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Return to Jade Island
Welcome to Jade Island!
It's an island full of memories...and secrets.
After the death of her grandmother and last living relative, fiercely independent Julianne Devereaux returns back to the island where she grew up to settle her family's estate. All she wants is to handle things swiftly so she can return to her job on the other side of the world and leave this island behind in her memories. However, her mission is interrupted by several hurdles, including a mysterious burglary, a hit-and-run accident, and a rag-tag group of overbearing friends who want nothing more than to help Julianne. As she searches for her grandmother's will, dangerous secrets from her family's past are revealed, and Julianne finds out that there was so much more than she ever knew waiting for her return to Jade Island.
Return to Jade Island is Mandy Casto's debut novel.
It's an island full of memories...and secrets.
After the death of her grandmother and last living relative, fiercely independent Julianne Devereaux returns back to the island where she grew up to settle her family's estate. All she wants is to handle things swiftly so she can return to her job on the other side of the world and leave this island behind in her memories. However, her mission is interrupted by several hurdles, including a mysterious burglary, a hit-and-run accident, and a rag-tag group of overbearing friends who want nothing more than to help Julianne. As she searches for her grandmother's will, dangerous secrets from her family's past are revealed, and Julianne finds out that there was so much more than she ever knew waiting for her return to Jade Island.
Return to Jade Island is Mandy Casto's debut novel.
203 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2024
4 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 2, 2024
I really enjoyed Casto’s debut novel, Return to Jade Island. It is definitely an engaging, light mystery. I hope the author continues to write, as I will definitely continue to read.
August 2, 2024
Excellent debut novel! Short chapters make this mystery a perfect summer read. Casto excels at integrating grief and the definition of family amongst a diverse cast of characters. Highly recommend!
January 5, 2025
Great book about friends, family, decisions and support.
July 4, 2025
Loved this debut novel! Easy read with nice short chapters especially if you only have a little bit of time here and there to read. Looking forward to the series!
October 6, 2024
Our book club read this book for our October selection. I enjoyed it as it was easy reading and a light mystery . Was surprised at the ending. Hope to see more from this author.
August 16, 2024
Thank you to Mandy Casto for a Free Copy.
Plot 4/5
Characters 3.5/5
Ending 3/5
Interest 3.5/5
Overall 3/5
-When I heard it was mystery and it was set an island, I was really hoping for creepy vibes but unfortunately that’s not what I got. The mystery fell kind of flat for me, I was expecting and hoping for more but the mystery wasn’t that mysterious and it felt like it happened quite late in the book as the book was very short. It was 100 pages world building and introducing the characters and 100 pages ‘mystery’. It would have been nice if the story and mystery was more developed and more elements to it and making the book longer so it’s not rushed.
-The characters were alright, they were well introduced, although at some points I did get confused as to who was who and who was married with who but that may be just me getting confused for no reason at all. I don’t really have much to say more about the characters, they were alright and I liked their friendship.
-I had expected the ending, I knew who was the culprit quite early on so I didn’t really get that high. I liked the idea of it involving the letters and involving the characters themselves and we only fully understand the story behind the letters at the end, but it being very predictable was a bit disappointing. If we had more clues that were really subtle instead of them being shoved in our faces, I would have much preferred it.
Plot 4/5
Characters 3.5/5
Ending 3/5
Interest 3.5/5
Overall 3/5
-When I heard it was mystery and it was set an island, I was really hoping for creepy vibes but unfortunately that’s not what I got. The mystery fell kind of flat for me, I was expecting and hoping for more but the mystery wasn’t that mysterious and it felt like it happened quite late in the book as the book was very short. It was 100 pages world building and introducing the characters and 100 pages ‘mystery’. It would have been nice if the story and mystery was more developed and more elements to it and making the book longer so it’s not rushed.
-The characters were alright, they were well introduced, although at some points I did get confused as to who was who and who was married with who but that may be just me getting confused for no reason at all. I don’t really have much to say more about the characters, they were alright and I liked their friendship.
-I had expected the ending, I knew who was the culprit quite early on so I didn’t really get that high. I liked the idea of it involving the letters and involving the characters themselves and we only fully understand the story behind the letters at the end, but it being very predictable was a bit disappointing. If we had more clues that were really subtle instead of them being shoved in our faces, I would have much preferred it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews