This is a stunning debut about loss, isolation, and folklore that absolutely blew me away! In 1938, a dead whale washes up on the shore of a remote Welsh island that is simultaneously beautiful and blisteringly harsh. For Manod, a young woman who has spent her whole life on the island, it feels like a symbol of doom as well as a representation of what is beyond the island’s shores. Two English academics show up soon after, claiming to want to study the island culture and write a book, and pull Manod into their project. This is a book filled with dignity, sorrow, and restlessness. O’Connor paints a portrait of community and a woman on the precipice, forced to confront an outside world that seems to be closing in.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t believe it’s a debut. It has some of the most stunning, visceral writing I’ve read in a long time. Not a single word is wasted. I’d read the same section again and again, just soaking up O’Connor’s words. The book is told from the perspective of Manod in short, choppy chapters that worked perfectly to offer snapshots of her life on the island. Each installment affects the reader, whether it's a punch to the gut, an uneasy feeling, or a moment of beauty. There is this haunting atmosphere throughout the book that brings the island and its inhabitants to life. I loved getting sucked into this distinct place and seeing it through Manod’s eyes. Despite being a quiet and succinct story at a little over 200 pages, the rich prose, sharp wit, and layered storytelling give this book so much power.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon for the ARC.

In WHALE FALL by Elizabeth O'Connor, Manod is a young woman living on an isolated island in 1938. acting as mother to her sister and helpmeet to her father after the death of her mother. Frustrated and trapped by her beloved home, Manod's life is turned inside out when a dead whale washes up on shore, followed by two ethnographers fascinated by an isolated community. Through these outsiders, Manod imagines a different life for herself, in the greater world outside, where your life is not tradition bound and defined by the way things have always been in this tight, insular community. I was rapt by the beautiful writing and compelling storytelling by O'Connor, immersed in a different time and place and circumstances that repelled as much as they fascinated. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

The whale in this novel is a symbol of doom that took me down the most interesting path. This was witty, and smart, and quiet, and an incredible look at ambition. Highly recommend!

I love how this book mixed the story with Welsh folklore in this beautifully written debut. Taking place on a remote island with rough seas, the story follows 18 year old Manod. After a whale is beached, a couple of mainlanders arrive to write a book. Not many people inhabit this island, and it can feel lonely and isolating.

This takes place between the World Wars, and it was interesting to read some of the folk tales. The island is fictional, but based off of several different ones. I loved the writing style, and found myself fully immersed in this character study.

This was a really great debut! Elizabeth's writing was crafted beautifully and carefully done for her storytelling. This is pre-WWII and a lovely story following Manod about an island off the Welsh coast with the arrival of two English ethnographers. I felt like I learned a lot about the Islands in Wales and the people who inhabited it, especially through the eyes of our young protagonist, Manod (yes, even with it being a fictional island).

If you love Claire Keegan's books, I think you'd really love this. The creatures, descriptive details of nature, just loved. A short but heartwarming historical fiction with a little tap to the heart.

Whale Fall is a beautiful debut that takes place on a remote Welsh island in the 1930s. It follows 18 year old Manod, who loves her family but yearns to explore opportunities outside of what her island can offer. The story starts when a whale appears on the coast of this small island and two ethnographers arrive to document the life and culture of the island.
This book was a quiet and lyrical book that captured my attention with its beautiful writing. Although it did take me a little bit of time for me to get into it, it ended up being a very quick read, and I would recommend!

This was very unique - if you're looking for something completely different than the average bestseller, this was a very refreshing historical fiction.

A dead whale washes up on a tiny Welsh island in 1938, and the residents are left wondering if it's a good or bad omen. Around the same time, two English ethnographers arrive to the island to catalog their way of life, how little they know about the outside world (and the war looming), and where their customs and folktales have come from. We follow Manod, an 18 year old serving as mother to her younger sister, who speaks English well enough to translate for the ethnographers - she realizes there's a lot more to the world than her tiny island.

At times, I really enjoyed this book and clicked with what was happening, but other times I was re-reading entire pages to figure out what had just happened? I think it's that style of British writing that for me at least, I need to see acted out on screen to understand the full range of emotions going on (aka Pride and Prejudice). Some things definitely went over my head!

It also felt like there wasn't a big climax to this story - things happened, it ended.

But overall, I'm really glad I read this, and I think there's definitely an audience for this book! If you're looking for something atmospheric, unique, like anthropology type content, this is for you.

A sense of meloncholy sits at the heart of Elizabeth O'Connor's debut historical fiction Whale Fall. Between the World Wars, Manod lives with her father and sister on an isolated Welsh island, surrounded by the small community's traditions and folklore. The appearance of a dead whale on the beach lures sea birds, villagers, and ethnographers from the mainland. After taking a job with Edward and Joan, the newly arrived university students, Manod struggles with her desire to leave the island and the sense of obligation that keeps her there. As the whale decomposes, so too does Manod's relationship with these "modern" ethnographers.

O'Connor creates gorgeous prose that pull readers into the feel of the small welsh fishing village. The narrative moves a little slowly at times, even more slowly than life on the island; it feels like nothing is happening and no one is moving, creating the same sense of "stuckness" that Manod is working through.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

This lyrical, coming of age novel takes place in the 1930’s off the Welsh coast. Two strangers come to a small town after a whale washes ashore. While the whale seems foreign to the residents, the residents intrigue these two new visitors who, like anthropologists, record their way of life. The visitors remind eighteen-year-old Manon that there is a world apart from her small town. This is a quiet, contemplative novel, that continued to wash over me like a wave when the book ended.

Here is my review for whale fall! Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review ! I gave this book 3.5 stars

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor is a captivating and atmospheric debut novel that delves into themes of loss, isolation, and the longing for something beyond one's immediate surroundings. Set on a remote Welsh island in 1938, the story follows Manod, a young woman who yearns to explore life beyond the confines of her insular community. O'Connor's prose is both lyrical and intimate, painting a vivid picture of the harsh yet beautiful landscape of the island and the close-knit community that inhabits it. The arrival of two English ethnographers serves as a catalyst for Manod, igniting a desire within her to break free from the constraints of her upbringing and seek out new experiences. The novel expertly explores the tension between tradition and progress, as Manod grapples with the conflicting desires to honor her heritage and pursue her own ambitions. The symbolism of the dead whale that washes up on the island's shore adds depth to the narrative, representing both the decay of the island and the possibility of transformation and renewal. Whale Fall is a poignant and thought-provoking read that lingers in the mind long after the final page. O'Connor's skillful storytelling and richly drawn characters make this a novel that is as compelling as it is beautiful.

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor was a wonderful atmospheric read for a cold and gloomy spring day. When outsiders arrive, Manod is drawn to them as her stagnant life could change. Rich in atmosphere, O'Connor nails the isolated island community and landscape, a small place that is lost or behind in time. Whale Fall is melancholy and lonely, intimate and lyrical, and hits the spot for a shorter novel that is driven by character and place rather than plot.

In "Whale Fall" by Elizabeth O'Connor, readers are transported to a remote Welsh island in 1938, where we meet Manod, an 18-year-old woman living a simple life with her father and younger sister. Despite her isolation, Manod is intelligent and curious, yearning to explore the world beyond the island.

When two English ethnographers arrive to study the island's culture, Manod becomes involved in their research, forming unique relationships with both scholars. The story unfolds with captivating simplicity, drawing readers into Manod's world and the complexities of her relationships.

O’Connor’s straightforward writing style was beautiful in its simplicity. She has the ability to powerfully make a point in few words, and I was shocked to find such a well-developed, unique voice in a debut work. Already looking forward to reading whatever she writes next!

This is a gem of a debut novel. Manod is an 18 year old living on a remote island off the coast of Wales. The islanders are a diminished population. Simple folk who live as one with nature and still believe in superstitions and the old ways of life. The world is on the brink of the Second World War. A huge dead whale washes up on the shore. Two University researchers visit supposedly to study the Island ways and write a book about it. Naive Manod is caught up in this as she struggles to maintain her identity while learning the hard way how the world can be a cruel place. Read this if you are a fan of beautiful prose and literary fiction done right. Not so much of a plot here but it's still a short and sweet story well worth your time.
Thank you NetGalley, Pantheon Books and Elizabeth O'Connor for the ARC

Thank you Netgalley and Pantheon for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

4 stars

This is a captivating historical coming of age story set in a fictional remote Welsh island in the midst of WWII. Where our main character, Manod, is wanting more out of life after seeing all of her peers moving to the mainland. Then a whale washes up on shore and slowly starts decomposing throughout the book symbolizing the decay of the island. Then 2 students from Oxford arrive to gather information for the book they are writing about the island and the people living there. Manod begins working for them and becoming even more enamored with the idea of leaving their small island for the mainland to pursue an education. Later, when Manod is looking through the students notes she begins to realize their intentions may be questionable. She becomes torn between having a deep love for her family, the island, and her culture, while also still being drawn to wanting more out of life. O'Connor's prose is gorgeously lyrical and paints such a vivid picture of this fictional island it feels like a real place. While also sprinkling in snippets of folklore throughout the book. Although I did thoroughly enjoy my time with this book, I was just expecting a little more out of it. With that being said I think this is still a great book to read while you're in your 20s trying to find yourself!

The premise sounded promising, but the writing felt very heavy handed and the story didn't flow in a natural way.

Thank you Netgalley & Pantheon Publishing for an eARC ♥️


Whale Fall is the kind of book that wraps itself around your heart and refuses to let go. It's a stunning tale of self-discovery, set against the rugged backdrop of a remote Welsh island in the 1930s.

Manod's journey is one of quiet courage and determination, as she navigates the constraints of her small community and the allure of the outside world. Her story is a gentle reminder that our dreams and desires are worth fighting for, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

O'Connor's writing is like a soft breeze on a summer's day - warm, inviting, and full of beauty. Her prose is a masterclass in subtlety, weaving together themes of identity, community, and the human condition with grace and precision.

If you're looking for a book that will transport you to another time and place, and leave you feeling all the feels, then Whale Fall is the perfect choice. It's a beautifully crafted tale that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.🥹

Read this in one evening—such a lyrical, beautiful little book with a small story that tells us so much about human behavior and their desires and follies, using just one tiny island and a handful of characters. So glad I read it!

3.5 Rounding Up

For me personally, I felt like this didn’t live up to its full potential. The writing really was well done and the atmosphere was absolutely jumping off the page. But this was very disconnected feeling, abruptly moving to a different time or day or event with little to no transition. I understand this was intentional for the small, hard-hitting feel this was meant to portray. But I wish we would have just gotten a little more out of all the events and interactions.

This is not to say this wasn’t a good story, because it really was. There were some very heartfelt and tender scenes that I felt benefited from the sparse telling, but overall just a little bit more of everything would have made this feel like a more whole story to me. I don’t dislike the way this ended as it fits with the style of this story.

I loved the melancholy atmosphere of this island cut off from the mainland and living about 20 years behind the rest of the population. The descriptions of the island dwellers way of life were my favorite aspect.

Life in a small island community for some is a cherished ideal, for others a stultifying existence.

Manod is an 18 year old girl in 1938 who was raised on a small Welsh-speaking island just off the coast of England, a community that has just 12 families living there, plus the minister and the lighthouse keeper. She lives with her lobsterman father (Tad) and in the absence of a mother is helping to raise her younger sister Llinos. The men on the island are either farmers or fishermen, neither of which is an easy or profitable life. The younger residents are more and more often moving to the mainland in search of better ways to make a living. Despite having been an extremely good student at school, Manod has few options open to her…it is expected that she will marry (preferable someone on the island) and have children, though she dreams of continuing her education and leading a bigger life. Even as the rumors of coming war are reaching the island, something dramatic happens that will change life there forever. A dead whale washes up on the beach, which the more superstitious islanders feel is an omen (though they can’t agree on whether it is a good or bad one). Next two British academics arrive, Joan and Edward, wanting to study the islanders’ way of life. Their speech, customs, stories, songs, and more are all of great interest to the pair, but neither speaks Welsh particularly well. Monad speaks both Welsh and English well, and is asked to work as their interpreter. She is as fascinated with Joan (who wears lipstick and dresses in clothes just like those Monad has seen in magazines) and Edward and the life that they have lived as the academics are with the unspoiled rural way of life on the island. In both cases, the idealized virtues are far from what the reality of each situation is truly like, and will lead to disenchantment all around. Has Manod found a way to escape the harsh life that seems her destiny? Will Joan and Edward record an accurate view of the islanders’ life or will they portray it as what they hoped it might be?
Author Elizabeth O”Connor has written a haunting story about a disappearing way of life set in an unforgiving locale, and the coming of age of a young woman at a time and in a place that seems to offer but one path ahead, one that does not appeal. Manod has seen the life of wives on the island, who frequently lose their husbands to the sea, and where contact with the larger world is infrequent and at times even impossible. Joan and Edward are enchanted by this community that works in concert with their natural surroundings, but don’t seem to see how difficult and precarious life is there. Told with compassion and using precise, evocative language, this story allowed me as a reader to quickly enter the world Manod inhabits, and look at things through her eyes. She is a character who will live within me for some time to come. Readers of authors like E. Annie Proulx, Howard Norman and Michael Cunningham should grab a copy of Whale Fall, find a cozy chair, a mug of their beverage of choice, and settle in for a rewarding read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon Books for allowing me early access to this captivating novel of love, loss and disappointment.