The Half Life

by Rachel Beanland

From the author of Florence Adler Swims Forever and The House Is on Fire, a novel set on a remote Italian island, about a navy wife’s reckoning with power, love, and the price of staying silent in the Atomic Age.

When twenty-three-year-old Eileen O’Malley meets charismatic naval officer Paul Archer in a Charleston department store, she doesn’t expect to fall so hard, so fast. But Paul is funny and ambitious, and soon, Eileen’s got a ring on her finger and is following him to the tiny, sun-drenched Mediterranean island of La Maddalena, where Paul will be heading up Radiological Controls aboard a submarine tender.

In La Maddalena, Eileen joins a makeshift community of Navy wives, who are hell bent on making the island feel a little more like home. But for Eileen, whose brother died in Vietnam, home is a loaded word, and as she settles into life on the island—taking Italian lessons and learning to make culurgiones—she begins to love the place for all the ways it is not like where she comes from.

Still, it doesn’t take long for Eileen to be confronted with the complexities of being an American abroad. The decision to send nuclear-powered subs into the La Maddalena Archipelago was a contentious one, and the US government is doing whatever it can to ensure that the island—not to mention all of Italy—doesn’t go communist in the next election.

When Italian activists and scientists begin to sound the alarm about possible nuclear contamination in the water, the island erupts in a series of protests, made worse by the ongoing mishaps of the US Navy. Soon, Eileen’s marriage falters and her loyalties begin to shift as she is drawn into a web of secrets—and to a local journalist who forces her to imagine a life beyond the one she’s been handed.

Atmospheric, sexy, and quietly defiant, The Half Life is a story of love, complicity, and awakening—of one woman forced to choose between loyalty to her husband and country and to the Italian locals who show her the high cost of American exceptionalism.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Summer, Historical, Italy

480 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Rachel Beanland is the author of the novels FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER, THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, and the forthcoming THE HALF LIFE, which will be released by Simon & Schuster in the summer of 2026. She earned her MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University and lives in Richmond, Virginia.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biased;-)

[Sam Ensign · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC! Having enjoyed this author’s previous work, I was thrilled to dive into this latest release.
The story follows twenty-three-year-old Eileen O’Malley, who falls fast for Paul Archer, a charismatic naval officer. Soon, she finds herself trading her life in the States for the sun-drenched, yet politically charged, island of La Maddalena. While the "Navy wife" community tries to recreate home, Eileen—still grappling with the loss of her brother in Vietnam—finds herself falling in love with Italy for everything it isn't.
What I Loved:
• Eileen is a fantastic protagonist. Her journey of self-discovery and learning to advocate for herself felt incredibly authentic to the young woman’s experience. In addition, I admired her willingness to question the status quo—rather than accepting the placating answers she was given, she went out of her way to understand the political and environmental reality of the island.
• I wasn't familiar with this specific time period or the nuclear tensions in the Mediterranean, but the author’s lived experience in the area shines through, making the setting feel vivid and grounded.

The only reason this wasn't a full 5-star read for me was the pacing. It had a bit of a slow start, and a few chapters felt tangential to the main plot, which occasionally pulled me out of the momentum. Overall, a beautiful exploration of loyalty, secrets, and finding one's own voice.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel. Learning about the Navy and submarines was interesting to me. I was an army brat and wife so I could relate to the women bonding together, moving, lending closet, and having children in another country.

I loved the mention of Baylor as I live in Texas.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an ARC.

No matter what service women and families lean on each other as their spouses are gone for extended periods. Some parts were hard to read about, but no spoilers.

Author notes are a MUST READ!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub)]

DNF @ 50%

[Stephanie Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author from one of her novels I read before, so I had a feeling I would enjoy this book and I did! This book did not disappoint, and I learned things about our navy and submarines, that I probably would still have no idea about had I not read this novel.
This book follows a young woman named Eileen, who meets a young man named Paul, and they begin a relationship as young adults. Paul finds out he is being shipped to Italy as part of his service to the navy, and he asks Eileen to marry him so that she may accompany him. Eileen agrees, and they move to Italy to start a life together.
As soon as they get to Italy they find that many Italian citizens are not happy that the Americans are there with their submarines due to possible nuclear materials getting into their waters there. Paul happens to be someone on the subs that deals with radiolgical materials and contamination possibilities, and in the end this causes more issues in their relationship than they initially want to admit to, although they end up realizing pretty quickly that they may not be meant to be after all. As Eileen meets more Italians and finds out more about why they are really upset, she starts to realize that Paul and the US Navy may not be as innocent as they try to portray to the public.
Overall this book flowed well, and I really enjoyed the story. I learned a lot about the US Navy, the way that service members wives come together, the issues we've had in the past with subs, as well as information on nuclear exposure. I plan to read more from this author as she comes out with things, because I truly enjoy the flow of the stories that she creates.

[Tate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this expecting well-written historical fiction that felt personal. This book delivered.

As a ~Navy wife~ this hit close (almost TOO close) to home. You can tell the story is rooted in lived experience. I loved how thoughtfully the book explores the complicated paradox of military life all while immersing you in such a vivid setting.

The pacing was a bit of a struggle at times, but I think it perfectly depicts the setting and circumstances. Overall, a meaningful, engaging read that I think will resonate deeply with the right audience.

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

[Morgan Ackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was not a fan of the main character or any of her decisions, but still an interesting story, learned something and enjoyed the setting in 1970s Italy

[Flannery Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this time capsule of a book. 1970s Italy and the unrest around the US nuclear submarines in the region.

[Sarah Beachy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up to 4. I love a fresh historical fiction that explores lesser known history and complex situations. Similar to her sophomore novel The House is On Fire, Rachel Beanland creates an engaging narrative in a specific time and setting in The Half Life, this time exploring the U.S. naval submarine operations in La Maddalena, Sardinia, Italy in the 1970s.

This coming of age story explores themes of loyalty, complicity, and the complexities of challenging a system of beliefs. As Eileen navigates early marriage, living abroad and becoming a “navy wife” she wrestles with the narrative she’s being given regarding the American presence in La Maddalena and the impact of their nuclear powered subs.

With an atmospheric setting and slow building, engaging narrative, I had a hard time putting this book down, especially near the end. Eileen is a flawed, likable character and I loved seeing her ask hard questions and challenge the American narrative she had been given. However, I have a difficult time rooting for characters actively choosing to cheat. A struggling marriage is zero excuse; normalizing and justifying infidelity is the biggest turn off for me as a reader.

I’d recommend this to lovers of atmospheric historical fiction who love reading about the lesser known moments of history. Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review, pub date is July 15,2026!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland tells the story of Eileen O’Malley while working at a department store in Charleston meets Paul Archer a young sailor in the Navy. After a whirlwind romance, they marry and are stationed in La Maddalena, a small island in Italy.

This is a well written and researched book. The story is written so that you feel Eileen is sitting down with you and telling her story. It was good to see her evolve from a naive young lady to an independent confident woman.

The author did a wonderful job of explaining the mood of the times. The 1970s. Nuclear submarines in Italy. The protests that occurred. Communism in Italy and American influence.

A highly recommended read. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC.

[Shellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought nothing could top Florence Adler Lives Forever, but Beanland’s latest is definitely her best!
I have so many emotions to deal with and can’t properly put them into logical thought at the moment. But I will say that Eileen O’Malley will live with me forever.

[Marci Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t wait to review this novel by one of my favorite authors :).

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Half Life, Rachel Beanland explores real events in historical fiction that I'd never heard about, and I doubt many people without a direct connection to the events have, either. First of all, the book takes place in the mid-seventies, a time period rarely explored, and usually focused on the Vietnam War or people's opposition to it, when it does. That war does make some brief appearances in the book, namely through protagonist Eileen O'Malley Archer's brother Lenny being killed after being called up in the draft. Mainly though, the story takes place on the island of La Maddalena, near Sardinia in Italy.

If you're looking for an exploration of Mediterranean island life, Italian food, and culture, those things are all present in creating the atmosphere for the reader. But the main focus is on the American nuclear submarines that are stationed there to react to any communist threats from the USSR (and from the the supporters of communism in Italy for that matter) and that the Italian people are vehemently opposed to.

At the center of the story is Eileen, a woman more independent than accepted by her time, who marries Paul Archer and follows him to the island when he takes up a position monitoring radioactive discharges from the submarines. Chaffing at being a demure, supportive wife popping out babies and doing whatever means necessary to make her husband look good and advance her career, Eileen instead dives into learning the language, developing relationships with locals, and learning more about the research Italian scientists are doing to find out the truth about what they suspect the American military is hiding from them. If that isn't enough to cause discord, she also meets a man along the way that may be a much better fit for her than her husband is.

Despite reminding myself that this was a different time, and that even today expectations for officers' wives are high on decorum, at multiple points I couldn't blame Eileen in the slightest for wanting more out of her life than supporting various military activities and being a wife and mother. Paul probably wasn't unusual for his time, especially for an officer in the Navy, but his character reads as domineering and unsupportive, and would not be a good look for a man today.

Eileen is a flawed character, but with her brother's death, her husband's lack of support, and her insatiable pursuit of knowledge and desire for fairness, it's easy to understand the choices she makes, even if some of them could have been made in a way that was less hurtful to others.

Even though it was really interesting and Beanland does a good job of portraying the uneasy relationship between the Italians and Americans on the island, it does feel like the story drags at times, with little propelling the story forward. I wish some of the events during the book that were more mundane could have been trimmed to speed the pacing up a bit.

The other thing that I struggled with during the book was that it was written in a way that sounded like Eileen was telling her story of her time on the island to someone else in the book. It wasn't until I got to the epilogue that I found out that really was the case, and then it made more sense that the story was written the way it was. I think Beanland could have found a way to integrate this in at the beginning without giving away any spoilers about who Eileen was writing to, and it would have made more sense for me when I was reading it.

The story runs on the long side, but it's still worth the read both for Eileen's story arc and her ability to find a way to be herself and pursue her passions despite multiple factors telling her she just needs to be a good, supportive wife, and for the exploration of little-known, recent historical events presented from opposing perspectives.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Paul Wagenbreth · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You want to know about La Maddalena,” begins Rachel Beanland's “The Half Life,” which had me thinking at first that Beanland’s narrator, Eileen Archer, was going to be breaking the fourth wall with the reader but as I read further it became increasingly clear that it wasn’t the reader whom Eileen was addressing but rather an as-yet-unknown other character in the novel, making for something of an implausibility issue for me, with how ready Eileen is to share with the person being addressed the most intimate personal details.
Would you really, for instance, be prepared to disclose to absolutely anyone, let alone someone not a close confidant, that you’d achieved the very first orgasm of your life, even after a time of being married, with a shower implement in the bath?
The one discordant note it made for me, the awkwardness of the narrative strategy, in a novel that otherwise resonated for me on a number of counts, with its account of a young married woman in 1974 accompanying her Naval officer husband to an island off Italy, where the locals are on edge over the possibility of leaks from nuclear subs that the Navy is maintaining there – the very thing, in fact, that it’s Eileen’s husband’s job to monitor, with all the attendant anxiety you might expect for someone charged with such a thing.
Made the worse, too, any anxiety he might be feeling, that he can’t share it with Eileen, for obvious security reasons, adding yet more tension to a marriage already feeling the strains of the two having married so quickly and exacerbated by Eileen’s being so far from her home of Charleston, where her family is still grieving the loss of their son and Eileen’s brother, Lenny, in Vietnam.
And if all that weren’t stress enough, there’s the added strain for her of being expected to comport herself as a Naval officer’s wife, an expectation given stern expression by the wife of her husband’s commanding officer and something I could well relate to, having been raised in the military and logged time in uniform myself.
A number of issues, then, for Eileen to deal with, and aggravated, as I say, by the loss of her brother in Vietnam, something I could also well identify with, with how that conflict loomed large during my own time in uniform, although, unlike her brother, I didn’t have to go.
But for all that Vietnam figures in the background, the novel is mostly focused on a woman coming into her own as she’s discomforted enough by reports of grounded nuclear ships and infants born without skulls that she assists in local efforts to track possible radiation even as she’s cautioned that such activity could hurt her husband’s career.
Still, she persists, even getting involved with one of the local activists, with the added strain, of course, that makes for her relationship with her husband.
Saying more would be giving away too much, other than to say that there will come an incident that will crystallize the nuclear fears, as well as a time when the identity of the person Eileen is addressing will be revealed, with the aforementioned implausibility issue for me.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel builds slowly at first, then captures your attention and eventually your heart. Eileen is in her early twenties and her family has just learned her brother has been killed in Vietnam. She and her brother were close and she is experiencing grief, and worry about the welfare of her distressed parents. She is also very much concerned about her own uncertain future. She believes she is not destined for college and has taken a series of dead end jobs, the kind of jobs that were available to uncertain young women in this era.

Eileen meets and falls for a young man who has recently completed his training as a U.S. Naval officer. They marry quickly as he is expecting to receive his first orders at any moment. Her husband is trained to manage and oversee the nuclear maintenance on U.S. nuclear submarines. He will be stationed aboard a submarine tender, a surface vessel that is a kind of maintenance ship that sits in port and services incoming nuclear submarines. He receives his orders to a tender on a small island in Italy, off the larger island of Sardinia. Eileen has hardly ever left her hometown and she is in for a bit of a shock. A series of them, in fact.

But she is intelligent and somewhat open minded despite her lack of life experience. After she and her husband arrive in Italy, they struggle with the less than expected living conditions. She realizes that her husband is somewhat fluent in Italian and decides to learn the language as well. Rather than taking the free language classes offered within the Navy officers wives' system, she opts instead for private lessons from a recommended local woman. And this will take her off on another path entirely and it isn't all going to be about speaking Italian. And her new husband isn't going to like it all that much. But it is going to get very, very juicy!

Through her lessons, Eileen meets and becomes intrigued by her Italian tutor's nephew. He is a local investigative journalist and through him and her tutor, she learns of the suspicions of the local population about the actual safety of the American nuclear submarine fleet which is moored in and traversing the waters around their island. Having been a submariner's wife in the Vietnam era, I understand this completely.

Eileen's circle of friends are all officers' wives and there is a class system in the U.S. Navy that keeps officers and their wives completely separate from enlisted men and their wives. But all Navy wives are kept in the dark to some degree, as "loose lips sink ships". But because Eileen is interested in why there is this sentiment in the local community, she begins to dig into whether or not the Navy might be hiding things from not only the wives, but the local population. Her attraction to the local journalist flowers, endangering her marriage, and she will find that friends who are deemed by marriage alone to be in a somewhat superior class, can be competitive and can very quickly turn on one another.

Delightful, insightful, sexy, and informative. A bit of everything. I simply loved it!

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m convinced that if I just stick to the historical fiction books publishers e-mail me widgets for, I’ll never find a historical fiction book I don’t like! Every widget or book I’ve ever requested has been so good!

The Half Life is a quiet, powerful, atmospheric book that is full of tension and moral ambiguity set against a politically charged background. At the heart of the story is Eileen O’Malley, a young woman still reeling from grief when she’s swept into a whirlwind romance and suddenly transplanted to the island of La Maddalena. What begins as a love story quickly unfolds into something far more complex. Through Eileen’s eyes, we experience both the allure of a new life abroad and the unsettling reality beneath it. It’s one that is shaped by nuclear anxieties, political maneuvering, and the expectations placed on women to remain compliant and unquestioning.

Eileen is an incredibly compelling protagonist. Her evolution from an uncertain, grieving young woman to someone who begins to question authority, loyalty, and her own role within a system that thrives on silence feels authentic and earned. I especially appreciated how her curiosity drives the narrative; she doesn’t settle for easy answers, even when the truth threatens her marriage and sense of identity.

The setting is richly drawn, with Beanland’s writing bringing both the beauty of the Italian island and the underlying tension to life. The cultural contrasts, the dynamics among the Navy wives, and the slow unraveling of trust all add layers to the story. There’s also a fascinating exploration of a lesser-known historical moment, and it’s clear the author’s research (and personal connection) lends depth and credibility to the narrative.

That said, the pacing is where this fell just short of a full five stars for me. The story takes its time getting started, and a few sections felt slightly meandering, which occasionally disrupted the momentum. However, once it finds its footing, it becomes incredibly immersive, and it is constantly working its way toward a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant conclusion.

Overall, The Half Life is a nuanced exploration of love and complicity. It’s about finding your voice in a world that benefits from your silence and the cost of finally choosing to speak. It’s thoughtful, evocative, and bold, and I loved every moment of this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC!

[Adam‘’s book reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland is a historical fiction novel set in the mid-1970s that follows a young American woman adjusting to life as the wife of a U.S. Navy officer stationed on La Maddalena, an island hosting a nuclear submarine base. The novel explores both the personal and political realities of that environment, including military structure, Cold War tensions, and local protests against the American presence. As the story progresses, it examines the expectations placed on military spouses, the cultural dynamics between Americans and Italians, and the broader geopolitical concerns surrounding nuclear power and foreign policy.

I found the book to be more focused on Eileen’s internal experience than on external action. It really feels like a story about a woman trying to move away from her past while figuring out who she is during the early years of her marriage. I noticed a growing tension between her desire for independence and the expectations placed on her as a Navy wife, and that conflict carried most of the story for me. The title Half Life works well in that sense—it reflects both the nuclear element in the background and the idea that she is only living part of a full life, shaped by her husband’s career and the limits placed on her. I also thought the setting and historical context were strong, particularly the protests and the way the U.S. military presence is portrayed.

That said, I did have some issues. The pacing felt uneven, with many short chapters that didn’t always move the story forward. Later in the book, there are more graphic sexual scenes that felt somewhat out of place compared to the earlier tone. I also found Eileen harder to connect with as the story went on, as some of her decisions came across as selfish rather than reflective. At the same time, I understand that this may have been intentional, showing a woman in a time period where expectations were shifting—women were gaining more independence but were still expected to fit into traditional roles. Overall, I think the book presents an interesting look at that transition, even if parts of it didn’t fully work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an advance copy.

[Jazisunray Skillern · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Half Life is a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page, its beauty found not only in its evocative Mediterranean landscapes but in the quiet, persistent questioning at its heart. With painterly prose, the author draws us into the world of Eileen O’Malley—a young woman swept off her feet by the promise of love and adventure, only to find herself navigating the delicate, sometimes treacherous waters of identity, belonging, and conscience.

Eileen’s journey from Charleston to La Maddalena is more than a change of scenery; it is the beginning of an internal journey. The sun-soaked island, described in sumptuous detail, is both a haven and a crucible. As Eileen learns to speak Italian and make culurgiones, she is also learning the language of selfhood, piecing together who she is apart from her husband, her country, and the grief that shadows her from home.

The novel excels in its exploration of the complexities faced by Americans abroad, especially in a time and place marked by political tension and cultural collision. The community of navy wives, the undercurrent of Cold War anxiety, and the mounting local resistance all form a vivid backdrop against which Eileen’s personal drama unfolds. The author deftly captures the conflicting pulls of loyalty and integrity, of comfort and courage.

Eileen’s awakening is gradual, sometimes painful, always honest. The relationships she forges—both within her marriage and beyond it—are drawn with nuance, never reduced to cliché. The local journalist who enters her life is not a simple escape, but a catalyst, urging her to see the world and herself anew.

Atmospheric and quietly defiant, The Half Life is as much about love as it is about complicity and the cost of silence. It asks what it means to belong—to a place, to a person, to oneself—and whether it is possible to carry more than one home in your heart. This is a novel to savor, to ponder, and to return to—rich with empathy, intelligence, and the kind of beauty that feels hard-won and true.

Thank you, Rachel Beanland, NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for this ARC. This one is definitely the best I have read this year.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rachel Beanland and had rated her debut and sophomore novels five stars each, so my anticipation was really high for this book! This was such a fascinating and well-researched historical fiction, covering a topic that I wasn't familiar with at all before reading this book.

Eileen is a young college student who meets naval officer Paul Archer in Charleston. When he tells her that he'll be shipping out shortly to an island off the coast of Sardinia, she barely hesitates before agreeing to marry and relocate with him. In La Maddalena, Eileen joins the community of Navy wives on the island, while also mingling with locals like Francesca, her Italian tutor and a member of the PCI (the Italian Communist Party), and Teo, Francesca's nephew and a journalist. As she learns more about the political climate on the island, her eyes are opened to the role of the Navy and the military in Italy, as well as other countries.

Overall, this book flowed well and a lot of the characters were relatable and compelling. The story completely sucked me in! I really enjoyed the sense of community Eileen found among the Navy wives, and I learned a lot about the US Navy's role in Italy, as well as issues that have occurred with submarines. I also loved how the author gradually evolved Eileen's views. I felt like I was learning and experiencing things right alongside Eileen and could understand how she gradually shed her naivete.

My one criticism about the exposition was that earlier in the book, there were some passages that gave the reader more context with Eileen narrating "I would later learn X" and then explaining a concept; I felt these passages were overly didactic and took me out of the story a bit, although to be fair, they did usually provide context that I wasn't previously aware of.

I usually hate epilogues that wrap everything up in a "happily ever after" type way, but I felt this epilogue worked well and it moved me to read about some of the characters' endings. This book was a solid 4 stars! Can't wait to read what Rachel Beanland writes next.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptionally well written historical fiction with a deeply engrossing setting and wonderful characters.

The story starts out as a coming of age story, Eileen O'Malley is sort of floundering in grief. Her brother was killed in Vietnam after being drafted, and she has foregone college and is working at a department store. There she meets Paul, and things are going okay, when he tells her that the Navy is sending him to Italy. And they sort of spontaneously decide to get married, and she follows him to La Maddalena, a Mediterranean island that the US Navy is doing something with nuclear power on a submarine. There she has to learn how to navigate not only Italian culture, not only ex-pat culture, but also how to be a Navy wife. There she discovers how to let go of American exceptionalism, and maybe their actions are harmful in many ways.

Set in 1970's Nixon America, this is less nostalgia and more written to a future, unnamed person who we find out about in the epilogue. While the narrative took awhile to get to major plot point, the journey is well worth it for the deeper characterization and learning about who you are within the context of a marriage. Eileen floundered at times and became curious, giving herself so much pressure and stress to mask the grief from her brother's death.

I love the way that Beanland is simultaneously giving us the journey of Eileen, of Paul and Eileen's marriage, and the setting of the US Navy's occupation and nuclear strategy. All of them are stories worth telling and have their own story arc. I found myself so drawn in to this one.

Main character in 3 adjectives= curious, bold, strong

Favorite minor character- Eileen's mom

Hollywood Cast
Eileen- Bella Thorne
Paul- Mark Paul Gosselaar
Laura- Brittany Snow
Teo- Michele Morron

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC. Book to be published July 14, 2026

[Kristina O’Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of The Half Life before its publication date! What an honor to be an early reviewer for this beautiful novel.

Rachel Beanland’s author’s note at the beginning of this book says that she wanted to write a book the reader could not put down, and I’m here to say she has done it. This is a fabulous book - full of knowledge, romance, secrets, and a piece of historical fiction that I had never learned about before. Wow, wow, wow.

When Eileen and Navy officer Paul meet in Charleston in the 1970s, they fall hard and fast. When Paul shares that he is being sent La Maddalena, an island off the coast of Italy to work as a radiological controller on a U.S. submarine, the two take the leap and tie the knot so Eileen can join on the journey. Eileen quickly learns what it means to be a Navy wife, and while friendships bloom with the other wives, her curiosity and independence also lead her to locals who discover that all information disseminated from Paul and his American crew may not be correct - with real ramifications for La Maddalena and its residents. Eileen’s thirst for knowledge leads her on a path of self-discovery, moral conflict, education, and a side of her marriage she never saw coming.

The Half Life is smart, intriguing, and captivating. Beanland’s knowledge of not only the island, but the historical significance of the U.S. Navy’s presence there in the 70s and 80s, allows her to tell the tale in a way that the reader is faced with the perspectives of all parties involved. Her scientific knowledge is apparent, and she educates her readers about the historical and scientific importance of this time in La Maddalena history. I learned so much about submarines and radioactivity, but also the political parties of the time in Italy, and the political upheaval brought on by the presence of the U.S. Navy and its submarines. The imagery was lovely, the romance was captivating, and the story was fascinating. This book literally had it all.

I loved this novel, and can’t wait to add it to my personal library when it is released!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland surprised me in the best way.

Going into this, I thought I was getting a historical fiction with a little romance set on a beautiful Italian island—and yes, you get that—but this story goes so much deeper. It’s really about identity, power, and what happens when you start questioning the life you thought you wanted.

Eileen’s story hit close to home for me. The Navy life, the Charleston connection, the dynamic of being a partner and building your world around someone else… it felt very real. Almost uncomfortably real at times. You can feel how quickly she gets swept up—marriage, moving across the world, becoming a Navy wife before she’s even had the chance to fully figure out who she is.

What I loved most was her evolution. She starts off a little naive, a little lost in grief and circumstance, and slowly becomes someone who questions everything—her marriage, her country, and her role in it all. Watching her find her voice, especially in a time when women weren’t exactly encouraged to do that, was powerful.

The setting of La Maddalena was beautifully done. You can feel the contrast between the idyllic island life and the tension underneath it—politics, protests, and the looming fear around nuclear activity. The “half life” concept wasn’t just scientific—it mirrored the emotional and moral fallout happening in Eileen’s life.

There were moments where it leaned a little heavy on the technical side, and the pacing slowed for me in parts, but overall it kept me invested. The short chapters definitely helped—it’s one of those books that feels bigger than it reads.

This isn’t a perfect, clean story, and Eileen isn’t a perfect character—but that’s what made it work. Her choices won’t sit right with everyone, but they felt honest.

If you like historical fiction with strong character development, a layered political backdrop, and a woman coming into her own in a complicated world, this one is worth picking up.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I got an education on the US Navy and nuclear submarines that I never knew I needed. It is engrossing and it is factual. The US Navy did in fact have a nuclear submarine tenders base on the coast of Sardinia in the 1970’s. It was not well received by the residents of the island. Did I know the extent of the Communist Party’s political activities and strength in Italy in the 1970’s? Schooled again. Another fascinating aspect of the book. I don’t remember if it was Teo or Francesca (or neither) who said (paraphrasing), after WWII where did you think all of the them went? Navy wife culture, which did not include learning some simple phrases in your host country’s language, living without landlines, housing that was bare bones were all addressed. Now set this against the beautiful landscape of the Mediterranean, follow a newly married couple who marry quickly because he is leaving for Italy to head up RADCON, the safety arm of the nuclear program, and he wants her to come with him, ignore the doubts in her mind even though she says yes, and you have a book you can’t stop reading.

At one point or anotherI hated every character in this book. And then I empathized with them again. Except maybe Paul. I could have put Laura’s head through a wall a couple of times, but she had a point. And if Eileen had ever spent even a second thinking about Navy wife culture she might have made things a little easier on herself (no shaming here). But this is not that book.

I hate Epilogues as a rule. I think they’re lazy. Just finish the book. This one made me cry. I read it twice. It is beautifully written. I gave the book a 4. I rarely give 5’s. But the number is subjective. The book is excellent.

[Danna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Half Life is a sweeping historical novel that details the life of a Navy wife on a Sardinian island in the Vietnam War era. The island, La Maddalena, is as much a character in the story as the protagonist, Eileen.

Eileen became a Navy wife quickly. She met Paul, her husband, just a few weeks before he received orders to deploy. Swept up in the energy of newfound love (or lust?), Eileen agrees to marry him so they don’t have to separate. Eileen has never left home, so this is a big deal. She is also still reeling from the death of her brother, who was killed in the Vietnam War.

Eileen arrives in La Maddalena and immediately falls in love with the scenery, the lifestyle, and above all, the Sardinian people. What becomes clearer over the two years Paul is stationed there, though, is she falling less in love with Paul.

The story describes political events related to both the Navy being stationed in Sardinia and about America’s fear of communism. Eileen evolves, coming of age as she learns more about the world. Eileen also becomes focused on the possible fallout, or half life, of the Navy’s actions, which seems to involve secret nuclear testing.

I loved this book. Eileen is an easy character to like: she is flawed in an easy-to-empathize with way, especially as she looks back on this time of her life. I liked how Eileen’s character developed internally (emotionally, romantically, and sexually) and externally (politically, socially, and culturally). Despite being a bit long, this book flew by with its short chapters and easy story. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite quote:
“I could see his waist, which was narrow and had those little divots near his hip bones that might as well have been arrows pointing due south.”

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland is a Cold War era coming-of-age story about a twenty-three year old, newly married navy wife that begins her marriage on a small Italian island that turns from idyllic vacation to a crash course in world affairs.

Not long after the heartbreaking death of her brother, Eileen meets and quickly marries naval officer, Paul Archer. The two begin their marriage on a little island off of Italy- a militarily strategic island that serves as the backdrop to Eileen’s awakening from an isolated American girl to a worldly awoken woman. The glamour of new love quickly wears off and Eileen is left with the reality of the world around her and the husband she chose to marry in haste.

While Eileen does her best to make her marriage work, she is tugged away from her navy wife duties and expectations when she meets Teo, a local reporter, to whom she is instantly attracted. With him and others she meets on the island, Eileen’s intellectual and political world is split wide open, which causes many fissures in her marriage.

I was not only captivated by the story, but also Beanland’s writing. At times I found myself questioning whether or not I was reading a memoir or having a conversation with a close friend. Beanland’s first-person narrative is so intimate and real that it’s easy to mistake this historical fiction for a true-life recounting of a woman’s life. I will say that the revelation in the epilogue threw me off a bit. In some respects, it completely makes sense. In others, not so much. But that’s all I will say so as to not give out any spoilers.

My recommendation rating: definitely recommend with a heads up that there’s a lot of political and scientific explanations woven into the storyline. And Italian dialogue.

[Debbie Viscosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chance encounter leads to a budding relationship. Eileen meets Paul, and there is an undeniable spark. Paul believed that this was simply a quick fling before he left for his next naval assignment in La Maddalena. They feel a connection and decide to marry, with Eileen following Paul to his assignment. Eileen's entire life changes, and she is so unprepared to be a naval officer's wife. At La Maddalena, Eileen receives both guidance and support from other wives as they cling together in unwelcoming circumstances. It is not that the residents dislike the Navy; they dislike the Navy's purpose on the island. La Maddalena is where nuclear submarines are repaired and restocked.

Eileen is a complicated character. She is understandably confused and adrift as a newlywed and an officer's wife. Following the "Navy wife way" is as foreign to her as Italian. There is also the underlying issue of nuclear pollution. Is it acceptable to jeopardize residents' health and safety while keeping the peace in an area? The author does a masterful job of representing the main problem framed by affiliated smaller problems. On the surface, the book is about a young woman on a journey of self-discovery. The young woman is also exposed to the concerns and issues surrounding nuclear power. Fully experiencing this story is consequential, illustrating the difficulties encountered with early nuclear submarines.

I enjoy Rachel Beanland's books. Her characters are always complex, intriguing, and realistic. She is thought-provoking without preaching. Historical fiction readers, women's fiction readers, and general fiction readers will all enjoy this wonderful story. Thank you to Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and Rachel Beanland for the early reader copy of this book.

[Anne Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book by Rachel Beanland that I have read and like the previous two, it's a must read. The Half Life is a historical novel about a small island in Italy off the coast of Sardinia which housed a U.S. Naval base in the 1970's. It is also the story of a young American navy wife whose quick marriage to a naval officer led her to a two-year posting to Santa Maddelena where her husband was an officer who maintained the nuclear submarines based there. Eileen, whose brother was killed in Viet Nam, becomes enamored of the island and begins learning Italian and fitting in with the naval officers and their wives.

There is a lot to be learned here about Italian politics and the running of a sub base. There is also a finely drawn adjustment to and dissolution of a less-than-ideal marriage. Beanland is a gifted writer, and I found myself immersed for the almost 500 pages where the story develops in an edge of your seat way that was impossible to put down. I look forward to Beanland's next novel.

Thank you to the publisher for this early read and to Net Galley. These are my honest opinions.
Come back to your Review on the pub date, Jul 14 2026, to post to retailers.

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[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, where to start with this one? There was so much happening in this book and so many themes to discuss. I had conflicting feelings about Eileen
while reading this book. Overall, this was an emotional and informative read.

This book starts with the fast-paced relationship between Eileen and Paul. Due to his military career, they are pretty much forced to marry quickly or end their relationship. So, as newlyweds, they leave the US behind for a small Mediterranean island. It seemed that life as a military wife wasn't what Eileen was expecting, and she had a bit of a time adjusting to her new life. At times, she seemed really immature, which was to be expected due to her age. I was frustrated with her from time to time due to her actions. At the same time, I could easily understand why she did some of the things she did and why she was interested in the lives of some of the islanders and the effects of the military being there. Paul was an easy enough character to like, though at times I didn't care for him either. I thought it was great that the author could write these two in a way that made me change my mind about them several times throughout the story.

This book is almost 500 pages, so I liked the fact that the chapters were very short. It seemed to keep the story moving along. This was a slow-paced, character-driven story for the most part, so the short chapters made reading it very easy. I did get a little bored with the technical talk about the submarines and the radioactive stuff. There is also a fair amount of dialogue that is not in English, and while it added to the authenticity of the story, it slowed down my reading a bit.

All in all, I think this was a good story and one that would be a great book club read. As I said earlier, there are a lot of things to discuss about this book. It is also a good read if you like stories that give you lots of time to get to know characters and live their lives along with them.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Maybe she was a sinner, but what I saw was a woman who believed she could be redeemed."

Yes! Super excited to receive an early copy of #thehalflife by @rachelbeanland. I adored The House is on Fire and Ms. Beanland lives in Richmond, so...I felt a bit of a personal connection. For The Half Life, Ms. Beanland has clearly done so much research on the Navy's occupation of the waters surrounding and the island of La Maddalena. Eileen Archer is fresh off a family tragedy so when Paul asks her to marry him and go with him to La Maddalena, she jumps at the chance. We all know it's a big mistake, but she's young and in lust and has no other options. What she finds in addition to a beautiful locale, is literal enemy waters. Navigating the other Navy wives as well as the locals who don't want her there and don't understand her language, it's a tough go. So much going on here - at times I found myself frustrated with Eileen but I enjoyed being a part of her journey SO much. I appreciated Ms. Beanland's own connection to La Maddalena, too. This is one of those books whose characters stay with you, when you're not reading and after you've finished. It's a complex story in a different time, but with many similarities to our current state. Highly, highly recommend.

P.S. thanks to @SimonBooks and #netgalley for the ARC. So grateful to be an early reader of this lovely book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: When Eileen meets Navy officer Paul Archer in a department store they fall in love quickly. Paul's orders to ship to Italy as a nuclear submarine leader speed up their plans. Eileen and Paul arrive in a beautiful Mediterranean town when she works to fit in with the locals, the navy wives and the community.
As Eileen meets locals who don't like the US Navy being in their waters with nuclear powered subs, she starts to learn more. The US officials aren't as forthcoming with test results regarding sub accidents and what exactly the subs have leaked into the water. Eileen meets a group of Italians trying to find answers and get rid of the American presence.
When you're young, in love, and in a far away place, things can get complicated, especially when the US government is involved.
An intense local journalist catches Eileen's eye, will she betray her husband to find out if the Navy is hiding anything? And how far will she go once she learns more, who does she trust more?

This book started a little slow but as Eileen grew and sought to find answers about Navy and the contamination of the Italian waters, I became more engaged. I wasn't sure where she was going and what her final decisions would be.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance digital copy to review. These opinions are my own.