The Lighthouse by Christopher Parker is an emotional story about unconditional love, longing, loss, and grief. This is the story of Amy (who is grieving from the loss of her recently lost mother), her father (a member of the state police, who decided to take Amy with him on an assignment about a missing person to the town if Seabrook), and Ryan (a local owner of a horse farm). After spending some time together, Amy and Ryan end up trying the discover the secret of the mysterious lighthouse, and what follows are tales of love and heartbreak.

The Lighthouse is a moving novel, with characters that are likeable and a bit of intrigue, that unfolds toward and unforgettable ending. It is about processing death and dealing with the aftermath of bad decisions. The town of Seabrook was described quite vividly leaving feeling you truly immersed in the atmosphere of their world.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Bookbrowse for a chance to read and review this book.

What a beautiful story of loss, grief and learning to find your happy ending! Originally I had to put it down and thought I was going to dnf it. Mainly because of the pacing. But something made me pick it up months later, and I am really glad that I did. Following Amy and Ryan as they learned to cope with their own grief and find ways of moving forward, was such a rewarding thing to witness. Park made these characters so relatable, it was hard not to put myself in their shoes, hard to not agree with a lot of their emotional responses. It felt like I was learning with these characters. Despite the pacing issues in the beginning, I ended up really enjoying this one.

The Lighthouse by Christopher Parker was on my DNF list for almost two years. Let me tell you guys that I was really missing out on a great story by leaving it on the DNF pile. I finally picked it back up in January.

Amy Tucker and her father are trying to put their lives back together after Amy’s mother dies. It has been a struggle for both of them. Mr. Tucker takes a short-term job in Seabrook to help his friend do some investigative work.

Seabrook has an old haunted lighthouse that has suddenly started to shine its light. Amy gets the details from Ryan, the son of a local ranch owner. They met under somewhat odd circumstances but still struck up a friendship.

Since her dad has left Amy on her own for the evening, Ryan gives her a tour of the town and the ranch. Ryan has his own problems that he tells Amy about. I think helping someone else helps Amy to forget about her grief for a little while.

Amy does begin to notice that something is off with this town. She cannot find her dad. Her phone calls aren’t going through to anyone. Her taxi driver leaves her out in the middle of nowhere. A young girl saves her from the townspeople that are acting weird and creepy.

The girl tells her to go to the lighthouse and all will be revealed. Amy does make it to the lighthouse and cannot believe the story she hears. She doesn’t know if she will be able to help. So she takes a leap of faith. I cannot tell you anything else or it will ruin the surprise.

If you are a fan of mysteries or magical realism then you will enjoy The Lighthouse. If you are a Stepford Wife, then you might not enjoy it quite as much as you should. I would recommend reading the book immediately. Please do not leave it on the DNF pile!

A lovely book. An atmospheric setting and enjoyable magical realism. Very sweet, relaxing, and enjoyable.

From the moment you begin reading, you begin wondering what is happening - and that sense stays with you throughout. There are twists that are unexpected and events you never see coming. If you are looking for a ghost story/mystery that is engaging and keeps you guessing, this is it.

This a going to be a DNF for me. The characters seem 2-dimensional and almost cartoonish, especially once we get to the small Oregon town. I made it about 20% and just did not feel pulled in by the writing, story, or characters. I think some people may enjoy this, but it is not for me.

The Lighthouse by Christopher Parker reads as a YA novel, so be forewarned since the book has been marketed as adult fiction. Amy is an 18-year-old girl, who has recently lost her mom and has a very strained relationships with her dad. There are strong themes of grief and loss, which were hard for me read. I read to be happy, and did not realize when I requested this book that it would be so heavy and sad. I was intrigued by the mystery, but the characters and their interactions left things feeling flat and monotonous for me. The romance is very simple and immature, and was not as sweeping and "deeply romantic" as the synopsis had me hoping for. Essentially, The Lighthouse was not what I had expected (or was told I was going to get), and I ultimately would not recommend it.

Was not a big fan of the audiobook version - it felt a bit too over the top. However, I am glad I gave the physical book a chance. This is book reads more like a YA read, and it is obvious in the simplistic conversation between the main characters. There is an obvious immaturity present in both characters but overall it didn’t detract from the story.

I did not expect the magical aspect of the story from what I had read about it prior to picking it up, but it made for an enjoyable and unique read. This is the author’s debut novel and I am definitely interested in seeing what he releases next.

📌 Pub Date: October 26, 2021

I was given a copy of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Beacon Press Limited for the chance to read this book!

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a captivating read! I couldn’t stop reading! I loved the characters and the story! Highly recommend!

A story that took me completely by surprise. This is more of a slow building book with hints of romance and the promise of mystery lingering in the shadows of the secrets of The Lighthouse.

You will be engulfed by the sadness at first with Amy with losing a parent and the grief that comes with that devastating loss, and evolve with her and Ryan as hope starts to spring and romance, selflessness and kindness blooms.

I really enjoyed this a lot, there are a lot of twists and turns which had me clinging to the pages! The ending unfortunately fell a bit flat for me. The characters were easy to like and the premise kept you intrigued. For a debut book I think the author did a fantastic job.

I apologize but I was not able to finish this book. I was in a different headspace at the time of requesting / recieving this book and the time I got it.

The Lighthouse is not my usual novel. It has a contemporary, American setting, there are no bonnets on the women, and the men do not wear cravats. Jane Austen is nowhere to be seen or heard. However, there was something about the book’s description (and I confess, the captivating cover art) which drew me in. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but what was delivered is unique indeed.

Writing a review of The Lighthouse is no simple task, as its surprises are one of the reasons that the story is compelling and mysterious. To offer any spoiler material would certainly ruin the novel’s impact for future readers. I will submit that Christopher Parker has written an interesting story, one that I would almost categorize as a fairy tale, although no true fairies are involved. I did have to “check my theology at the door” a little bit, but I in no way found the story to be spiritually offensive. It’s a whimsical world in which these characters live. While it’s true-to-life in many senses, there are elements that take the narrative beyond the norm as well.

Author Christopher Parker’s writing is well done, and I must confess that for some time I wasn’t able to put a finger on the hidden aspect of the novel’s premise. It just felt like something was “off”, but it was an indeterminate quality. Eventually pieces began to fall into place, and it made for a compelling set of circumstances in the lives of the characters. The subjects of pain and grieving are central to the story, but such heavy matters are handled in a compassionate way.

I wish I could say more about The Lighthouse. In fairness to those who have yet to read it, I must resist the urge to reveal more. Christopher Parker has crafted a thoroughly original tale that I enjoyed very much. There is just a touch of colorful language and romance, but overall the novel can appeal to all readers. In conjunction with a print copy, I also listened to the audiobook presentation of the novel, and narrator Braden Wright offers an excellent performance.

Although this review is short, I do offer an enthusiastic endorsement of The Lighthouse. Well-written and unexpected, it was a pleasure to discover and savor.

Ryan and Amy are thrust together one night, and then spend a long, excruciatingly long day together. Unfortunately this was such a predictable plot line that I spent the whole time waiting for the events to unfold. Several times characters use the Lords name in vain, as well as the whole Holy Family at one point. After we reach the snowglobe plot line I nearly lost my patience and quit listening. I can’t recommend this book to anyone unless they enjoy books that you don’t have to think too much about.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I was drawn to mysterious aspect of the novel. However, it was not what I expected. This was more of novel that focused on grief and losing a loved one. Thus, I found the synopsis to be a bit misleading. The story was also predictable, and I knew the ending early on in the novel.

This is the strangest book I have ever read, but in a good way. I enjoyed this book and will look for others by this author. I would definitely recommend this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this multiple genre book. It had romance, grief, mystery, but most of all it had heart and touches of magic. The characters were well developed and the plot was full of twists and turns. It is the author's first book, but I hope it's not his last. A great read!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* 4.5. wow this book just went in so many directions lol, i knew something was up but didn't know what until shortly before it was said in the story lol, would reread but it's long lol

While I was intrigued with this novel, I lost interested with in the first few chapters. I usually am engaged with this genre & content of storyline but it just didn’t reside with me. I liked the writing style & flow of the plot.

I originally wanted this book for its cover... that's what attracted me. Covers are one of the most important things, because while you shouldn't judge a book by its cover... people do. If the cover doesn't catch your eye in a bookstore, a lot of time you walk on by it.

Quick Summary: The Lighthouse by Christopher Parker was just the type of book I was looking for. It was intriguing. It had heavy suspense. It had a paranormal component. It had textured characters with engaging back stories. It was intricate without being overly complex. It made me think and consider the why and what of the story, which I found very appealing. It made me wonder. Without giving too much away, I can definitely say that it was a character driven work that presented an unconventional approach to family, grief, relationships, and recovery.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: YA/A

A copy of this book was made available to me in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I was neither paid nor compensated in any way. Appreciation is expressed to both the author and the publisher of this title.