I don't know what's wrong with me, but this one didn't hook me like it did most people. This book had so many different levels covering grief and loss as well as love and family.

I’m a clear outlier here, but I had a lot of trouble getting into this one. I only had the audio to guide me, and while the narrators were all terrific, I’m not sure if that’s why I struggled to connect with this one. It just sounded all so dreary and I had to continuously rewind and re-listen to parts, because my mind kept drifting off. I think this was more of a me problem, so I wouldn’t *not* recommend it to anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: March 4, 2025

4 stars
I enjoyed this though I don't think I would have picked it up on my own if it hadn't been gifted to me so I am appreciative that I got to experience it. There was some really great character development and insights throughout the book and some twists I didn't see coming. I'm still not sure if I loved or hated the end; I guess a little of both.

I loved that there were multiple narrators, it really helps you get into each character and make the POV switch more easily as you are listening. All the narrators did a great job.

An amazing book! Charlotte McConaghy creates a story about family, love, grief, and forgiveness against the backdrop of climate change, It is told from multiple POVs and they each lend such sweetness and emotion to the story. This is a book that will be remembered for a long time.

I was given an advanced reader copy of this title by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. A very compelling read that I highly recommend. Loved the character development!

Atmospheric.
Haunting.
Intense.
Immersive.

Flawless.

That’s all you really need to know about this book. Set on a remote island in the sub-Antarctic, this is a story based on climate change and human survival that will gut you on so many levels. Facing regret for your decisions. Keeping faith when everything feels hopeless. The notion of doing absolutely anything possible to protect your children. The symbolism was remarkable.

It was such a vivid, powerful read, you will feel as if you have been transported to this weather beaten island, and it’s a story that will really stick with me. I liked but didn’t love the author’s last two novels but I was truly blown away by the intensity and beauty of this one. I found myself having to set it down often as it just was so intense and I would need an emotional break. And the whale scene…oh, the whales.

From the first few pages I had the feeling. You know, the one you covet and you feel like you just might have an epic 5⭐️ in your hands. And by the last page it was true—this book was perfection.

This is a beauty of a book and will be a top read of ‘25 for me for sure.

All of the stars.

Wild Dark Shore is about a family that lives on a remote research island that houses a seed bank. They have become isolated due to a series of events over the preceding few months. We learn what these events are slowly throughout the book. A woman named Rowan washes ashore adding to the intrigue. It was hard for me to fall in love with this book. The pacing felt really slow, not much really happened. There were just a lot of changes in perspective and jumping back and forth from current to present. There was also occasionally graphic language that felt out of place. I was very interested in the seed bank side of the story. If you like dark brooding characters you will probably enjoy more than I did. Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen to an advance copy of this audiobook!

Loved this! I thought it was so atmospheric and I love how Charlotte McConaghy weaves a mystery and character study into climate fiction. I thought all the characters were so intriguing and the audio was great!

This is a really powerful book. It’s beautifully narrated and such a moving story of family, love and loss, and the fragility and resilience of nature.

I kept getting caught in the story of climate change impacts and the family charged with keeping a cavern of seeds that were meant to help the world start over if needed - kind of pre-apocalyptic with ongoing apocalypse vibes if that makes any sense.

The setting is a small, harsh, vibrant island - but the story does not feel contained or constrained by that. It’s expansive and incorporates a lot of flashbacks and timeline maneuvers that keep the pacing going. The incredible heart of these characters - their ability to deal with trauma and still move forward is moving and heart wrenching. By the end I just wanted to cry for them all while hoping that they all find happiness as the story ends. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ALC! This was a really great one to read on audio.

Rating 5 Stars- Favorite of the year to date...

Review:

I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend for this title. The narrators immediately pull you into the loud, cold, raw natural world of the island off the coast of the arctic circle . The characters are in a tense situation that leaves the reader unsure of who they should trust up to the very last chapter. The theme of the violent clashing of humanity with the natural world is compelling. I was especially affected by Rowan's chapter recalling her experience with a natural disaster in her recent past in another part of the world. I love the relationships between the father and his four children. All the characters seemed so vulnerable and true that I couldn't help but weep. The vibes alone are immaculate and deserve 5 stars. I will surely be reading more books by Charlotte McConaghy.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an audio copy of this book.

Blurb:

A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.

Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.

But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.

A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.

This was the perfect audiobook for me. There is nothing I love more than a character driven novel and this was exactly that. The setting that was developed was so vivid, that I felt like I was on Shearwater with the Salt family when a stranger, Rowan, washes up on the beach. The author did such a fantastic job of setting the scene that I felt just as isolated as Fen, Raff, Orly, and Dom. The author did such a brilliant job bringing each of these characters to life throughout this novel, while also creating intense situations that I was truly on the edge of my seat the entire time I was listening to this book. I felt all the emotions from the love of this family, to the fear of a new stranger uncovering all their secrets, and to the tears at the ending. Wow, what a fantastic book. Highly recommend it! I will now be looking into this author's past work and also reading everything that she comes out with in the future. 4.25/5 Stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

A fresh and primitive arctic setting with a magnetic family arc! The simplicity and wildness of this book captivated me from the start.

Dominic Salt was sent to Shearwater Island off the coast of Antarctica, along with his wife and three children, to care for the world's largest seed bank. The island was once inhabited by other researchers, but because of the rising sea levels, only the Salt family remains. When a catastrophic storm blows through, a mysterious woman named Rowan washes up on shore. As the Salt family nurses her back to health, they begin to realize her value among their home, yet are having a hard time trusting her. Rowan isn't being completely honest as to why she is on Shearwater Island, and when she finds a freshly dug grave and sabatoged radios, she knows that Dominic Salt is hiding secrets of his own. As the Salt family and Rowan grasp for ways to put the past behind them, they discover twists, love, and beauty on a wild dark shore.

This book captivated me from the start. The setting, the children, and the mysteries poured over my brain like a warm shower on this icy island. Through a slow build, this primitive storyline held fast to its through-line, carrying the reader to a wave-crashing ending. The cast of narrators made this book truly special as they captured each character perfectly. Themes of nature, beauty, and hope ring true in each character as they fight for survival. It is such a unique read, and I needed it.

Special thanks to Flatiron books, Charlotte McConaghy, and Netgalley for this audoARC in exchange for my honest review.

Audiobook ARC from netgalley- Wild Dark Shore is a thrilling ride filled with suspense and unexpected twists. The story keeps readers on edge, constantly unveiling new secrets and pushing the narrative into unpredictable directions. Each twist is expertly crafted, leaving you stunned and eager to know more. The pacing builds tension masterfully, making it hard to put the book down. With its gripping plot and shocking turns, it is a suspenseful page-turner that will leave you guessing until the very end.

I listened to the audio and thought the narrator was perfect for this story. So moody and atmospheric. I love a thriller that takes place on an island. Very good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of the audiobook of Wild Dark Shore.

I need to spend a little time thinking and reflecting to be able to properly put my review of this book into words.

I will say now thought that the audio was wonderfully done with the cast of narrators.

WILD DARK SHORE is a gripping, thought provoking, and mysterious novel — my first Charlotte McConaghy novel, but certainly not my last.

The setting of the novel is Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antartica. It was once bustling with researchers, working on the island’s seed vault and other wildlife experiments, but is now home to only the Salt family: widowed father Dominic and his three children. The Salt family will only be there for a few more weeks, as they will soon need to evacuate due to rising tides. During a sudden storm, a young woman washes ashore. The family is astounded: how did she make it to them alive in the rough seas? Was she intending to come to Shearwater - and if so, why? Can she be trusted?

There is a lot that works brilliantly in WILD DARK SHORE. McConaghy’s nature writing is superb: I felt transported to Shearwater, felt the harsh salt air whipping against my skin and heard the cacophony of seal calls. The tension also builds brilliantly: in the family’s race against the clock to accomplish what they need before they must leave, in the descriptions of climate and climate change, and in the mysterious appearance of the young woman and her connection to the island.

But I also experienced frustration while reading. Though McConaghy’s characters are complex and fascinating, they are not reflective or, at times, particularly deep. This irked me as a reader - and I will be clear here that this is largely because of who I am as a reader - because though I was invested in the story from a mystery/tension standpoint, I struggled to feel emotionally invested in their journeys and relationships. This did not inhibit my appreciation for the story, but means that the novel doesn’t land on an all-time favorites list either.

This was an enthralling, suspenseful story. The plot is very well paced, and the characters are very interesting. The story begins with Rowan washing upon the shore of an isolated island that houses a science center. We are introduced to the family of caretakers as Rowan is, and slowly learn more about the situation she has entered on the island. I appreciated the bits of science and environment of this world, especially through Orly's chapters about different plant species. I strongly recommend the audiobook for this story. The cast of narrators do an excellent job of bringing the different character perspectives to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing an ALC in return for my honest thoughts.

Hot Diggity Dang! Charlotte McConaghy Works Her Magic Again

Once again, Charlotte McConaghy delivers more than I ever expected with Wild Dark Shore, leaving me in awe of her breathtaking writing and her ability to craft emotions so raw and real that you feel them deep in your bones. She’s a true Word Witch, wielding her magical pen with her rare, hypnotic grace.

Audiobook vs Ebook

I received the audiobook from the publisher, but I waited until I could get the eBook on Libby too. I wanted to fully immerse myself, pairing listening with reading. Now, the full cast of narrators? Fantastic. Something about different voices breathing life into characters makes a story feel even more alive. But for this one, I knew I needed to see the magic—the poetic beauty, the lyrical prose, the raw emotional depth. And wow, did it deliver.

A Story That Sinks Its Hooks Into You

Dominic Salt and his three children are the caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Once a hub for researchers and home to the world’s largest seed bank. Climate change has cast a shadow on Shearwater’s ecosystem. Now it’s just them. Isolated, surrounded by the relentless sea, living with their own ghosts.

Then, amidst a violent storm, a woman washes ashore—Rowan. As the Salts nurse her back to life, their suspicion morphs into something else—trust, tenderness, maybe even something like family. But islands keep their own secrets, and so do the people who live on them, and on an island where survival depends on each other, secrets can drive them apart.

A Haunting, Beautiful Tale of Survival and Love

I love the sea and here is like a living, breathing haunting entity in this story, just as unpredictable and untamed as the human heart. McConaghy paints Shearwater Island as more than just a setting—it’s a force, an experience, a wild and breathtaking landscape that seeps into the very marrow of the story.

Complex Characters, Tangled Fates: A Tale of Trust and Resilience

The narrative delves deep into the complexities of human relationships, exploring themes of love, loss, survival, trust, transformation, and resilience. It examines humanity’s relationship with the planet while exploring the bonds between family. Each character is meticulously crafted, with their own fears, desires, and secrets that intertwine seamlessly.

There’s so much more I could explore—the intricate dynamics between climate change and the characters, the way they shape and mirror each other—but I’ll leave it at this. If you love books that seep into your soul and linger long after the final page, Wild Dark Shore is for you. Lush, haunting, and utterly immersive, this is a story that will pull you under. Let Charlotte McConaghy cast her spell—you won’t regret it.

Climate change has had disastrous consequences. Dom and his 3 children are living on an island when a woman, Rowan, is washed on shore. The family and Rowan both have secrets, but they need to work together to survive and save the animals and seeds on the island.

This book started off slow for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it paid off in the end. I liked that this book jumped right in and did more showing than telling. The writing was incredible and the book was so atmospheric.

The full cast of narrators were fantastic. I highly recommend the audio.

This one has been everywhere lately but here’s my review.
The Hook:The Salt Family live on a remote island off the coast of Australia as caretakers of the facilities housing the global seed bank and the scientists who work there. The children have grown up in this isolation, learning to love the natural world and respect its power through the history of the island and the dangerous elements that encroach on it. One morning, a woman washes ashore, the children immediately clinging to her as a substitute for the mother they have long missed. But this mysterious woman and her purposes on the island threaten to uncover the family’s own secrets and destroy the very tenuous balance both with nature and each other.

Things I loved: the setting and descriptions of nature, the seeds, the seals and puffins on the island.
The last 100 pages that move so swiftly as the conflicts reach a fever pitch. I could not stop once the action hit.
The full cast narration of the audiobook.

Things I didn’t love: the relationships (I won’t give specifics) moved faster and with more intensity than seemed realistic. I almost DNF’d at one point and then the plot took a twist that sucked me in and I had to see what happened next. By the end, I understood the characters’ motivations better to justify some of their decisions earlier that seemed initially unrealistic.

I enjoyed the writing style and plot overall. If you’ve read this one, what did you think?

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook.

🌱🌱🌱🌱/5