Beyond That, The Sea (Review)

A story of a British girl and the American family that takes her in during WWII, only to play a significant role in each other’s lives for decades to come.

The vibe

book / swimsuit / cover up / hat / shoes / towel / bag / sunglasses

Bonus vibes (because I did not live out my dream of reading this on a beach, but I still liked matching it!): leggings / similar mug

The review

At age 11, Beatrix is sent across the Atlantic by her British parents to an American family in the hopes that she could have some semblance of a childhood as German bombs rain down on London during WWII. The Gregorys, her host family, consist of a warm-hearted matriarch who always wanted a daughter, a stern but friendly patriarch, and their two sons, Gerald and William. The time Bea spends with this family — especially their summers in Maine — have a lasting impact on her life, even after she returns to England.

Told across decades, Beyond That, The Sea takes the reader through themes across love, loss, family, friendship, and, ultimately, the importance of them all in life. Beautifully written, this book was so hard to put down. I truly enjoyed the audiobook, but found myself needing to curl up with these characters with the physical book!

I loved Bea/Trixie/Beatrix. The fact that she had these different lives — and different names — really made me feel for her. Is it betrayal to her parents to love the Gregorys? Is it disrespectful to miss home when you have the good fortune to have found normalcy during the war? And, as she grows up, should she hide that part of her life from people?

This book is sad, but it’s also beautiful! I truly believe even people who don’t like historical fiction will love it!