The Salt House: A Novel

by Lisa Duffy

In the tradition of Jodi Picoult and Lisa Genova, this gorgeously written, heartbreaking, yet hopeful debut set during a Maine summer traces the lives of a young family in the aftermath of tragedy.

In the coastal town of Alden, Maine, Hope and Jack Kelly have settled down to a life of wedded bliss. They have a beautiful family, a growing lobster business, and the Salt House—the dilapidated oceanfront cottage they’re renovating into their dream home. But tragedy strikes when their young daughter doesn’t wake up from her afternoon nap, taking her last breath without making a sound.

A year later, each member of the Kelly family navigates the world on their own private island of grief. Hope spends hours staring at her daughter’s ashes, unable to let go. Jack works to the point of exhaustion in an attempt to avoid his crumbling marriage. Their daughters, Jess and Kat, struggle to come to terms with the loss of their younger sister while watching their parents fall apart.

When Jack’s old rival, Ryland Finn, threatens his fishing territory, he ignites emotions that propel the Kelly family toward circumstances that will either tear them apart—or be the path to their family’s future.

Told in alternating voices, The Salt House is a layered, emotional portrait of marriage, family, friendship, and the complex intersections of love, grief, and hope.

• ISBN10: 1501156551
• ISBN13: 9781501156557
• Publish Date: 10 August 2017 (first published 13 June 2017)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 April 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Atria Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[pagesbycyndy]

Review:

This book took a while for me to get into, actually it took me the whole book. I did not have the heart to DNF this one. I think that it was just to sad and depressing for my taste. This book is very well written with a beautiful setting on the coast of Maine. The main character Hope is trying g to come back from a year long depression due to her baby's death.  I felt so sad for this family as each member has a voice and is telling their own story of dealing with this death and the pain that they are in. Each character is well developed and I would have to say that Hope was on my mind the most during this book. Her grief and pain just jumped off the pages and for that I have to commend the author on writing such a beautiful story. It just did not hit the mark with me.

Wrap Up:

I am sure that many readers will absolutely love this book, I just found it too sad and I just could not get past that feeling.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge