G’Day Bookworms!
Have I ever told you how I spent my teen years obsessed with Australia? True story. I had not one, not two, but THREE famous Australian “boyfriends.” There was my Australian Rockstar Boyfriend (Daniel Johns, lead singer of Silverchair), my Australian Actor Boyfriend (Heath Ledger, may he rest in peace), my Australian Swimmer Boyfriend (Ian Thorpe, Olympic Gold Medalist. The Sydney Olympics happened at the start of my senior year, I typically don’t watch sports that don’t involve intentional back flips.) Why am I telling you this? My latest read encompassed two of my greatest loves, Australia and Jojo Moyes! When I saw that Jojo Moyes had a new title available on Netgalley, I simply HAD to have it. You’ll recall how much I loved Me Before You (review) and The Girl You Left Behind (review), so really, it was a match made in heaven Australia. *I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher through Netgalley. My good opinion cannot be bought with a book. It MIGHT be bought with a trip to Australia… Just saying.*
Silver Bay tells the story of the residents of a sleepy town in Australia, called (shocker) Silver Bay. 76 year old Kathleen runs a ramshackle hotel with her niece Liza and Liza’s daughter Hannah. Their major source of income is eco-tourism, as Silver Bay is famous for whale and dolphin watching expeditions. It’s not a glamorous existence, and everyone has their baggage, but mostly the residents of Silver Bay have been living there uninjured.
Mike Dormer is a high powered real estate developer in London. His company is working on a luxury resort, and he’s sent on a scouting mission to Silver Bay. Mike’s development poses a serious threat to the Silver Bay’s under-the-radar status, to say nothing of its potential disruption of the whale and dolphin watching industry. Drama ensues!
One of my favorite things about Moyes’s writing is the way she draws her characters. She gives them so much depth. The major sympathetic characters are flawed, the less sympathetic characters have glimmers of humanity. I was drawn into Silver Bay and didn’t want to leave. You don’t have to love Australia to enjoy Silver Bay, but I challenge you to read Silver Bay and not fall in love with Jojo Moyes.
Tell me, Bookworms. Do any of you have an obsession with an exotic (or not so exotic) locale? I can’t be alone in this, can I?
*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.*
AMB (Koiviolet)
This sounds great. I’m always impressed by authors who are able to make believably flawed sympathetic characters while preserving a glimmer of humanity in the less sympathetic ones. I have a lot of cousins in Australia, but I’ve never been there. They visit the US so frequently (and they seem to get so much more time off than we do!). As for me, I’m an anglophile.
Words For Worms
I love a well rounded character. I get cranky when they’re too one-dimensional… Especially the villains. I need a villain with depth. Also, I want your cousins to be my cousins. Mine are fine, but they all live in Wisconsin, which is not the most exciting vacation spot.
Megan M.
I have a few obsessions. Australia is one of them because I’ve actually made a few friends there that say they would totally love to have us move there and would help us get settled – but it’s still more of a dream right now. And I’ve always had a romantic idea of living in Ireland or Scotland, because it’s so beautiful and I love the accents. And then a lot of those silly “Where Should You Really Live?” online tests tell me I belong in London. So I have a few options. LOL
Words For Worms
SWEEEEEEEEET! If you move to Australia, prepare for a houseguest, because I’m stowing away in your luggage. The accents in all those places are just wonderful!
kristin @ my little heart melodies
Hmm… well I bet if you ask my husband (and, well, everyone) he’d say I’m obsessed with Wisconsin! I can’t help it that my home state is amazing 😉
Besides WI, I’m not sure I’d say I’m obsessed with any particular exotic (or not-exotic) locale. I would really love to visit Ireland and Italy someday.
Words For Worms
LOL, that is too funny! My extended family is from Wisconsin, and having spent time there it just doesn’t have the flair Australia has for me. The Midwest is really where it’s at, though. I don’t know that I’d want to live anywhere else :).
Andi (@estellasrevenge)
I’m so “on the fence” with this book. That’s usually the case and then I end up loving them, but something about this premise isn’t blowing my skirt up. The Australia part sounds awesome, but the rest is just sort of “meh” for me. Of course, this is how I started with Me Before You, and I cried my baby blues right out (in a good way!).
Words For Worms
I didn’t cry with this one, but, you know, it didn’t have Me Before You’s ending. Holy guacamole.
Sarah @ Sarah's Book Shelves
Oh wow – I think I need to read this one! I lived in Australia for 6 months (during the Sydney Olympics – where I saw Ian Thorpe swim live! I was also a swimmer growing up :)) and absolutely loved it – one of my favorite places on earth! I also loved Me Before You..so this sounds like a match made in heaven!
Words For Worms
I AM SO JEALOUS!!! You were THERE in Australia during the Olympics while my 17 year old self was pining away. Siiiigh. You definitely need to read this book.
Lori @ Palmer's Page Turners
Great review! I NEED to read Jojo Moyes’ books! I keep seeing fantastic reviews!
The place I’m obsessed with? HAWAII! I’m in love with it.
Words For Worms
Have you read Moloka’i? If you’re a Hawaii fangirl, you need to check it out!
April @ The Steadfast Reader
I find this cover confusing because it really reminds me of the Robert Caro biography on Johnson called ‘The Passage of Power’. I know. Mostly unrelated. 🙂
Words For Worms
Ha! I never mind random associations. I’m going to look up this other book cover now…
Jenny @ Reading the End
For me it’s colonial India. I don’t know why, but I will read absolutely anything that’s set in the British Raj. There are so many interesting things going on in the British Raj! So many languages and cultural tensions and cricket games!
Words For Worms
Fascinating! I don’t think I’ve read ANYTHING set in the British Raj. What do you recommend for a newbie?
Stacy (The Novel Life)
I read Me Before You and The Last Letter From Your Lover and thoroughly enjoyed both! You’ve made me want to pick this one up as well now!
Words For Worms
I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of inspired to read ALL THE MOYES!
Katie @ Doing Dewey
I really liked the characters in this book too! I particularly liked that we were made to feel some sympathy for the fiancee. I thought that was very well done. And your comment about reading ALL THE MOYES made me smile. I think it’s a brilliant idea 🙂
Words For Worms
I’m reading another of hers now. I can’t get enough!
Melinda
I’ve never read any Moyes, but I do plan to read Me Before You. I think my first Moyes read will be The One plus One, because I actually have a copy of that. I might consider this one, it sounds lovely.
In high-school days I was obsessed with India – the colourful culture and people. Not sure if I still am…
Words For Worms
Her books are a treat, I really love them.
Camille
Does anyone have a “Discussion Guide” for my Book Club for this book, Silver Bay? I can’t find a guide anywhere!!
Words For Worms
I just googled and I can’t find one either. My recommendation? Make your own! I always like to include things like “Which character did you most want to punch?” I find that makes for a lively discussion point.