Dear Reader,
I thoroughly enjoyed Colleen Oakley’s newest release, The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, and I think you will, too.
Our protagonist is Anders, a twenty-something journalist and podcaster hoping for a big break. When Anders is sent to tiny Frick Island in Chesapeake Bay to cover the residents’ annual cake festival, his only goal is to quickly collect information so he can return to the more important stories on the mainland.
The story’s heroine is Frick Island resident Piper, whose husband has gone missing on a routine crabbing expedition. When Tom’s body is never recovered, Piper carries on as if her beloved Tom is still right there with her.
But here’s the kicker: every resident of Frick Island is acting as if Tom is still with them.
Anders has caught a whiff that something’s fishy. Was Tom’s death really an accident? And who sent Anders a cryptic email telling him he was overlooking Frick Island’s biggest secret? But the more questions Anders asks, the more the islanders tighten the hatches.
I absolutely loved this well-written story. Every paragraph of every scene is important. Plus, there are some lovely descriptive passages. Anders and Piper are both very compelling characters, and each of them matures during our time with them. I also loved that the story was set on a remote island with quirky inhabitants.
And somehow, Oakley finds the perfect balance of presenting a highly entertaining and engaging story, while nudging readers to think about the deeper questions in life.
Questions like, what does love look like, and is there a right way about it? Why does love take on different shapes between people, and how does our past influence the way we love others? How far is too far to push love?
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island was my first Colleen Oakley book, but it will not be my last. The book includes discussion questions, and I’ve recommended it to my neighborhood book club.
Reader, what about you? Have you visited Frick Island yet? Let’s talk about it together.
Here with you,
Laura
