Book Review: The Wave by Kristen Crusoe

Ever have a book catch you off guard? That is exactly what happened me with The Wave.

Goodreads Blurb

The Wave by Kristen Crusoe

It should have been a relaxing day at the beach for Dr. Clair Mercer and her family. But an argument with husband Adam distracts her from watching their four-year-old autistic son, and tragedy strikes when a sneaker wave sweeps him away. Clair’s well-ordered life is plunged into madness, and after attempting to murder her husband, she walks into the ocean. Arrested, charged, and awaiting trial on a locked psychiatric unit, can she discover a path to forgiveness, for herself and the husband she tried to kill?

Review

The blurb for The Wave sounds like a psychological thriller, right? That’s what I thought too. Except this book actually turned out to be a beautifully-written drama. This change certainly threw me at the start but the deeper I went in, I began to appreciate the emotional draw of this book.

It’s not necessarily the storyline that stands out in The Wave. If I’m to be perfectly honest, I actually found the writing style to be a bit erratic. Some of Clair’s decisions came out of the blue for me and I found it difficult at times to understand how much time had passed between scenes. In turn, this made it difficult to really connect with Clair and understand her frame of mind.

On the flip side, I could really feel the emotion of the story. The chapters in which Clair revisits losing her son are heart-breaking. Equally emotional are the scenes in which we understand how Clair and Adam’s marriage got to the point it did, especially when the many understandings between the couple are revealed. It leaves the reader thinking about the emotional complexity of family life and how suffering, self-realization, and the power of love can heal even the most wounded bonds of trust.

While the sometimes erratic storyline meant that I couldn’t love The Wave, I did find it an interesting read. If you would like to explore Clair’s story for yourself, you can pick up a copy of the book here.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.