The Girl from the Sea

By: Shalini Boland

Narrated by: Katie Villa

"I can’t remember anything. Not even my own name."

When Mia James is washed up on a beautiful, sun-drenched beach, she has no idea who she is or what happened to her. She doesn’t even recognize her own face–until her boyfriend, Piers, comes forward, providing her with an identity.

Piers is handsome and attentive, Mia’s home is huge and stylish, and her friends are eager to help her fill in the blanks. As Mia steps into the perfect life she was living before her accident, she should feel lucky to be alive. But she struggles to adjust, lost for words around people she is meant to know and love, grasping for clues about who she really is.

And as her memories slowly return, Mia realizes something is very wrong. Her neighbors are avoiding her, her emails have all been wiped, and she is haunted by the face of a woman standing by the water. Too many things just don’t seem to add up, and she begins to question those closest to her....

What if nearly drowning didn’t happen by accident?

How does she know who to trust, when she’s not even sure she can trust herself?

From the million-copy best-selling author of The Secret Mother and The Perfect Family, this completely addictive psychological thriller will have you racing through until the final jaw-dropping twist. If you loved Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, and The Wife Between Us, this book is for you.

©2018 Shalini Boland (P)2022 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Some things…

I am a fan of Shalini Boland but there were some things in this book that just didn’t seem realistic. If I lost my memories, I would be doing all things possible to get them back, not sitting in my apartment eating a salad and drinking tea. I would be going to my last place of employment, visiting parents (earlier than she did!), changing locks after the breakup, seeking out who my friends are, talking, asking FAR more questions than she did. Having said that, the ending…well, THAT was unexpected and worth the listen.

Love Shalini Boland books

Not my very favorite of Borland’s books, but definitely kept me reading. One of my favorite go-to authors…

haunting and beautifully written

"The Girl from the Sea" is a haunting and beautifully written tale that immerses readers in a world where the line between reality and myth blurs. The author's lyrical prose and vivid descriptions create an enchanting atmosphere that is both mysterious and evocative.

The characters are well-drawn and relatable, particularly the enigmatic girl from the sea who serves as the central figure. The story weaves together themes of love, loss, and the inexorable pull of the ocean, crafting a narrative that is both emotional and thought-provoking.

While the book's dreamlike quality is part of its charm, it may leave some readers desiring more concrete answers and closure. Additionally, the pacing can be slow at times, requiring patience.

In sum, "The Girl from the Sea" is a mesmerizing read that rewards those who appreciate poetic storytelling and don't mind a touch of ambiguity. It's a journey into the unknown that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

Good but irritating protagonist

I love both the author (& the narrator) & have listened to many of her other books. I usually love the story but this protagonist was very irritating and it seemed a bit farfetched with how it wrapped up. She didn’t seem to have real depth. But all in all it’s an entertaining story and excellent narrator- it’s worth the credit :)

Bizarre and a really good book

I haven’t read anything like it. There were a few things at the end that I wish I could talk with another reader about and they made me raise my eye brow a bit as far plausibility but I still really like it.