The Island Girls by Noelle Harrison was published on the 23rd April by Bookouture and is described as ‘an unputdownable and unforgettable story of impossible choices and two sisters who would do anything for one another.‘ This I found to be true! I am on the Blog Tour for said book and the following is my review.

Emer is a young Irish woman who is living and working as a nurse in Massachusetts General Hospital. Her sister dies of cancer and she finds herself struggling with the guilt. She makes a major decision to become a live in carer to Susannah Olsen, who lives on the Island of Vilanhaven off the Maine coast, in a solitary life.
Emer arrives to quite a distant and cold Susannah. She does not want a carer and she didn’t employ Emer, her niece did and this is made clear right from the start. To make everything harder, Emer did not take into account just how solitary, quiet and isolated she would feel.
As the days go by she begins to peel away at Susannahs layers, the grief she carries becomes apparent and their relationship seems to move into a positive place. The atmosphere on the island is odd to Emer also, people being secretive about past incidents and they don’t seem friendly towards Susannah. Emer discovers that Susannah’s sister Kate passed away tragically and then Emer realises that they have more in common than they first believed, both mourning the loss of a sister and what could have been.

This book is a story that is not always an easy read. It brings with it the feeling of guilt, grief, betrayal and at times abuse. Noelle has dealt with these delicate and touching emotions with a sensitivity that is very apparent throughout the book. I thought it was just the right pace, not too slow to lose my attention and enough to keep me reading to see how Emer and Susannah fared in this tale of sisterhood and the importance of this relationship in life!

With thanks to Bookouture for allowing me to be a part of this fabulous Blog Tour!