All the Breaking Waves by Kerry Lonsdale | Rating: ★★★★☆

As a note, a copy of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

This novel surprised me quite a lot--I hadn't expected to like it for whatever reason; it felt promising but there's this moving quality to it that blew my expectations right out of the water. I went in thinking that the story would be one thing but came out realizing it was another thing entirely. Which is a fantastic feeling and I couldn't even put this one down while I was down with a gnarly flu--it just felt so captivating and... indescribable.

From what I understand, All the Breaking Waves is a departure from Lonsdale's previous work and have no doubt it shows off her incredibly versatile writing chops. In fact, I daresay I will check out her other release in woman's fiction: it was that good. Her prose has this undeniable spark to it that left me feeling goosebumps at even the most simplest of statements and so much in this is unforgettable. You know those novels that are perfect for dreary, wintery, chilled nights--paired with hot cocoa and silence? All the Breaking Waves is one of those gems.


There's this hint of everything in this one. Magic. Love. Mystery. Real life. Loss. It's a serious novel--not overly heavy for me, personally, but it may not appeal to all audiences--and that's what I loved most about it. How dark it felt to read it at times... there was a sense of confusion and hopelessness to it that was very chilling. Chilling and intriguing--a difficult task for even the most seasoned authors yet Lonsdale does so exquisitely. You're going to leave this one with a lot on your mind due to the unforgettable characters and utterly beautiful style in which the writing is handled.  


Based upon the cover art and description one wouldn't think they'd be in for such a thrilling ride, I can't stress that enough, but this is the case in which the cover-art (though it is indeed stunning) doesn't give a heads-up to the story. I kind of liked that--there's no foreshadowing for me on first glance and I do so enjoy a good surprise.

Enjoying the ride is essential in All the Breaking Waves. Get ready to soak up a whole lot of information, backstory and descriptions. My only complaint is that it was too short for, without actually being considered short. You're going to love it--but only if this genre is your cup of tea. So get ready to curl up with this one and not move for hours.