I loved this book! I’ve read so many historical novels set before, during or after WWII, that this was a refreshing take on the genre. It was so novel that I didn’t mind the numerous POVs (of which there were quite a few). I immensely enjoyed seeing the characters brought to life and how their expectations, dreams and ultimately, lives turned out. Each character was full of independent thoughts and I felt like I knew each character very well by the novel’s completion. Doesn’t hurt that the settings (state side) were pretty idyllic. Would 100% recommend.

I enjoyed this book. It's by no means a fast read, but that goes along with its ultimate message: life is long, people grow, and nothing is guaranteed except for change.

I've read a lot of historical fiction about WWII, and this was something different - the story centers on Beatrix (though it's told through 5+ additional perspectives), an 11-year-old sent from London to live with a family in the United States to keep her safe. And while that formative experience takes place over the course of the war, the book continues 30+ years after it ends. Based on its blurb and description, this was a surprise to me - but unexpectedly, I think I ended up liking the post-war part the best!

I wouldn't necessarily describe this book as well-written - there were no sentences or scenes that stood out as beautifully crafted, which would have taken it to the next level for me - but the story itself is thoughtfully and intentionally structured, and it came together in a compelling way. If you're someone who likes historical fiction and sprawling family stories (in that sense it reminded me of Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano), I think you'd enjoy this.

Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.25 - Here I am again judging a book entirely by its cover. Thankfully, what was promised visually did not disappoint. In fact, I think I actually enjoyed it more than I was expecting to.

When the Germans begin bombing London, Beatrix is sent by her parents to stay with a family in America. She remains in Boston with the Gregorys until the end of the war. It's a lot of change for an eleven-year-old, but she pushes through it and eventually bonds with her host family.

I'm not sure why, but I was surprised to see this book had multiple parts. First, we get glimpses of Beatrix's time in America. Subsequently, we see her life in the decades following the war and her reconnection with the Gregorys.

I enjoyed the writing style of this book quite a bit, though I'm not a huge fan of dialogue mid-paragraph or dialogue without quotations, I got used to it. The story was beautifully put together. I especially loved reading about Beatrix's adolescence in America. I haven't seen a lot of books that show British children that evacuated to America. A lovely read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me with a free digital ARC of the book to read and review!

Thanks to Celadon Books for a copy of Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash.

I absolutely loved this book. It is a coming of age, told in the backdrop of World War II of two families and a little girl and then the next twenty years of their lives.

I love historical fiction and while I was expecting a historical fiction, this is more of a coming-of-age book about an 11-year-old girl who was sent to live in America during World War II, but I loved the direction this book went and I couldn't put it down.

Bea is eleven when her parents put on on a boat to Boston to live with a family during the war. Shy, scared and angry we see Bea get more comfortable with the family of two boys as they take her in as one of their own. She loves summers spent on the Maine coast and she grows into a confident young woman during the five years she lives with the Gregorys. While she's looking forward to seeing her mom, she doesn't want to return to London. Bea struggles with finding her place and torn between the two families who love her.

This book was heartfelt, emotional and a book about family and relationships. This was much more character-driven than I usually love, but the beautiful writing and relationships between all of the characters had me falling in love with everyone. I loved the jumps to ten or fifteen years later and seeing how the relationships changed over time.

I know this book won't be for everyone, but I loved it.

Millie and Reginald make the heart wrenching choice to send their daughter, Beatrix, to the United States so she will be safe during the London Blitz.

Beatrix settles nicely into her new family. In fact, she settles so nicely that she does not want to return home when the war is over.

This story is told from a handful of characters' points of view, and that is an effective way to follow Beatrix and her two families both during and after the war. I found myself cheering for each character to find some peace, joy, forgiveness, and the ability to keep moving forward.

I was provided a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! A welcome different slant on the plethora of World War II novels published in the last few years.

Beatrix is a young girl whose parents have sent her to America to escape the bombing of 1940 London. They feel she will much safer across the pond. When Bea arrives she is naturally reticent, but quickly settles in w her host family the Gregory’s, and their two boys. She stays 5 years, but then heads back to her mother after the war has ended. Her dad while she was away.

Bea returns back to London a young woman ready to start her life. But her heart is still in Boston. The balance of the novel follows those years after the war, and how their lives keep intersecting, even across an ocean.

Beyond That, the Sea is a beautiful story of love, family and friendship centered around the main character Beatrix. This story is told from multiple character points of view, in passages perfect for the reader to sit and enjoy just a few more minutes of reading, which will inevitably entice you to stay for a few more hours. After a heart wrenching, but selfless decision from her parents in England, Beatrix is sent to live with an American family during WWII in Massachusetts. Growing up with the Gregory family in America is very different from the home she knows across the sea. I hesitate to reveal more details of her story because I very much enjoyed not knowing what was going to happen next while I read. I absolutely fell in love with so many of the characters in this story, especially Nancy Gregory. Laura Spence-Ash does a phenomenal job in describing several different settings, often literally an ocean apart, and as a Maine resident I felt as if I were also spending summers on an island with the Gregory family. This book made me reflect upon so many influences I had in my own childhood that left lasting impressions and shaped me into the person I am today. This is a story that will stay with me, and a story that will leave an impression on you as well. The gorgeous cover may have pulled me in, but the writing made me stay. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for this advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

Do I have a good historical fiction recommendation for you. Beyond that, the sea is a story that is set during World War II in London England. Bombings are becoming more frequent so many parents were sending their children to America or other places to stay safe. We have Beatrix (Bea/Trixie) and her family decided to send her to America to live with the Gregorys. We get to watch be grow up over the years and see her interactions with the Gregorys, William and Gerald, the two sons and the mother and father. This is not without that strain on her own family back in England. We see her interactions between these two different women that have become her mothers and these two boys who are like brothers but not really. We watch her grow from a teen girl all the way to a young woman, living a life on her own back in England. It’s a beautiful story with lots of heartache and love. You follow not only Bea’s life but the life of all the characters in the books you see where they start and where they end. I highly recommend this.

Thank you to @laura_spence_ash and @celadonbooks @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the gifted physical and audiobook copies of this book that comes out in March.

Beyond That, The Sea is an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming read. Set in both London and New England, spanning from 1940 to 1977, the author takes you on a journey of heartache, family, friendship, trust, and love. It is so beautifully written; I did not want it to end. This book is 5 star, without a doubt. Put your feet up with a cup of tea or glass of wine and enjoy….you won’t be disappointed.

As bombs are falling on London during World War ll, eleven yr. old Beatrix is put on a ship and sent to America by her parents to live with a host family to keep her safe.
The Gregory’s, in America are excited to have her, they have two boys one a bit older and one a bit younger then Bea.
Life is very good for her in the States.. loving family, idyllic summers on the Maine coast, she becomes very close to the boys ..William and Gerald.
After several years, at wars end, Bea goes back to London where things are very different for her.. she must navigate between two worlds as her heart is still with the Gregory’s in America.
The rest of the novel I will leave to you, the reader to explore. Do read it, it’s wonderful!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the Arc!

This is a beautifully written, emotionally charged, coming-of-age, historical fiction novel: one that I couldn't but down and I won't soon forget. It is the story of a young girl, torn between two families and two continents.

Laid out in three parts (I loved the first part best), the story follows London born 11-year-old Bea, who is sent by her parents to America during WWII, to keep her safe until the war is over. She quickly becomes a part of her "new family" in Boston, who become deeply attached to her and grow to love her. Each chapter tells the story from the perspective of one of the family members from either of the families.

These characters immediately melted my heart, as the author brought their thoughts and feelings to life. I truly felt their fears, sorrow, and loneliness throughout the book. Being a mother, I was genuinely moved by the emotions that were felt by the two mothers in London and Boston, and my heart ached for young Bea. I will definitely be recommending this book again and again.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this for an honest review. Beautifully written and an engrossing story. I was immediately hooked into the story and characters. A book I couldn't put down.

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash is a beautifully written story and one I had a hard time letting go of!

To say BTTS was moving is an understatement.
I felt as if I was right there with the novel’s main characters.
The writing was done so wonderfully and pulled me back in time during the World War II.
An engaging and entertaining read. It had me fully immersed into since the very beginning.
A powerful, tenderhearted love story I absolutely devoured.
This is one book you won't want to put down.
Such a captivating novel, full of grace and heartache, forgiveness and understanding, loss and love.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As World War Two begins to target England heavily with bombs, Millie and Reg make the difficult decision to send their young daughter, Beatrix, to America where she will be safer. The Gregorys take her in, a family that’s middle class and has two sons. As the stretches on for years, Bea becomes increasingly comfortable with her new family in America.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! I find historical fiction is hit or miss for me and this was a hit! The characters were so well developed and I feel like they were so easy to connect with. I loved the short chapters told from almost every character’s point of view. There was romance which surprised me but I really liked how it was written in. I had never really thought about this part of history before so I found it really interesting to read about Bea’s experience. The ending really surprised me and I’m unsure how I feel about it, but I really liked the first 90% of this book.

What a heart-warming story about what it is to love. It is about the folly’s of youth and how perspective changes as we age. It begins during WWII but it is not a story of war time tragedy, more about the gifts that can be gained even during times of great loss. It is just a story about living life.

This book is beautifully written, engaging, and definitely unputdownable.

This is a book I will be recommending over and over again to almost everyone. It is a timeless story and should be read by everyone.

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for providing me we an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley.com and Celadon Books for advanced access to this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.

Beatrix's parents make the difficult decision to send her overseas, to Boston, to live safely with an American family at the height of the Second World War and bombings in London. Bea is placed with the Gregorys and finds two new friends in the brothers, William and Gerald. Bea ends up staying in Boston for five years, taking summer vacations to the family home in Maine each year. When war ends and the time comes for Bea to return to London, a piece of her always remains with her American family, who she remains in periodic contact with through her adult life.

This book was so sweet and ultimately very readable. The chapters were short and the perspective rotated between the characters on both sides of the Atlantic. I flew through this one quickly because I was constantly wanting to see what happened next. I think some of my favourite chapters were those from the perspective of the mothers - Nancy in America, and Millie in London. The difficulty of both sending a child away and becoming a pseudo-mother to a stranger is hard to imagine. I feel like the resolution of this book was fairly set in stone from the beginning, but at the same time almost happened too quickly, but I was satisfied at the ending. I'd recommend this to anyone who's a fan of character-driven historical fiction.

Beyond That, the Sea is a beautiful historical novel sure to charm readers of WW2 fiction.

The author's narrative style leans toward the literary so readers looking for a Beatriz Williams-type novel might want to look elsewhere. But I appreciated the elegance to the storytelling. The short chapters keep us turning the pages, and the jumps in time are handled well. There are many characters and storylines to follow, which adds to the literary feel. At times the reader can feel a bit disconnected and I wanted more emotion. However, overall this is lovely and such a treasure in the historical genre.

Thank you so much Celedon Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book that releases March 21st, 2023!

This book came with a little recipe card for blueberry muffins, not just any blueberry muffins but Nancy Gregory's blueberry muffins, which are mentioned within the story multiple times - I LOVE THAT! I made these muffins right away because they sounded delicious, and yum! They were so good! What a fun way to bring one of the main characters to life!

The layout of this book was fantastic, short chapters that were easy to follow. There are 8 characters that we follow in this book and the way it was laid out was perfect, I was never confused as to who is who.

*** Note : I have been told that the audiobook for this one is told by only one narrator and that made it super confusing to follow along with, so if you are planning on giving this story a go, I HIGHLY recommend reading it and not listening to it.

Part 1 was PHENOMENAL. I was super invested in the story and definitely felt a pinch in my heart , I was 100% confident I was going to love this book with a passion...

Then, it went downhill for me from there. I absolutely cannot believe we don't get to hear anything about the reuinon of Beatrix and her mother. This should have been the ultimate scene of the book that was bound to make tears flow, but NOPE, just just jump ahead 6 years... I was so disappointed. The book then took a turn and the story went a completely different direction than I was wanting/expected, leaving me super underwhelmed and at times, annoyed.

Also, hopefully this will be corrected in the final copy but the timelines do not add up with the story. The book starts off with a Prologue that takes place in October, 1963. When we get to this timeframe in the story its written in September 1963... Also it is mentioned that the children's birthdays are in August ... so why are they blowing out candles in October ... The timelines are just wonky and they just don't make sense in the end!

4/5 stars! This was a beautiful and all-encompassing historical fiction story. I don't think I've ever read a story that covers what it was like to be a displaced immigrant child during World War II. I felt the author did such a great job of narrating this subject while drawing the reading into Beatrix's story. It was a very unique read and I really enjoyed it.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This was a great twist on the Woman on the cover World War 2 fiction I've been getting, a solid purchase for most libraries.