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Wild Dark Shore
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fiction (2025)A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A storm gathering force.
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny weather-lashed island that is home to the world's largest seed bank. As Shearwater risks being lost to rising sea levels, the island's researchers have fled, and only the Salts remain.
Until, during the worst storm in living memory, a stranger washes ashore. The family nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, but it seems she isn't telling the whole truth about why she's there. And when Rowan stumbles upon sabotaged radios and a recently dug grave, she realises that she's not the only one on the island with a secret.
A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love.
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny weather-lashed island that is home to the world's largest seed bank. As Shearwater risks being lost to rising sea levels, the island's researchers have fled, and only the Salts remain.
Until, during the worst storm in living memory, a stranger washes ashore. The family nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, but it seems she isn't telling the whole truth about why she's there. And when Rowan stumbles upon sabotaged radios and a recently dug grave, she realises that she's not the only one on the island with a secret.
A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2025
About the author
Charlotte McConaghy
23 books11.2k followersCharlotte McConaghy is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestseller WILD DARK SHORE, a Reese's Book Club Pick and named Amazon’s Best Book of the Year So Far for 2025; as well as the New York Times Bestseller ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES; and the international bestseller MIGRATIONS, a TIME Magazine Best Book of the Year and the Amazon Best Fiction Book of the Year for 2020.
She started her writing career with a number of SF/F titles for YA readers; MIGRATIONS was her first foray into adult literature.
Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and are being adapted for film and television. She lives in Sydney with her partner and two children.
She started her writing career with a number of SF/F titles for YA readers; MIGRATIONS was her first foray into adult literature.
Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and are being adapted for film and television. She lives in Sydney with her partner and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60,197 reviews
December 7, 2025
I have an urgent need to fix this, but I don't know how.
Hmm let's think about this now. Hey, I know! How about you just tell the truth?
Ah yes, the dreaded miscommunication trope. You dress it up with some slump-inducing descriptive prose, make every character act as weird and paranoid as possible, throw in some instalove, and you have Wild Dark Shore.
But before I really get into it, I just want to say that my opinion here is decidedly in the minority. I see nothing but love for this book, so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt (har har).
When I think of literary fiction, what I'm looking for above all else is convincing characters. I want ones that feel authentic, poignant, and really force me to think about the human condition. I'm not looking for one-dimensional, loony, paranoid characters I could easily find in the most eye-rolling of thrillers. But that's exactly what I got here.
None of the characters' actions that drove the mystery part of this story made any sense. Every bad thing that happened in here can be traced back to the two main characters not talking about one essential topic. Instead, we get a lot of jumpy paranoia between the two of them that magically morphs into... instalust? Okay sure, you got me. I, too, often find myself unable to stop wanting to jump the bones of someone I suspect is trying to kill me.
But it's more than that. I really couldn't connect with any of the characters at all. I didn't like how dismissive Rowan was of her husband and his views, all the while complaining that he couldn't see her side. I didn't like how the book portrayed Hank or mental illness. I didn't like how Dominic reads like a male character written by a female author. None of them really rang true, and it was hard for me to overcome that deficit.
The topic of climate change is a big part of this story and while I appreciate Charlotte McConaghy tackling such an important issue, I feel like it was awkwardly done and lacked subtlety. It often came across as if the author was trying to club me on the head with it, going so far as to include nonfiction passages of nature spoken through the voice of a nine-year-old. To say it felt inauthentic and took me out of the story is an understatement. I wish the author had gone for a more subtle approach, trusting that the reader will follow her, instead of hammering her messages into my head over and over again.
I do feel like the story started to shape into something with emotional resonance towards the last third of the book, and the scene with the whale and her baby was particularly well-done. But then as we progress towards the denouement, we again lost subtlety in favor hamfistedness in the form of a certain development near the end. It felt unnecessary to the story, as if it was put there simply for emotional manipulation, to tug on the heartstrings and wring as much emotion from the reader as possible.
I don't know what else to say other than I feel extremely disappointed with my reading experience. I think this is a case where my expectations just weren't in line with reality. What I wanted was a character-driven mystery with elements of climate change that would really bring something new to the table and leave me with food for thought. What I got instead was some mishmash of eye-rolling domestic thriller and dull descriptive prose, two things sure to put me into a slump.
But hey, what do I know? Like I said, everyone else is loving this, so don't let my grouchiness dissuade you from giving it a try.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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April 8, 2026
There’s nothing I can write here that could truly give enough praise or express how much this book meant to me—it might just be the best thing I’ve read all year. It made me scream-cry. It hurt me more than I expected. It shattered me into pieces. It opened up so many old wounds.
It made me reflect on the wildness of nature, the fragility of species, the instinct to survive, the future of humanity, broken families, grief, pure love, obsession turning into madness, claustrophobia, guilt, sacrifice, and motherhood. And yet, somehow, it also gave me a tiny glimmer of hope—that with the help of those we love, we can still stand up after hitting the deepest, most painful rock bottom.
I haven’t read something so tragic, heart-wrenching, and yet so achingly beautiful in a long time. The ending felt like tiny needles piercing my heart—I cannot stop crying. This is one of those rare books that delivers the most cathartic ugly cry and haunts you forever with its unforgettable characters, perfectly built mystery, and slow-burning intensity leading to a brilliant twist. As a work of fiction, survival thriller, and mystery, it took my breath away.
Picture this: a family of four—a father, two teenagers, and a young child—living on a remote island near Antarctica called Shearwater. Once a bustling hub for researchers, it’s now desolate, with only this family left behind, tasked with packing up seeds to transport to safer ground. The boat meant to retrieve them is five weeks away. But as the sea level rises, the electricity fails, the radio breaks, and there’s no signal, their survival becomes increasingly uncertain. Then, a mysterious woman washes ashore, bloodied and barely alive, claiming to have fled a tragedy—the house and land she built, now reduced to ashes.
Her name is Rowan. As she recovers, she finds herself drawn into the family’s orbit. Dominic, the father, is still grieving the loss of his wife, struggling to express his emotions while raising his children with strict discipline. He’s hiding something too—bloodstains he once scrubbed clean in the now-abandoned research facility. What happened there?
Rowan becomes suspicious. Why does the family act like they’ve seen a ghost after learning who she is? Why do they whisper behind closed doors? Even little Orly seems to be speaking to someone invisible. Is the island haunted? Or is there something even more sinister going on beneath the surface? Has Rowan put herself in grave danger by coming here? Is the family succumbing to madness bred by isolation? Or is the truth even more devastating than she imagined?
One thing is certain—Rowan should never have come.
Overall: As a thriller, the pacing, tension, climax, and gut-wrenching twist were flawlessly executed. As a novel, it absolutely wrecked me—in the best possible way. Some chapters felt like they bled off the page. I sobbed through more than one.
Ten gazillion stars—well earned. Don’t just add this book to your TBR. Buy a copy. Read it immediately. If you skip this one, you’re missing out on one of the best books of the year.
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It made me reflect on the wildness of nature, the fragility of species, the instinct to survive, the future of humanity, broken families, grief, pure love, obsession turning into madness, claustrophobia, guilt, sacrifice, and motherhood. And yet, somehow, it also gave me a tiny glimmer of hope—that with the help of those we love, we can still stand up after hitting the deepest, most painful rock bottom.
I haven’t read something so tragic, heart-wrenching, and yet so achingly beautiful in a long time. The ending felt like tiny needles piercing my heart—I cannot stop crying. This is one of those rare books that delivers the most cathartic ugly cry and haunts you forever with its unforgettable characters, perfectly built mystery, and slow-burning intensity leading to a brilliant twist. As a work of fiction, survival thriller, and mystery, it took my breath away.
Picture this: a family of four—a father, two teenagers, and a young child—living on a remote island near Antarctica called Shearwater. Once a bustling hub for researchers, it’s now desolate, with only this family left behind, tasked with packing up seeds to transport to safer ground. The boat meant to retrieve them is five weeks away. But as the sea level rises, the electricity fails, the radio breaks, and there’s no signal, their survival becomes increasingly uncertain. Then, a mysterious woman washes ashore, bloodied and barely alive, claiming to have fled a tragedy—the house and land she built, now reduced to ashes.
Her name is Rowan. As she recovers, she finds herself drawn into the family’s orbit. Dominic, the father, is still grieving the loss of his wife, struggling to express his emotions while raising his children with strict discipline. He’s hiding something too—bloodstains he once scrubbed clean in the now-abandoned research facility. What happened there?
Rowan becomes suspicious. Why does the family act like they’ve seen a ghost after learning who she is? Why do they whisper behind closed doors? Even little Orly seems to be speaking to someone invisible. Is the island haunted? Or is there something even more sinister going on beneath the surface? Has Rowan put herself in grave danger by coming here? Is the family succumbing to madness bred by isolation? Or is the truth even more devastating than she imagined?
One thing is certain—Rowan should never have come.
Overall: As a thriller, the pacing, tension, climax, and gut-wrenching twist were flawlessly executed. As a novel, it absolutely wrecked me—in the best possible way. Some chapters felt like they bled off the page. I sobbed through more than one.
Ten gazillion stars—well earned. Don’t just add this book to your TBR. Buy a copy. Read it immediately. If you skip this one, you’re missing out on one of the best books of the year.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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March 5, 2025
i would give this book 100 stars if goodreads let me 🤎👏🏼🦭🥹😩 WOWOWOWOW THIS WAS SO FREAKING GOOD AND I LOOOOOVED IT!!!!! if there is one book you pre order, make it this one.
many of my followers know that ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES is quite literally one of my favorite books of all time. i knew it would be nearly impossible for Charlotte to write a book better than that / a book that i love more than that… but, she came verrryyyyy close to doing that with WILD DARK SHORE 🥹🤯❤️🔥
HIGH PRAISE GUYS!!!!!! i mean it!!!
while it’s extremely character driven, it’s also so plot heavy—i’m not kidding you when i say that 100 things happened in this book and every chapter had some action. it will be so hard for you to put it down!!
there were truly so many things i loved about this book:
🦭 the setting. i learned soooo much from this one, arguably even more than in wolves or migrations. her nature writing inspired by true events is truly so enjoyable to read
❤️ the characters. it’s very rare that a reader can read finish a book and say they loved absolutely every single character… and in this one, i did. (well, the main 5 ones anyway… you’ll know what i mean 😂) ANYWAYS, they are all amazing. my heart is especially with Fen and Rowan… but sweet Orly was also an absolute joy
🥹 the emotion and connection that i felt to this book immediately is something that needs to be studied. i was so emotionally invested that i sat down and read this book in two sittings and stayed up reading it until 1am because i simply didn’t want to leave these characters or this world. by the end of the book, i was absolutely sobbing and have the tear stains on my pillow to prove it 😂
📚 all of her books have this, but the genre bending. in this one, you can expect some mystery and suspense, a slow burn romance, nature writing and almost some historical fiction, a shocking ending, beautiful litfic… you really get it all.
i could go on for 40000000 more paragraphs but i think you get it. this book is SPECIAL. its a 6 star. emotional, creative, unique, action packed and devastatingly beautiful.
review to come on my IG. thank you to Flatiron for the gifted early copy. but a bigger thank you to Charlotte for writing this (and for answering my questions and word vomit post finishing ❤️)
this book comes out in March but i can promise you that i won’t shut up about it literally ever and i’ll keep reminding you that you need to pre-order this and buy it immediately as soon as it’s on the shelves :-)
PS in case you finished and you’re also wondering—yes, the author always knew it would end like that.
🥹😭🦭😩🥰🫶🏼🌊🤯🐧🐳⛴️💔
EDIT—i re-read this on audio and loooove the narration!! full cast, mainly by Saskia Maarleveld aka the goat. however i think the physical is the way to go on this one. the beautiful descriptive writing about the setting and the overall vibe comes through stronger that way IMO!
many of my followers know that ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES is quite literally one of my favorite books of all time. i knew it would be nearly impossible for Charlotte to write a book better than that / a book that i love more than that… but, she came verrryyyyy close to doing that with WILD DARK SHORE 🥹🤯❤️🔥
HIGH PRAISE GUYS!!!!!! i mean it!!!
while it’s extremely character driven, it’s also so plot heavy—i’m not kidding you when i say that 100 things happened in this book and every chapter had some action. it will be so hard for you to put it down!!
there were truly so many things i loved about this book:
🦭 the setting. i learned soooo much from this one, arguably even more than in wolves or migrations. her nature writing inspired by true events is truly so enjoyable to read
❤️ the characters. it’s very rare that a reader can read finish a book and say they loved absolutely every single character… and in this one, i did. (well, the main 5 ones anyway… you’ll know what i mean 😂) ANYWAYS, they are all amazing. my heart is especially with Fen and Rowan… but sweet Orly was also an absolute joy
🥹 the emotion and connection that i felt to this book immediately is something that needs to be studied. i was so emotionally invested that i sat down and read this book in two sittings and stayed up reading it until 1am because i simply didn’t want to leave these characters or this world. by the end of the book, i was absolutely sobbing and have the tear stains on my pillow to prove it 😂
📚 all of her books have this, but the genre bending. in this one, you can expect some mystery and suspense, a slow burn romance, nature writing and almost some historical fiction, a shocking ending, beautiful litfic… you really get it all.
i could go on for 40000000 more paragraphs but i think you get it. this book is SPECIAL. its a 6 star. emotional, creative, unique, action packed and devastatingly beautiful.
review to come on my IG. thank you to Flatiron for the gifted early copy. but a bigger thank you to Charlotte for writing this (and for answering my questions and word vomit post finishing ❤️)
this book comes out in March but i can promise you that i won’t shut up about it literally ever and i’ll keep reminding you that you need to pre-order this and buy it immediately as soon as it’s on the shelves :-)
PS in case you finished and you’re also wondering—yes, the author always knew it would end like that.
🥹😭🦭😩🥰🫶🏼🌊🤯🐧🐳⛴️💔
EDIT—i re-read this on audio and loooove the narration!! full cast, mainly by Saskia Maarleveld aka the goat. however i think the physical is the way to go on this one. the beautiful descriptive writing about the setting and the overall vibe comes through stronger that way IMO!
March 6, 2025
This was….fine? I really don’t understand the hype here. The writing is definitely quite lyrical and certainly places the reader in the wild and unrelenting wilderness of the island, it was certainly atmospheric. But all that great setting just couldn’t get me to really feel sucked in by the plot or characters. They felt like the briefest of brush strokes which felt like I was trying to sustain myself on crumbs. The lust to romance subplot felt so random and out of place. I couldn’t understand how the characters got there with so much alleged ~suspicion~ on both sides.
Add to that that I didn’t really get what this was trying to say about environmental conservation or climate change, mental illness, or grief and trauma, and I just feel really meh. This feels like it promises a lot but delivers on very little. The outside world seems to have all these vague issues and plagues of environmental crisis but we don’t know what those are or if they’re even a reality. There’s a lot of talk about ghosts, it seems like mostly as a representation for trauma and loss but given there also those with mental health issues, it’s hard to say.
Overall this was fine but not particularly emotionally or intellectually stimulating or evocative and I found the forced mystery quite boring. Overall my sense is that poor Dom’s kids are committed to putting him in an early grave with their actions. Yes yes I know there’s the whole narcissist and all but I swear their actions were so spectacularly strange to me it boggled my mind a bit.
Add to that that I didn’t really get what this was trying to say about environmental conservation or climate change, mental illness, or grief and trauma, and I just feel really meh. This feels like it promises a lot but delivers on very little. The outside world seems to have all these vague issues and plagues of environmental crisis but we don’t know what those are or if they’re even a reality. There’s a lot of talk about ghosts, it seems like mostly as a representation for trauma and loss but given there also those with mental health issues, it’s hard to say.
Overall this was fine but not particularly emotionally or intellectually stimulating or evocative and I found the forced mystery quite boring. Overall my sense is that poor Dom’s kids are committed to putting him in an early grave with their actions. Yes yes I know there’s the whole narcissist and all but I swear their actions were so spectacularly strange to me it boggled my mind a bit.
August 14, 2025
Omg 90% of you snorted seed dust from the vault. Truly. Even if you take out all the boring cheesy plant and nature crap…this book is still boring af. It didn’t even know what it wanted to be! A thriller? No. A romance? Ew no. That plotline made even less sense. Climate control? Barely. We had some oceans rising and people that were in love with seeds kinda sorta but no strong climate message. Grief? Maybe. Shitty parenting? Definitely! Weird ass kids that were narrated terribly and didn’t track with their age group? SUPER DEFINITELY! I couldn’t even picture this weirdo island. Trapdoors. Tunnels. Vaults. Nope. Couldn’t see it. And let’s not even talk about the ridiculously idiotic definition of “narcissism” and the cartoonish “Disney” villain that was introduced. Just why.
I feel like this is the “woke” book of 2025 that everyone feels like they are SUPPOSED to love.
I feel like this is the “woke” book of 2025 that everyone feels like they are SUPPOSED to love.
August 13, 2025
4.5 ⭐️!!!
This was so unexpectedly amazing!! I tried to read it during a slump & put it down for a few weeks, but I’m so glad I read it when I did!
We follow a family on a severely isolated island & a woman who washes ashore unexpectedly (everyone’s confused why she’s there, she’s suspicious of them, they’re suspicious of her, and I’m suspicious of everyone)
I loved the setting of this story & how it felt like its own character - the nature was described so vividly! Each pov we got kept my attention and had my curiosity peaked constantly, & as we got more pieces to the mystery of it all, I literally couldn’t put the book down I needed to know the answers
Highly recommend even if it’s not your typical genre!!!
This was so unexpectedly amazing!! I tried to read it during a slump & put it down for a few weeks, but I’m so glad I read it when I did!
We follow a family on a severely isolated island & a woman who washes ashore unexpectedly (everyone’s confused why she’s there, she’s suspicious of them, they’re suspicious of her, and I’m suspicious of everyone)
I loved the setting of this story & how it felt like its own character - the nature was described so vividly! Each pov we got kept my attention and had my curiosity peaked constantly, & as we got more pieces to the mystery of it all, I literally couldn’t put the book down I needed to know the answers
Highly recommend even if it’s not your typical genre!!!
March 6, 2025
this book just changed my life. i'll be back later with my full thoughts (if i can even put them into words). but until then, i just need to sit and cry for a sec.
March 8, 2025
bitch this was stunning
March 20, 2025
Absolutely obsessed with this book & also bawling my eyes out. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over this one.
April 5, 2025
idk I feel like the hype is a little high for this one. I really wish GR would give us half and quarter stars bc this is a true 3.5 stars for me right now.
After the death of his wife during childbirth, Dominic moves his family and takes a job as lighthouse keeper on a remote island near Antarctica. The island is home to a seed vault and research station. The effects of climate change are forcing them to move as the permafrost is melting and it’s no longer safe.
While waiting for the ship to pick them up, a woman is washed ashore.
As she is nursed back to health, she detects that maybe all is not as idyllic as it seems.. can she trust their stories? Or are they really hiding a terrible truth?
The story slips between genres from heart-breaking literary fiction to thriller more than once. On the one hand, the Salt family are barely holding things together on the island. Dominic and Raf are frozen in grief for lost loved ones. Fen is turning near feral among the elephant seals and royal penguins. Orly talks to ghosts. Rowan is also nursing a broken heart.
And yet, many of the poignant moments in the novel are interrupted by the revelation that something terrible happened on the island before Rowan arrived. Why is there a passport and a laptop hidden in the floor of the tool shed? Who smashed the radio, making it impossible to contact the mainland.
I did enjoy this one, it's extremely atmospheric with lush lyrical prose - love those aspects. I just found that the story moved so slow. On top of the pacing being slow, I listened to the audio for this one and while it wasn't a poor production in any sense - I did feel that the narrators tone didn't always work for me. All of them. LOL. They speak so low and soft and I get that it's trying to fit the vibe of the book but between the slow pace and the soft voices I couldn't stay engaged.
The twists didn't really move me and the ending felt disappointing. I think with this one, I enjoyed the vibes and the characters for the most part, but wasn't a big fan of the overall story.
🧡Contemporary x Lit Fic
🧡Great Character Development
🧡Rotating/Multi POV
🧡Realistic Dealing with Grief
🧡Mystery/Thriller Components
🧡Interesting Family Dynamics
🧡Dangers of Isolation
🧡Hidden Motives
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
After the death of his wife during childbirth, Dominic moves his family and takes a job as lighthouse keeper on a remote island near Antarctica. The island is home to a seed vault and research station. The effects of climate change are forcing them to move as the permafrost is melting and it’s no longer safe.
While waiting for the ship to pick them up, a woman is washed ashore.
As she is nursed back to health, she detects that maybe all is not as idyllic as it seems.. can she trust their stories? Or are they really hiding a terrible truth?
The story slips between genres from heart-breaking literary fiction to thriller more than once. On the one hand, the Salt family are barely holding things together on the island. Dominic and Raf are frozen in grief for lost loved ones. Fen is turning near feral among the elephant seals and royal penguins. Orly talks to ghosts. Rowan is also nursing a broken heart.
And yet, many of the poignant moments in the novel are interrupted by the revelation that something terrible happened on the island before Rowan arrived. Why is there a passport and a laptop hidden in the floor of the tool shed? Who smashed the radio, making it impossible to contact the mainland.
I did enjoy this one, it's extremely atmospheric with lush lyrical prose - love those aspects. I just found that the story moved so slow. On top of the pacing being slow, I listened to the audio for this one and while it wasn't a poor production in any sense - I did feel that the narrators tone didn't always work for me. All of them. LOL. They speak so low and soft and I get that it's trying to fit the vibe of the book but between the slow pace and the soft voices I couldn't stay engaged.
The twists didn't really move me and the ending felt disappointing. I think with this one, I enjoyed the vibes and the characters for the most part, but wasn't a big fan of the overall story.
🧡Contemporary x Lit Fic
🧡Great Character Development
🧡Rotating/Multi POV
🧡Realistic Dealing with Grief
🧡Mystery/Thriller Components
🧡Interesting Family Dynamics
🧡Dangers of Isolation
🧡Hidden Motives
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
March 26, 2026
Wtf 😭😭😭 review to come
April 1, 2025
I’m gonna need a movie adaptation ASAP
Read
April 15, 2026Greta Thunberg washes up on shore and complains nonstop about her life and marriage, yet forsook everything to sail to him (getting a man killed in the process), only to fuck the first guy she sees. I saved you a days read.
Plot: The seed vault was an interesting premise, it’s just a shame that it was laced with lazy histrionic faux problems. Even at the end, you mean to tell me this is such an important thing for the UN that they thought 6 people would be sufficient to complete the job? Please. To be honest I’m not even sure what the climax was supposed to be, there were several moments that I believe the author wanted to surprise us with, but they all fell flat. The whale thing had some excitement to it, but still, what the hell was the point?! The climate change themes wouldn’t have bothered me so much had they not been so hyperbolic, at one point it felt like the novelization of The Day After Tomorrow. If you want to express your concerns about climate change then go for it, but this lazy drama made it extremely unbelievable and turned me off. Not to mention she blames everything bad in her life on climate change, her failing marriage, her house burning down, etc. Maybe if Greta would have been upfront with her husband they could’ve gone separate ways and saved us from this crapfest of a book.
Rowan: AKA Greta Thunberg, virtue signals all of us by deciding not to have kids because she’s a better person than us, then gets mad at her husband for wanting kids and calls him a traitor to the cause. Her whole relationship with Hank was horseshit. She sails treacherous waters to save him, yet hates him and calls him a narcissist and he deserves to die. Don’t get me wrong, Hank is no saint, but Rowan wants to “kill” him because he knocked up some girl and cheated, yet she’s been screwing another man the whole time. It was just so annoying and unnecessary. And pick a lane sweetie, he’s either having a psychotic break and needs help, or a shit person who deserves jail. AND WHAT THE HELL WAS WITH THE BRITTNEY SPEARS MOMENT?!?!? Literally made zero sense, I guess the author thought it was a bonding moment? But nah, just stupid and yet again melodramatic. Also, the story about her brother’s death? They lived on a house boat and the brother couldn’t swim?! It was just all so dumb.
Dom: Did we ever get a real reason why he up and moved his family to a remote island? Or was it just more melodrama because he couldn't cope with his dead wife. Are we supposed to like a guy that within pages of meeting, states he has a full blown favorite child and pines for his dead ghost wife. Also, he let's his daughter sleep on the beach in the sub-artic all because he doesn't know how to "talk" to her? I just don't get it. Also he's screwing the wife of the prisoner he's keeping in a freezing vault? This guy has an extraordinary ability to compartmentalize.
The kids: First off the names, wtf is Orly?! The romance between Rafe and The scientist was just filler, I mean I get his brother dies a tragic death, but the first instinct is to off yourself? And then Rafe only knows to “fight through the pain” but learns to “play through the pain”, for fucks sake. So dumb. Also, why is the 7 year old teaching him basic math?! Fen suffers abuse and her dad lets her live on a beach in the subarctic?!? Also her name is Fen and she also of course suffers a Brittney Spears MOMENT!! Orly was your typical, annoying as fuck, precocious savant with seeds, that doesn’t actually exist in the real world.
Writing style: Too many chapters from different POVs that seemed unnecessary. It’s a trendy thing now in writing to do, and some do it well, this author did not. Also at one point in Rowan’s chapter we switch from first to third person several times. It was out of left field and lazy writing.
For the first time, I read a book where I wanted every single character to die. How this has an average rating over a 4 is mind boggling, but good for Charlotte, she managed to make a good deal of money off of a big heaping pile of sea lion dung.
Plot: The seed vault was an interesting premise, it’s just a shame that it was laced with lazy histrionic faux problems. Even at the end, you mean to tell me this is such an important thing for the UN that they thought 6 people would be sufficient to complete the job? Please. To be honest I’m not even sure what the climax was supposed to be, there were several moments that I believe the author wanted to surprise us with, but they all fell flat. The whale thing had some excitement to it, but still, what the hell was the point?! The climate change themes wouldn’t have bothered me so much had they not been so hyperbolic, at one point it felt like the novelization of The Day After Tomorrow. If you want to express your concerns about climate change then go for it, but this lazy drama made it extremely unbelievable and turned me off. Not to mention she blames everything bad in her life on climate change, her failing marriage, her house burning down, etc. Maybe if Greta would have been upfront with her husband they could’ve gone separate ways and saved us from this crapfest of a book.
Rowan: AKA Greta Thunberg, virtue signals all of us by deciding not to have kids because she’s a better person than us, then gets mad at her husband for wanting kids and calls him a traitor to the cause. Her whole relationship with Hank was horseshit. She sails treacherous waters to save him, yet hates him and calls him a narcissist and he deserves to die. Don’t get me wrong, Hank is no saint, but Rowan wants to “kill” him because he knocked up some girl and cheated, yet she’s been screwing another man the whole time. It was just so annoying and unnecessary. And pick a lane sweetie, he’s either having a psychotic break and needs help, or a shit person who deserves jail. AND WHAT THE HELL WAS WITH THE BRITTNEY SPEARS MOMENT?!?!? Literally made zero sense, I guess the author thought it was a bonding moment? But nah, just stupid and yet again melodramatic. Also, the story about her brother’s death? They lived on a house boat and the brother couldn’t swim?! It was just all so dumb.
Dom: Did we ever get a real reason why he up and moved his family to a remote island? Or was it just more melodrama because he couldn't cope with his dead wife. Are we supposed to like a guy that within pages of meeting, states he has a full blown favorite child and pines for his dead ghost wife. Also, he let's his daughter sleep on the beach in the sub-artic all because he doesn't know how to "talk" to her? I just don't get it. Also he's screwing the wife of the prisoner he's keeping in a freezing vault? This guy has an extraordinary ability to compartmentalize.
The kids: First off the names, wtf is Orly?! The romance between Rafe and The scientist was just filler, I mean I get his brother dies a tragic death, but the first instinct is to off yourself? And then Rafe only knows to “fight through the pain” but learns to “play through the pain”, for fucks sake. So dumb. Also, why is the 7 year old teaching him basic math?! Fen suffers abuse and her dad lets her live on a beach in the subarctic?!? Also her name is Fen and she also of course suffers a Brittney Spears MOMENT!! Orly was your typical, annoying as fuck, precocious savant with seeds, that doesn’t actually exist in the real world.
Writing style: Too many chapters from different POVs that seemed unnecessary. It’s a trendy thing now in writing to do, and some do it well, this author did not. Also at one point in Rowan’s chapter we switch from first to third person several times. It was out of left field and lazy writing.
For the first time, I read a book where I wanted every single character to die. How this has an average rating over a 4 is mind boggling, but good for Charlotte, she managed to make a good deal of money off of a big heaping pile of sea lion dung.
March 29, 2025
Wow. This book is REALLY bad. No idea what all the rave is about.
Other people: "this book changed my life"
Me: "this book is awful"
Disappointed, considering all the praise. #1 pick from my indie bookseller. BoTM selection. Displays in bookstores everywhere.
Guess what? It sucks. It's overly dramatic without reason. Verbose without saying anything. The character development is on par with porn. It's trying to be something it isn't, dry as hell, makes no sense for long passages that don't resolve... characters making dumb decisions that you'd see in horror satire.
Just, skip this terrible attempt at a novel and choose something else. Don't believe the hype.
Other people: "this book changed my life"
Me: "this book is awful"
Disappointed, considering all the praise. #1 pick from my indie bookseller. BoTM selection. Displays in bookstores everywhere.
Guess what? It sucks. It's overly dramatic without reason. Verbose without saying anything. The character development is on par with porn. It's trying to be something it isn't, dry as hell, makes no sense for long passages that don't resolve... characters making dumb decisions that you'd see in horror satire.
Just, skip this terrible attempt at a novel and choose something else. Don't believe the hype.
April 13, 2026
“Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.”
I've been putting this one off for a while. I loved Migrations, but I'm not always in the mood for McConaghy's quiet, devastating stories that are 90% atmosphere. At the wrong time, they can feel slow, and undramatic for the most part, but, at the right time, they can creep slowly inside your heart and leave you feeling raw. I'm glad I waited for the right time.
This is another one where you can feel the coldness of the setting, where the wilderness seems to come alive around you. Wild Dark Shore is set in a future that feels as if it could be just around the corner if the climate crisis is not addressed. It is a cold, haunting love letter to planet Earth and its wildlife.
Though, in its simplest form, the story is a mystery. Rowan washes ashore on a remote island off the coast of Antarctica and encounters the Salt family, caretakers of the world's largest seed bank— preserving many species at risk of extinction due to climate change and rising sea levels. The family nurse Rowan back to health, but its clear she is hiding something about the reason she came to Shearwater.
We find out the reason pretty quickly, but the greater mystery is what happened with the other researchers on the island. Rowan discovers that Dominic is lying, though why and what he is covering up will require some digging.
I really enjoyed moving through the different character perspectives and was surprised how well McConaghy juggled five povs in less than three hundred pages. Most of the book is quiet, eerie, pulled along by a charged atmosphere and not a lot of plot, but the final few chapters offer a pulse-pounding climax.
I'm not sure it's possible to finish a McConaghy book without feeling a sense of loss.
June 13, 2025
this is a book that definitely prioritizes style, but fortunately also has the substance to back it up.
while i didnt find the writing pretentious, like i did with CMs other books, i do think its a kind of narrative that wont be for every reader. its the backbone of the story, but its slow and really relies on subtle language to provide nuanced feelings. but i found it to be the perfect kind of writing for such a haunting setting, with the island being one of the main characters itself.
other than the atmosphere and the salts way of life, i really found dom to be the most compelling aspect of the story. i really enjoyed reading about him and how he views the world in terms of his family. his children were all lovely, but i found myself looking forward to his POV chapters more.
so, if youve enjoyed CMs other books, this should be your next read because i think this is her best work yet. or, if you havent read any of her stuff, but enjoy moody, thematic stories about life and living, this should be your next read because its quite poignant.
↠ 4 stars
while i didnt find the writing pretentious, like i did with CMs other books, i do think its a kind of narrative that wont be for every reader. its the backbone of the story, but its slow and really relies on subtle language to provide nuanced feelings. but i found it to be the perfect kind of writing for such a haunting setting, with the island being one of the main characters itself.
other than the atmosphere and the salts way of life, i really found dom to be the most compelling aspect of the story. i really enjoyed reading about him and how he views the world in terms of his family. his children were all lovely, but i found myself looking forward to his POV chapters more.
so, if youve enjoyed CMs other books, this should be your next read because i think this is her best work yet. or, if you havent read any of her stuff, but enjoy moody, thematic stories about life and living, this should be your next read because its quite poignant.
↠ 4 stars
March 15, 2025
McConaghy takes us to an incredibly isolated and haunted place to give us a glimpse of the disastrous effects of global warming and what the future could look like.
We are on Shearwater island, Antarctica. A father and his 3 kids reside in a lighthouse protecting a seed bank while the island is slowly being flooded, threatening to destroy not only the seeds, but those who remain there. Yet, a body washes up on shore. Barely alive. But she is and she has questions -as do they.
McConaghy’s writing is beautiful but intense. The scenery, vivid; the fauna, lush; The wildlife, wonderous. She contrasts humanity and its degradation to the beauty of a place where seals, penguins, birds exist in harmony. A story of grief, fear, loss, but also one of hope and strength.
5⭐️
Note: The story is based on Macquarie Island* McConaghy’s IG has some stunning pics of the research she did for this story.
Highly recommend all her stories*
We are on Shearwater island, Antarctica. A father and his 3 kids reside in a lighthouse protecting a seed bank while the island is slowly being flooded, threatening to destroy not only the seeds, but those who remain there. Yet, a body washes up on shore. Barely alive. But she is and she has questions -as do they.
McConaghy’s writing is beautiful but intense. The scenery, vivid; the fauna, lush; The wildlife, wonderous. She contrasts humanity and its degradation to the beauty of a place where seals, penguins, birds exist in harmony. A story of grief, fear, loss, but also one of hope and strength.
5⭐️
Note: The story is based on Macquarie Island* McConaghy’s IG has some stunning pics of the research she did for this story.
Highly recommend all her stories*
March 9, 2026
3.5/5
The ending of this book is *so* brilliant and moving that it almost skewed my rating higher before I gave my head a wobble and came back down to earth. It’s an incredible story, but there are a lot of flaws, and McConaghy demands you to suspend your disbelief to such an extent that you have to convince YOURSELF the plot is plausible.
Wild Dark Shore contains many beautiful lines about love and loss, as well as crafting a really atmospheric and haunting setting — a tiny island between Australia and Tasmania with just four remaining inhabitants. Its problem is that it relies so heavily on miscommunication and the drip feeding of information that everything just feels a bit….. unlikely? A lot of extremely important conversations go unsaid or are reduced to a sudden moment of realisation with no clarification. People change their entire worldview in a split second, fall in love in a moment, and fall out of love just as quick. I found myself really trying not to unpick the fabric of the storytelling and just focus on what I was being told, but the logical side of my brain kept pushing back.
Certainly worth reading, and the ending has the pages almost turning themselves, but Wild Dark Shore needs a lot of editing to be truly perfect.
The ending of this book is *so* brilliant and moving that it almost skewed my rating higher before I gave my head a wobble and came back down to earth. It’s an incredible story, but there are a lot of flaws, and McConaghy demands you to suspend your disbelief to such an extent that you have to convince YOURSELF the plot is plausible.
Wild Dark Shore contains many beautiful lines about love and loss, as well as crafting a really atmospheric and haunting setting — a tiny island between Australia and Tasmania with just four remaining inhabitants. Its problem is that it relies so heavily on miscommunication and the drip feeding of information that everything just feels a bit….. unlikely? A lot of extremely important conversations go unsaid or are reduced to a sudden moment of realisation with no clarification. People change their entire worldview in a split second, fall in love in a moment, and fall out of love just as quick. I found myself really trying not to unpick the fabric of the storytelling and just focus on what I was being told, but the logical side of my brain kept pushing back.
Certainly worth reading, and the ending has the pages almost turning themselves, but Wild Dark Shore needs a lot of editing to be truly perfect.
March 10, 2025
5+++
Such a beautiful book!
Simply Amazing!
This is the third book by this extremely gifted Australian
author and my third 5 star read, though this is my favorite…3 for 3 🙂
This novel is set on a remote island between Australia and Antartica, based on the real island of Macquarie Island.
The family that has lived here for the past eight years… overseeing the lighthouse… I fell in love with each of them, though they were fractured… until … a woman’s body washes up on the shore..
On this island is a research center doing tests and preservation due to climate change.
A lot happens here.. think “ thriller” in part.
Her descriptions of the seals and penguins and whales, and land, oceans, etc… gorgeous!
Please, do read!
It’s early in the year, but I’m going to say it will be my favorite of the year!
.
I follow her on Instagram and she made a few research trips with her young family to the real island it’s based on… the pics are beautiful!
Such a beautiful book!
Simply Amazing!
This is the third book by this extremely gifted Australian
author and my third 5 star read, though this is my favorite…3 for 3 🙂
This novel is set on a remote island between Australia and Antartica, based on the real island of Macquarie Island.
The family that has lived here for the past eight years… overseeing the lighthouse… I fell in love with each of them, though they were fractured… until … a woman’s body washes up on the shore..
On this island is a research center doing tests and preservation due to climate change.
A lot happens here.. think “ thriller” in part.
Her descriptions of the seals and penguins and whales, and land, oceans, etc… gorgeous!
Please, do read!
It’s early in the year, but I’m going to say it will be my favorite of the year!
.
I follow her on Instagram and she made a few research trips with her young family to the real island it’s based on… the pics are beautiful!
December 10, 2024
I was hooked from the first pages as I was taken to this remote island between Australia and Antarctica. With a blend of introspective first and third person narratives from the points of view of of the five main characters, I was taken into the worried minds and broken hearts of a father, his three children and the woman who washed ashore .
It’s intense as the place that was supposed to be where the seeds for future generations would be saved is also in danger from natural disaster and the lost mind of a researcher. It’s suspenseful and moving as secrets are revealed. The writing is as beautiful as in McConaghy’s previous novels and thematically similar with the world in crisis because of climate change . She vividly describes the consequences without preaching. The impact is reflected in this family in crisis. A man in the depth of grief talks to his dead wife , imaging her next to him, trying desperately to help his children with their own losses and trauma , struggles to find out how this woman will fit into their lives .
The isolation, fear, worry and uncertainty each of the characters who bear their own trauma is heartbreaking, tempered only by their love for one another. Their connections to the natural world, the seals, the whales, the plants - is not one that is not familiar to me , but I could feel theirs. I found it impossible not to fall for these characters .
I received a copy of this from Flatiron through Edelweiss.
It’s intense as the place that was supposed to be where the seeds for future generations would be saved is also in danger from natural disaster and the lost mind of a researcher. It’s suspenseful and moving as secrets are revealed. The writing is as beautiful as in McConaghy’s previous novels and thematically similar with the world in crisis because of climate change . She vividly describes the consequences without preaching. The impact is reflected in this family in crisis. A man in the depth of grief talks to his dead wife , imaging her next to him, trying desperately to help his children with their own losses and trauma , struggles to find out how this woman will fit into their lives .
The isolation, fear, worry and uncertainty each of the characters who bear their own trauma is heartbreaking, tempered only by their love for one another. Their connections to the natural world, the seals, the whales, the plants - is not one that is not familiar to me , but I could feel theirs. I found it impossible not to fall for these characters .
I received a copy of this from Flatiron through Edelweiss.
March 17, 2025
5+ phenomenal stars!
All Time Favourite Audiobook list! 🎧 🏆
Atmospheric.
Mysterious.
Haunting.
Dominic Salt and his three children live on Shearwater island. They are caretakers of the lighthouse and scientific research base on the remote island near Antarctica. Surrounded by nothing but seals, penguins and the vast ocean, they know the meaning of extreme isolation — rationing supplies that come by boat every six months. One day a woman’s body washes up on their shore and it changes their lives forever.
The vast isolation of this island setting was like a character in itself. There was a claustrophobic feel to the story that kept its grip tightened on me. The stormy, nature-focused atmosphere was vivid and palpable, making me feel like I was right alongside the characters with the churning of ocean waves wrapped in my every thought. The sea life was a fascinating element that I really enjoyed.
I was thoroughly enthralled from the first to last sentence. The characters were brilliant creations. Each and every character was exquisitely crafted to take a piece of my heart and will undoubtedly stay on my mind for a very long time. I thought the author did an outstanding job exploring the children’s bond with their single father who is still deeply grieving the loss of his wife who he continues to talk to.
I enjoyed the uniqueness of the fatherhood focus. I find I’m usually reading books more strongly focused on motherhood and mother-child relationships, so this was a refreshing perspective and fascinating step outside of that usual family dynamic. The children’s longing for a mother figure and innocence in trying to fill the void was heart wrenching.
This one came with a lot of hype and it delivered even more than I could have hoped. I can’t say there is a lot that happens but it’s the exquisite writing that had me enthralled with the mysterious haunting possibilities of what was to come. It is beautifully written slow burning suspense and mystery, not edge of your seat tension. I usually feel a stronger connection to either the plot/atmosphere OR the characters but this one had me equally mesmerized with each aspect. I could not pick which was done better.
Audio rating: 5+ stars! The cast of narrators was excellent. They brought this story to life in an unforgettable way. Each narrator adding a unique and meaningful layer to the listening experience. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for my ALC through NetGalley!
All Time Favourite Audiobook list! 🎧 🏆
Atmospheric.
Mysterious.
Haunting.
Dominic Salt and his three children live on Shearwater island. They are caretakers of the lighthouse and scientific research base on the remote island near Antarctica. Surrounded by nothing but seals, penguins and the vast ocean, they know the meaning of extreme isolation — rationing supplies that come by boat every six months. One day a woman’s body washes up on their shore and it changes their lives forever.
The vast isolation of this island setting was like a character in itself. There was a claustrophobic feel to the story that kept its grip tightened on me. The stormy, nature-focused atmosphere was vivid and palpable, making me feel like I was right alongside the characters with the churning of ocean waves wrapped in my every thought. The sea life was a fascinating element that I really enjoyed.
I was thoroughly enthralled from the first to last sentence. The characters were brilliant creations. Each and every character was exquisitely crafted to take a piece of my heart and will undoubtedly stay on my mind for a very long time. I thought the author did an outstanding job exploring the children’s bond with their single father who is still deeply grieving the loss of his wife who he continues to talk to.
I enjoyed the uniqueness of the fatherhood focus. I find I’m usually reading books more strongly focused on motherhood and mother-child relationships, so this was a refreshing perspective and fascinating step outside of that usual family dynamic. The children’s longing for a mother figure and innocence in trying to fill the void was heart wrenching.
This one came with a lot of hype and it delivered even more than I could have hoped. I can’t say there is a lot that happens but it’s the exquisite writing that had me enthralled with the mysterious haunting possibilities of what was to come. It is beautifully written slow burning suspense and mystery, not edge of your seat tension. I usually feel a stronger connection to either the plot/atmosphere OR the characters but this one had me equally mesmerized with each aspect. I could not pick which was done better.
Audio rating: 5+ stars! The cast of narrators was excellent. They brought this story to life in an unforgettable way. Each narrator adding a unique and meaningful layer to the listening experience. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for my ALC through NetGalley!
December 18, 2025
The main idea behind this novel is pretty straightforward - it uses the seed vault on Shearwater Island and the Salt family’s story to explore how climate change could threaten humanity’s future.
But honestly, with all the debate around climate issues these days, I couldn’t help but wonder - does this kind of big, dramatic narrative still land the way it’s meant to? There’s been growing skepticism around the whole “climate crisis” concept, and it’s stirred up a lot of cultural and economic controversy. So from that angle, the book’s foundation feels a bit wobbly to me. And since the story keeps leaning hard into that theme, I found it tough to fully connect - it just didn’t pull me in emotionally the way I hoped.
That said, McConaghy’s writing is seriously impressive. Her nature descriptions are vivid and immersive, and she’s got a real knack for digging into her characters’ inner worlds. Dominic, Rowan, and the 3 kids - are all distinct and well-developed. She really captures the emotional tension that comes with isolation, and her prose has this quiet strength to it that I really appreciated.
Where the book stumbles, though, is pacing. The first half drags quite a bit, and the suspense takes forever to kick in. There’s a lot of introspection from different characters, which adds depth but also slows everything down. At 1 point, I was worried it might veer into soap-opera territory - especially when 1 character who was totally against having kids suddenly has this dramatic maternal awakening. That twist felt a little too on-the-nose.
For me, the real standout isn’t the climate message - it’s actually the island itself.
This remote, frozen place, with its brutal winds, icy waters, and wild animals, makes for an incredibly cinematic setting. I could totally picture the camera sweeping over penguins and seals, with a storm brewing in the distance. The island isn’t just a backdrop - it’s like a character in its own right. It cranks up the tension, magnifies the fear and trauma, and brings out both the cracks and the resilience in the people stuck there.
That strong sense of place made it easy to feel for the researchers, who are clearly stretched thin by the isolation, the pressure, and the loneliness. Their slow unraveling felt way more real and compelling to me than the sudden love stories.
Thankfully, the ending sticks the landing. The story zooms in on a powerful question - how do we protect the people we love when everything’s falling apart? It’s a sharp, emotional finish that really lifts the whole book and brings its human themes into focus.
At its heart, this is a character-driven novel. The plot isn’t super twisty, but the mood and emotional depth are where it shines. McConaghy tries to juggle a lot - climate disaster, family wounds, broken trust, surprise romance, and a late-in-the-game motherhood arc. But the real strength of the book isn’t in trying to sound the alarm about climate change - it’s in how it makes me sit with people who are just trying to hold it together in extreme circumstances. That kind of raw, honest storytelling is what sticks with me.
Even though I wasn’t totally sold on the book’s core message and found some of the plot turns a bit clunky, I’ve got to admit - it’s a well-written, emotionally rich read. If you’re open to its perspective and can hang in there through the slow start, the payoff in the second half might just be worth it.
3.4 / 5 stars
But honestly, with all the debate around climate issues these days, I couldn’t help but wonder - does this kind of big, dramatic narrative still land the way it’s meant to? There’s been growing skepticism around the whole “climate crisis” concept, and it’s stirred up a lot of cultural and economic controversy. So from that angle, the book’s foundation feels a bit wobbly to me. And since the story keeps leaning hard into that theme, I found it tough to fully connect - it just didn’t pull me in emotionally the way I hoped.
That said, McConaghy’s writing is seriously impressive. Her nature descriptions are vivid and immersive, and she’s got a real knack for digging into her characters’ inner worlds. Dominic, Rowan, and the 3 kids - are all distinct and well-developed. She really captures the emotional tension that comes with isolation, and her prose has this quiet strength to it that I really appreciated.
Where the book stumbles, though, is pacing. The first half drags quite a bit, and the suspense takes forever to kick in. There’s a lot of introspection from different characters, which adds depth but also slows everything down. At 1 point, I was worried it might veer into soap-opera territory - especially when 1 character who was totally against having kids suddenly has this dramatic maternal awakening. That twist felt a little too on-the-nose.
For me, the real standout isn’t the climate message - it’s actually the island itself.
This remote, frozen place, with its brutal winds, icy waters, and wild animals, makes for an incredibly cinematic setting. I could totally picture the camera sweeping over penguins and seals, with a storm brewing in the distance. The island isn’t just a backdrop - it’s like a character in its own right. It cranks up the tension, magnifies the fear and trauma, and brings out both the cracks and the resilience in the people stuck there.
That strong sense of place made it easy to feel for the researchers, who are clearly stretched thin by the isolation, the pressure, and the loneliness. Their slow unraveling felt way more real and compelling to me than the sudden love stories.
Thankfully, the ending sticks the landing. The story zooms in on a powerful question - how do we protect the people we love when everything’s falling apart? It’s a sharp, emotional finish that really lifts the whole book and brings its human themes into focus.
At its heart, this is a character-driven novel. The plot isn’t super twisty, but the mood and emotional depth are where it shines. McConaghy tries to juggle a lot - climate disaster, family wounds, broken trust, surprise romance, and a late-in-the-game motherhood arc. But the real strength of the book isn’t in trying to sound the alarm about climate change - it’s in how it makes me sit with people who are just trying to hold it together in extreme circumstances. That kind of raw, honest storytelling is what sticks with me.
Even though I wasn’t totally sold on the book’s core message and found some of the plot turns a bit clunky, I’ve got to admit - it’s a well-written, emotionally rich read. If you’re open to its perspective and can hang in there through the slow start, the payoff in the second half might just be worth it.
3.4 / 5 stars
October 14, 2025
The best book I've read in a long, long while.
April 1, 2025
I didn’t even read the synopsis for this book before I read it. I just dove right in after previously having loved Charlotte McConaghy’s previous novels. And Wild Dark Shore was no different. This book was filled with beauty on every single page. I was captivated from the very first page, and I didn’t ever want this story to end.
There’s no way that I could ever describe the beauty, descriptions of nature, or the way I felt while reading this. I wanted to be there on the island of Shearwater with Dominic Salt and his three children- and then Rowan, the woman who washes up to shore one night.
I felt as if I was living through all their emotions, and I could feel every ounce of pain and grief. I could see the beauty of the island, and hear the crashing of the waves. I could vividly see the yellow eyebrows of the penguins, the albatross gliding in the air, and the seals giving birth to their pups. What some call isolation, some might call it tranquility…
I recommend going into this book blind as I did, and just savoring the words. I have a feeling that you will fall in love with the Salt family as I did. I also recommend having tissues nearby, because the ending was not what I expected. If you have ever felt total love , loss, or grief in your life- or have ever lived your life in survival mode, then please read this book.
All. The. Stars. ✨
“Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.”
This was my March, 2025 BOTM pick- and it was a winner! 🥇
There’s no way that I could ever describe the beauty, descriptions of nature, or the way I felt while reading this. I wanted to be there on the island of Shearwater with Dominic Salt and his three children- and then Rowan, the woman who washes up to shore one night.
I felt as if I was living through all their emotions, and I could feel every ounce of pain and grief. I could see the beauty of the island, and hear the crashing of the waves. I could vividly see the yellow eyebrows of the penguins, the albatross gliding in the air, and the seals giving birth to their pups. What some call isolation, some might call it tranquility…
I recommend going into this book blind as I did, and just savoring the words. I have a feeling that you will fall in love with the Salt family as I did. I also recommend having tissues nearby, because the ending was not what I expected. If you have ever felt total love , loss, or grief in your life- or have ever lived your life in survival mode, then please read this book.
All. The. Stars. ✨
“Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.”
This was my March, 2025 BOTM pick- and it was a winner! 🥇
April 20, 2025
I saw everyone raving about this and started getting serious FOMO😭 so I had to see what the hype was about. And wow, this was definitely unlike anything I’ve read before. Right from the beginning, you can tell there are a lot of secrets bubbling under the surface. Everyone’s holding onto something, and it really sets the tone.
The setting was super unique, and knowing it was inspired by a real-life island added this eerie, atmospheric vibe that totally elevated the story. It just felt so intentional and immersive.
I couldn’t quite give it a full 5 stars though, mostly because it felt slow and honestly, a little boring 😔for a good chunk of it. That might just be me, and I do think it was a deliberate choice by the author to let readers sit with the characters, their growth, and the environmental issues. Still, it dragged a bit for me.
The characters themselves were fascinating, each shaped by such complex backstories. I wasn’t super into the romance, though. It was just okay. And there was the thriller element that I thought was slightly above average, but not mind-blowing.
That said, I really did enjoy most of it and I’m glad I picked it up. Apparently, the author is known for weaving environmental themes into heartfelt narratives, so I’m definitely curious to check out her earlier works and I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!
The setting was super unique, and knowing it was inspired by a real-life island added this eerie, atmospheric vibe that totally elevated the story. It just felt so intentional and immersive.
I couldn’t quite give it a full 5 stars though, mostly because it felt slow and honestly, a little boring 😔for a good chunk of it. That might just be me, and I do think it was a deliberate choice by the author to let readers sit with the characters, their growth, and the environmental issues. Still, it dragged a bit for me.
The characters themselves were fascinating, each shaped by such complex backstories. I wasn’t super into the romance, though. It was just okay. And there was the thriller element that I thought was slightly above average, but not mind-blowing.
That said, I really did enjoy most of it and I’m glad I picked it up. Apparently, the author is known for weaving environmental themes into heartfelt narratives, so I’m definitely curious to check out her earlier works and I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!
March 7, 2025
I wish so badly that I liked this book — I had it on my TBR for months, had it preordered, and was so excited to read it. It just fell completely flat for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and was expecting much more of the mystery aspect but that fell short. There were parts I tried so hard to care about and I just… didn’t. I’m not sure what this book was supposed to be — a discussion of grief, a mystery, a thriller, a cautionary tale about climate change? I suppose it could be all those things but felt pulled in too many directions that I was just bored most of the book and only really liked the parts with the animals. It is very highly rated so I would still think it’s worth reading.
March 31, 2025
3.5 ⭐️……I just couldn’t get into it? Is this just me?
March 27, 2026
BITCH!!! this shit got me fucked up!!
finishing this book felt extremely exhausting but in a good way. my heart felt like it ran a marathon reading those last 30 pages…
from the first page to the last i kept on hearing “evermore” by taylor swift in my head. like that song is soooo this book. please im not trying to be cheesy but please understand what im saying.
the connections rowan forms with everyone in this book was something special and unique in it of itself. this book lowkey read like a thriller. i was cussing out the pages. this is book is powerful, deep, and emotionally driven.
tears down my face towards the end but i’m not saying those are sad tears or happy tears. this book is meant to be a movie. i could visualize every corner of this setting due to the incredible writing. i need everyone to get in the studio NOW! i will kill my man if i don’t see this on a big screen!
4.5 ⭐️
finishing this book felt extremely exhausting but in a good way. my heart felt like it ran a marathon reading those last 30 pages…
from the first page to the last i kept on hearing “evermore” by taylor swift in my head. like that song is soooo this book. please im not trying to be cheesy but please understand what im saying.
the connections rowan forms with everyone in this book was something special and unique in it of itself. this book lowkey read like a thriller. i was cussing out the pages. this is book is powerful, deep, and emotionally driven.
tears down my face towards the end but i’m not saying those are sad tears or happy tears. this book is meant to be a movie. i could visualize every corner of this setting due to the incredible writing. i need everyone to get in the studio NOW! i will kill my man if i don’t see this on a big screen!
4.5 ⭐️
March 26, 2025
Ooooh I have a SPICY take on this one, given the outpouring of praise it seems to be getting.
Five stars for atmosphere but I don't think I've read a book that hated women more in a very, very long time. Ever? Possibly, PARTICULARLY one WRITTEN BY A WOMAN. The more I think about it, the madder I get. It started with Rowan, of course. There were so many ways to end this book without it being a "happily ever after" that were not...that. That was incredibly, incredibly stupid. I firmly believe a book doesn't have to have a "happy" ending but the ending should suit the book, and this only suited the book if the message of the book is "women are supposed to give up everything for other people." Then I thought about the treatment of Dominic's wife (again, who gave up literally everything for someone else) and of Fen (who was treated HORRIBLY by a man and then was EXILED BY HER FATHER because of it; and no, there's not nothing he could do about it, you don't let your TEENAGE DAUGHTER live on a BEACH just because you find it difficult to communicate; you insist she get her ass inside the house and firmly ignore her there, if nothing else). Even Niea was treated horribly in this, dying for and because of the stupidity of men. The only bit of ANY of this that is depicted as "too bad" is Fen's treatment.
So yeah, the message here to women is apparently "If the choice in life is between you and someone else, you should literally always just give up and die" and in conclusion, fuck this book.
("But it was FOR THE CHILDREN!" some will say. Again, there were many, many ways to craft this story that did not involve the horrible treatment of every single female character "for the children" that still would have captured the unfairness of the world, the choices that come with climate change, etc.)
Five stars for atmosphere but I don't think I've read a book that hated women more in a very, very long time. Ever? Possibly, PARTICULARLY one WRITTEN BY A WOMAN. The more I think about it, the madder I get. It started with Rowan, of course. There were so many ways to end this book without it being a "happily ever after" that were not...that. That was incredibly, incredibly stupid. I firmly believe a book doesn't have to have a "happy" ending but the ending should suit the book, and this only suited the book if the message of the book is "women are supposed to give up everything for other people." Then I thought about the treatment of Dominic's wife (again, who gave up literally everything for someone else) and of Fen (who was treated HORRIBLY by a man and then was EXILED BY HER FATHER because of it; and no, there's not nothing he could do about it, you don't let your TEENAGE DAUGHTER live on a BEACH just because you find it difficult to communicate; you insist she get her ass inside the house and firmly ignore her there, if nothing else). Even Niea was treated horribly in this, dying for and because of the stupidity of men. The only bit of ANY of this that is depicted as "too bad" is Fen's treatment.
So yeah, the message here to women is apparently "If the choice in life is between you and someone else, you should literally always just give up and die" and in conclusion, fuck this book.
("But it was FOR THE CHILDREN!" some will say. Again, there were many, many ways to craft this story that did not involve the horrible treatment of every single female character "for the children" that still would have captured the unfairness of the world, the choices that come with climate change, etc.)
March 12, 2026
I don’t want to spoil anything, but just know that my heart did break a little bit at the end of this.
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