"The Northern Reach" is a beautifully written and intricately crafted novel that tells the story of a small coastal town in Maine and the interconnected lives of its inhabitants. Winslow's prose is both lyrical and precise, painting a vivid portrait of the rugged landscape and the people who call it home.

What sets "The Northern Reach" apart is the depth and complexity of its characters. Winslow has a keen eye for the nuances of human behavior and psychology, and she explores the joys, sorrows, and struggles of her characters with sensitivity and insight. Each character is unique and fully realized, and their stories intertwine in surprising and meaningful ways.

The novel is also notable for its themes of family, legacy, and the passage of time. Winslow deftly explores the ways in which our pasts shape our present and our futures, and the complex relationships between parents and children, siblings, and spouses. Through her richly drawn characters and evocative setting, she creates a world that feels both timeless and deeply rooted in a particular place and time.

Overall, "The Northern Reach" is a stunning achievement that showcases Winslow's considerable talents as a writer. It is a must-read for anyone who loves beautifully crafted fiction and complex, engaging characters. I highly recommend it.

As far as multigenerational family drama literary novels go The Northern Reach was a decent story. As to be expected, there are storylines that I identified with more than others, and got more enjoyment out of but all in all, it was a wonderful character driven novel.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 by W.S. Winslow has been sitting on my Kindle ever since last winter. Somehow, it just never felt like the right time. That is...until last week when finally I read it. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting from the book, but so many readers I trust had loved it, that I definitely was expecting to feel the same, and I did. Some of the time.⁣
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To me 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 was more of a collection of connected short stories than a cohesive novel. The book begins with a complicated multi-family tree, tracing four Maine families through several generations. Then, each chapter zeros in on a portion of the tree, telling the stories of those characters. Some characters pop up in more than one chapter, others don’t. Later chapters reference events of previous chapters, and yet, they still didn’t feel very connected to me. I found many of the chapters very compelling, but some I could have skipped entirely. I longed for more of the “big” story. However, Winslow’s writing itself was excellent, so I look forward to reading more from this debut author. Maybe next time it will be that “big” story.

I really tend to enjoy family sagas, and quite honestly, I’ve read a lot of them. I found this to be quite a good read, especially for a debut novel. The author has a fine touch with description and imagery and a great way of creating character development. I found myself involved in the exploration of grief and life through these family members. The one thing that I did have difficulty with was that there were many characters and really had to keep up with them. Other then they, an excellent book that I recommend.

I usually love a multi-generational saga, but this one wasn’t for me. Just when you’d start to follow one family’s story, another one would start. While they are connected, even with the family trees, I would still spend the first several pages of each chapter trying to figure out who everyone was and how they connected. It read much more like a collection of short stories, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if the novel had focused on one or two families and given more time to get to know the characters.

This is a series of interrelated stories about families in a small Maine fishing community. It follows them all, the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' over a span of time from 1907 to 2017. The characters are related by blood or marriage.

First I have to say that the writing was touching in its authenticity. A beautifully written narrative told through multiple narrators, this did not feel like a novel at all.

The setting is one that I can easily relate to and have visited many times. I live in Nova Scotia and Maine is less than a hundred miles away as the crow flies. The book astutely described the weather during the long Maine winters and believe me, you can't live in this area of the world without the topic of the changeable and volatile weather entering the conversation at some point.

"Above the reach, low clouds sleepwalk across the February sky. Today they are fibrous, striated, like flesh being slowly torn from bone. It's four in the afternoon and already night has started chewing away the edges of the day."

The stories follow the characters through all of life's milestones. Childbirth, marriages, parenting, betrayals, terminal diagnoses, divorces, scandals, funerals, shame and loneliness - lots of loneliness. It follows families who love each other and others who can barely stand to stay in the same room as one another. It showcases the insular nature of some small communities, and how one family's loss or disgrace can radiate throughout the community having profound affects on multiple generations. It highlights how years of resentments and feeling of encumbrance can build enough to break you. How some people really should never have children...

At times the writing can get very dark, with the resentments, frustrations, and unhappiness oozing from the narrative. Other times are more light-hearted. My favorite characters were the French born Liliane and the recently deceased Alice.

Above all this book is imminently memorable with some scenes that have seared themselves onto my consciousness.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, wholeheartedly. Though be warned, if you are looking for something with a definitive beginning, middle and end you will not find it here. Much like the lives it describes, it is not linear.

All in all, this is an astounding writing debut.

4.5 stars rounded up

“The Northern Reach” by W. S. Winslow is a family saga set in and around the small fictional coastal town of Wellbridge in Maine, USA. Spanning about 100 years and the four intersecting Lawson, Baines, Moody and Martin families, traumas echo through the generations against the dramatic Maine coastline.

This was a really readable novel with an exceptionally strong sense of place. Winslow has a real strength for characterisation and each point of view character has a unique and distinct voice. I really enjoyed Liliane, the sophisticated French woman who finds herself widowed in unwelcoming Wellbridge. I also really liked the sisters Coralene, Marlene and Earlene and the subtleties in their relationships and Winslow’s hints of infidelity. Winslow also thoughtfully and sensitively explores family trauma and how they impact not just the immediate generation but the subsequent generations afterwards. The moody coastal atmosphere is also complemented by some ghostly visitors.

The only thing that was a bit challenging about this book was keeping track of all the families. Winslow helped a lot by providing a full family tree at the beginning of the book and then specific branches throughout, however reading an eBook did make it a little hard to flip back to the diagrams.

An immersive and insightful novel about the complexities of families, relationships and small towns.

A novel in short stories about interconnecting families in a Maine town that highlights the complex problems and dynamics overflowing in small communities.

In her debut, W.S. Winslow tells the stories of (primarily) four storied families in the seaside town of Wellbridge, Maine: the Lawsons, the Baineses, the Moodys, and the Martins. Some of these families have been in Wellbridge since the late 19th century, connecting with one another through marriage and shattering internally because of the fact that they’re...well...families.

Each chapter looks at one group of people at a critical moment in time. For example: the opening chapter introduces the Baineses a year after the devastating loss of two family members; George Lawson gets fed up with his home life and enlists in the military; the death of her father forces Victoria Moody to confront the family she’s long tried to escape; and Imelda Martin would like something to be on her own terms, even if it’s her death.

A family tree sits at the start of the book and turns out to be a great resource as characters are introduced (and sometimes reintroduced at different points in their lives later on in the book), but a zoomed-in section of the family tree is provided before each chapter along with the year in which the chapter takes place. This is basically essential to understanding the links between family members and the families in Wellbridge so audiobook fans: beware! You’ll likely be missing a crucial aspect to this book if you don’t also have a physical or e-copy.

There were a lot of high points in this book. And by that I don’t mean that the characters experience much happiness because things are fairly bleak throughout the whole book. Many characters don’t end up with what they want and have to overcome huge obstacles just to be able to call the shots in their own lives. But the town of Wellbridge really sings through. The depth of the connections between these families and how simultaneously tight-knit but also unforgiving a small community can be felt extremely realistic. It’s a blunt but honest portrait of a coastal town and the whole book feels like the sting of the chill in the air on your face when you’re standing in front of the ocean. It hurts, but you’re tempted to lean in.

That said, some of the chapters are much stronger and more memorable than others. Any chapter dealing with the Baineses was a winner and the long-awaited introduction of the Moody family was fantastic. But that introduction came so late into the book and, for as much as the Moodys were discussed in other chapters, I expected more than one chapter on them. The chapters in the latter half of the book were notably weaker, with one family being introduced that was not on the main family tree. I still can’t figure out who they are, but I’ve given up caring.

An interesting and, in places, effective dissection of a seaside Maine community, but ultimately uneven.

I enjoy family sagas, and with that said, I’ve read a lot of them. This was very good, especially for a debut. Everything was very descriptive and lush, and I really enjoyed the exploration of grief and life through these families. My major complaint is keeping track of the characters was confusing at times, and took me out of the story trying to remember who was who and how they were connected.

A short tale of decades and decades of grief, prejudice, and struggle for these families. A lifetime of loss through death, alcohol and family strain and struggle in the early 1900s.

The Northern Reach is W.S. Winslow’s first novel and what a beginning this is. The story takes the reader to a small seaside town, Wellbridge, Maine. We eavesdrop on the lives of four families: the Baines family, the Martins, the Edgecombs and the Moody family and we are witness to their despair, their joys, their problems, their loves, their lies, their deaths. W.S. Winslow is a ninth generation Mainer and she writes with a finger on the pulse of her characters. I have laughed and I have cried while reading this lovely little book and I would read it again anytime. If you enjoy family drama and family sagas, The Northern Reach is the book for you. Following these families through several generations as their lives intermingle is pure pleasure. I look forward to reading future novels by Ms. Winslow. Highly recommended. Thank you to Flatiron Books, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Grant the unburied eternal rest”

Mmm! I’m not really too sure where to begin with rationalising my thoughts about this book. I really do believe that this is one of those stories which takes every reader on an individual journey, whereby each of us will probably have one or two unique ‘stand out’ characters and moments that will stick with us for some time after the final page has been read. I know I have!

Likewise, it is also quite difficult to pigeon-hole the book into a specific genre. Personally, for me this is very much a work of literary and cultural fiction, as it is definitely all about the essence of the characters and a sense of time and place, rather than any earth-shatteringly, fast-paced frenetic plot; making it for me, a profoundly moving and often heart-wrenching reading experience, definitely giving this book great merit as a breath-taking, quality debut novel, by a new author with consummate storytelling skills, who writes beautifully, with great authority, total confidence and, more importantly, authentically and straight from the heart.

There really is no beginning, middle or end to this story. It simply and vividly brought to life, snapshots and milestone moments in time, during the 20th and 21st Centuries, featuring and bringing into focus, intricate and detailed vignettes of the people, the places and the unfolding events. Whilst passing mention is made of other areas and countries and even continents, this small, insular, waterfront corner of Maine, New England, is the central showcase and pivotal focus, of this sprawling generational family saga.

When I say ‘family’ saga, that is to say that the author has expertly and seamlessly constructed and woven together, a multi-layered menagerie of three or four predominant families, who over the course of time have intermarried, interbred, loved, fought, divorced, separated, lied and died, so that even with the help of mini family trees at the beginning of each chapter, it got to the stage where I couldn’t remember just who was related to whom and what their place was in this sprawling dynasty of dysfunction, disagreement, distrust, scandal, resentment and self-destruction.

This wonderfully textured, slowly unfolding story, was all about the compelling blend of words and visuality in the narrative and dialogue, between the members of these unconventional, complex and multi-faceted characters, who were really almost impossible to connect with, apart from at a very superficial level and who were definitely not investable as an engaging community, no matter at whose window in time the spotlight shone. Actions (usually fists) often cruel, spoke louder than words and whilst much of this blame could be laid at the door of ignorance, ill-breeding and familial connections, there also needs to be some allowance made for the conditions of this wasteland landscape they found themselves slave to. From the clandestine Ku Klux Klan to the inevitability of the bootleg black-market; from land rich cash poor dirt farming to the dangers and trials of a life pitted against the sea, stoicism binds them all together. Dark times and even darker thoughts are all-pervading, between characters who seem unable to share the same space and air together, yet can’t seem to live without one another. Together they are troubled, but alone they are lost and lonely souls.

In all fairness, many from the later generations, afforded some degree of education, did try to make good their escape from the clutches of this barren swathe of land, however as if lured by some seductive siren, or fastened by some invisible thread to their past and the struggles and complex experiences which had helped to shape them, they kept returning to Wellbridge’s bleak and brutal shores, where the ghosts of the past still held sway over the destiny of the living.

I thought this was a fascinating book of interrelated stories that captures how a place/setting can play such a role in who we are as a person/family. Wellbridge, ME is a tiny seaside town and we are introduced to several families and a glimpse of their lives through tales that span a century. Each story is so captivating in its own way but at each story's core, is how the place and seasons play such an interesting role in building the family histories. We see in each story the varying degrees of religions, social status, income, etc. I really appreciated how the characters felt so real and so raw, so much that I felt sadness for some and a strong dislike for others.

My only wish is that I had read a physical copy of the book and not an e-book version as the family tree was really difficult to read and I found many times where I would have appreciated being able to examine that page more closely to figure out who's who.

Overall, the stories were so well-written and left me with so many different feelings throughout the book. I look forward to more from this author.

Beautifully written novel set in Maine describing the interconnectedness of families and people over a century. The novel spans a long time and leaves one period of time and jumps to another. The novel hooked me immediately in the first chapter with a gorgeous section about a mother losing a child and how we call a woman whose husband has died a “widower” but there isn’t a
name for one who has lost her child. Thoughtful and precise writing with heartbreak and drama along with some humor, this book is lovely and I recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advanced copy. I’m grateful.

Fans of Elizabeth Strout and her prickly protagonist Olive Kitteridge will feel completely at ease in W.S. Winslow’s debut novel. Set in the coastal town of Wellbridge Maine, and spanning nearly one hundred years in the lives of two families that for better or worse continue to intermingle,
Winslow assembles what is essentially a series of short stories connected through familial bonds. With this construct she plays loosely with time moving backwards and forwards the indication of where and with whom we are shown on a extended family tree, that to be honest, on the kindle was near impossible to read. A physical book or tablet should eliminate this issue.
Winslow like Strout digs deep into the wellspring of human emotions, loss and pain, love and longing all presented through various characters, one of my favorite stories seen through the eyes of a mother who is passing over while her grown children stand by her bedside. Like any short story collection, some were more effective and affecting than others, but all are at least good if not very good, immediate and accessible, and I’ll be interested to see what Winslow writes next. Thanks to @Flatironbooks @netgalley for the copy.

I received an ARC from the publisher, Flatiron Books, through NetGalley, for an honest review. The Northern Reach is set in a coastal town in Maine, and it tells the story of 4 generations of Mainers. The Maine weather is a big part of the book, but it is the families that will hold your attention.
Life is challenging in Maine, and we see how one generation can affect future generations. With the families struggles, losses, and sometimes despair, it affects not only their way of life but how they treat others. Edith Baines has lost her son to the sea, and she just watches the sea like she is waiting for him to come home. It is how she handles the grief.
This isn't a story that starts at the beginning and follows it through, this book offers snippets of what life was like throughout their time. One thing I noticed and that made the book fascinating was some of the things that was going on back in the 1900s were passed down through the generations and became part of who they were. Today mothers who lose a child or loved one, stares at the sea like they are waiting for them to come home. With the struggles of the past there was domestic violence which has been passed down. Land-rich, cash-poor is a struggle that goes on today with farming.
The book written the way it is will make you think about the past generations and the impact it has on your life today.

First impressions are not always correct. In the beginning, I must confess the writing style and story structure threw me for a loop. When I started to feel something for a character or the family dynamic, the story moves on to the next and at times I became frustrated. Yes, I was having a rough go of it all. It was time to take a step back and reevaluate the story and purpose of the presentation and I’m glad I did.

One must remember that when reading about generational families or interconnected families-if you will, there will be multi-faceted plots. You will be taken deeply into a historical time-lines. There will be strong elements that can sway you from happy moments to darker times. In short, they evolve. Family bonds are complicated to say the least and the author marvelously portrays this fact. We might not like the characters or we will feel we are not getting enough from them but that is okay. The Northern Reach is an evocative story and will push boundaries you might not have expected to cross.

I did enjoy a quite few of the story-lines and the setting and I was intrigued with the character’s life story and I wanted to read more about them. Will we be reading more about these interesting people? I would like to very much! As the story continued, I began to have a better understanding of the set-up-if you will. There is strong character development and the setting gives you a stark, realistic view of the state of Maine and its’ towns. There is a particular social element in the story that is still considered a hot topic in today’s climate that I would really like to pick the authors brain about!

The author superbly portrays how people can make assumptions about other people and even more so in families. The Northern Reach is not a story of virtuous people, but they are down to the bone’s realistic of human nature and thought. In particular the attitudes of the Baines family and the people who marry into that family. At first, I found Edith Baines to be an intriguing woman, I soon discovered her to be just as flawed-if not more- like the rest of them. She was hardened by her life experiences and loss. Her attitude-I felt-towards her daughter-in-law Lilane was unjust. The women who made the most impression on me were Imelda, Alice, Liliane and Suzanne. I would like to read more about them.

An intriguing story wrought in hardships, cultural differences, family dysfunction, legacy and loss.

Stephanie Hopkins

A beautiful, simply written book about life in a small town in Maine and several families that are connected over the years.

Starting in the 1800s. the story follows four families and the events that change and shape them over the years. There are marriages, deaths, divorces and all that goes with life. The setting is wonderfully descriptive, especially the long, cold, lonely winters and the brief but gorgeous summers. The characters come to life and make the reader feel a part of the community.

A treasure of a novel reminiscent of Olive Kitteredge yet able to stand on its own.

This series of interconnected stories tracks the lives of four Maine families from 1907 through 2017. It's a lot for the fairly slim volume but Winslow does a good of capturing her characters in a few sentences. It struck me part way through that the families- Baines, Moodys, Martins and Edgecombs- are each a trope of sorts. That's not a bad thing entirely because one or two of them might surprise you, as they did me. I appreciate how Winslow managed to wrap them into their Maine setting and remind us that it's not all lobster rolls and camp moccasins. I read this on Kindle, which made flipping back to the family trees a challenge and argues for a hard copy if that's important to you. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of literary fiction.

The Northern Reach by W.S. Winslow is a tale of loss, love and the power of family. It follows the lives of family members in a coastal Maine town in the early 1900’s. It covers an expansive amount of time and can be hard to follow at certain points. In my ARC copy, I was lucky to have family tree’s which made following the many characters slightly less confusing. I personally was not a fan of the many religious references. I think many people would love this, especially those into character development and complex relationships. I look forward to more by Winslow but this was just an OK read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the chance to read and review this advanced copy!