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The Day of the Wave
One tsunami. Two lost souls. A love story twenty years in the making.
Re-edited and revised for 2025. From the bestselling HarperCollins and Harlequin author comes a deeply moving second-chance romance based on the real life Boxing Day tsunami of December 2004.
At twelve-years-old, Isla and Ben are strangers until the shimmering ocean and beaches of Thailand bring them together. In the days that follow, their rare connection blossoms into something unforgettable.
But soon, the Boxing Day tsunami tears through their paradise, leaving them both presumed dead.
For over twenty years they’ve lived separate lives, haunted by the same disaster, never knowing the other survived. But when a chance encounter brings them back together, both are forced to confront the past, the grief that shaped them, and a love that could change everything.
Inspired by real-life events, The Day of the Wave is a deeply moving, often funny story of healing, hope, and the power of love to rise above even the most unthinkable loss.
Re-edited and revised for 2025. From the bestselling HarperCollins and Harlequin author comes a deeply moving second-chance romance based on the real life Boxing Day tsunami of December 2004.
At twelve-years-old, Isla and Ben are strangers until the shimmering ocean and beaches of Thailand bring them together. In the days that follow, their rare connection blossoms into something unforgettable.
But soon, the Boxing Day tsunami tears through their paradise, leaving them both presumed dead.
For over twenty years they’ve lived separate lives, haunted by the same disaster, never knowing the other survived. But when a chance encounter brings them back together, both are forced to confront the past, the grief that shaped them, and a love that could change everything.
Inspired by real-life events, The Day of the Wave is a deeply moving, often funny story of healing, hope, and the power of love to rise above even the most unthinkable loss.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2015
14 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Becky Wicks
162 books281 followersHello lovelies! I'm an ex travel writer, a Harlequin author and a self-published romance writer, currently scribbling NEW spicy stuff from Amsterdam.
I love connecting with readers and fellow writers. If you ever wanna say hi, I'm at beckywicks@me.com or on the socials!
Web: beckywicksauthor.com
Facebook: beckywicksauthor
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Thanks for reading!
Becky x
I love connecting with readers and fellow writers. If you ever wanna say hi, I'm at beckywicks@me.com or on the socials!
Web: beckywicksauthor.com
Facebook: beckywicksauthor
Instagram: beckywicks
TikTok: authorbeckywicks
Thanks for reading!
Becky x
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
April 15, 2020
This book drew me in on so many levels, made me yearn for my years when I worked in a dive school in Egypt. Huge credit to the author if she hasn't lived the expat on a beach lifestyle as it was written with such accuracy. My expat on a beach soul felt this book.
I hadnt paid much attention when going into this novel, i had no idea that the plot centred around the 2004 tsunami and i felt this was very well researched and handled with care. I also felt i was there which wasnt always a good feeling.
This book is heart breaking and warming all jumbled together.
Regardless of where we were that day in 2004, i think we will always remember the day of the wave.
I hadnt paid much attention when going into this novel, i had no idea that the plot centred around the 2004 tsunami and i felt this was very well researched and handled with care. I also felt i was there which wasnt always a good feeling.
This book is heart breaking and warming all jumbled together.
Regardless of where we were that day in 2004, i think we will always remember the day of the wave.
September 16, 2016
A really lovely, moving and emotional story about Isla and Ben. Having met at 16 years old and being caught up in the tsunami and separated they are reunited 10 years later through a chance encounter. This is a heart warming tale about love, loss and family.
May 18, 2015
The Day of the Wave is fiercely intense and undeniably epic in its desperate pursuit of lost dreams, unwavering hope, and ultimate redemption. This is an astonishingly indescribable journey of two people whose world was savagely ripped to shreds and yet they refused to give up on the tiniest flicker of hope that burned within them. Through the slow yet deliberate rebuilding of the lives, they fight to regain even the tiniest bit of control in order to help them face each day. With all their heart they hold onto a silent pray to find the all elusive hope that will bring them some semblance of meaning to their existence. When that prayer is finally answered, they are both blind-sided by the overwhelming transformation that slowly reshapes their heart and soul. The value of his life-changing force is beyond all the gold in the word because it finally brings meaning back into their life and begins to fulfill all of their deepest and desperate desires.
Isla’s life was forever changed on one fateful day. When she should have been enjoying a fun family vacation, she was instead plunged into the blackest and most unthinkable
nightmare she could have ever imagined. Now, each and every day as a huge battle as she tries to find a way to push through the numbness and the terror that haunts her each day and night. Her strength wanes with the setting of each sun, but her heart refuses to let go of those she loves. She holds them closer than her next breath, and with the courage she has left keeps a silent wish alive in the depths of her soul. Ben was given the greatest gift of his life one day, but less than two weeks later, that gift and more were taken from him in the worst possible way. Left with the remnants of a broken soul and a shattered heart, he lives the life of a wandering nomad never staying in one place long enough to put down roots for fear of facing his demons that endless nip at his heels. As he rebuilds a life among the ashes of his past, a day comes when life is suddenly breathed back into him. His heart beings to beat again and his soul is awaken from its death sleep. However, he finds that with this whirlwind of life comes the knowledge of no longer being able to outrun his nightmares if he intends to hold onto this hurricane of hope indefinitely. Will a freak chance at being united with the missing piece of their heart heal and transform Isla and Ben, or will the powerful reminder of the past forever drive them apart?
I really felt Isla and Ben’s struggle to overcome their horrific past. Each painful memory tore at my heart and ripped a hole within my own soul at what they were forced to endure. Amidst their shared pain, they found the healing, hope, and love that they never imagined they would ever find. The unconditional acceptance and unquestionable understanding between them was more powerful and effective than an army of therapists. Finding their missing part of their broken and battered heart brought then a peace and determination to face the darkness that tried to suffocate them daily. They could face and conquer the world together, and I love seeing this incredible affect they had on each other. Love covers a multitude of sins and by adding hope to the mix, we find that anything is possible – even a miracle.
Becky Wicks is clearly an outstanding author whose heart overflows with unending hope and endless love. Her gentle and intimate perspective is refreshing and the magnitude of her vulnerability is such an immensely beautiful experience. She clearly believes in the power of hope and the boundless possibilities that exist whenever love enters our world. Life is fleeting and unpredictable, so we need to live it deliberately and inexcusably with our whole heart while holding nothing back.
Isla’s life was forever changed on one fateful day. When she should have been enjoying a fun family vacation, she was instead plunged into the blackest and most unthinkable
nightmare she could have ever imagined. Now, each and every day as a huge battle as she tries to find a way to push through the numbness and the terror that haunts her each day and night. Her strength wanes with the setting of each sun, but her heart refuses to let go of those she loves. She holds them closer than her next breath, and with the courage she has left keeps a silent wish alive in the depths of her soul. Ben was given the greatest gift of his life one day, but less than two weeks later, that gift and more were taken from him in the worst possible way. Left with the remnants of a broken soul and a shattered heart, he lives the life of a wandering nomad never staying in one place long enough to put down roots for fear of facing his demons that endless nip at his heels. As he rebuilds a life among the ashes of his past, a day comes when life is suddenly breathed back into him. His heart beings to beat again and his soul is awaken from its death sleep. However, he finds that with this whirlwind of life comes the knowledge of no longer being able to outrun his nightmares if he intends to hold onto this hurricane of hope indefinitely. Will a freak chance at being united with the missing piece of their heart heal and transform Isla and Ben, or will the powerful reminder of the past forever drive them apart?
I really felt Isla and Ben’s struggle to overcome their horrific past. Each painful memory tore at my heart and ripped a hole within my own soul at what they were forced to endure. Amidst their shared pain, they found the healing, hope, and love that they never imagined they would ever find. The unconditional acceptance and unquestionable understanding between them was more powerful and effective than an army of therapists. Finding their missing part of their broken and battered heart brought then a peace and determination to face the darkness that tried to suffocate them daily. They could face and conquer the world together, and I love seeing this incredible affect they had on each other. Love covers a multitude of sins and by adding hope to the mix, we find that anything is possible – even a miracle.
Becky Wicks is clearly an outstanding author whose heart overflows with unending hope and endless love. Her gentle and intimate perspective is refreshing and the magnitude of her vulnerability is such an immensely beautiful experience. She clearly believes in the power of hope and the boundless possibilities that exist whenever love enters our world. Life is fleeting and unpredictable, so we need to live it deliberately and inexcusably with our whole heart while holding nothing back.
February 15, 2016
Sometimes the right book come into your life at the right time when you didn't even know you needed it. The Day of the Wave is that book. I am so thankful that I signed up for this tour, if not I wouldn't have come across Becky Wicks inspirational novel. And now I hope to pay forward to those who read my review during the blog tour.
The premise of this novel spins off a very tragic event in our world history which affected so many lives all over the word. Everyone in the world was shocked and heartbroken when the 2004 Tsunami devastated so many areas in the Indian ocean. The Day of the Wave doesn't retell the event but shares a story that was put in to motion that December 26, 2004. That after 10 years everything would come back full circle and what was set off will now (hopefully) have a rewarding payoff.
You can't help but be inspired throughout the whole novel. Your inspired to love, live, believe and most importantly never give up. Wicks gives us hope and honestly in this day and age, we need to believe in that. Without hope, the world would really suck. And plus I feel as this book touching on such an important event pays respect to all those fallen from the tsunami. So many lives were lost and still many were never found.
I won't give much away because I really want any one who reads this book to enjoy it as much as I did without knowing more than they need to know going in. The Day of the Wave follows two people that never expected to be in the middle of such a tragic life changing event and a decade later meet again. Isla and Ben met briefly days before the tsunami hit and it was immediate fireworks for the teenagers. Then the tsunami hits their coast and they both survive and continue living believing that they both died for one another. Cue 10 years later and Ben can't believe his eyes but it's Isla and well Isla can't believe it as well. Little do they know that the wave didn't just cause them horrible grief and pain but eventually like when the tide recesses, the pain for them will also and now that they found each other it begins to alleviate and help with healing from that day 10 years ago. The story is truly beautiful and deserves to be read.
I highly recommend for anyone to read The Day of the Wave. You can't help but fall in love with the story and Ben and Isla. I didn't want the book to end, I just wanted to keep reading about those two. Its been a while since I read a book that the main characters had such great chemistry. Well done Wicks!
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2015...
The premise of this novel spins off a very tragic event in our world history which affected so many lives all over the word. Everyone in the world was shocked and heartbroken when the 2004 Tsunami devastated so many areas in the Indian ocean. The Day of the Wave doesn't retell the event but shares a story that was put in to motion that December 26, 2004. That after 10 years everything would come back full circle and what was set off will now (hopefully) have a rewarding payoff.
You can't help but be inspired throughout the whole novel. Your inspired to love, live, believe and most importantly never give up. Wicks gives us hope and honestly in this day and age, we need to believe in that. Without hope, the world would really suck. And plus I feel as this book touching on such an important event pays respect to all those fallen from the tsunami. So many lives were lost and still many were never found.
I won't give much away because I really want any one who reads this book to enjoy it as much as I did without knowing more than they need to know going in. The Day of the Wave follows two people that never expected to be in the middle of such a tragic life changing event and a decade later meet again. Isla and Ben met briefly days before the tsunami hit and it was immediate fireworks for the teenagers. Then the tsunami hits their coast and they both survive and continue living believing that they both died for one another. Cue 10 years later and Ben can't believe his eyes but it's Isla and well Isla can't believe it as well. Little do they know that the wave didn't just cause them horrible grief and pain but eventually like when the tide recesses, the pain for them will also and now that they found each other it begins to alleviate and help with healing from that day 10 years ago. The story is truly beautiful and deserves to be read.
I highly recommend for anyone to read The Day of the Wave. You can't help but fall in love with the story and Ben and Isla. I didn't want the book to end, I just wanted to keep reading about those two. Its been a while since I read a book that the main characters had such great chemistry. Well done Wicks!
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2015...
May 7, 2015
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review when I signed up to host the book tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review.
I've never read a book that left me feeling uplifted until I read The Day of The Wave. The story centralizes on a real natural disaster with fictional characters. The two main characters Izzy and Ben faced devastating losses at a young age that changed them forever. Years later Izzy's current relationship is strained so she leaves on a work related assignment that leads to a chance encounter with the now grown Ben, who is still battling with the demons that remained after the destruction from the tsunami.
The story line was superbly crafted and intricate and you will share in the emotional wave that the author created. All of the characters were well developed and strong and by the end of the story you will feel like everything and anything is possible when yo open yourself and your heart to the opportunities that come your way.
I will definitely be reading more from this author.
I've never read a book that left me feeling uplifted until I read The Day of The Wave. The story centralizes on a real natural disaster with fictional characters. The two main characters Izzy and Ben faced devastating losses at a young age that changed them forever. Years later Izzy's current relationship is strained so she leaves on a work related assignment that leads to a chance encounter with the now grown Ben, who is still battling with the demons that remained after the destruction from the tsunami.
The story line was superbly crafted and intricate and you will share in the emotional wave that the author created. All of the characters were well developed and strong and by the end of the story you will feel like everything and anything is possible when yo open yourself and your heart to the opportunities that come your way.
I will definitely be reading more from this author.
January 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Becky Wicks is a pro at describing locales in her books so well, that you can feel the sand beneath your feet. The wind coming in from the direction of the ocean. Her books make me wish I had the ability to travel the world, specifically to Bali.
This story is of Isla and Ben, who reunite eleven years after the Boxing Day Tsunami. Isla has returned to Thailand after living a bit of a boring life in the UK, having found that her boyfriend has cheated on her, and with the help of two well meaning friends who think she needs to return in order to deal with the events of that day. Ben returned to Thailand years before, re-opening the business that his uncle was running when the tsunami hit. Each had assumed the other was dead, and after a couple of near misses, they finally run into each other.
What follows is the story of the issues they dealt with following this event, how they each dealt with it, and how they strive to help each other overcome their fears – whether it is a fear of the ocean, or of becoming close to someone.
A nice, enjoyable read. You will be ready to feel that sand on your feet as you read it.
This story is of Isla and Ben, who reunite eleven years after the Boxing Day Tsunami. Isla has returned to Thailand after living a bit of a boring life in the UK, having found that her boyfriend has cheated on her, and with the help of two well meaning friends who think she needs to return in order to deal with the events of that day. Ben returned to Thailand years before, re-opening the business that his uncle was running when the tsunami hit. Each had assumed the other was dead, and after a couple of near misses, they finally run into each other.
What follows is the story of the issues they dealt with following this event, how they each dealt with it, and how they strive to help each other overcome their fears – whether it is a fear of the ocean, or of becoming close to someone.
A nice, enjoyable read. You will be ready to feel that sand on your feet as you read it.
May 1, 2015
*ARR (Advance Reader Review) - copy provided as a gift in exchange for an honest review...
Wow, what an inspiring, touching and romantic tale.
This story is a beautiful, emotional ride that leads you from past to present to past then present all while tickling your senses into the future. We meet Ben and Isla and as the story unfolds it takes us back and forth without any confusion, telling us a tragic tale of how they met, connected and then were ripped apart, only to find each other again and....reconnect? We get to see how each one of them moved on after the tsunami and how it affected the rest of their lives and the way they live/deal with issues today. Then we get to watch as they re connect and work through their fears, issues and find peace in their own way
You can read my complete review on my blog as part of a tour on May 4th: http://wp.me/p54hW9-1Fl
Wow, what an inspiring, touching and romantic tale.
This story is a beautiful, emotional ride that leads you from past to present to past then present all while tickling your senses into the future. We meet Ben and Isla and as the story unfolds it takes us back and forth without any confusion, telling us a tragic tale of how they met, connected and then were ripped apart, only to find each other again and....reconnect? We get to see how each one of them moved on after the tsunami and how it affected the rest of their lives and the way they live/deal with issues today. Then we get to watch as they re connect and work through their fears, issues and find peace in their own way
You can read my complete review on my blog as part of a tour on May 4th: http://wp.me/p54hW9-1Fl
June 19, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I'd just like to start by saying thank you so much, for giving me this amazing story to fall in love with...
First things first... Isla has a cat named Sega.. Enough said there.
Now as for the rest of the story...
This story is about the tsunami of 2004, that basically just came out of no where.. So much damage done, and so many lives lost. The author did an AMAZING job with the double POV of two amazing characters...
First, there's Isla. Or Izzy. She was a young British 16 year old girl when the tsunami took place. She was on vacation with her family in Thailand. I can't give much more away about that, without giving key points of the story away.
Next, there's Ben. Ben is a young American boy who was staying with his uncle at his dive shop in Thailand when the tsunami happened.
This story is about overcoming your fears, finding who you are, learning to forgive and let go, and learning to love. This was seriously a completely gorgeous story..
Ben and Izzy (or Bizzy as Ben likes to call her) met in Thailand 8 days before the tsunami. This is their story of losing each other, and finding one another again 10 years later..
"I'd kissed a couple girls before; more than a couple actually but something about British Izzy had me weak at the knees and chicken shit terrified all at once."
That line, is where I fell in love with Ben. The connection between these two characters is breathtaking. It's almost like they never spent the last 10 years apart. I'm a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason".. These two were meant to meet when they were 16, and no doubt about it that fate played the part of bringing them back together 10 years later...
"He takes my fingers as I walk to the edge and take a deep breath. 'Okay, Izzy, are you sure about this?' 'Yes.' 'The on the count of three,' he says. 'One... Two...' 'Three!' I yell. And with Ben's hand holding mine, I'm falling."
Can we say the feels? That's how I felt here. My heart basically leapt out of my chest right then and there. I seriously felt GOOD after reading that.
The author here has an amazing way of captivating the readers. The detail in this story was far from too little, but definitely not too much. I felt as I could actually picture myself there with them during this entire book. The writing was flawless, and the editing was one of the best jobs I've seen in a very long time. Reviewing this book is actually quite hard. This is a story you can't say anything about without giving it away. It NEEDS to be read though. So many times tragedies happen, and they're overlooked way too often. We all know what happened that day. We all know there were so many deaths. But have any of us ever just sat there and wondered how the survivors of these events would be affected? Have we ever tried seeing things through their eyes? I know I've always felt empathy for the ones involved in these horror stories, but I've never actually imagined it through their specific eyes. This book gave me the option to do that. I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.
"To Isla. An island who rose above. And to Bizzy, who showed me how to love."
First things first... Isla has a cat named Sega.. Enough said there.
Now as for the rest of the story...
This story is about the tsunami of 2004, that basically just came out of no where.. So much damage done, and so many lives lost. The author did an AMAZING job with the double POV of two amazing characters...
First, there's Isla. Or Izzy. She was a young British 16 year old girl when the tsunami took place. She was on vacation with her family in Thailand. I can't give much more away about that, without giving key points of the story away.
Next, there's Ben. Ben is a young American boy who was staying with his uncle at his dive shop in Thailand when the tsunami happened.
This story is about overcoming your fears, finding who you are, learning to forgive and let go, and learning to love. This was seriously a completely gorgeous story..
Ben and Izzy (or Bizzy as Ben likes to call her) met in Thailand 8 days before the tsunami. This is their story of losing each other, and finding one another again 10 years later..
"I'd kissed a couple girls before; more than a couple actually but something about British Izzy had me weak at the knees and chicken shit terrified all at once."
That line, is where I fell in love with Ben. The connection between these two characters is breathtaking. It's almost like they never spent the last 10 years apart. I'm a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason".. These two were meant to meet when they were 16, and no doubt about it that fate played the part of bringing them back together 10 years later...
"He takes my fingers as I walk to the edge and take a deep breath. 'Okay, Izzy, are you sure about this?' 'Yes.' 'The on the count of three,' he says. 'One... Two...' 'Three!' I yell. And with Ben's hand holding mine, I'm falling."
Can we say the feels? That's how I felt here. My heart basically leapt out of my chest right then and there. I seriously felt GOOD after reading that.
The author here has an amazing way of captivating the readers. The detail in this story was far from too little, but definitely not too much. I felt as I could actually picture myself there with them during this entire book. The writing was flawless, and the editing was one of the best jobs I've seen in a very long time. Reviewing this book is actually quite hard. This is a story you can't say anything about without giving it away. It NEEDS to be read though. So many times tragedies happen, and they're overlooked way too often. We all know what happened that day. We all know there were so many deaths. But have any of us ever just sat there and wondered how the survivors of these events would be affected? Have we ever tried seeing things through their eyes? I know I've always felt empathy for the ones involved in these horror stories, but I've never actually imagined it through their specific eyes. This book gave me the option to do that. I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.
"To Isla. An island who rose above. And to Bizzy, who showed me how to love."
July 2, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
No matter where you live in this world you remember hearing about the devastating tsunami that hit all those people that both lived and were vacationing there. For Christmas. So many people lost everything and if you were there you probably lost someone you loved. It was an experience I certainly could never imagine.
This book is about two sixteen year old, Isla and and how they relied on each other during some of the worst moments of their lives. You see them grow, separately, into adults. Rebuilding their lives. Then meet again several years later.
I adored Becky Wicks Before He Was Famous. So I was excited to get the opportunity to read her new book. I am extremely happy I did! This was an amazing story of healing at a time when you think you'll never be able to. The author also paints a beautiful picture of Thailand. Which I think had to be hard while writing of the horrors of what happened. A MUST, MUST read!
No matter where you live in this world you remember hearing about the devastating tsunami that hit all those people that both lived and were vacationing there. For Christmas. So many people lost everything and if you were there you probably lost someone you loved. It was an experience I certainly could never imagine.
This book is about two sixteen year old, Isla and and how they relied on each other during some of the worst moments of their lives. You see them grow, separately, into adults. Rebuilding their lives. Then meet again several years later.
I adored Becky Wicks Before He Was Famous. So I was excited to get the opportunity to read her new book. I am extremely happy I did! This was an amazing story of healing at a time when you think you'll never be able to. The author also paints a beautiful picture of Thailand. Which I think had to be hard while writing of the horrors of what happened. A MUST, MUST read!
June 13, 2015
Living in the South Pacific, we know about the threat of tsunamis. This came to light on Boxing Day 2004 when this natural disaster tore through village and killed more than 300,000. This book tells that story from the point of view of two survivors and weaves in a new adult love story.
Like other new adult books, I smashed through reading it in less than 24 hours. I was lucky that I had a lazy Saturday afternoon as the more I read, the more I felt empathy for both Izzy and Ben. I did think that the first few chapters were slow - name dropping of products, streets, brands etc - but once I got past this the story unraveled.
If you're a true love romantic, or believe that things happen for a reason, then you should read this. I loved the 'believable' coincidences and finding themselves.... Yip, a strong 4 star contender to be sure!
I received a free review ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like other new adult books, I smashed through reading it in less than 24 hours. I was lucky that I had a lazy Saturday afternoon as the more I read, the more I felt empathy for both Izzy and Ben. I did think that the first few chapters were slow - name dropping of products, streets, brands etc - but once I got past this the story unraveled.
If you're a true love romantic, or believe that things happen for a reason, then you should read this. I loved the 'believable' coincidences and finding themselves.... Yip, a strong 4 star contender to be sure!
I received a free review ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2015
The Book "The Day of the Waves" by Becky Wicks, took us all back to a very memerorable day that horrifically took so many lives. The two main characters have had two different levels of healing from this day; one living on the beach where it happended, and one coming to try to deal and heal her life from the loss of the devestation. I found myself crying when the two found out they were both still alive and survived the day, and emothionally enjoyed following their journey from there onwards to how "Bizzy" overcome her realistic views and fears of "The Day of The Wave".
February 20, 2016
Duh. First person, present tense, alternating pov's.
Way WAY too much angst even for me. I LIKE angst, but this was wallowing in it, to the extent that I ended up wanting to laugh. I couldn't get to grips with the characters or their individual 'voices' and there were a lot of 'product placement' moments as well, which I found irritating.
And somehow, to me, it seems a little crass to write a story based on a real-life tragedy which killed over 200,000 people.
Way WAY too much angst even for me. I LIKE angst, but this was wallowing in it, to the extent that I ended up wanting to laugh. I couldn't get to grips with the characters or their individual 'voices' and there were a lot of 'product placement' moments as well, which I found irritating.
And somehow, to me, it seems a little crass to write a story based on a real-life tragedy which killed over 200,000 people.
June 24, 2015
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
All I can say is WOW. This story... and that it's based on actual stories from the tsunami on top of it. Just wow. This story was perfect, handled gracefully, and really took the reader on a ride of love, reunion, despair, tragedy, hope, and so many other emotions. Well done.
All I can say is WOW. This story... and that it's based on actual stories from the tsunami on top of it. Just wow. This story was perfect, handled gracefully, and really took the reader on a ride of love, reunion, despair, tragedy, hope, and so many other emotions. Well done.
July 2, 2016
Loved this book! The author transported me to Thailand even although I have never been there. Loved the story from the perspective of Ben and Izzy and loved how it was linked to a real life event in our life time. Great escapism and would thoroughly recommend
May 9, 2015
The Day Of The Wave
Becky Wicks
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance, women’s literature
I can still remember the shock, the horror of seeing that huge crashing wave that caused such devastation, and it was so traumatic, so awful that it feels like only recently, not ten years ago. Becky has taken real events and fashioned a fictional romance around them. She’s managed to create something beautiful from something that’s awful beyond belief. When Nature lets rip we don’t stand a chance – as seen recently by the avalanche in Nepal that caused massive loss of life, and of course not just death but injuries that change people's lives.
Changing of lives can happen so quickly, one moment we’re happily going about our lives and enjoying everything and then something shatters it, changes it. For me it was a cancer diagnosis that happened just as life was getting easier, with 3 teens and both of us working, then came the big C and my left leg was amputated. Its given us all an insight into how one thing can have a huge impact on life, and how each day needs to be treasured. For those affected by the Tsunami their lives were changed too – even those who survived have either lost family members, or had themselves or others close to them with massive injuries to recover from. That kind of thing changes us, and here Becky has taken the story of two survivors and shown us some of the things that impacted on them to the degree its still affecting their everyday lives ten years later.
Izzy and Ben, just 16 when the wave hit and each had known the other only eight days, and yet in the way of teen/holiday romances that seemed like an age to them. Both thought the other had died in the disaster, and so were shocked to bump into each other ten years later by chance. They’re different people now, and yet that magical thread that grew between them, that attraction and sensuality is still there. Ben; his uncle and younger brother died and he’s recreated his uncle’s dive shop. He’s also done massive charity drives to help the locals rebuild and he’s like one of them now, family to them almost. He’s been all round the world in the intervening time, but never settled anywhere til he came back here. Izzy lost her parents, and is now living and working in London. Her job brings her out to Thailand, though until now she’s avoided going anywhere near the ocean....They can’t believe it when they find each other, but Izzy is on the verge of breaking up with her boyfriend of four years after she’s discovered he cheated on her with her best friend, and Ben – he doesn’t have relationships or exes he says – is “with” Kalaya, someone working in the dive shop. They can’t let each other go though and Ben persuades Izzy to stay for a while, to face some of her fears with his support.
Its a beautiful story, sensitively handled and I felt as if it’s what life may well be like for those that survived. Not just those on holiday, but the locals, who had to try to rebuild shattered lives, homeless, jobless, and with absolutely nothing. It’s easy to see horrors on TV and yet stay devolved from the reality but this is life for so many people, who need and deserve our help. I really enjoyed how Becky wove into the story the memories/nightmares Ben and Izzy had, how others didn’t realise how affected they still were so many years later, how things were rebuilt, with better warnings for any future disasters. We can’t avoid them but we can prepare for them. There’s a bit where she describes how the animals reacted just before the event, that reminded me of how here in UK when there’s a summer thunder storm due all the animals and birds go quiet. One moment the birds are trilling happily then over the next few minutes they all seem to disappear and go quiet. We can learn from animals, we seem to have lost our instincts, but they still use theirs to survive.
Anyway I’ve done a bit of a rambling review here, but its how the story made me feel, brought up many thoughts as I was reading, and it’s very different from Becky’s other books ( which I loved too ), but still a really wonderful read and gives a lot to think about and be grateful for.
Stars: Five, a wonderful read, full of emotion, and feels incredibly real.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
March 23, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
I have really enjoyed books by Becky Wicks before, so I was really excited when I read the blurb for The Day of the Wave. Not only did I expect it to be written well, but I couldn't help but be drawn to the content. It was something I hadn't ever seen in a romance novel before, and I was instantly intrigued about a book that centered around a real life natural disaster. Though I don't necessarily agree with the book's Amazon tagline of being "An inspirational historical romance novel" that followed the real life events of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, I did find it very interesting. Yes the book does touch on the tsunami and how things happened in real life, this book is mainly about Ben and Isla reconnecting in the future.
Ben and Isla met as teenagers just days before the Boxing Day tsunami hit. They both suffered terrible losses as a result and were never the same. Both of them were left with scars, Isla's on the outside while Ben's were internal. But they never knew that the other survived. Now ten years later, a chance meeting reconnects them, and they jump at the chance to spend time together once again. Though a lot has changed as the years have passed, Ben and Isla realize that the connection they once shared has remained. Though no one understands everything that they went through but each other, is it possible for them to leave their pasts behind for a chance at a future together?
I liked Ben and Isla a lot. I thought that they were great for one another, and I loved that they had a connection that had never faded. These two understood one another in a way that no one else could, and they just seemed to always know what the other needed. They supported one another and encouraged each other through good times and bad. It was great to see them push one another, while also understanding that sometimes they just needed to avoid certain subjects. They were both still struggling with so much, and the patience between them was exactly what they needed. They helped one another while also realizing that some things had to be done on their own time table rather than what others thought. I loved the friendship between them and how they had always held onto everything that they had talked about and felt years before. They had such great chemistry, but it was the connection between them that made their bond unbreakable.
While I really liked this story and seeing Ben and Isla reconnect, I did think that there were times my interest started to wane a little with all the details given. Becky Wicks does a great job of describing things so that you feel like you are actually seeing the cities with your own eyes, but I do think that it can sometimes cause the reader to get a little lost in the details. I also had a tough time with how much others factored into this story, when I really wanted Ben and Isla focused on reconnecting with each other. I kept waiting for things to change between them so that we could see them start to figure things out together as a couple, and it took quite awhile before they were each able to actually move forward without being with someone else. I was glad that there was no cheating though, even if that meant that Ben and Isla together took a bit longer. I think that this book was a really interesting story, and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something different. I know this won't be the last I read from Becky Wicks , and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
**ARC Provided by Xpresso Book Tours**
I have really enjoyed books by Becky Wicks before, so I was really excited when I read the blurb for The Day of the Wave. Not only did I expect it to be written well, but I couldn't help but be drawn to the content. It was something I hadn't ever seen in a romance novel before, and I was instantly intrigued about a book that centered around a real life natural disaster. Though I don't necessarily agree with the book's Amazon tagline of being "An inspirational historical romance novel" that followed the real life events of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, I did find it very interesting. Yes the book does touch on the tsunami and how things happened in real life, this book is mainly about Ben and Isla reconnecting in the future.
Ben and Isla met as teenagers just days before the Boxing Day tsunami hit. They both suffered terrible losses as a result and were never the same. Both of them were left with scars, Isla's on the outside while Ben's were internal. But they never knew that the other survived. Now ten years later, a chance meeting reconnects them, and they jump at the chance to spend time together once again. Though a lot has changed as the years have passed, Ben and Isla realize that the connection they once shared has remained. Though no one understands everything that they went through but each other, is it possible for them to leave their pasts behind for a chance at a future together?
I liked Ben and Isla a lot. I thought that they were great for one another, and I loved that they had a connection that had never faded. These two understood one another in a way that no one else could, and they just seemed to always know what the other needed. They supported one another and encouraged each other through good times and bad. It was great to see them push one another, while also understanding that sometimes they just needed to avoid certain subjects. They were both still struggling with so much, and the patience between them was exactly what they needed. They helped one another while also realizing that some things had to be done on their own time table rather than what others thought. I loved the friendship between them and how they had always held onto everything that they had talked about and felt years before. They had such great chemistry, but it was the connection between them that made their bond unbreakable.
While I really liked this story and seeing Ben and Isla reconnect, I did think that there were times my interest started to wane a little with all the details given. Becky Wicks does a great job of describing things so that you feel like you are actually seeing the cities with your own eyes, but I do think that it can sometimes cause the reader to get a little lost in the details. I also had a tough time with how much others factored into this story, when I really wanted Ben and Isla focused on reconnecting with each other. I kept waiting for things to change between them so that we could see them start to figure things out together as a couple, and it took quite awhile before they were each able to actually move forward without being with someone else. I was glad that there was no cheating though, even if that meant that Ben and Isla together took a bit longer. I think that this book was a really interesting story, and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something different. I know this won't be the last I read from Becky Wicks , and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
**ARC Provided by Xpresso Book Tours**
May 18, 2015
Gifted from Netgalley for an honest review – 5 stars
Where to start? I was quite apprehensive going into this book as I knew for sure it was really going to tug at my heart strings due to the content. In fact just the dedication gave me the shivers. Within 4 chapters I had to put this book down for a second to compose myself. Yes, it’s a hard read in places but for me that just intensified my reading pleasure. I absolutely love a book, no matter how disturbing it is, that can pull my emotions to the fore. This did, not so much for the story of Izzy and Ben but more for the history and their circumstances. The really difficult parts to read are the “memories”, the scenes in which there’s very graphic and descriptive text as to what occurred that day in 2004. We’ve all seen it on the television and that was hard enough, but you don’t quite fathom the experiences that people had until you read something like this. I haven’t seen the Ewan MacGregor film (though it’s very much on my to watch list) so I can’t/won’t make comparisons but I imagine that some will.
“A horror movie boat with glassy eyes and perpetual shock on a blue-gray alien face.”
Clearly location is key being what this book is and I think Becky did an absolutely fantastic job bringing the reader to a place where they felt comfortable, almost in awe of their surroundings as they read. It is interspersed with not so beautiful imagery and when you happen upon them it really does catch you unaware. This book is indeed like a wave itself, capturing tumultuous, memorable and enjoyable emotions throughout. It peaks and troughs just as a wave does and I found that absolutely amazing. How an author can capture that and envelope the reader at the same time is truly magnificent.
“I smile under his lips as my heart expands and contracts like a loved-up jellyfish in my chest.”
Izzy and Ben re-unite through a chance meeting. And while Ben has carefully schooled his heart away and it looks like he’s managed to put his past behind him, Izzy is very much stuck in it and desperately trying to keep her head above water. What follows is their story of second chance love, a friendship re-aligned and a chance for them both to move forward with each other and heal. There’s many relationship dynamics to contend with in this novel and most are beautifully painted, rich character development and a dual pov allows the reader to “know” these characters and slowly but surely fall in love with them. They are very real and very believable which I was thankful for as to have written them any other way would have spoilt this story. You are with them every single step of the way rooting for their HEA through all their trials and tribulations. The basic plot line isn’t anything I haven’t seen done before but Becky took a risk I think using the 2004 tsunami as her backdrop and applying this plot line to a rudimentary story. It worked so very well.
“The water roars over me again; so real it makes me choke. My lungs are full of cold, wet sand. I’m drowning from the inside out.”
Beautifully written and riddled with quotes that really do give your heart a wobble, this book deserves to do very well, and I hope that it does. I loved it, even though it ripped my heart to pieces in places. This broke me in so many ways. It’s an ugly cry but there is so much love between these pages that it salves that ache. Congrats Becky, very highly recommended! If you want a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows then this book is a must….
Where to start? I was quite apprehensive going into this book as I knew for sure it was really going to tug at my heart strings due to the content. In fact just the dedication gave me the shivers. Within 4 chapters I had to put this book down for a second to compose myself. Yes, it’s a hard read in places but for me that just intensified my reading pleasure. I absolutely love a book, no matter how disturbing it is, that can pull my emotions to the fore. This did, not so much for the story of Izzy and Ben but more for the history and their circumstances. The really difficult parts to read are the “memories”, the scenes in which there’s very graphic and descriptive text as to what occurred that day in 2004. We’ve all seen it on the television and that was hard enough, but you don’t quite fathom the experiences that people had until you read something like this. I haven’t seen the Ewan MacGregor film (though it’s very much on my to watch list) so I can’t/won’t make comparisons but I imagine that some will.
“A horror movie boat with glassy eyes and perpetual shock on a blue-gray alien face.”
Clearly location is key being what this book is and I think Becky did an absolutely fantastic job bringing the reader to a place where they felt comfortable, almost in awe of their surroundings as they read. It is interspersed with not so beautiful imagery and when you happen upon them it really does catch you unaware. This book is indeed like a wave itself, capturing tumultuous, memorable and enjoyable emotions throughout. It peaks and troughs just as a wave does and I found that absolutely amazing. How an author can capture that and envelope the reader at the same time is truly magnificent.
“I smile under his lips as my heart expands and contracts like a loved-up jellyfish in my chest.”
Izzy and Ben re-unite through a chance meeting. And while Ben has carefully schooled his heart away and it looks like he’s managed to put his past behind him, Izzy is very much stuck in it and desperately trying to keep her head above water. What follows is their story of second chance love, a friendship re-aligned and a chance for them both to move forward with each other and heal. There’s many relationship dynamics to contend with in this novel and most are beautifully painted, rich character development and a dual pov allows the reader to “know” these characters and slowly but surely fall in love with them. They are very real and very believable which I was thankful for as to have written them any other way would have spoilt this story. You are with them every single step of the way rooting for their HEA through all their trials and tribulations. The basic plot line isn’t anything I haven’t seen done before but Becky took a risk I think using the 2004 tsunami as her backdrop and applying this plot line to a rudimentary story. It worked so very well.
“The water roars over me again; so real it makes me choke. My lungs are full of cold, wet sand. I’m drowning from the inside out.”
Beautifully written and riddled with quotes that really do give your heart a wobble, this book deserves to do very well, and I hope that it does. I loved it, even though it ripped my heart to pieces in places. This broke me in so many ways. It’s an ugly cry but there is so much love between these pages that it salves that ache. Congrats Becky, very highly recommended! If you want a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows then this book is a must….
May 22, 2015
**I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
What do you do when everything you know, everyone you hold near and dear to your heart, and (what seems like) the whole world is turned upside down, torn apart? How do you cope when you’re left scrambling with shreds of the life you had? How does the tragedy change you?
For Isla and Ben, these questions – hypothetical’s that humans occasionally ponder as they consider their place in the world and the meaning of their lives – became the only thoughts in their minds after the tsunami swept through Thailand on December 26, 2004. They both lost. Period, straight up, no prettying-it-up... They lost. They lost family. They lost faith. They lost friends. They lost each other.
And then life went on.
More than ten years later they randomly run into each other and it all, the memories, pain, everything, it all comes back. This time they each need to face what happened then in order to be able to move forward happily with their lives; and it helps that they can face the troubles and terrors of that horrible day together. Toss in exes, new/old friends, well meaning strangers, a backpacking thief, and a wise-eyed elephant and you’ve got The Day of the Wave.
I was apprehensive about reading Amie Stuart’s new novel. I just couldn’t decide whether reading this story was something that I would be able to push through. I’d pick it up and think to myself “today is the day!” and then nothing. Until one day I finally buckled down, told myself I had to do it. I’ve read books that I’ve disliked before. I’ve forced myself to read all the way through books that within a few chapters of starting, I knew I was going not going to like at all. I was nervous that Day of the Wave was going to end up being one of them.
But then Isla’s pain and her fear caught at my heart and it didn’t take long for me to realize that Ben used his work and even his optimistic attitude to mask his lingering fear and guilt. More than a decade after the tsunami they both struggled and fought (each in their own ways) to survive. And as I read I realized that that – the struggle, the pain, the hope and desire for life, was the point. The story was about what they lost, it was about what they had to do to survive. In the end, they story was about that and so much more – because in the end Isla and Ben don’t just survive, they live.
I don’t know that I can say that I love this book. Saying that doesn’t really explain how I feel, perhaps a better way of describing it would be that the story touched my heart. Yes. It touched my heart – because you don’t have to have lived through a tsunami or other natural disaster to understand the kind of loss that shatters you to a degree that you don’t know whether you can survive it, or whether you even want to. So yes, The Day of the Wave touched me and I recommend you read it, so that it can touch you as well.
What do you do when everything you know, everyone you hold near and dear to your heart, and (what seems like) the whole world is turned upside down, torn apart? How do you cope when you’re left scrambling with shreds of the life you had? How does the tragedy change you?
For Isla and Ben, these questions – hypothetical’s that humans occasionally ponder as they consider their place in the world and the meaning of their lives – became the only thoughts in their minds after the tsunami swept through Thailand on December 26, 2004. They both lost. Period, straight up, no prettying-it-up... They lost. They lost family. They lost faith. They lost friends. They lost each other.
And then life went on.
More than ten years later they randomly run into each other and it all, the memories, pain, everything, it all comes back. This time they each need to face what happened then in order to be able to move forward happily with their lives; and it helps that they can face the troubles and terrors of that horrible day together. Toss in exes, new/old friends, well meaning strangers, a backpacking thief, and a wise-eyed elephant and you’ve got The Day of the Wave.
I was apprehensive about reading Amie Stuart’s new novel. I just couldn’t decide whether reading this story was something that I would be able to push through. I’d pick it up and think to myself “today is the day!” and then nothing. Until one day I finally buckled down, told myself I had to do it. I’ve read books that I’ve disliked before. I’ve forced myself to read all the way through books that within a few chapters of starting, I knew I was going not going to like at all. I was nervous that Day of the Wave was going to end up being one of them.
But then Isla’s pain and her fear caught at my heart and it didn’t take long for me to realize that Ben used his work and even his optimistic attitude to mask his lingering fear and guilt. More than a decade after the tsunami they both struggled and fought (each in their own ways) to survive. And as I read I realized that that – the struggle, the pain, the hope and desire for life, was the point. The story was about what they lost, it was about what they had to do to survive. In the end, they story was about that and so much more – because in the end Isla and Ben don’t just survive, they live.
I don’t know that I can say that I love this book. Saying that doesn’t really explain how I feel, perhaps a better way of describing it would be that the story touched my heart. Yes. It touched my heart – because you don’t have to have lived through a tsunami or other natural disaster to understand the kind of loss that shatters you to a degree that you don’t know whether you can survive it, or whether you even want to. So yes, The Day of the Wave touched me and I recommend you read it, so that it can touch you as well.
May 26, 2015
Why a booktrail?
A fictional tale of two sixteen year olds who were caught up in the Tsunami of 2004
for the literary locations please visit - The Day of the Wave booktrail
The setting of the Boxing Day Tsunami must be one of the most vivid yet heartbreaking scenes that is still so firmly etched on everyone’s minds . The magnitude of the earthquake which triggered the tsunami measured some 9.2 on the Richter scale and hit off the western coast of Northern Sumatra. The author mentions that around 14 countries and 5 million people were affected in some way.
Building up a fictional story from such shocking real life events is to bring that event back to life and some scenes are upsetting yet told though the eyes of two sixteen year olds, this is one first and foremost of adventure and first love. But this adventure has soured quickly and bad memories linger. For Isla –
My friends can sympathise and I love them for it, but their idea of Thailand in general is different to mine. they can’t ever imagine the smell of rotting corpses in 35 degree heat….bodies piled upon bodies, the mangled concrete, the twisted tuk tuks.
How do you get over something like that? Do you ever and what happens when you meet the one person who brings all of those memories back and more?
Each one of them has moved on after the tsunami but the effects of that time are both heartbreaking and hopeful – how its shaped them and how it shaped their young lives in to the people they are today. Thinking of the water, he remembers. He has built this life back up for himself, this life of diving and sea and sand. But he remembers
She doesn’t know the details, of course: what happened once we were out there
Their stories merge and slowly they learn what the tsunami really destroyed that day.
Bookish musings
This is a poignant story of two young people and how they deal with such a huge tragedy. I remember seeing this on the news and wondering how people coped afterwards and this book really made me think. How one day, can change your life beyond belief and how you cope with it afterwards.How one tiny detail can make you have flashbacks..
This story really hits a nerve as it could be true – people who lost each other that day and years later find each other again – a remarkable story and the way Becky tells it through the eyes of two young people makes it all the more poignant. This is a journey of pain and suffering but also of healing and living life when you have a second chance.
A fictional tale of two sixteen year olds who were caught up in the Tsunami of 2004
for the literary locations please visit - The Day of the Wave booktrail
The setting of the Boxing Day Tsunami must be one of the most vivid yet heartbreaking scenes that is still so firmly etched on everyone’s minds . The magnitude of the earthquake which triggered the tsunami measured some 9.2 on the Richter scale and hit off the western coast of Northern Sumatra. The author mentions that around 14 countries and 5 million people were affected in some way.
Building up a fictional story from such shocking real life events is to bring that event back to life and some scenes are upsetting yet told though the eyes of two sixteen year olds, this is one first and foremost of adventure and first love. But this adventure has soured quickly and bad memories linger. For Isla –
My friends can sympathise and I love them for it, but their idea of Thailand in general is different to mine. they can’t ever imagine the smell of rotting corpses in 35 degree heat….bodies piled upon bodies, the mangled concrete, the twisted tuk tuks.
How do you get over something like that? Do you ever and what happens when you meet the one person who brings all of those memories back and more?
Each one of them has moved on after the tsunami but the effects of that time are both heartbreaking and hopeful – how its shaped them and how it shaped their young lives in to the people they are today. Thinking of the water, he remembers. He has built this life back up for himself, this life of diving and sea and sand. But he remembers
She doesn’t know the details, of course: what happened once we were out there
Their stories merge and slowly they learn what the tsunami really destroyed that day.
Bookish musings
This is a poignant story of two young people and how they deal with such a huge tragedy. I remember seeing this on the news and wondering how people coped afterwards and this book really made me think. How one day, can change your life beyond belief and how you cope with it afterwards.How one tiny detail can make you have flashbacks..
This story really hits a nerve as it could be true – people who lost each other that day and years later find each other again – a remarkable story and the way Becky tells it through the eyes of two young people makes it all the more poignant. This is a journey of pain and suffering but also of healing and living life when you have a second chance.
June 19, 2015
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review**
I signed up to review this book because I really really love second chance love stories. Then I had issues receiving it and even offered to give up my copy. Then we tried something else and I ended up receiving it. And all I have to say is....thank goodness!
This book was a wonderful surprise for me. The plot is original, the characters were genuinely likeable, the relationships and their issues were believable, the pacing was good, and the writing is on point. Combined, all of the positives equaled a wonderfully enjoyable reading experience.
I don't normally do point by point, long-winded reviews that map every plot point and dropping direct quotes in every other sentence. Typically, I like to give a broad enough review that you know I liked it and why but not give away specifics that will ruin your experience.
Isla is a great heroine. She is flawed and believes herself to be weak but through the course of events in the book, comes to realize that she has always been strong and actually starts believing it.
Ben is a great hero. He had such a zest for life and believes himself to be living it to the fullest through all of his adventures but comes to realize that maybe he too is flawed and has things to examine about himself.
I really enjoyed watching the growth and changes in both of these characters. I really enjoyed the interaction with the supporting characters. Knowing that this story is based (even in part) on actual events makes it even easier to become emotionally invested.
This is a book that tugged at my emotions because I remember this disaster taking place and all of the lives lost as a result. It was heart-wrenching to watch the footage so I cannot imagine actually living it. The writing in this book made it more relatable on a human/relationship level while still making it understood how overwhelming the devastation was on a national level.
For me, this book is a solid 5 star read because there were so very many things done correctly. From character development to plot to pacing to resolution, this book worked for me in a way that not many do.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a second chance romance that has it all.
I signed up to review this book because I really really love second chance love stories. Then I had issues receiving it and even offered to give up my copy. Then we tried something else and I ended up receiving it. And all I have to say is....thank goodness!
This book was a wonderful surprise for me. The plot is original, the characters were genuinely likeable, the relationships and their issues were believable, the pacing was good, and the writing is on point. Combined, all of the positives equaled a wonderfully enjoyable reading experience.
I don't normally do point by point, long-winded reviews that map every plot point and dropping direct quotes in every other sentence. Typically, I like to give a broad enough review that you know I liked it and why but not give away specifics that will ruin your experience.
Isla is a great heroine. She is flawed and believes herself to be weak but through the course of events in the book, comes to realize that she has always been strong and actually starts believing it.
Ben is a great hero. He had such a zest for life and believes himself to be living it to the fullest through all of his adventures but comes to realize that maybe he too is flawed and has things to examine about himself.
I really enjoyed watching the growth and changes in both of these characters. I really enjoyed the interaction with the supporting characters. Knowing that this story is based (even in part) on actual events makes it even easier to become emotionally invested.
This is a book that tugged at my emotions because I remember this disaster taking place and all of the lives lost as a result. It was heart-wrenching to watch the footage so I cannot imagine actually living it. The writing in this book made it more relatable on a human/relationship level while still making it understood how overwhelming the devastation was on a national level.
For me, this book is a solid 5 star read because there were so very many things done correctly. From character development to plot to pacing to resolution, this book worked for me in a way that not many do.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a second chance romance that has it all.
June 17, 2015
I received a free ePub copy in return for an honest review.
First of all, I really liked how the author explored the trauma caused by being caught up in a natural disaster. I found this even more interesting than the love story. It was one thing to have heard and watched the actual media reports at the time, quite another to understand the events and its consequences through the voices of Ben and Isla. It's a great technique that works really well here.
Their lives after the tsunami are slowly revealed. I enjoyed the complicated journey following the characters. The pace was slow and I liked it that way. It gave me time to absorb their current situations and stresses, and then to discover what happened to them in the tsunami to become the people they are.
These are flawed and complicated characters and I wanted to get to know them better as I read more.
Even their love story,and how they cope with their emotions, seems to be a way of showing how the effects of the tsunami has led to their insecurities and fears.
If there are any down sides, one might be that Ben is a better drawn character than Isla, but that is probably because his post tsunami life is rich and full of meaning, other than his inability to commit to women. But even then, the reasons for that are explored.
In contrast, Isla has done little with her life and has built a cocoon around herself.
You could read it as just a love story, but I found it much more than that.
I don't often give books as many as four stars, but this is definitely a four star because of the style of writing, the character development and the opportunity to reflect on how disasters affect real individuals.
Oh,and there are a couple of real gems to quote “Someone told me once that if you want to know where your heart is, you should look at where your mind goes when it wanders.”
And Ben's interpretation of EE Cummings Quote “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea.”
First of all, I really liked how the author explored the trauma caused by being caught up in a natural disaster. I found this even more interesting than the love story. It was one thing to have heard and watched the actual media reports at the time, quite another to understand the events and its consequences through the voices of Ben and Isla. It's a great technique that works really well here.
Their lives after the tsunami are slowly revealed. I enjoyed the complicated journey following the characters. The pace was slow and I liked it that way. It gave me time to absorb their current situations and stresses, and then to discover what happened to them in the tsunami to become the people they are.
These are flawed and complicated characters and I wanted to get to know them better as I read more.
Even their love story,and how they cope with their emotions, seems to be a way of showing how the effects of the tsunami has led to their insecurities and fears.
If there are any down sides, one might be that Ben is a better drawn character than Isla, but that is probably because his post tsunami life is rich and full of meaning, other than his inability to commit to women. But even then, the reasons for that are explored.
In contrast, Isla has done little with her life and has built a cocoon around herself.
You could read it as just a love story, but I found it much more than that.
I don't often give books as many as four stars, but this is definitely a four star because of the style of writing, the character development and the opportunity to reflect on how disasters affect real individuals.
Oh,and there are a couple of real gems to quote “Someone told me once that if you want to know where your heart is, you should look at where your mind goes when it wanders.”
And Ben's interpretation of EE Cummings Quote “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea.”
July 15, 2015
I received this book from Xpresso Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review.
Isla and Ben both survived the Tsunami of 2004 physically. Mentally, their minds and hearts were gone or a long ways away. They met while Isla was on vacation with her family. They fell for each other those 6 days they spent together and little did they know that their plans to spend the evening together after Ben’s diving excursion the 26th of December would never happen. Natural disasters have a way of ruining lives, breaking people, and bringing loved ones closer together. Little did Ben and Isla know, but they would reunite eventually and help each other heal.
This book was amazing, incredible, wonderful, and so much more. Although it is a fiction story, it is based on actual accounts from that time of the 2004 Tsunami on December 26th. It was incredibly heart wrenching hearing the stories they went through and that others went through. It made my heart hurt, made my stomach hurt, and made me want to cry. It was all in a good way if that is possible. The incredible detail this author put into this story and the thought that she put into telling such a delicate story. Isla and Ben are two courageous people, fictional as they may be in the story, I’m certain the real people that these characters are based off of are amazing, amazing people. This book makes me feel a little better towards humanity and the way that the people who survived reached out to help those that were hurt and injured. Also the way that they helped one another rebuild their businesses. They became family for each other and for those that truly lost all of their family. This book made me think, about a lot of different things; family, friends, love, and loss. Such an incredible story. I am so happy that I read it and definitely think you should read it too!
Isla and Ben both survived the Tsunami of 2004 physically. Mentally, their minds and hearts were gone or a long ways away. They met while Isla was on vacation with her family. They fell for each other those 6 days they spent together and little did they know that their plans to spend the evening together after Ben’s diving excursion the 26th of December would never happen. Natural disasters have a way of ruining lives, breaking people, and bringing loved ones closer together. Little did Ben and Isla know, but they would reunite eventually and help each other heal.
This book was amazing, incredible, wonderful, and so much more. Although it is a fiction story, it is based on actual accounts from that time of the 2004 Tsunami on December 26th. It was incredibly heart wrenching hearing the stories they went through and that others went through. It made my heart hurt, made my stomach hurt, and made me want to cry. It was all in a good way if that is possible. The incredible detail this author put into this story and the thought that she put into telling such a delicate story. Isla and Ben are two courageous people, fictional as they may be in the story, I’m certain the real people that these characters are based off of are amazing, amazing people. This book makes me feel a little better towards humanity and the way that the people who survived reached out to help those that were hurt and injured. Also the way that they helped one another rebuild their businesses. They became family for each other and for those that truly lost all of their family. This book made me think, about a lot of different things; family, friends, love, and loss. Such an incredible story. I am so happy that I read it and definitely think you should read it too!
May 21, 2015
Going in to this book I expected to find a love story based on a shared experience through tragedy between two people who reconnect after 10 long years. What I didn't expect was the detailed imagery and emotional upheaval that followed.
This was so much more than just a second chance romance, it's a tribute to the pain and suffering of a whole continent through a natural disaster and a testament to the strength of the human race after said tragedy.
Through the telling of Ben and Isla's story my eyes were opened to a lot of things that I never even thought of after the Tsunami in Thailand years ago. It was heart-wrenching at times, but being able to see Isla and Ben healing each other over time made it a little easier to read.
At first I thought Ben was the strongest, bravest guy around. Once I really got to know him though, it's easy to see that he is almost the opposite of those things. While it seems as though he's embracing tragedy and turning it on its head by sticking around and facing the aftermath head on, it becomes clear that he's actually stuck in a way of thinking that won't let him move on at all.
Isla seems broken and fearful from the get go but when her and Ben discover each other alive after all these years, it's like a switch is flipped and she finally starts to really live.
Isla and Ben are just two people who have experienced great loss that reunite and prove that sometimes life has a way of putting you exactly where you're supposed to be, exactly when your meant to be there.
While this story is low on angst I found myself shedding tears more than once. As much as they were sad tears, they were happy tears. Happy tears because the whole story is a giant reminder of the resilience of the human race. This is a definite must read book that I will probably read more than once.
This was so much more than just a second chance romance, it's a tribute to the pain and suffering of a whole continent through a natural disaster and a testament to the strength of the human race after said tragedy.
Through the telling of Ben and Isla's story my eyes were opened to a lot of things that I never even thought of after the Tsunami in Thailand years ago. It was heart-wrenching at times, but being able to see Isla and Ben healing each other over time made it a little easier to read.
At first I thought Ben was the strongest, bravest guy around. Once I really got to know him though, it's easy to see that he is almost the opposite of those things. While it seems as though he's embracing tragedy and turning it on its head by sticking around and facing the aftermath head on, it becomes clear that he's actually stuck in a way of thinking that won't let him move on at all.
Isla seems broken and fearful from the get go but when her and Ben discover each other alive after all these years, it's like a switch is flipped and she finally starts to really live.
Isla and Ben are just two people who have experienced great loss that reunite and prove that sometimes life has a way of putting you exactly where you're supposed to be, exactly when your meant to be there.
While this story is low on angst I found myself shedding tears more than once. As much as they were sad tears, they were happy tears. Happy tears because the whole story is a giant reminder of the resilience of the human race. This is a definite must read book that I will probably read more than once.
May 11, 2015
This book is a must-read. I haven't cried so much (happy tears as well as sad ones) since I read Rowan Coleman's We Are All Made of Stars.
There are some beautiful descriptive pieces of the beauty of Thailand, which contrast with the horrific descriptions of the tsunami aftermath.
It is the story of 2 people who met in Thailand in December 2004 and each believed the other to have died in the tsunami. Ben and Izzy are two very strong characters, each with their own coping mechanism to help them deal with the aftermath of the tsunami and the fact that they both survived when thousands died in Thailand.
They accidentally come across each other ten years later in Bangkok and the book is the story of their relationship and how they have to face their own demons. Izzy, on the face of it, has a good life. She has a job, flat, boyfriend and cat - all the modern signs of a successful life. But she is very OCD and has never been near a beach or the sea since the tsunami. Ben is a diving instructor in Thailand, having lived in many places and with no serious relationships in his life.
The book follows them as they get to know each other and start to help each other through the emotional barriers. This is very painful for both of them - and the reader!
I cannot emphasise how much I loved this book. When I received the ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I wasn't sure about it, but am so thankful I read it. This is one book that will stay with me for many years.
There are some beautiful descriptive pieces of the beauty of Thailand, which contrast with the horrific descriptions of the tsunami aftermath.
It is the story of 2 people who met in Thailand in December 2004 and each believed the other to have died in the tsunami. Ben and Izzy are two very strong characters, each with their own coping mechanism to help them deal with the aftermath of the tsunami and the fact that they both survived when thousands died in Thailand.
They accidentally come across each other ten years later in Bangkok and the book is the story of their relationship and how they have to face their own demons. Izzy, on the face of it, has a good life. She has a job, flat, boyfriend and cat - all the modern signs of a successful life. But she is very OCD and has never been near a beach or the sea since the tsunami. Ben is a diving instructor in Thailand, having lived in many places and with no serious relationships in his life.
The book follows them as they get to know each other and start to help each other through the emotional barriers. This is very painful for both of them - and the reader!
I cannot emphasise how much I loved this book. When I received the ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I wasn't sure about it, but am so thankful I read it. This is one book that will stay with me for many years.
July 13, 2015
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, and thought the plot had such potential. There were many things about the book that I just didn't like, and I'm so sad I have to say that because I really wanted to love this book.
First, I found some errors throughout the book, although that has nothing to do with my rating. In one chapter, Isla is talking with her father in December, 2004, and he says something about how YouTube would love to see his wife riding on an elephant. YouTube wasn't created until February of 2005. It's a small error, but I'm picky.
Secondly, I continuously wanted to slap both Isla and Colin, sometimes even Ben. Without revealing any spoilers, it was just impossible for me to connect with Isla. The way she handles Colin really just got on my nerves, and ultimately made me stop reading at 85%. While I skimmed through the rest, I couldn't force myself to read each page after that. I was annoyed and angered, and felt that the book was sort of ruined at that point. I understand books need little twists, but it was totally unnecessary.
I really wish I could've given this a 4 or 5 stars, because it had such great potential. I'd still recommend that people read it, especially if they are interested in real life events and natural disasters/coping from them. It wasn't an awful book, it just wasn't for me.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, and thought the plot had such potential. There were many things about the book that I just didn't like, and I'm so sad I have to say that because I really wanted to love this book.
First, I found some errors throughout the book, although that has nothing to do with my rating. In one chapter, Isla is talking with her father in December, 2004, and he says something about how YouTube would love to see his wife riding on an elephant. YouTube wasn't created until February of 2005. It's a small error, but I'm picky.
Secondly, I continuously wanted to slap both Isla and Colin, sometimes even Ben. Without revealing any spoilers, it was just impossible for me to connect with Isla. The way she handles Colin really just got on my nerves, and ultimately made me stop reading at 85%. While I skimmed through the rest, I couldn't force myself to read each page after that. I was annoyed and angered, and felt that the book was sort of ruined at that point. I understand books need little twists, but it was totally unnecessary.
I really wish I could've given this a 4 or 5 stars, because it had such great potential. I'd still recommend that people read it, especially if they are interested in real life events and natural disasters/coping from them. It wasn't an awful book, it just wasn't for me.
May 23, 2015
I was asked to read this by TBC on Facebook in exchange for an honest review and thought it would be a change from my current favourite genre which is thrillers. I remember watching the news after the Boxing Day Tsunami hit Thailand and other surrounding countries and seeing on screen that huge wall of the wave coming in, being filmed by the people that were in buildings facing it and thinking OMG how did anyone survive that? The Day of the Wave is told by Ben and Isla (Izzy), both of them caught up in the tsunami, losing loved ones and each of them believing the other is dead, only to find out by a chance meeting 10 years later that this is not the case. It is a heart wrenching story, which the author has researched thoroughly and by listening to people's accounts of what happened on that fateful day, has brought us, the readers, a truly amazing insight into how much devastation it caused to many villages and communities but it also shows how the survivors came through it the other side and pulled together to rebuild those communities and the strength it took to do this. It took me less than a day to read this book, a definite CPID story which I spent half of it smiling and half of it crying my eyes out! The author has produced a truly brilliant story which I would have liked to have given many more stars than the five that Amazon will allow me to, absolutely loved it. Well done Becky Wicks, hope to read more of your work in the future.
May 5, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Isla met Ben when on vacation with her parents in Thailand. Both sixteen years old and enjoying the flirting that went on between them. Just a few days later the tsunami hit and both their lives were changed forever. It has been over a decade since Isla has lost her parents and the boy she was starting to have feelings for. She is still afraid of the ocean and has never been back to Thailand. Until know when she has to go for work. Ben lost his little brother and uncle in the tsunami, along with the girl he had just met. He hasn't been the same since. Seeing a familiar looking women on the street he doesn't think it is possible that she is Isla. He has to know and calls out her name.
I fell in love with the characters in this book. The pain and heartache they went through. The strength it took to rebuild their lives and move on. This was so much more then a romance. The two main characters Ben and Isla were both broken people after that day. The need each other to help them heal. Some emotional pain just takes longer then others. The secondary characters play an important part of the book. Their friends, locals show how amazing people are when they pull together and overcome a tragedy.
Isla met Ben when on vacation with her parents in Thailand. Both sixteen years old and enjoying the flirting that went on between them. Just a few days later the tsunami hit and both their lives were changed forever. It has been over a decade since Isla has lost her parents and the boy she was starting to have feelings for. She is still afraid of the ocean and has never been back to Thailand. Until know when she has to go for work. Ben lost his little brother and uncle in the tsunami, along with the girl he had just met. He hasn't been the same since. Seeing a familiar looking women on the street he doesn't think it is possible that she is Isla. He has to know and calls out her name.
I fell in love with the characters in this book. The pain and heartache they went through. The strength it took to rebuild their lives and move on. This was so much more then a romance. The two main characters Ben and Isla were both broken people after that day. The need each other to help them heal. Some emotional pain just takes longer then others. The secondary characters play an important part of the book. Their friends, locals show how amazing people are when they pull together and overcome a tragedy.
July 18, 2015
I received an Arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Ben and Isla meet at age 16 on the beach in Thailand. They only had two weeks together before a tsunami destroys their worlds. The story is written in alternating POV's from Isla and Ben. I loved how the author did not detail the devastation of the tsunami in the beginning chapters or make it the forefront of the book. Instead, the "Day of the Wave" was interwoven throughout the book. It's more the backdrop of this epic love story and done perfectly. The story is about their reconnection and how they each have dealt with their tragedies.
I loved Ben. What is revealed about Ben and his accomplishments post tsunami is so heart warming and downright sexy.
I felt I understood Ben a lot more then Isla. More of Ben's story involving his family is detailed a bit more than Isla's. Because of this I could not easily connect with Isla as much. It did not take away from my enjoyment of the story but I do wish I was able to connect more with her.
I loved this story so much and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. The writing style kept me engaged and I found myself unable to put my kindle down until the book was finished!
Ben and Isla meet at age 16 on the beach in Thailand. They only had two weeks together before a tsunami destroys their worlds. The story is written in alternating POV's from Isla and Ben. I loved how the author did not detail the devastation of the tsunami in the beginning chapters or make it the forefront of the book. Instead, the "Day of the Wave" was interwoven throughout the book. It's more the backdrop of this epic love story and done perfectly. The story is about their reconnection and how they each have dealt with their tragedies.
I loved Ben. What is revealed about Ben and his accomplishments post tsunami is so heart warming and downright sexy.
I felt I understood Ben a lot more then Isla. More of Ben's story involving his family is detailed a bit more than Isla's. Because of this I could not easily connect with Isla as much. It did not take away from my enjoyment of the story but I do wish I was able to connect more with her.
I loved this story so much and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. The writing style kept me engaged and I found myself unable to put my kindle down until the book was finished!
June 6, 2015
Amazing! I really connected with this book and feel so blessed to have been sent a copy to review.
I have a rather macabre fascination with natural disasters and those who triumph above the disasters so was drawn straight from the beginning.
Isla is a young woman recovering from the mental impact the boxing day tsunami caused her. a chance meeting causes her to face her daemons whether she wants to or not. facing them brings healing and life changing rewards. the universe will always find a way to get life's back on track.
the writer has done such a wonderful job with this book it makes me wonder more about her personally, about her experiences. did she experience this herself? Or has this been researched to the nth degree? Either way, I have gained much respect for this author in the way she has written this story. I am a mother of an anxiety sufferer and of a sufferer of OCD and these conditions have been highlighted in this story in a very truthful way bringing me closer to the character, understanding her journey all the more.
I would fully recommend this book to all.
I'm now looking forward to finding more books by this author.
I have a rather macabre fascination with natural disasters and those who triumph above the disasters so was drawn straight from the beginning.
Isla is a young woman recovering from the mental impact the boxing day tsunami caused her. a chance meeting causes her to face her daemons whether she wants to or not. facing them brings healing and life changing rewards. the universe will always find a way to get life's back on track.
the writer has done such a wonderful job with this book it makes me wonder more about her personally, about her experiences. did she experience this herself? Or has this been researched to the nth degree? Either way, I have gained much respect for this author in the way she has written this story. I am a mother of an anxiety sufferer and of a sufferer of OCD and these conditions have been highlighted in this story in a very truthful way bringing me closer to the character, understanding her journey all the more.
I would fully recommend this book to all.
I'm now looking forward to finding more books by this author.
May 19, 2015
This was not my usual kind of read, but I'm glad I picked it up - it's marketed on Amazon as a "historical romance novel", and I wouldn't agree with that. Although somewhat historical (seeing as it was 10 years ago), the tag line might have put me off picking it up, as I would have been expecting a reeeealllly historic novel! That said, I did read it and I actually LOVED IT.
I'm not sure whether Becky actually has first experience of events in Thailand that day, or if she just did heaps of excellent research, but her descriptions of what happened on the day of the wave are exquisite - you can almost feel the terror pouring off the page.
Her characters are well-written and very likeable - the tension between Isla and Ben is brilliant, and I almost felt like actively cheering them on! There are a few unpleasant characters, and they are also well-written in such a way, that although I didn't particularly like them, I still wanted to know what they had to say. Although upsetting in places, I really enjoyed The Day Of The Wave and definitely recommend it, although I do think the Amazon tag-line needs to be changed!
I'm not sure whether Becky actually has first experience of events in Thailand that day, or if she just did heaps of excellent research, but her descriptions of what happened on the day of the wave are exquisite - you can almost feel the terror pouring off the page.
Her characters are well-written and very likeable - the tension between Isla and Ben is brilliant, and I almost felt like actively cheering them on! There are a few unpleasant characters, and they are also well-written in such a way, that although I didn't particularly like them, I still wanted to know what they had to say. Although upsetting in places, I really enjoyed The Day Of The Wave and definitely recommend it, although I do think the Amazon tag-line needs to be changed!
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