The Surprising Days of Isla Pembroke

by Tamsin Keily

Some days you remember forever. But what if you could live them again?

If Isla Pembroke could turn back time, she knows exactly which days of her life she would change.

The day she started working in the local aquarium, not knowing that she'd still be stuck there seven years later. The day her sister Morgan ran away from home. And, most of all, the day that changed everything, when her mother's death cracked her family in two.

So when she's given an impossible gift - a chance to go back and relive those life-changing moments - Isla realises that she might be able to save the people she loves.

But sometimes the most surprising days aren't the ones that change everything, but the ones that come after...

Fresh, funny, and heart-wrenching, this is a story for anyone who's ever wanted to turn back time...

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Time Travel

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2021

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever pick up a book with very little expectations? Thinking it may be a decent, heart warming enough story to keep you entertained for a few hours?

That was me with this book. The book seemed like a sliding doors type of novel, about the changing of certain events in your past and the consequences of these changes in the future (if we can even change the past).

Whilst I am not usually a fan of fantasy-type novels, the premise of these types of books always appeals to me and when given the opportunity for an advanced review copy, I couldn't resist (and I am so glad I didn't).

This was a brilliant, heart-warming, heart-breaking, heart-stopping novel about loss, grief, unfulfilled potential and the 'what if?' we ask ourselves each day.

I can certainly relate to Isla looking back on a life with so much potential and asking 'where did it all go wrong' rather than 'where did it all go right'?

Would recommend this novel to everyone and a massive thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story of family and sisterhood, a story of loss and grief, and a story about learning to put yourself first.

28 year-old Isla is stuck in her little town in Cornwall, still working at their little aquarium instead of fulfilling her marine biologist dreams. It's been 9 years since Isla put her life on hold, since she had to step up and take care of everything, or at least try to. Why? Well, her mother died, her dad has never got over it and her younger sister Morgan ran away at 17 and hasn't come back for 4 years.

"Plenty of time, right. Plenty of time has a funny way of slipping past in the blink of an eye."

But then Morgan comes back and Isla finds a way to the past (yes, it's magical realism). Will she be able to change what happened that day? Can she make things better? Will Morgan ever tell her why she left one night and took 4 years to come back?

The writing was beautiful and I found both Isla and Morgan to be very relatable at times but, unfortunately, I didn't fully connect with the story. It had a slow start and it took a while for things to actually get going.

Thank you NetGalley and Orion for an e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.

[Helen the Bassist · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

You don't read anything about young women who have, or might have, lost their mothers and also with close links to a single work of fiction as a plot device for ages and then two come along at once (see 'The Names They Gave Us'). Not bad, although some of the editing and proof-reading was... especially near the end. Unfortunately this was a bit more 'meh' for me. It served its purpose as a bedtime read but, if you like your 'sisters overcoming tragedy' with added Cornish coast, marine biology and a big, f*** off magic rock, then this is the book for you.

[Atul_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8/5

What fascinated me to read this book is how the author uses Cornwall as a background, thus it feels so close to my heart. And when I read the synopsis I knew that this book has most of the elements that I would enjoy like time travel, magic rock, legends, and most of all it's about sisterhood.

As the oldest of 4 siblings, I can surely relate to Isla. I can feel all the pressure, the weight of responsibility that I believe I need to hold it all and keep myself together so I can be a responsible older sister that everyone can rely on. I feel like I was the one who had to carry all the burden. Be tough and act like one. And that is exactly what Isla felt as well.

I do feel tired while reading because the story doesn't progress or had the “same mind and view” as other time travel stories I had watched or read. Like Isla, I was wary about the reason why she was taken continuously to the past but can't do anything significant. Like, where's the butterfly effect?? But then, comes the breaking point, perhaps too slow to satisfy me, nevertheless, it appears, oh yes, it appeared to make us see from a different perspective. And believe me, it's one of the lessons that I would hold very dear.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read this wonderful book.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book- such a magical, emotional story that gripped me completely. As we spend time with Isla we learn of her sacrifices and when she is given the chance to re-live some of those life changing moments we too wonder what if we had the chance to re-do a day again. It’s a story of love, grief and forgiveness and will make you consider all of those days where you wonder would you have done it differently a second time?

[Ghada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Tamsin Keily for an ARC to review.
A surprisingly heartwarming emotional enchanting tale of life choices, sisterhood, family, fate, regrets.
If you have the ability to change the past, would you? And which moments would you pick? Do the major moments have the most impact on your life's course or a totally slight moment?
I absolutely loved it.

[Grete · Rating 3 out of 5]

ei midagi erilist

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Angharad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Tamsin Kelly wrote about grief so well

[Sam Hood · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thoughts on this book are very mixed. Part of me really enjoyed it, I really liked how it was written, I didn’t find it hard to read or follow, there wasn’t many long drawn out descriptions or pointless character introductions that would cause me to lose interest. I found the storyline interesting enough for me to genuinely want to read on to find out what was going to happen next. However, the other part of me found i was desperately scouring for the “point”, the lessons or the emotional hit to what I was reading. I went into this book thinking it would teach me something about grief or understanding family dynamics, give me a sense of relatability or an explanation into why each and every scene the character time travelled to was so important, but at the end of it I still didn’t feel completely satisfied. I don’t think it’s given me any new outlook on life or grief, I don’t feel like I’ve learnt much, and I did overall find the book too long with some chapters/plot lines that I’m still questioning the meaning or point of. A good book with an interesting enough story and good level of writing, but don’t go into it expecting to learn anything or feel emotional/changed after reading.

[Jo Mead · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took me a month to read as I found it dragged on. Good job I only spent £2 buying it! Boring.

[Abbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

What can I say? Isla Pembroke’s days weren’t very surprising after all.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Surprising Days of Isla Pembroke is a contemporary novel that explores love, loss and acceptance within a family.

Summary:
Isla Pembroke lives in Cornwall and works in the local aquarium... like she has for the past ten years. After her mother's passing, Isla's life has stagnated as she attempts to not only keep herself together, but also the lives of her family. Unfortunately, her attempts at avoiding grief are not understood by everyone, which results in her sister running away for four years. This results in seemingly irreparable rifts in their sisterly bond

According to Cornish legend, the monolith of Karrekoth is a testament of the love between the lightning and the wind, and one day, a storm rages and lightning splits the stone open. This allow Isla to revisit the past and seeing how she can potentially change the future.

Characters:
I wasn't fully convinced by the characters in this book. They were all rather two-dimensional and the character growth was ill-paced, happing very quickly in the end. They didn't seem to have much to them except their familial relationships, which obviously are so lacking as a plot point that it makes them seem really not real. This makes it difficult to get invested in them, or their development, and they do little to drive the plot forward. Isla and Morgan as sisters are sweet, but individually have little about each of them to be invested or have a favourite sister.

Plot:
Again, I wasn't wholly convinced by this books plot. It seemed rather repetitive, with all of the answers lying in the stone, which conveniently facilitated that everything be carried out as it should. Literally throughout the book, the characters keep remarking on how convent the stone makes everything for them. This in turn makes it not believable and rather dull. There's minimal content to keep the reader engaged, and it took some effort to keep me reading.

That being said, it's a nice enough read, with nothing being too arduous or difficult, so if you're looking for a nice break from intense books, this could be it. 3 stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isla’s family has been fractured ever since the day her mum died 9 years ago. Since then things have kept going wrong, she’s stuck in a job she hates and her sister ran away, so Isla knows exactly which days she would change if she was given the chance. When she is given an impossible opportunity to go back and relive those days she realises she might be able to save her family. What she doesn’t realise is that not everyone wants things to be changed.

I went into this one expecting it to be a time travel adventure sort of a book, that’s what grabbed me and made me request from NetGalley. It’s actually more of a family drama, looking at how grief and loss can affect people. Whilst it wasn’t quite what I anticipated it was an enjoyable read.

I thought the plotline was interesting, getting the chance to go back and relive different days and see them with fresh eyes is a great idea. I loved how the concept was tied in to an old folklore tale from the town that we get to read at the start of the book too. The only thing that didn’t work so well for me was the idea that the stone would decide whether Isla was visible or not, or could interact with people in the past or not. I thought that seemed like an easy out for fixing potential plot holes.

The characters were intriguing. I would have liked to see more of Jasper, he was probably the most enigmatic to me. Isla was a bit of a contradiction in my mind. I understand that she had taken a lot on her shoulders trying to keep things together, and was doing her best, but honestly there was aspects of her that I didn’t really like. She very much seemed like she thought she knew best about everything, and was unrepentant even when she was in the wrong. She was caring and generous though and genuinely trying to do what she thought was best for her family.

What I took from this one was how differently grief can affect people. We start with an incredibly sad story of a family who have been living under a cloud of grief for over 9 years, but by the end are in a position of hope and strength. It’s a heart-warming read, and definitely worth a look if you like family dramas.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Surprising Days of Isla Pemberton is a beautifully written story, combining real life with fantasy elements.  The whole premise of the story is refreshing and unique, with a well constructed plot.  As a fantasy fan I really like those magical and time travel elements of the story and the concept of Karrekoth monolith and the Cornish legend tied into this.  The setting in Cornwall is a perfect backdrop for the novel and described so well by the author, you could really feel its ruggedness, the cold penetrating and the wildness of the sea.

The story focuses mainly on Isla who is a wonderful character full of depth and emotion.  Since the death of her mother her life has become complicated and as well as trying to hold herself and her family together she is stuck in a job she hates, her sister unexpectedly runs away and her father has had a major breakdown after the death of his wife. The story highlights how grief and loss affects people and how differently they react to it. This is a emotional story of how this family are dealing with their loss but also uplifting and heartwarming in that by the end of the book times begin to change and are looking so much more hopeful for everyone.

This is a compelling read with a easy plot to follow, likeable characters and a fabulous setting.  The story is  relatable exploring the complexities of familial relationships, loss and grief without being too arduous or intense.  It’s emotional and magical and one you definitely need to add to your reading list.

Thank you to the publisher for the recent review proof.

TWISTED IN PAGES BLOG

[Lauren Bardett · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having this read on my shelf for nearly a year, I finally dived into it. Admittedly, it took me a while to become fully invested; I skimmed a lot at the start. However, the
plot quickened up halfway through. Personally, I feel like this could have
been achieved earlier on.

The characters of Isla and Morgan were incredibly similar. Pembroke nature and unresolved issues often got in the way of solutions. Despite this, I really enjoyed seeing their relationship mend. It was hard yet necessary.

Moreover, the element of time travel and magical realism fully intrigued me yet again. It was interesting witnessing, how when Isla attempted to change something in the past, how it then impacted their current situation. The plot became much more complex and in- depth, which I liked.

There were some moments were very poignant. It made me quite emotional. For example, when Isla reunited with Morgan and they witnessed young Isla’s emotional breakdown, and the first time Jasper and Maria met. Everything all connected making sense.

Isla and Morgan were both incredibly brave, and dealt with their grief very differently. However, it was heartwarming to see the Pembroke family begin to heal, and Jasper becoming more like his former self.

[Lea Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pace is very slow from the beginning and whilst I think the book had a good premise it wasn’t nearly as “Surprising” as the title suggests. Even the revelations towards the end of the book weren’t as exciting as I hoped for, especially after the build up of so many questions from the main character Isla.
The “excitement” was all in the last quarter of the book and I found Morgan and Dylan too hard to relate to or even empathise with.
Whilst Isla was easier to understand as the main protagonist of the story I still felt she lacked some dimension.
Dylan’s character seemed to be the most disjointed and I couldn’t get a feel for him at all, he seemed to be more like a lost puppy than a 20 something man.
It’s not a bad book but I think the story had more potential than what ended up on the page.
For something with a similar feel I preferred Matt Haig’s”The Midnight Library”.

[Isabelle Geddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous, gorgeous book. The sister relationship was layered, complex and so realistic. It reminded me so much of me and my sister and maybe that's why this book hit so hard. It was innovative yet classic, a brilliant twist on a heart-wrenching story. The tears were pouring down my face for the last 100 pages or so. The raw, real depictions of grief we saw throughout were so distinctive and relatable that it made the book that much more sad and that much more brilliant. I was not expecting to love this book or have this make me feel as much as it did as it was a one-off buy on holiday. So glad I did. Not even a month into the year and this I'm 99% certain this will be in my top ten of 2023.

[Tony S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real page turned and not at all what I expected. I think I was expecting a kind of sliding doors parallel universe idea. This book is so much more and is in need of being picked up for a TV series. It is incredibly powerful in its narrative and the premise what if you could go back in time and change things (can you change them and would you want to change them and if so what are the consequences of your actions).
The characters really draw you in and each have their own storyline to keep you interested and guessing what happens next.
I can not recommend this book highly enough it is one that will keep you reading right till the very end and guessing what will happen next.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Surprising Days of Isla Pembroke - Tamsin Kelly

Well this book was totally different from what I was expecting and it made me think about topics that I wasn't expecting. We follow sisters Isla and Morgan who have to take a look at their past and come to terms with events that have happened in their lives in order to come to a new sense of peace for themselves. If you could go back in time and change aspects of your own life and the life of your loved ones would you? This story is very touching and thought provoking, and I very much enjoyed it, I particularly liked reading about the sisters relationship with their father.

[Laura Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you could change one thing from your past would you? This is the question Isla faces when she discovers a magical time traveling rock.

Isla has been stuck in a rut since the death of her mother and the disappearance of her sister. Caring for her emotionally distant dad has been her soul purpose in life. So when her sister returns home Isla has to face up to the the fact that she is stagnating and her life is certainly not what she imagined it to be. Is she brave enough to make a change?

A beautifully written novel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[StrictlySue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down, I have spent today engrossed in this spellbinding book about time travel and the idea of what would you do if you could go back and change the past…….. and indeed, can it be changed. This is basically a story about the love between two sisters, Isla and Morgan, and how they struggle to heal the past and the damage that a tragedy inflicted upon their family nine years ago. Beautiful, sad, happy, funny and the pain of grief. I can’t recommend this book highly enough, it’s wonderful story telling at its best.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my usual kind of read but I enjoyed it none the less. The story is about time travel and what would you do if you could go back in time and change things? It was an really interesting idea for a story and it really worked. It made me think about the what ifs. It was a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions with feeling happy, sad, funny and also the grief. I think Tamsin has written this story very well and her characters are all described well. I look forward to reading Tamsin's next book.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a (fairly) light read, and quite enjoyable. While it dealt with some heavy themes, the worst had already happened, and the story of acceptance and family that followed was predictable enough to be reassuring. Not that there wasn't room for some small twists along the way. It brought out tears, but of the cathartic variety.

My only criticism is that it felt a little... green, and lacking in thorough editing. Maybe it was the dialect, but there were a few sentences that plainly didn't make sense grammatically.

Despite this, it was a touching story and a nice quick read.

[Phanie Fin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favourite moment or quote from the book is: "I kept turning the pages, over and over, trying to find one story that would make me feel...something. But all they made me feel was sick and scared and...furious. I got so mad and then suddenly I'd ripped a page. After that it was like I'd opened up these floodgates. I couldn't stop. I just kept ripping and tearing...until it was all gone. All broken."

I just feel that this perfectly embodied Morgan's internal pain and how she really felt about her own self.

[Jo Milkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a couple of quite heavy literary reads, I fancied something a bit lighter, and this was just the ticket.

Isla has taken on the responsibility for her family ever since the sudden death of her mother nine years previously. When her younger sister reappears after a four-year absence, old memories and lurking resentments start to resurface.

Isla comes across a rock on the beach which returns her to various points in her past. She is determined to change things that happened, but she is unable to. She gradually realises that she can't change the past, but she can change the present and build a brighter future for her and her family.

A sweet and heartwarming tale.

3.5🌟

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book quite unlike any other I have read. The use of a monolith as a time-travelling device allowing the main character Isla to visit significant moments surrounding her mother’s death and a means of analysing her younger sister Morgan’s grief gave new insights into the story. As the story developed these flashbacks brought a greater understanding to the reader about the behaviour of her dad, Jasper and disappearance of sister, following her mum’s death and explores the complexity and the scale of navigating life after the sudden death of such a central figure in your life.

[Amy Roche · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am usually a big fan of books about time travel or the butterfly effect. However, I just couldn’t get into this book. It took me longer than usual to finish because I would find myself glossing over paragraphs and having to re-read them. Then, at the end of the book, you find out Morgan left for four years instead of just having a heart to heart conversation with her sister. Really? How was that helping at all?

[Rebecca Albrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst this story is full of beautiful descriptions, detailing a Cornish family torn apart in the throws of grief, the story doesn't half plod. There's too much time taken up in the plot to story lines that really aren't needed. For example, the book could have ended several chapters sooner. And I really got fed up reading how Morgan likes to snuggle up on Isla's shoulder. This retelling of descriptions was totally unnecessary. So I give this book a 2.5 rating.

[Emily Treloar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful tale of love, loss and grief entwined with a family just trying to keep it together and not drift apart. This story was well written with the backdrop of Cornwall fitting in well. I like how you get all these different narratives that really add to the whole picture. People react to grief in many different ways and that really came across throughout the storyline.