The title of this book is what really drew me in to the story. I was intrigued by the idea of someone so deep in grief that they start seeing their husband again and everyone around just goes along with it. The story was an interesting premise but I felt like it dragged on a little too much for me. And when things came out in the open it was a bit disappointing of a shock - though nice to see that Piper was not really insane. The hardest part I had with this is that I did not connect at all with the romance of the story. I did not feel anything between Anders and Piper and felt that by the end it was just too forced. I would be interested to read more of Colleen Oakley to see what else she has.

This was an endearing feel good book that works as the perfect vacation/beach read. Loved the quirky characters that rallies around a grief stricken widow. That sense of compassionate community was very well done and is what I loved most about the book. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a warm cozy read set in a small town

This was a moving and heartfelt book about the power of community and healing from loss. The characters were tender and vulnerable and felt so real to read! This was a well written story with a unique plot that brought a smile to my face.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for my copy.

I generally can't stand books with journalists as the main characters (as a journalist myself) and so I carried a lot of hate for Anders throughout this book, but I was desperate to find out what was really going on here, and the charming setting of Frick Island and the cast of wacky side characters kept me going. I think this would be a good summer vacation read for anyone looking for one!

Frick Island is a tiny, remote town in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay and although it used have a lot more residents, now less than 100 people live there and the number is going down as the mostly elderly population dies off. Twenty two year old Piper Parrish lives there with her twenty four year old husband, Tom, until Tom dies when his boat is swamped out in the bay. Piper's grief kept her locked up in her little carriage house until she came out again, acting like Tom was still alive. Not knowing what to do, the towns folks consulted their only medical expert, the dentist, and went with the plan of letting this "invisible husband" thing play out naturally.

New journalist, Anders Caldwell, has his idol. The person he wants to be most like isn't Superman but Clark Kent. He wants his reporting to make a difference but instead he is covering things like cake walks. In fact, Frick Island's annual cake walk is what brings Anders to the island, where he sees first hand, Piper and the town pretending that dead Tom is still alive.

Anders has a podcast that isn't doing very well but he sees his chance to grab an audience with the story of Frick Island, Piper, her dead husband, and the town pretending the husband is alive. It's not easy to get information because the entire town is cagey and protective of Piper and it's secrets but Anders weasels his way into the town's daily life by being helpful. The town is happy to take Anders up on being the town slave/handyman and eventually Anders wins Piper over as a friend. But Anders is playing with fire and he's going to hurt himself, Piper, and the town, if he's not careful.

The story is funny, mysterious, and sad and the audio narration is very good. Is dead really dead? Is Piper mentally ill, is the entire town mentally ill?

The one thing I got out of this was that men should really be banned from making podcasts.

There’s so much I strongly disliked about this book, which sucked to eventually find out because I’d read an earlier title of Colleen’s and I’d really enjoyed it! So when this came out and then just sounded somewhat similar to the movie ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ (which I absolutely love and made me uncontrollably sob), I was so excited and ready to love it.

To add things up, probably the worst book I’ve read so far this year.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley was another title I downloaded because I had no self-control. It sat on my NG unread shelf for quite some time before I finally decided to try it. I picked it up when I needed something uplifting, different, light, and heartwarming. It was the mood read I needed and hit the spot at the right time.

What is going on between the covers.

Anders, a young, ambitious journalist, travels to the remote Frick Island to cover their annual Cake Walk fundraiser. He wants in and off as quickly as possible, but something strange is going on, and Anders is determined to make it the career-making story he needs. However, it might not be the story he thinks it is.

My Two Cents

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley is a charming story that explores community, the complexities of relationships, friendships, kindness, and grief.

The story's heart is in the relatable characters and their dynamics. They are likable, kind, soft-spoken and most of all, supported, and I love the kindness and support they showed Piper. It is inspiring as it is something we don't often see anymore.

Colleen Oakley creates characters with unique personalities and quirks that bring heart to the story, humor, and life to the setting. The characters defy those gender roles and stereotypes you might find in a small town. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments while reading this one that had me clicking the pages as fast as I could.

The charming small fishing town was the perfect setting I needed, and I enjoyed traveling there from my chair.

Charming! I loved the island setting, the quirky characters, and even the sad storyline. Don't pass up this sweet story. I'm a fan of Colleen Oakley!

This was a really sweet story of two people who have all but given up on love and true happiness. They accidentally end up booked at the same cottage on vacation, and neither agrees to leave. What ensues is funny and sweet, and I absolutely loved the Irish setting.

This was a fun book to read because it took place on an island modeled after Smith Island in my home state of Maryland. This is a great summer read!

One thing I love about Colleen’s books is that they are all so unique and she has written another one in that category. This is a character driven novel and the characters are all very distinctive as is the setting. The writing is descriptive and you can practically smell the salty ocean air on Frick Island. The inhabitants of the Island take care of one of their own after her loss. They do this is in a surprising way and it definitely confuses an awkward newcomer. This book is captivating and is great reading for the summer!

Goodreads Description:
Piper Parrish's life on Frick Island—a tiny, remote town smack in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay—is nearly perfect. Well, aside from one pesky detail: Her darling husband, Tom, is dead. When Tom's crab boat capsized and his body wasn't recovered, Piper, rocked to the core, did a most peculiar thing: carried on as if her husband was not only still alive, but right there beside her, cooking him breakfast, walking him to the docks each morning, meeting him for their standard Friday night dinner date at the One-Eyed Crab. And what were the townspeople to do but go along with their beloved widowed Piper?

If you are looking for heartwarming story, look no farther. It was so much fun being transported to a tiny island off the coast of Chesapeake Bay. This would be an amazing story for book clubs of all kinds. It was unique and charming and I am looking forward to reading more Colleen Oakley books!

This was a DNF for me unfortunately. I read the first 80 pages and just couldn't get into the writing style and the plot. I heard great things about it from a lot of people, so I think it either just wasn't for me or was a right book/wrong time situation. I may pick it back up another time.

I really loved Colleen Oakley's CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH which I read a few years ago. I've been meaning to read another by her and I'm kicking myself for having waited so long!

THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND was such a sweet and sad and heartwarming story. I loved how it gently explored the many facets of grief and how everyone experiences it differently, even if they've experienced a similar loss.

Such a lovely book.

I consider myself an OG Oakley fan because I fell in love with her debut, Before I Go (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/954537981), before it had even come out after getting an ARC at BEA in 2014. Her second book, Close Enough to Touch (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1777289526), solidified her as a favorite. Her next, You Were There Too (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3105839227), was her first with a new publisher and was still enjoyable (though it didn't quite hit the spot the way the first two did). Sadly, The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, is her first book to fall flat for me. I wanted to love it - desperately! - but it just didn't happen. The premise is an interesting one, but I ended up being surprised (and letdown) by its resolution. There was more description than I'm used to in Oakley's writing and while fleshed out the setting, the characters were left floundering. None of them were developed enough for me. The romance was a bit too instant (and unbelievable), and I just found myself bored. I was just So Okay With It in the end, but I included all the info about Oakley's previous books as a way to say I'm still a fan and am hoping her next release will be a return to everything I've loved about her writing in the past!

One of the best books I read in 2021! Not my usual genre but it was quite a lovely story. I recommend it to almost anyone who wants something lighter and uplifting. Loved it!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were fun and quirky and very real and relatable. The story was interesting. A good blend of happy and sad. A light read, great for the beach.

What a fun and moving little novel! The story is told with equal parts humor and poignancy and the balance between the two is perfect.

Frick Island (inspired by the real-life Smith Island) is a unique, three-square-mile island community that makes you want to live there yourself. A place where everyone knows everyone else, and they support each other through everything life has to throw at them. An island that is indeed under threat of climate change. An island that values tradition over anything else and is adverse to change. An island that does have a special cake named after it.

Piper Parrish and Anders Caldwell were endearing characters that I'll remember for a long time.

Yes this IS a love story - but it is SO much more! The island serves as a microcosm of society. It is a treatise on bereavement and grief with themes of loneliness paramount. It is a novel of assumptions, secrets, and learning to love.

Highly recommended! A delightful melding of women's fiction and 'Uplit'.

This is an interesting book that is filled with well-developed characters. It can drag at times but it is worth reading. It is a look into mental health.

"'Ma says just because we can't see him, doesn't mean Piper can't'."

After her husband's boat sinks while he is at sea, Piper Parrish finds herself a young, grieving widow until one day, Tom miraculously reappears. The problem? Piper is the only one that can see him. Due to their love for Piper, the islanders opt not to correct her, carrying on as if they can see him too. Anders, a young reporter desperate to find a big story to put himself on the map, is shocked to come across an island of people pretending to interact with a man who is not there Believing that he found the story that will put him on the map, he returns to the island hoping to uncover the truth, learning about life and love in the process.

This book wasn't at all what I expected, but I definitely enjoyed it! While I knew Piper would likely be unique, I wasn't expecting Anders to be quirky in his own right as well. Oakley's writing brought him to life, and he was a character that I won't soon forget.

"But the truth, if he had ever uttered it, was that he didn't want to be Superman. He wanted to be Clark Kent. The mild-mannered reporter with snappy prose and thick square glasses, yelling 'I'm on it!' when his editor pounded his fist on the desk and blustered: 'We're sitting on the story of the century here!'"

THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND was a heartwarming story with plenty of moments of levity to balance out the themes of grief and mental health. I found myself chuckling while reading thanks to the antics of the zany islanders, and I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected twists. Overall, I enjoyed this read, and I am looking forward to reading Oakley's You Were There Too next!