Wrecked

by Stephanie K. Smith, Soneela Nankani (Reading)

From television writer Stephanie K. Smith ( Carnival Row ; Picasso ) comes Wrecked , a mystical story about historical treasure, generational trauma, and the power of transcendence. When aging fisherman Louis Mann hears a voice summoning him to an off-limits stretch of Long Island Sound, he knows he might be going crazy but feels compelled to heed the call. A big enough haul of summer flounder could be the windfall Lou needs to change his life–what little time he has left. But then his nets get stuck on something lodged in the ocean floor, uncovering a mystery that quickly ensnares three equally damaged strangers.   Phil, a disgraced Navy diver with a lifetime of resentments; Samantha, a wealthy antiques dealer on the brink of divorce; and Nick, a teenaged artist raised by neo-Nazis are all at rock bottom, just like Lou. And each is convinced that the old man's discovery–a centuries-old ship–will be their salvation. Lou, Samantha, Phil and Nick will all have to face the forces that formed them before they can reap any reward pulled from the depths of the Sound. For as magical as La Difesa may be, the wreck alone cannot save anyone. It can only push them to save themselves...if they're willing.

Genres: Audiobook

Audio CD

Published April 4, 2023

Reviews

[Gary Lawrence · Rating 1 out of 5]

This the first Audible original I have not finished. One cliche after another, without the slightest touch of subtlety in the plot, caused me to call time early. Some may enjoy this but not this listener.

[Anastasiya M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story dives deep into grief, guilt, and the messy process of rebuilding after tragedy. It follows a young woman grappling with the aftermath of a devastating loss, her world cracked open in ways she never expected. The setting feels intimate, almost claustrophobic at times, as if the pain itself has taken shape around her. It’s emotional, raw, and heavy, but also threaded with moments of quiet hope that give it balance.

The characters are well-drawn, if a little predictable in their arcs. There’s sincerity in how they’re written, especially in how they navigate trauma and self-blame, but at times the emotional beats feel slightly rushed. Still, the protagonist’s vulnerability makes her easy to root for. You can feel her frustration, her confusion, and her attempts to find herself again in a world that doesn’t look the same anymore.

The audiobook performance adds real depth, capturing the ache and fragility in each scene. The narration fits the tone perfectly, bringing a human warmth to even the more difficult moments. The story itself has a solid emotional foundation, though it doesn’t quite reach the level of impact it seems to aim for. It’s heartfelt and honest, but a little uneven—one of those stories that lingers, even if it doesn’t completely wreck you.

Read more here: https://annietheinkdrinker.wordpress....

[Catherine Puma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really tried to like this one and stuck with it because I wanted to encounter more scuba diving/treasure finding/on the water scenes. I liked when those happened, but for a work that has a scuba diver descending underwater towards a shipwreck as the front cover, this was not nearly as much about that as it needed to be.

This is called "Wrecked" because all of the characters are messed up and their lives are falling apart around them. Stephanie Smith puts too many qualifiers on the "star crossed lovers" and their so-called chemistry is told to us rather than shown. Characters have too lukewarm of a reaction to seeing Neo-Nazi graffiti and the giant Swastika back tattoo. There are also WAY too many infidelity subplots, which thus come across more like the author manifesting than writing what made sense for the story.

The characters aren't that sympathetic or aren't written with depth, so it's unearned when the treasure is the real spear of Jesus Christ and the ship an actual gateway to heaven. Like, WTF?!

Granted, the characters are all high for half of the book, so maybe that's how it is intended to be read. It's just not a good read and I cannot recommend it to anyone.

[Rebel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t let the 3-star rating fool you, this was a fun read. But the story started running into the ethereal and mystical, and while interesting it diminished the story in my eyes. I really wanted to give it 4-stars, but the departure from reality knocked it down. Still a fun and mindless read for what it’s worth.

[Kat Jenkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Imagine if a romance writer had written Stephen King's "Needful Things." Sit with that for a moment. This is a great story idea, so badly written as to be intolerable and unfinishable. It's a good thing it was free, and so bad that I will eye future Audible "included" titles with deep suspicion.

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was almost a collection of short stories with a thread connecting them all. I didn't not enjoy it, but there were moments that I felt the story didn't flow well. But there were some great plot elements, so I'll say 7.5/10.

[BookWyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read about a ship wreck that changes the lives of all the characters involved.

[Bev(baglady) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[GollyRojer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrecked is a moving, touching story of healing, forgiveness, and reclamation. Salvaging a shipwreck is the ostensible goal, but damaged souls are the actual salvage. I had moments of doubt when I got to the supernatural aspects, but they don't detract from the storyline.

[D S Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing although it started off really slow.