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Between the Moon and the Tide: Haven Island Book 1
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 21, 2026
This book was just what I needed. There’s nothing like the feel of summer on the Carolina coast and this one really nailed that vibe. It felt super nostalgic, like being dropped back into those long, carefree summers that somehow stick with you forever. I didn’t grow up on the coast, but living here now, this book made me feel completely transported to a time and place that clearly meant so much to so many people.
The story was beautiful, messy, and full of emotion. The characters were flawed and relatable and their experiences captured that kind of summer that ends up shaping you more than you expect. It definitely had a few moments that hit a little deeper than I was anticipating.
This will be one of those reads that just sticks with me. Definitely heart-tugging, hopeful, and perfect if you want something you can really get lost in, but that’s still super easy to read. Perfect beach read this summer.
S͟o͟m͟e͟ o͟f͟ m͟y͟ f͟a͟v͟o͟r͟i͟t͟e͟ h͟i͟g͟h͟l͟i͟g͟h͟t͟s͟:
“𝙱𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍: 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏-𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝, 𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚌𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚗.”
“𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚝𝚎; 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢.”
“𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛—𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚠𝚑𝚘’𝚍 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚎—𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍, 𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎.”
The story was beautiful, messy, and full of emotion. The characters were flawed and relatable and their experiences captured that kind of summer that ends up shaping you more than you expect. It definitely had a few moments that hit a little deeper than I was anticipating.
This will be one of those reads that just sticks with me. Definitely heart-tugging, hopeful, and perfect if you want something you can really get lost in, but that’s still super easy to read. Perfect beach read this summer.
S͟o͟m͟e͟ o͟f͟ m͟y͟ f͟a͟v͟o͟r͟i͟t͟e͟ h͟i͟g͟h͟l͟i͟g͟h͟t͟s͟:
“𝙱𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍: 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏-𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝, 𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚌𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚗.”
“𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚝𝚎; 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢.”
“𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛—𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚠𝚑𝚘’𝚍 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚎—𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍, 𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎.”
Read
April 14, 2026If you don't root for yourself, who will?
*Note this review was posted on my short story, not my novel. Goodreads accidentally merged all my works, and when they unmerged them, the reviews got scrambled!
*Note this review was posted on my short story, not my novel. Goodreads accidentally merged all my works, and when they unmerged them, the reviews got scrambled!
March 22, 2026
✨️ARC Review✨️
Beneath The Moon And The Tide - Erin Cantrell
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
"Messy feelings, Messy choices and pure emotional instincts.
When Emily returns to Haven Island, she’s pulled back into a place where the sea keeps secrets and every tide brings something new to the surface. As old wounds reopen and unexpected connections spark, she finds herself torn between who she was and who she’s becoming."
If you love;
○Coastal Scenary
○Unexpected Twists
○Slow Burn that doesnt stay slow
Then this read is right up your street.
My thoughts💭
Admittidly, I struggled with the style of writing this book had. For me personally I needed more clarity between the POV chapters, as well as the timelines! Although that being said it does make for a nice quick comforting sort of read that touches upon a range of topics (Some may be upsetting for readers please bare that in mind). The coastal setting gives it that "holiday romance" sort of feel that we all longed for when was younger, the crazy friendships that you didnt know you needed but gained anyway and that one love interest you know you shouldnt have but cant stop thinking about! ❤️
I am greatful to have been chosen to read
Thankyou ever so much❤️
Beneath The Moon And The Tide - Erin Cantrell
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
"Messy feelings, Messy choices and pure emotional instincts.
When Emily returns to Haven Island, she’s pulled back into a place where the sea keeps secrets and every tide brings something new to the surface. As old wounds reopen and unexpected connections spark, she finds herself torn between who she was and who she’s becoming."
If you love;
○Coastal Scenary
○Unexpected Twists
○Slow Burn that doesnt stay slow
Then this read is right up your street.
My thoughts💭
Admittidly, I struggled with the style of writing this book had. For me personally I needed more clarity between the POV chapters, as well as the timelines! Although that being said it does make for a nice quick comforting sort of read that touches upon a range of topics (Some may be upsetting for readers please bare that in mind). The coastal setting gives it that "holiday romance" sort of feel that we all longed for when was younger, the crazy friendships that you didnt know you needed but gained anyway and that one love interest you know you shouldnt have but cant stop thinking about! ❤️
I am greatful to have been chosen to read
Thankyou ever so much❤️
May 18, 2026
Amazing book with early 2000s vibes!
Erin is an amazing author. The story telling and scene setting makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters in the book.
Extremely excited for the rest of the books in this awesome new series!
Erin is an amazing author. The story telling and scene setting makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters in the book.
Extremely excited for the rest of the books in this awesome new series!
March 26, 2026
I loved this book.
It was such a precious love story. A really good read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance.
It was such a precious love story. A really good read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance.
July 11, 2026
4.5
A wonderful book…!
But first, let me thank the author. I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, and to my surprise and delight, I received a hand-addressed package in the mail with $5 worth of postage affixed onto it, from the author herself (& a signed book). Now *that’s* dedication! (especially considering all the other winners for whom she also did that).
Before exploring the plot, I want to say that the setting—an island in South Carolina during summer, with “working but vacation-y” vibes—made for an atmospheric and juicy read for me. I love a good island story—for some reason I’ve happened upon a few recently, and it’s been super enjoyable. The author clearly loves this area, and it’s given wonderful representation and detail throughout the story.
Now the story. This would definitely fit in the romance category, but I would call it more than that: I would call it a love story. It goes deeper and has more layers of meaning and subtlety than what I think of as (even the best) romance novels. It is also a story of various kinds of love (even the love of family) that weave around the central relationship between Emily and Asher.
Ms. Cantrell does such a fine job. The story kept surprising me; I genuinely didn’t know where things would go. I was also impressed by her ability to portray the different types of love and attraction, the tension of loving more than one person at the same time, how decisions and changes are made, the pull of self-pity and addiction, the mixed roles family can play, and many other themes.
It is a very slow-burn romance, with messy and imperfect characters. It is not, by any means, an “everyone says the perfect witty thing” kind of book (i.e. not Emily Henry). What Cantrell does so well is write about how emotional complexity plays into relationships, and how change can happen over time or in an instant, with those interior processes described with such skill. There are moral dilemmas and situations that often don’t pan out cleanly. It’s very real. This therefore winds up being a mostly character-driven novel, to be sure.
There were a couple of instances that stood out to me as less skillful than the rest of this beautiful book.
These two parts didn’t flow for me as naturally as the rest of the novel did. But I absolutely loved where it went from there.
I wish this author every success with this book and the series. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a "deeper," yet wonderfully escapist, romance/love story with emotional complexity and rich character dynamics. I hope that lots of readers discover this one!
A wonderful book…!
But first, let me thank the author. I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, and to my surprise and delight, I received a hand-addressed package in the mail with $5 worth of postage affixed onto it, from the author herself (& a signed book). Now *that’s* dedication! (especially considering all the other winners for whom she also did that).
Before exploring the plot, I want to say that the setting—an island in South Carolina during summer, with “working but vacation-y” vibes—made for an atmospheric and juicy read for me. I love a good island story—for some reason I’ve happened upon a few recently, and it’s been super enjoyable. The author clearly loves this area, and it’s given wonderful representation and detail throughout the story.
Now the story. This would definitely fit in the romance category, but I would call it more than that: I would call it a love story. It goes deeper and has more layers of meaning and subtlety than what I think of as (even the best) romance novels. It is also a story of various kinds of love (even the love of family) that weave around the central relationship between Emily and Asher.
Ms. Cantrell does such a fine job. The story kept surprising me; I genuinely didn’t know where things would go. I was also impressed by her ability to portray the different types of love and attraction, the tension of loving more than one person at the same time, how decisions and changes are made, the pull of self-pity and addiction, the mixed roles family can play, and many other themes.
It is a very slow-burn romance, with messy and imperfect characters. It is not, by any means, an “everyone says the perfect witty thing” kind of book (i.e. not Emily Henry). What Cantrell does so well is write about how emotional complexity plays into relationships, and how change can happen over time or in an instant, with those interior processes described with such skill. There are moral dilemmas and situations that often don’t pan out cleanly. It’s very real. This therefore winds up being a mostly character-driven novel, to be sure.
There were a couple of instances that stood out to me as less skillful than the rest of this beautiful book.
These two parts didn’t flow for me as naturally as the rest of the novel did. But I absolutely loved where it went from there.
I wish this author every success with this book and the series. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a "deeper," yet wonderfully escapist, romance/love story with emotional complexity and rich character dynamics. I hope that lots of readers discover this one!
July 13, 2026
3.5/5 This is the first installment of a series, but it's a little more like a prequel to the rest of the series because it's set two decades before the later books. It was a beautiful portrait of Caroline summers in a small beach town, set as a backdrop for a really messy collection of stories. Lots of mistakes, lots of wrong choices, lots of shaking my fists at the main characters. But in fairness, the author warns the reader that her stories are messy and morally gray. If that's not your vibe, this story isn't for you.
The story is interesting, because it's instalove, but it's also a story that spans a number of years. It's a love triangle (or two), but it's also not. It's hard because good people get hurt by the choices that are made, and there isn't a resolution to every problem. Happy ending? Yes. Happy journey? Not exactly.
The next book is set nearly two decades in the future, and I would have liked to see some of the in-between, but I'm looking forward to the next one.
Many thanks to Booksirens for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.
The story is interesting, because it's instalove, but it's also a story that spans a number of years. It's a love triangle (or two), but it's also not. It's hard because good people get hurt by the choices that are made, and there isn't a resolution to every problem. Happy ending? Yes. Happy journey? Not exactly.
The next book is set nearly two decades in the future, and I would have liked to see some of the in-between, but I'm looking forward to the next one.
Many thanks to Booksirens for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.
July 17, 2026
This was a very emotional love story. I did enjoy the story and was surprised with all the twists and turns woven in their journey. It was a complicated love story and messy one. I wasn't happy with several of the main characters' decisions but it made the story very realistic. I was hooked after the first few chapters and didn't want to put it down as I was questioning what would happen next.
I received a free advance copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a free advance copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 6, 2026
After just a few pages, I am already perspiring from the unforgiving heat of a summer on Haven Island. Cantrell paints a portrait as vivid and complete as one could hope for of this little seasonal ecosystem off the coast of the Carolinas. The story is nearly as hot as the summer sun.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC from the author and this one really leans into messy feelings and complicated choices.
This is very much a character-driven story. Not a lot of big plot drama, but a lot of emotional tension. Emily shows up on this quiet barrier island before law school trying to reset her life, and then of course she meets Asher, who is very much not someone she should be catching feelings for.
The beach setting honestly worked really well for the vibe of the book. Everything feels a little suspended in time, like a summer where you’re figuring yourself out and making decisions that will probably come back to haunt you later. Boy, did I have plenty of those back in my day!
Emily felt very real to me. She spends a lot of time in her own head trying to reconcile what she wants with what she knows is probably the wrong move. Nothing is simple and nobody is completely right or wrong.
Asher is charming, I’ll give him that, and the chemistry between them is obvious. But he’s also the kind of person that made me yell at the page and if I knew him irl I'd so hit him with a rolled magazine...
The middle of the book slows down a bit because the characters keep circling the same emotional conflict, so if you’re someone who prefers fast-paced romance this might feel a little drawn out. But if you like slow burn tension and morally messy situations, that’s kind of the whole point of this story.
Why 4 stars?
The good things:
* The writing itself is solid and readable.
* The setting is well done and atmospheric.
* The emotional tension and chemistry are believable.
* The themes (longing, bad timing, moral gray areas) are handled thoughtfully.
BUT:
* The middle drags and repeats emotional beats.
* The story sometimes spins in circles instead of progressing (God knows I am guilty of this, too!)
* Asher’s motivations aren’t explored deeply enough.
* Emily can feel more reactive than proactive at times.
All in all, this is a book that I would recommend to people who enjoy slower-paced reads with atmospheric scenery and emotional depth.
Thanks, Erin, for letting me read your book!
This is very much a character-driven story. Not a lot of big plot drama, but a lot of emotional tension. Emily shows up on this quiet barrier island before law school trying to reset her life, and then of course she meets Asher, who is very much not someone she should be catching feelings for.
The beach setting honestly worked really well for the vibe of the book. Everything feels a little suspended in time, like a summer where you’re figuring yourself out and making decisions that will probably come back to haunt you later. Boy, did I have plenty of those back in my day!
Emily felt very real to me. She spends a lot of time in her own head trying to reconcile what she wants with what she knows is probably the wrong move. Nothing is simple and nobody is completely right or wrong.
Asher is charming, I’ll give him that, and the chemistry between them is obvious. But he’s also the kind of person that made me yell at the page and if I knew him irl I'd so hit him with a rolled magazine...
The middle of the book slows down a bit because the characters keep circling the same emotional conflict, so if you’re someone who prefers fast-paced romance this might feel a little drawn out. But if you like slow burn tension and morally messy situations, that’s kind of the whole point of this story.
Why 4 stars?
The good things:
* The writing itself is solid and readable.
* The setting is well done and atmospheric.
* The emotional tension and chemistry are believable.
* The themes (longing, bad timing, moral gray areas) are handled thoughtfully.
BUT:
* The middle drags and repeats emotional beats.
* The story sometimes spins in circles instead of progressing (God knows I am guilty of this, too!)
* Asher’s motivations aren’t explored deeply enough.
* Emily can feel more reactive than proactive at times.
All in all, this is a book that I would recommend to people who enjoy slower-paced reads with atmospheric scenery and emotional depth.
Thanks, Erin, for letting me read your book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this novel, and it completely pulled me in.
This is a beautifully written, character-driven summer romance set on a quiet barrier island. The story leans into longing, internal conflict, and morally complicated choices rather than dramatic plot twists. Both Emily and Ash are flawed and, at times, frustrating — which made their journey feel authentic and emotionally real.
The island setting plays a meaningful role in shaping their growth, and by the end, the emotional payoff felt earned. I closed the book feeling relief and love.
A compelling read for anyone who enjoys slow-burn, emotionally intense romance.
This is a beautifully written, character-driven summer romance set on a quiet barrier island. The story leans into longing, internal conflict, and morally complicated choices rather than dramatic plot twists. Both Emily and Ash are flawed and, at times, frustrating — which made their journey feel authentic and emotionally real.
The island setting plays a meaningful role in shaping their growth, and by the end, the emotional payoff felt earned. I closed the book feeling relief and love.
A compelling read for anyone who enjoys slow-burn, emotionally intense romance.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews