A story about loss and new beginnings in many different ways. A very good book by a new author for me. I really recommend reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book. It did not influence my review.

I'm rating this book somewhere in the 3.5-4 range. I'm going back and forth because of a big string that was left hanging at the end of the book, which I wanted closure on, but I also don't want to give away too much here.

This book is about many things: suicide, grief, a woman's strength, hope. And nothing is exactly what it seems, even when the book ends.

This book is about a woman named Sarah who has lost her mother and can't get pregnant with a much wanted baby after 7 years of IVF. It's also about a man named Gabe who lost his wife and the type of future he hoped for. He owns a crumbling lighthouse (without a light,) which promises to drop into the sea someday in the not too far off future. It is also about a group of people called the Guardians who are supposed to try to prevent people from throwing themselves off the cliff down to certain death, although, as you will find, people aren't always what they proclaim to be.

Overall, I really liked this book and found it to be a nice piece of literary fiction.

The book starts off interestingly enough divided by the pov's of a man who is looking for his wife, afraid she has committed suicide and a lighthouse keeper whose wife died. The characters are relatable at first and the setting of the story is really interesting but after a while, all the desperation and memories get very tiring. The themes in this book range from loneliness to suicide, inability to have children and loss. My favorite part was the way the people that live close to a suicide point are portrayed.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
I will buy the book when it comes out
As I could not read the format big small blank pages numbers etc
Potentially a good book

3.5 stars

This review is based on an ARC of <i>The Light Keeper</i> which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Marylebone House).

What I liked about <i>The Light Keeper</i> was it's incredibly touching nature. This book faces some heavy issues (infertility, depression, suicide, rape, etc.), but does so in a human and compassionate way that makes the characters so much more real, and also proves the adept skill of the author. The pacing and character building in this story were truly excellent, giving you enough backstory to want more, then switching off to someone else to leave you curious and desperate to keep reading.

So why didn't I rate it higher then? I admit there were times when I was sure this would be a 4+ star read, but I didn't like the ending <i>at all</i>--it just seemed so random and like it didn't fit what led up to that point. Also, for the first half or more of the book, I didn't know who was who. I thought Jack and Gabe were the same people, and I couldn't keep clear whose girlfriend was whose, and I thought the Light Keeper was an old man (that's just how I figured a lighthouse keeper would look.) There was <i>a lot</i> of confusion for me at the start of this novel.

Overall though, <i>The Light Keeper</i> ended up being a book that I pretty well enjoyed!

At the onset of this review, I'd like to state that at many a times, I was about to DNF this book for good, but didn't respecting the author and the publisher's decision to provide me with an ARC for an honest feedback. This is as honest as it is going to get.

The theme of The Light Keeper is something that appeals to me - love and death and suicide, and the aftermath - the suffering it causes, the depression it ensues. Even the backdrop of the storyline is an intriguing place that exists in the real world. Yet both these facts aren't enough to keep the interest alive IMO. Even small to very-small chapters, which generally are a motivating factor, failed to do that job this time. There is something amiss, which is enough to detach the reader in me from the story, and the characters it narrates.

The narration style didn't appeal to me either. Even a few characters felt forced, and that ending was plain bland, thus making the whole affair hard to follow. I can't quite place my finger as to what exactly wasn't appealing - it just was.

In any case, if you are still planning to read this one, consider this as a warning for the depressive content the book contains. It is definitely not recommended for the light-hearted.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

Verdict: Skip this one.

This was just not my cup of tea. The book was very confusing to me because of the jumps between characters. The formatting was also a bit off but I think that's because I read it on my phone. I don't think this is a bad book but it was just nog for me.

I did enjoy The Light Keeper, the prose is often quite beautiful and the epic scenery really is done justice. Story-wise, I found myself wanting to just flick through to the Keeper’s chapters as they seemed to have the most depth and as an exploration of grief, this book really does hit the mark.

Unfortunately, the Sarah/Jack addition just didn’t really fit all that well for me. The last 30% of the book felt rushed, forced and just out of keeping with the languid beginning and the ending just felt rather flat. Without spoilers, there were a few other very strange elements that just didn’t add anything substantial to the narrative despite hints throughout that they’ll have a significant part to play.

A book wherein the setting becomes irretrievably intertwined with the story. Everything about the lighthouse and the surrounding environment reflect the vagaries of relationships in the lives of the protagonists..It's an emotionally charged piece of writing whereby the reader is almost always on the edge and the characters all seem to be somewhat manic. I had one little quibble about the questionable behaviour of the Guardians as I didn't think it added anything. However it's a great read that draws you into the tremendous drama.

The Light Keeper takes you on an emotional voyage over very difficult terrain. It is a story about suicide and mental health issues and human warmth and pleasure tinged with sadness and emotion. It’s a very intense book, not like anything I have read before. It is certainly a very interesting book but because of the heavy, challenging aspects, I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Wow... this was nothing like I thought it would be considering the cover. I must admit though, it wasn't the book for me; I wasn't really prepared for the subject matter central to the story, mental heath and suicide.
The formatting and structure was also troubling and made it hard to follow, however I can appreciate the intention of this book, but the central themes are quite challenging. At this time, sadly not for me but I wish the writer success and thank you for the arc.

Without a doubt The Light Keeper will take you on an emotionally demanding journey over challenging terrain. In fact, my first thoughts while reading this book was just how much anguish was hiding behind its tempting, almost carefree façade of a cover.

But perhaps that’s the whole point. The image people project on the surface may not reflect what truly lies beneath. The characters reach a personal crossroads where they wait alone, that is until the direction they ultimately take has revealed itself.

After immersing myself in the ‘Guardians’ patrolling miles of cliff tops for signs of distress, the gruelling routine of IVF, and the enigmatic ‘Keeper’ with his silent ache of grief and endless reminders of loss, I can’t say I finished this read feeling emotionally buoyed – if anything I’d have to say quite the opposite.

It was the passages involving 'The Keeper' that were the most emotive for me. I believe that’s because although he’s attempted to distance himself from others, he discovers that unpredictable and unwelcome contact with strangers in need results in some pretty affecting exchanges – for him, them, and me.

Due to the subject matter it’s not a book I can say I ‘enjoyed’. But in no time at all I became concerned for the welfare of characters, hoping they may find a light in the dark.

Not sure how I feel about this book. I found it a bit disjointed and hard to follow. It is a story about suicide and mental health issues.
It is certainly a very emotional book and I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to where you can handle the heavy, challenging aspects brought forth.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read the arc of “ The Light Keeper.”

I am thankful for an advanced copy of this book for an honest opinion.

I found the overall plot to be good. However, it was a slow read and took quite a bit to get the story going. I felt compassion for Sarah’s infertility. But the timing was not quite right to keep the reader interested.

Very intense read. Not like anything I have read before .Wanted to see what happens so I finished it but do not think I enjoyed it, sorry. Cover of book made me want to read it.

Love lost is terrible, but worse when the loss is due to death. This is a very emotional book and could be triggering to some.

This is a lovely, sad book about mental health and suicide. The prose is slow, though, this might be due to the main character’s path towards acceptance of loss. The lighthouse, and the crashing waves below, are a metaphor, in some ways, but also a setting where loss often happens.

I really enjoyed this book, but I was not expecting the heavy tenor when I saw the cover. I don’t have personal experience with suicide, so I was able to focus on the beautiful words. I don’t know if this book would be challenging for someone dealing with suicide.