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Wherever the Wind Takes Us
When life stops making sense, it’s time to raise the anchor and follow the tide.
Twenty-two years of marriage, and all Becca Larkin’s divorce settlement includes is a live-aboard sailboat and a huge helping of heartache.
So when normally cautious Becca proposes a girls’ trip with her daughter, Liv, boating from Maine to a ready buyer for the boat in Miami, it seems like a recipe for a fun summer and a fresh start. After all, how hard can this sailing thing be?
Enter Grant Murphy, a stunning Irish sailing coach that Liv can barely stand—and Becca can’t seem to resist. Grant’s too young for Becca, but he’s insightful and kind, and his passion for sailing is contagious. Through his eyes, Becca sees for the first time in years a future she might want to navigate toward.
There are seventeen hundred miles between Maine and Miami, but the journey Becca’s on can’t be charted on any map. And the only way to get there is to hoist the sails and throw caution to the wind. From the bestselling author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler comes a sparkling novel about mothers and daughters, change and escape, and learning to love again.
Twenty-two years of marriage, and all Becca Larkin’s divorce settlement includes is a live-aboard sailboat and a huge helping of heartache.
So when normally cautious Becca proposes a girls’ trip with her daughter, Liv, boating from Maine to a ready buyer for the boat in Miami, it seems like a recipe for a fun summer and a fresh start. After all, how hard can this sailing thing be?
Enter Grant Murphy, a stunning Irish sailing coach that Liv can barely stand—and Becca can’t seem to resist. Grant’s too young for Becca, but he’s insightful and kind, and his passion for sailing is contagious. Through his eyes, Becca sees for the first time in years a future she might want to navigate toward.
There are seventeen hundred miles between Maine and Miami, but the journey Becca’s on can’t be charted on any map. And the only way to get there is to hoist the sails and throw caution to the wind. From the bestselling author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler comes a sparkling novel about mothers and daughters, change and escape, and learning to love again.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2022
562 people are currently reading
5720 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Harms
11 books1,584 followersUSA Today, Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestseller Kelly Harms is the author of The Bright Side of Going Dark, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane and The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay. She worked with bestselling authors, Edgar, RITA, and Agatha award winners, and Indie Next List Picks in her time as an editor at a division of HarperCollins and later as an agent at the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She now lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her beloved family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
February 13, 2025
3⭐
Genre ~ women's fiction
Setting ~ Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida
Publication date ~ October 18, 2022
Publisher ~ Lake Union Publishing
Est Page Count ~ 281 (37 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 3 minutes
Narrator ~ Angela Lin
POV ~ single 1st person POV, present tense
Featuring ~ age gap (42 & 26), closed door (or open air I guess) steamage
Becca is a former rich divorcee trying to make it on her own with only a boat to her name. In order to make ends meet she sells the boat. She and her 21 year old daughter, Olivia, set sail from Maine to Miami to deliver it to the new buyer.
I really enjoyed the thought of the mother/daughter bonding trip, until I didn't. Their relationship wasn't all sunshine like I had hoped it would be. In fact the last bit with them at the end was really saddening. Olivia ends up leaving her when they docked one day and Grant, a hot, younger Irishman enters the picture and joins Becca for the remainder of the journey. He is a sailing instructor, so luckily he knows what he's doing. He's actually Olivia's former TA and honestly I didn't like where their plotline when.
Overall, this was as slow moving as sailing down the coast was, which is apparently quite the feat as I now know since I’m well versed on the subject. Not that I’ll ever go sailing because I’m not a big fan of boats in any size, but this does attest to how knowledgeable the author is. While I did like that on one hand on the other it was too much of all the mechanics of it for me. I did really like how it was about the journey of what is next for Becca and I'm happy with where her life will go moving forward. Love the title, too.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ women's fiction
Setting ~ Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida
Publication date ~ October 18, 2022
Publisher ~ Lake Union Publishing
Est Page Count ~ 281 (37 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 3 minutes
Narrator ~ Angela Lin
POV ~ single 1st person POV, present tense
Featuring ~ age gap (42 & 26), closed door (or open air I guess) steamage
Becca is a former rich divorcee trying to make it on her own with only a boat to her name. In order to make ends meet she sells the boat. She and her 21 year old daughter, Olivia, set sail from Maine to Miami to deliver it to the new buyer.
I really enjoyed the thought of the mother/daughter bonding trip, until I didn't. Their relationship wasn't all sunshine like I had hoped it would be. In fact the last bit with them at the end was really saddening. Olivia ends up leaving her when they docked one day and Grant, a hot, younger Irishman enters the picture and joins Becca for the remainder of the journey. He is a sailing instructor, so luckily he knows what he's doing. He's actually Olivia's former TA and honestly I didn't like where their plotline when.
Overall, this was as slow moving as sailing down the coast was, which is apparently quite the feat as I now know since I’m well versed on the subject. Not that I’ll ever go sailing because I’m not a big fan of boats in any size, but this does attest to how knowledgeable the author is. While I did like that on one hand on the other it was too much of all the mechanics of it for me. I did really like how it was about the journey of what is next for Becca and I'm happy with where her life will go moving forward. Love the title, too.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
July 22, 2022
♪♬♪And no one knooooowwwwwwsssssss how far I’ll goooooooooooo ♪♬♪
Hehehe. For a gal who don’t love to leave the couch, I sure like reading about setting sail!
After posting a “meh” review and declaring myself a romance failure of late, a friend recommended Float Plan to me – which I had already read (and loooooved), but that recommendation reminded me I had failed to ever review this one (naturally).
I did read the blurb on this and had a bit of hesitation how a romance of any sort was going to work on a sailboat featuring a recent divorcee, the able bodied seaman who gets hired to help her navigate said vessel and the . . . lady’s daughter????? If you too are reluctant to pull the trigger due to the addition of an intentional or unintentional cockblock, have no fear. Daughter doesn’t go on the trip! Daughter is also kind of a real turd of a human, but that’s another issue.
So as I just said this is the story of recent divorcee Becca who has walked away from a 20+ year marriage with pretty much nothing aside from an award of a 40 foot sailboat called the “Becky Ann.” Selling said boat will hopefully make the little cottage Becca dreams of a reality and sailing it down the Eastern Seaboard to the new owner will give Becca a chance to bond with her daughter. It doesn’t take long to realize the two aren’t quite as capable at the helm as they hoped so Grant is hired in order they and the boat make it to their destination in one piece. And I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a bit of a backstory of Grant and the daughter that I really did not enjoy and wish would have not even made it to print because it ended up as a waste of pages and the daughter was still a turd that I was so happy finally got off the damn boat.
Really that’s my complaint. I wish there wouldn’t have been a daughter. I’m a jerk. I loved Becca's journey of re-discovering herself and I went into this hoping for my dream man . . . .
I got him too! (Well, minus the eye patch.) And I got him without Martin Short mucking up my fantasy. My apologies to anyone who finds him charming rather than grating or has come to love him as one of their favorite “neighbors in the building,” but he will always be this to me . . . .
Insufferable.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley
August 20, 2022
Becca Larkin calls time on her twenty-two year marriage to Alistair, she’s been unhappy for years and she has issues with his morals. The couple have a twenty-one year old daughter Olivia, Becca doesn’t want her to have to take sides and she's never mentioned the problems she has had with Alistair.
The Larkin family is wealthy, Becca willingly signed a prenup when they married and she’s surprised when the judge awards her the Becky Ann in the divorce settlement and what will she do with a sailing boat? The obvious thing to do is sell it, Becca and Liv decide to sail the boat from Maine to the buyer in Miami. Becca knows nothing about sailing, she gets sea sick and Liv assures her that she’s a competent mariner. Becca is in charge of packing everything they need for the trip, including food, drinks and safety equipment.
The mother and daughter have always had a good relationship, she’s shocked when they arrive at the first stop over and out of the blue Liv informers her that she’s flying in Grant Murphy to take the Becky Ann to Maine. Becca is confused, Liv hates the Irish sailing instructor and why has she suddenly changed her mind?
Becca finds herself aboard the Becky Ann with the much younger handsome sailor and he’s not at all what she’s expecting. Grant is patient and kind, Becca starts to get her sea legs, understand sailing terms, tries new things, she actually enjoys sailing and the adrenaline rush! During the trip Becca starts to consider what she’s going to do in the future, she also worried Olivia, how she will handle college after summer break finishes and her parents separating?
I received a copy of Where the Wind Takes Us by Kelly Harms from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. It’s a thought provoking narrative about a mother and daughter’s relationship and a their journey towards finding themselves. Becca especially learns to take chances, money can’t buy happiness, age is just a number, she embraces her fresh start and experiences real passion. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this mature coming of age story and Ms. Harms previous novel, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler.
The Larkin family is wealthy, Becca willingly signed a prenup when they married and she’s surprised when the judge awards her the Becky Ann in the divorce settlement and what will she do with a sailing boat? The obvious thing to do is sell it, Becca and Liv decide to sail the boat from Maine to the buyer in Miami. Becca knows nothing about sailing, she gets sea sick and Liv assures her that she’s a competent mariner. Becca is in charge of packing everything they need for the trip, including food, drinks and safety equipment.
The mother and daughter have always had a good relationship, she’s shocked when they arrive at the first stop over and out of the blue Liv informers her that she’s flying in Grant Murphy to take the Becky Ann to Maine. Becca is confused, Liv hates the Irish sailing instructor and why has she suddenly changed her mind?
Becca finds herself aboard the Becky Ann with the much younger handsome sailor and he’s not at all what she’s expecting. Grant is patient and kind, Becca starts to get her sea legs, understand sailing terms, tries new things, she actually enjoys sailing and the adrenaline rush! During the trip Becca starts to consider what she’s going to do in the future, she also worried Olivia, how she will handle college after summer break finishes and her parents separating?
I received a copy of Where the Wind Takes Us by Kelly Harms from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. It’s a thought provoking narrative about a mother and daughter’s relationship and a their journey towards finding themselves. Becca especially learns to take chances, money can’t buy happiness, age is just a number, she embraces her fresh start and experiences real passion. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this mature coming of age story and Ms. Harms previous novel, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler.
July 3, 2025
There is a lot to like in this story of a woman finding herself in her 40s after divorcing her rich lawyer husband of 22 years and comes out of the marriage with only his top class 40 foot sailing yacht. Lots of challenges in her new life, mainly in sailing the boat from Maine to Florida to sell it, but nothing goes as planned. I did get a bit bored with all the sailing details, but in the end it didn't dominate the script.
July 31, 2022
Review coming soon.
May 24, 2022
Whoever said "Fortune favors the brave" forgot to mention how scary bravery can be. Just ask Rebecca, the freshly divorced herione of Wherever the Wind Takes Us. She can't believe how long she endured her marriage, hanging on to comfort and to hope, so now that she's free, a cottage with windowboxes is all she allows herself to desire.
But Fortune has other designs for her, in the form of a sailboat she really doesn't want and a sailing instructor she really does--maybe. He's too young, for one thing, and too carefree. And he sails, something she can do entirely without. And yet...
Harms hits all the right notes, again and again, keeping the story racing along, and filling it with her wicked sense of humor. I read it in two sittings, captivated by the twists and turns of Rebecca's dilemma, and by the sailing adventure from Maine to Florida. I wanted to be on board! What makes this a truly memorable read, though, is Harms' insights into the conundrums of human nature. Would you be brave enough to move out of safe harbor and take a chance at the open sea, hoping Fortune would find you? Would you?
Read Rebecca's odyssey and find out where the wind took her. You won't regret it.
But Fortune has other designs for her, in the form of a sailboat she really doesn't want and a sailing instructor she really does--maybe. He's too young, for one thing, and too carefree. And he sails, something she can do entirely without. And yet...
Harms hits all the right notes, again and again, keeping the story racing along, and filling it with her wicked sense of humor. I read it in two sittings, captivated by the twists and turns of Rebecca's dilemma, and by the sailing adventure from Maine to Florida. I wanted to be on board! What makes this a truly memorable read, though, is Harms' insights into the conundrums of human nature. Would you be brave enough to move out of safe harbor and take a chance at the open sea, hoping Fortune would find you? Would you?
Read Rebecca's odyssey and find out where the wind took her. You won't regret it.
January 26, 2023
This is my first DNF from Kelly Harms. The book focuses too much on the mechanics of sailing and not enough on plot or character development. The main character was not having any fun sailing and I wasn’t having fun reading. Suddenly the daughter ditches her mother and leaves her to sail with her sailing coach whom she thinks is her ex boyfriend then fast forward five minutes she is interested in sleeping with him too? I just couldn’t get into this one. Put it down at 80%
October 16, 2022
After 20+ years of marriage to a very wealthy man, Becca finds herself nearly penniless with only a luxury sailboat in her position. The only way to make ends meet is to sell the boat to a buyer in Miami. That means she has to get the boat from Maine to Florida, with no sailing experience.
She decides to have a trip of a lifetime, convincing her 21 year old daughter to sail with her. Unfortunately things don't go as planned, so in enters Grant, a young heartthrob who happens to be a sailing pro.
This a great story about family, how money influences you and second chances. But most of all its an underdog story about how Becca gets her life and mojo back.
A little romance, sprinkled with drama and teen attitude (I know she's 21, it's a fine line), this book was perfect for me.
She decides to have a trip of a lifetime, convincing her 21 year old daughter to sail with her. Unfortunately things don't go as planned, so in enters Grant, a young heartthrob who happens to be a sailing pro.
This a great story about family, how money influences you and second chances. But most of all its an underdog story about how Becca gets her life and mojo back.
A little romance, sprinkled with drama and teen attitude (I know she's 21, it's a fine line), this book was perfect for me.
September 23, 2022
I knew I wanted to read this novel as soon as I heard about it, as I have enjoyed all of the other books I read by Kelly Harms. This one took me a bit longer to read, as there were some big events in our family around the time I started it. The first was that my father-in-law passed away. I had Wherever the Wind Takes Us in my Kindle queue long before that happened and it came up at a really interesting time, as my father-in-law loved boating and this novel is all about sailing. I felt like it was a sign from him. (The second big event was that my nephew was born and my kids and I took a road trip to meet him, leaving very little time for reading.)
The premise of this novel is interesting and creative. I don't often read about single mothers taking a long boat trip from Maine to Miami. Not only that, but she has her adult daughter on the trip with her. And her path crosses with a hot, young, Irish sailing instructor. The dialogue and descriptions really brought the story to life and I felt like I was sailing in the middle of the ocean right along with Becca.
Even though there was a diagram at the beginning of the book, it was still really hard to follow all of the terminology and understand how sailing even works. You'd have to be a sailing expert to follow all of that. Having said that, Kelly really knows her stuff! I felt like Becca was too introspective and second guessed things way too much. If I were on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean with my celebrity crush (who happens to be the same age difference from me as Grant was from Becca), I would not be questioning anything. (This is my hall pass, of course.)
Overall, this was an entertaining story. I expected copies to be available already because it has such a summer vibe, but it will be about another month before you can get your hands on one.
Movie casting suggestions:
The premise of this novel is interesting and creative. I don't often read about single mothers taking a long boat trip from Maine to Miami. Not only that, but she has her adult daughter on the trip with her. And her path crosses with a hot, young, Irish sailing instructor. The dialogue and descriptions really brought the story to life and I felt like I was sailing in the middle of the ocean right along with Becca.
Even though there was a diagram at the beginning of the book, it was still really hard to follow all of the terminology and understand how sailing even works. You'd have to be a sailing expert to follow all of that. Having said that, Kelly really knows her stuff! I felt like Becca was too introspective and second guessed things way too much. If I were on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean with my celebrity crush (who happens to be the same age difference from me as Grant was from Becca), I would not be questioning anything. (This is my hall pass, of course.)
Overall, this was an entertaining story. I expected copies to be available already because it has such a summer vibe, but it will be about another month before you can get your hands on one.
Movie casting suggestions:
Becca: Rachael Leigh Cook
Olivia: Savannah Lee May
Grant: Daryl McCormack (as soon as I heard hot, young, and Irish, he immediately came to mind!)
Natasha: Danneel Ackles
September 17, 2022
“When life stops making sense, it’s time to raise the anchor and follow the tide”
Rebecca Ann Larkin steps away from a life of unhappiness and chooses to stop viewing life through the distorted lens of grief, anger, uncertainty and fear. When she comes into possession of a sailboat, the sea becomes the perfect place for her to sort out her life.
I absolutely loved reading about Becca’s journey! She discovers that on the other side of fear and uncertainty there’s an expansiveness that’s new and provides her the opportunity to start afresh.
“The water is deepest dark, but not dark as night. It’s dark as squeezed-tight eyelids. Dark as tar burbling, like evil brewing. It’s the colour of the inside of a nightmare.”
The writing is divine! It's uniquely descriptive. I wanted to read passages over and over and over again. Her grasp on relationships was adeptly conveyed. It felt as though I was there watching the relationships unfold before my eyes. I love the acronyms and the sense of humour. It all felt so authentic
The characters! Oh, my! That Irish Adonis captured my attention. They’re beautifully crafted and again, oh, so authentic. My on again, off again feelings about Becca's daughter and her behaviour were carefully orchestrated by an author who knows what she's doing I loved how this added to my understanding of the human psyche.
I’m not a yachty, yet I loved learning about everything Kelly Harms had to teach me…yes, even about marine toilet paper. I loved the prompting to take inventory of the stories I tell myself. Becca wasn’t on a journey to self-discovery alone. I was right there with her.
“If the world is an ocean and I must navigate it alone for the first time, this far along in my life’s journey, then yes, I am afraid.”
Everything Becca wants is on the other side of fear. Can she take the first step? Can she become a sailor - a woman comfortable leaning into the wind? You MUST read this to find out.
I know I’m gushing. I want to grab a megaphone, climb up high and tell everyone to go buy this book. I’m disappointed with myself for not discovering this author sooner.
I was gifted this advance copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Rebecca Ann Larkin steps away from a life of unhappiness and chooses to stop viewing life through the distorted lens of grief, anger, uncertainty and fear. When she comes into possession of a sailboat, the sea becomes the perfect place for her to sort out her life.
I absolutely loved reading about Becca’s journey! She discovers that on the other side of fear and uncertainty there’s an expansiveness that’s new and provides her the opportunity to start afresh.
“The water is deepest dark, but not dark as night. It’s dark as squeezed-tight eyelids. Dark as tar burbling, like evil brewing. It’s the colour of the inside of a nightmare.”
The writing is divine! It's uniquely descriptive. I wanted to read passages over and over and over again. Her grasp on relationships was adeptly conveyed. It felt as though I was there watching the relationships unfold before my eyes. I love the acronyms and the sense of humour. It all felt so authentic
The characters! Oh, my! That Irish Adonis captured my attention. They’re beautifully crafted and again, oh, so authentic. My on again, off again feelings about Becca's daughter and her behaviour were carefully orchestrated by an author who knows what she's doing I loved how this added to my understanding of the human psyche.
I’m not a yachty, yet I loved learning about everything Kelly Harms had to teach me…yes, even about marine toilet paper. I loved the prompting to take inventory of the stories I tell myself. Becca wasn’t on a journey to self-discovery alone. I was right there with her.
“If the world is an ocean and I must navigate it alone for the first time, this far along in my life’s journey, then yes, I am afraid.”
Everything Becca wants is on the other side of fear. Can she take the first step? Can she become a sailor - a woman comfortable leaning into the wind? You MUST read this to find out.
I know I’m gushing. I want to grab a megaphone, climb up high and tell everyone to go buy this book. I’m disappointed with myself for not discovering this author sooner.
I was gifted this advance copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 30, 2022
Fresh ocean air was just what the doc ordered. A new author and and an interesting sailing experience that was exciting and satisfying, along with a growing attraction between an older recently divorced woman and a younger Irish college professor.
A little slow on the upstart, but soon the wind caught the sails and swept me up and into a wonderful afternoon of reading. A well-written plot that involved some surprising twists and turns, although I did figure out the big reveal early on.
The main characters – Becca and Grant – were wonderful and even though I’m not a big fan of such big age differences, I loved them together – and Grant was much more mature and dedicated than I anticipated and the relationship was believable. All while he taught Becca how to sail her recently acquired boat, Irish foody lessons in the galley, along with their witty bantering and the developing romance, they kept me fully afloat and cheering for a happy and safe return to shore.
For the most part, the multi-layered story was humorous and interesting, keeping me onboard and fully involved. The newly divorced mother and her college-aged daughter butt heads from time to time that keeps things a bit tense and strained but came with lessons of life that not only wounded but healed – and a positive outlook in all directions for the future.
Something a little different for me with a few weighty topics. I enjoyed my time as a deckhand.
October 17, 2022
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Becca married young and remained in her broken marriage out of worries about her future and obligations. Then came the straw that broke the camel’s back, and she was finally ready to leave her husband, his family, and their money behind.
This was a quite a journey, and I loved it! Becca stayed with her husband as long as she did out of fear, and even following the divorce, she was still be driven by fear. Delivering that boat to its buyer was so critical for her as she tried to figure out her next steps and life on her own terms.
This was a tough journey, both physically and emotionally. Becca found herself in some rather precarious situations at sea, but she learned so much. She not only grasped the art of sailing, but she also discovered that she was stronger and more capable than she ever gave herself credit for. This woman whose life had been dictated by the Larkin family for over twenty years pushed herself in a way she never had before. She reawakened parts of herself she thought were lost forever, and it was such a wonderful thing the bear witness to.
The mother-daughter relationship was also explored. Becca didn’t want to come between her daughter and her ex-husband. She wanted to both be honest with her daughter while not creating friction between them. At the same time, she had to begin seeing her daughter as an adult. It was a rocky road for these two, and I was frustrated with both Becca and Liv, but sometimes growth can be painful.
I am trash for stories about rebuilding your life. Becca did an admirable job rising from the ashes of her failed marriage, and Harms did a wonderful job telling her story. The blend of exhilarating action, humor, romance, and warmth was perfect for me. It’s also always a pleasure reading a story that reminds me that it’s never too late for my second act. This tale took me through a wide range of emotions, and it ended in a way that left me happy and satisfied.
*ARC provided by publisher
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Becca married young and remained in her broken marriage out of worries about her future and obligations. Then came the straw that broke the camel’s back, and she was finally ready to leave her husband, his family, and their money behind.
This was a quite a journey, and I loved it! Becca stayed with her husband as long as she did out of fear, and even following the divorce, she was still be driven by fear. Delivering that boat to its buyer was so critical for her as she tried to figure out her next steps and life on her own terms.
This was a tough journey, both physically and emotionally. Becca found herself in some rather precarious situations at sea, but she learned so much. She not only grasped the art of sailing, but she also discovered that she was stronger and more capable than she ever gave herself credit for. This woman whose life had been dictated by the Larkin family for over twenty years pushed herself in a way she never had before. She reawakened parts of herself she thought were lost forever, and it was such a wonderful thing the bear witness to.
The mother-daughter relationship was also explored. Becca didn’t want to come between her daughter and her ex-husband. She wanted to both be honest with her daughter while not creating friction between them. At the same time, she had to begin seeing her daughter as an adult. It was a rocky road for these two, and I was frustrated with both Becca and Liv, but sometimes growth can be painful.
I am trash for stories about rebuilding your life. Becca did an admirable job rising from the ashes of her failed marriage, and Harms did a wonderful job telling her story. The blend of exhilarating action, humor, romance, and warmth was perfect for me. It’s also always a pleasure reading a story that reminds me that it’s never too late for my second act. This tale took me through a wide range of emotions, and it ended in a way that left me happy and satisfied.
*ARC provided by publisher
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
June 17, 2022
Kelly Harms is an auto-buy author for me! This book is really descriptive in sailing terms, but hang in there - the underlying plot is so wonderful and hit right at the right time in my life. I love the divorced heroine rep! So heartfelt and vulnerable!
May 29, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published October 18, 2022.
This is my third book by this author and like the first two, this book was a quick and enjoyable read.
The main character Becca files for divorce from her extremely wealthy husband. She doesn’t ask for much but she gets the 40 foot sailboat named after her. She and her daughter try to sail it to Miami to sell it, but neither one really knows how to sail. Enter Grant, the hot 26 yo Irishman who’s a sailing instructor!
Although the ending is predictable, there was a twist I wasn’t expecting.
I think fans of sailing and rom-coms will enjoy it.
This is my third book by this author and like the first two, this book was a quick and enjoyable read.
The main character Becca files for divorce from her extremely wealthy husband. She doesn’t ask for much but she gets the 40 foot sailboat named after her. She and her daughter try to sail it to Miami to sell it, but neither one really knows how to sail. Enter Grant, the hot 26 yo Irishman who’s a sailing instructor!
Although the ending is predictable, there was a twist I wasn’t expecting.
I think fans of sailing and rom-coms will enjoy it.
January 28, 2025
This is my second book in a row that I've read in a quest to find main characters my age...and unfortunately, it's the second disappointing book in a row too (Enchanted Islands was the other book). The reading level of this book seems like it could be around 8th grade for story complexity and language use (it's not 8th grade appropriate, but the writing is that simple). Honestly, I should have DNFed it early on, but I held on for the sailing and the journey part of the book. I was hoping for more. I once sailed from Key West to Boston while working on a sailboat after a divorce, similar to the main character. Unfortunately, it didn't explore the journey much at all and read more like a collection of sailing terms with a romance and midlife angst thrown in. It lacked character development and depth. The daughter was a spoiled brat. This was a miss all around.
October 9, 2022
I was so happy to be reading Kelly Harms again! I loved her funny, magical book 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡.
What I love about 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐬 is that it shows that forty-something-year-old Becca is not all washed up after her divorce from very wealthy Alistair Larkin.
In fact, she suggests an adventure of sailing with her daughter, seeing that Becca now owns a fancy sailboat -𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦. Yet, in all this, she ends up meeting a handsome, and much younger than her, Irish sailing instructor and finding her own way.
This is a great escape book, with tons of sailing, romance, self-exploration, and mother-daughter bonding.
Thank you, @letstalkbookspromo @amazonpublishing and @kelly.harms, for the spot on tour and the gifted book. (Thank you, Kelly, for the special bookmark too ⚓).
What I love about 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐬 is that it shows that forty-something-year-old Becca is not all washed up after her divorce from very wealthy Alistair Larkin.
In fact, she suggests an adventure of sailing with her daughter, seeing that Becca now owns a fancy sailboat -𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦. Yet, in all this, she ends up meeting a handsome, and much younger than her, Irish sailing instructor and finding her own way.
This is a great escape book, with tons of sailing, romance, self-exploration, and mother-daughter bonding.
Thank you, @letstalkbookspromo @amazonpublishing and @kelly.harms, for the spot on tour and the gifted book. (Thank you, Kelly, for the special bookmark too ⚓).
October 14, 2022
A breezy read to go along with the title. Becca is newly divorced, no home, no job, but she has her ex’s boat. She sells it and agrees to deliver it to Miami, along with her sailing mentor, Grant.
I shook my head a lot at Becca. For a 42 year old she has a blasé attitude toward life. She’s not worried about where she will land or what she will do money wise. I thought she was impractical for most of the story.
Things do blow up for her, eventually, but she had to find her own way.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.
I shook my head a lot at Becca. For a 42 year old she has a blasé attitude toward life. She’s not worried about where she will land or what she will do money wise. I thought she was impractical for most of the story.
Things do blow up for her, eventually, but she had to find her own way.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.
October 18, 2022
I requested this book on the recommendation of a friend. It started fast. It slowed down with so much boat talk, but when the sailing smoothed and all three main characters started to progress, I flew through it. I liked the journey. I liked the setting and the relationships. I gasped out loud and texted my friend at the end. It was a good summery read to get us through fall.
November 25, 2022
I've read several books by this author, several have been good, others not so much, this is in the not so much category.
Read
March 3, 2023DNF @ 30%.
October 2, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I really enjoyed Wherever the Wind Takes Us. It is an unconventional coming-of-age story. Instead of Becca growing from teenager to adult she’s growing into her 42-year-old self. She is also navigating her relationship with her 21-year-old daughter, Liv and learning how to be someone who puts her own needs before everyone else’s, particularly Liv’s.
Fresh out of a 22-year marriage to a very wealthy man with questionable morals, Becca has nothing, she didn’t contest her prenup. She does, however, end up with a very expensive 41’ sailboat, the Becky Ann. She gets a buyer lined up in Miami, courtesy of, Grant, Liv’s sailing coach. The plan is for Becca and Liv to sail from Maine to Miami to deliver the boat, whilst enjoying some mother-daughter time post-divorce.
Not being the sailor, except for day sails, Becca assumes it’ll be like driving a car. She envisions drinks in the cockpit and elaborate meals at sunset while at anchor. Needless to say reality sets in quickly. They’re in way over their heads. Liv calls in a reinforcement, the gorgeous young Irishman, Grant to finish the delivery. Liv bails, but even though she’s not a sailor, Becca decides to honor her commitment and continue with the delivery.
Along the way Becca finds not only her sea legs, but her soul. WTWTU is a beautiful story of coming into your own and living for yourself instead of others. Wherever the Wind Takes Us is an emotional rollercoaster of love and trust and how having them then losing them can turn fear and sadness into bravery and jubilation.
As a sailor, I have a hard time believing that our heroine, Becca became an expert sailor within a week. Other than that, Harms nails the sailing bits. I wish the boat would’ve been rigged with jacklines, which are pretty much “required” when sailing offshore.
There were a few instances where ages were mixed up or taking a job changes to thinking about taking a job, but these inconsistencies don’t detract from the overall story ... and it is an uncorrected proof.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wherever the Wind TakesUs is available on October 18th
I really enjoyed Wherever the Wind Takes Us. It is an unconventional coming-of-age story. Instead of Becca growing from teenager to adult she’s growing into her 42-year-old self. She is also navigating her relationship with her 21-year-old daughter, Liv and learning how to be someone who puts her own needs before everyone else’s, particularly Liv’s.
Fresh out of a 22-year marriage to a very wealthy man with questionable morals, Becca has nothing, she didn’t contest her prenup. She does, however, end up with a very expensive 41’ sailboat, the Becky Ann. She gets a buyer lined up in Miami, courtesy of, Grant, Liv’s sailing coach. The plan is for Becca and Liv to sail from Maine to Miami to deliver the boat, whilst enjoying some mother-daughter time post-divorce.
Not being the sailor, except for day sails, Becca assumes it’ll be like driving a car. She envisions drinks in the cockpit and elaborate meals at sunset while at anchor. Needless to say reality sets in quickly. They’re in way over their heads. Liv calls in a reinforcement, the gorgeous young Irishman, Grant to finish the delivery. Liv bails, but even though she’s not a sailor, Becca decides to honor her commitment and continue with the delivery.
Along the way Becca finds not only her sea legs, but her soul. WTWTU is a beautiful story of coming into your own and living for yourself instead of others. Wherever the Wind Takes Us is an emotional rollercoaster of love and trust and how having them then losing them can turn fear and sadness into bravery and jubilation.
As a sailor, I have a hard time believing that our heroine, Becca became an expert sailor within a week. Other than that, Harms nails the sailing bits. I wish the boat would’ve been rigged with jacklines, which are pretty much “required” when sailing offshore.
There were a few instances where ages were mixed up or taking a job changes to thinking about taking a job, but these inconsistencies don’t detract from the overall story ... and it is an uncorrected proof.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wherever the Wind TakesUs is available on October 18th
October 7, 2022
Another cute book by Kelly Harms! The main character of this novel, Becca, is in her early forties and finally divorcing her husband after 22 years of marriage, much of it unhappy, but she stayed in it in part for her daughter who is now 21. Thanks to their prenup, despite her husband’s wealth, all she gets from their divorce is her husband’s fancy sailboat that the judge grants to her. She decides to sell it, and that she should sail it to Miami despite her lack of experience where the seller will take possession.
There’s mother-daughter bonding and relationship woes, figuring out what her identity even is after many years of subsuming herself in marriage, romance, and lots of sailing. Maybe even a little more sailing details than I needed, but I will say that even as a seasick person who doesn’t sail, this book totally made me feel like I could visualize everything happening on the boat!
I’m a major Kelly Harms fan - I’ve read all 5 of her previous books including this one. I always know k can count on her books to be light and fun but with some real emotions too. This was not my favorite of her books (that title is still held by The Overdue Life of Amy Byler), but another quick and cute read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy (out 10/18/22) in exchange for an honest review.
There’s mother-daughter bonding and relationship woes, figuring out what her identity even is after many years of subsuming herself in marriage, romance, and lots of sailing. Maybe even a little more sailing details than I needed, but I will say that even as a seasick person who doesn’t sail, this book totally made me feel like I could visualize everything happening on the boat!
I’m a major Kelly Harms fan - I’ve read all 5 of her previous books including this one. I always know k can count on her books to be light and fun but with some real emotions too. This was not my favorite of her books (that title is still held by The Overdue Life of Amy Byler), but another quick and cute read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy (out 10/18/22) in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2023
Becca Larkin’s life changed course the day she finally decided to leave her ailing marriage. But spending the last twenty-two years with a self-centered man also left her at a loss for being self-sufficient. Now in her early 40s, Becca is ready to set sail on a new chapter in her life. Inheriting her ex husband’s expensive boat, however, wasn’t exactly the smooth sailing she bargained for.
Admittedly knowing next to nothing about boats, Becca decides to sell her namesake, taking the profits made to start anew. With the help of a hunky Irish sailing coach named Grant, Becca acquires a sweet deal rather quickly. Then she finds out the boat has to be taken from Maine to Miami to its intended buyer. Taking the wind out of her sails, but not the wanting out of the woman, Becca decides to take the trip, her 21
year old daughter, Liv, in tow, hoping for a much needed bonding experience.
But both women quickly realize they don’t know nearly enough about sailing to be successful, nor do they know as much about each other as they once thought. As they try to navigate differing depths of adulthood together, they enter choppy waters. Can this mother and daughter salvage the shipwreck their relationship has become or are they meant clear the deck and start anew?
Wherever the Wind Takes Us is a quick read that features strong women who have to batten down life’s hatches and make some waves to get results. There were times throughout the story both women annoyed me a bit, both separately and as a unit. In these moments it was hard to determine who was the mother and who was the daughter as both came across childish and whiny. There also was a lot of boating terminology in this book. You might feel that makes sense considering the story, in large part, takes place on a boat. But for two women who didn’t know much about sailing, their confidence in vernacular seemed a bit off course.
In the end, this is a swell story about women reinventing themselves, reminding the reader that sometimes you have to go bottoms up before you can get to life’s higher ground.
Admittedly knowing next to nothing about boats, Becca decides to sell her namesake, taking the profits made to start anew. With the help of a hunky Irish sailing coach named Grant, Becca acquires a sweet deal rather quickly. Then she finds out the boat has to be taken from Maine to Miami to its intended buyer. Taking the wind out of her sails, but not the wanting out of the woman, Becca decides to take the trip, her 21
year old daughter, Liv, in tow, hoping for a much needed bonding experience.
But both women quickly realize they don’t know nearly enough about sailing to be successful, nor do they know as much about each other as they once thought. As they try to navigate differing depths of adulthood together, they enter choppy waters. Can this mother and daughter salvage the shipwreck their relationship has become or are they meant clear the deck and start anew?
Wherever the Wind Takes Us is a quick read that features strong women who have to batten down life’s hatches and make some waves to get results. There were times throughout the story both women annoyed me a bit, both separately and as a unit. In these moments it was hard to determine who was the mother and who was the daughter as both came across childish and whiny. There also was a lot of boating terminology in this book. You might feel that makes sense considering the story, in large part, takes place on a boat. But for two women who didn’t know much about sailing, their confidence in vernacular seemed a bit off course.
In the end, this is a swell story about women reinventing themselves, reminding the reader that sometimes you have to go bottoms up before you can get to life’s higher ground.
May 23, 2022
“Wherever the Wind Takes Us” by Kelly Harms; Expected Release Date: Oct. 18, 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.
First Impression 😍: This is a beautiful cover! I love the freedom it illustrates with both the swimmer and the font. This is the cover of a book I would definitely pick up at the bookstore or library.
📣 Review: Becca Ann Larkin has just left her entire life behind -- the unhappy 22-year-long marriage, the money, the comfort... All of it, except the 40-something foot sailboat she's been awarded in her divorce. She has to sell it to start her new life. The only problem is, she doesn't know how to sail. She enlists her daughter, Olivia, to help her, thinking it will be a great bonding experience as they sail from Maine to Miami.
I really enjoyed this book! Personally, I related to the story in ways I'm not sure most people would. For me, it sounds like learning to sail in the midst of sailing the entire Eastern seaboard is a lot like diving into backpacking. It takes a while to get those sea/trail legs. I found myself in hysterics reading some of antics shared, especially between mother and daughter. I think anyone who has ever tried anything new (i.e. everyone) can find the humor and enjoyment in this.
Nit-pick(s): There were a couple of paragraphs where my eyes glazed over a bit because of all the sailing terminology. Sometimes I felt it was getting in the way of the story.
Overall: I haven't mention Grant Murphy - the sailing instructor slash love interest in this book. I loved the romance part of this book (!) but not as much as I loved seeing Becca choose to love herself. Great book, definitely recommend!
#lovejoleen_reads
https://www.instagram.com/lovejoleen/
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.
First Impression 😍: This is a beautiful cover! I love the freedom it illustrates with both the swimmer and the font. This is the cover of a book I would definitely pick up at the bookstore or library.
📣 Review: Becca Ann Larkin has just left her entire life behind -- the unhappy 22-year-long marriage, the money, the comfort... All of it, except the 40-something foot sailboat she's been awarded in her divorce. She has to sell it to start her new life. The only problem is, she doesn't know how to sail. She enlists her daughter, Olivia, to help her, thinking it will be a great bonding experience as they sail from Maine to Miami.
I really enjoyed this book! Personally, I related to the story in ways I'm not sure most people would. For me, it sounds like learning to sail in the midst of sailing the entire Eastern seaboard is a lot like diving into backpacking. It takes a while to get those sea/trail legs. I found myself in hysterics reading some of antics shared, especially between mother and daughter. I think anyone who has ever tried anything new (i.e. everyone) can find the humor and enjoyment in this.
Nit-pick(s): There were a couple of paragraphs where my eyes glazed over a bit because of all the sailing terminology. Sometimes I felt it was getting in the way of the story.
Overall: I haven't mention Grant Murphy - the sailing instructor slash love interest in this book. I loved the romance part of this book (!) but not as much as I loved seeing Becca choose to love herself. Great book, definitely recommend!
#lovejoleen_reads
https://www.instagram.com/lovejoleen/
October 10, 2022
The story
Becca is 42, and recently divorced. She was a stay at home mom and wife for the last 22 years but is walking away from her marriage with almost nothing, except the kind judge decided she was entitled to her wealthy ex husband’s yacht. Becca aims to sell the yacht but the buyers she finds wants it delivered to Miami. This involves an seemingly epic voyage of self discovery for both Becca and her daughter Olivia. When Olivia bales out after a week and a bit, she calls her sailing teacher, Irishman Grant to take her place.
My thoughts
This story had very strong vibes of Trish Doller’s Float Plan, but replacing death with divorce as a place to grieve and make a second act, complete with a charming Irish sailor. Having said that, the sailing seems to be more of a metaphor for taking control of your life in this story, and I really enjoyed how the author did not shy away from the scary and technical aspects here. It underlined how serious an endeavour this was, and how hopelessly unprepared both Becca and Olivia were for this trip. The craziness of Becca’s ex-husband’s antics interspersed with his supposed generosity (suspect trying to keep control) provide a dollop of spice and interest. I have really enjoyed Kelly Harms’ other books and this one was great too!
Read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Becca is 42, and recently divorced. She was a stay at home mom and wife for the last 22 years but is walking away from her marriage with almost nothing, except the kind judge decided she was entitled to her wealthy ex husband’s yacht. Becca aims to sell the yacht but the buyers she finds wants it delivered to Miami. This involves an seemingly epic voyage of self discovery for both Becca and her daughter Olivia. When Olivia bales out after a week and a bit, she calls her sailing teacher, Irishman Grant to take her place.
My thoughts
This story had very strong vibes of Trish Doller’s Float Plan, but replacing death with divorce as a place to grieve and make a second act, complete with a charming Irish sailor. Having said that, the sailing seems to be more of a metaphor for taking control of your life in this story, and I really enjoyed how the author did not shy away from the scary and technical aspects here. It underlined how serious an endeavour this was, and how hopelessly unprepared both Becca and Olivia were for this trip. The craziness of Becca’s ex-husband’s antics interspersed with his supposed generosity (suspect trying to keep control) provide a dollop of spice and interest. I have really enjoyed Kelly Harms’ other books and this one was great too!
Read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
August 21, 2022
Kelly Harms is one of my favorites so I always jump on the newest book she has. This one did not disappoint.
Becca Larkan has decided she's taken enough from her cheating, scum dealing husband so she leaves him and his dirty money behind to forge a new life for herself. Enter the handsome Irishman who is willing to help her find a buyer for her sailboat. I just can't help it, I always catch myself swooning over Irish accents so I was all in with this love interest. His flirtatious remarks and the return of Becca Ann's confidence as she learns to sail and remember what it's like to feel brave again were some of the highlights for me. Since the book revolves around a sailing trip there are numerous sailing terms, but it didn't bog me down and I may have even learned a few things.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Becca Larkan has decided she's taken enough from her cheating, scum dealing husband so she leaves him and his dirty money behind to forge a new life for herself. Enter the handsome Irishman who is willing to help her find a buyer for her sailboat. I just can't help it, I always catch myself swooning over Irish accents so I was all in with this love interest. His flirtatious remarks and the return of Becca Ann's confidence as she learns to sail and remember what it's like to feel brave again were some of the highlights for me. Since the book revolves around a sailing trip there are numerous sailing terms, but it didn't bog me down and I may have even learned a few things.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
October 21, 2022
Sometimes you just need a good boat book and this newest from Kelly Harms delivered!!
Part romance, part women’s fiction and part adventure story. This book sees 42 year old divorcée Becca Larkin sailing her ex husband’s precious sailboat to Miami in order to sell it for the money.
Along for the ride is her grown daughter Olivia and later Olivia’s hot Irish ex boyfriend who happens to be a sailing expert.
This was a really great second chance at life/starting over after divorce story.
Recommended for those who enjoy reverse age gap romances, complex mother-daughter relationships with tons of Gilmore Girls vibes and books like Trish Doller’s Float plan.
Much thanks to @amazonpublishing @letstalkbookspromo and the author for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
Part romance, part women’s fiction and part adventure story. This book sees 42 year old divorcée Becca Larkin sailing her ex husband’s precious sailboat to Miami in order to sell it for the money.
Along for the ride is her grown daughter Olivia and later Olivia’s hot Irish ex boyfriend who happens to be a sailing expert.
This was a really great second chance at life/starting over after divorce story.
Recommended for those who enjoy reverse age gap romances, complex mother-daughter relationships with tons of Gilmore Girls vibes and books like Trish Doller’s Float plan.
Much thanks to @amazonpublishing @letstalkbookspromo and the author for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 15, 2022
A surprise divorce leaves Becca Larkin destitute except for a behemoth of a sailing boat she plans to sell until a fateful meeting with a sexy Irishman sets her on a completely different voyage of discovery.
When a buyer comes through for the boat if Becca can deliver it to Miami, she talks her daughter Liv into the big adventure of sailing it down the east coast from Maine, but they can’t do it alone and hire 26yr old sailing instructor, Grant Murphy.
While there’s an enjoyable love story, it’s the strong mother-daughter connection and the self-growth Becca goes through on the trip that truly makes this a great read!
When a buyer comes through for the boat if Becca can deliver it to Miami, she talks her daughter Liv into the big adventure of sailing it down the east coast from Maine, but they can’t do it alone and hire 26yr old sailing instructor, Grant Murphy.
While there’s an enjoyable love story, it’s the strong mother-daughter connection and the self-growth Becca goes through on the trip that truly makes this a great read!
August 23, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Oh boy did this book prove even further how much I know nothing about sailing and boats! I could've done without the lengthy descriptions of each item shown in the diagram at the beginning of the book, but thus, the story does center around a sailing trip. I enjoyed Becca's strong-willed determination to stand up for what she wants - out of her marriage and on to her second act - and her eagerness to pass that on to her unsuspecting daughter. The spicy Irish sailing coach Grant came at the right time in the story - just as a lil twist was needed.
February 20, 2023
I loved Float Plan and so I decided I needed another book about love on a boat in my life (I have to live vicariously somehow). I liked Becca's journey, from the wife who settled for crumbs to a brave, capable woman starting her next adventure. And Grant was just dreamy. Age difference be damned, lol-- I would not have turned him down either. The only part of the story that I didn't like (and it could have been left out) is the episode between Olivia and Grant.
This book had a lot of technical sailing information, which I loved, but that may not be for everyone. It just made me want to jump on a sailboat (which I have never done, but if Becca can learn, I think I can too).
I alternated between listening and reading this book, and the Irish accent was even better in audio.
This book had a lot of technical sailing information, which I loved, but that may not be for everyone. It just made me want to jump on a sailboat (which I have never done, but if Becca can learn, I think I can too).
I alternated between listening and reading this book, and the Irish accent was even better in audio.
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