WATER

Ladies and gents, let’s get to some reviews starting with this beautiful novella. Omg I feel so fancy even typing that word. And just wait for this. It’s part of a quartet! Those are two words I’ve said or written maybe five times in my life and all since I joined this app. This was my first novella, and damn if it’s not a classic.

I read my first Boyne, Heart’s Invisible, at the perfect time because The Elements quartet had just been released. Water starts out with a bit of mystery and morphs into discovery. I was again shocked by the oppressiveness in Ireland that soaked through the book. Rather than sexuality however, this book focuses more on feminism and the “role of the woman” in society. Boyne does such a brilliant job of defining the barriers and then satirizing them to illustrate their idiocy.

This book is about a wife who lived within the rules of the patriarchal society that is Ireland, and let’s be honest the World, until she was forced to escape, and a family that was splintered because of a father.

Will escaping help the mother and her daughter reconnect? Will the woman forgive? Who needs forgiveness? You will find out when you read this story that drips with raw emotion.

EARTH

I set my tablet down and immediately lean back, aggressively rub my face, and mutter “Jesus Christ.” I’ve just finished this novella and my fingers feel like they’ve gone numb on purpose, like this novella isn’t for me to review.

But it’s Boyne so there are things I relate to so fiercely that the story feels like it’s become a part of me. The novella is appropriately titled Earth as you sink into it, feel it in your hands as you read it, and it takes root deep within you only for those roots to be ripped out without warning. I suppose that’s appropriate as we don’t give warnings to nature before the damage we cause it.

We also don’t cultivate an environment in which kids, adolescents, and adults can be free. Free to pursue who they want and what they want. Instead, just like gravity, society acts as a force to push down and discredit voices that need to be heard.

This is a brutal story for a brutal world, but also a reminder that it takes courage to be free.

Trigger warnings definitely.

John Boyne is one of my favorite authors, & unlike so many others he has yet to disappoint, & this was no exception. I was slightly dubious about this project when I first heard about it, I couldn’t fathom a way that Boyne would write anything Boyne-like about the elements. I assumed it would have to be geological, but I should’ve trusted my boy JB bc once again his writing is top notch and his ideas are impeccable. This is a writer who is at the top of his game and unlike so many others who are at their best in the beginning and then they find it hard to top & ultimately wind up on a downward trajectory—John Boyne is the diametrical opposite. His early stuff was great, & all he does is get greater. As people like to say—i’d read his grocery lists!! This is a very special author at the top of his game!

John Boyne’s The Elements is a beautifully crafted novel that truly shines in its structure and emotional depth. I loved how the story came full circle, with a beginning and ending that felt both intentional and satisfying. The way the characters were woven through each of the four elements ~ earth, water, air, and fire ~ was seamless and impressive; I found myself wondering how Boyne would tie them all together, and he did so magnificently. The novel didn’t shy away from challenging topics, it handled them with grace and nuance, making for a thoughtful and compelling read.

Overall, this is a powerful and memorable book. A 4.5* read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC.

I was so happy to be able to receive a copy of John Boyne's 'The Elements', and while I appreciated reading it, it didn't move me as much as his previous books of his that I've read. That's not to say that it wasn't worth reading, because it was, but it seemed to be very different from the other books of his that I've read, and loved.


Pub Date: 09 September 2025

Many thanks for the opportunity to read John Boyne's 'The Elements'!

At times difficult to read due to the subject matter, the four different viewpoints revolving around central incidents are well executed. The characters are well developed, and the plot shines a light on the complexity of human emotions and relationships. Boyne certainly doesn't shy away from the tragic and difficult!

Holy Smokes, I love most of John Boyne s books. They usually give you something to think about, this one was no different. So much childhood trauma, and it proves the theory that what you go through as a child can definitely affect not just you, but those around you

This artfully crafted but, at times, brutal novel explores sexual abuse/assault and trauma from many angles. There probably can’t be enough trigger warnings.

The first the interwoven stories was my favorite - an engrossing, a vivid depiction of the direct and indirect impact of an abuser on his family, and an enabling spouse coming to terms with where she might have turned a blind eye. The other three stories were also gripping, full stories of characters with complex histories, showing how the world can’t be so easily parsed into distinct categories of perpetrators and victims. The were more difficult to get through with some of the brutality depicted.

I usually don’t like short stories but I have to admit they were long and immersive enough to stand on their own as complete stories that will stay with me.

“None of us can be held responsible for the things that lurk in the darkest parts of our minds. But in our lives? Yes, we can. So whether something happened to [him] when he was a child or not, I genuinely do not fucking care. If it did, he could have chosen to break the cycle. If it didn’t, he could have chosen not to start one. But he did do what he did. He made that decision. So fuck him. Let him rot. I’ll open a bottle of champagne when he dies.””

John Boyne has easily become one of my favorite authors. His book, The Heart's Invisible Furies, completely stole my heart. It remains one of my favorite books to this day. I was thrilled to learn that he had another book being released this year, and I am grateful to have received an ARC.

These stories are hard-hitting, there is no doubt, but they are also among the most beautifully written. While the topics of his stories are dark, the journey that Boyne brings you on reminds you what it is to be human. He truly is one of the most masterful storytellers of our time.

His ability to invite the reader into the most intimate thoughts and emotions of his characters is extraordinary. The way he threads the stories together—through character, theme, and a haunting return to an island off the coast of Ireland—is nothing short of breathtaking. From the perpetrators’ complicity and cruelty to the long, painful aftermath endured by the victims—the depression, dysfunction, and the near-impossible task of moving forward—Boyne captures it all with devastating precision.

Despite the emotional weight, I’m grateful I read The Elements. It left me reeling, but also in awe of what fiction can achieve when told with such unflinching honesty and compassion.

John Boyce’s latest book combine 4 novellas with each one centering on the elements of crime-the enabler, the perpetrator, the accomplice and the victim. This is by far my favorite of his novels. He masterfully intertwines each story and truly allows you to see each point of view and how their behavior affects the rest of their lives. The crimes are brutal and horrific but hope and fresh starts resonate throughout. The first part was a bit slow but I had trouble putting it down as more connections were revealed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In “The Elements”, John Boyne revisits his fundamental questions around guilt, trauma, complicity, and the complex realities of human relationships. He uses four interconnected narratives to look at the roles people play – the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim. While Boyne is clearly exploring themes that are important to him, his characters are never forced. They are well developed, with real and individual responses. This is a literary novel that uses structure and powerful language to create depth, compassion, and insight for the reader. John Boyne has done it again!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a fan of John Boyne for several years now, and have been looking forward to this book, which compiles 4 novellas previously released. It may be my favorite Boyne book. It is masterfully told, compelling, and deeply moving. It reveals the intricate spiderweb of people and relationships, the demonic impact of abuse of all kinds, and the glowing hope we all share that there is some meaning to this life. The manner in which Boyne ties his characters together while weaving their own stories is astonishing. I had the most trouble reading Fire, but the whole book is just one amazing journey. My thanks to the publisher and a Netgalley for making this available.

“The Elements” by John Boyne is a brilliantly written group of four interlinked stories that deal with the devastating topic of sexual abuse and the intergenerational trauma it inflicts on victims and perpetrators. I found the book very disturbing and warn anyone sensitive to this topic that this might not be the right book for you. At times, I almost abandoned the book but I am glad that I didn’t. The novel is important to force people to confront this topic and consider the impact on individuals, families, and society.
Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

John Boyne’s “The Elements” is tough, heart-wrenching, addicting, devastating, and human. A re-release of his Element novellas, now bound together to tell a more whole story, Boyne is writing some of his greatest stories here, though some of the hardest to read as well.

Elements is some dark stuff. Boyne covers sexual assault, molestation, rape, homophobia, and more through the almost 500 page book. It’s not just the acts that are tough to read, but the fallout of each event and the impact it has on the singular character (and their family and community.) But this is where these stories shine - how these characters survive these terrible acts or atone for their terrible deeds. Boyne handles these moments superbly, especially given his monumental work with “The Heart’s Invisible Furies” — I wouldn’t trust these with other authors.

I won’t get too deep into each Element novella, but I will say that while they’re all great, there are a few that are better than others. The first, “Water,” is my favorite, following “Willow” as she travels to an Irish island to escape her past. Here, we meet this island’s interesting and fully realized inhabitants. We’re Willow getting to know them (and hoping to come out of this better, more thoughtful people.) The second novella, “Earth,” follows Evan, who hopes to be an artist, but life takes him in another, darker direction. Earth is also the first time Boyne shows his masterful handiwork interconnecting these stories — it works much better here with the collection compared to the singular release of the novellas.

I do have some gripes, however. “Fire,” the third story, is objectively the hardest to get through and was hard to read. You can’t really root for this person but Boyne does posit the idea of the human - are we the person we are because of nature or nurture. The last novella, “Air,” though good, is admittedly the weakest but it does a great job tying up loose ends from the previous three novellas.

If you’ve read a Boyne novel, you know what you’re getting here. But you also know you’re in for an eye-opening experience that leaves you the reader with lots of thoughts to ponder, and some that will follow you long after you’ve closed the book and have said goodbye to (some) of these wonderful characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for this ARC.

John Boyle's The Elements is a wonderfully written novel that interweaves four separate stories.
Each story has one or two characters that appear briefly in some of the other stories, but each focus on the life of one character. What the stories have in common besides the intersecting lives involved in each is how the characters highlighted in each of the stories deals - or fails to deal -- with traumas and tragedies in their earlier lives. Several suffered sexual abuse, or were family members who suspected, but did nothing about the abuse. The various ways in which these characters deal with their past trauma or complicity - and how they each deal with these issues in very different ways - is at the heart of the book. Richly descriptive of the worlds in which these characters find themselves and the inner thoughts of the lead characters, it will keep your attention. Recommend it highly!

As a fan of John Boyne’s earlier novels, I was pleased to receive an advance copy of his new novel, The Elements, to be published in September 2025.

Boyne’s newest novel is poignant and sensitively-written - as you’d likely expect if you’ve read any of his previous work - but the structure is rather unexpected from Boyne. Written as a loosely linked series of four novellas, each dealing with the topic of sexual abuse (but from very different perspectives), Boyne ultimately weaves them all together with subtly interconnected characters and events. Although each novella can stand on its own (thanks to the strength of his characters and his incredible storytelling ability), they build on one another to create a powerful whole.

The Elements is an engrossing novel that deals with complex emotional issues: guilt, innocence, shame, complicity, and the resulting heartache of broken lives. It’s a novel that will probably make you squirm a little bit (and one that should come with a trigger warning), but it will, perhaps, also bring fresh perspectives and understanding to the complex emotions underlying this insidious reality for all too many.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on September 9, 2025.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

The Elements by John Boyne is a collection of four novellas that create a full story.
In Water, Vanessa’s life is shattered when a national news story breaks her family apart and she retreats to a tiny island off Galway. She spends a year on the island, recovering, growing and becoming herself again.
In Earth, Evan Keough, who grew up on that tiny island, is a nineteen year old football star in London. He is on trial for being an accessory to rape. We learn why he left the island, what his life became and what happens with that trial.
In Fire, we follow Freya, a burn specialist doctor who was the foreman of Evan’s trial two years prior. We learn that people aren’t always what they seem and contemplate the idea of nature versus nurture.
In Air, the most poignant of the four, Aaron, who learned for a time under Freya at the burn unit, is now a child psychologist. He has a teenaged son of his own and the majority of this story is his relationship with him. They end up on the same island where Vanessa started, as if it truly is a place of healing.
This collection of stories was incredible. The writing was phenomenal, the way each character connected to another from story to story and the deep themes of childhood trauma and trust, love and self doubt, and healing were thought provoking and meaningful.
Fire is probably the hardest one of the four to read, and could be a turn off for some, but I appreciated the fact that Boyne made sure not to use typical stereotypes and I got so much out of that one. If you have enjoyed previous novels by John Boyne or like a book that is set over decades with multiple plots that seamlessly intertwine at the end, you will enjoy this.
Overall this was a beautiful collection and I am very thankful to Net Galley and Henry Holt Company for my ARC.

Wow—The Elements completely blew me away. I’ve read and loved John Boyne’s past work, but this might be his most powerful novel yet. It follows four characters whose lives are deeply affected by one man’s actions, each from a totally different angle: a mother haunted by guilt, a rising soccer star whose secrets are about to come out, a surgeon trying to keep the past buried, and a father taking a road trip with his son that changes everything. The way their stories connect is subtle at first, but when it all clicks—wow. I couldn’t put it down.

What I loved most is how real and human these characters felt. None of them are perfect, but Boyne writes them with so much empathy that you can't help but care. The themes—guilt, complicity, redemption—are heavy, but the pacing is great and the writing is beautiful without being overly complicated. If you enjoy novels that explore messy relationships, tough questions, and emotional depth, I highly recommend this one. It’s the kind of book that sticks with you.

John Boyne is one of my favorite authors, and he just keeps getting better and better. The Elements is everything I want in a book - it's a page-turner with fascinating characters, meaty with plenty to think about, and crafted so skillfully that I don't know how he manages to do it. In short, read it! The book tells four intertwined stories represented by the four elements and each relates to healing from unthinkable experiences. It's a wonderful book - I highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Elements by John Boyne.

I LOVE Boyne, he has not disappointed me once.

This book gets five stars, but I want to be clear, that doesn't mean that I think everyone should read it. It's got hard stuff in it, like, REALLY hard stuff. Every chapter, every new story has been plagued with some sort of abuse. And that's his point, he's demonstrating how the sludge of abuse and harm has far-reaching consequences and victimizes people who aren't even close to the epicenter of that specific harm. The writing style is genius and unique and SO captivating, even with the difficult content.

Having been a fan of John Boyne for years, I was beyond thrilled to receive an early edition of his latest. As in his other books, he approaches his subject with depth and humanity and not a little humor, but overall with a seriousness that the subject demands. Four interlocked novellas with four distinct protagonists present a history of sexual abuse with an unconventional slant. Yes, there is the familiar situation of an older man preying on young women, but also the woman who rapes teenage boys as a distorted method of revenge. What Boyne has managed to provide are reasons without doling out sympathy, and the reader is more aware of the long terms effects of these crimes on not just the victims, but also those associated with them. I cannot recommend this book highly enough with the caveat that it is powerful and pulls no punches.