The Island Home

The uplifting page-turner making life brighter in 2022

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Pub Date 24 Jun 2021 | Archive Date 24 Jun 2021

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Description

Two decades. Hundreds of miles. A lifetime of secrets. Could coming home mean starting again?

'A perfect, warm escape from these cold, dark times' Kate Eberlen
'Bursting with hope and heart' Cathy Bramley

Lorna's world is small but safe.

She loves her daughter, and the two of them are all that matter. But after nearly twenty years, she and Ella are suddenly leaving London for the Isle of Kip, the tiny remote Scottish island where Lorna grew up.

Alice's world is tiny but full.

She loves the community on Kip and how her yoga classes draw women across the tiny island together. Now Lorna's arrival might help their family finally mend itself - even if forgiveness means returning to the past...

And as the two find friendship, Lorna also starts to find her place in the world.

Can coming home mean starting again?

Join the community of bestselling authors who love Libby's hopeful, moving storytelling!

'A wonderfully evocative and enveloping novel ... a perfect, warm escape from these cold, dark times' Kate Eberlen, author of Miss you and Only You

'Tender, heartfelt ... The Island Home explores every aspect of love and shows us it's never too late to fix what's broken.' Lindsey Kelk, author of In Case You Missed It

'Radiates warmth, happiness and hope' Veronica Henry

Two decades. Hundreds of miles. A lifetime of secrets. Could coming home mean starting again?

'A perfect, warm escape from these cold, dark times' Kate Eberlen
'Bursting with hope and heart' Cathy...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781409188261
PRICE £12.99 (GBP)
PAGES 480

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Average rating from 170 members


Featured Reviews

I had previously read The Lido by Libby Page and absolutely adored it. I was delighted to get the opportunity to review her newest book The Island Home. I adored it from start to finish, the story was an avsolute rollercoaster of emotions! I have a feeling that I will be reading books from the extremely talented Libby Page for a long time to come.

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I have read all the books by Libby Page, and “The Island Home” is easily my favourite. Written from the perspectives of two very different women, the book is an exploration of family dynamics, friendship, grief, love and a need to belong. Set on a fictional Isle of Kip, this is a story of family divided by past tragedies, trying to rebuild their trust, with the healing help of a community and the island itself. Lorna Irvine returns to the remote Kip after almost twenty years away. Alice arrived on the island as a young woman and now treats Kip as her home and its inhabitants as her closest friends. Will Lorna’s return mend the rift in her family, or will past secrets prevent scars from healing?
“The Island Home” is a feel-good story, with Libby’s trademark compassionate and uplifting storytelling. This is a book about friendship and communities, something Libby wrote so well about in her debut, “The Lido”. But I think that there is also a maturity in her writing, in the ways in which she speaks about the fragility of the island, the uncertainty that is a part of life there. The bonds between the islanders are strong and the characters in the book are unique and interesting, but no one is infallible. The beauty of the island is also tenderly described, and the reader gets a distinctive sense of place when Lorna and her daughter explore the location.
The story of Lorna’s life, conflicts and secrets from her past, compel you to stay with the story and find out more – and although there are some difficult choices to make and heart-breaking moments, there is also a hopeful and positive feel about the story, something that the reader might find comforting and reassuring.

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Well, what can I say about this book? Well I think it’s best to start with, Libby Page you’ve done it again!

‘The Island Home’ is the third title from Libby and, after loving ‘The Lido’ and ‘The 24 Hour Cafe’ (two of my favourite books that I read last year) I was over the moon to receive an advanced readers copy of this latest book from her - although typically started reading in a week when I was limited with reading time annoyingly!

It tells the story of Lorna and her daughter Ella, who live quite independently in London. After being brought up on a remote island in Scotland, city life couldn’t be any different but Lorna’s childhood on the island was something she didn’t want to remember. When there is a need to return to the island for a family bereavement there is a definite reluctance to return to the community that she felt treated her as an outcast when she was a child. With Ella excited to meet her new cousin and family she never knew existed, Lorna is apprehensive about what lies ahead...

I absolutely adore Libby’s style of writing and I wasn’t disappointed by this latest book. She has a unique way of connecting you with the characters without you even noticing, before you know it you end up emotionally involved with all storylines, feeling as if you know these people and their lives, a true testament to a great writing style for sure.

This book makes you think about the simple things, makes you realise not to take everything at face value, realise how important people and communities can be to everyday life. Over the last year with the pandemic I think we’ve all probably evaluated our lives more than ever before and this feel-good read definitely highlights some issues a lot of people will have thought about, encountered etc and, most vitally, the importance of ‘home’.

Thank you to Libby, NetGalley and Orion Books for the advanced readers copy (just a few spelling and spacing issue with the copy received but not sure if this is due to the e-reader format and am sure will be sorted before publication!), I can’t recommend this book enough - or her other two either! Already counting down to her next one!

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I'm a huge fan of Libby's other books so I was really looking forward to reading this book and reader, I loved it! So much - if I'm honest I thought nothing would beat The Lido but The Island Home made me cry at least 8 times and I stayed up til 2am to finish it in one sitting!

Don't be put off by my crying - it is a wonderful story of love and family and friends and finding yourself and where you belong. It is a beautiful story and I cannot recommend it enough; you will not be disappointed!

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What a beautiful book. I've read all of Libby Page's earlier books and I have to say that although The Lido is a close second, this is now my favourite. I genuinely could not put it down.
In some ways it reminds me a little of Jenny Colgan's Island series, but it has so much heart and depth, it can only be a Libby Page book.
We are introduced to Lorna, a teacher, who is forced to return to the island of Kip after her estranged parents' deaths. It is naturally going to be a difficult journey and yet it is life changing for Lorna and her lovely teenage daughter. Along the way we are introduced to a whole cast of warm-hearted characters and it really draws you into the world of the island. There are some difficult issues like gas lighting discussed but it was sensitively handled.
Honestly it was a pure joy and just what I needed to give me a lift today. I would recommend it to everyone.

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What a truly beautiful read this was - thoughtful, perceptive, heartfelt and heartwarming. Told from the viewpoints of two strong and caring women, in some ways opposites and in other ways very similar Lorna and Alice are both mothers of teens, both unsure of the other but both trying to mend and heal. Lorna fled the small island of Kip in her teens and tentatively attempted to maintain a relationship with her brother but with him not responding to her letters they became estranged, years later she returned with her daughter. Alice came to the island before she was due university and fell in love with the community and in particular Lorna’s brother Jack. The women both lead very different lives with different levels of satisfaction and this so well reflected their personalities, worries and emotions. There’s a huge range of emotions but this is a very positive book and the island itself sounds harsh in ways but blissful and much needed escapism.

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Lorna and her brother were raised by emotionally abusive parents on a remote Scottish Island. She left as soon as she could without saying goodbye, but he didn't. Twenty years later she returns with her daughter for their parents' funeral, having not spoken to her brother since she left. Although her return is undertaken with great reluctance and trepidation, she is shown such care and understanding that her childhood hurts begin to heal. A really heartwarming story.

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I loved this book - I could not put it down once I started but I must admit Libby Page is one of my favourite authors.

This was beautifully written, heartwarming and so hopeful. A story of family, friendship, trust and acceptance.

It dealt with some hard issues - abuse within families, control and coercion - but managed to bring hope at the end.

A book I will be wholeheartedly recommending.

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A really lovely read. When Lorna returns to her childhood home on the island of Kip she has some very hard desitions to make and some terrible memories from her past which come back and unsettle her. She has not seen her brother for over 20 years and things are strained between them but she soon starts to fall back in love with the place but can they finally put the past behind them and move on.A really emotional story that is full of warmth and charm and plenty of great characters. I loved it

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An absolutely lovely read. Libby Page is fast becoming my favourite author having read The Lido and The 24hr Cafe. This book, The Island Home, takes you away to a Scottish island where a small community is trying to survive. Lorna has come home thanks to the intervention of her young daughter. The story will make you laugh and make you sad at times for the young Lorna. Cleverly told through alternate chapters from Lorna and her sister in law Alice. Looking forward to Libby Page's next book.

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5 stars says it all.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and even though I could see where the story was going I devoured every word. Love the fact that the author have herself and husband a little cameo too!

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I loved this book and all the characters so much that I was totally lost when it ended. What wonderful escapism this story provides at a time when we all need a bit of that. Just joyful and I have recommended to everyone! Thank you Libby.

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Twenty years ago Lorna left home. She left behind her young brother and her best friend but she couldn't live with her bullying and controlling father and a mother, who would never stand up for her. She walked away and never went back till now. With her daughter she is heading to the island of Kip, off the Scottish coast as her parents have passed away.
She is nervous about her reception especially with her brother and his wife.
Will she be accepted and what does the future hold for her ?

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A resounding 5 stars which I just wanted to carry on reading to know what happens next!. A very enjoyable light read but with plenty of more serious underlying issues. The story is told through the eyes of Lorna and Alice and alternates between the two quite successfully. Lot's of feel good warm heartedness without being cloying plus underlining the need for friendship and community especially in these more difficult times. A wonderful escape too to a remote Scottish island but making the reader think generally about life, family, work-life balance. Being super critical the ending was little predictable and it was a little slow in parts but all in all an excellent read. which I fully immersed myself in finding it a good tonic,.

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I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did, but I really really loved it! I loved the setting, the plot, the characters. The fractured relationship between the Lorna and her brother was heartbreaking to read and it did bring a tear to my eye on several occasions. 100% recommend.

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I just adored this book! It had me from the second page where it mentioned that our main characters were waiting on a train to Fort William - I have a lot of connections with FW so it instantly grabbed my attention. This book is so well written, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The relationships are written so well, you can feel the situations as if it was your life and not characters in a book. I think we all secretly would love to go off-grid and live somewhere like Kip - now it sounds so appealing! Definite 5 star read for me.

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Wow !! This is the third of Libby Page's books which I have read, and is the best yet. The characters and settings are wonderfully written and the relationships believable. Lorna and her daughter Ella are out of their comfort zones when thy visit the remote Scottish island of Kip - Lorna because of the way she left decades earlier and Ella because she has always lived in London. As the two forge new friendships and Lorna tries to mend old bridges their hopes for the future evolve.

This is a glorious tale of families and friendships, love and loss. Highly recommended. Keep some tissues handy for the last few chapters.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

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A beautiful, heartwarming read! It will have you laughing and crying. Characters are like able, a few all have you thinking of your own family and friends and how everyone helps you along the way. It’s a well paced story that’s hard to put down once you’ve started!

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I read The Lido last year with @bethsbookclub and absolutely adored the characters and storyline so I went into this read with high expectations. Libby Page did not disappoint.

Lorna is living a relatively solitary life in London with her teenage daughter Ella. Via Ella she discovers that her estranged parents, who live on the Isle of Kip in the Scottish Highlands, have passed away. So begins their trip back to the Island Lorna has escaped as a teenager...

Told through the eyes of Lorna and Alice, the sister-in-law Lorna has never met, we experience Lorna’s time on the island as she works on old broken relationships, begins new friendships, and comes to terms with her past.

Is it predictable? A little bit. But I honestly don’t care! It was a charming read, the Island really comes to life, as do the characters that are far from perfect. There are some lovely relationships that are nurtured, some drama to keep you gripped, and of course some swimming involved.

I was fully engaged and committed and have left the book feeling happy and joyful. You can’t ask for more than that!!

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The Island Home is such a beautiful and moving story with characters I deeply cared about and was invested in right from the outset.

The story is told through the alternating chapter perspectives of Lorna and Alice in the first person which I really enjoyed. We meet Lorna as she and her thirteen year old daughter Ella are waiting in Euston station to begin their long, overnight journey to the tiny and remote Isle of Kip in Scotland. An island where Lorna grew up, but one she hasn’t been back to in 22 years. Alice lives on the Isle of Kip with her husband Jack and their teenage daughter Molly. She loves the community on the island and her yoga classes draw women of all ages together; a group who have become the closest of friends. Now Alice is getting her home ready for her sister in law and niece’s arrival. A family she has never spoken to or seen before...

Libby really brought the fictional Isle of Kip to life through all of the detailed and beautiful descriptions; it was so picturesque! I could hear the waves crashing against the beach and see the towering mountain, the lighthouse in the distance, the forest, the harbour, the heather...it was such a magical setting!

I was immediately intrigued to learn why Lorna hadn’t spoken to her parents in 14 years too and how she hadn’t spoken to her brother Jack for 22 years. He was only 14 years old when Lorna, then 18, left the island behind for a new life in London. I really liked how details were slowly revealed throughout the story about Lorna’s past, her parents and the experiences she and Jack had as children growing up. There were so many moving scenes, especially the conversations Lorna had with her brother Jack.

I also loved the strong friendships the women have on the Island and how close the community is. It was really heart warming to see how close Ella and Molly became too and also Alice and Lorna in such a short space of time. The trip to the Island turned out to be so important for Lorna in so many ways. Not only in terms of getting to know her family, but unexpectedly having the chance to reconnect with close friends from her childhood who she had lost all contact with and also rediscovering elements of herself she thought were lost forever. There were so many great surprises along the way too, and events which had me racing through the pages to see what would happen next for these incredible characters!

I have enjoyed this story so much and didn’t want to have to leave the Isle of Kip behind or its wonderful community (even though the ending was beautiful and everything I was hoping it would be and more)! I would absolutely love a short story or novella sequel in the future to be able to read about these amazing characters again!

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