A compelling debut novel! This book served to remind me yet again of the many people in this world who are alone, living solitary and unfulfilling lives. My heart went out to Angie. Imagine believing you don’t have much time left to live and regretting that your life has held no happiness, adventure, or most importantly, LOVE. I enjoyed reading about Angie’s time spent with Danek. How his arrival in her life led to her having friendships for the first time. The setting of Jaywick Sands was one that I had not heard of before reading the book and I found it somehow heartwarming that it has turned into a refuge for people without much material wealth. I had my suspicions about Nikoleta’s boyfriend from the start. Kamil was shady yet Nikoleta’s naiveté kept her from realizing it. The novel had themes of loneliness, betrayal, the often dire situations of immigrants, the nourishing aspect of being part of a community, and how social acceptance can influence the human psyche. I can confidently recommend this debut novel. It has engaging characters, good pacing, an absorbing story, an almost palpable sense of place, and a heart-warming ending. An absorbing read!