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In Review

21 November 2008 20:40 BST

Silver Bay by Jojo Moyes

Published by Hodder & Stoughton, out now, paperback, pp358.

In a nutshell…

Intriguing. Unusual. Romantic. Surprising. Easy-going.

What's it all about?

Property developer Mike Dormer arrives in Silver Bay, a small seaside town in Australia, expecting to find no problems with his company's planned hotel development. But what he comes across challenges him both romantically and professionally – a small family running a B'n'B with more than just a hint of a mysterious past.

Liza McCullen and her ten-year-old daughter Hannah immediately entrance him and he gradually becomes drawn into their world. But with both past loves and present realities ever present the tranquility of the whale-watching community at Silver Bay becomes increasingly fragile.

Who's it by?

Silver Bay is the fifth novel from Jojo Moyes, a former journalist whose previous novels have gained both critical attention and public appeal. Her first novel, Sheltering Rain, has been published in 12 countries and her second book, Foreign Fruit, won the Romantic Novelist Association novel of the year award in 2004.

Unsurprisingly given the emotionally deep insights into the relationship of the mother and daughter in Silver Bay, Jojo Moyes is married with three children.

As an example…

"Look out at the sea for long enough, at its moods and frenzies, at its beauties and terrors, and you’ll have all the stories you need – of love and danger, and about what life lands in your net. And the fact that sometimes it’s not your hand on the tiller, and you can do no more than trust that it’ll all work out ok."

Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood blockbuster

Silver Bay has all the ingredients of a romance film – the mysterious, beautiful woman with a tragic past, the hard businessman who is changed by her and the drama unfolding around them. But nevertheless the ingredients make for an afternoon movie on television rather than blockbuster material.

What the others say

"Her most stunning and emotionally fulfilling novel yet." - Blackwells

So is it any good?

Moyes has described the novel as her "most emotional" yet and intense feelings bubble through the narrative until finally bursting into the open in the final chapter. However romantic and sentimental at heart, Silver Bay refrains from becoming trite due to the narrative structure – events are told through the eyes of the characters involved, providing refreshing, alternative viewpoints.

The worlds of business with its empty materialism and a smaller society more in tune with nature and feelings are captured perfectly. For the reader Silver Bay becomes fantastic escapism, an idyllic backwater that they too would no doubt save, like the people involved, if they could.

For a long journey or a wet day the novel is a perfect time passer but it leaves a 'warm glow' feeling rather than a lasting impression that you feel compelled to discuss.

7/10

Carolyn Robertson