Overrated Book:
Beyond That, the Sea
By: Laura Spence-Ash

WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY?
A beautifully written, character driven novel.

HOW I FELT ABOUT IT:
I went into this book thinking it was a World War 2 book with a twist. While that is true, it is much more a fiction novel that spans decades. I did like this book, it was just long, a bit predictable, and not what I expected it to be based on other’s review.

DO I STILL RECOMMEND IT? Yes

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Beyond That, the Sea was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: Out Now

I went into this book SO excited. I had seen it all over Instagram, and people were talking about how wonderful the story was and how complex the characters were. While I do agree that it a good book, it wasn’t a great book. There was a lot I found to be quite predictable, and it was long for what it was. I did enjoy it, but not as much as I had hoped I would.



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A must read historical fictional story that is so relevant in these current times. Loving parents doing everything they can to save their children to give them more then possible in the situation they are in and doing it despite letting go of them. This is why we must never ever forget. Though fictional, this is so clearly a story that happened again and again and continues to do so today. In 1940, Beatrix, a beloved child is sent to America to save her life. Her parents see what is happening and want their daughter to get away, survive and even thrive even though it means letting her go. She is welcomed in to a family who treat her as if she is one of them. She is loved, cared for, educated and is living a wonderful life. And then in 1945, with no say on the matter she returns home. She spends so much time in emotional limbo and trying to find a way to meld her two lives. This is a beautifully written emotional story with perspectives from everyone in the story.

I wish I had more to say about Beyond That the Sea. However, there were more things I did not care for then I did care for. Because of that I will keep this simple and express there were parts I absolutely loved. Moments between characters that were absolutely beautiful. However, I found that some parts were really hard to follow and keeping track of whose who and whose who at what timeline proved to be problematic. Overall I liked the book, just did not love it.

5 stars to Beyond That, the Sea audiobook! During WWII, young Beatrix is sent by her parents from their London home to an unknown family in America. The author brings this family to life in a way that has left me still thinking about them over a week later. The story explores the emotional cost of children shipped abroad during the war, forced to merge into new families and the costs to relationships within the biological family upon reconciliation. There are times when the story felt a little disjointed as the storyline jumps around and leaves time gaps. Reflectively, after listening to the full book, it all makes sense and works well.

The storyline beautifully illustrates the emotions, dysfunctions, passions, and cycles of life of the two families portrayed. The character development is rich with single chapters expressing the voice, thoughts, and actions of one character at a time. This structure allows the reader (or listener in my case) to get to know and understand the emotional drivers, personality of each character, and relationships with the other characters at a deeper level. The narration of the book was excellent! The narrator was easy to listen to and was able to give a unique voice to each of the characters. I really enjoyed her narration.

I would recommend this audiobook to any WWII historic fiction lover. For those who are not historical fiction readers, don't let that stop you. This is a great book for anyone who loves a saga that weaves in themes of love and forgiveness, friendship and family relationships with a coming of age story, peppered with historical perspectives.

Thank you @NetGalley @CeladonBooks @MacmillanAudio for the advance copy of the book in exchange for my unbiased opinion. #NetGalley #HistoricalFiction #WWII #Saga #Fiction

VERY character driven. That's really the only point of reading the entire book, if you were interested in the characters and the relationships they had with each other then you'd be perfectly content reading this novel. I usually prefer there to be more action, or plot, than this provided.

The characters are well done, I felt as if I knew them after listening to this novel. Once I saw the physical copy of this, it seemed odd that the chapters were so short. I didn't feel how short those were listening via audio, the audio flowed very well.

I struggled a little with the overwhelming obsession with Bea, and the relationships she ended up having intimately with multiple characters. It just felt odd considering how close they were. I also struggled listening to Bea's relationship with her mother. I always wanted her to be more understanding of her mother and the decisions she felt she had to make.

Overall, a very engrossing character review with characters that did seem to have depth. I missed having more plot and felt the storyline dragged at times.

From my blog: Always With a Book

Historical fiction will forever be one of my favorite genres and this book is exactly the reason why. I had no idea that British children were sent to America and Canada during the war as we come to find out during this book and I loved that the author took that and wrote a story about how that impacted all involved.

While this book is set during the war, that is really just a minor part of this book. In fact, it really is the catalyst for what sets many things in motion in this book, but for the most part the war is on the periphery of the story, which I loved.

It is very easy to become completely engaged and immersed in this story. This book spans decades and yet because of the short chapters, it moves quickly so that you never feel that the book drags at any one time. It also is told from multiple perspectives, allowing us to not only see what is going on from everyone’s perspective, but also feel an emotional connection to each character. I really didn’t want this book to end because I ended up caring so deeply for these characters.

For a debut novel, this book truly left an emotional impact on me and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it. It delves into some great themes that make it perfect for a book club pick – and I know I will be selecting it for mine later this year. I always have a soft spot for books that take on family dynamics and this one does that, but it’s more the grief and guilt, found family and trying to figure out where one belongs that really stand out.

I loved this one and will be recommending it to everyone as well as keeping as eye out for what comes next from this very talented author!


Audio thoughts: I listened to this one and was completely swept away by the narration. The narrator, Ell Potter, does a fantastic job bringing this book to life. She soothing voice was perfection in my ears and she was able to seamlessly do the British and American accents as needed.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was so well written, I found myself so drawn in and in love with the characters. This isn't an action packed WWII story but it is a beautifully done story of love and families getting on with life despite it all. The narrator was perfect as well.

Bea is only 11 years old when her parents decide to send her the United States to protect her from the bombs in London. It was one of the hardest things her parents have ever done. But, they feel it is best for Bea. Bea is staying with the Gregorys and their two sons, William and Gerald. The longer she stays the more she loves this family and feels more at home than in London.

I loved every single character, especially Bea and Gerald. As Bea grows into her own, she faces many conflicts and decisions. And when her two worlds collide she realizes she has enough love to forgive and understand.

This is a story you do not want to miss. I think my favorite part is the summer. The time in Maine really resonated with me. The togetherness and the peacefulness made me a bit nostalgic for my summers as a kid.

Need a story which has some of the best characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

“She understands now that death has a way of providing freedom.”

I. Loved. This. Book. 🗣️

Beyond That, The Sea is an epic character driven historical fiction story about two families and the one young girl that ties them together, set in the time of WWII. It spans decades and generations and continents and is just so fantastically written. What a heartfelt and engrossing tale. I enjoyed every single word of it.

The audiobook was superb. I was so lost in this story I swear I know these people. I could feel their love and pain right along with them. The narrator did the accents, both for British and American, seamlessly.

If you liked We Are The Brennans then I think you will love this one!

Thank you to Netgalley, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the #gifted copies.

During the war in London in 1940, Beatrix is sent to America by her parents in hopes of keeping her safe. The Gregorys take her in and she becomes part of their lively, affluent family. Before long, Bea realizes that life with the Gregorys is more natural than her quiet, small life in England. When the war ends and she’s called back to London, the memory of her American family stays with her and we embark on her journey between her two worlds as she tries to pursue a life of her own.

Through this character-driven story, we’re given a glimpse into the lives of both families - in America and England, from the beginning of the war into Bea’s adulthood. I enjoyed the viewpoints from Bea and both her mother and new mother figure. It’s beautifully written and the characters fully immersed me in their lives. The setting of Maine, where they spent their summers, made me feel a sense of home.

There is a pivotal moment with one of the characters that I thought would’ve been more monumental; I just wish there was MORE emotion in it. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! If you love historical fiction, I recommend adding this to your list. It’s much more than a WW2 novel. The audiobook narration is excellent, too.

4.25 ⭐️

I love the interesting information that is covered through historical fiction, and this is no exception. In the case of Beyond That, The Sea I realized that during WWII children were sent from London to the USA in an attempt to keep them safe. Through this touching story, I realized how hard it must have been to send a child overseas, and the complications that could occur.

This book is narrated beautifully by Ell Potter. She brings the author’s words to life as she shares the story of an eleven-year-old girl who heads across the sea to live with a family in Boston. At the time, I’m sure neither family could foresee the complications of a child biologically belonging to one family yet living for years without another.

Ell Potter does a wonderful job of mastering various voices for the well-developed characters.

My Concerns
It develops slowly and, of course, is character driven. Because of this, I’m not sure if I would have liked the book as much as I did the audiobook.

Final Thoughts
The compelling plot unfolds from various viewpoints and extends several decades beyond the war.

If you're on the fence as to whether to read it or not, jump off the fence and pick it up. It's a memorable story that is sure to stick with you.

And on a side note, it caused me to research Britain’s evacuation of children during WWII, which I found very interesting.

Thank you @netgalley@macmillan.audio and @celadonbooks for my ALC. I was free, without stipulations, to post my thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved hearing the different perspectives and of her mom feeling jealous towards the mother of the family she stayed with. The author really grasps every character's emotions. It was a good book that wasn't graphic on war. Was disappointing and sad towards the end, but realistic to real life. Gave four stars as dragged on a bit more than needed too.

I adored this book! Wow oh wow was it so dang sad but it reminded me of Ask Again, Yes and a touch of Atonement. Also, Every Summer After. I loved all of these books so of course it was a homerun!

In short: This book tells the story of two families living through World War II on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and the shy, irresistible young woman who will call them both her own.

Themes I enjoyed:
🌊 Loss & love, both romantic and familial
🌊Wrestling with identity, both within our families and in the world at large.

Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I can’t imagine sending your 11 year old to another country for the duration of WWII hoping she’ll stay safe. And for Bea, the emotions & experiences of leaving London, falling in love with her new life and then returning years later to a post by-war London were so well written.

This was a beautifully written book with a strong sense of place, well developed characters and a captivating story.

This book should have been one that I loved. It had all the elements of the type of book I love, but it somehow fell flat for me. I Initially liked the characters and the story, but half way through found myself losing interest and ready for the story to wrap up. A mediocre read that helped pass the miles on my drive today. Thanks NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC of this book.

𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Wow, I think this is one of my favorite books from this year so far! A beautifully written novel about family, war and love that will stay with me for a very long time. It was perfection! All the stars!

Thank you Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for this gifted copy!

I went in with really no idea what this book was about, except that it was historical fiction. I'm not typically a big historical fiction fan, but this was done in a way that was mostly character driven. I really liked it more than I thought I would! Such a sweet story. I loved the relationship between Bea, William and Gerald. A story about love, relationships and hardships.

I thought that this was really good! It didn’t take long before I was entirely captivated by this character-driven story. Bea’s parents in London send Bea to live with a family in the United States to keep her safe during World War II. Bea’s life with the Gregory family is good, and she soon fits in as if she has always been a part of the family. We follow Bea and her London family and the Gregory family over a large span of years and I really wanted to see good things happen to each and every one of them.

This is really a story of relationships. Bea’s relationship with the other children in the Gregory family, Michael, and Gerald, will play a huge role in her life. Nancy, her American mother, was there during most of Bea’s formative years and they remain close even though they don’t see each other once Bea returns to London. Both of Bea’s families have had hardships to deal with over the years and my heart hurt for them over some of the things they faced.

I thought that Ell Potter did a great job with the narration. This story had quite a few characters spread out over a long period of time and thought that she did a fantastic job of bringing the whole cast to life. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I had no problems listening to her for hours. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of character-driven stories. The characters in this book were easy to like and incredibly well done. There were a few surprises worked into the story which kept me glued to my headphones. I hope to read more of this author’s work in the near future.

I received a review copy of this book from Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio.

While I love historical fiction, I am drawn to stories that take place during WWII. I find the bravery and resilience of those who survived this horrific time period to be so inspiring and feel it is important to tell these stories.

With beauty and clarity, Laura Spence-Ash has written an inspiring and heartbreaking story capturing this dismal time period in time. Beyond that, the Sea is the story about a young British girl whose parents send her away to America to live with a family of strangers in order to keep her safe during the chaos and danger of WW2 London.

The story is broken down in to three parts and is told by multiple POVs. The first part is about a young brave Beatrix, her arrival in Boston when she meets her temporary family to the years that ensue during the never ending war, where she thrives as part of this loving family. There are so many emotions Beatrix feels during this time, from anger and abandonment at her parents for sending her away, to guilt over over not wanting to leave her happy and safe life with the new family she has come to love. The second and third parts take place post war, when Beatrix returns to London. The chapters in these parts are shorter and are told from the POV of several different character’s. I didn’t find this confusing, in fact I thought the personalities of each different character was brilliantly revealed, and it was refreshing to see the difference in views each had about their relationship with Beatrix and the memories they shared with her. It was here that I could truly sense Beatrix’s struggle with heartache and guilt for the love she had for her new family, the conflict of missing them but bravely moving forward with her life back in London, and the impact being away had on her relationship with her mother.

While set during the backdrop of WW2, this book was more a story about family, relationships and love. I enjoyed seeing this story play out from this perspective, it was very different than other books I’ve read during this time period. I thought it was insightful, well layered and was touched by the emotional depth of the story and its well developed characters. The ending was unexpectedly beautiful yet simultaneously heartbreaking.

The narration by Ell Potter was stunning.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview an advance listening copy of this fantastic story that will be available 21-Mar-2023. This will s my honest review and all opinions expressed above are my own.

Not my usual fare. Reminded me a bit of Women in the Castle. This takes place in England during the war, but there's something about it that felt similar.
Those is a character study novel. It moves slowly but it's not overly descriptive.
I usually enjoy a narrator with a British accent, but this one was not my style. She made the book feel dreary and depressing - like a gray London day. Of course that is the whole point, but maybe listen to a sample before committing to the audiobook or stick with the ebook.