Firstly loved the cover it certainly drew my attention and I would certainly pick it up in any bookstore! The house in the water was a wonderful read. It is a well written novel, with punchy dialogue that rings true, and the descriptive writing brings the scenes to life. A book that stands out from the crowd. The characters and the setting are written exceptionally well. Overall four starts ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Everyone has a past they want to leave behind -- so secrets can be dangerous for all involved.
We have plenty of things going on in this story —Historical fiction, PTSD, gaslighting , sexual assault, paranormal , two times lines 1942 and 2013.— we will see how the past comes to play in the future — we can never escape the past— the shadows of which may threaten the happiness of all the characters futures. I was definitely more invested in Meredith’s situation in 2013 — but was enjoying the past story of the house and how it would all connect in the future. This was a difficult book for some topics but it was also difficult to put down and go back to real life.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my Honest review.

For readers of the late Lucinda Riley, this book is a great read. Starting out in a hospital set on the Thames, a young traumatized Irish nurse begins a new position helping soldiers recover from shell shocked conditions during WWII. Jump to the present, the reader meets a young couple recovering from their own traumatic experiences. Buying the abandoned house , the couple hopes to renovate the house and begin anew. With her husband frequently away, the main character in the book begins to see unusual things ( Ghosts?) and hears voices that no one else hears. Finding a notebook belonging to the nurse that had worked at the house during the war connects the two storylines. I loved this ! I will recommend this to people who read historical fiction.