Book Review: Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox

Amanda Cox has become a must-read author for me. Her stories reflect the reality of human emotion and the gracious tenderness of God. This is a story of restoration of a physical place, a lighthouse, while we witness the restoration of relationships and characters hearts.

Cox has a beautiful mastery of crafting a story that weaves the wonder of God’s grace in transforming characters. Joey Harris is an event planner living in a small town in Tennessee. Her business is struggling, her family is a little broken and she’s not really sure what the future holds. Her best friend, Sophie, encourages her to apply for an odd position restoring an old de-commissioned lighthouse. BTW, Sophie, in the sparing moments we see her reflects the characteristics of a special best friend.

Surprisingly, Joey gets the gig and relocates to the coast of North Carolina, the lighthouse situated on an island a 30 minute boat ride away. Walt O’Hare is an 81 year old and Joey’s employer. He’s seeking to put right a perceived wrong of his teen years. Finn O’Hare is his grandson. A thirty-something pilot who is grappling with his own brokenness while thinking he needs to take care of his grandpa.

It’s marvellous how Cox weaves the multiple layers of restoration through the story. Meanwhile, the legacy of Cathleen McCorvey or Cay, as Walt knew her, is ever present in our story. Cay was Walt’s best friend and he left her to join the war effort in 1942. Cay apparently died soon after along with her father who had been suffering from what we now know as dementia.

Not a word nor scene is wasted as the story progresses, the physical restoration of the lighthouse soon slipping into the background as we witness the beauty and wonder of broken, estranged and seemingly lost relationships lovingly being restored. It’s beautiful to read.

As I read it, I kept thinking about ‘What the Crawdads Sing’ and think Amanda’s story would make an equally beautiful movie.

Once again, I feel blessed to have had a chance to receive an early ebook copy from Revell via NetGalley and I know will treasure its memory. My review has not been influenced by this blessing and I suspect I’ll buy my own copy so it can sit proudly on my bookshelf.