Slanting Towards the Sea

by Lidija Hilje

Spanning across twenty years and one life-altering summer in Croatia, Slanting Towards the Sea is at once an unforgettable love story and a powerful exploration of what it means to come of age in a country younger than oneself.

Ivona divorced the love of her life, Vlaho, a decade ago. They met as students at the turn of the millennium, when newly democratic Croatia was alive with hope and promise. But the challenges of living in a burgeoning country extinguished Ivona’s dreams one after another—and a devastating secret forced her to set him free.

Now Vlaho is remarried and a proud father of two, while Ivona’s life has taken a downward turn. In her thirties, she has returned to her childhood home to care for her ailing father. Bewildered by life’s disappointments, she finds solace in reconnecting with Vlaho and is welcomed into his family by his spirited new wife, Marina. But when a new man enters Ivona’s life, the carefully cultivated dynamic between the three is disrupted, forcing a reckoning for all involved.

Set against the mesmerizing Croatian coastline, Slanting Towards the Sea is a cinematic, emotionally searing debut about the fragile nature of potential and the transcendence of love.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance, Summer, Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published July 8, 2025

About the author

Lidija Hilje is a Croatian writer and book coach. After over ten years of trying cases before Croatian courts, she traded in her legal briefcase for a sharpened pencil, and has been writing and working professionally with writers ever since — all in English as her second language. Slanting Towards the Sea is her first novel.

Reviews

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an unexpected favorite 🥲

We follow Ivona years after her divorce from Vlaho (and we get a few previous chapters of how they fell in love) BUT THE YEARNING FROM BOTH CHARACTERS WAS PHENOMENAL!!!! Ivona’s POV was so incredibly vulnerable, the way she thought of Vlaho after all these years you can just FEEL how she feels and she doesn’t shy away from any thought. It felt like I truly could understand her and her reasonings for not being with Vlaho anymore, all while still feeling her love for him on every single page.

Not only did we follow her journey and struggles with her relationship with Vlaho, but we also see her trying to figure out her life again after it all fell apart. I was rooting for her the entire book, even if some of her decisions didn’t feel right. And not only that but the writing was absolutely stunning - like almost every page I highlighted something


“It’s these small moments of recognition—a specific inflection of his voice, a particular look on his face, a small gesture no one else might notice—that I live for. Why I swirl in his orbit even at the cost of watching him make a life with someone else.”

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was MESMERIZED by this debut.

Ivona and Vlaho met as students at the turn of the new millennium, when newly democratic Croatia was finding its way as well. It was “love at first sight” for them both. So why did she divorce him? Only she and her mother-in-law know. Was this decision Cowardice? Selflessness? Selfishness?

I felt DESPERATE to find out.

Now in their thirties, Vlaho is remarried to a woman named Marina, and Ivona is the Godmother to one of his two children. How is Marina able to be so accepting of Ivona, and so warm toward her-especially when Ivona has never really moved on romantically? Their dynamic is an interesting “triangle”.

I NEEDED to know.

Ivona meanwhile has endured one disappointment after another. Divorce. Not being able to find a job in the field she trained for. Living with and caring for her ailing father, with no help from her brother.

How will the dynamics change when a new man enters Ivona’s life, creating a “square” instead of the “triangle”? Will they survive this?

Again, Ivona makes choices, that I couldn’t condone.
Or are they EXCUSES?

There are two sides to every coin.

Things and people are rarely black and white.

This UNIQUE character study unfolds in Five Parts-Ivona getting to know Vlaho in Part 1, Marina in Part 2, Asier in Part 3 and herself in Part 4. I didn’t agree with how she rationalized the things that propelled her to Part 5-

But just as I was in the beginning…I remained CAPTIVATED.

It’s a book that I won’t soon forget-and I feel like I should reward writing that compelling whether my reaction is positive or negative toward a character or a story-4.5 stars from me. ⭐️

NOW AVAILABLE

Thank You to Simon & Schuster for the gifted ARC provided by Edelweiss. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Croatia. A country nestled in along the Adriatic Sea.

This is Ivona’s story. She is 38 and is reflecting on her past and all she has lost with the decisions made for the sacrifice of others. Now in the present, she is haunted by the consequences.

We learn of her love with Vlaho who she has since divorced. A sacrifice made unbeknownst to him. She remains close to him and his new wife, Marina, and their 2 kids. When a new man enters the scene, however, the dynamics of this acute triangle shift.

Hilje’s debut is mesmerizing. The lushness of a country undiscovered in its beauty with its pull of the sea and olive grove landscape. Themes of heartbreak, loneliness, and identity defining moments.
5⭐️
Shoutout to TGH who was generous in sending me a copy to do a buddy read!

[Jsiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat disappointed at the ending.... and all the excuses and explanations for Vlaho's actions...it seemed rehearsed, almost trying too hard to convince the reader that Vlaho... was a weak but redemptive figure... I feel like he was too idealized. Ivona riddled more from guilt than anything else... great emotion throughout, but I can not say that the relationship she has with Asier or Vlaho is authentic. Enjoyed the memories of Croatia, which is what drew me to this book in the first place. The writer wrote gorgeous descriptions of the food, landscapes and history...I really did feel for Ivona with her inability to have children, but I couldn't forgive either of them for cheating and calling it everlasting love.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are often drawn to other people for a multitude of reasons. Some with good intentions and good outcomes. Some with blind intentions that simply weave their way into unfertile ground producing only anguish and resentment.

Lidija Hilje is a Croatian author who is writing in English....her second language. It is remarkable just how deeply poignant and succinct her writing becomes in Slanting Towards the Sea. Hilje takes on the story of Ivona and Vlaho, two young college students who find themselves in each other's pathways one night. The connection begins slow and steady and then rivets up to a steady drum beat. They become smitten with one another. Marriage follows.

Lidija Hilje keeps a secret hidden in the dark shadows. But when it breaks open in the sunlight, it will come down to decisions influenced by what is far better for the greater good. But the greater good is always in the mind's eye. What one believes is self-sacrifice turns into long strings attached. We become affixed to memories, emotions, and perspectives. Those gallant decisions seem to turn on us. Misery pulls up a chair and overstays its welcome.

Slanting Towards the Sea is definitely character driven. Hilje allows us to experience their strengths and their definite flaws. And it all goes back to those decisions whipping in the wind. That's why the character of Ivona frustrated me to no end. My heart pumped in her direction only to be shattered time and time again. Hilje sees to that throughout this novel. She likens Ivona to a tree felled in the forest that no one heard fall....not making a sound.

And yet, I am so grateful for having experienced Slanting Towards the Sea. Not every relationship follows the rules of the road. We are all such complicated individuals who stand rigid in our own personal world. Then there's the cover art that is definitely a draw created by the artist Hana Tischler. And it is an emotional experience to read this one. See if you don't agree.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Lidija Hilje for the opportunity.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivona and Vlaho’s once-in-a-lifetime love story comes to a bitter end when a devastating secret leads to their divorce. Now, ten years later, Vlaho is remarried with children, as Ivona struggles to deal with all she was forced to leave behind. When she returns home to care for her ailing father, she reconnects with Vlaho and his wife. But when a new man enters the fold, threatening their dynamic, Ivona must finally reckon with long-held secrets and buried feelings.

Have you ever opened a book, begun reading, and knew almost instantaneously that it was going to be a five-star read? I can count on one hand the number of times this has happened to me. Count me shocked when this debut novel, complete with its absolutely stunning cover, entered the chat.

From the lush, but turbulent Croatian setting to the dynamic, very flawed characters; the evocative lyrical writing to the visceral heartbreak— this book will sweep you up into its pages, never letting go until you’ve read the final chapter. While perhaps a world away from your own, it is incredibly difficult not to connect to the various struggles these characters face. Their trials and tribulations bleed from the pages as we are taken from the middle of the story, to the beginning, and then to the end.

If you are looking for a swoony romance with perfectly perfect characters, you will not find it here. But what you will find instead is something so much more profound. It is the story of loving and being loved, even to the point of heartbreak. It is the story of the family we are born into and the family we seek out. And it is the story of loving yourself enough to know when to stay and when to move on. I fear Hilje has set the bar high for herself, and yet by the same token, her exquisite writing illustrates that she is up for the challenge.

🎧 This is absolutely brilliant on audio. Imani Jade Powers is impeccable, bringing all the emotions necessary to the role of Ivona. As I neared the end, tears streaming down my face, it was solidified as a new favorite in the audiobook realm.

Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️complicated love stories
▪️emotional depth
▪️second chance love
▪️journeys of self-discovery
▪️romantic sagas

✨ Favorites of 2025


Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.

[JanB · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Divorced for nine years, Ivona remains emotionally tied to her ex-husband. In a strange turn of events, she finds herself as a godmother and “auntie” to his children, and close friends with him and his new wife.

When she meets a new man, it affects all their lives in unexpected ways, and long held secrets are revealed.

Croatia is as much a character in this novel as are Ivona and Vlaho. Their lives are affected by societal pressures, parental expectations, and a country that is in the early years of democracy.

The themes of life, loss, regret and grief affected me deeply. This is a sad emotional journey, and it was difficult to be in Ivona’s head throughout the entire book. The choices made by the characters were often frustrating and difficult to fathom. I’m not a fan of romantic angst, so that likely affected my opinion.

Romanticizing some of the events did little to endear the characters to me. For the most part I enjoyed the writing but then a sentence like this completely took me out of the story:
“The sun droops on the horizon, heavy and red like a zit about to burst”. (Please note this is an ARC, so it’s possible the final publication may be different. Let’s hope so)

I have very mixed feelings about the book, vacillating between 3 & 4 stars, so I’m going with 3.5 stars. I almost dnf’d several times in the middle, but the story was somehow compelling enough to keep me reading and it’s still one I’d recommend, with caution. The characters are well-developed and show growth as the story progresses.

I appreciated the Croatian setting, a story written by a Croatian author. The sad story of Ivona and Vlaho is one that my reading buddy, Marialyce, enjoyed discussing.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

[Marialyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the strangest reaction to this book and have changed my rating a number of times. On the one hand, I disliked all the characters presented and on the other hand even though I was sorely tempted to stop reading, I found myself drawn back into the saga of Ivana and Vlaho.

Against the background of a new democratic Croatia, the couple found one another and developed an obsessive love. They considered themselves made for one another until a tragedy struck and Ivana divorces the love of her life.

Later Vlaho remarries a friend of Ivana and the lives of the three become intertwined as we find reasons for the new marriage with a mountain of pathos as Ivana fights her love or maybe obsession with Vlaho. When a new man enters Ivana's life, the threesome becomes a foursome with many repercussions. Iana is also tasked with caring for her ill father and their relationship adds to the sadness of Ivana's life.

Ivana is a person full of anguish and misery. She seems to wallow in it, and is fearful of moving anywhere else. The bleakness of her life puts her deeper and deeper into a pit of melancholy and mourning from which she is unable to escape.

Vlaho suffers as well, for giving up on the girl of his dreams. It's a pity party of unbelievable proportions and as I read to the end, I had to wonder if the two of them suffered from tinges of masochism.

This is not an uplifting book whatsoever, but one that brings the reader into the doldrums as you can't quite understand how people so unhappy could be be apart.

Hard to decipher, hard to get your hands around, this book is assuredly different and one that many like myself will find they walk a fine line on whether they like it or hate it.

***So interesting that Jan and I had the same reaction.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written story of an intense love between Ivona and Vlaho starting when they were 19 yrs old and students…set in Croatia.
They marry and then divorce several years later due to infertility issues. The divorce is Ivona’s answer to the problem ..for Vlaho to be able to have a family..such an unselfish act due to her fierce love for him.
They are both devastated, though she carries a secret as to “why” and what pushed her to divorce him.
Two years later when Vlaho remarries… Ivona is included in many of the family functions… (which emotionally kills her) and several years later she meets another man, which Vlaho can’t handle.
This story is very gripping and atmospheric …. a story of lost love and second chances.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Slanting Towards the Sea”, a debut novel by Lidija Hilje

5 brilliant stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: infertility, infidelity.

An excerpt: “Because even conceding to someone else's wishes, giving in to meet someone else’s needs - even sacrificing yourself - is a choice.”

What a marvellous debut!

What a great command of the language!

The story is sad, but so realistic, believable and so very humane. It’s well told in first person and single perspective.

The timeline fluctuates between present and the past through the main character reminiscences.

How easy it is to loose opportunities in life.

I was captivated from the beginning.

The atmosphere of longing and solitude as well as grieving was so palpable, so strong.

The characters felt alive and I thought that I was part of the story.

The conclusion was very positive, although rushed, but still giving that sense that there is always hope, no matter what. And life goes on.

The beautiful setting and descriptions made me wish to plan a visit to Croatia to see its landscape and try the local cuisine.

Thanks to my fellow readers, who reviewed this book so positively, calling my attention to this beautiful work, otherwise I would have missed it.

This was a great break from crime fiction and action books.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I found this book disappointing. The plot revolves around our protagonist, Ivona, and her love interest, Vlaho. The events in their relationship felt contrived to me; there’s a misunderstanding, Ivona ends the relationship because of that misunderstanding, Ivona and Vlaho pine for one another, etc. etc. What also hurt the novel, for me, was that the prose was one-dimensional and monotonous, and also it seemed that the majority of Ivona’s happiness came from her relationship with Vlaho and her romantic relationships generally (this is very briefly addressed at the utter end of the book, but by then it was too late for me).

I agree with other reviewers that the setting in Croatia is unique. And I appreciate the author’s attention paid to how the broader societal economy and systems of corruption can impact characters’ lives. But the central character and the central conflict related to romance wasn’t satisfying to me.

[Novel Visits · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had planned to do a read/listen of 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗔 by Lidija Hilje, but after just the first few pages, I knew I wouldn’t do any listening. This says nothing about the audiobook. I’m sure it’s brilliant. I just found debut author Hilje’s writing so beautiful that I had to savor it in a way that one can really only do with eyes on the words. This is an amazing story, and I’ll get to that soon, but beyond that Hilje TOOK ME to Croatia. Her writing of the place was so very evocative that I was transported. I’ve yet to visit Croatia, but when I do, I think I’ll feel as if I’m returning. She did the same thing with her characters. I knew them. I cared about them. For a short time, it was as if I was living in their world.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Within this incredible writing is a touching story of a woman finding herself in a place and time where the cards have been stacked against her. Ivona divorced the love of her life for reasons only she and one other person know. Ten years later, it still pains her every day, especially because she and Vlaho, now remarried with young children, remain close. The whys and whats of their relationship slowly come to light as does much more about Ivona, the life she’s bound to, and the one she wants.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I predict you’ll be seeing 𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘢 on a lot of Best Book lists this year. I know you’ll be seeing it on mine. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟⁣⁣
⁣⁣
"I love him with the kind of ludicrous love that won't let itself be extinguished. The kind that digs its nails under your skin and stays. The kind that acts like an x-ray, seeing inside your deepest layers."⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Thanks to @simonbooks for a digital copy of this book.⁣⁣

[thebookybird · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extra star for beautiful landscapes but respectfully, WTF was this?

The decisions these people made I can’t! The selfishness, the illogical choices, antiquated views, the incredible insecurities, I hated every one of these people and their brutal choices. Justice for Asier.

*throws book across the room

[Reggie Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ This was heartbreaking & beautiful. If you’re looking for a novel about life after heartbreak, finding love again, & grief, you might really enjoy this! I cried a lot reading this one. For some reason, I just couldn’t get past a certain dynamic & was shaking my head a lot while reading.

Most of all, this book made me desperately want to book a flight back to Croatia.

[Keri Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivona has realized that her life did not turn out how she imagined, and she's not very happy with her current circumstances. As a young woman in college, she had met Vlaho, they fell in love and married. Their marriage was stressed from both internal and external. They are living in Croatia at a time of turmoil, as it has newly become democratic and the culture and economy has experienced drastic changes. Also, Ivona has a secret that forces her to leave Vlaho.

Now, they have been apart for a decade. During that time, Vlaho got married and hac children. Strangely though, she has settled into a friendship/family dynamic with Vlaho and his new wife Marina, who previously was Ivona's friend. This dynamic has worked for them, even though in her heart Ivona considers him the love of her life.

She is back living with her ailing father and also help run a business he was trying to cultivate. Through this, she meets another man, and slowly opens up to a new relationship in her life... but can she let go completely? She is at a crossroads and needs to decide how her life will proceed.

This was a very emotional and somewhat depressing book, reading about someone's depressed life. But the writing was beautiful, and I enjoyed the setting. I was not familiar with Croatia until my son started visiting it and shared so much of the beauty there. I was not at all familiar with the turmoil of the country. I'm not sure if it's a book to enjoy, but rather to experience.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character driven books, especially ones about love and loss are not for everyone. Endless descriptions of remorse, sadness, longing, this is everything that I like in a book, especially if it's written well.

Slanting Towards the Sea is just that, which takes place in Croatia, a country I must visit. Ivona and Vlaho, a couple meant to be together, but also torn apart by a devastating outcome, which sets them on a path towards finding happiness.
Ivona, now 38, hasn't done anything in her life that truly makes her happy. She cares for ailing father, works in a stationary store, despite having a degree in biology, finds love with the amiable Asier.

What happens next, is Lidija Hilje's beautiful book of regrets, solitude, and finding oneself. Hilje's writing will pull you in - the descriptions of everyday life in Croatia is expansive and melancholic. Vlaho and Ivona find love in quiet moments with other people when you least expect it, and while you're rooting for Ivona, some of the choices she makes are not the best. But, you will see how weak, and yet strong she is throughout the pages.

I loved this book, and if you love long chapters of contemplation and truth, this is a great book for you.

[Debbie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ The book is a beautifully written portrait of Croatia. The setting is brought to life with the gorgeous prose describing the sea, olive groves, food, sights and smells of the village that is home to Ivona and Vlaho.

Ivona has suffered for years after her divorce from the love of her life Vlaho. Burdened by infertility, family expectations, and secrets, she makes a devastating decision. She lives a solitary life caring for her invalid father unable to move on. She remains friends with Vlaho and his new wife Marina,even being Godmother to their daughter.

Asier enters her life working for a company interested in buying her father’s property, Louveran. Ivona begins to let her guard down and hope for the future, but what of her love for Vlaho?

I sometimes questioned Ivona’s choices and also those of Vlaho. I felt both characters were selfish and foolish at times, though they made the right choices at the end. Overall a well written romance.

thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

the kind of novel that really sinks into you. thank you to the author for sending me a copy 🫶🏻

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I can’t believe this is a debut. So so good. And that it’s set in Croatia is a first for me. Author Lidija Hilje has given us this beautifully written story of deep emotional love and loss.. of longing and sadness.. and in her creation of these complex characters you come to care for, you feel their emotions twofold.
Our MC Ivona has a strength I’d be lucky to have if in the same situation. As the story moves along Hilje dangles, just out of reach.. the answer to a must-find-out secret only known by our MC and her ex-mother-in-law. This kept me on a rollercoaster of emotions and I loved every minute ❥ Do recommend! Pub. 7/8/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[TracyGH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star book for this year! ☝🏻 ⭐️

Where are we? Croatia! A country I was not all that familiar with but has now called my name. I googled quite a bit while I was reading this as did my reading buddy Canadian Jen.

This is a love triangle that becomes very complicated, very quickly, among the olive groves. Intense and human. Human fragility that is all too common. Infertility, depression and marriage.

You want to look away and yet, you need to know the ending. The writing is truly amazing. A couple of the quotes made me close my book and contemplate. This rarely happens, and this coming from a debut novel.

Highly recommend. It had a bit of,The Paper Palace,
vibes. A book I also adored. Cheers to my reading buddy Jen Jen! We know good books. 😉

[Lynn Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off look at this beautiful cover. It’s what drew me toward reading this book. Ivona is the FMV and at times I was so mad at her and at other times I thought she was the most selfless person ever. A beautifully written novel about a woman who loves her husband so much and sets him free to face the consequences of that love and withdrawal.

Set in beautiful Croatia it was so wonderful to read about this country and the foods and politics of this region.

[Nita Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Slanting Towards the Sea, the reader is pulled along the underbelly of grief as the story's narrator, Ivona, tries to make sense of, and recover from, the decision she'd made a decade ago, while trying to settle her family affairs in a country that is still settling its own. Beautifully written, there were many times I had to close the book with my finger holding the page and stare into space, appreciating or contemplating a beautiful phrase or gut-wrenching truth before continuing on. What made the characters and their stories so incredibly real to me was the way the author deftly and seamlessly wove their emotional and intellectual intelligences together to create complicated, whole people. So much so that I felt like I was there, with them, in Croatia. Because of this, the story can never really end, and some part of me will forever be slanting towards the sea. I can’t wait to get a physical copy because I know that this will be a favorite on my shelf, to be read again and again. Truly, Lidija Hilje is Croatia's Elena Ferrante.

[Kelly Hooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA is a layered, emotionally charged story that explores the magnetic pull of first love and the aching stillness that follows heartbreak.

Spanning twenty years and anchored by one life-changing summer on the Croatian coast, the novel follows Ivona, who long ago divorced the love of her life, Vlaho. Yet despite their marriage ending, she remains tethered to him through friendship, family ties, and unresolved longing even as he remarries and builds a new life. When someone new enters Ivona’s world, the balance between past and future shifts once more.

I couldn’t look away from this mesmerizing debut. Lidija Hilje delicately unpacks the complexities of identity, desire, and the lives we imagine for ourselves. It’s a haunting, lyrical journey through memory, hope, and the quiet spaces in between.

📚 READ THIS IF YOU:
🌊 Want to be transported to a vivid Croatian seaside setting
🖋 Are in awe of lyrical prose written in an author’s second language
💔 Gravitate toward nuanced stories of love, loss, and emotional entanglement

RATING: 5/5
PUB DATE: July 8, 2025

Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brandice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slanting Towards the Sea is a late bloomer coming of age story about a dilemma regarding the future of a family business along with romantic angst.

I’d heard great things about this book all year but unfortunately it took me forever to get into this story! I didn’t feel invested until almost 60% in. The story includes themes of complicated relationships, both familial and romantic, shared histories, loss, and the pursuit of happiness. Though I haven’t been there (yet!) the Croatian landscape felt atmospheric and I had no trouble picturing the various scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for providing an advance reader copy of Slanting Towards the Sea in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

“It wasn’t until years later that I saw her words for what they really meant. If people want to love you, they do, no matter how flawed you are. But if they aren’t inclined to love you, nothing you say or do, no amount of goodness, can make you change their mind.”

I feel like this review could just be written with all of the passages I loved from the story. I’m struggling to find the words to describe it. Layered, intimate, melancholy, and introspective are a few that come to mind I guess. It’s also a story of finding yourself, your desires, and how feelings mature over time.

“… think about the marks we all leave on one another, willingly or not. Gentle touches we offer. Scars we inflict..”

The descriptions of Croatia were just beautiful and made for a stunning setting. They had me googling pictures. Sorry as end with another passage that spoke to me. My therapist taught me a lot about boundaries and this one holds so much truth.

“Because we don’t set boundaries most easily with strangers or those who mistreat us. We set them with those who make us feel loved and safe, who holds space for us to admit our needs and limits, even when they’re the ones paying the price for it”

[Milena Tasheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Дослушах я в последните часове на годината, но е безапелационно една от най-хубавите, които съм прочела през 2025.

Толкова много неща има в нея, че не знам откъде да започна - от безкрайните прилики между хърватската и българската реалност, през връзката на героите с майките им, та чак до морето, маслините и новото начало.

Докосна нещо много дълбоко в мен. Да, определено е някакъв балкански sad girl fiction и (без да е роман за прехода или войната) в същото време е книга за нашето поколение с всичките му симптоми, за смелостта да избереш себе си, за цената на този избор и за любовта.

Великолепен, нежен и меланхоличен роман и прекрасен край на моята 2025 като читател.

Сърдечни благодарности на Елена, че ми я препоръча ❤️

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG…I have found my FAVORITE BOOK of the YEAR so far!

The writing is beautiful - lyrical and propulsive and consuming. I abandoned wifely and motherly duties for the day because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I felt every single emotional up and down of this emotional roller coaster - my jaw dropped in disbelief, my eyes swelled with tears of hurt and pain, and my mouth slightly upturned with potential hope. I wanted the very best for all of these characters, and while I may have written a different ending, I was also completely satisfied with how it all came together in the end.

Was it perfect? No. Did I care? Also no.

If pushed, there is one particular part of the story that felt a little too convenient for me and I didn’t particularly love, but it also gave me a new appreciation. In all honesty, without this aspect, I have a feeling the story would have wrapped up differently - and that would have potentially made me throw the book across the room. Lidija Hilje knows best, and my first thought after finishing the last page was, “I’m so completely jealous of the people that get to read this for the first time.”

Then I texted/DMd all my bookish buddies and told them to read it ASAP. I want this book to get ALL THE BOOK LOVE and I want it to be the book of the year!

Unfortunately, it’s not out until July 8, 2025…but get your preorders in, cancel all plans for that day (and maybe the following day), and ENJOY! Then DM me so we can chat!!

[Larissa Canassa · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 🌟

Is one of those rare books that you don’t just read, you live inside it. Lidija Hilje’s prose is luminous, tidal, and utterly immersive. I truly emerged in this story and ended up annotating every corner of my physical copy—and I’m so glad I did, because the writing??? hellooooo, absolutely amazing. Every line begged to be underlined, every page had something worth returning to.

What made this even more special was how deeply Croatian culture and setting pulse through the book. The sea, the traditions, the landscapes—they’re not just background, they’re alive. I felt transported to the coast, carrying the salt air and the rhythms of that world with me long after I finished.

And then there are the characters. As someone who feels a lot and is sometimes scared of certain emotions, I found such a reflection of myself in Ivona. Even when I didn’t agree with the way she handled things, I still cherished her fiercely. And Vlaho—oh, I loved him so much, even when I wanted to shake him awake. These two mean a lot to me because they’re real: messy, flawed, making wrong decisions and dumb choices, but still soulmates. That’s the kind of character writing I live for.
This book reminded me exactly why I love reading: stories that transport you, challenge you, and stay with you. A six-star read, no doubt.

[Libby Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet and beautifully written story of a woman at a crossroads. Ivona has suffered so many losses that she is stuck. Her career has stalled, she has lost the love of her life, and her days have been reduced to caretaking for her aging and difficult father. Along comes an attractive hotelier, and soon, things start to change. As she begins to imagine a new life, Ivona discovers an inner courage she didn't know she had. The prose is graceful and lyrical; the descriptions of the Croatian coast captivating. I found myself deeply attached to Ivona and her story. A gorgeous debut from a promising writer. Bravo, Lidija.

[Jude (HeyJudeReads) Fricano · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It wasn't until years later that I saw her words for what they really meant. If people want to love you, they do, no matter how flawed you are. But if they aren't inclined to love you, nothing you say or do, no amount of your own goodness, can make them change their mind."

This writing is absolutely beautiful. The words, the characters, the place - all made this story outstanding. Must read!

"He was weightless, yet never held anything more substantial."