Lejtő ​a tenger felé

by Lidija Hilje, Gabriella Szaszkó (Translator)

Ivona tíz évvel ezelőtt vált el élete szerelmétől, Vlahótól, akivel még diákként találkoztak az ezredforduló kezdetén, amikor az újonnan alakult, demokratikus Horvátország még tele volt reménnyel és ígérettel. Azonban a még csak kibontakozó ország hirtelen jelentkező kihívásai egymás után fojtják meg Ivona álmait, és egy letaglózó titok arra kényszeríti, hogy engedje el a férjét.

A jelenben Vlaho már újraházasodott, és két gyermek édesapja, miközben Ivona élete lejtőre kerül, és harmincas éveiben vissza kényszerül költözni gyerekkori otthonába, hogy gondoskodjon beteg apukájáról. Ivona az élet csalódásaitól sújtva abban talál vigaszt, hogy újra szorosabbra fűzik a kapcsolatot Vlahóval, aki lelkes feleségével, Marinával boldogan fogadja be a családjukba őt. Azonban amikor egy új férfi lép be Ivona életébe, a törékeny egyensúly hármuk között megremeg, és arra kényszeríti őket, hogy mindannyian nézzenek szembe a múlttal.

Az elbűvölő horvát tengerparton játszódó történet festői, érzelmektől telített debütáló regény a lehetőségek törékenységéről és a szerelem átható erejéről.

„Egy nap majd találok valakit, aki felfeszíti a magam köré növesztett kagylóhéját, és megtalálja az odabent rejtőző gyöngyöket.”

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Literary Fiction, Summer, Contemporary, Audiobook, Historical Fiction

404 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2025

About the author

Lidija Hilje is a Croatian writer and book coach. After over ten years of trying cases before Croatian courts, she traded in her legal briefcase for a sharpened pencil, and has been writing and working professionally with writers ever since — all in English as her second language. Slanting Towards the Sea is her first novel.

Reviews

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an unexpected favorite 🥲

We follow Ivona years after her divorce from Vlaho (and we get a few previous chapters of how they fell in love) BUT THE YEARNING FROM BOTH CHARACTERS WAS PHENOMENAL!!!! Ivona’s POV was so incredibly vulnerable, the way she thought of Vlaho after all these years you can just FEEL how she feels and she doesn’t shy away from any thought. It felt like I truly could understand her and her reasonings for not being with Vlaho anymore, all while still feeling her love for him on every single page.

Not only did we follow her journey and struggles with her relationship with Vlaho, but we also see her trying to figure out her life again after it all fell apart. I was rooting for her the entire book, even if some of her decisions didn’t feel right. And not only that but the writing was absolutely stunning - like almost every page I highlighted something


“It’s these small moments of recognition—a specific inflection of his voice, a particular look on his face, a small gesture no one else might notice—that I live for. Why I swirl in his orbit even at the cost of watching him make a life with someone else.”

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was MESMERIZED by this debut.

Ivona and Vlaho met as students at the turn of the new millennium, when newly democratic Croatia was finding its way as well. It was “love at first sight” for them both. So why did she divorce him? Only she and her mother-in-law know. Was this decision Cowardice? Selflessness? Selfishness?

I felt DESPERATE to find out.

Now in their thirties, Vlaho is remarried to a woman named Marina, and Ivona is the Godmother to one of his two children. How is Marina able to be so accepting of Ivona, and so warm toward her-especially when Ivona has never really moved on romantically? Their dynamic is an interesting “triangle”.

I NEEDED to know.

Ivona meanwhile has endured one disappointment after another. Divorce. Not being able to find a job in the field she trained for. Living with and caring for her ailing father, with no help from her brother.

How will the dynamics change when a new man enters Ivona’s life, creating a “square” instead of the “triangle”? Will they survive this?

Again, Ivona makes choices, that I couldn’t condone.
Or are they EXCUSES?

There are two sides to every coin.

Things and people are rarely black and white.

This UNIQUE character study unfolds in Five Parts-Ivona getting to know Vlaho in Part 1, Marina in Part 2, Asier in Part 3 and herself in Part 4. I didn’t agree with how she rationalized the things that propelled her to Part 5-

But just as I was in the beginning…I remained CAPTIVATED.

It’s a book that I won’t soon forget-and I feel like I should reward writing that compelling whether my reaction is positive or negative toward a character or a story-4.5 stars from me. ⭐️

NOW AVAILABLE

Thank You to Simon & Schuster for the gifted ARC provided by Edelweiss. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Croatia. A country nestled in along the Adriatic Sea.

This is Ivona’s story. She is 38 and is reflecting on her past and all she has lost with the decisions made for the sacrifice of others. Now in the present, she is haunted by the consequences.

We learn of her love with Vlaho who she has since divorced. A sacrifice made unbeknownst to him. She remains close to him and his new wife, Marina, and their 2 kids. When a new man enters the scene, however, the dynamics of this acute triangle shift.

Hilje’s debut is mesmerizing. The lushness of a country undiscovered in its beauty with its pull of the sea and olive grove landscape. Themes of heartbreak, loneliness, and identity defining moments.
5⭐️
Shoutout to TGH who was generous in sending me a copy to do a buddy read!

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

this was such a gorgeous debut!!! definitely want to pick up any future works by this author.

recently, i’ve been looking for books exactly like this - the writing is so immersive, the atmosphere absolutely carried me, and the characters were frustrating at the same time as endearing (and extremely realistic).

one of the things i loved most was how ‘real’ the relationships felt - this isn't a book that's interested in neat endings or obvious villains, it's more about how love adapts over time, the people who never really leave your life, and all the complicated feelings that come with that. everyone felt flawed in a way that was really believable (if sometimes annoying, but i feel as though that was why it was so real).

the only reason this isn't a full five stars is because i am ever so slightly torn on the ending - i totally understand by we went the way that we did (and honestly it was probably the best for all the characters involved), but i almost felt like i wanted a teeeeny bit more.

overall, i feel like this is one of those books that is going to stick with me. if you like character-driven literary fiction and don't mind somewhat frustrating characters, i'd definitely recommend it!!

[Jsiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat disappointed at the ending.... and all the excuses and explanations for Vlaho's actions...it seemed rehearsed, almost trying too hard to convince the reader that Vlaho... was a weak but redemptive figure... I feel like he was too idealized. Ivona riddled more from guilt than anything else... great emotion throughout, but I can not say that the relationship she has with Asier or Vlaho is authentic. Enjoyed the memories of Croatia, which is what drew me to this book in the first place. The writer wrote gorgeous descriptions of the food, landscapes and history...I really did feel for Ivona with her inability to have children, but I couldn't forgive either of them for cheating and calling it everlasting love.

[emma]

based on no info i'm convinced i'm going to love this book

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are often drawn to other people for a multitude of reasons. Some with good intentions and good outcomes. Some with blind intentions that simply weave their way into unfertile ground producing only anguish and resentment.

Lidija Hilje is a Croatian author who is writing in English....her second language. It is remarkable just how deeply poignant and succinct her writing becomes in Slanting Towards the Sea. Hilje takes on the story of Ivona and Vlaho, two young college students who find themselves in each other's pathways one night. The connection begins slow and steady and then rivets up to a steady drum beat. They become smitten with one another. Marriage follows.

Lidija Hilje keeps a secret hidden in the dark shadows. But when it breaks open in the sunlight, it will come down to decisions influenced by what is far better for the greater good. But the greater good is always in the mind's eye. What one believes is self-sacrifice turns into long strings attached. We become affixed to memories, emotions, and perspectives. Those gallant decisions seem to turn on us. Misery pulls up a chair and overstays its welcome.

Slanting Towards the Sea is definitely character driven. Hilje allows us to experience their strengths and their definite flaws. And it all goes back to those decisions whipping in the wind. That's why the character of Ivona frustrated me to no end. My heart pumped in her direction only to be shattered time and time again. Hilje sees to that throughout this novel. She likens Ivona to a tree felled in the forest that no one heard fall....not making a sound.

And yet, I am so grateful for having experienced Slanting Towards the Sea. Not every relationship follows the rules of the road. We are all such complicated individuals who stand rigid in our own personal world. Then there's the cover art that is definitely a draw created by the artist Hana Tischler. And it is an emotional experience to read this one. See if you don't agree.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Lidija Hilje for the opportunity.

[Marialyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the strangest reaction to this book and have changed my rating a number of times. On the one hand, I disliked all the characters presented and on the other hand even though I was sorely tempted to stop reading, I found myself drawn back into the saga of Ivana and Vlaho.

Against the background of a new democratic Croatia, the couple found one another and developed an obsessive love. They considered themselves made for one another until a tragedy struck and Ivana divorces the love of her life.

Later Vlaho remarries a friend of Ivana and the lives of the three become intertwined as we find reasons for the new marriage with a mountain of pathos as Ivana fights her love or maybe obsession with Vlaho. When a new man enters Ivana's life, the threesome becomes a foursome with many repercussions. Iana is also tasked with caring for her ill father and their relationship adds to the sadness of Ivana's life.

Ivana is a person full of anguish and misery. She seems to wallow in it, and is fearful of moving anywhere else. The bleakness of her life puts her deeper and deeper into a pit of melancholy and mourning from which she is unable to escape.

Vlaho suffers as well, for giving up on the girl of his dreams. It's a pity party of unbelievable proportions and as I read to the end, I had to wonder if the two of them suffered from tinges of masochism.

This is not an uplifting book whatsoever, but one that brings the reader into the doldrums as you can't quite understand how people so unhappy could be be apart.

Hard to decipher, hard to get your hands around, this book is assuredly different and one that many like myself will find they walk a fine line on whether they like it or hate it.

***So interesting that Jan and I had the same reaction.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivona and Vlaho’s once-in-a-lifetime love story comes to a bitter end when a devastating secret leads to their divorce. Now, ten years later, Vlaho is remarried with children, as Ivona struggles to deal with all she was forced to leave behind. When she returns home to care for her ailing father, she reconnects with Vlaho and his wife. But when a new man enters the fold, threatening their dynamic, Ivona must finally reckon with long-held secrets and buried feelings.

Have you ever opened a book, begun reading, and knew almost instantaneously that it was going to be a five-star read? I can count on one hand the number of times this has happened to me. Count me shocked when this debut novel, complete with its absolutely stunning cover, entered the chat.

From the lush, but turbulent Croatian setting to the dynamic, very flawed characters; the evocative lyrical writing to the visceral heartbreak— this book will sweep you up into its pages, never letting go until you’ve read the final chapter. While perhaps a world away from your own, it is incredibly difficult not to connect to the various struggles these characters face. Their trials and tribulations bleed from the pages as we are taken from the middle of the story, to the beginning, and then to the end.

If you are looking for a swoony romance with perfectly perfect characters, you will not find it here. But what you will find instead is something so much more profound. It is the story of loving and being loved, even to the point of heartbreak. It is the story of the family we are born into and the family we seek out. And it is the story of loving yourself enough to know when to stay and when to move on. I fear Hilje has set the bar high for herself, and yet by the same token, her exquisite writing illustrates that she is up for the challenge.

🎧 This is absolutely brilliant on audio. Imani Jade Powers is impeccable, bringing all the emotions necessary to the role of Ivona. As I neared the end, tears streaming down my face, it was solidified as a new favorite in the audiobook realm.

Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️complicated love stories
▪️emotional depth
▪️second chance love
▪️journeys of self-discovery
▪️romantic sagas

✨ Favorites of 2025


Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.

[JanB · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Divorced for nine years, Ivona remains emotionally tied to her ex-husband. In a strange turn of events, she finds herself as a godmother and “auntie” to his children, and close friends with him and his new wife.

When she meets a new man, it affects all their lives in unexpected ways, and long held secrets are revealed.

Croatia is as much a character in this novel as are Ivona and Vlaho. Their lives are affected by societal pressures, parental expectations, and a country that is in the early years of democracy.

The themes of life, loss, regret and grief affected me deeply. This is a sad emotional journey, and it was difficult to be in Ivona’s head throughout the entire book. The choices made by the characters were often frustrating and difficult to fathom. I’m not a fan of romantic angst, so that likely affected my opinion.

Romanticizing some of the events did little to endear the characters to me. For the most part I enjoyed the writing but then a sentence like this completely took me out of the story:
“The sun droops on the horizon, heavy and red like a zit about to burst”. (Please note this is an ARC, so it’s possible the final publication may be different. Let’s hope so)

I have very mixed feelings about the book, vacillating between 3 & 4 stars, so I’m going with 3.5 stars. I almost dnf’d several times in the middle, but the story was somehow compelling enough to keep me reading and it’s still one I’d recommend, with caution. The characters are well-developed and show growth as the story progresses.

I appreciated the Croatian setting, a story written by a Croatian author. The sad story of Ivona and Vlaho is one that my reading buddy, Marialyce, enjoyed discussing.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written story of an intense love between Ivona and Vlaho starting when they were 19 yrs old and students…set in Croatia.
They marry and then divorce several years later due to infertility issues. The divorce is Ivona’s answer to the problem ..for Vlaho to be able to have a family..such an unselfish act due to her fierce love for him.
They are both devastated, though she carries a secret as to “why” and what pushed her to divorce him.
Two years later when Vlaho remarries… Ivona is included in many of the family functions… (which emotionally kills her) and several years later she meets another man, which Vlaho can’t handle.
This story is very gripping and atmospheric …. a story of lost love and second chances.

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

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I found this book disappointing. The plot revolves around our protagonist, Ivona, and her love interest, Vlaho. The events in their relationship felt contrived to me; there’s a misunderstanding, Ivona ends the relationship because of that misunderstanding, Ivona and Vlaho pine for one another, etc. etc. What also hurt the novel, for me, was that the prose was one-dimensional and monotonous, and also it seemed that the majority of Ivona’s happiness came from her relationship with Vlaho and her romantic relationships generally (this is very briefly addressed at the utter end of the book, but by then it was too late for me).

I agree with other reviewers that the setting in Croatia is unique. And I appreciate the author’s attention paid to how the broader societal economy and systems of corruption can impact characters’ lives. But the central character and the central conflict related to romance wasn’t satisfying to me.

[thebookybird · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extra star for beautiful landscapes but respectfully, WTF was this?

The decisions these people made I can’t! The selfishness, the illogical choices, antiquated views, the incredible insecurities, I hated every one of these people and their brutal choices. Justice for Asier.

*throws book across the room

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Slanting Towards the Sea”, a debut novel by Lidija Hilje

5 brilliant stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: infertility, infidelity.

An excerpt: “Because even conceding to someone else's wishes, giving in to meet someone else’s needs - even sacrificing yourself - is a choice.”

What a marvellous debut!

What a great command of the language!

The story is sad, but so realistic, believable and so very humane. It’s well told in first person and single perspective.

The timeline fluctuates between present and the past through the main character reminiscences.

How easy it is to loose opportunities in life.

I was captivated from the beginning.

The atmosphere of longing and solitude as well as grieving was so palpable, so strong.

The characters felt alive and I thought that I was part of the story.

The conclusion was very positive, although rushed, but still giving that sense that there is always hope, no matter what. And life goes on.

The beautiful setting and descriptions made me wish to plan a visit to Croatia to see its landscape and try the local cuisine.

Thanks to my fellow readers, who reviewed this book so positively, calling my attention to this beautiful work, otherwise I would have missed it.

This was a great break from crime fiction and action books.

[ahana ⊹ [ ia ] · Rating 5 out of 5]

                                    ﹙🍸﹚— 5 stars ᰋ

⊹ my world tipping ever so slightly in his direction, as it always does.

me to this book <3 <3 <3 please do yourself a favour and read this book, thank you.

[Novel Visits · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had planned to do a read/listen of 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗔 by Lidija Hilje, but after just the first few pages, I knew I wouldn’t do any listening. This says nothing about the audiobook. I’m sure it’s brilliant. I just found debut author Hilje’s writing so beautiful that I had to savor it in a way that one can really only do with eyes on the words. This is an amazing story, and I’ll get to that soon, but beyond that Hilje TOOK ME to Croatia. Her writing of the place was so very evocative that I was transported. I’ve yet to visit Croatia, but when I do, I think I’ll feel as if I’m returning. She did the same thing with her characters. I knew them. I cared about them. For a short time, it was as if I was living in their world.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Within this incredible writing is a touching story of a woman finding herself in a place and time where the cards have been stacked against her. Ivona divorced the love of her life for reasons only she and one other person know. Ten years later, it still pains her every day, especially because she and Vlaho, now remarried with young children, remain close. The whys and whats of their relationship slowly come to light as does much more about Ivona, the life she’s bound to, and the one she wants.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I predict you’ll be seeing 𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘢 on a lot of Best Book lists this year. I know you’ll be seeing it on mine. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟⁣⁣
⁣⁣
"I love him with the kind of ludicrous love that won't let itself be extinguished. The kind that digs its nails under your skin and stays. The kind that acts like an x-ray, seeing inside your deepest layers."⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Thanks to @simonbooks for a digital copy of this book.⁣⁣

[Caro Elizondo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gracias por hacer un coming of age que no gira en torno a una adolescente de 17 años intentando descubrir qué hacer con su vida. A veces, los verdaderos coming of age llegan a los 50, a los 60 o, como en el caso de Ivona, a los 38 años.

Esta novela fue espléndida. La leí a una velocidad inusual porque es una historia que atrapa desde el principio: es fácil identificarse con ella, conmueve profundamente y te mantiene completamente involucrado en el viaje de sus personajes. Creo que este libro confirmó algo que ya sospechaba: me encantan las historias centradas en la exploración de personajes. Me fascina ver cómo una persona evoluciona, para bien o para mal, y cómo esa transformación se desarrolla de una manera tan humana y hermosa.

Este libro me rompió el corazón en mil pedazos y luego lo reconstruyó. Ivona es un personaje profundamente humano: siente, cambia, pierde, ama y vuelve a empezar. Atraviesa momentos difíciles, pérdidas dolorosas y grandes transformaciones, pero también encuentra amor en distintas formas. Y creo que eso es lo que más se quedará conmigo.

De verdad, me encantó esta novela.

[Imme van Gorp · Rating 5 out of 5]

|| 4.5 stars ||

This was a story filled with passion and pain. Intense emotions were flowing off of almost every page.

The main character, Ivona, is one who feels incredibly deeply; both negatively as well as positively.
When she feels love, it’s in a way that makes every colour look brighter, makes every word sound like a song, and makes every moment be bathed in warm sunlight.
However, these intense emotions eventually took a darker turn as well. After all, because she loves so deeply, she also fears its disappearance to an almost numbing degree. And so, she makes choices from that paralyzing fear of loss that have ruinous results. And when those results hit… they dull all colours to grey, make every word suddenly sound monotone, and darken all moments to black.

Ivona was a character I felt deeply for. She felt authentic and real, and the author truly made her come alive. All of her emotions seemed to actually exist like a reality on these pages. They were truly there; not just narrated impassively.
I desperately wanted what was best for her, but “the best” seemed impossible. Her heart was stuck on something she could never have. She could not let it go, which meant she could never truly be happy again.

[Reggie Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ This was heartbreaking & beautiful. If you’re looking for a novel about life after heartbreak, finding love again, & grief, you might really enjoy this! I cried a lot reading this one. For some reason, I just couldn’t get past a certain dynamic & was shaking my head a lot while reading.

Most of all, this book made me desperately want to book a flight back to Croatia.

[Marcus (Lit_Laugh_Luv) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I liked this more, but it was an absolute chore to get through. The story is meandering, overwritten, and frustratingly delivered — the lack of chronology in the first half is a thinly veiled way to obscure the big ‘reveal’ and prolong the central denouement behind Ivana and Vlaho’s divorce. The dialogue felt cheesy and needlessly dramatic, and I seldom believed any decisions the characters made. What is supposed to be a love story is superseded by an intensely selfish, passive, and callous protagonist who reminded me of Eeyore. There are attempts to give Vlaho some dimension, but he ultimately feels way too benevolent and patient for so much of the book that any detours in his character arc feel shoehorned in as an attempt to create some degree of tension. The book is relatively low on plot with a heavy emphasis on characters and interiority, but it feels like we have the same conversation and internal dialogue over and over again until the final ~20% of the book. When character development finally arrives, it is all delivered with a spur-of-the-moment epiphany and glossed over.

I did like the reflections on Croatia — the political and economic turmoil, the ode to its nature, and the culture and language that the characters hold onto. But even then, its delivery feels so didactic and on-the-nose that it repeatedly took me out of the narrative. The characters launch into expositions about historical events that are intended to get the reader up-to-speed, but are so poorly integrated that it never feels natural.

This also feels like a book where the author relies heavily on purple prose — haphazardly delivered with a relentless number of metaphors and similes — to make scenes feel more profound. At best, there’s simply far too many metaphors. At worst, they’re senseless and contradictory to what immediately preceded them. Sentences like “I stopped short when I saw them, as if someone had opened a door to let air inside the vacuum in my brain” are baffling to me. What is the reader supposed to interpret from that? The scene ends as if that is some sort of dramatic reveal, and it’s only until we revisit the scene with later context that anything starts to make sense.

I seldom give one-star reviews, but man. 400 pages of infuriating miscommunication, pining, and melodrama just to end up with THAT ending? The very final part felt like it undermined the entirety of the book. As they say, some books are read, and some books are endured. This falls squarely in the latter category for me, unfortunately.

P.S. I recognize this is petty, but why are there several instances of characters not referring to their shoes, but specifically their Converse All-Stars? The product placement was bizarre.

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[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character driven books, especially ones about love and loss are not for everyone. Endless descriptions of remorse, sadness, longing, this is everything that I like in a book, especially if it's written well.

Slanting Towards the Sea is just that, which takes place in Croatia, a country I must visit. Ivona and Vlaho, a couple meant to be together, but also torn apart by a devastating outcome, which sets them on a path towards finding happiness.
Ivona, now 38, hasn't done anything in her life that truly makes her happy. She cares for ailing father, works in a stationary store, despite having a degree in biology, finds love with the amiable Asier.

What happens next, is Lidija Hilje's beautiful book of regrets, solitude, and finding oneself. Hilje's writing will pull you in - the descriptions of everyday life in Croatia is expansive and melancholic. Vlaho and Ivona find love in quiet moments with other people when you least expect it, and while you're rooting for Ivona, some of the choices she makes are not the best. But, you will see how weak, and yet strong she is throughout the pages.

I loved this book, and if you love long chapters of contemplation and truth, this is a great book for you.

[Keri Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivona has realized that her life did not turn out how she imagined, and she's not very happy with her current circumstances. As a young woman in college, she had met Vlaho, they fell in love and married. Their marriage was stressed from both internal and external. They are living in Croatia at a time of turmoil, as it has newly become democratic and the culture and economy has experienced drastic changes. Also, Ivona has a secret that forces her to leave Vlaho.

Now, they have been apart for a decade. During that time, Vlaho got married and hac children. Strangely though, she has settled into a friendship/family dynamic with Vlaho and his new wife Marina, who previously was Ivona's friend. This dynamic has worked for them, even though in her heart Ivona considers him the love of her life.

She is back living with her ailing father and also help run a business he was trying to cultivate. Through this, she meets another man, and slowly opens up to a new relationship in her life... but can she let go completely? She is at a crossroads and needs to decide how her life will proceed.

This was a very emotional and somewhat depressing book, reading about someone's depressed life. But the writing was beautiful, and I enjoyed the setting. I was not familiar with Croatia until my son started visiting it and shared so much of the beauty there. I was not at all familiar with the turmoil of the country. I'm not sure if it's a book to enjoy, but rather to experience.

[Debbie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ The book is a beautifully written portrait of Croatia. The setting is brought to life with the gorgeous prose describing the sea, olive groves, food, sights and smells of the village that is home to Ivona and Vlaho.

Ivona has suffered for years after her divorce from the love of her life Vlaho. Burdened by infertility, family expectations, and secrets, she makes a devastating decision. She lives a solitary life caring for her invalid father unable to move on. She remains friends with Vlaho and his new wife Marina,even being Godmother to their daughter.

Asier enters her life working for a company interested in buying her father’s property, Louveran. Ivona begins to let her guard down and hope for the future, but what of her love for Vlaho?

I sometimes questioned Ivona’s choices and also those of Vlaho. I felt both characters were selfish and foolish at times, though they made the right choices at the end. Overall a well written romance.

thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[JFV · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 🌟
“Something inside me reoriented itself, my world softly tipping into his direction, as if he himself were the sea.”

I can’t even begin to form coherent thoughts about all the themes this book explored and how it made me feel. There is just so much to unpack here. This book is about love, but it is also about so much more than love. Painful longing, lingering pains, regret, grief, family, identity, missed opportunities, sacrifice, and the fragile possibility of starting again. More than anything, I think it’s about what it means to look at the life you’ve lived and wonder whether it’s still possible to become someone different from the person you thought you’d be. And I also loved how Croatia felt like a character of its own. I felt completely transported there. And the writing is immaculate!!!

This is such an introspective story about Ivona, a woman going through so many trials and personal struggles while trying to make sense of the life she’s ended up with. She is so vulnerable in her POV, so full of longing and regrets, carrying the weight of past decisions, complicated family issues, and all the baggage that comes with a life she sometimes feels has passed her by. And I felt all of it. So many repressed emotions, so many unsaid words, so many unfinished confrontations.

Ivona is constantly looking backward while trying to figure out how to move forward. She is mourning and longing for a love and a future that was supposed to be hers, caught between the choices she made, and the person she is now. There is something so painfully human about the way she holds onto certain things even when she knows they may no longer belong to her. Never asking for too much, feeling too much but can never put it into words. I found a reflection of myself in her!!!!!

“I marvel at the familiarity with which our bodies occupy the same space. Our minds might have forgotten how to be together, but our bodies still remember the choreography.”

Vlaho and Ivona met at 19 and knew that was it. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. So pure, visceral, and unconditional, I felt it through every page. The way they slowly lay themselves bare, learn each other’s languages and silences, become each other’s home, and make sacrifices in the name of love. This book made me witness so vividly how deeply they loved and how perfectly they fit together.. and how it all fell apart.

This book portrayed such painful yearning not just for a loved one, but for a friend, a parent, a place in this world. It portrayed love in a very realistic manner. You see the gray areas of it, not just the sweet beginnings. The bittersweet heartache of belonging to someone in ways no other can, of being seen and known, losing yourself to mental illness, losing your spark. Feeling like you’re becoming poison to the person you love. Realizing that their love, no matter how intense and safe, will never be the cure. Layers and layers of grief.

“How the seed of insecurity planted in both our childhoods is exactly what got us here today. Making us both so starved to be seen while shying away from it at the same time, relegating ourselves to the shadows because we didn’t know how to claim the spotlight.”

Tears were shed. I’ve highlighted almost every passage. Getting stabbed would’ve hurt less than this book. And somewhere down the line, I’d like to believe Vlaho and Ivona found their way back to each other… as they should. ❤️‍🩹

[Milena Tasheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Дослушах я в последните часове на годината, но е безапелационно една от най-хубавите, които съм прочела през 2025.

Толкова много неща има в нея, че не знам откъде да започна - от безкрайните прилики между хърватската и българската реалност, през връзката на героите с майките им, та чак до морето, маслините и новото начало.

Докосна нещо много дълбоко в мен. Да, определено е някакъв балкански sad girl fiction и (без да е роман за прехода или войната) в същото време е книга за нашето поколение с всичките му симптоми, за смелостта да избереш себе си, за цената на този избор и за любовта.

Великолепен, нежен и меланхоличен роман и прекрасен край на моята 2025 като читател.

Сърдечни благодарности на Елена, че ми я препоръча ❤️

[suus⋆୨୧˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

﹙ 🦢﹚— 5 stars ᰋ

؛༊ “It wasn't until years later that I saw her words for what they really meant. If people want to love you, they do, no matter how flawed you are. But if they aren't inclined to love you, nothing you say or do, no amount of your own goodness, can make them change their mind.”

This book was SO beautifully written. And to think this is a debut?? It was honestly so so so well written. I can’t remember the last time a book made me feel like this. I also felt really seen and represented by Ivona; it was oddly comforting but in a painful way.

I highly !!!!! recommend reading this if you haven’t yet!! I can’t wait to read more from this author if she ever releases new books <3

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

the kind of novel that really sinks into you. thank you to the author for sending me a copy 🫶🏻

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I can’t believe this is a debut. So so good. And that it’s set in Croatia is a first for me. Author Lidija Hilje has given us this beautifully written story of deep emotional love and loss.. of longing and sadness.. and in her creation of these complex characters you come to care for, you feel their emotions twofold.
Our MC Ivona has a strength I’d be lucky to have if in the same situation. As the story moves along Hilje dangles, just out of reach.. the answer to a must-find-out secret only known by our MC and her ex-mother-in-law. This kept me on a rollercoaster of emotions and I loved every minute ❥ Do recommend! Pub. 7/8/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracy Greer-Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star book for this year! ☝🏻 ⭐️

Where are we? Croatia! A country I was not all that familiar with but has now called my name. I googled quite a bit while I was reading this as did my reading buddy Canadian Jen.

This is a love triangle that becomes very complicated, very quickly, among the olive groves. Intense and human. Human fragility that is all too common. Infertility, depression and marriage.

You want to look away and yet, you need to know the ending. The writing is truly amazing. A couple of the quotes made me close my book and contemplate. This rarely happens, and this coming from a debut novel.

Highly recommend. It had a bit of,The Paper Palace,
vibes. A book I also adored. Cheers to my reading buddy Jen Jen! We know good books. 😉

[sanne ♥ (sann_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

prachtige roman over liefde maar ook loslaten