Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me an advanced copy of this beautiful novel.
Blurb:
Trevor Benson never intended to move back to New Bern, North Carolina. But when a mortar blast outside the hospital where he worked as an orthopedic surgeon sent him home from Afghanistan with devastating injuries, the dilapidated cabin he’d inherited from his grandfather seemed as good a place to regroup as any.
Tending to his grandfather’s beloved bee hives while preparing for a second stint in medical school, Trevor isn’t prepared to fall in love with a local . . . yet, from their very first encounter, Trevor feels a connection with deputy sheriff Natalie Masterson that he can’t ignore. But even as she seems to reciprocate his feelings, she remains frustratingly distant, making Trevor wonder what she’s hiding.
Further complicating his stay in New Bern is the presence of a sullen teenage girl, Callie, who lives in the trailer park down the road. Claiming to be 17, she works at the local sundries store and keeps to herself. Discovering that she was once befriended by his grandfather, Trevor hopes Callie can shed light on the mysterious circumstances of his grandfather’s death, but she offers few clues – until a crisis triggers a race that will uncover the true nature of Callie’s past, one more intertwined with the elderly man’s passing than Trevor could have ever anticipated.
In his quest to unravel Natalie and Callie’s secrets, Trevor will learn the true meaning of love and forgiveness . . . and that in life, to move forward, we must often return to the place where it all began.
This was such a beautiful book to read. The imagery that it evoked, the relationships it explored and the complications that ensued were all true to Nicolas Sparks form. I laughed, I cried, and I felt every other emotion in between.
Side note- as someone who is petrified (!!) of bees this book made me feel slightly anxious. Trevor newly resides on a property which tends to numerous bee hives and so this book explores the very dynamics of a thriving bee colony. I’m so glad it was Trevor tending to the hives rather than I… although access to all that fresh honey sounded divine!
I really adored the very essence of this book. The imagery Sparks creates sets the scene and makes you feel as though you’re sitting right there sharing an iced tea with the characters. “Sunsets turned the creek into a cacophony of burgundy and red and orange and yellow, while the slowly fading rays pierced the curtain of Spanish moss draped over the tree branches”… and we are only on page 5!? The town of New Bern had a real charm to it which was nice to explore. The descriptions of the streets which were lined with massive oak and magnolia trees, the Saturday farmers market and stores such as the Trading Post with its a random assortment of goods made for a very visual experience. The social nature of the community (gossip central) also added to New Bern’s homely feel.
As for the characters- I couldn’t love them more. I thoroughly enjoyed Trevor with his carefree nature, silly jokes and strong determination. I also appreciated seeing him navigate his way through his battle with PTSD acquired as a result of injuries from Afghanistan. Trevor’s mental health journey was raw and relatable and added a depth to him which enabled him to reach out to other troubled souls. I adored the character Callie and all her complexities. She had me guessing from the very beginning as to her back story. I did however initially struggle to warm to Natalie. I found her to be too cold and aloof which didn’t fit with whom I envisaged someone like Trevor being drawn to. However, as the story unfolded I understood the true nature of her and became very fond of her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved the tone. It was a light and easy read and is one of those books that is good for the soul.
4.5/5 stars.
The Return will be released on the 29th of September. Be sure to let me know your thoughts once you’ve got your own copy!
Thanks for reading,
R. xo
Little Thoughts, Big Thoughts. 