The Pelican Tide

by Sharon J. Wishnow

After disaster strikes, a Louisiana family and their community need to prove to each other and the world that their bond is thicker than the oil threatening their shores in Sharon J. Wishnow’s stunning debut novel.

It’s taken Chef Josie Babineaux six months to reconcile the debts left from her husband Brian’s gambling along with her broken heart. But now with a promising tourist season heating up and a travel magazine declaring her the spice queen of the bayou, she may be able to save her family’s historic Cajun restaurant. Repairing her relationship with her daughter, Minnow, while hiding the true reason she left her husband is a bigger issue.

Just as the first tourists arrive, an explosion on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico shatters their fragile plans. With her island community at the epicenter of the oil spill, everything is endangered, including the restaurant’s beloved mascot—a brown pelican dear to the family’s heart.

Josie realizes her family needs more than financial recovery. Only reconciling her past and revealing the truth can clean up the guilt and hurt pooling under the surface. And maybe, with enough honesty, this family can find renewal.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook

339 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2024

About the author

Sharon J. Wishnow is a transplanted New Englander who makes her home in Northern Virginia. In addition to writing upmarket fiction with environmental themes, Sharon writes non-fiction in the science, technology, and business categories with a passion for research, seashells, birds, and the ocean. She has been a member of the Boston Malacological Club since she was ten years old. She credits growing up by the ocean and family camping trips for her love and respect for all that is outside her door.

I write stories about flawed, educated women with plots that have environmental themes, but not dystopian doom. I’m drawn to stories that show how changes in the environment change people.

Sharon is the former Vice President of Communications for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), the founder of Women’s Fiction Day, and is the Executive Editor of the WFWA magazine, WriteOn!

She has an MFA from George Mason University, a publications certification from George Washington University, and a BA from Clark University. She regularly speaks about research and writing and publishes a regular newsletter, Research for Writers and Other Curious People.

When she’s not writing or researching, you can find her in the garden, watching the birds in her backyard, or feeding peanuts to the local squirrels.

The Pelican Tide is her first novel. She is represented by Ann Leslie Tuttle of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC.

Reviews

[Caleb Deck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focuses on a fictional family of Grand Isle, Louisiana just before, during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster. The characters of Josie and Brian are quite nuanced and resonate quickly. The facts of the disaster mixed with the emotional story of the family can be a bit heavy but are very compelling. I could see some readers feeling a bit defensive of the oil industry, but I think Wishnow is fair in her representation of the situation and the impact a disaster like that has not just on the local community but on the rig employees as well.

Overall, this was a beautiful book. Great character development, smooth pacing of the story, factual and narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and hope you will to!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Farida Yasser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was the Babineaux family's story worth telling?
Although it may sound cold hearted, I didn't feel invested at all in the storyline.
It was basically an informative book, focusing on the oil platform explosion, told by Josie and Brian. The amount of article excerpts and constant information gave the feel of a textbook rather than a novel.
It may have been if the storyline and characters were more rich and complex.
The characters were robotic, they were written so one dimensional and lacked any originality.
Sadly, this one was a miss for me.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Hadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pelican Tide is a fictionalized account of the aftermath of the real-life Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and it's clear that author Sharon Wishnow did a tremendous amount of research before writing this novel. But the book is much more than an environmental disaster story; it's also the tale of a restaurant struggling to survive, a family trying to piece itself back together again, and an island community determined to support each other through the best and worst of times. From the start, I was rooting for Josie and Brian and their second-chance romance, but perhaps my favorite character was Gumbo the pelican, whose spunky personality encapsulates this story of grit and resilience.

[Carys Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story a little too slow, so it took me forever to read. I also kept forgetting that the main character wasn’t a teenager, due to her somewhat simplistic life views and overall moodiness.
The pelican saved it for me. Love Gumbo.

[Sydney Van · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda boring overall - interesting to hear about the difficulties Louisiana went through during deep water horizons. But not my favorite story line outside of that. Happy ending was nice :) quick read

[Dione Hanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pelican Tide is a story about the grit and resilience of the people of Grand Isle, LA before and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (also called the BP oil spill) in April 2010. This historical fiction account tells the story of a family struggling before the oil spill and devastated after the spill.. The economics of this community are based on fishing and tourism, which both stopped after the spill. Grand Isle is a barrier island off the coast of New Orleans. We hear so much about oil spills in the news right when it happens - but what really happens for the days and weeks and years after.?

This oil spill was an environmental disaster for the gulf coast. It was interesting to hear about this from the perspective of someone that lived there. I can only imagine how sad it would be to see the damage first hand, day after day after day. Not to mention that your ability to make a living was totally shutdown. The characters in this story were well developed and had issues just like the rest of us. Sharon Wishnow did a great job making this story come to life. I loved the character - Gumbo. You will have to read the book to find out about this very special character!

[Kathryn Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed that this novel wove together the facts and feelings surrounding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill with a family in turmoil. Wishnow did a good job reflecting on how the oil spill and following hurricane made recovery vastly more difficult for a community already on the edge economically. The strong community ties enabled the town to survive.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

With crisp dialogue, a fast-moving plot, and engaging characters, it’s a reader’s delight

Thank you to Sharon J. Wishnow, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc of this book

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a grab from someone’s home library this was so good. The bird sanctuary made me think of Jessica

[Serendipity · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pelican Tide follows Josie, a chef who lives in Grand Isle, Louisiana. She's separated from her husband Brian, largely as a result of his gambling addiction, and the two share custody of their teenage daughter and younger son. Josie has a complicated relationship with her deceased mother, her father, and her brother, who co-own the family restaurant that she runs. What makes this novel stand out from others in the women's fiction genre, a categorization I have very mixed feelings about, is the background against which these personal dramas play out - the 2010 environmental disaster that was the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and a hurricane which hit the area a few months later. The author was able to show the many varied impacts of the catastrophe through the Babineaux family. Brian worked on the rig, although he wasn't on it at the time of the explosion, something his family wasn't certain of . We see their fear for his safety, then their more generalised worry for the safety of friends and colleagues, then his grief at the loss of some friends and the life- altering injuries suffered by others. There's the economic impacts as workers are laid off, beaches are closed and tourists stay away, and local businesses lose much of their income, not to mention the almost inevitable friction between locals and government agencies and officials. And of course, there's the environmental impact, which was a strong thread in this story through daughter Minnow, a budding orthnitholigust and environmentalist, and Gumbo, the restaurant's semi-tame Pelican mascot. Another strong thread relates to Josie's attempt to keep the restaurant afloat by entering a BBQ sauce competition. This not only made me hungry but showed her family and wider community coming together in a really heart-warming way. A solidly told story of a woman coming to terms with her past, working through complictaed family dynamics, and forging a new path forward, but one which is elevated by its environmental storyline and themes.

Many thanks to @NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC. The Pelican Tide releases today.

[Stacey (Bookalorian)]

I just finished The Pelican Tide by Sharon J. Wishnow - audiobook -
Narrated by Sophie Amoss; Joe Knezevich.

Josie Babineaux has been paying off her husband's gambling debts for months. It was the final straw that broke their marriage but things are looking up. Tourist season is ramping up and her interview in a travel magazine will bring in more business. Hopefully they can pull their little cajun restaurant back from the brink.

Her relationship with her daughter, Minnow, is fractured especially as she doesn’t know the real reason she left her dad.

No one could have predicted an explosion on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico and all Josie’s plans are shattered in an instant. Not only is her business now in shambles, the pelican who lives under the restaurant deck is now in danger too. Can Josie reconcile her family and save their restaurant? So much is on the line and everything seems hopeless.

Narration was good, I felt very connected to the story.

Josie is the epitome of a doormat in her marriage. She is taking all the blame for her husband's mistakes and it is ruining her family. I could feel what it was putting her through but I also understand why she took the blame. I am not sure I would have accepted being the bad guy for this but she is a better person than me. I get gambling is an addiction but not facing it as a family at the beginning just made things worse.

I loved the pelican mascot! I thought the whole story was so well done. I cannot imagine how much devastation something like that could impact not just the sealife but also all the people who live right on the coast. The smell, the tainted seafood, the loss of revenue from tourists…. It’s a huge problem that takes years to fix. I loved how Josie came up with a new way to fix her finances.

It was a book full of determination, a whole lot of family drama. It was really impactful and a great read.

4.5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @brilliancepublishing for my gifted copy

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pelican Tide is a book that has put me through an emotional wringer with is story and characters. Minnow, Josie's teen daughter, is taking me back to my youth with her idealism, confusion, and love of the natural world. Toby, the young son, is a reminder how I used to look at the world with hearts in my eyes because I knew in the end if we stayed solid as a family we could weather any storm. Brian, the husband, is so real and represents so many people I know whose lives are overtaken by addiction and are fighting to get that life back and prove they can be a success in the face of it. Maisey, Louise and Hollis, the best friends, are so strong in their love of their community and The Deans, Josie's father and brother, speak to the all the feelings and tensions that are the foundation of love. And, even the non human characters like Odeal's Resturant, Grand Island and Gumbo the pelican all are living breathing vital parts of this book of love, family, and community. And finally there is Josie, the central character who is so heartbreakingly strong and yet so open in her love for everyone and her willingness to question and grow dispute her own past. They all come together to tell a powerful story told in a voice that drew me in and had me laughing, smiling, crying and hoping that this small community would not just survive but thrive!

This is a beautifully nuanced story that shows the power of family, blood and found as well as near and displaced, to overcome disaster through grit, determination, love and just plain old stick-to-it-nes. Told in a vivid style Josie's story is one filled with not just heart and dialogue that shows how one woman grabs victory with the help her family and friends from defeat. This is a story of one woman who discovers what matters most to her and who she is as she fights to reclaim herself, her family, and her business, while also serving as a rallying point to draw her community together around her.

[Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pelican Tide by Sharon J. Wishnow and narrated by Sophie Amoss; Joe Knezevich is a story of fortitude and tenacity in extreme adversity.

This is a novel about what happens to a community after all the camera's go home and people are left to try and survive, to recover their lives following a huge disaster. The Pelican Tide is a fictional account of families trying to rebuild after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the massive oil spill that followed, descimating their coastline, their businesses, their families

I remember the disaster being on the news, all over the news and the book describes the human side of such disasters, not just the event itself, but their lives before, during and after. A really nice touch in this book, was the stories and roles of individual characters. The people associated with working on the rig, from local citizens, to the specialist rescue, to local transport. How everybody pulled together as a community and the stresses and strains of trying to survive

Wishnow's extensive research is apparent in an authentic account of the experience of living through a disaster and the ramifications of the the same. The characters are wonderful and their stories are poignant and relatable. Gumbo the Pelican is a wonderful hub and anchorpoint who draws a lot of people together and Josie Babineaux is a fantastic FMC, both giving a strong foundation to a powerful, poignant story

The narration is clear, heartfelt and on point. A really good listen

Thank you to Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio, Sharon J. Wishnow and the narrators Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

[Jessica Livengood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against the evocative backdrop of a small town in Louisiana, The Pelican Tide by Sharon J. Wishnow captures the heart and spirit of a tight-knit community facing the upheaval of a natural disaster. As a devastating oil spill strikes, the island's dependence on summer tourism is threatened, effectively shutting down their most vital season. This calamity, however, sets the stage for a beautifully woven narrative that delves deep into the themes of resilience, love, and the true meaning of family and friendship.

The strength of The Pelican Tide lies in its richly developed characters. Each individual in the small town is lovingly crafted, making it easy for readers to form deep connections with them. As the story unfolds, you can’t help but grow fond of these characters, experiencing their joys and struggles as if they were your own. Sharon Wishnow skillfully portrays the nuances of marriage, exploring its highs and lows, and what it means to stand by your loved ones through thick and thin.

Moreover, the novel highlights the bonds that extend beyond blood relations, showcasing friendships that transform into familial ties in times of crisis. It's a heartwarming reminder of the community's power and the support system that can be found in the unlikeliest of places.

The Pelican Tide is a perfect summer read, combining an engaging storyline with heartfelt moments that leave you feeling uplifted. Its easy prose and compelling narrative make it a book you’ll want to devour in one sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an advanced reader copy of this wonderful novel.

[Nanette Littlestone · Rating 5 out of 5]

As complex and spicy as the cooking

It's April 2010 in Grand Isle, Louisiana, where Chef Josie Babineaux is
hoping that the tourist season and a travel magazine article will revitalize
her restaurant. Her husband, Brian's, gambling and the distant relationship
with her daughter, Minnow, will hopefully fall in line too. But an oil well
explosion in the Gulf of Mexico destroys those plans, as well as endangering
all wildlife in the path of the spill, including the family's beloved
pelican.

The Pelican Tide follows a series of disasters that any family would find
difficult to fathom, much less the fragile network of the Babineauxs. The
author carefully layers complicated situations with complex emotions,
carrying the reader on an ebb and flow as natural as the rising tide. Only
this tide is full of past mistakes, painful regrets, emotional hardships,
and the ever-present stench of crude oil, dirtying everything in its wake.
Offsetting the destruction is the punch of the writing, the strong current
of the storyline, the uplifting tang of food descriptions, and the spicy
flavor of the Cajun community that has so much heart and soul you'll want to
take a trip to Grand Isle to partake of Josie's food and be embraced by that
love.

From heartache and despair to joy and passion, The Pelican Tide will hold
you in its grip and take you for an exciting ride. And if the story isn't
quite enough, there are mouth-watering recipes at the end.

[Jeff Offutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best written book I've read this year.

I once read that every book has three times: The time of the events in the book, the time the author wrote the book, and the time the reader reads the book. Writing a book where all three times are so close, and the background events to the book are historically documented and in recent memory, brings huge challenges to the author. It is so tempting to take shortcuts with unbelievable actions or coincidences that move the plot in the direction the author wants, especially with books that need to be true to actual recent events and recent society. But not in The Pelican Tide!

Every thing made sense, the drama felt real, and the problems, both external and internal, have a real ring of truth. None of the characters are perfect and all are good. Or at least try to be. The book has some serious depth and explores emotional health, mental health, resilience in the face of adversity, the struggle between competitive greed and cooperative altruism. What is forgiveness? How do you plan a future without knowing what will disrupt those plans or when? I found myself loving every character, while being glad I'm none of them.

If there is any stretching of possibilities, it's at the very end (no spoiler!). But by then, we all deserved that to happen ... characters, readers, and the author.

[Nancy Fagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Lake Union and author Sharon Wishnow for making this ARC available to me.
Chef Josie Babineau’s world has fallen apart in The Pelican Tide. A broken marriage, a troubled daughter, and a soon-to-be ex-husband who narrowly misses being killed in the Deep Water Horizon oil rig explosion and ensuing oil spill in Louisiana. Josie suffers financial heartbreak due to her husband's poor judgment and the loss of her beloved restaurant . She circles her troops as a last attempt at saving everything. The presence of Gumbo, a pelican, who watches over the family is a barometer of the wildlife in this deep South fishing village. Wishnow brings the reader into the arms of a family in various stages of disarray and uses the background of the tragic explosion to set them on a journey to healing while enlightening readers about the damage big oil spills do to the environment. She builds to the climax slowly and carefully and you can trust she will get you there with her bright prose. Using complex characters and their intersections, she deftly depicts a family and extended family struggling in different ways and it was lovely to follow each character's thoughtful path to healing through love.

[Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an emotional read. I remember when this incident happened. It was devastating. The author has created a fictional story about a family dealing with a lot of difficult issues before the explosion that are further exacerbated by the disaster. Will it bring them all together of be the final nail in the coffin? Josie is trying to keep her family afloat after separating from her husband after she discovered his gambling addiction and that he has used every bit of savings they had and even stolen and sold some of her jewelry. She is beyond angry, devastated and feeling so very betrayed. He is supposed to tell the children the truth, but makes her out to be the bad guy. She has moved out of their home while trying to catch up financially as tourist season is coming and she is an amazing chef. Their family restaurant is all they have and she is truly amazing. Then the disaster hits and things go from bad to worse. Its a tough road back. The author has seamlessly knitted a real life incident with a fictional story about love, tough times, amazing friends and community and forgiveness. Josie is amazing. I am not sure that many people would be so forgiving.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Esperancita 💜 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faced with a situation that unfortunately has occurred on more than one occasion and that affects the marine fauna and all those who depend on it, in The Pelican Tide we find a story that revolves around an oil spill near a port town where our protagonist lives.

From what I understood, this spill was specifically inspired by one that happened, although as I mentioned this incident is not isolated and has happened on many occasions, affecting all the marine wildlife in the area.

This book wants to be a summer read, but it is much more than that, we find a fast prose that makes you devour the book at once, but here there is more than just having an entertaining moment, we see how a woman tries to get out of financial and family problems in the tourist season, but because of this incident she sees all her plans even more truncated.

With such diverse characters that allow you to form a connection with their emotions and feelings as they go through this crisis.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this different story for the summer.

#ThePelicanTide #NetGalley

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story about a Louisiana family and their community coming together after not just an oil spill but also a Hurricane. This book really tugged at the heart strings following Josie who runs the family restaurant and is having to deal with her husbands past gambling debts. He now says he is getting help for his gambling problem and wants the family to get back together, she's torn.. Then there is an explosion on the oil rig he works on and she is devastated thinking he was on it. The water, sea life, fishing business and business on the water are devastated by the massive oil spill and the havoc it's also causing to peoples health. Shortly after there is a hurricane that almost takes a loved ones life and destroys many business in the community while spreading all the oil all over town,. These townsfolk can't be deterred and come together to help put everyone's houses and businesses back together while also traveling far to show support. It's a good book with some cute off shoot stories. It for sure will make you smile, cry and be glad this community has one another while wishing you were part of community like this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!!!! It's taken Chef Josie Babineaux six months to reconcile the debts left from her husband Brian's gambling along with her broken heart. But now with a promising tourist season heating up and a travel magazine declaring her the spice queen of the bayou, she may be able to save her family's historic Cajun restaurant. Repairing her relationship with her daughter, Minnow while hiding the true reason she left her husband is a bigger issue. Just as the first tourist arrive an explosion on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico shatters their fragile plans. With her Island community at the epicenter of the oil spill, everything is endangered including the restaurant's beloved mascot- a brown pelican dear to the family's heart. Josie realizes her family needs more than financial recovery. Only reconciling her past and revealing her past and revealing the truth can clean up the guilt and hurt pooling under the surface. And maybe with enough honesty, this family can find renewal. A very interesting story and a great read!!!

[Julie Snider · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sharon J. Wishnow's debut novel, THE PELICAN TIDE, the reader is taken back to 2010 and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the Louisiana coast. The Babineaux family- chef Josie, oil rig worker Brian, two children, and a pelican-swims against the tide of personal and financial stress which exists alongside the environmental damage plaguing the coast. Themes of overcoming fear, admitting one's mistakes, and offering compassion permeate the novel. The story is made real through the use of sensory detail and a keen understanding of the human heart. Kudos to Ms. Wishnow for her careful research and ability to focus upon the true cost of our world's lust for oil.

I highly recommend THE PELICAN TIDE for those seeking a sensitive portrayal of the effects of environmental destruction on real families and communities. Anyone who enjoys a tightly-constructed, well-plotted novel featuring the inner workings of a working class family will love this book. Heartwarming and filled with joy and sorrow in equal measure, THE PELICAN TIDE is a winner!

[Pamela Beckford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie Babineaux, rather Chef Josie, has brought her culinary skills and training back to her hometown, married Brian and raised two children - and adopted Gumbo, an injured pelican. The story revolves around Josie and her marital problems. But when Brian narrowly escaped being on the oil rig where he worked by just a few hours before it exploded, things take a new turn. As they try to salvage their relationship, her restaurant and even Gumbo, we get a glimpse into her struggles - both financial and childhood.

I loved this book - it was multi-dimensional and kept me engaged. I wanted to keep reading because I felt tied to the characters in the story - even Gumbo (maybe especially Gumbo). I recommend that everyone read this for a feel good story that also deals with life's challenges.

I was given this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Penny Gilchrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

When disaster strikes, a fractured family struggles for survival.

Josie and Brian Babineaux are in trouble. Their marriage is almost over, the kids are caught in the middle, and the family’s restaurant is on the brink of collapse. Then the Deepwater Oil Spill tragedy hits their small Louisiana town, threatening the safety and livelihood of everyone the Babineauxs care about. As they join their townsfolk in helping one another, the family questions what is truly important in life.

With her unique brand of insightfulness and sparking prose, Wishnow weaves a story about letting go of the past in order to reclaim love. Every character is believable and likable—even the rogues—but the story’s guiding star just might be Gumbo, a pelican with a heart of gold. Part bird and part sage, he reminds “his people” that there are two kinds of families: the one they were born into, and the one they were lucky enough to choose.

[Marsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Events like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill stay in the news for a couple weeks and then the public moves on but, for the people directly affected, the disaster has lingering, often heartbreaking, consequences. The Pelican Tide is about some of those people, specifically a family that already had their share of problems BEFORE the oil spill; after the spill, all those problems become magnified.

I learned a lot from this story about oil spills, which was incredibly interesting, and I enjoyed seeing the family the story focused on find their way back to one another. There are no bad guys or good guys here; just flawed people trying their best. The star of the book was certainly Gumbo the pelican, who will forever have a special place in my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake. Union for the ARC.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This debut novel by Sharon J. Wishnow gives us a story filled with family drama, resilience, and second chances. Some readers will recognize that the author skillfully interweaves devastating real events into her tale. Even if you do not recall them, even imagining what it would take to overcome these disasters is enough to make you wonder how anyone can survive such hardship.

I found the characters to be nicely developed and could relate to the emotional upheaval they go through. I love how the pelican is featured and the role he plays in the story. This book really was one I found hard to put down.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and to Sharon J. Wishnow for providing me with an early copy of The Pelican Tide. No promise was requested or made of a positive review, but I can wholeheartedly recommend that readers pick up a copy of this book.

[Kristy Chown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to The Pelican Tide for its setting in Grand Isle, Louisiana, and its focus on food and family. Josie Babineaux, a chef and mother, faces personal and financial challenges after her husband's gambling issues and the looming threat of an oil spill. The novel beautifully intertwines themes of love, loss, and the strength of community.

What stood out to me was the depth of the characters. Josie's journey of reconciliation with her past and her family felt genuine and moving. The inclusion of Gumbo, the pelican, added a charming touch, symbolizing hope and renewal.

Wishnow's writing is vivid, capturing the essence of the bayou and its culture. The narrative flows smoothly, keeping me engaged from start to finish. If you're looking for a story that combines emotional depth with a rich setting, The Pelican Tide is a compelling read.

[Sharon Kurtzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! The Pelican Tide is an emotionally rich novel about a Louisiana family struggling to survive in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Sharon J. Wishnow’s tremendous writing skills make the fictional Babineaux family feel oh-so real. Chef Josie Babineaux faces the oil spill’s impact on Louisiana with courage, and I was immediately invested in her story as she fights to save her restaurant and community. The author deftly brings the natural beauty of Louisiana to life, and the descriptions of the local cuisine are mouthwatering! This is a page-turning story about love and family that will stay with readers long after the last page. It’s a fantastic read, and one I highly recommend!

[Rebecca Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Grand Isle, Louisiana in the wake of the massive Deepwater Horizon oil spill, PELICAN TIDE is the story of a family in turmoil, a historic café, and a beautiful but fragile ecosystem under threat. A layer of oil sludge coats the local beaches and estuaries, fishing is banned, tourists disappear, and the entire island community faces tough decisions. Against this backdrop, Josie and Brian struggle to hold their marriage together while trying to ensure a future on the island they love. In this assured debut, Sharon Wishnow creates a strong sense of place and deftly brings the natural world of this Gulf barrier island to life. Readers looking for a heartwarming story, memorable characters, and the delights of a wayward pelican named Gumbo will be richly rewarded.