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The Cicada House
A warm, funny and surprising love story about one woman's journey to find out who she really is - as if Richard Curtis watched Seachange, shared a cold beer with Dolly Alderton, and together they wrote The Time Traveller's Wife.
This is a magical love story. Where, despite what I have just told you, the most extraordinary thing to happen is a woman learns to forgive herself.
When Caitlin inherits a significant sum of money on her fortieth birthday, she decides to break the habits of a lifetime and throw caution to the winds. She's about to tell her husband Paul that they're leaving London on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Eat Pray Love their way around the world, only ... she doesn't tell Paul that, because before the candles are lit, he tells her that he's very much in love with someone else. After a drunken night trying to console herself, Caitlin books tickets to Australia - anything to get as far away as possible.
What does the world feel like when it's ending for you, and no-one else? What does life feel like when you are running away from it? This is a story that begins in a way you expect, and ends very far from there. It is a story of creaking English hallways and vast Australian skies. Of hands that feel like warm sandpaper. Cicadas that sing so loudly they drown out the grief. Of white wine and an old piano and children who want their parents back from the dead. It is a magical tale of travel and mystery. And a very human tale of sex and loss and seawater and the primal joy of coming home. This is The Cicada House.
This is a magical love story. Where, despite what I have just told you, the most extraordinary thing to happen is a woman learns to forgive herself.
When Caitlin inherits a significant sum of money on her fortieth birthday, she decides to break the habits of a lifetime and throw caution to the winds. She's about to tell her husband Paul that they're leaving London on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Eat Pray Love their way around the world, only ... she doesn't tell Paul that, because before the candles are lit, he tells her that he's very much in love with someone else. After a drunken night trying to console herself, Caitlin books tickets to Australia - anything to get as far away as possible.
What does the world feel like when it's ending for you, and no-one else? What does life feel like when you are running away from it? This is a story that begins in a way you expect, and ends very far from there. It is a story of creaking English hallways and vast Australian skies. Of hands that feel like warm sandpaper. Cicadas that sing so loudly they drown out the grief. Of white wine and an old piano and children who want their parents back from the dead. It is a magical tale of travel and mystery. And a very human tale of sex and loss and seawater and the primal joy of coming home. This is The Cicada House.
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About the author
Ella Ward
2 books29 followersElla Ward has worked in advertising for twenty years. This means she has a proclivity for profanity and doesn’t respect punctuation.
In 2018 she was hit with the cancer stick, which apart from being rather frightening also encouraged a foray into oversharing on Instagram, and then – magically – writing.
Her words have been published in places like Frankie, Lunch Lady, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, child, dog, cat and many (many) neuroses.
She’s also writing this about herself in the third person, which she acknowledges is both pretentious and a bit weird.
In 2018 she was hit with the cancer stick, which apart from being rather frightening also encouraged a foray into oversharing on Instagram, and then – magically – writing.
Her words have been published in places like Frankie, Lunch Lady, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, child, dog, cat and many (many) neuroses.
She’s also writing this about herself in the third person, which she acknowledges is both pretentious and a bit weird.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
February 1, 2025
I asked my husband to rate my book & he kept forgetting. So here I am.
Also - hit me up if you want the official Cicada House playlist ;)
Also - hit me up if you want the official Cicada House playlist ;)
January 23, 2025
Was ok until time travelling was randomly introduced in the 2nd half, didn’t make much sense.
January 26, 2025
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
A beautifully crafted story of growth, resilience, forgiveness and finding yourself. The Cicada House by Ella Ward is a wonderful escape and Caitlin is an intriguing character to follow as she experiences a huge life change.
Caitlin unexpectedly inherits a significant sum of money on her 40th birthday but before she’s able to tell her husband of her good fortune, he tells her he’s fallen in love with someone else.
In a drunken state Caitlin decides to leave England and books herself tickets to far off Australia to get away and visit the coast near where her mother once lived before she died at a young age.
I loved the Australian coastal landscapes, quirky characters and the mysterious second narrator.
A heartfelt and funny summer read where there’s magical realism, travel, the beach, new friendships, romance and loss. This is a fabulous debut novel that’s both Inspiring and entertaining and enfolds you in a warm hug.
Publication Date 01 January 2025
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for a copy of the book.
A beautifully crafted story of growth, resilience, forgiveness and finding yourself. The Cicada House by Ella Ward is a wonderful escape and Caitlin is an intriguing character to follow as she experiences a huge life change.
Caitlin unexpectedly inherits a significant sum of money on her 40th birthday but before she’s able to tell her husband of her good fortune, he tells her he’s fallen in love with someone else.
In a drunken state Caitlin decides to leave England and books herself tickets to far off Australia to get away and visit the coast near where her mother once lived before she died at a young age.
I loved the Australian coastal landscapes, quirky characters and the mysterious second narrator.
A heartfelt and funny summer read where there’s magical realism, travel, the beach, new friendships, romance and loss. This is a fabulous debut novel that’s both Inspiring and entertaining and enfolds you in a warm hug.
Publication Date 01 January 2025
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for a copy of the book.
January 5, 2026
A captivating character-driven story, involving a relocation from London to a small Australian community, and a journey of self-discovery, with a splash of magical realism.
This story offered an uplifting and sometimes humorous exploration of forgiveness, travel, identity and personal growth, alongside an unexpected time-travel romance.
This was a deeply engrossing read and would make a fantastic book club story.
I am keen to read what Australian author, Ella Ward writes into the future.
This story offered an uplifting and sometimes humorous exploration of forgiveness, travel, identity and personal growth, alongside an unexpected time-travel romance.
This was a deeply engrossing read and would make a fantastic book club story.
I am keen to read what Australian author, Ella Ward writes into the future.
January 25, 2025
I love a good long sea change novel, where the protagonist travels to some far-flung place to find themselves after a life changing event. So, from the get-go, The Cicada House ticked a lot of boxes for me. However, while I was quite satisfied meandering along with a story like that, The Cicada House threw in another little surprise, a dash of magical realism that took the story to another level. I find when it comes to magical realism it’s best to just go with it and not question the mechanics or viability of it within the context of real life. Unlike fantasy or paranormal novels, magical realism pops up in general fiction, usually when you least expect it, and if you keep an open mind, it can be a really rewarding plot twist, as was the case within The Cicada House.
Caitlin was an incredibly human character, and by that, I mean fully realised and relatable, flawed, awkward, striving to be better, but constantly castigating herself for her own shortcomings. Orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her grandparents in a very quiet, polite, and contained environment. She learnt at a young age to keep her emotions in check, to not bother with friends, and to acquiesce instead of question. At the opening of the novel, she is home alone while her husband was away at work, and prior to him returning, she unmakes the house from the way she likes it and likes to live back into the way he does. That, for me, defined the type of person Caitlin was right from the outset.
The Cicada House, Caitlin’s destination for her sea change, was not quite what she had been expecting. Indeed, it wasn’t even the property she had booked online, but another one offered as a last resort to make up for the booking debacle. The descriptions of this house were so familiar to me, having grown up in rural Victoria, and having been inside houses like this many, many times over. I’m not sure though I could have stayed there with the outdoor loo, although my decision on this comes as a fully informed Australian on exactly what kind of spiders and snakes could be lurking in there after so long out of use. Being from the UK, Caitlin was blissfully unaware of those aspects, fortunately for her!
As I mentioned above, I was enjoying this story as it was, an English woman experiencing Australia for the first time, solo travelling for the first time, and trying to come to terms with her new life as a forty-year-old divorced woman. Who was she? Who had she ever been? And who did she want to be going forward? Enter David, the handyman who shows up out of nowhere and begins to fix things around the house, who seems to know this house and where to find things in a way that a handyman normally wouldn’t. Who shows up randomly and regularly, and slowly but surely, clears a space for himself within Caitlin’s heart.
However, when Caitlin begins to mention him to her new friends within the town, no one knows who he is, and he isn’t the handyman sent over by the real estate. The story dips into its magic here and as Caitlin begins to realise who he is and where he is from, more of his story is opened up to her in a magical sort of transportive kind of way. I don’t really know how to describe it in any other way without veering into spoiler town, so we’ll leave it at that. I do think the author, Ella Ward, did a splendid job of writing this aspect of the story in a way that reflected both Caitlin’s disbelief on what was happening and her acceptance of it.
In the end, there is a metaphorical and an actual moving on for both Caitlin and David, and I really liked this ending, for all involved. Caitlin shows a lot of character growth over the course of this novel, and as an invested reader, I appreciated that. The Cicada House was an engrossing read, deeply moving at times and overall, a fabulous journey of self-discovery, love and friendship.
I listened to this on audio as well as reading the eBook, so I was fully immersed in the story, the hybrid read being a fantastic option for a long and involving story such as this one. It’s becoming my new favourite way to read. The Cicada House was our January book club pick and I’m looking forward to seeing what the other book clubbers thought of it.
Caitlin was an incredibly human character, and by that, I mean fully realised and relatable, flawed, awkward, striving to be better, but constantly castigating herself for her own shortcomings. Orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her grandparents in a very quiet, polite, and contained environment. She learnt at a young age to keep her emotions in check, to not bother with friends, and to acquiesce instead of question. At the opening of the novel, she is home alone while her husband was away at work, and prior to him returning, she unmakes the house from the way she likes it and likes to live back into the way he does. That, for me, defined the type of person Caitlin was right from the outset.
The Cicada House, Caitlin’s destination for her sea change, was not quite what she had been expecting. Indeed, it wasn’t even the property she had booked online, but another one offered as a last resort to make up for the booking debacle. The descriptions of this house were so familiar to me, having grown up in rural Victoria, and having been inside houses like this many, many times over. I’m not sure though I could have stayed there with the outdoor loo, although my decision on this comes as a fully informed Australian on exactly what kind of spiders and snakes could be lurking in there after so long out of use. Being from the UK, Caitlin was blissfully unaware of those aspects, fortunately for her!
As I mentioned above, I was enjoying this story as it was, an English woman experiencing Australia for the first time, solo travelling for the first time, and trying to come to terms with her new life as a forty-year-old divorced woman. Who was she? Who had she ever been? And who did she want to be going forward? Enter David, the handyman who shows up out of nowhere and begins to fix things around the house, who seems to know this house and where to find things in a way that a handyman normally wouldn’t. Who shows up randomly and regularly, and slowly but surely, clears a space for himself within Caitlin’s heart.
However, when Caitlin begins to mention him to her new friends within the town, no one knows who he is, and he isn’t the handyman sent over by the real estate. The story dips into its magic here and as Caitlin begins to realise who he is and where he is from, more of his story is opened up to her in a magical sort of transportive kind of way. I don’t really know how to describe it in any other way without veering into spoiler town, so we’ll leave it at that. I do think the author, Ella Ward, did a splendid job of writing this aspect of the story in a way that reflected both Caitlin’s disbelief on what was happening and her acceptance of it.
In the end, there is a metaphorical and an actual moving on for both Caitlin and David, and I really liked this ending, for all involved. Caitlin shows a lot of character growth over the course of this novel, and as an invested reader, I appreciated that. The Cicada House was an engrossing read, deeply moving at times and overall, a fabulous journey of self-discovery, love and friendship.
I listened to this on audio as well as reading the eBook, so I was fully immersed in the story, the hybrid read being a fantastic option for a long and involving story such as this one. It’s becoming my new favourite way to read. The Cicada House was our January book club pick and I’m looking forward to seeing what the other book clubbers thought of it.
October 21, 2025
4 / Caitlin is just fine with the status quo, thank you very much. But her bubble of indifference, suddenly bursts with an inheritance and infidelity.
Braving outside her comfort zone she finds herself on an adventure in Australia. In a seaside town not far from Melbourne in The Cicada House is where she lands. The town has an eclectic Englishman, and some down to earth characters and Caitlin surprises herself with slow revelations of who she is and who she really wants to be.
This was a charming romance, self discovery, escape read with a lovely flow. Although I think maybe the time travel, magical realism part could have been hinted at a little better as it felt a little jarring and I wished it was more cohesive.
Overall I found this enjoyable, and a great reminder to get out of your comfort zone, stop listening to the voices of others in your head and choose yourself more.
Congrats Ella a lovely debut!
Below are a few of my favourites
“The wonderful consequence of being dispassionate was that while you did miss out on the wild bits of life, fervour, ecstasy, you also had nothing to do with the nonsense, fear, regret,sadness. For years, Caitlin had lived with her own personal flatline. It also meant that the unexpectedness of the inheritance wasn’t just the money itself, but that she was experiencing a genuine thrill for the first time in, well, ever.”
“Did everyone have thoughts that overlapped like hers were messing around right now? Someone had taken up all the fences in her head and everything thought was mingling with every other one. Memories running through paddocks they didn’t belong.”
While she was no longer a tightly coiled spring, she still held the energy of an alarm clock that hadn’t yet rung.”
4 ⭐️ Audiobook read by Hannah Fredericksen and Jack Twelvetree
Braving outside her comfort zone she finds herself on an adventure in Australia. In a seaside town not far from Melbourne in The Cicada House is where she lands. The town has an eclectic Englishman, and some down to earth characters and Caitlin surprises herself with slow revelations of who she is and who she really wants to be.
This was a charming romance, self discovery, escape read with a lovely flow. Although I think maybe the time travel, magical realism part could have been hinted at a little better as it felt a little jarring and I wished it was more cohesive.
Overall I found this enjoyable, and a great reminder to get out of your comfort zone, stop listening to the voices of others in your head and choose yourself more.
Congrats Ella a lovely debut!
Below are a few of my favourites
“The wonderful consequence of being dispassionate was that while you did miss out on the wild bits of life, fervour, ecstasy, you also had nothing to do with the nonsense, fear, regret,sadness. For years, Caitlin had lived with her own personal flatline. It also meant that the unexpectedness of the inheritance wasn’t just the money itself, but that she was experiencing a genuine thrill for the first time in, well, ever.”
“Did everyone have thoughts that overlapped like hers were messing around right now? Someone had taken up all the fences in her head and everything thought was mingling with every other one. Memories running through paddocks they didn’t belong.”
While she was no longer a tightly coiled spring, she still held the energy of an alarm clock that hadn’t yet rung.”
4 ⭐️ Audiobook read by Hannah Fredericksen and Jack Twelvetree
February 23, 2025
Really liked the characters (especially the sister in law!) but the time travel stuff just wasn’t for me!
March 28, 2025
The Cicada House is a humorous, entertaining and fun tale with a little bit of magic thrown in.
Caitlin receives an unexpected gift of money and makes an instant decision.
Turning 40 and finding out your husband is leaving you, brings that decision forward.
Getting drunk and booking online a trip from London to coastal Australia.
Then she arrives at her accommodation, The Cicada House.
Caitlin starts her journey of finding herself, getting to know the community and its patrons and the mysterious handyman.
A story of self discovery, courage, love, and secrets.
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I was happily surprised.
The writing style was warm, witty and appealing, the plot was touching, the characters are delightfully intricate and the small town backdrop makes for a richer reading experience.
The magical realism may not be for everyone but if you can get past it, you will enjoy this book.
Caitlin receives an unexpected gift of money and makes an instant decision.
Turning 40 and finding out your husband is leaving you, brings that decision forward.
Getting drunk and booking online a trip from London to coastal Australia.
Then she arrives at her accommodation, The Cicada House.
Caitlin starts her journey of finding herself, getting to know the community and its patrons and the mysterious handyman.
A story of self discovery, courage, love, and secrets.
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I was happily surprised.
The writing style was warm, witty and appealing, the plot was touching, the characters are delightfully intricate and the small town backdrop makes for a richer reading experience.
The magical realism may not be for everyone but if you can get past it, you will enjoy this book.
April 27, 2025
Considering I’m not a fan of time travel stories I really enjoyed this, was beautifully written and loved the Australian coastal vibes
January 17, 2025
I liked almost all the characters in this book - except Paul … but even then, he turned out ok in the end. The grandfather and Charles were probably my favourite!
I’m not sure I was convinced by the David twist? It was odd and unusual - perhaps clever but I don’t think I bought it?
I loved the clever little quips - drinking ‘puddle water’ together. And the way the beach was described.
The story was a bit slow and the links a bit odd?
3.5 stars but I’d definitely read this author again.
I’m not sure I was convinced by the David twist? It was odd and unusual - perhaps clever but I don’t think I bought it?
I loved the clever little quips - drinking ‘puddle water’ together. And the way the beach was described.
The story was a bit slow and the links a bit odd?
3.5 stars but I’d definitely read this author again.
April 7, 2025
An absolutely beautiful read, couldn’t put it down. It felt like a true insight into the immense power that grief can hold over us and the courage to push through and come out the other side ❤️
January 5, 2025
Reading The Cicada House while sitting on the front verandah of my own cicada house was the perfect way to start 2025. I discovered this book at my local coastal bookstore, drawn in by the title alone. The writing style and pace were exactly what I was in the mood for, and I absolutely loved it. The story was beautifully crafted, and I loved being along for the ride while the characters developed through themes of loss, love and friendship.
February 27, 2025
Interesting read, nice character development and unravelling story. I enjoyed it!
May 31, 2025
This book started off so good and I was thoroughly enjoying it and I was curious to see how it would all be wrapped up. But unfortunately after the half way mark I quickly lost interest as the storyline turned into time travel and I’m afraid it wasn’t for me after that. Many people have loved this book for this element, so if you like that in books then you’ll enjoy this one more than I did. So give it a go and make up your own mind.
February 19, 2025
I enjoyed this but the time travelling aspect was a bit random and out of place
February 22, 2025
When (in two parts, in a good way and in a bad way) Caitlin’s life changes, she does the most sensible thing - runs away to a small town in Australia, as far from her fractured English life that she can be, and tries to rediscover, with the help of a cast of real and not real locals, who she really is. Orphan, deserted wife, friend, slightly prickly, looking for where she belongs, we follow her on a voyage of discovery, who Caitlin really is, and what she’s really looking for. Written in a very readable style, you’re always going to be Team Caitlin, and given that my current reading is this book, and Audrey’s Gone AWOL, I should probably pop downstairs and check my husband’s still here.
April 3, 2025
I don’t know what to say I think I loved it????? Really enjoyed the first 60% then things got a bit weird then loved the ending??? I don’t think “magic realism” is my thing but still enjoyed
April 17, 2025
Loved the Brit —> Aus finding herself storyline but the time travelling romance made me cringe so hard I almost didn’t finish.
September 16, 2025
Wow so meh lol. I’m surprised I finished it. It was fine…and then the time travelling stuff LOST me
March 28, 2025
British woman checks into the Cicada House on the Victorian coast and has a beach holiday with a side of self discovery and time travel. A lovely read!
February 25, 2025
3.5 stars. Went in a different direction than what I was expecting, but an enjoyable read.
March 25, 2025
This was our March Book Club pick and whilst I won’t be attending our catch up I will share my own thoughts.
Firstly, I cannot fault the Author’s ability to perfectly write the Australian landscape. I felt like I was sitting on the verandah of the Cicada house, I could feel the warm breeze in my hair and the cool salt water lap at my ankles. I truely was transported to Arana Bay. I could picture Charles the larriken, Sienna and Erin (probably with Moscato in hand)
The supporting characters in this book were integral to the story, they truly help the metamorphosis of our protagonist Caitlin. I enjoyed her journey from shy woman who tries to make everyone else happy to the stronger woman we were left with.
Things i didn’t like
- Time Travel. I found the character of David interesting and enjoyed their story together but I honestly felt it could have been left out of the story. I felt like Caitlin’s journey of self discovery, finding information about Susan etc was enough to keep me intrigued
-The rushed ending with Richard; ngl, i wish this was drawn out a bit more… this could have made an interesting story line and I would have enjoyed reading the enemies to lovers.
On the whole I really enjoyed this book and felt drawn to read it. I think it was beautifully written! Obviously, these are only my opinions!
Would definitely read more from Ella!
Firstly, I cannot fault the Author’s ability to perfectly write the Australian landscape. I felt like I was sitting on the verandah of the Cicada house, I could feel the warm breeze in my hair and the cool salt water lap at my ankles. I truely was transported to Arana Bay. I could picture Charles the larriken, Sienna and Erin (probably with Moscato in hand)
The supporting characters in this book were integral to the story, they truly help the metamorphosis of our protagonist Caitlin. I enjoyed her journey from shy woman who tries to make everyone else happy to the stronger woman we were left with.
Things i didn’t like
- Time Travel. I found the character of David interesting and enjoyed their story together but I honestly felt it could have been left out of the story. I felt like Caitlin’s journey of self discovery, finding information about Susan etc was enough to keep me intrigued
-The rushed ending with Richard; ngl, i wish this was drawn out a bit more… this could have made an interesting story line and I would have enjoyed reading the enemies to lovers.
On the whole I really enjoyed this book and felt drawn to read it. I think it was beautifully written! Obviously, these are only my opinions!
Would definitely read more from Ella!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2025
Not what I expected at all. Some plot points felt slightly unfinished but overall, surprisingly delightful!
January 18, 2025
Look, I really enjoyed the writing style, the descriptions, the chemistry between characters and I felt very transported and connected to all of the people. I also loved Caitlin as a protagonist, but would have liked her to get a little more direct earlier on, as at times she was frustrating to read.
I will say that the supernatural element here really took me out of that beautiful summer trance that I was in. It’s not something I would normally enjoy, and I found it frustrating here too. Having said that, I still did enjoy the book! I am looking forward to the next novel Ella decides to write.
I will say that the supernatural element here really took me out of that beautiful summer trance that I was in. It’s not something I would normally enjoy, and I found it frustrating here too. Having said that, I still did enjoy the book! I am looking forward to the next novel Ella decides to write.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2025
A slow start to my reading year, but I finally finished The Cicada House after picking it up randomly at a local book shop (it was the orange cover that got me).
Took me a while, but in the end, I enjoyed it!
I wasn’t too keen on the beginning, hated the characters, couldn’t get myself past some small flaws.
Halfway through, it felt like the book version of Home & Away. Then it veered into a Time Traveler’s Wife era, which had me eye rolling.
But somehow, from there, it won me over and gave me all the feels.
An easy summer beach read. 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Took me a while, but in the end, I enjoyed it!
I wasn’t too keen on the beginning, hated the characters, couldn’t get myself past some small flaws.
Halfway through, it felt like the book version of Home & Away. Then it veered into a Time Traveler’s Wife era, which had me eye rolling.
But somehow, from there, it won me over and gave me all the feels.
An easy summer beach read. 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 20, 2025
"There's no shame in a grief that feels unending"
100% the cover design for this book drew me in immediately but this book turned out to be so much different then I'd expect, I mean given I did go into it blind and did not read the blurb.
The premise I liked very very much, the writing was mature, high end and everything I've been looking for in a read. None of that bs young adult, immature, honestly sub par writing was within these pages. Nope, I was even happy with the subtle romance parts that were so well written I would have given a standing ovation because it was polite and not exceedingly smutty at all.
The characters I appreciated so much, particularly Charles and Sienna. You can always really tell when so much thoughtful planning has gone into the characters who will surround and uplift the mc. Paul can go get lost if you can ask me and he was so well written I could immediately tell in the first few pages how controlling and absolutely horrendous of a person he'd be. I'm kind of appalled with the audacity of that man if I'm being honest. This goes hand in hand with my feelings to protect Caitlin from him entirely, I liked her I did but sometimes she felt a bit naive and submissive towards him but given how he treated her I wouldn't fault her completely. Jan can also get lost, for some reason I never trusted her to begin with given her relationship with Paul.
Now I dislike Australian anything and I live in Australia. Yeah I know, but things never quite meet expectations when it's Aussie based okay, tv shows and movies fall flat so hard for me personally so the Aussie parts of this had me reeling unfortunately but it was relatable so not all bad. The bay was well written I thought and small town enough for it to tie in well with the storyline but the descriptive parts of down under just made me want to run very far away.
Now the storyline, unexpectedly took the biggest turn ever when the revelations of David began. I did not read the blurb like I said so this would have made more sense to me. I was so much more invested in the healing and growth of Caitlin that I would have happily done without the David storyline. I just expected the storyline to be more "healing after a bad card in life in another country" not all "let's fall in love with an apparation and seeminly accept it rationally" and I'm not hating on the author for this at all. It worked in this book I just think because I did not expect it at all, it changed my perspective on the entire book to something less than what I would have liked. Just felt like the book was written in the wrong sort of era somehow and could have/should have been two separate entities instead of two smooshed together.
Overall I liked the book very much and I would have given it 5 stars if it remained to continue to play out to what I needed but I'll read another by this author just because of her writing style and character development so it's not all bad.
100% the cover design for this book drew me in immediately but this book turned out to be so much different then I'd expect, I mean given I did go into it blind and did not read the blurb.
The premise I liked very very much, the writing was mature, high end and everything I've been looking for in a read. None of that bs young adult, immature, honestly sub par writing was within these pages. Nope, I was even happy with the subtle romance parts that were so well written I would have given a standing ovation because it was polite and not exceedingly smutty at all.
The characters I appreciated so much, particularly Charles and Sienna. You can always really tell when so much thoughtful planning has gone into the characters who will surround and uplift the mc. Paul can go get lost if you can ask me and he was so well written I could immediately tell in the first few pages how controlling and absolutely horrendous of a person he'd be. I'm kind of appalled with the audacity of that man if I'm being honest. This goes hand in hand with my feelings to protect Caitlin from him entirely, I liked her I did but sometimes she felt a bit naive and submissive towards him but given how he treated her I wouldn't fault her completely. Jan can also get lost, for some reason I never trusted her to begin with given her relationship with Paul.
Now I dislike Australian anything and I live in Australia. Yeah I know, but things never quite meet expectations when it's Aussie based okay, tv shows and movies fall flat so hard for me personally so the Aussie parts of this had me reeling unfortunately but it was relatable so not all bad. The bay was well written I thought and small town enough for it to tie in well with the storyline but the descriptive parts of down under just made me want to run very far away.
Now the storyline, unexpectedly took the biggest turn ever when the revelations of David began. I did not read the blurb like I said so this would have made more sense to me. I was so much more invested in the healing and growth of Caitlin that I would have happily done without the David storyline. I just expected the storyline to be more "healing after a bad card in life in another country" not all "let's fall in love with an apparation and seeminly accept it rationally" and I'm not hating on the author for this at all. It worked in this book I just think because I did not expect it at all, it changed my perspective on the entire book to something less than what I would have liked. Just felt like the book was written in the wrong sort of era somehow and could have/should have been two separate entities instead of two smooshed together.
Overall I liked the book very much and I would have given it 5 stars if it remained to continue to play out to what I needed but I'll read another by this author just because of her writing style and character development so it's not all bad.
May 15, 2025
Once again tricked into reading something I am Very Much Not The Target Audience For
Which to be fair I did suspect might be the case based on the “40 y/o British woman flees to small coastal Australian town after an unexpected divorce” half of the synopsis but the lush sensory imagery and references to The Time Traveler’s wife got me!!
Unfortunately the sensory imagery kind of peaks in the synopsis and the time travel stuff just feels weirdly appended to the rest of the novel - it didn’t thematically connect to much of anything else that was going on in Caitlin’s journey of self discovery (which for the most part I actually did connect with more than I expected to connect emotionally to a 40 y/o divorcee!) and the romance was just not convincing in any way (and then the book ends with her heading towards a romantic relationship with THE ARCHITECT??? what the hell)
Also if I suspected the man I had fallen in love with was actually time travelling from 1970 I would immediately be looking up his living descendants rather than just waiting for them to coincidentally appear at the lodge that I was working hospitality at???
Felt weird that the parallels between Caitlin’s mother and David both being in car accidents around the same time didn’t actually go anywhere meaningful despite being so deliberately set up in parallel to each other.
Ultimately 1. not for me 2. not really giving much of anything else either and just kind of too many things not connected to each other (this review is an accurate depiction of what it’s like to read this book)
Which to be fair I did suspect might be the case based on the “40 y/o British woman flees to small coastal Australian town after an unexpected divorce” half of the synopsis but the lush sensory imagery and references to The Time Traveler’s wife got me!!
Unfortunately the sensory imagery kind of peaks in the synopsis and the time travel stuff just feels weirdly appended to the rest of the novel - it didn’t thematically connect to much of anything else that was going on in Caitlin’s journey of self discovery (which for the most part I actually did connect with more than I expected to connect emotionally to a 40 y/o divorcee!) and the romance was just not convincing in any way (and then the book ends with her heading towards a romantic relationship with THE ARCHITECT??? what the hell)
Also if I suspected the man I had fallen in love with was actually time travelling from 1970 I would immediately be looking up his living descendants rather than just waiting for them to coincidentally appear at the lodge that I was working hospitality at???
Felt weird that the parallels between Caitlin’s mother and David both being in car accidents around the same time didn’t actually go anywhere meaningful despite being so deliberately set up in parallel to each other.
Ultimately 1. not for me 2. not really giving much of anything else either and just kind of too many things not connected to each other (this review is an accurate depiction of what it’s like to read this book)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2025
Approaching her 40th birthday, Caitlin finds out that she has inherited a large sum of money. She planned to share the good news with her husband, Paul, upon his return from working away from home, in time to share a birthday dinner with her. Feeling that their marriage needed a recharge, she made plans for them to go way on a romantic holiday together. However, before Caitlin could tell Paul, he broke the news that he had been having an affair with a colleague, who was now pregnant to him. To add to her devastation at that news, Caitlin and Paul had tried for many years to have a baby, without any success, despite several attempts at IVF.
On a drunken impulse Caitlin booked a trip to Australia to stay at a holiday rental in a small coastal village.
I felt great empathy with Caitlin, as she took the time to reflect on her life, and come to terms with her newly single status, while at the same time getting to know the country of her birth and seeking to find out more about her mother’s journey.
I was intrigued by the mysterious ‘handyman’, David who seemingly turned up from no where, and was unknown to the locals. I was hooked and could not put the book down as the friendship between David and Caitlin developed. Of course every romantic bone in my body was stirred up in the hope of a ‘happy forever’ ending.
The incredibility of David’s appearances and disappearances in what seemed like some kind of strange method of time travel did distract me from the story until I decided to just roll with it and see what happened next.
There was an added bonus for me as I read this book. I live on the Central Coast of NSW in Australia. The setting for Cicada House is much further south from here however I could smell the salt air, and feel the heat of an early spring arriving like out of a oven at times. After a few spring showers, our local cicada population were roused from their 7 year ‘slumber’ and provided a raucous background sound scape to elevate my experience of the story.
I rate Cicada House 4 1/2 stars.
On a drunken impulse Caitlin booked a trip to Australia to stay at a holiday rental in a small coastal village.
I felt great empathy with Caitlin, as she took the time to reflect on her life, and come to terms with her newly single status, while at the same time getting to know the country of her birth and seeking to find out more about her mother’s journey.
I was intrigued by the mysterious ‘handyman’, David who seemingly turned up from no where, and was unknown to the locals. I was hooked and could not put the book down as the friendship between David and Caitlin developed. Of course every romantic bone in my body was stirred up in the hope of a ‘happy forever’ ending.
The incredibility of David’s appearances and disappearances in what seemed like some kind of strange method of time travel did distract me from the story until I decided to just roll with it and see what happened next.
There was an added bonus for me as I read this book. I live on the Central Coast of NSW in Australia. The setting for Cicada House is much further south from here however I could smell the salt air, and feel the heat of an early spring arriving like out of a oven at times. After a few spring showers, our local cicada population were roused from their 7 year ‘slumber’ and provided a raucous background sound scape to elevate my experience of the story.
I rate Cicada House 4 1/2 stars.
January 14, 2025
Such a sparkling book full of self-discovery and learning. The notion that you don’t do anything good before 40 really stood out to me—it felt both refreshing and relatable. The main character’s journey of growth and resilience after 40 was empowering, especially as a woman approaching that milestone myself. The book’s descriptions of places were rich and evocative, making me feel as though I was traveling alongside the protagonist. I also appreciated the gentle romance that unfolded naturally, without being overly forceful or cliché. This is a great summer read—perfect for the beach, your holiday, or even those moments when you’re feeling a little lost. It’s a love letter to the idea that places and experiences can be family.
March 18, 2025
The Cicada House was an absorbing read with engaging characters . It’s a while since I have read a book that held the tension from beginning to end. This book had so many interesting ideas it traveled. At the beginning we meet the protagonist and her husband. I thought I wouldn’t like her at all but the author was setting the tone of her character and she did develop well. The author really did a great job drawing the reader in with the dialogue and descriptive writing. I really enjoyed how the time altered ghost character was used. Very different. I will put this book up for my book group. This book was on a daily deal with Kobo and I picked it up with my points.
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