Amanda Dykes debut novel Whose Waves These Are is a time-slip novel taking place during and after World War II and the present era. Dykes novel really doesn't focus on the horrors of World War II, which most novels written about World War II, instead she focuses on the destruction of the war on the people left behind after someone dies during the war. Bob is quite a character and wants to remember his brother by building a lighthouse. The present time storyline is Annie's story. She is looking for home and comes back to see her sick great-uncle. Usually in time-slip novels, either the present or the historical strike me as better written than the other, but Dykes actually wrote both of them really well. I enjoyed reading both sections. The story is unique and filled with fascinating characters. I really enjoyed this story, and I can't wait to see what comes next for Dykes. I think she might be around for a while.

I received a complimentary copy of Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery, the lovely Maine town, and the sorrow and depth of character displayed. Everything was done amazingly well.

Simply stunning. Whose Waves These Are, with its beautifully descriptive and emotive writing style, characters who are brave, relatable, and so very loveable and story of family, love, loss and miraculous reunions, drew me in and refused to let go. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, Whose Waves These Are is so very beautiful and a book that is simply a delight to read.

When Annie learns that her beloved grand-uncle Bob has fallen ill, she drops everything to return to Ansel-By-The-Sea to be there for him as he was for her in the time she most needed someone to understand and care for her when she was just a girl. As Annie learns what befell her uncle, reunites with the townsfolk and meets the standoffish newcomer, Jeremiah, she also learns of a story of loss and love that her uncle has guarded for years. Annie is determined to uncover the story and in doing so reveals not only the secrets of the past but a chance for reconciliation in the present.

Amanda Dykes crafts words with care and beauty. The writing in Whose Waves These Are is emotive and descriptive. It deserves the reader’s full attention and I found myself completely immersed in the story. The book contains chapters from the mid 1940s and early 2000s, split into sections and woven together. The way the two sections reflect and loop into the other, bringing to life the story both past and present and with some surprising reveals, is magic.

This is a powerful story of family and love, set against the hardest of losses and grief of wars and forced separation. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Whose Waves These Are is an ode to community and friendship, the bond between brothers, the love between man and woman, and the relationship between parents and child - broken and healed again. Honestly, I simply do not have the words to convey the magic of this book, the way it stole into my heart, and had me crying tears of grief and joy at the end and rejoicing in a story that has its own soul.

I can very highly recommend Whose Waves These Are. It is a beautiful and delightful story.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Not at all what I expected, but oh so beautiful! Amanda Dykes takes the reader to painful places in this tale, but then using her gift of sharing a sweet story brought it to a place of such beauty and hope and healing. Highly recommended.

“Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story.”
A wonderful quote from this amazing book and this book is full of these nuggets.
From the very first page to the end, this book had me captivated and wanting to read more. I didn’t want to put it down. It really was a book I kept thinking, “just one more page!” and hours later realizing I needed to go to bed.
My heart was touched deeply with the story of Roy, Robert, and Jenny. The wonderful fun young lives, and yet, the deep pain of how war interrupted those lives. Then also the story of William, Annie, and Jeremiah, and the struggles they each dealt with as well as how so much of their stories all link together.
This story brought many fresh thoughts regarding WWII to my mind. You may have someone in your life who was touched by that war. For me personally, it’s my in-laws. They also have their own stories. When I think of all they lost and all the struggles they went through, I can see how it has shaped them and made them who they are today.
Amanda Dykes has written a beautiful story of many peoples lives all intertwined and deeply touched by loss and the waves of life.
One last quote I want to leave you with is one which touched my heart:
“Lift your head, brave one. This life is a storm, no doubt about it. But oh, the One who holds those waves, who holds our hearts. What it is, to think of facing this storm in His hands, wrapped in a love that is fathoms – infinite fathoms – deep.” WOW! Thank you, Amanda Dykes, for sharing this deep love of God with us!
I highly recommend you pick this book up. It is Beautiful and deeply touching.
I was given this book by the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

There are plot-driven novels, and character/driven novels, but is there such a thing as a descriptive-driven novel? Not in setting, but in...life. Amanda Dykes doesn’t describe what people see in when the look out at the world, its like she’s giving all of her readers a pair of X-ray vision glasses to put. Ones that peel away at the artifice and shine a light on the heart. This is a story that you will ruminate over and will stick with you for a long time after it’s end.

These aren't simple five stars.
I mean them with all my heart.

I never doubted Amanda Dykes was going to tug my heart big time with this book. Her novella is one of my favorite stories ever and I still get teary when reading it (ie: I basically became a waterfall reading her first full-length novel).

Amanda is a wonderful storyteller and she gave me all the feels with her debut.
I shall come back to write a proper review when intelligible words return to me. My heart is simply overflowing and there aren't appropriate words to describe this book.

Let me tell you one thing. We are all given gifts, and they are to be shared and nurtured to bless others. This book talks about said gifts and said sharing and community.
That messy, beautiful, wonderful place to be.

No one writes as Amanda Dykes does. And this is not an exaggerated compliment or a criticism to other authors. It's stating her uniqueness and just how through this story she aims to show us our individuality and how we are loved for it, I aim to point out her gift that she has shared with us.

This book had me captivated from the very first page. I was reading it every chance I got. It's one of the best books I've read in a long time! Well done Amanda Dykes!