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Closer by Sea
INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER
CBC Books “86 Works of Canadian Fiction to Read in the First Half of 2023”
CBC Books “40 Canadian Books to Read This Summer”
From the writer and producer of the hit TV shows Republic of Doyle and Son of a Critch , a poignant coming-of-age debut novel about the mysterious disappearance of a young girl and the fragility of childhood bonds, set against the backdrop of a small island community adapting to an ever-changing landscape.
In 1991, on a small, isolated island off the coast of Newfoundland, twelve-year-old Pierce Jacobs struggles to come to terms with the death of his father. It’s been three years since his dad, a fisherman, disappeared in the cold, unforgiving Atlantic, his body never recovered. Pierce is determined to save enough money to fix his father’s old boat and take it out to sea. But life on the island is quiet and hard. The local fishing industry is on the brink of collapse, threatening to take an ages-old way of life with it. The community is hit even harder when a young teen named Anna Tessier goes missing.
With the help of his three friends, Pierce sets out to find Anna, with whom he shared an unusual but special bond. They soon cross paths with Solomon Vickers, a mysterious, hermetic fisherman who may have something to do with the missing girl. Their search brings them into contact with unrelenting bullies, magnificent sea creatures, fierce storms, and glacial giants. But most of all, it brings them closer to the brutal reality of both the natural and the modern world.
Part coming-of-age story, part literary mystery, and part suspense thriller, Closer by Sea is a page-turning, poignant, and powerful novel about family, friendship, and community set at a pivotal time in modern Newfoundland history. It is an homage to a people and a place, and above all it captures that delicate and tender moment when the wonder of childhood innocence gives way to the harsh awakening of adult experience.
CBC Books “86 Works of Canadian Fiction to Read in the First Half of 2023”
CBC Books “40 Canadian Books to Read This Summer”
From the writer and producer of the hit TV shows Republic of Doyle and Son of a Critch , a poignant coming-of-age debut novel about the mysterious disappearance of a young girl and the fragility of childhood bonds, set against the backdrop of a small island community adapting to an ever-changing landscape.
In 1991, on a small, isolated island off the coast of Newfoundland, twelve-year-old Pierce Jacobs struggles to come to terms with the death of his father. It’s been three years since his dad, a fisherman, disappeared in the cold, unforgiving Atlantic, his body never recovered. Pierce is determined to save enough money to fix his father’s old boat and take it out to sea. But life on the island is quiet and hard. The local fishing industry is on the brink of collapse, threatening to take an ages-old way of life with it. The community is hit even harder when a young teen named Anna Tessier goes missing.
With the help of his three friends, Pierce sets out to find Anna, with whom he shared an unusual but special bond. They soon cross paths with Solomon Vickers, a mysterious, hermetic fisherman who may have something to do with the missing girl. Their search brings them into contact with unrelenting bullies, magnificent sea creatures, fierce storms, and glacial giants. But most of all, it brings them closer to the brutal reality of both the natural and the modern world.
Part coming-of-age story, part literary mystery, and part suspense thriller, Closer by Sea is a page-turning, poignant, and powerful novel about family, friendship, and community set at a pivotal time in modern Newfoundland history. It is an homage to a people and a place, and above all it captures that delicate and tender moment when the wonder of childhood innocence gives way to the harsh awakening of adult experience.
272 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2024
64 people are currently reading
5306 people want to read
About the author
Perry Chafe
2 books69 followersPerry Chafe is a Canadian television writer, showrunner, producer and author. He is a co-founder and partner in Take the Shot Productions. Perry was the co-creator, showrunner, and head writer for the TV series Republic of Doyle, which ran for six seasons on the CBC, and an executive producer and writer for the Netflix/Discovery series Frontier, starring Jason Momoa. In addition, he was an executive producer and writer for Caught, a CBC limited series based on Lisa Moore’s award-winning novel of the same name. Perry is currently a writer and Co-Executive producer on the hugely successful CBC series Son of a Critch. On May 23rd, 2023, Perry will be releasing his much-anticipated debut novel, Closer By Sea, through Simon and Schuster Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
May 28, 2023
Closer by Sea is a heartfelt tribute to outport communities in Newfoundland undergoing economic collapse. Their people, dependent on the vanishing fisheries, must adjust to the end of their way of life, become resilient and move on. This brilliant debut novel is bittersweet, poignant, and a powerful eulogy. It is a coming-of-age story about the end of childhood and the necessity of adapting to new realities.
The characters are so real they leap off the page and into one's memories. It contains wit and wisdom and is both a literary mystery and a suspenseful story that kept me turning the pages, not wanting it to end. There is an immersive sense of a place of haunting beauty close to the cold Atlantic Ocean. Dangerous storms churning up waves and floaters can put fishing boats in peril, and rocky shorelines and magnificent towering icebergs are vividly described. At an earlier time, ships would return to port heavily laden with cod. Local people would process the fish for export. The children earned money by cutting cod tongues to sell as a delicacy. They envisioned a future with their own fishing vessels or working in a related fishing business.
But the time is now 1991. Fishing boats are returning with much fewer cod or empty. Fish processing plants are closing down. The government is promoting a moratorium on fishing, and people are forced to move from the outports where their families have lived for generations.
Pierce, a 12-year-old boy, badly misses his father's love, guidance, and wisdom. His father was lost at sea three years previously. He loved the ocean but now fears it. However, he still plans to have his father's boat repaired and fish from it when he is grown. His mother is struggling as the fish plant where she worked is rarely operating. She takes the ferry each day to work on the mainland.
This was Pierce's last time attending a small elementary school on the island village. In the fall, he and his classmates will attend a large school on the mainland. A small group of boys has relentlessly bullied him. A teenage girl, Anna, who Pierce only met three times, made a significant impression on him. She has now disappeared without a trace. Pierce is determined to find out what happened to her. He persuades his two school friends and a visiting girl 'from away' (New York City) to help him find her. This begins a summer of reckless adventure. In a place of rumour and wild speculation, Pierce's suspicion falls on an elderly hermit he considers strange. Pierce and his friends are good kids, but his obsession with finding Anna leads them to some shady deeds. This leads the group to break into a home for clues, and he sees something that raises his suspicion. Mostly what was revealed was far different from what they expected.
The bullies from school are still tormenting them. They steal a boat as Pierce believes Anna may be imprisoned on a small, distant island. With the fearful Pierce steering and a friend reading the map, they undergo a life-threatening journey to the island. They perform another break-in into a locked room in a deserted building where Pierce hopes to rescue Anna. While they don't find Anna, they discover something quite remarkable. Next, they encounter their bullies. Why are these mean boys there? The bullies threaten to leave them stranded on the island. They are relieved to be rescued by a surprising person.
The mystery of what happened to Anna has been solved, and Pierce discovers new activities and friends at his new school. Most importantly, he has a new mentor who gives him the guidance he lost with his father's death. He is inspired to follow a new, exciting path in his future. Highly recommended!
The characters are so real they leap off the page and into one's memories. It contains wit and wisdom and is both a literary mystery and a suspenseful story that kept me turning the pages, not wanting it to end. There is an immersive sense of a place of haunting beauty close to the cold Atlantic Ocean. Dangerous storms churning up waves and floaters can put fishing boats in peril, and rocky shorelines and magnificent towering icebergs are vividly described. At an earlier time, ships would return to port heavily laden with cod. Local people would process the fish for export. The children earned money by cutting cod tongues to sell as a delicacy. They envisioned a future with their own fishing vessels or working in a related fishing business.
But the time is now 1991. Fishing boats are returning with much fewer cod or empty. Fish processing plants are closing down. The government is promoting a moratorium on fishing, and people are forced to move from the outports where their families have lived for generations.
Pierce, a 12-year-old boy, badly misses his father's love, guidance, and wisdom. His father was lost at sea three years previously. He loved the ocean but now fears it. However, he still plans to have his father's boat repaired and fish from it when he is grown. His mother is struggling as the fish plant where she worked is rarely operating. She takes the ferry each day to work on the mainland.
This was Pierce's last time attending a small elementary school on the island village. In the fall, he and his classmates will attend a large school on the mainland. A small group of boys has relentlessly bullied him. A teenage girl, Anna, who Pierce only met three times, made a significant impression on him. She has now disappeared without a trace. Pierce is determined to find out what happened to her. He persuades his two school friends and a visiting girl 'from away' (New York City) to help him find her. This begins a summer of reckless adventure. In a place of rumour and wild speculation, Pierce's suspicion falls on an elderly hermit he considers strange. Pierce and his friends are good kids, but his obsession with finding Anna leads them to some shady deeds. This leads the group to break into a home for clues, and he sees something that raises his suspicion. Mostly what was revealed was far different from what they expected.
The bullies from school are still tormenting them. They steal a boat as Pierce believes Anna may be imprisoned on a small, distant island. With the fearful Pierce steering and a friend reading the map, they undergo a life-threatening journey to the island. They perform another break-in into a locked room in a deserted building where Pierce hopes to rescue Anna. While they don't find Anna, they discover something quite remarkable. Next, they encounter their bullies. Why are these mean boys there? The bullies threaten to leave them stranded on the island. They are relieved to be rescued by a surprising person.
The mystery of what happened to Anna has been solved, and Pierce discovers new activities and friends at his new school. Most importantly, he has a new mentor who gives him the guidance he lost with his father's death. He is inspired to follow a new, exciting path in his future. Highly recommended!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2023
In 1991, on a small isolated island off the coast of Newfoundland, 12-year-old Pierce Jacobs is still missing his father, a fisherman who disappeared in the Atlantic three years previously. Life on the island is quiet and hard and the local fishing industry is on the brink of collapse. Then a young teen named Anna Tessier goes missing and Pierce and his friends set out to find her.
This was a wonderful story, very poignant and realistic. I think it will especially appeal to Canadians who are familiar with the east coast of Canada but will also appeal to anyone who enjoys a coming-of-age story. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to middle grade and young adult readers as well. The characters are believable and the island is so well drawn that I could picture it even though I've never been to the area. The book is less than 300 pages and an easy read. It reminded me a bit of some of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books. There's a bit of a mystery, some area folklore and some teenage angst. There are some wonderful local colloquialisms that I've never heard before and I have to confess to getting a little verklempt whilst reading the epilogue.
The author is Canadian and has written for a number of tv productions, most notably (to me) Son of a Critch which we just love. This is his debut novel and I'd definitely read another book by Perry Chafe.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: May 23, 2023
This was a wonderful story, very poignant and realistic. I think it will especially appeal to Canadians who are familiar with the east coast of Canada but will also appeal to anyone who enjoys a coming-of-age story. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to middle grade and young adult readers as well. The characters are believable and the island is so well drawn that I could picture it even though I've never been to the area. The book is less than 300 pages and an easy read. It reminded me a bit of some of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books. There's a bit of a mystery, some area folklore and some teenage angst. There are some wonderful local colloquialisms that I've never heard before and I have to confess to getting a little verklempt whilst reading the epilogue.
The author is Canadian and has written for a number of tv productions, most notably (to me) Son of a Critch which we just love. This is his debut novel and I'd definitely read another book by Perry Chafe.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: May 23, 2023
July 30, 2023
"But like your grandmother's handmade patch quilt, we try and see the pieces back together the best we can, to make something out of what's left, even though, when you lose someone, you miss them all the world." Work keeps our mind occupied, but the loneliness is always waiting. "
" As my father used to say, "Mind your tongue, It can be sharp as any blade and cut even deeper."
Perigo Island, as small fishing village off the coast of New Newfoundland, a place where generations of the same.families have fished the sea. All that is changing, there is less fish, less people employed by the fishery, and many are leaving g the island. Pearce is a young teen, who lost his father a few years back, when his fishing book returned without him. His body never found. A slightly older girl, a terrific young artist, was kind to him window that she missing he is determined to find out what happened.
A.coming of age story, a bittersweet, nostalgic look at a time when one.thought their young friendships would last forever. First love and events made more.dramatic than the actually were. A time that will never come again. Of loss.and yearning. Possibilities. I remember summers like that and I am guessing most readers will too.
" As my father used to say, "Mind your tongue, It can be sharp as any blade and cut even deeper."
Perigo Island, as small fishing village off the coast of New Newfoundland, a place where generations of the same.families have fished the sea. All that is changing, there is less fish, less people employed by the fishery, and many are leaving g the island. Pearce is a young teen, who lost his father a few years back, when his fishing book returned without him. His body never found. A slightly older girl, a terrific young artist, was kind to him window that she missing he is determined to find out what happened.
A.coming of age story, a bittersweet, nostalgic look at a time when one.thought their young friendships would last forever. First love and events made more.dramatic than the actually were. A time that will never come again. Of loss.and yearning. Possibilities. I remember summers like that and I am guessing most readers will too.
June 1, 2023
✰ 4 stars ✰
“But like your grandmother’s handmade patch quilt, we try and sew the pieces back together the best we can, to make something out of what’s left, even though, when you lose someone, you miss them all the world. Work keeps our minds occupied, but the loneliness is always waiting.”
What was so captivatingly beautiful about Closer by Sea was how important a part the sea itself played in Pierce Jacob's life in Perry Chafe's poignant and deeply moving coming-of-age story. There was something almost melancholic and still youthful about the writing - that it felt as if I was buoying on a boat - tethering between land and sea - trying to find some closure between the past and present. 🌊
It definitely sounds like a strange comparison, but that's really how it felt as Pierce led me on this riveting journey of trying to find out the truth behind his friend's disappearance, shielding his best friends from bullying, all the while circumnavigating the youthful glows of first-time boyhood crushes. Ah, twelve years old - not quite yet a teen, but still old enough to no longer be a boy.
Pierce was a lovely protagonist - there was something truly genuine about his thoughts and feelings. He was determined, strong-willed, intelligent young boy, who was defiant in seeking out Anna's disappearance, while simply wanting to do what's right and for right to be done unto him. Whether it was the local gang of bullies or creepy and mysterious older researchers like Solomon, he had this air about him that he believed that he could learn the secrets of the world, if he just stopped to see. And still, he carried himself with the heavy heart of losing his father without ever knowing what truly happened to him, while also still struggling with the reality that he could have also lost his friend to the same fate.
“Everyone should be looking for her right here.” Anna had been missing for five days now. Mom and I knew that five days was a lifetime when searching for a loved one.”
And with the struggle of finding out the truth behind Anna's disappearance, he also has to balance so much more so happening in his life - the little nuances of growing up that may not be not be important to him at that moment, but would eventually serve as setting up his life for the future. That delicate balance between scenes - the gentle shift between the soft moments overshadowed by the mysterious darker and dangerous waters was handled so remarkably well that I never felt that there was an abrupt shift in tone. 🩵🩵
“I know you miss your dad. But the best way to honor those we’ve lost is to live the very best life we can.”
What this lovely little escape to a tiny Newfoundland island also gave me was a lovely set of characters - a closely-knit group of friends that were rich in humor, youthful personalities, and cheered with multi-faceted layers that gave us the glimpse into how these kids were at this age. 🥰Each of the band of friends - Pierce, Thomas, Bernie and Emily - brought something special to their group - there was a biting tongue and tender care to their moments together - something that is so achingly true for that age.
“Sorry, just making sure there’s no glass in there,” she said before reapplying the paper towel.
Just then, the door opened. Thomas and Bennie were standing there, staring at the two of us holding hands. Again.
“When’s the wedding?” Thomas asked as Bennie shook his head in disapproval.
“He cut his hand on the glass,” Emily replied, pulling her hand away from mine.
“I’m sure he did,” Bennie said.
“Shag right off, Bennie,” I replied. “I’m bleeding here.”
“Poor baby,” Thomas said. “There’s a crib in the next room.”
With all the awkwardness of this age - with all the gentle rebukes they could give each other that would not be so hurtful, it was them on the cusp of adolescence, while also trying to help each other find a way to a better hopeful future. And what I appreciated was how it was so well depicted that I found myself chuckling at times at their comments, fearful for their rather hasty decisions, and even saddened at the moments where they experienced loss and pain that was not warranted but still unavoidable.
“We picked up from where we left off months before. You can do that with certain people. My mother used to say that those kinds of people are the ones you ought to hold on to.”
Rich in heart and family, hopeful in childhood friendships and feelings, and still thoughtfully tender about death and grief, Perry Chafe wrote a soft bittersweet novel that no matter how the small steps are in the beginning, the path to the future will be worth it. 🌸
“But like your grandmother’s handmade patch quilt, we try and sew the pieces back together the best we can, to make something out of what’s left, even though, when you lose someone, you miss them all the world. Work keeps our minds occupied, but the loneliness is always waiting.”
What was so captivatingly beautiful about Closer by Sea was how important a part the sea itself played in Pierce Jacob's life in Perry Chafe's poignant and deeply moving coming-of-age story. There was something almost melancholic and still youthful about the writing - that it felt as if I was buoying on a boat - tethering between land and sea - trying to find some closure between the past and present. 🌊
It definitely sounds like a strange comparison, but that's really how it felt as Pierce led me on this riveting journey of trying to find out the truth behind his friend's disappearance, shielding his best friends from bullying, all the while circumnavigating the youthful glows of first-time boyhood crushes. Ah, twelve years old - not quite yet a teen, but still old enough to no longer be a boy.
Pierce was a lovely protagonist - there was something truly genuine about his thoughts and feelings. He was determined, strong-willed, intelligent young boy, who was defiant in seeking out Anna's disappearance, while simply wanting to do what's right and for right to be done unto him. Whether it was the local gang of bullies or creepy and mysterious older researchers like Solomon, he had this air about him that he believed that he could learn the secrets of the world, if he just stopped to see. And still, he carried himself with the heavy heart of losing his father without ever knowing what truly happened to him, while also still struggling with the reality that he could have also lost his friend to the same fate.
“Everyone should be looking for her right here.” Anna had been missing for five days now. Mom and I knew that five days was a lifetime when searching for a loved one.”
And with the struggle of finding out the truth behind Anna's disappearance, he also has to balance so much more so happening in his life - the little nuances of growing up that may not be not be important to him at that moment, but would eventually serve as setting up his life for the future. That delicate balance between scenes - the gentle shift between the soft moments overshadowed by the mysterious darker and dangerous waters was handled so remarkably well that I never felt that there was an abrupt shift in tone. 🩵🩵
“I know you miss your dad. But the best way to honor those we’ve lost is to live the very best life we can.”
What this lovely little escape to a tiny Newfoundland island also gave me was a lovely set of characters - a closely-knit group of friends that were rich in humor, youthful personalities, and cheered with multi-faceted layers that gave us the glimpse into how these kids were at this age. 🥰Each of the band of friends - Pierce, Thomas, Bernie and Emily - brought something special to their group - there was a biting tongue and tender care to their moments together - something that is so achingly true for that age.
“Sorry, just making sure there’s no glass in there,” she said before reapplying the paper towel.
Just then, the door opened. Thomas and Bennie were standing there, staring at the two of us holding hands. Again.
“When’s the wedding?” Thomas asked as Bennie shook his head in disapproval.
“He cut his hand on the glass,” Emily replied, pulling her hand away from mine.
“I’m sure he did,” Bennie said.
“Shag right off, Bennie,” I replied. “I’m bleeding here.”
“Poor baby,” Thomas said. “There’s a crib in the next room.”
With all the awkwardness of this age - with all the gentle rebukes they could give each other that would not be so hurtful, it was them on the cusp of adolescence, while also trying to help each other find a way to a better hopeful future. And what I appreciated was how it was so well depicted that I found myself chuckling at times at their comments, fearful for their rather hasty decisions, and even saddened at the moments where they experienced loss and pain that was not warranted but still unavoidable.
“We picked up from where we left off months before. You can do that with certain people. My mother used to say that those kinds of people are the ones you ought to hold on to.”
Rich in heart and family, hopeful in childhood friendships and feelings, and still thoughtfully tender about death and grief, Perry Chafe wrote a soft bittersweet novel that no matter how the small steps are in the beginning, the path to the future will be worth it. 🌸
May 4, 2023
I have every confidence this book will win awards and be seen on TV!
The story opens in 1988 with nine-year-old Pierce Jacobs grieving the loss of his father, Luke, a cod fisherman off the coast of Newfoundland. Readers see the profound effect this has on his young life.
Author Perry Chafe then manages to not only describe the essence of the Maritimes perfectly but also captures what it means to be a young boy on the cusp of adulthood. This coming-of-age story highlights childhood friendships and the Canadian government’s 1992 decision to place a moratorium on the cod fishing industry. Chafe paints a picture for readers of the state of crisis that Newfoundland had been in for years due to overfishing and then enlarges the field of vision to allow us to see the devastating impact it has socially and environmentally as the processing plants close and boats are pulled from the water.
In addition to grieving his dad, seeing the community change due to lack of income, and experiencing young love, Pierce deals with the ups and downs of friendships with other fishermen’s sons. When another of their community goes missing, Pierce’s grief resurfaces and the struggling community starts to point fingers. Chafe explores the conflicting emotions associated with the death/disappearance of a loved one, teenage angst, bullying, young love and the challenges that arise when grief driven, we view things through the wrong lens. Chafe highlights the traditions of passing knowledge down from one generation to the next as his story comes full circle.
Now I know what cod tongues are!
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The story opens in 1988 with nine-year-old Pierce Jacobs grieving the loss of his father, Luke, a cod fisherman off the coast of Newfoundland. Readers see the profound effect this has on his young life.
Author Perry Chafe then manages to not only describe the essence of the Maritimes perfectly but also captures what it means to be a young boy on the cusp of adulthood. This coming-of-age story highlights childhood friendships and the Canadian government’s 1992 decision to place a moratorium on the cod fishing industry. Chafe paints a picture for readers of the state of crisis that Newfoundland had been in for years due to overfishing and then enlarges the field of vision to allow us to see the devastating impact it has socially and environmentally as the processing plants close and boats are pulled from the water.
In addition to grieving his dad, seeing the community change due to lack of income, and experiencing young love, Pierce deals with the ups and downs of friendships with other fishermen’s sons. When another of their community goes missing, Pierce’s grief resurfaces and the struggling community starts to point fingers. Chafe explores the conflicting emotions associated with the death/disappearance of a loved one, teenage angst, bullying, young love and the challenges that arise when grief driven, we view things through the wrong lens. Chafe highlights the traditions of passing knowledge down from one generation to the next as his story comes full circle.
Now I know what cod tongues are!
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 7, 2023
I so wanted to love this book.
I love coming-of-age stories, those involving family, relationships and friendships and better yet if some mysterious events are included.
Anyways, although well written and very descriptive, the development of the storyline and the characters failed to captivate me.
And it was hard to believe that the kids were only 12 years old.
I must confess that I felt underwhelmed and bored most of the time.
The conclusion was wrapped very fast and I found it disappointing.
This is the first novel by this author, who is a successful screenwriter, and I do hope he will captivate me with his next novel.
I love coming-of-age stories, those involving family, relationships and friendships and better yet if some mysterious events are included.
Anyways, although well written and very descriptive, the development of the storyline and the characters failed to captivate me.
And it was hard to believe that the kids were only 12 years old.
I must confess that I felt underwhelmed and bored most of the time.
The conclusion was wrapped very fast and I found it disappointing.
This is the first novel by this author, who is a successful screenwriter, and I do hope he will captivate me with his next novel.
abandoned-dnf
June 5, 2024DNF @ 41%—I truly regret having to abandon this. After a while it seemed I couldn’t stay with it for more than a few minutes at a time, and I realised I was rolling my eyes a lot.🙄 That's when I knew... it was the dialogue. IMO, 12- and 13-year-olds don't speak that way! It didn't sound believable to me. BUT, to be fair to the author, I shouldn't have started the book in the first place; I don't like mysteries! So, giving it up was not the fault of the book! It's my fault, alone, but I love CanLit and will absolutely consider any subsequent novels Chafe may write. Based on the book's ratings, most readers enjoyed this book, so please don't let my choice influence yours.
June 18, 2023
This wonderful coming of age story set in Newfoundland tells of twelve year old Pierce and his friends Benny, Thomas and Emily as they search for Pierce's missing friend, Anna. They didn't know each other well, but Anna had a profound impact on Pierce with her kindness to him after his father died. He's determined to find Anna; this mystery tests the limits of what he won't do for a friend.
Perry Chafe was born and bred in Newfoundland, and he has a sharp ear for the way people talk on The Rock. The local expressions are a revelation of their spirit - generous and full of a down to earth humour that keeps them strong in the hard times. The close community works together to live with the harsh and beautiful elements - the oceans, the icebergs- and Chafe makes you feel like you are right there with the characters, breathing in the salty air. The icebergs that haunt Pierce stand in for his most important lesson: what he sees of a person is only the tip, and what there is to know is often down so deep that it takes a lifetime to understand. When he realizes the complexity of the human soul, he has opened the door to adulthood, leaving childhood behind forever.
Perry Chafe was born and bred in Newfoundland, and he has a sharp ear for the way people talk on The Rock. The local expressions are a revelation of their spirit - generous and full of a down to earth humour that keeps them strong in the hard times. The close community works together to live with the harsh and beautiful elements - the oceans, the icebergs- and Chafe makes you feel like you are right there with the characters, breathing in the salty air. The icebergs that haunt Pierce stand in for his most important lesson: what he sees of a person is only the tip, and what there is to know is often down so deep that it takes a lifetime to understand. When he realizes the complexity of the human soul, he has opened the door to adulthood, leaving childhood behind forever.
June 15, 2023
2 stars perhaps is a bit of a harsh rating for this book, because mostly it is fine. The story is contrived and unoriginal but readable; the characters are caricatures but not unpleasant; the setting is richly described and is probably the strongest element of the whole book.
However, I can't get past the writing here. There are so many cringey, unnecessary passages in this book that feel like a Newfoundland tourist ad rather than a fiction novel. Chafe elects to describe what pot liquor is by having a character exclaim "oh is there alcohol in this!??" And then offering a definition of pot liquor. This is a minor example but it happens constantly throughout the story where the author, instead of using plot and character to explain something, just breaks narrative voice and gives a dictionary definition. It is distracting and pulled me out of the story every time it happened. It also really should be marketed as a YA novel, as the writing, characters, and plot are all much more suited to younger readers.
I think ultimately these are the markers of a debut novel. Clearly Chafe knows how to tell a story but has never formatted one for the page instead of the screen. Some of this explicit explanation I think can be attributed to his experience with screen writing and having to set the stage for the actors.
Will you have a bad time with this book? Probably not. Is it great? Also no. Will I read something else from him? Maybe!
However, I can't get past the writing here. There are so many cringey, unnecessary passages in this book that feel like a Newfoundland tourist ad rather than a fiction novel. Chafe elects to describe what pot liquor is by having a character exclaim "oh is there alcohol in this!??" And then offering a definition of pot liquor. This is a minor example but it happens constantly throughout the story where the author, instead of using plot and character to explain something, just breaks narrative voice and gives a dictionary definition. It is distracting and pulled me out of the story every time it happened. It also really should be marketed as a YA novel, as the writing, characters, and plot are all much more suited to younger readers.
I think ultimately these are the markers of a debut novel. Clearly Chafe knows how to tell a story but has never formatted one for the page instead of the screen. Some of this explicit explanation I think can be attributed to his experience with screen writing and having to set the stage for the actors.
Will you have a bad time with this book? Probably not. Is it great? Also no. Will I read something else from him? Maybe!
October 23, 2023
4.25 ⭐️
Welcome to Newfoundland, Canada to a small coastal fishing town. This little town eats, lives and breathes the seafarer way of life until the fish become less and less, impacting everyone on the island.
A quaint town that is holding secrets and while this isn’t no means a thriller, the author draws you in with the story of childhood friends and finding your place in a changing world. You learn that grief unites us all in unexpected ways.
I am biased and love a good Canadian story, and this one definitely hit all the marks. Highly recommend.
Highlights:
🇨🇦 Canadian
🎣 fishing
🚤 ocean waters
🎭 dramatic
🧊 icebergs/climate change
✍️ Quotes
“But like your Grandmother’s handmade patch quilt, we try and sew the pieces back together as best we can, to make something out of what is left, even though, when you miss someone, you miss them all the world.”
Welcome to Newfoundland, Canada to a small coastal fishing town. This little town eats, lives and breathes the seafarer way of life until the fish become less and less, impacting everyone on the island.
A quaint town that is holding secrets and while this isn’t no means a thriller, the author draws you in with the story of childhood friends and finding your place in a changing world. You learn that grief unites us all in unexpected ways.
I am biased and love a good Canadian story, and this one definitely hit all the marks. Highly recommend.
Highlights:
🇨🇦 Canadian
🎣 fishing
🚤 ocean waters
🎭 dramatic
🧊 icebergs/climate change
✍️ Quotes
“But like your Grandmother’s handmade patch quilt, we try and sew the pieces back together as best we can, to make something out of what is left, even though, when you miss someone, you miss them all the world.”
June 2, 2023
"Closer By Sea" is a literary debut that will remain in my memory for some time. It was a coming-of-age story set on an island off the coast of Newfoundland during one pivotal, unforgettable summer when our protagonist, Pierce, was twelve years old.
The story evokes an emotional response in the reader. It is a novel about change, loss, friendship, and growing up. It also vividly describes island culture and the harsh and often severe way of life of its residents. The action takes place in the year 1991, just one year before the Canadian government imposed a moratorium on the Northern cod fishery along the country's east coast. This moratorium drastically impacted the lives of Newfoundlanders and changed their social and cultural identity. For generations these men and women depended largely on the cod fishery to make a living.
When Pierce Jacobs was just nine years of age, his father was lost at sea. With no siblings, it was now just Pierce and his mother left to support themselves and grieve a much loved husband and father.
"She had that tone in her voice, the one that went straight to my heart and made it bleed invisibly, the one she only used when she was extremely disappointed in me."
Three years after his father's death, during the summer of 1991, Pierce and his friends experience many adventures. Anna, a girl who was a friend to Pierce when he most needed one, has gone missing. The boys suspect foul play by Solomon Vickers, a man who lives on the other side of the island.
"Mind your tongue. It can be as sharp as any blade and can cut even deeper."
It is also a summer when Pierce has his first girlfriend. This tests his friendship with his childhood friends and changes his views on many things.
This is much more than a coming-of-age novel. It has many suspenseful moments with a mystery at its heart. The writing was skilled and evocative of the place and the people. It is an awesome debut novel that I can highly recommend.
The story evokes an emotional response in the reader. It is a novel about change, loss, friendship, and growing up. It also vividly describes island culture and the harsh and often severe way of life of its residents. The action takes place in the year 1991, just one year before the Canadian government imposed a moratorium on the Northern cod fishery along the country's east coast. This moratorium drastically impacted the lives of Newfoundlanders and changed their social and cultural identity. For generations these men and women depended largely on the cod fishery to make a living.
When Pierce Jacobs was just nine years of age, his father was lost at sea. With no siblings, it was now just Pierce and his mother left to support themselves and grieve a much loved husband and father.
"She had that tone in her voice, the one that went straight to my heart and made it bleed invisibly, the one she only used when she was extremely disappointed in me."
Three years after his father's death, during the summer of 1991, Pierce and his friends experience many adventures. Anna, a girl who was a friend to Pierce when he most needed one, has gone missing. The boys suspect foul play by Solomon Vickers, a man who lives on the other side of the island.
"Mind your tongue. It can be as sharp as any blade and can cut even deeper."
It is also a summer when Pierce has his first girlfriend. This tests his friendship with his childhood friends and changes his views on many things.
This is much more than a coming-of-age novel. It has many suspenseful moments with a mystery at its heart. The writing was skilled and evocative of the place and the people. It is an awesome debut novel that I can highly recommend.
February 20, 2023
This book is incredibly charming. It is quiet and subtle while being atmospheric and vivid all at once.
The story is familiar, it resembles The Goonies or Stand By Me - a group of young kids spend the summer together with a mystery to solve but this story is so skillfully written it easily stands on its own.
Each of the characters are reminiscent of someone you used to know growing up and even if we don't get into heavy background for some of the supporting cast, they all feel genuine.
Plotwise there are a few mysteries that kept me interested but it was the island setting and day to day interactions of the characters that kept me reading.
Just a lovely novel. Perry Chafe has a multitude of experience writing for TV but my goodness, I hope he continues to write fiction, I will eagerly read anything he does I'm the future.
A heartfelt thank-you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Perry Chafe for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is familiar, it resembles The Goonies or Stand By Me - a group of young kids spend the summer together with a mystery to solve but this story is so skillfully written it easily stands on its own.
Each of the characters are reminiscent of someone you used to know growing up and even if we don't get into heavy background for some of the supporting cast, they all feel genuine.
Plotwise there are a few mysteries that kept me interested but it was the island setting and day to day interactions of the characters that kept me reading.
Just a lovely novel. Perry Chafe has a multitude of experience writing for TV but my goodness, I hope he continues to write fiction, I will eagerly read anything he does I'm the future.
A heartfelt thank-you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Perry Chafe for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2023
An excellent coming-of-age story that explores the changing dynamics of tween-age friendship on a small Newfoundland fishing island. Definitely a perfect summer or cottage read.
May 2, 2023
Reminiscent of Stephen King's “Stand by Me” and Craig Davidson’s “The Saturday Night Ghost Club”, “Closer to Sea” is a poignant story of twelve-year old Pierce Jacobs and his coming to grips with his father's death and his changing relationships with his home and friends.
It’s in 1991, off the coast of Newfoundland on a small island. Pierce’s father, a cod fisherman, died unexpectedly on the water three years earlier, and it’s just his mum and him now. Pierce misses his dad, and refuses to part with his father’s boat still.
His small island community is made up of cod fisherman and their families, with the men fishing, and many of the women working at the fish canning plant, though there are some people who have left the island for work in St. John's. And though no one thinks much of this alarming development, every year, the cod yields are a little less.
Pierce and his friends watch for returning boats filled with fish, are bullied by older, high school-aged boys, and bomb about the island on their ATVs when not in school. Then, Anna Tessier, who convinced a younger, grieving Pierce not to run away, disappears. Anna’s disappearance ignites Pierce’s feelings of guilt and loss, making him cross and short tempered with his friends Thomas and Bennie, and increasingly convinced, with no evidence to back it up, that local recluse Solomon knows something about Anna’s disappearance.
Pierce convinces the boys, and Bennie's New York City cousin Emily, who is visiting for the summer, to look for Anna. Pierce’s fixation on Solomon as the culprit leads him to doing things he would normally never do, as well as exacerbating some of the tensions already present between him and his friends. Also, Pierce and Emily’s growing closeness brings out Thomas’ insecurities, further rocking the three boys’ friendship.
Chafe draws parallels between the boys' changing friendship and the coming changes for the island. The boys will be heading to St John’s for high school, expanding their circle of acquaintances, while the cod fishery is soon to be shut down by the Canadian government, devastating the livelihoods of people on the island, and affecting the whole province. Perry Chafe’s novel captures the cusp of many changes through a focus on Pierce, with him experiencing his first crush, dealing with his grief, and contemplating travelling away from home for high school, and what that could mean for his already stressed friendships, and his relationship to his home.
Chafe’s story drew me in immediately, and Pierce’s pain, love and confusion about the changes in him and around him are all wonderfully conveyed. It’s a novel full of energy and deep feelings, and all skillfully and deftly portrayed through the eyes of Chafe's twelve-years old Pierce.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Shuster Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
It’s in 1991, off the coast of Newfoundland on a small island. Pierce’s father, a cod fisherman, died unexpectedly on the water three years earlier, and it’s just his mum and him now. Pierce misses his dad, and refuses to part with his father’s boat still.
His small island community is made up of cod fisherman and their families, with the men fishing, and many of the women working at the fish canning plant, though there are some people who have left the island for work in St. John's. And though no one thinks much of this alarming development, every year, the cod yields are a little less.
Pierce and his friends watch for returning boats filled with fish, are bullied by older, high school-aged boys, and bomb about the island on their ATVs when not in school. Then, Anna Tessier, who convinced a younger, grieving Pierce not to run away, disappears. Anna’s disappearance ignites Pierce’s feelings of guilt and loss, making him cross and short tempered with his friends Thomas and Bennie, and increasingly convinced, with no evidence to back it up, that local recluse Solomon knows something about Anna’s disappearance.
Pierce convinces the boys, and Bennie's New York City cousin Emily, who is visiting for the summer, to look for Anna. Pierce’s fixation on Solomon as the culprit leads him to doing things he would normally never do, as well as exacerbating some of the tensions already present between him and his friends. Also, Pierce and Emily’s growing closeness brings out Thomas’ insecurities, further rocking the three boys’ friendship.
Chafe draws parallels between the boys' changing friendship and the coming changes for the island. The boys will be heading to St John’s for high school, expanding their circle of acquaintances, while the cod fishery is soon to be shut down by the Canadian government, devastating the livelihoods of people on the island, and affecting the whole province. Perry Chafe’s novel captures the cusp of many changes through a focus on Pierce, with him experiencing his first crush, dealing with his grief, and contemplating travelling away from home for high school, and what that could mean for his already stressed friendships, and his relationship to his home.
Chafe’s story drew me in immediately, and Pierce’s pain, love and confusion about the changes in him and around him are all wonderfully conveyed. It’s a novel full of energy and deep feelings, and all skillfully and deftly portrayed through the eyes of Chafe's twelve-years old Pierce.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Shuster Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
March 24, 2023
I think this should be classified as a YA novel.
July 1, 2023
This was a surprisingly fun, easy read. It was short and sweet. Simple and wholesome characters, it reminded me of a 90’s adventure/mystery chapter book from childhood. I can see why people are comparing it to Stand By Me and I would even say The Sandlot too. Except replace baseball with fishing. Loved the setting of Newfoundland - a place high on my bucket list, especially Fogo Island. I’m so eager to visit one day. Reading this just makes me want to visit all the more sooner.
October 23, 2023
I really liked this book, but I can't figure out if it's supposed to be for adults or YA? It is marketed to adults it seems but felt almost middle grade. Maybe a little anticlimactic at the end but it was still quite lovely overall. The writing/editing did have some "first novel" feeling to it. 3.5 round up for enjoyment!
July 13, 2023
Spellbinding. I couldn’t put it down.
May 28, 2024
For a debut novel, author Perry Chafe, hit all the marks of a coming of age story.
Friendship, mystery, adventure, loss and beautiful scenery.
Friendship, mystery, adventure, loss and beautiful scenery.
July 6, 2023
A tender hearted story featuring a young boy and his friends who live on a small island just off the coast of New Foundland (NF). The book reads best like a young adult fiction. The reader meets Pierce at around 8 years of age when he is still grappling with the loss of his father at sea. From a long lineage of fishermen and sea-faring men, Pierce hopes to honour his father by pursuing the same occupation as soon as he reaches the acceptable age to head out on a boat unsupervised.
Pierce, Bennie, and Thomas form a little trio of young boys doing things and coming to conclusions as boys of that age are wont to do. The trio has to contend with another small group labelled bullies and it's easy to see how personalities are formed based on the home environment in which these young people emerges. In a little town where fishing is king, the entire community must come to grips with less fish (due to over-fishing); the economic and social impact is far reaching. Men turn to alcohol, become more abusive, and the paucity of jobs create tensions. Add to this conundrum is a young girl gone missing.
Pierce, still reeling from the fact that his father's body was never recovered, is angry when the search for the missing Anna is called off. Pierce vows to continue trying to unravel the mystery of Anna's disappearance. He becomes fixated on a stranger on the island whose behaviours mirror that of a hermit allowing Pierce's suspicions and imagination to take on more scary flights. The novel peels off the scary layers and I like how the author propels himself into the heads of these young boys and nails the dialogue and their shenanigans perfectly.
The novel is very evocative of a place and time and I recall my own trips to NF and my love relationship with the peoples and the places. Like Ana in the novel, I was so enamored by the icebergs, I return home with a painting. Originating from Greenland, "chunks break off glaciers and drift here...and some, like this one, hit bottom and stay till they break apart or melt away. We call the breakers, growlers...Every spring and summer, tourists would flock to the icebergs with cameras in hand." If you have seen the play, Come from Away, you would have gotten a glimpse of the kindness and generosity of these people. Perhaps, I should add a plug here that it is a wonderful place to visit. I was twice on work assignments there when I visited but I plan to go again - beautiful landscape; wonderful peoples.
Some neat quotes which I like are:
But like your grandmother’s handmade patch quilt, we try and sew the pieces back together the best we can, to make something out of what’s left, even though, when you lose someone, you miss them all the world. Work keeps our minds occupied, but the loneliness is always waiting.
...the best way to honor those we've lost is to live the very best life we can.
And the sad news about over-fishing and NF's problem of overexploitation by international fishing fleets, lack of foresight and local mismanagement too :(
We now have the technology to take every last fish from the sea. We can even process it on board in large factory trawlers. It's only a matter of time before we run out of fish.
Pierce, Bennie, and Thomas form a little trio of young boys doing things and coming to conclusions as boys of that age are wont to do. The trio has to contend with another small group labelled bullies and it's easy to see how personalities are formed based on the home environment in which these young people emerges. In a little town where fishing is king, the entire community must come to grips with less fish (due to over-fishing); the economic and social impact is far reaching. Men turn to alcohol, become more abusive, and the paucity of jobs create tensions. Add to this conundrum is a young girl gone missing.
Pierce, still reeling from the fact that his father's body was never recovered, is angry when the search for the missing Anna is called off. Pierce vows to continue trying to unravel the mystery of Anna's disappearance. He becomes fixated on a stranger on the island whose behaviours mirror that of a hermit allowing Pierce's suspicions and imagination to take on more scary flights. The novel peels off the scary layers and I like how the author propels himself into the heads of these young boys and nails the dialogue and their shenanigans perfectly.
The novel is very evocative of a place and time and I recall my own trips to NF and my love relationship with the peoples and the places. Like Ana in the novel, I was so enamored by the icebergs, I return home with a painting. Originating from Greenland, "chunks break off glaciers and drift here...and some, like this one, hit bottom and stay till they break apart or melt away. We call the breakers, growlers...Every spring and summer, tourists would flock to the icebergs with cameras in hand." If you have seen the play, Come from Away, you would have gotten a glimpse of the kindness and generosity of these people. Perhaps, I should add a plug here that it is a wonderful place to visit. I was twice on work assignments there when I visited but I plan to go again - beautiful landscape; wonderful peoples.
Some neat quotes which I like are:
But like your grandmother’s handmade patch quilt, we try and sew the pieces back together the best we can, to make something out of what’s left, even though, when you lose someone, you miss them all the world. Work keeps our minds occupied, but the loneliness is always waiting.
...the best way to honor those we've lost is to live the very best life we can.
And the sad news about over-fishing and NF's problem of overexploitation by international fishing fleets, lack of foresight and local mismanagement too :(
We now have the technology to take every last fish from the sea. We can even process it on board in large factory trawlers. It's only a matter of time before we run out of fish.
March 19, 2023
4.5 stars.
Closer by Sea is an endearing story with a nostalgic feel to it.
Set on a small island off the Coast of Newfoundland in the early 90s, Anna goes missing, and 12-year-old Pierce is determined to find her. Though he's only spoken to her three times, those encounters held meaning for him as he grappled with the loss of his father. Along with his close-knit group of friends, he embarks on a search that will answer more questions than he thought possible.
This book had a little bit of everything, in perfect balance. It was a short book, only 200 pages, which would usually leave me wishing for more. Yet Chafe managed to tell a complete story with well-developed characters, emotion, and a little mystery. He brought the setting to life, to the point where you could see the story unfold as clear as if you were watching a movie. I couldn't help but feel for the characters, and loved that he worked in education on the collapse of the fishing industry.
My one small gripe is with the ending. He wrapped it up well, with an epic last line, but then also included an epilogue that did much of the same thing. I think it would have been more impactful to do one or the other, rather than doubling up.
Closer by Sea comes out May 23rd and I highly suggest you grab it and go read by the water.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada, NetGalley, and Perry Chafe for this ARC.
Closer by Sea is an endearing story with a nostalgic feel to it.
Set on a small island off the Coast of Newfoundland in the early 90s, Anna goes missing, and 12-year-old Pierce is determined to find her. Though he's only spoken to her three times, those encounters held meaning for him as he grappled with the loss of his father. Along with his close-knit group of friends, he embarks on a search that will answer more questions than he thought possible.
This book had a little bit of everything, in perfect balance. It was a short book, only 200 pages, which would usually leave me wishing for more. Yet Chafe managed to tell a complete story with well-developed characters, emotion, and a little mystery. He brought the setting to life, to the point where you could see the story unfold as clear as if you were watching a movie. I couldn't help but feel for the characters, and loved that he worked in education on the collapse of the fishing industry.
My one small gripe is with the ending. He wrapped it up well, with an epic last line, but then also included an epilogue that did much of the same thing. I think it would have been more impactful to do one or the other, rather than doubling up.
Closer by Sea comes out May 23rd and I highly suggest you grab it and go read by the water.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada, NetGalley, and Perry Chafe for this ARC.
September 14, 2023
I started reading this on a day when a cod boat with 3 fishermen went down off Fleur-de-Lys, Nfld, underlining the perilous job that fishers undertake every day, which gave the story a basis in truth - at the beginning, at least. Unfortunately almost every element of this book left me cold. It’s the story of a 12-year-old boy, told in the first person by that same boy 30 or so years later, and every scene, conversation, character and memory is presented by the adult narrator through his 40ish sensibility. So for some reason most of the children’s conversations sound like a group of adults, discussing situations they seem to understand way too much about, seeing through an emotional lens relationships they wouldn’t really be mature enough to interpret. For whatever reason, very few of the voices here actually sound like genuine Newfoundlanders: did the author think his entire audience would be Americans or Europeans who wouldn't understand? Newfoundland’s sagging and changing fishing industry seemed pretty accurately portrayed and I did find that aspect interesting. However the remainder of the book stumbled over the narrator’s overwhelming drive to tell, explain, extrapolate, define and interpret absolutely every person, object and situation which was tedious and insulting, and I skipped to the last few chapters to see what happened. The epilogue made logical sense and tied up some loose ends but it was ultimately a middle grade/YA resolution, and not enough to save the rest of the book. 1 star rounded up because, you know, Canadian.
March 17, 2023
Thank you NetGalley, Perry Chafe, and Scribner Canada for the ARC of Closer by the Sea!
I absolutely loved this story from start to finish. The way Chafe wrote so descriptively transported me to their small Atlantic island where a boy named Pierce lived with his mom.
Everyone knows everyone on this island, as it is a small fishing community. Everyone's job helps the island function.
It's been years since Pierce's father went missing one morning. Now, years later, a girl he knew named Anna has gone missing. Pierce is reluctant to believe she's missing by choice and finds himself coming up with theories on what happened to her.
When strange behaviour can be observed of an island newcomer, Pierce and his friends decide to take matters into their own hands to get to the bottom of things. This involves some very not-safe decisions that ultimately had me at the edge of my seat.
It'll take you on an incredible journey despite the small island setting, and will have you questioning what truly happened and if Anna will turn up alive.
An emotionally gripping journey that has me absolutely invested in the well-being of Pierce and his friends.
I absolutely loved this story from start to finish. The way Chafe wrote so descriptively transported me to their small Atlantic island where a boy named Pierce lived with his mom.
Everyone knows everyone on this island, as it is a small fishing community. Everyone's job helps the island function.
It's been years since Pierce's father went missing one morning. Now, years later, a girl he knew named Anna has gone missing. Pierce is reluctant to believe she's missing by choice and finds himself coming up with theories on what happened to her.
When strange behaviour can be observed of an island newcomer, Pierce and his friends decide to take matters into their own hands to get to the bottom of things. This involves some very not-safe decisions that ultimately had me at the edge of my seat.
It'll take you on an incredible journey despite the small island setting, and will have you questioning what truly happened and if Anna will turn up alive.
An emotionally gripping journey that has me absolutely invested in the well-being of Pierce and his friends.
July 9, 2023
For me the writing grew with Pierce as it developed from the voice of grieving and lost child to a confident, sure footed young man allowing himself to be guided through the narrow channels of life to take on each coming wave.
Growing up in a Nova Scotia village built on the cod fishery this novel reflects a childhood most of us experienced. I found myself often reflecting on my 12 year old self navigating adolescence in the uncertainty of a changing fishery.
We experienced loss to the sea yet we took boats and never wore life jackets. We all had arseholes who thrives on making us miserable but we also had a core group of friends, usually cousins, who understood and supported us. My mother had gone back to nursing school. My father got a trade that brought him ashore. My grandfather had my hand on the tiller and helped me grow into a man.
Even though I have moved about as far as I can, and still be in Canada, that place holds so many memories and will always be “home.”
June 19, 2023
THE GOOD:
Carries you to a time and place of innocence and burgeoning adulthood. A time when children still worked to pave their own way. Middle-schoolers who are best buds and who know every inch of the land where they live.
The oceanside setting is a character in itself. Icebergs, treacherous seas, the smell of saltwater. The book is a siren song to the community and the way of life there.
THE BAD:
I only have one complaint and that is that a teen girl is made to be gay. It's unnecessary and would have been shocking in 1990. But, of course, no publisher lets a book get published these days without at least one same-sex romantic reference. (Eye roll.)
CONCLUSION:
Excellent. Well done. A great, nostalgic read. Especially if you have a love for all things ocean, this one is for you.
Carries you to a time and place of innocence and burgeoning adulthood. A time when children still worked to pave their own way. Middle-schoolers who are best buds and who know every inch of the land where they live.
The oceanside setting is a character in itself. Icebergs, treacherous seas, the smell of saltwater. The book is a siren song to the community and the way of life there.
THE BAD:
I only have one complaint and that is that a teen girl is made to be gay. It's unnecessary and would have been shocking in 1990. But, of course, no publisher lets a book get published these days without at least one same-sex romantic reference. (Eye roll.)
CONCLUSION:
Excellent. Well done. A great, nostalgic read. Especially if you have a love for all things ocean, this one is for you.
February 20, 2023
A book where emotions are deeply entrenched in the main character Pierce. He feels everything intensely. The death of his father seems to be the catalyst for these emotions to surface. His existence on this rugged but beautiful small fishing island in Newfoundland has many challenges . He witnesses how his mother must become the breadwinner and how unpredictable life is when a girl he befriends goes missing . The book also deals with friendships and first love as well as bullying and judging others unfairly. I felt a lot of sadness and despair in the characters in this book . The epilogue made me feel better .
July 16, 2023
Escape to an island off the coast of Newfoundland and smell the sea — and get lost in a great story that has all the feels, from summer childhood friendships to suspenseful mystery, loss, family, new discoveries and lifelong memories. The community and adults take a backseat to the youth who drive the storyline, and the sharply believable voice of the protagonist, Pierce, makes this novel feel like a memoir of a lost way of life that the reader is privileged to visit.
May 23, 2023
Because of my close connection to Newfoundland (I have been there 35+ times with my Newfoundland born husband) I am always interested to read a novel taking place there. I was excited to have the opportunity to read Closer By Sea.
The author is a native of Newfoundland and has written and produced a couple of tv series set in Newfoundland. He does an excellent job of making the setting realistic and easy to picture in the reader's mind.
This is the story of young Pierce Jacobs. Pierce is still grieving for his father who was lost at sea a few years previously. Pierce and three of his friends set out to solve the disappearance of a girl from their community. This becomes quite the adventure or almost misadventure. Each of the friends has adifferent personality but together they were a team. There is also a group of bullies that rear their ugly heads.
The story has many different elements. Mystery, adventure, friendship, overactive imaginations, bullies, and a mysterious stranger (possibly a mad scientist). The reader learns about different marine life. There is foreshadowing of the cod shortage and the cod
moratorium that began in 1992.
I love how this story evolved. And most of all I think the Epilogue was excellent. It really gave closure to the book. All the lose ends are tied up.
This was a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The author is a native of Newfoundland and has written and produced a couple of tv series set in Newfoundland. He does an excellent job of making the setting realistic and easy to picture in the reader's mind.
This is the story of young Pierce Jacobs. Pierce is still grieving for his father who was lost at sea a few years previously. Pierce and three of his friends set out to solve the disappearance of a girl from their community. This becomes quite the adventure or almost misadventure. Each of the friends has adifferent personality but together they were a team. There is also a group of bullies that rear their ugly heads.
The story has many different elements. Mystery, adventure, friendship, overactive imaginations, bullies, and a mysterious stranger (possibly a mad scientist). The reader learns about different marine life. There is foreshadowing of the cod shortage and the cod
moratorium that began in 1992.
I love how this story evolved. And most of all I think the Epilogue was excellent. It really gave closure to the book. All the lose ends are tied up.
This was a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
September 23, 2025
A richly described coming of age story. With a very light mystery but really delving into friendship and family and about things changing. Although I did struggle to picture them as 11 and/or 12 year-olds and I did find bits of the dialogue unbelievable. I still found the story interesting and was glad it was all wrapped up in the end.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 15, 2023
I saw "Closer by Sea" described as "Stand By Me" set in Newfoundland. That description rang true for me! Set on Perigo Island, Closer by Sea is a coming of age story that is part first love, part mystery, and part heartache. Our protagonist is twelve-year-old Pierce, who is still grieving the death of his father - a cod fisherman who was believed to be swept off his boat. His body was never recovered. Pierce has two best friends, Thomas and Bennie, and that fateful summer they are joined by Bennie's cousin, Emily, who makes Pierce begin to think about girls in a new way. The mystery comes into play when a young girl, Anna, disappears. Pierce has talked to Anna several times, and despite only meeting up three times, he feels a connection to her, and does not believe that she "ran away" like many of the townspeople believe. Pierce and his friends start to look into her disappearance, and are instantly suspicious of a "Newcomer" named Solomon Vicker's - an older man who lives in a remote house, and does not fish or socialize with most of the villagers. The village is struggling - the once plentiful cod that the entire economy of the town is built on, have been overfished and a huge is coming. Despite bullies, a stranger, and a dire warning from nature, nothing is really as it seems. A good read.
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