Sea Change

by Jenny Pattrick

A tsunami has devastated a small Kapiti Coast community. The government mandates managed retreat – a decision manipulated by Adrian Stokes, a powerful businessman with an agenda of his own.

A resourceful and colourful collection of villagers defy the order to retreat. They persuade reclusive Lorna, blind Toddy and young, traumatised Eru to join them as their properties are key to Stokes's plans.

It soon becomes apparent that to survive they must work together. Close bonds are formed, and problems are solved in surprising ways. Stokes tries repeatedly to uproot the determined community, but it seems he has underestimated their resilience and adaptability.

This riveting and charming story of survival by award-winning author Jenny Pattrick celebrates tenacity, self-sufficiency, and a fierce love of home, even against dire odds.

Genres: Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Jenny Pattrick is an acclaimed historical novelist, whose The Denniston Rose, and its sequel Heart of Coal, are among New Zealand's bestselling novels. In 2009 she received the New Zealand Post Mansfield Fellowship. She has been active in the arts community, and has also written stories, songs and shows for children.

Jenny Pattrick has been awarded the OBE for services to the arts, the 1990 medal, is featured in the Wellington Girls' College Hall of Fame and has received the NZ Post Katherine Mansfield Prize.

Reviews

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t even know this was the novel I wanted to read. Thank you so much to Benson for sending me a copy. This was fantastic. Cli-fi fantasticness, SO much to think about. When an earthquake and tsunami hit this coastal town in New Zealand the community is well and truly on their own..eventually when government assistance does come it’s accompanied by a mandatory exit plan. But what would you do? Stay and live with the environment or leave everything? What a premise!!! I believed everyone’s character- I can absolutely agree with a review I read that Jenny Pattrick does fantastic characters!!! Loved it and so glad I got to read it!!!

[Karen Kozuls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, topical and well written. Very enjoyable.

[Sharon N · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 🌟 Good premise but got a bit twee and predictable

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Feel good kind of book

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing topical read with a clear message about climate change and local and national policies to address the issue. But despite the sobering underlying message this story is delightful and full of heart.

The characters who decide to remain in their beachside homes after a tsunami are wonderful. As the disparate personalities gradually become a united community full of resourcefulness and genuine care for each other, they battle against power, money and greed, in the form of villain, Adrian Stokes.

Such a satisfying read.

[Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3.5 rating. Heartwarming story of a community (a thinly disguised Paekākari) banding together and surviving against various odds after an earthquake and tsunami cut it off from transport (except boat), water, electricity etc.
It illustrates "Kiwi ingenuity" and some things we'll have to deal with if faced with situations like this. Get to know your neighbours now!
Easy to read, affectionately drawn characters, good pace and momentum. It started out well, and carried me along, although I wanted more of the intrigue that seemed to be promised early on. Some bits were not quite believable, such as [SPOILER ALERT] Adrian the developer signing documents without apparently reading them, and some of the stuff about Oranga Tamariki.
The use of language seemed just slightly old-fashioned - in keeping I suppose with the age of the main character Lorna.
[SPOILER ALERT] When Lorna reveals to Toddy her experience of being raped earlier on in life, it lacked emotional power - seemed she described it in too matter of fact a way. It was I gather a pivotal event that made her shy away from intimate relationships, but as a reader I didn't really feel her emotion around it.

[Michele Harrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was lent to me. I’ve not read any of her previous books but now realise she’s quite a reknowned NZ Author. As I read it I imagined an older author, as the language was very proper. But a delightful read all the same and a thought-provoking insight into the shenanigans that undoubtedly do go on amongst the entitled elite, not just here in Nz but all around the world, when disaster offers them an opportunity to profit!! This story offers, I hope, some ideas about what should happen to more of them!!!

[Sue Luus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. Interesting characters with soul. A little disappointed with the final chapter although it brought the novel to a satisfying conclusion — just a little too preachy. The characters, through their actions, had already made it clear that might is not always right and that the truly blind are often those who are physically able to see. It wasn’t necessary, in my opinion, to explain this.

[Helen Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a charming story with wonderful characters working together to create a tight knit community against the forces of nature and bureaucracy. It took me back to the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes when people devised devious methods to enter the red zone and worked together to help each other in numerous ways. A recommended read.

[Anna Batten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. The writing style is interesting, lots of dialogue and thought reporting. But I found it heartwarming, witty and satisfying, and really enjoyed the read after a slowish start. The characters grow throughout the book, and I really got a sense of getting to know them.

[Deanna Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! Incredible, thoughtful characters, and a truly engaging plot - what would you do if you were pressured to evacuate from the place you call home? Loved this read. Jenny Pattrick is amazing.

[Maria Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel by Jenny Pattrick, set in NZ, and depicting a possible emergency evacuation scenario. It felt very possible. But it fills one with hope as the group who decide to stay share their talents and work together to become a loving, supportive community.

[Fiona Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh I've read some great books this year and this is one of the best! A gripping, harrowing and heart-warming story of community versus self-interest. Who will win? In the vein of Patricia Grace's Pōtiki, with the addition of natural disaster.

[Heather Riddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great inside into a potential catastrophic natural disaster here in NZ and how human experience and resilience within a community can survive. Written with humour and well resourced. It is not a matter of if, but when.

[Alana Hay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Kiwi book in a recognizable New Zealand setting. Believable characters and a great story with heart.

[Penny White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read, wee bit predictable! But enjoyable!

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

started strong, finished a bit loose and there were definitely some plot holes that were too easily filled... also, disability as a metaphor?! again?! Lord, no.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful story. Set in contemporary NZ, dealing with current issues and fun characters. An enjoyable read.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Was a bit drawn out in the middle and didn’t finish on a particularly strong note. Love the premise though and it was so different to any other books I had read.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this!

[Callum Booth-Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birnam Wood, but cosy.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story for the characters. They were fun and plausible even if the situation was contrived (though possible). Well- written and easy to read.

[Mrs Moa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

We're introduced to a small remote town on the Kapiti coast.

Disaster strikes when an earthquake hits Aotearoa New Zealand, soon followed by a tsunami, which absolutely devastates this village .

While some houses are still habitable, unfortunately, infrastructure has been destroyed. They were remote before but now they're completely isolated.

They weren't the only ones affected by this earthquake in New Zealand and the government makes a decision that the repairs the town require are too costly and so they order what they call a mandated retreat, which means that the villagers, with compensation, will have to abandon the homes.

However, there are some people who live here that love their community and their way of life, they don't want to leave so they form a plan to stay and continue to survive by drawing on the existing skills of their people. With a wife team who are plumbers accessing water for the village, a medical professional and an intelligent crafts people, they come together to make it work.

Unfortunately, there is an outside influence who does not want to see them succeed.
There is a rich gentleman who owns property on this island he has devised that once all these people have left this land, the government will sell the island for very, very cheap, and he wants to create a resort.

There is a lot of different forces that this multicultural group are fighting against and it makes for an amazing story.

I love the characters tenacity, their bravery, their smarts, their wit, their resilience and resourcefulness.

I was sent this book by the publisher and all opinions are my own.