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Drowned Promises
On the windswept shore of her coastal town, seventeen-year-old Rose finds fleeting solace from a life marred by her father’s cruelty. There, she meets William, a mysterious fisherman whose quiet strength offers the comfort she has never known.
As their bond deepens, Rose’s long-held dream of attending art school in Paris suddenly becomes reality, forcing her to leave behind the one person who truly understands her. Yet even in the vibrant heart of the city, William’s presence lingers in her dreams, his absence a hollow ache she cannot ignore.
Drawn back home by an inexplicable pull, Rose embarks on a journey to uncover William’s past—only to discover he may not be who she thought…
As their bond deepens, Rose’s long-held dream of attending art school in Paris suddenly becomes reality, forcing her to leave behind the one person who truly understands her. Yet even in the vibrant heart of the city, William’s presence lingers in her dreams, his absence a hollow ache she cannot ignore.
Drawn back home by an inexplicable pull, Rose embarks on a journey to uncover William’s past—only to discover he may not be who she thought…
85 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2025
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 2, 2025
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the cosy readalong hosted by Insta Book Tours.
[check trigger warnings]
Drowned Promises is a short novella following Rose who escapes an abusive home and meets William, who's a young fisherman. Rose longs to become an artist and dreams of leaving life as she knows it behind and escaping to Paris to live her dream. But after meeting William, she can't get him out of her mind, and she feels a pull she can't switch off. When Rose returns home, she ends up on a journey of self-discovery of herself and also William, and if he truly is all she thinks he is.
This is a short read but one filled with many emotions that leave you thinking about the story long after reading it.
[check trigger warnings]
Drowned Promises is a short novella following Rose who escapes an abusive home and meets William, who's a young fisherman. Rose longs to become an artist and dreams of leaving life as she knows it behind and escaping to Paris to live her dream. But after meeting William, she can't get him out of her mind, and she feels a pull she can't switch off. When Rose returns home, she ends up on a journey of self-discovery of herself and also William, and if he truly is all she thinks he is.
This is a short read but one filled with many emotions that leave you thinking about the story long after reading it.
September 26, 2025
★5/5★
Perfect for YA Readers and Teen Readers who are into romance〜
(Trigger Warning: mentions of alcohol and abuse)
It starts off with Rose, a talented artist who loves going to the beach meets William and discovered a bond that transcended through time. This book was filled with mysteries that Rose had to discover and eventually finding herself in the process. It’s a light and quick read that literally tightened my chest, made me kick my legs, and feeling all giddy.
Thank you so, so much to Ms. Sara Simic and The Book Guild for my very first arc :)
Perfect for YA Readers and Teen Readers who are into romance〜
(Trigger Warning: mentions of alcohol and abuse)
It starts off with Rose, a talented artist who loves going to the beach meets William and discovered a bond that transcended through time. This book was filled with mysteries that Rose had to discover and eventually finding herself in the process. It’s a light and quick read that literally tightened my chest, made me kick my legs, and feeling all giddy.
Thank you so, so much to Ms. Sara Simic and The Book Guild for my very first arc :)
November 4, 2025
Drowned Promises - 2.5/5 stars
*This was sent to me by The Book Guild and Sara Simic via Netgalley for an honest review; thank you so much for the opportunity*
Trigger/ Content Warnings
Depictions of domestic abuse
Alcoholism
Depiction of potential suicides
Review
This book is impossible for me to fully talk about without major spoilers for the ending so please take this as your warning before proceeding with this review.
This story follows Rose who, along with her mother, is a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her father. She clearly is traumatised by years of this abuse and is desperately looking for an escape in whatever way she can. First it is with the mysterious William she finds after sneaking out of her window, then finally going to the police after a vicious attack on her mother by her father and then her studying in Paris. It is clear she is an emotionally vulnerable girl (she's still 17 at the start of the book) and so the introduction of William was concerning to me, knowing this book was labelled as romance as I was worried he would be some magical fix to her home situation which he thankfully was not as it is Rose herself who is finally able to get help and stop the abuse which I think was handled well. However, that being said the romance was still incredibly icky to me honestly as I struggled to see how the ending was romantic in any way. I'll get to that in time but to me this was more of a thriller/ mystery (which I mostly enjoyed) and not romance.
The character of William is definitely interesting and I think if the story was longer and a bit more developed then he could have been even better however as stated I did not see him as a love interest by the end. In my opinion, the ending felt more like a horror due to who William actually is and his prior connection with 'Rose'. I predicted early on that William was actually a ghost so that part of the mystery was not very impactful for me, however the introduction of fate and possible reincarnation of his previous love interest Belle as Rose was gripping and again more time developing William in the novel would have helped boost this impact for me. The horror part comes in the ending of Rose/Belle walking into the ocean to be with William forever. It might just be me, but I found that profoundly tragic but not in a cute star-crossed lovers way but instead more of a siren leading someone to their death way. That is truly what William felt like to me, a restless spirit convincing an emotionally vulnerable woman to her death for his own self fulfilment. I understand that probably was not the intention but that is still how it felt to me and that was really disappointing.
The mystery was also too short as in the end it the old man felt like a deus ex machina plot device as Rose was searching for clues and suddenly this one random old man knows all this important information about William and Belle, as well as where she can get even more information such as their letters and diaries. I did not feel much satisfaction that the mystery was actually solved because it just was. Then Rose over the course of just a few pages convinced herself she was in fact Isabelle, William's lover who he had to leave behind when he went off to fight in WW1, which felt super forced and too quick to be real (even for someone as mentally vulnerable as Rose).
If it is not obvious by now, my main criticism is that this book is too short. Whilst I do enjoy quick reads, I think there was just too much going on in the book for it to feel satisfying in the end as the conclusions felt very rushed, which in my opinion did not fit well with the serious subject matter such as domestic abuse and life after trauma. Rose had the rest of her life to figure out who she is and who William is, she could have even ended up with him eventually in natural death but instead she committed suicide in flowery descriptions and self justification. It was tragic, depressing and far from a happy ending to me. Yes they may find each other in every lifetime, but what good is that if Rose/Belle has to end her life to do so?
On a positive note, the reason I did not drop lower in my rating is that the overall writing was great. It is clear this author has a way with descriptions especially as they often times felt amazingly vivid but unfortunately that was not enough to make the whole story enjoyable for me.
Overall
Overall, this book is a quick read and I implore you to make your own conclusions with every book I review and this is no exception. This is clearly some people's kind of book but unfortunately it seems I am not one of those people.
My Links!
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"I think fate has a way of bringing people together, Belle"
*This was sent to me by The Book Guild and Sara Simic via Netgalley for an honest review; thank you so much for the opportunity*
Trigger/ Content Warnings
Depictions of domestic abuse
Alcoholism
Depiction of potential suicides
Review
This book is impossible for me to fully talk about without major spoilers for the ending so please take this as your warning before proceeding with this review.
This story follows Rose who, along with her mother, is a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her father. She clearly is traumatised by years of this abuse and is desperately looking for an escape in whatever way she can. First it is with the mysterious William she finds after sneaking out of her window, then finally going to the police after a vicious attack on her mother by her father and then her studying in Paris. It is clear she is an emotionally vulnerable girl (she's still 17 at the start of the book) and so the introduction of William was concerning to me, knowing this book was labelled as romance as I was worried he would be some magical fix to her home situation which he thankfully was not as it is Rose herself who is finally able to get help and stop the abuse which I think was handled well. However, that being said the romance was still incredibly icky to me honestly as I struggled to see how the ending was romantic in any way. I'll get to that in time but to me this was more of a thriller/ mystery (which I mostly enjoyed) and not romance.
The character of William is definitely interesting and I think if the story was longer and a bit more developed then he could have been even better however as stated I did not see him as a love interest by the end. In my opinion, the ending felt more like a horror due to who William actually is and his prior connection with 'Rose'. I predicted early on that William was actually a ghost so that part of the mystery was not very impactful for me, however the introduction of fate and possible reincarnation of his previous love interest Belle as Rose was gripping and again more time developing William in the novel would have helped boost this impact for me. The horror part comes in the ending of Rose/Belle walking into the ocean to be with William forever. It might just be me, but I found that profoundly tragic but not in a cute star-crossed lovers way but instead more of a siren leading someone to their death way. That is truly what William felt like to me, a restless spirit convincing an emotionally vulnerable woman to her death for his own self fulfilment. I understand that probably was not the intention but that is still how it felt to me and that was really disappointing.
The mystery was also too short as in the end it the old man felt like a deus ex machina plot device as Rose was searching for clues and suddenly this one random old man knows all this important information about William and Belle, as well as where she can get even more information such as their letters and diaries. I did not feel much satisfaction that the mystery was actually solved because it just was. Then Rose over the course of just a few pages convinced herself she was in fact Isabelle, William's lover who he had to leave behind when he went off to fight in WW1, which felt super forced and too quick to be real (even for someone as mentally vulnerable as Rose).
If it is not obvious by now, my main criticism is that this book is too short. Whilst I do enjoy quick reads, I think there was just too much going on in the book for it to feel satisfying in the end as the conclusions felt very rushed, which in my opinion did not fit well with the serious subject matter such as domestic abuse and life after trauma. Rose had the rest of her life to figure out who she is and who William is, she could have even ended up with him eventually in natural death but instead she committed suicide in flowery descriptions and self justification. It was tragic, depressing and far from a happy ending to me. Yes they may find each other in every lifetime, but what good is that if Rose/Belle has to end her life to do so?
On a positive note, the reason I did not drop lower in my rating is that the overall writing was great. It is clear this author has a way with descriptions especially as they often times felt amazingly vivid but unfortunately that was not enough to make the whole story enjoyable for me.
Overall
Overall, this book is a quick read and I implore you to make your own conclusions with every book I review and this is no exception. This is clearly some people's kind of book but unfortunately it seems I am not one of those people.
My Links!
Instagram | TikTok | Blog
September 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
before i want to begin my review, i just want to warn that this does have mention of abuse and alcohol addiction. so put that into consideration if it may be triggering for your mental health.
with that said, this is a very quick read. it's not bad at all, i just struggled to get into the story. i just felt like Rose's character wasn't fully fleshed out. the fact that she was drawn to a lone, young man on a boat in the middle of the night made her seem a little dense. most victims in the midst of abuse are wary of people, especially men, but Rose was immediately trusting to William. she starts meeting him in secret in late nights, which is where the plot lost me. because even though he says kind things, i was like... hello? stranger danger!?!? but William's character becomes essential to the main character in the way that he gives her a safe space to unburden herself without judgement. strange, but it all comes together in the end.
despite Rose's naivety, i did like that the author kept her hopes and dreams intact. i think that it shows resilience, especially for survivors of abuse. almost like a reminder that what happened to you doesn't define you, and that you can use your pain to create something beautiful. Rose uses her art to express herself, and the author did well in describing some paintings to convey Rose's aspirations for herself. i found that inspiring. while the author really knew how to bring those paintings to life, i just felt like other descriptions throughout the story were repetitive. some parts also felt rushed, like even with Rose and William's friendship. they're immediately joking around like friends who've known each other far longer than the story started.
nonetheless, it isn't a bad read. i liked the description of the book, but in the end... i just don't think i was the right audience for this. i know a few friends who love that insta-love, will they/won't they, romance books where characters throw caution to the wind; i'll most likely be sure to recommend this to them. i just personally prefer more an in-depth, immersive reading experience. but if you love quick reads like these, then you'll most likely like this more than i did. i thought it was cute for a quick read though.
thank you to the author, Sara Simic, and The Book Guild Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.
before i want to begin my review, i just want to warn that this does have mention of abuse and alcohol addiction. so put that into consideration if it may be triggering for your mental health.
with that said, this is a very quick read. it's not bad at all, i just struggled to get into the story. i just felt like Rose's character wasn't fully fleshed out. the fact that she was drawn to a lone, young man on a boat in the middle of the night made her seem a little dense. most victims in the midst of abuse are wary of people, especially men, but Rose was immediately trusting to William. she starts meeting him in secret in late nights, which is where the plot lost me. because even though he says kind things, i was like... hello? stranger danger!?!? but William's character becomes essential to the main character in the way that he gives her a safe space to unburden herself without judgement. strange, but it all comes together in the end.
despite Rose's naivety, i did like that the author kept her hopes and dreams intact. i think that it shows resilience, especially for survivors of abuse. almost like a reminder that what happened to you doesn't define you, and that you can use your pain to create something beautiful. Rose uses her art to express herself, and the author did well in describing some paintings to convey Rose's aspirations for herself. i found that inspiring. while the author really knew how to bring those paintings to life, i just felt like other descriptions throughout the story were repetitive. some parts also felt rushed, like even with Rose and William's friendship. they're immediately joking around like friends who've known each other far longer than the story started.
nonetheless, it isn't a bad read. i liked the description of the book, but in the end... i just don't think i was the right audience for this. i know a few friends who love that insta-love, will they/won't they, romance books where characters throw caution to the wind; i'll most likely be sure to recommend this to them. i just personally prefer more an in-depth, immersive reading experience. but if you love quick reads like these, then you'll most likely like this more than i did. i thought it was cute for a quick read though.
thank you to the author, Sara Simic, and The Book Guild Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 1, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and The Book Guild for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I found myself deeply conflicted while reading this one. The central concept is genuinely intriguing and full of potential, but unfortunately, the execution left me confused for much of the story.
The narrative felt uneven in tone — at times reading as simplistic, and at other moments leaning into abstract or overly literary phrasing. Because of this, I struggled to understand the intended emotional throughline. Several key elements, including the connection between William, Rose, and Isabelle, were never fully explained, which made it difficult to feel grounded in the story.
Major plot points are introduced but not developed. Rose’s abusive father plays a significant role early on but then largely disappears from the narrative. Her longing to attend school in Paris is emphasized, yet once she gets there, the story skips ahead rather than exploring that journey. Additionally, conflicts often resolve almost immediately after being introduced, limiting narrative tension and emotional payoff.
While the plot twist was intended to be impactful, I found it fairly predictable. Ultimately, I finished the book feeling more confused than moved.
Content-wise, the book is largely clean in terms of romance (some kissing), but it includes themes of abuse, war, death, alcoholism, depression, and suicide, which may be difficult for some readers.
Readers who enjoy abstract storytelling or interpretive narratives may connect with this more than I did. However, those looking for clear character development and cohesive plot progression may find it frustrating.
I found myself deeply conflicted while reading this one. The central concept is genuinely intriguing and full of potential, but unfortunately, the execution left me confused for much of the story.
The narrative felt uneven in tone — at times reading as simplistic, and at other moments leaning into abstract or overly literary phrasing. Because of this, I struggled to understand the intended emotional throughline. Several key elements, including the connection between William, Rose, and Isabelle, were never fully explained, which made it difficult to feel grounded in the story.
Major plot points are introduced but not developed. Rose’s abusive father plays a significant role early on but then largely disappears from the narrative. Her longing to attend school in Paris is emphasized, yet once she gets there, the story skips ahead rather than exploring that journey. Additionally, conflicts often resolve almost immediately after being introduced, limiting narrative tension and emotional payoff.
While the plot twist was intended to be impactful, I found it fairly predictable. Ultimately, I finished the book feeling more confused than moved.
Content-wise, the book is largely clean in terms of romance (some kissing), but it includes themes of abuse, war, death, alcoholism, depression, and suicide, which may be difficult for some readers.
Readers who enjoy abstract storytelling or interpretive narratives may connect with this more than I did. However, those looking for clear character development and cohesive plot progression may find it frustrating.
September 11, 2025
Growing up in an abusive household witnessing alcoholism turn into violent outbursts and hearing her father beat her mother, Rose
escapes at night and meets a kind young fisherman, William, who's straight talking and kind to her.
An aspiring artist, Rose gets through life dreaming of escaping to Paris to become a famous artist, yet, the pull to William is a strong bond she doesn't want to say goodbye.
With a serious undercurrent to the whole book about abusive households and addiction, where love is not always displayed in a healthy way and showing to have passion to follow your dreams despite adversity is possible.
There was also clever cover imagery and choice of colours tying in the plot line nicely and I enjoyed the characters soulmate style intertwined story too.
escapes at night and meets a kind young fisherman, William, who's straight talking and kind to her.
An aspiring artist, Rose gets through life dreaming of escaping to Paris to become a famous artist, yet, the pull to William is a strong bond she doesn't want to say goodbye.
With a serious undercurrent to the whole book about abusive households and addiction, where love is not always displayed in a healthy way and showing to have passion to follow your dreams despite adversity is possible.
There was also clever cover imagery and choice of colours tying in the plot line nicely and I enjoyed the characters soulmate style intertwined story too.
November 4, 2025
This was an interesting short read that packed a lot into the 98 pages! It is very well written and flows well- I was able to read it in one sitting as part of the #cosynightread with @instabooktours! I wish it was longer so we had more context to the story, and I'm not completely sure that I was pleased with the way that it ended 🙈🙈.
Nevertheless I recommend this book if you enjoy fast-paced novellas!
Nevertheless I recommend this book if you enjoy fast-paced novellas!
September 23, 2025
I was chosen to receive an ARC of this book. It was a very quick read. Not unenjoyable, but the story moved so quickly it made the relationship a bit hard to believe. I could see how this short romance story might appeal to a young, teenage audience though.
September 22, 2025
I read this novella over one evening as part of a group read. It was only a short, quick read but was big on emotion.
The story centres around Rose, who is drawn to the mysterious William, who she sees in a fishing boat. Her evening visits to him become her safe place. She can talk to him and unburden herself. It's an escape from the difficult life she lives with her violent father.
It was a beautifully written but sad tale. Once I started, I easily got into the flow of the story and wanted to find out where it was going.
The story centres around Rose, who is drawn to the mysterious William, who she sees in a fishing boat. Her evening visits to him become her safe place. She can talk to him and unburden herself. It's an escape from the difficult life she lives with her violent father.
It was a beautifully written but sad tale. Once I started, I easily got into the flow of the story and wanted to find out where it was going.
October 2, 2025
🩷 Blurb -
On the windswept shore of her coastal town, seventeen-year-old Rose finds fleeting solace from a life marred by her father’s cruelty. There, she meets William, a mysterious fisherman whose quiet strength offers the comfort she has never known.
As their bond deepens, Rose’s long-held dream of attending art school in Paris suddenly becomes reality, forcing her to leave behind the one person who truly understands her. Yet even in the vibrant heart of the city, William’s presence lingers in her dreams, his absence a hollow ache she cannot ignore.
Drawn back home by an inexplicable pull, Rose embarks on a journey to uncover William’s past—only to discover he may not be who she thought…
💙 Review -
Even though the book is aimed at YA readers, it can be read by adults too. This was such a beautifully written story. The author's writing had me hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. Even though there were some sensitive subjects, they were handled with care. I loved the story and there was a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Instabooktours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
On the windswept shore of her coastal town, seventeen-year-old Rose finds fleeting solace from a life marred by her father’s cruelty. There, she meets William, a mysterious fisherman whose quiet strength offers the comfort she has never known.
As their bond deepens, Rose’s long-held dream of attending art school in Paris suddenly becomes reality, forcing her to leave behind the one person who truly understands her. Yet even in the vibrant heart of the city, William’s presence lingers in her dreams, his absence a hollow ache she cannot ignore.
Drawn back home by an inexplicable pull, Rose embarks on a journey to uncover William’s past—only to discover he may not be who she thought…
💙 Review -
Even though the book is aimed at YA readers, it can be read by adults too. This was such a beautifully written story. The author's writing had me hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. Even though there were some sensitive subjects, they were handled with care. I loved the story and there was a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Instabooktours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2025
The story in emojis: 🌊 ✉️ 🖼️
3 things about this book:
•Coastal setting
•Mystery elements
•Short Read
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Drowned Promises is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking, story of love transcending time.
It gave me the feels of The Time Travellers Wife and About Time and there were many occasions where I felt a bit emotional.
I couldn’t help but this that this story could have easily been a 300+ page book rather than a shorter read - there were so many untold moments and details that left me wanting for more.
3 things about this book:
•Coastal setting
•Mystery elements
•Short Read
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Drowned Promises is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking, story of love transcending time.
It gave me the feels of The Time Travellers Wife and About Time and there were many occasions where I felt a bit emotional.
I couldn’t help but this that this story could have easily been a 300+ page book rather than a shorter read - there were so many untold moments and details that left me wanting for more.
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