All the freaking stars!!! The audio was brilliant, but I loved listening while following along the most. Such an amazing story. These characters. This island. Forever will think about them!

Wild Dark Shore is a quiet, contemplative novel. Set on a fictional island near Antarctica called Shearwater, it’s about a father and his three children, the Salt family, who left behind a family tragedy on the mainland, finding solace in caring for this wild, remote place and the seedbank housed there. Shearwater was once a vibrant research station, but now, with sea levels rising and storms becoming more frequent, it’s being shut down, and the Salt family are the last inhabitants, responsible for packing up the seeds for shipment to a more secure location. But then one of the storms washes a mysterious woman ashore, sending reverberations through the entire family. Will this woman be the Salt family’s salvation or their destruction? And what truths about Shearwater and its final residents will come to light with her arrival?

Wild Dark Shore is a character-driven family drama set on the brink of climate disaster, a cautionary tale, an ode to the natural world, and a literary mystery all at once. However, these pieces don’t always work in complete harmony in the narrative. Although the book unfolds across several perspectives, I never really felt like I got to know any of the characters in a meaningful way. They felt distant and one-dimensional to me – a series of traits rather than actual people – and the romance plotline just seemed strange, given all of the distrust and suspicion on both sides. The passages explaining the history of several of the vault’s seeds didn’t always connect back to the story the way I think Charlotte McConaghy wanted them to, so they didn’t serve to do much other than take me out of the book’s flow. And the book keeps coming back to its central mystery, which is revealed in the final act in a way that didn’t make a lot of sense to me – never mind the fact that things could’ve been resolved much earlier, if the characters would have just had one (albeit difficult) conversation. One aspect of the conclusion seemed unearned and emotionally manipulative, rather than organic to the rest of the story.

McConaghy’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, so evocative and atmospheric as she brings the island of Shearwater to life. Wild Dark Shore is definitely a book that honors the natural world, and there is a scene involving whales that is so perfectly done it gave me chills. The book is at its best when it’s focused on its introspective themes of family and belonging, healing from trauma, the importance of conservation, and the endurance of the human spirit. The audiobook production is high, but I have to admit that I didn’t enjoy all of the narrators. Please take my opinion with a grain of salt (pun intended) because lots of people are loving this one. Ultimately, it just didn’t end up aligning with my expectations. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary listening opportunity.

The Salts, a family of four - Dominic, Raff, Fen, and Orly - are living on a remote island not far from Antarctica. They were sent there on a mission to preserve seeds of all the world's plants in case of major disaster. But the water is rising and the seeds are being moved. Before the evacuation crew is scheduled to arrive, a stranger appears on their shore, almost dead from a boat crash. Who is she and what could she possibly be doing so far away from civilization?

Rowan arrives on the shore of Shearwater, nearly dead, to find that there are only four people remaining on the island. She came looking for something and is determined to find answers, but she needs to heal and she is left at the mercy of this family of strangers to help her. What happened to the rest of the crew sent to the island and why is this family of four acting like they're hiding something?

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is a must read! There were so many emotions written into these pages and it is really hard not to be both furious and empathetic towards all of the characters. Each person has a powerful story that helps further the plot and gives understanding into the full picture that no one on the island really seems to have. There is love and laughter followed by heartbreak and disaster all woven beautifully together to make this story come to life. This book absolutely lived up to the hype that I have seen all over social media, and I will recommend this to anyone who will listen!

I loved Wild Dark Shore! It was wonderful nature writing and I loved the shifting perspectives. I thought the mystery was revealed well. Audiobook narrator was good too

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy left me feeling uneasy throughout the entire book. Dominic and his three children are on an island close to Antarctica and working as caregivers for a defunct research island and seed vault. A woman washes ashore, and the family takes Rowan in to nurse her back to health. There is a huge storm coming and lots to learn about each other. A freshly dug grave, broken radio equipment, and the hidden reason why Rowan set off for Shearwater Island. The isolation was like an additional character, and it was so interesting to see how climate change was threaded throughout the story. I loved learning more about Rowan and all the sacrifices that she made throughout the book.

I should mention that I would listen to Saskia Maarleveld read an encyclopedia - her narration was impeccable, as usual. Her diction and ability to change her voice to match characters is beyond impressive. Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, and Steve West also gave great performances with perfect diction and pace.

Overall, a book that left me uneasy for more reasons than just the character interactions. Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the chance to review this book.

Charlotte McConaghy's books are always beautiful, tragic, and take turns you don't expect, and this one is no different. The writing is gorgeous. I listened to the audiobook version and found the narrators effective, although the main who reads for Dominic a little hard to understand at times. I did find the end a little rushed and the emotional swings by one of the characters a little lacking motivation. But all in all I loved the book.

DNF at 50% this is so wildly slow and dull. I think the premise is great and the writing is good but this story like really needed to be moved along

Such high ratings and so, so slow. It was so slow that I never felt any progress was made so I finally had to give up and waive the white flag 🏳️ 😔

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Riveting. Cold dark and beautifully executed. Her best performance yet! I loved the the reflection of the scene described by the author. She does an excellent job binding the natural world and plot together. It’s particularly why I keep coming back to this author. Must read.

What a devastatingly gorgeous love letter to Earth & to family & to connection between the natural world & the human world.

The majority of the story is set on a remote island, the fictional Shearwater, where a woman, Rowan, washes ashore. The family, a father & his three children, two teens & a young boy, have lived on the island alone aside from a research base occupied by scientists. However, rising seas have destroyed most of the research base & the family has to leave as well.

With a few weeks left before the final boat will come & move the family to the mainland, the family's story and Rowan's story intertwine, and a mystery unfolds. Human struggles & pain are set against a backdrop of the consequences of climate change & the struggles & pain of the plants & animals in a fight for survival.

I loved this novel & the way it explores the themes of love & survival. Reading it right now, while it feels like the urgency of climate change has to take a backseat to the urgency of human rights just made it feel even more incredibly relevant.

Wild Dark Shore is a moody, atmospheric, slow burn mystery, particularly recommended for fans of dystopian stories about climate change.

The novel is set on a fictional remote island that serves as a research base and seed bank, where scientists store and protect seeds from the world's plants for preservation for future generations due to the disastrous effects of climate change. The MMC (Dominic) is a widow who lives there with his children. When a mysterious woman (Rowan) washes ashore, Dominic and his children nurse her back to health. The book is told from alternate POVs as we learn about the backstory of Rowan, Dominic, his children, and some of the other scientists who were on the island.

I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrator. While I enjoyed the story overall, I did not love it the way may others did, apparently, based on all the other glowing reviews. Parts of the book dragged and then some of the action sequences and plot twists were crammed in at the end. I also struggled to relate to the main characters. Overall, I decided to give this 3.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I find myself being the exception to the rule on this one. The reviews for this book are incredible, however I did not find it living up to the hype.
This book was very well written, but I found it to be boring. If you are interested in climate change- this will certainly be your cup of tea.

Thank you to @macmillanaudio for the gifted audiobook!

Wow! This book was enthralling from ten start and just kept going. I was enveloped in the story instantly. The writing is superb. Wild Dark Shore had such engaging characters and a compelling mystery/sense of unease. I didn’t expect this novel to pack such an emotional punch, I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. An absolutely stunning novel that I think any reader would enjoy. I simply don’t have words to articulate how captivating and well-done this book was. I’ll be adding Charlotte McConaghy’s backlist to my TBR immediately.

Absolutely haunting in the best way. *Wild Dark Shores* is one of those rare novels that feels both intimate and vast—like it’s tugging on the strings of human nature while the planet quietly falls apart in the background.

The atmosphere on Shearwater is thick with tension and beauty. I was completely pulled in by the setting: remote, windswept, barely surviving—just like the people who inhabit it. The Salts are each layered and flawed, and Rowan's arrival throws them off balance in a way that keeps the suspense simmering. Every interaction is charged, every secret feels dangerous, and the storm looming on the horizon is as much emotional as it is literal.

There are so many moments that sneak up and hit you in the gut. The themes of loss, trust, survival, and starting over are all handled with grace and grit. And the writing? Gorgeous. Lean and sharp where it needs to be, lyrical when it counts.

This is the kind of book that lingers. Not just because of the twists or the high-stakes setting, but because of how deeply it examines what we’re willing to do for love and legacy in a crumbling world. A standout read—quietly devastating and wholly unforgettable.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There were parts of this book that I really loved but other parts really dragged. The author made you really picture the setting, which was great. I didn’t really connect or especially like any of the characters except for the little boy. Some parts really dragged. I wanted to love it, but it was just mid level for me.

Easily one of my very favorite books of the year. The depth of the characters and the mysteries surrounding their circumstances together were amazing. It reminded me of the "The Light Between Oceans" to some extent. I will recommend to many!

This book is incredible. Its my first time reading a book by Charlotte McConaghy and it won't be my last. This is absolutley one of my top reads this year! There was so much to love about this book. The love amonghst the main characters and their growth was so beautiful. I loved the setting: a remote island near Antartic that is sinking. I learned so much about seeds (yes seeds), seals and birds. I had read a review and totally agree - although this book is heavy character driven there is still SO MUCH plot. I caught myself smiling several times reading this and also crying a few times. Highly recommend this one! Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for providing me with a copy of this book!

Absolutely obsessed with this. The author's writing is just so atmospheric and her settings are stunning. I loved every character in this and couldn't stop reading.

This was my second book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I liked how the description of the book was intriguing enough to make me want to read it but I still felt like I was going in relatively blind. I liked how we got POVs from all of the characters on this island as well. I think the pacing was good and it revealed information at a rate that keep me so intrigued and not wanting to put the book down. This book also contained some sensitive material but I thought it was handled well and added to the story. This book also makes you think about what you would do in this situation and forces you to think outside of yourself. I really enjoyed and highly recommend!

This was a book that captured my imagination and interest from the first chapters, and I could not put it down until I was finished this evocative, mysterious, gritty, and yet hopeful tale. Dominic Salt and his three children are the caretakers of an island near Antarctica storing a stash of the world’s seas, and preparing for evacuation as the sea levels are quickly rising and threatening the island. One stormy night, one of the children saves a woman from the sea, and their world is turned upside down. Their family has secrets and wounds, and so does this strange woman. The rest of the book blurs the lines between thriller and literary fiction, with themes of hope in the midst of tragedy, familial love, and perseverance. There are heavy topics addressed in the book I was not expecting, so see content warnings below.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Potential spoilers in content warnings————-



















CW: Murder, suicide, childbirth trauma/death, grooming/pedophilia