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The Wild Beneath
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26“Anderson’s book is ethereal, languid, crafted of language that rushes and recedes like a tide, buoying a story that reminds us sometimes the impossible is possible.”—Jodi Picoult, #1
New York Times
bestselling author
For fans of Wild Dark Shore and The Time Traveler’s Wife , a fierce, haunting story of one woman caught between her first love and a mysterious stranger who upends everything—and the two worlds that won’t let her go.
Annie MacLeod always knew she was different, growing up on a sailboat in the Pacific Northwest, navigating by stars and swimming with sea creatures alongside her parents and best friend Evan. But when a tsunami shatters her world, Annie is stranded on land and forced to confront how eccentric she is. In the wreckage, she rescues a wordless man named Walker, who emits a hum only she can hear.
Their connection is instant, electric. Walker’s touch gives Annie visions of the ocean’s hidden world, a life she’s never known but feels inexplicably drawn to. Yet even as she is pulled toward him, Evan—the steadfast love who has always been there—remains on dry land, offering the stability she may have to leave behind. Annie is torn between Evan’s grounding presence and Walker’s magnetic secrets. But then, Walker vanishes—along with the answers she needs about who she really is.
Six years later, Annie has left the sea and buried the past—until Walker’s otherworldly sound returns, pulling her back toward the ocean and the life she abandoned. The truth under the water is more ancient than she ever could have known, and Annie must confront a choice that will test her heart and determine her future.
For fans of Wild Dark Shore and The Time Traveler’s Wife , a fierce, haunting story of one woman caught between her first love and a mysterious stranger who upends everything—and the two worlds that won’t let her go.
Annie MacLeod always knew she was different, growing up on a sailboat in the Pacific Northwest, navigating by stars and swimming with sea creatures alongside her parents and best friend Evan. But when a tsunami shatters her world, Annie is stranded on land and forced to confront how eccentric she is. In the wreckage, she rescues a wordless man named Walker, who emits a hum only she can hear.
Their connection is instant, electric. Walker’s touch gives Annie visions of the ocean’s hidden world, a life she’s never known but feels inexplicably drawn to. Yet even as she is pulled toward him, Evan—the steadfast love who has always been there—remains on dry land, offering the stability she may have to leave behind. Annie is torn between Evan’s grounding presence and Walker’s magnetic secrets. But then, Walker vanishes—along with the answers she needs about who she really is.
Six years later, Annie has left the sea and buried the past—until Walker’s otherworldly sound returns, pulling her back toward the ocean and the life she abandoned. The truth under the water is more ancient than she ever could have known, and Annie must confront a choice that will test her heart and determine her future.
- GenresFiction
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 4, 2026
2 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 18, 2025
Beautiful. Breathtaking. Indescribable. Unlike anything I’ve ever read before, in the best way possible. This is a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page; I truly haven’t stopped thinking about it.
Want to read
January 25, 2026What an accomplishment. Creating a novel filled with ocean magic, love, loss, and mystery takes real vision. What a stunning creative achievement. I can’t wait for the world to read it.
Want to read
January 22, 2026I’ve watched Mrs Anderson pour years of heart and imagination into this story, and I’m so proud of her. She’s truly multi-talented: doctor, businesswoman, mother, artist (to name a few!) and now a novelist. This book feels immersive, mysterious, and beautifully written. I’m so excited for her release next August.
January 22, 2026
This was a beautiful read that pulled me in from the first page, and from there I couldn’t put it down. It balances romance and mystery perfectly, and I felt totally immersed in another world. I’m grateful to have been able to read an advance copy and would highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Park Row and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy to read in exchange for my honest thoughts.
In the wake of a tsunami that took everything from Annie’s family and her town, she rescues Walker, a mysterious man, with whom she makes a unique and instant connection.
Ok, I will be straight up honest. When I saw that this book was being marketed for fans of Charlotte McConaghy and The Time Traveler’s Wife I hit that request button on Netgalley without even reading the synopsis, so I went into this totally and completely blind and wow I loved it. Mark my words - this book will be among my top favorites at the end of 2026 and a stand out debut of the year.
First, the writing. Kelly’s writing feels seasoned. And experienced. This book felt rhythmic and poetic. As if it had its own heartbeat I could feel the entire time. It was all together lovely, beautiful, other-worldly and nothing short of magical. Plot-wise, I don’t want to say too much, because I think my experience of going in blind was the way to go. So, I’ll just let you know how it felt. It was atmospheric. Mysterious. Wild. Free.
I read this book with my eyebrows furrowed - I was completely locked into the mystery and unknown that drove the story and I quite literally could not stop reading. Any book that has me turning the pages, because I have so many unanswered questions and can’t rest until I get the answers…is a good book. And gosh, I felt heavy after finishing it. Unsettled, but settled at the same time?
This book will work for readers who enjoy literary fiction with a little side of fantasy and themes of nature. Think Piranesi, Wild Dark Shore, The Unmaking of June Farrow, and The Light Pirate. This was a modern fairy tale that read like a fever dream.
In the wake of a tsunami that took everything from Annie’s family and her town, she rescues Walker, a mysterious man, with whom she makes a unique and instant connection.
Ok, I will be straight up honest. When I saw that this book was being marketed for fans of Charlotte McConaghy and The Time Traveler’s Wife I hit that request button on Netgalley without even reading the synopsis, so I went into this totally and completely blind and wow I loved it. Mark my words - this book will be among my top favorites at the end of 2026 and a stand out debut of the year.
First, the writing. Kelly’s writing feels seasoned. And experienced. This book felt rhythmic and poetic. As if it had its own heartbeat I could feel the entire time. It was all together lovely, beautiful, other-worldly and nothing short of magical. Plot-wise, I don’t want to say too much, because I think my experience of going in blind was the way to go. So, I’ll just let you know how it felt. It was atmospheric. Mysterious. Wild. Free.
I read this book with my eyebrows furrowed - I was completely locked into the mystery and unknown that drove the story and I quite literally could not stop reading. Any book that has me turning the pages, because I have so many unanswered questions and can’t rest until I get the answers…is a good book. And gosh, I felt heavy after finishing it. Unsettled, but settled at the same time?
This book will work for readers who enjoy literary fiction with a little side of fantasy and themes of nature. Think Piranesi, Wild Dark Shore, The Unmaking of June Farrow, and The Light Pirate. This was a modern fairy tale that read like a fever dream.
January 9, 2026
I was given an early copy of this book in exchange of my honest thoughts, so thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC!
This is a very unique and atmospheric story, and I was genuinely intrigued the entire time, constantly wondering where it was all heading. The premise is original and there’s a strong sense of mystery and momentum that kept me turning pages.
That said, the writing style ultimately didn’t work for me. The prose felt very short and choppy, often cutting straight to the point, and that rhythm made it difficult for me to fully sink into the story. Because of that, I struggled to connect emotionally with the characters, even though the ideas behind them were compelling.
Overall, while I didn’t love the execution, I can absolutely see how this book would resonate with readers who enjoy experimental, lyrical storytelling and unconventional narratives!!
Three stars!
This is a very unique and atmospheric story, and I was genuinely intrigued the entire time, constantly wondering where it was all heading. The premise is original and there’s a strong sense of mystery and momentum that kept me turning pages.
That said, the writing style ultimately didn’t work for me. The prose felt very short and choppy, often cutting straight to the point, and that rhythm made it difficult for me to fully sink into the story. Because of that, I struggled to connect emotionally with the characters, even though the ideas behind them were compelling.
Overall, while I didn’t love the execution, I can absolutely see how this book would resonate with readers who enjoy experimental, lyrical storytelling and unconventional narratives!!
Three stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ethereal. Haunting. Mystical. Cosmic. Whimsical. This is not my usual genre, but the cover and description were so enticing I submitted a request for an ARC, and to my delight received it.
This is a story about trusting your instincts and the belief that everything on the Earth is connected and tells their own stories.. if you just pay close enough attention to hear them.
I truly don’t know what else to say because this book left me speechless. If you have any interest in consciousness, folkore/myths, and our connection with nature (with subtle hints of feminism) READ THIS BOOK!
This is a story about trusting your instincts and the belief that everything on the Earth is connected and tells their own stories.. if you just pay close enough attention to hear them.
I truly don’t know what else to say because this book left me speechless. If you have any interest in consciousness, folkore/myths, and our connection with nature (with subtle hints of feminism) READ THIS BOOK!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This work resists simplification, operating on an emotional and intellectual frequency entirely its own. From the moment I entered its world, I was enveloped by a sense of awe that never fully loosened its grip. It is exceedingly rare to encounter a book that not only captivates in the moment but continues to reverberate long after its conclusion; this is one of those rare instances. Long after the final page has been turned, its imagery, themes, and quiet power persist, lingering in the mind with an almost haunting permanence.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my goodness, this book is everything. I am an academic that reads one fiction novel per year but this story was so beautiful I read it twice. The storyline is gripping - it's literally a page turner. I found it impossible to NOT read the next chapter in the same way that I can't stop watching the next episode of a Korean drama. The love stories in this book are deep, swoon worthy, and heart breaking. The author's vast consciousness comes through in her ability to describe the human experience and the bridge between earth and the other worlds. If you're someone that appreciates that the ocean carries the emotions and stories of our lives, this book will feel like home.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Evocative, haunting, lush, lyrical. The Wild Beneath is a triumph of a book, reminding us of our connection to the natural world and all the magic and mystery it contains. Two things are guaranteed: 1) Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down. 2) You won't be able to stop thinking about it once you're done.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’ve been venturing more and more into fiction the past few years. I read fiction to escape and recharge. And boy, The Wild Beneath did not disappoint.
The characters are magnetic and the story captivating in a magical way. The writing is truly superb. It is a truly beautiful page turner.
I highly recommend this beautiful read.
The characters are magnetic and the story captivating in a magical way. The writing is truly superb. It is a truly beautiful page turner.
I highly recommend this beautiful read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This novel is magical and heartwarming and beautiful. One wants to stay in a world like this one forever. A book to read and reread.
Review of advance copy received from Author
‘The Wild Beneath’ is pure magic. So beautifully written, such a great story about love, family, the forests, the ocean, It’s a story about adventure, loss, and the deep drive to connect with each other, ourselves and the natural world. Oh and magic! It’s one of those books that you can’t put down but also want to savour. I reread many parts just to so I could enjoy it’s beauty again. It’s a must read. Highly recommend!
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December 22, 2025The following reviews have been shared by Text Publishing, the publisher of The Wild Beneath.
‘Anderson’s book is ethereal, languid, crafted of language that rushes and recedes like a tide, buoying a story that reminds us sometimes the impossible is possible.’
Jodi Picoult
‘An achingly lovely book about the melodic pull of the natural world...sublime.’
Lily Brooks-Dalton, author of The Light Pirate
‘The Wild Beneath is part love story, part ode to nature, with a mystical, musical, mysterious quality that carries readers along like a gentle wave.’
Nikki Erlick, author of The Poppy Fields
‘In lush, lyrical prose, Anderson weaves a spellbinding tale of singular Annie—her loves, her losses, her profound connection to the sea. Richly imagined and unlike anything you’ve read, The Wild Beneath is at once a beautifully rendered tribute to the natural world, a layered love story, and a deft reminder of the elemental bonds that tie us to each other and to the wild at the fringes of our urban lives.’
Cathy Marie Buchanan, author of The Painted Girls
‘Drop everything and read The Wild Beneath, Kelly Anderson’s astonishing debut. Her luminous prose reveals the world that exists beneath our own, from the depths of the ocean to the wild terrain of the human heart. I was transported.’
Daisy Alpert Florin, author of My Last Innocent Year
‘In The Wild Beneath, debut author Kelly Anderson elegantly blurs the line between nature and humanity, illuminating the deep, unseen currents that connect us—to each other and to the natural world. Readers won’t so much read this novel as feel it. I’ll never look at the ocean the same way again. Absolutely dazzling.’
Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary
‘Anderson’s book is ethereal, languid, crafted of language that rushes and recedes like a tide, buoying a story that reminds us sometimes the impossible is possible.’
Jodi Picoult
‘An achingly lovely book about the melodic pull of the natural world...sublime.’
Lily Brooks-Dalton, author of The Light Pirate
‘The Wild Beneath is part love story, part ode to nature, with a mystical, musical, mysterious quality that carries readers along like a gentle wave.’
Nikki Erlick, author of The Poppy Fields
‘In lush, lyrical prose, Anderson weaves a spellbinding tale of singular Annie—her loves, her losses, her profound connection to the sea. Richly imagined and unlike anything you’ve read, The Wild Beneath is at once a beautifully rendered tribute to the natural world, a layered love story, and a deft reminder of the elemental bonds that tie us to each other and to the wild at the fringes of our urban lives.’
Cathy Marie Buchanan, author of The Painted Girls
‘Drop everything and read The Wild Beneath, Kelly Anderson’s astonishing debut. Her luminous prose reveals the world that exists beneath our own, from the depths of the ocean to the wild terrain of the human heart. I was transported.’
Daisy Alpert Florin, author of My Last Innocent Year
‘In The Wild Beneath, debut author Kelly Anderson elegantly blurs the line between nature and humanity, illuminating the deep, unseen currents that connect us—to each other and to the natural world. Readers won’t so much read this novel as feel it. I’ll never look at the ocean the same way again. Absolutely dazzling.’
Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews