. Our main character is an archivist named Jane who has returned to her hometown after her life falls to pieces. She becomes entangled with a familiar historical home in the neighborhood when she is hired to investigate its history (and its hauntings). Sullivan looks at not only the history of a place, but the lineage and legacy of it - who was here before us and how do we honor them? I feel I truly cannot do the breadth of this work justice in such a short blurb, but I think everyone can find something to hold onto in this epic novel and the stories of its women throughout history.

I was very much looking forward to this book as I have been a fan of J. Courtney Sullivan’s past books. The storyline intrigued me and the historical fiction aspect of the book was well done, but sometimes felt longer than needed. I thought I would flying through this book, but I felt lost in the backstory more often than not. Overall, it was a decent book - but I was hoping for more.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @netgalley for an advanced copy for my unbiased review.

I love genre-bending stories like this one - part historical fiction, part mystery. This one started off strong - intriguing plot, interesting characters — however it started to go in too many directions that I lost interest in the story.

Worth a read and would make a great book club pick, but not my favorite

Out now so go grab a copy.
A novel of family, secrets, ghosts, and homecoming set on the seaside cliffs of Maine.
Also a Reese's bppk club pick

This was a bit long and I wasn't quite sure I was going to finish it but I am glad I did I really liked that Jane got her life together. and how the story pulled it all together.


My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Accessible, easy reading but not simplistic that fuels an informative and sad story. There is so much tragedy layered over the years. Ms. Sullivan explores each element with gentleness but without hiding the harsh truths. An atmospheric story that stuns and impresses.

THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan features an old, possibly haunted, house near Awadapquit, Maine. The other main character, a young woman called Jane, used the abandoned house as an isolated refuge when she was a lonely high schooler. She soon left town for college and ultimately found a "dream job" as an archivist specializing in women's issues at a Cambridge Library. Over the years, she introduces her future husband to the house when they visit her mother and sister, who work together in the resale field and both of whom struggle with alcoholism. Then, at 38, Jane ends up back in Awadapquit, with both her marriage and career in jeopardy due to her own overindulgence with alcohol ("Sometimes the tragedies of a person's life didn't happen neatly, single file, one at a time, but all at once, so that it was impossible to know how you felt about any part of the whole."). At that time, the new owner hires Jane to learn more about the house's history and her capable research was my favorite part of the book. Sullivan expands upon Jane's findings about the sea-faring captain who built the house; she devotes entire chapters to his wife and her maid, giving each a voice in describing their lives. Readers also meet the next owner, a talented artist who experienced a family tragedy. And there are even sections on the Indigenous people who named the area. Sullivan has included numerous threads – spiritualism and mediums ("... bodily death is not the end of consciousness. It is merely the passing of the soul into another plane."); the Shaker religion; abuse and misuse of historical artifacts; women's roles over time; alcoholism's impact across generations; and modern-day entitlement. Both The Washington Post and The New York Times ("This skillful novel makes the case that knowing what came before offers us our best chance to truly understand our connections to one another, and what we owe to the land we inhabit.") also reviewed THE CLIFFS which received a starred review from Kirkus and was the July 2024 Reese's Book Club selection.

I've been a fan of J. Courtney Sullivan's books for quite some time. Her latest is a deeply layered novel with multiple plot lines and points of view that examines lofty issues of love, generational trauma, colonialism, and alcoholism with justice.

It's not a "beach read" but it's definitely a book that you will think about and will stay with you long after you close the pages.

Jane has returned to her childhood home in Maine, in crisis in both her career and her marriage. She seeks out the abandoned Victorian home on the bluff in town, a cherished place for her that she used to escape to as a teenager in need of solace. She is surprised to learn that it has finally been sold and taken over by new owners that are using it as a summer home.

Jane has a chance meeting with Genevieve, one of the new owners, who ultimately employs her skills as an archivist to research the history of the house.

Genevieve is convinced that the home is haunted and as Jane begins to delve into the history of the home, she begins to uncover an incredible history and in the process begins to heal her own deep wounds of shame and regret.

***|'m being purposefully vague in my review because there are some great twists and turns in the story and in the research Jane uncovers of the house and I don't want to give any spoilers.

J. Courtney Sullivan creates a story within a story with an impassioned skillfulness. It's also not surprising to see that this novel has been at the forefront of book club selections because of Sullivan's deft discussion of important social issues. The Cliffs is a unique novel that I definitely recommend.

This one was a miss for me. Just felt the story was wandering not really headed in the direction it should have.

Thank you Knopf and NetGalley.

I am a fan of the author so I was excited to read her new book. The Cliffs is about an abandoned house on the Maine coast that Jane (our MC) used to roam with her friend Alison when she was 17 and working summers as a tourist guide on boat tours. Now Jane, on a temporary leave from her job at the Schlesinger library at Harvard (an archive dedicated to the history of American women) is back in Maine to help her sister with clearing their mom's house after her death. Her marriage is also in a limbo and little by little we understand what appened to her carrier and marriage.. While there, she is approached by Genevieve, the new owner of the house on the cliff, a woman from Boston who transformed the old house in a sprawling vacation home. There is only a small problem: her 4 year old son sees the ghost of a little girl. Through Allison, who runs the town's inn, Genevieve and Jane's lives become intertwined and together they embark on a quest to find out who lived in the house and who the ghost could be. I would say that The Cliffs is very uneven: I found that I was really engaged in some parts and really bored in other parts (mostly the parts that describe the historical background of the house and the area, that felt like info dumping or like I was reading a history textbook.). Since I received an early copy before any buzz about the book I didn't know that the story involved ghosts so that was a bit of a shocker but I got over it and ended up liking the story overall. While it isn't a dual timeline kind of book there is a chapter towards the end entirely dedicated to a historical character that I found surprisingly engaging (as I usually do not like historical fiction). Please when deciding if you want to read this or not also bear in mind that the author has a bit of a "woke" agenda for lack of a better word (restitution to the local tribes for example) .All in all I recommend this book even if you might need to push through the various history lessons. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I think I wasn't in the right headspace when I read this one. I truly had a hard time getting through it and felt the chapters were way too long. I appreciated learning about different cultures but felt the explanations and information drug on and on at times. This is a book I would typically enjoy, so I may reread it again at a different time. I gave 3 stars because I can't pinpoint exactly how I feel about it.

📕”Jane looked around the room, with its sloped ceilings and books piled everywhere, and wondered if he was right. Her intellect was the only part of herself that she had never doubted, never despised. But right then she questioned whether she was as smart as she had always believed.” I would choose to drink too if I started to question my brains like Jane
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📗Jane was high functioning alcoholic until she wasn’t. Her job, her marriage, her friendship were ruined by the blackout that came with her drinking. She went to back to the little town where she grew up to sell her mother’s house. What she got from this town was little bit different than what she anticipated
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📘It’s possible to turn things around. Unless you are dead and gone, you can always fix your mistakes and make sure you won’t do them going forward. It’s usually only matter of support system you have around

I loved this book—a quiet, slow burn that has rich character texture and a deeply moving story about how we carry the past with us no matter where we go. I look forward to recommending this novel to people who seek some substance in their coastal women’s literature.

I struggled at times to get into this book and once I did get into it it was a very slow read for me. However, I did find myself getting caught up in the story towards the middle into the end.

I definitely think this book had a great message and would recommend it to read.

I enjoyed the different perspectives from the characters because it really let us into their minds and what was going on.

My overall rating is 3.5 ⭐️.

Many thanks to Knopf and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A blend of historical fiction, family drama and mystery with a touch of magical realism, this book really brings everything to the table. Brought on by the death of her mother, Jane Flanagan returns to the coastal town of Awadapquit, Maine, conveniently at a time when she is trying to escape some poor decisions she recently made in her marriage and her career. By chance, she meets the new owner of a formerly abandoned historic house who is interested in the story of the home. Jane spent a lot of time there during her formative years when it was abandoned and soon sets out on a journey researching the home and its history. Her research quickly pivots the entire book, taking the reader through the many generations that lived in that coastal town and the many various strong women that inhabited the historic home. As the the past weaves with the present, a full picture is painted of the history of Awadapquit, Maine and its inhabitants.

I loved the meticulous research that must have gone into this book and how vivid the descriptions were of the historical segments of the story. The present day storyline, though, bogged down the book for me and I thought the historical portions were so much stronger than the fictional story of Jane. Jane’s story interweaving with the history of the town made it feel a bit disjointed at times but, overall, I enjoyed this book very much.

This story started off very strong for me - I loved the setting, the characters, and the overall energy of the story. However, I think it got a little lost in itself towards the middle of the novel. I still found it interesting at its core, but I was no longer entertained or hooked to it.

The Cliffs is a beautifully crafted novel that explores the intricacies of relationships, family, and personal growth. Set against the backdrop of the rugged Irish coast, the story follows a diverse cast of characters as they navigate love, loss, and self-discovery. Sullivan's writing is both vivid and intimate, drawing readers into the emotional lives of her characters with sensitivity and depth.

The novel's exploration of generational ties and the impact of family secrets is particularly compelling, offering insights into how past choices shape present realities. While the pacing is leisurely, it allows the emotional weight of the characters' journeys to resonate deeply.

I found this book a little too long and cumbersome at some points but I love her writing.

Overall, The Cliffs is a poignant, heartwarming read that blends thoughtful reflections on family and identity with the beauty of its setting. Perfect for fans of character-driven stories.

GIven the hype about this book, I was excited to to read this but also skeptical. This book has a lot going on as far dual timelines, too many genres, too much drama and an unlikeable character. Was this book about a dysfunctional family? White people entitlement in New England? Was it a mystery?

The reading experience of this book was also quite annoying too. It felt more like a chunky textbook and it was boring.

Cannot recommend. Hope her next book is better.

THanks to Netfalley, J Courtney SUllivan and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage & Anchor for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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