Save the Whales

"Although I was skeptical about 'signs,' 
there had been a message in what I had seen.
It was to do with life, death and cycles, 
the insignificance of things, 
perhaps the knowledge that everything will pass."

--Jojo Moyes, Silver Bay

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Penguin Books

Pages: 352

Publication Date: August 26th, 2014

Source: e-ARC provided by published via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Previous Books By This Author: Me Before You & One Plus One & The Girl You Left Behind

Goodreads Description

From the New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You and One Plus One, a surprising and moving romance set in an old-fashioned seaside town on the verge of unwelcome change

Liza McCullen will never fully escape her past. But the unspoiled beaches and tight-knit community of Silver Bay offer the freedom and safety she craves—if not for herself, then for her young daughter, Hannah. That is, until Mike Dormer arrives as a guest in her aunt’s hotel.

The mild-mannered Englishman with his too-smart clothes and distracting eyes could destroy everything Liza has worked so hard to protect: not only the family business and the bay that harbors her beloved whales, but also her conviction that she will never love—never deserve to love—again.

For his part, Mike Dormer is expecting just another business deal—an easy job kick-starting a resort in a small seaside town ripe for development. But he finds that he doesn’t quite know what to make of the eccentric inhabitants of the ramshackle Silver Bay Hotel, especially not enigmatic Liza McCullen, and their claim to the surrounding waters.

As the development begins to take on a momentum of its own, Mike’s and Liza’s worlds collide in this hugely affecting and irresistible tale full of Jojo Moyes’s signature humor and generosity.

The Characters 

Jojo freaking Moyes. I mean, I shouldn't be surprised that I fall head over bookish heels in love with every single one of her characters but I am. I am shocked by her skill at writing and creating REAL people. I know I say this with every book of hers that I read and every review I write but I continue to sit and read in awe of how amazing every single of her characters is. SERIOUSLY! Every character, main, secondary, tertiary, whatever is written in a way that makes them real. Her main characters, the ones you fall completely in love with, are people you could easily know in real life. Is there some extraordinary drama that happens to them? Yes. But in reality, we never know what goes on behind closed door. We have no idea what each person's life has brought them. The sorrows, the joys, the pain, the experiences. That's what I love about her writing. She creates real people with real lives and real problems and you cannot but help to root for them. Let me break them down...

Mike 

Mike was not a character or a man that I was initially warmed to. I thought he was kind of a douche. I'm not into nor do I fully respect a man who lets a woman push him over. I am all for female empowerment but that he actually says he prefers to have zero say in his social/personal life and wants a woman to do it all for him basically made me eye-roll. Man up, bro. Ooooh and man up, he does. His transformation from calculated decision maker and passive life liver into this man that wants nothing more to protect his people and do the right thing...swoon. Mike is a fantastic character that isn't perfect (which I do love, imperfect people learning from their flaws) who grows into someone he himself can be proud of.

Liza 

Oh, Liza. My heart bled, broke, cried, and felt with you. Liza is a mystery and that of an enigma on the Silver Bay. She loves Hannah with everything she has and is an amazing mother. She sacrifices everything for the promise of solidarity and a quiet life. I can't say more but just know Liza is amazing and strong and kind.

Hannah 

I want Hannah to be my child! Or my friend. I'll take friend because Liza is an amazing mother. She is one of those wicked smart kids who is wise beyond her years. Her tell-it-like-it-is personality and her vulnerability broke my heart and made me want to just hug her like crazy. She is such an important part of this story and I love how she was written. She is just a kickass kid.

The Angst 

This book definitely had the most angst of all the Jojo books I've read. My heart was racing in anticipation of what was going to happen next. My heart ached at point because I just did not know how this was all going to end up. I was so upset at some points because people suck and that's real life and it hurts to read about it. *sigh* BUT was it all worth it in the end?...Read the book and find out :)

The Water 

I loved that this story took place by the water. I could see it in my head. I longed for the beach and boats and a life where the ocean is right outside your doorstep. The visualization of the setting is fantastic and a character all on its own. It surrounds the story like a perfect bubble and makes you feel like part of the Silver Bay community.

The Pacing 

I loved this book. Definitely 5 stars for me but the pacing was a bit slow at points. I believe that we did need everything Jojo gave us but the greedy reader in me just wanted instant gratification...and obviously that does not a good book make.

VIP

If you're a Jojo Moyes fan, add this to your list of Must-Read books...and if you haven't read a Jojo Moyes book yet?...What in the actual hell are you waiting for?

And for some added fun, my family recently came to visit me in San Diego where, who would have guessed it?!, they have Whale Watching Tours!! Who also would have known that the choppy water and small boat would have made me so sick...what can ya do? I didn't get up for fear of vomiting BUT I still saw a whale and a ton of dolphins! Thank you Mr. Whale who so very kindly decided to show himself on the side of the boat that I was sitting on.