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Us
The Ocean Between Us
On the surface Grace Bennett has it all --- three wonderful children, a devoted husband and a life of adventure and travel. But somewhere between her husband Steve's demanding career, raising a family, the constant uprooting and the Navy's routine, Grace has lost her sense of self. And when a nearly forgotten secret resurfaces, her discontent comes into sharp focus. Something needs to change. She needs to change.
Then duty calls. Now, separated by an ocean of regrets and longing, Grace and Steve are forced to take a hard look at their faltering marriage. But when the unthinkable happens, Grace is left to face a Navy wife's worst nightmare --- the cold truth that life's biggest chances can slip away while you're looking for guarantees.
Then duty calls. Now, separated by an ocean of regrets and longing, Grace and Steve are forced to take a hard look at their faltering marriage. But when the unthinkable happens, Grace is left to face a Navy wife's worst nightmare --- the cold truth that life's biggest chances can slip away while you're looking for guarantees.
489 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
704 people are currently reading
4869 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wiggs
169 books7,422 followersSusan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
August 22, 2015
Reading significant portions of one's own life in a book other than one's own autobiography is an intriguing experience. I was immediately transported back to those days when, like the three children in this book, I too could be called the Navy brat of an officer who was a pilot, an officer who also served on board ship that deployed from port and was gone for months at a time, leaving my mother in charge and me and my brother wishing my dad could have stayed home.
Grace Bennett signed on willingly for her role as the wife of a Navy officer, but when she realizes she's given too much of herself, she also concludes she has to do something or she will have lost who she really is. But what she wants to do is complicated by a secret her husband has kept from her since before their twenty-year-long marriage. And Steve refuses to see why she has to make those changes or why they are so important to her.
At the same time, her three children are going through the throes of being "the new kid" yet again, each of them managing that experience differently and with varying degrees of success. How they see their parents and the his naval service also influences their reaction to the secret Grace insists Steve share with their children--before he leaves on a 6-month-deployment on the carrier where he is second-in-command.
When a crisis at sea places all of their relationships at risk in the most permanent sense, each of these beautifully crafted characters must come to terms with what it means to be who they are as individuals and as members of a Navy family.
The book kept me up far too late because I simply could not put it down. A story that will resonate with the members of every military family and even with those who have never experienced the special requirements made of the spouses and children of the men and women who serve.
Grace Bennett signed on willingly for her role as the wife of a Navy officer, but when she realizes she's given too much of herself, she also concludes she has to do something or she will have lost who she really is. But what she wants to do is complicated by a secret her husband has kept from her since before their twenty-year-long marriage. And Steve refuses to see why she has to make those changes or why they are so important to her.
At the same time, her three children are going through the throes of being "the new kid" yet again, each of them managing that experience differently and with varying degrees of success. How they see their parents and the his naval service also influences their reaction to the secret Grace insists Steve share with their children--before he leaves on a 6-month-deployment on the carrier where he is second-in-command.
When a crisis at sea places all of their relationships at risk in the most permanent sense, each of these beautifully crafted characters must come to terms with what it means to be who they are as individuals and as members of a Navy family.
The book kept me up far too late because I simply could not put it down. A story that will resonate with the members of every military family and even with those who have never experienced the special requirements made of the spouses and children of the men and women who serve.
June 26, 2015
I had to read this for a book club. I can't imagine who picked it -- someone with no taste in literature apparently.
"The Ocean Between Us" hits so many cliches I'm sure it's being optioned as a Lifetime original movie. The story revolves around a Navy family who's just moved to the Pacific northwest. Dad's about to ship out on another tour while Grace, the wife, suffers a midlife crisis, deciding to get in shape, start her own business and buy a house. Her husband is against all these things which made me dislike him so intensely I said 'good' when he got knocked overboard on his aircraft carrier. There's a bit with an unknown offspring showing up to work on dad's ship, some issues with the children, all of whom are unbelievably mature and accomplished, and a bunch of side plots concerning fertility and date rape.
I didn't find any of these people believable or likable. Wiggs made it worse by including so many characters in the book it became hard to keep track of everybody.
I'm mystified why any book club would want to discuss this melodramatic mess.
"The Ocean Between Us" hits so many cliches I'm sure it's being optioned as a Lifetime original movie. The story revolves around a Navy family who's just moved to the Pacific northwest. Dad's about to ship out on another tour while Grace, the wife, suffers a midlife crisis, deciding to get in shape, start her own business and buy a house. Her husband is against all these things which made me dislike him so intensely I said 'good' when he got knocked overboard on his aircraft carrier. There's a bit with an unknown offspring showing up to work on dad's ship, some issues with the children, all of whom are unbelievably mature and accomplished, and a bunch of side plots concerning fertility and date rape.
I didn't find any of these people believable or likable. Wiggs made it worse by including so many characters in the book it became hard to keep track of everybody.
I'm mystified why any book club would want to discuss this melodramatic mess.
April 28, 2010
Grace and Steve Bennett have been married for twenty years and they have three children in high school. Steve is a career Naval officer and his career has taken precedence over everything else in the family’s life. They’ve just moved to Washington state and Grace starts to feel the need to put down roots and begins to question all the sacrifices the family has made for Steve’s career.
On the eve of Steve’s deployment, the family finds out some shocking news, so the relationship between Steve and Grace is strained as he leaves. Several things happen while Steve is gone that test their strength, their love and their resolve as a family.
Deep down inside, The Ocean Between Us by Susan Wiggs is a love story. It’s not the story of a new romantic love, but rather the story of a deep, abiding love, and I thought it was just wonderful. The book was a quick read, because I found myself so engrossed in the story.
I could relate to Grace so much. Even though Carl’s not in the service, we have moved a lot for his career, and I know what it’s like to pack up, leave friends behind and start all over in a new place. I know what it’s like to set aside your own needs to try to get your family settled and happy in a new place. I also know what it’s like to appreciate all the opportunities those moves afford you – meeting new people and experiencing new places and things. I totally got it when Grace wondered whether giving up her own dreams to pursue her husband’s had been too much of a sacrifice.
I could also relate to the Bennetts’ three children, since my own father served in the Navy. My father retired when I was fairly young and he mostly had shore duty after I was born, but I do remember picking him up after a long deployment on an aircraft carrier, and wondering if I would recognize him when I saw him again. The children also made me think of Vance and the moves he’s had to make throughout his life.
Overall, I liked The Ocean Between Us a lot and what I liked the most about it was the deep sense of love and respect the Bennetts had for each other and the way they learned to appreciate each other. I think Susan Wiggs did a fantastic job of portraying the life of a service family. This book was an emotional read for me – it made me cry several times, especially at the end. It serves as a reminder that when someone is enlisted in the military, their whole family serves and makes sacrifices.
On the eve of Steve’s deployment, the family finds out some shocking news, so the relationship between Steve and Grace is strained as he leaves. Several things happen while Steve is gone that test their strength, their love and their resolve as a family.
Deep down inside, The Ocean Between Us by Susan Wiggs is a love story. It’s not the story of a new romantic love, but rather the story of a deep, abiding love, and I thought it was just wonderful. The book was a quick read, because I found myself so engrossed in the story.
I could relate to Grace so much. Even though Carl’s not in the service, we have moved a lot for his career, and I know what it’s like to pack up, leave friends behind and start all over in a new place. I know what it’s like to set aside your own needs to try to get your family settled and happy in a new place. I also know what it’s like to appreciate all the opportunities those moves afford you – meeting new people and experiencing new places and things. I totally got it when Grace wondered whether giving up her own dreams to pursue her husband’s had been too much of a sacrifice.
I could also relate to the Bennetts’ three children, since my own father served in the Navy. My father retired when I was fairly young and he mostly had shore duty after I was born, but I do remember picking him up after a long deployment on an aircraft carrier, and wondering if I would recognize him when I saw him again. The children also made me think of Vance and the moves he’s had to make throughout his life.
Overall, I liked The Ocean Between Us a lot and what I liked the most about it was the deep sense of love and respect the Bennetts had for each other and the way they learned to appreciate each other. I think Susan Wiggs did a fantastic job of portraying the life of a service family. This book was an emotional read for me – it made me cry several times, especially at the end. It serves as a reminder that when someone is enlisted in the military, their whole family serves and makes sacrifices.
November 9, 2025
This is the best Susan Wiggs book I have read. It describes Navy life and how hard it is on families. It makes demands on the service member to be gone from their family up to half the time. It makes them live two lives - a family life and a Navy life. It surprised me how much Susan Wiggs knows about service life.
I was emotionally entangled with the characters in this book.
I was emotionally entangled with the characters in this book.
Read
December 24, 2015Steve Bennett had served in the Navy for 26 years. He and his wife had reached a crossroad in their relationship. He was deployed and left on a carrier with things unresolved. He was assigned to work with a reporter, Francine Atwater, and show her around. They were on night ops when he saw Rivera catch on fire. Steve quickly threw his float coat over Michael Rivera to put out the flames and was blown off the ship in an explosion of the flares that Rivera was also trying to throw off the ship. Rivera had just found out that the child his wife Patricia was carrying was going to be a boy. It would be his first.
Josh Lamont was new to landing planes on a carrier. He was having trouble with his plane and saw the fire on the carrier deck as he was about to land. He was forced to abort his landing. He and his crew had to eject from the plane. Josh was thinking of his girlfriend, Lauren Stanton. He had asked her to marry him before he was deployed and she had not yet agreed. Lauren was afraid to say yes because Josh wanted children that she had found out that she couldn't have. Her fertility tests came back that she was sterile.
Steve and Grace had been married soon after they met. Steve was already an officer in the Navy and Grace was a disappointment to her parents. Steve took her away and she became his wife. Brian and Emma were now 18 yr. old twins and Katie was starting high school. Steve's orders for this year were for him to be stationed out of Puget Sound in Washington.
The night before school started, Emma and Brian attended a party at the beach where some of the kids were drinking. Shea attempted to kill herself and Emma rescued her. She was going to take Shea home when Cory told her to grab the beer that was left and he would drive. The cops pulled up and Cory left Emma to take the blame for having the alcohol and being underage. Emma explained what happened to her father and he felt that Cory should have stepped up but he trusted Emma was telling the truth.
Brian was an outstanding athlete and his father wanted him to apply for college at the Naval Academy but that was not where his interest was and he was afraid of his father's attitude so he applied and was accepted while his father was deployed. Emma went on a couple of dates with the local football hero and quarterback, Cory Crowthers. Emma wasn't sure about her feelings for Cory and after winning the homecoming game, Cory raped Emma. He felt sure that he would not get caught because Emma would never turn in the son of her father's commanding officer. Emma didn't tell but became obsessive about cleaning herself, cut her hair into a spike style and refused to see Cory again. She took Brian's place in applying to attend the Naval Academy and didn't tell her parents.
During this time, Grace became aware that she had become overweight and had lost herself in her marriage to Steve. One of the things her and the kids did when they moved to new places was to look at local houses for sale. She did this and found a house she fell in love with. She met and became friends with the owner of the house. The lady was a web site designer and suggested that Grace let her design a web site for her to start up a relocation business. Grace thought about it and talked to Steve. He was very discouraging about it and didn't like the idea of Grace not being completely dependent on him. After he was deployed in November, Grace started attending a gym to lose weight. She started the business and bought the house. She became friends with her first client and was flattered by the attention she was getting from him over the phone. She met with him after his company had relocated to Seattle but balked and letting their friendship go any further after meeting him for lunch. She realized then that she wanted to work on her relationship with Steve and get back what they once had a long time ago. It was that evening that she found out that Steve was missing from his ship.
Before the deployment, Josh Lamont and gone to see Steve and told him that he was his son from his first marriage. Steve had not told Grace that he had been married before. The marriage didn't work out and the marriage had only lasted six months. He didn't want to discuss his failures and had put the memory of the marriage behind him. He never new that his first wife, Cissy, was pregnant and that he had another son. Emma ended up getting to know him first because he was the person who handled the testing for her to get into the Naval Academy. She learned to like him. Emma dropped her PE class at the high school and began to attend exercise classes with her mother and Lauren taught the class. When Emma saw Josh and Lauren together and learned that her mother was friends with Lauren, Emma invited Josh over for dinner with them. Brian never warmed up to Josh but Katie seemed to get along with him and showed him their family pictures when he came over. Grace began to realize that he was a nice person and no longer resented the fact that she was never told about Steve's first marriage. Josh wasn't trying to become a member of their family, just trying to make a place for himself in the situation he was in.
Patricia was also pregnant and taking part in the same exercise class with Emma and Grace. Lauren was their instructor. Patricia's sisters and mother had arrived for the birth when she found out that Michael didn't survive the fire. The crew from Newsweek had filmed the entire event. They had camera footage of Steve trying to save Michael and put out the fire. They saw him blown off the ship without his float coat because he had used it on Michael Rivera.
Steve was found but was extremely week and his left arm was burned in the explosion. He arrived home and was sent to Washington to meet the president. He came home to find Emma and Katie arguing over a dress. Emma had stuffed the dress she wore to homecoming in the bottom of her closet and Katie had found it and was preparing to wear it on a date with Cory. Emma blew up and told Katie that she wasn't going on a date with him and especially in that dress. Katie didn't understand and Emma blurted out that Cory had raped her. Steve and Grace went over to Cory's house with Emma and talked to Cory and his mother. They told her about the rape and found out that similar situations had occurred previously with Cory. Steve told her that if Cory didn't agree to go to a rehab facility, he would turn the event over to the local police. They agreed to the rehab.
After everything that had happened, Steve decided to take a local job with Boeing and remain in Puget Sound. Grace kept her business running out of their new home. Emma was accepted into the Naval Academy. Brian attended the Art College. Katie would become a local and attend high school without having to move again. She was in the marching band playing the clarinet. They got a dog who they named Daisy. Steve and Grace were in sync once again.
Josh and Lauren talked about adopting children and Lauren agreed to marry Josh. She had been married before. Her first husband had been 16 years older than her and had died two years before she met Josh. She was only twenty six.
Josh Lamont was new to landing planes on a carrier. He was having trouble with his plane and saw the fire on the carrier deck as he was about to land. He was forced to abort his landing. He and his crew had to eject from the plane. Josh was thinking of his girlfriend, Lauren Stanton. He had asked her to marry him before he was deployed and she had not yet agreed. Lauren was afraid to say yes because Josh wanted children that she had found out that she couldn't have. Her fertility tests came back that she was sterile.
Steve and Grace had been married soon after they met. Steve was already an officer in the Navy and Grace was a disappointment to her parents. Steve took her away and she became his wife. Brian and Emma were now 18 yr. old twins and Katie was starting high school. Steve's orders for this year were for him to be stationed out of Puget Sound in Washington.
The night before school started, Emma and Brian attended a party at the beach where some of the kids were drinking. Shea attempted to kill herself and Emma rescued her. She was going to take Shea home when Cory told her to grab the beer that was left and he would drive. The cops pulled up and Cory left Emma to take the blame for having the alcohol and being underage. Emma explained what happened to her father and he felt that Cory should have stepped up but he trusted Emma was telling the truth.
Brian was an outstanding athlete and his father wanted him to apply for college at the Naval Academy but that was not where his interest was and he was afraid of his father's attitude so he applied and was accepted while his father was deployed. Emma went on a couple of dates with the local football hero and quarterback, Cory Crowthers. Emma wasn't sure about her feelings for Cory and after winning the homecoming game, Cory raped Emma. He felt sure that he would not get caught because Emma would never turn in the son of her father's commanding officer. Emma didn't tell but became obsessive about cleaning herself, cut her hair into a spike style and refused to see Cory again. She took Brian's place in applying to attend the Naval Academy and didn't tell her parents.
During this time, Grace became aware that she had become overweight and had lost herself in her marriage to Steve. One of the things her and the kids did when they moved to new places was to look at local houses for sale. She did this and found a house she fell in love with. She met and became friends with the owner of the house. The lady was a web site designer and suggested that Grace let her design a web site for her to start up a relocation business. Grace thought about it and talked to Steve. He was very discouraging about it and didn't like the idea of Grace not being completely dependent on him. After he was deployed in November, Grace started attending a gym to lose weight. She started the business and bought the house. She became friends with her first client and was flattered by the attention she was getting from him over the phone. She met with him after his company had relocated to Seattle but balked and letting their friendship go any further after meeting him for lunch. She realized then that she wanted to work on her relationship with Steve and get back what they once had a long time ago. It was that evening that she found out that Steve was missing from his ship.
Before the deployment, Josh Lamont and gone to see Steve and told him that he was his son from his first marriage. Steve had not told Grace that he had been married before. The marriage didn't work out and the marriage had only lasted six months. He didn't want to discuss his failures and had put the memory of the marriage behind him. He never new that his first wife, Cissy, was pregnant and that he had another son. Emma ended up getting to know him first because he was the person who handled the testing for her to get into the Naval Academy. She learned to like him. Emma dropped her PE class at the high school and began to attend exercise classes with her mother and Lauren taught the class. When Emma saw Josh and Lauren together and learned that her mother was friends with Lauren, Emma invited Josh over for dinner with them. Brian never warmed up to Josh but Katie seemed to get along with him and showed him their family pictures when he came over. Grace began to realize that he was a nice person and no longer resented the fact that she was never told about Steve's first marriage. Josh wasn't trying to become a member of their family, just trying to make a place for himself in the situation he was in.
Patricia was also pregnant and taking part in the same exercise class with Emma and Grace. Lauren was their instructor. Patricia's sisters and mother had arrived for the birth when she found out that Michael didn't survive the fire. The crew from Newsweek had filmed the entire event. They had camera footage of Steve trying to save Michael and put out the fire. They saw him blown off the ship without his float coat because he had used it on Michael Rivera.
Steve was found but was extremely week and his left arm was burned in the explosion. He arrived home and was sent to Washington to meet the president. He came home to find Emma and Katie arguing over a dress. Emma had stuffed the dress she wore to homecoming in the bottom of her closet and Katie had found it and was preparing to wear it on a date with Cory. Emma blew up and told Katie that she wasn't going on a date with him and especially in that dress. Katie didn't understand and Emma blurted out that Cory had raped her. Steve and Grace went over to Cory's house with Emma and talked to Cory and his mother. They told her about the rape and found out that similar situations had occurred previously with Cory. Steve told her that if Cory didn't agree to go to a rehab facility, he would turn the event over to the local police. They agreed to the rehab.
After everything that had happened, Steve decided to take a local job with Boeing and remain in Puget Sound. Grace kept her business running out of their new home. Emma was accepted into the Naval Academy. Brian attended the Art College. Katie would become a local and attend high school without having to move again. She was in the marching band playing the clarinet. They got a dog who they named Daisy. Steve and Grace were in sync once again.
Josh and Lauren talked about adopting children and Lauren agreed to marry Josh. She had been married before. Her first husband had been 16 years older than her and had died two years before she met Josh. She was only twenty six.
March 30, 2013
*sigh* I guess there was a reason I kept putting this book off.
The book is very disjointed. There's a reason behind this, I supposed, to preserve the "mystery" of what actually happens, but it's almost like the book had 4 or 5 distinct "chunks" and Wiggs decided to mix them all up. It was confusing until about halfway through the book.
I also didn't like the little clues that were meant to mislead you assume incorrect conclusions.
Grace, at almost-forty, has a revelation that her life is not her own. She almost has a sort of mid-life crisis and wants to re-invent herself. She wants to become a business owner, a home owner, and start caring about her health and appearance. Steve thinks things are fine the way they are. After all, he's being deployed yet again and why don't they just wait before changing anything, but Grace is tired of waiting. Wiggs shows that, for every family member, the military life is not easy.
Grace and Steve's marriage has fallen to the wayside, they both, but especially Steve, have stopped really seeing each other and having secrets pop up at this time don't help.
It takes a life-changing incident to help Grace and Steve see what matters the most.
The book is very disjointed. There's a reason behind this, I supposed, to preserve the "mystery" of what actually happens, but it's almost like the book had 4 or 5 distinct "chunks" and Wiggs decided to mix them all up. It was confusing until about halfway through the book.
I also didn't like the little clues that were meant to mislead you assume incorrect conclusions.
Grace, at almost-forty, has a revelation that her life is not her own. She almost has a sort of mid-life crisis and wants to re-invent herself. She wants to become a business owner, a home owner, and start caring about her health and appearance. Steve thinks things are fine the way they are. After all, he's being deployed yet again and why don't they just wait before changing anything, but Grace is tired of waiting. Wiggs shows that, for every family member, the military life is not easy.
Grace and Steve's marriage has fallen to the wayside, they both, but especially Steve, have stopped really seeing each other and having secrets pop up at this time don't help.
It takes a life-changing incident to help Grace and Steve see what matters the most.
July 5, 2017
I read this a long time ago but I remember how much I enjoyed it. Grace Bennett is the hub of her family. She holds the fort down as her Navy husband is deployed. Her children have needs that accompany military children moving so much. As so many moms do, she feels like she doesn't know what she wants and who she is anymore. Moms give so much of themselves for their family. Maggie feels that her marriage is not what it should be. But her husband has an important position on the ship that he is deployed on.
This is an emotional book that will hit home with a lot of other women and especially military wives. Things happen to put things into perspective. I recommend this books for a great read.
This is an emotional book that will hit home with a lot of other women and especially military wives. Things happen to put things into perspective. I recommend this books for a great read.
April 3, 2009
I loved loved this book, It reminded me of what it must have been like for my many freinds as well as my Mother being a military wife. This story is about a woman who reinvents herself after a life altering man walks into her husbands life and tells them he is this mans son. Just as the husband is about to be shipped off to sea for months on in. While he's away she learns that she needs to take care of herself and it shows the effects of how these life changes and an incident at sea changes their lives forever. Great story. I laughed and cried and got angry and in the end was greatful to some new insight on being a navy wife would be like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2016
Sometimes all I want is a well written chick lit book with family secrets, emotional characters and no smut. This fit that bill and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 14, 2018
Well who would have thought? I picked this off the library shelves because I was waiting on a couple of audio books that had not arrived. Whenever this happens, I get home and check out Goodreads. I was disappointed that the reviews were mostly lowly rated and none of my friends had read it.
I don't know what the reading of this book was like but I loved, loved the audio book. I think the mention of "romance" may have put some off but this novel is more about Navy life, marriage sacrifices and marriage partners living two lives. Dedicated navy officers can be away for 6 months at a time and then they come home having missed 6mths of the children growing up each time. This novel was more about the strain on marriages than a soppy love story. Oh yes, there was some romance which was important to the story but this was a great learning curve for me about Navy life.
I can recommend it to people who like to learn about different careers and lifestyles.
I don't know what the reading of this book was like but I loved, loved the audio book. I think the mention of "romance" may have put some off but this novel is more about Navy life, marriage sacrifices and marriage partners living two lives. Dedicated navy officers can be away for 6 months at a time and then they come home having missed 6mths of the children growing up each time. This novel was more about the strain on marriages than a soppy love story. Oh yes, there was some romance which was important to the story but this was a great learning curve for me about Navy life.
I can recommend it to people who like to learn about different careers and lifestyles.
January 8, 2010
Very mixed feelings about this book. I like the subject of Navy families and a captain's family in particular. Much of the external is true, and some of the internal conflicts. I lived the military life and think the author captured many nuances for wives and kids. That part I like and am continuing to the end.
But the inner dialogue is often over-written, based on a good central idea but written to the point of tedium. This is particularly done just before a major event and feels as if the editor/authors wanted to "milk" the scene or build tension. Tricky to build tension, agreed, but repeating the same internal ditherings doesn't do it.
I'd like to read more by this author, but more tightly editted/written. And I'd like to know what others think.
But the inner dialogue is often over-written, based on a good central idea but written to the point of tedium. This is particularly done just before a major event and feels as if the editor/authors wanted to "milk" the scene or build tension. Tricky to build tension, agreed, but repeating the same internal ditherings doesn't do it.
I'd like to read more by this author, but more tightly editted/written. And I'd like to know what others think.
March 6, 2012
I had a real hard time getting into this one. I usually enjoy all of Ms. Wigg's books, so I don't really understand why I had such a hard time with this one. The characters seemed very real to me, but maybe I just didn't like how long it took to get to the point of everything. Not my favorite story, unfortunetly.
May 16, 2018
This was story that hit home about a Naval family and the struggles. With a brother and cousin in the Navy, and husband having been Navy. IT really showed the stresses that each person can go through. It did not take long to read this. I really felt for each character (except Cory, who wasn't a main guy anyway).
June 6, 2016
The best part of this book was the very beginning with the information dump concerning the workings and life aboard a naval aircraft carrier. After that the book is cheesy and predictable, kind of like a bad made-for-TV movie.
September 12, 2019
This book was pretty torn up in a little free library, so I figured I'd read it before recycling it.
I'm not saying there are no kernels of emotional truth in here. I'm saying the writing has moments of ridiculousness.
E.g., pg 154; "Lauren, an island girl, adored fresh mussels and found the idea of eating something cultivated in the dark, cold depths of the ocean uniquely appealing."
No one likes seafood because it comes from the dark, cold depths of the ocean. They like that it tastes good. Also, mussels grow in shallow water.
I'm gonna go ahead and guess that the big secret is that Josh is Steve's biological son. But I been wrong before!
Update: Yup, I was totally right. Didn't see that date rape coming though, but I did see the almost-cheating-with-hot-work-guy-but-not.
The structure is pretty ridiculous. The writer starts with all the climaxes of the interwoven plots, backtracks, and then repeats the climaxes. (Luckily, not *quite* word-for-word.) Then she tells us the secondary hero (Josh) is OK but still shows his girlfriend agonizing. It's much more effective that we don't know Steve is OK.
I thought the date rape portrayal was sadly realistic and sensitive and I was pretty pleasantly surprised that the author doesn't have a hard-on for the military like Harlequin writers do. There are some bone-deep critiques of the Navy here. Though I think the book is missing the idea that the Navy is mostly attractive to marginalized people (free education!). I will never forget being in Chicago on Memorial Day and *every single* junior cadet in the parade was black or Hispanic.
I'm not saying there are no kernels of emotional truth in here. I'm saying the writing has moments of ridiculousness.
E.g., pg 154; "Lauren, an island girl, adored fresh mussels and found the idea of eating something cultivated in the dark, cold depths of the ocean uniquely appealing."
No one likes seafood because it comes from the dark, cold depths of the ocean. They like that it tastes good. Also, mussels grow in shallow water.
I'm gonna go ahead and guess that the big secret is that Josh is Steve's biological son. But I been wrong before!
Update: Yup, I was totally right. Didn't see that date rape coming though, but I did see the almost-cheating-with-hot-work-guy-but-not.
The structure is pretty ridiculous. The writer starts with all the climaxes of the interwoven plots, backtracks, and then repeats the climaxes. (Luckily, not *quite* word-for-word.) Then she tells us the secondary hero (Josh) is OK but still shows his girlfriend agonizing. It's much more effective that we don't know Steve is OK.
I thought the date rape portrayal was sadly realistic and sensitive and I was pretty pleasantly surprised that the author doesn't have a hard-on for the military like Harlequin writers do. There are some bone-deep critiques of the Navy here. Though I think the book is missing the idea that the Navy is mostly attractive to marginalized people (free education!). I will never forget being in Chicago on Memorial Day and *every single* junior cadet in the parade was black or Hispanic.
March 10, 2022
Susan Wiggs is one of my favorite authors and I just recently discovered I hadn’t read one of her earlier books. I really liked the book. It’s the story of a Navy pilot and the effect his career has on everyone in his life. They moved time after time, felt pressured to behave a certain way, etc. I enjoyed learning about life on an aircraft carrier as well as on base. I couldn’t put it down!
October 6, 2022
Drama ought to be my middle name!!!
This is work drama (military politics and mens’ ego); family drama (baba &mama on the brink of separation); couple drama (a widow and a new proposal); friendship (new solid ones but with tangy secrets); sibling drama (where do I even begin here?!)
Bottom line: the way you spend each day adds up to the way you spend your life.
This is work drama (military politics and mens’ ego); family drama (baba &mama on the brink of separation); couple drama (a widow and a new proposal); friendship (new solid ones but with tangy secrets); sibling drama (where do I even begin here?!)
Bottom line: the way you spend each day adds up to the way you spend your life.
November 26, 2018
Enjoyed insight into Navy wife life.
September 26, 2024
Second book I have tried by this author. Absolutely loved it.
July 20, 2025
A book with a lot of description, this story takes place in Washington, following the Bennetts- a Naval family. I found this book to be very long. Not my favourite of Susan Wiggs.
April 1, 2017
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June 12, 2011I almost didn't read this one because I didn't think I'd finish it in time since I didn't get to start it until Friday night. I had also just finished another book in the similar genre and thought I might need a change. But I'm so so glad I decided to read it because I really really enjoyed it (and finished it in plenty of time)!
The Ocean Between Us takes place over the course of one year in the Bennett family as they experience yet another year as a Navy family. Grace Bennett has always stuck by her Navy husband, putting up with moving every 3 years and spending half of that time without her husband while he's away on the ship. The children (twins Emma and Brian, age 17, and Katie, age 15) have also learned to manage while having their father home only part time. They also learn quickly about the politics of being in the Navy, how to make new friends with every move, etc. There are various plot points that all work together to illustrate the military family lifestyle. Grace starts to have what can be referred to as a mid-life crisis and feels the need to sort of re-invent herself. This is only exacerbated when a secret about her husband's past bombards the family. Steve, the husband, doesn't realize what effect his expectations and absences have on his family; he wants his son, Brian, to join the Navy as well and isn't pleased that Brian would prefer art school. Then a crisis occurs on the ship that changes the lives of the Bennett family as well as that of their fellow Navy friends.
The book starts out in the current time with the big crisis. At this point it alludes to some problems that have been building. Then the story rewinds 9 months and shows all the events that led to where they were at the beginning of the book. One of the things I thought Susan Wiggs did excellently with this book was the pacing. The main point of the book was to illustrate the lives of Navy families. Wiggs was able to illustrate the daily nuances of this lifestyle over the course of a year (in 407 pgs) and also adds enough plot points to keep the reader interested. The characters were also well written and genuine. I constantly found myself just wanting to pick up the book and read more. The teen characters were great because they were real but they were good kids and really cared about each other and their family. I just adored reading about all the characters in this book.
I thought this book was a great peek into what life is like for these families. Some aspects seem fun and exciting, but others are frustrating and scary. I cried in different places while reading this -- sometimes out of sadness and sometimes out of happiness. I would definitely recommend this book as one for those who want some insight into what it's like being married to a someone in the Navy. I grew up with my father in the Air Force, and even though I can relate to some experiences being a military family, it was still completely different than this branch of the military (as I'm sure this is from the others). Definitely a good read.
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com
The Ocean Between Us takes place over the course of one year in the Bennett family as they experience yet another year as a Navy family. Grace Bennett has always stuck by her Navy husband, putting up with moving every 3 years and spending half of that time without her husband while he's away on the ship. The children (twins Emma and Brian, age 17, and Katie, age 15) have also learned to manage while having their father home only part time. They also learn quickly about the politics of being in the Navy, how to make new friends with every move, etc. There are various plot points that all work together to illustrate the military family lifestyle. Grace starts to have what can be referred to as a mid-life crisis and feels the need to sort of re-invent herself. This is only exacerbated when a secret about her husband's past bombards the family. Steve, the husband, doesn't realize what effect his expectations and absences have on his family; he wants his son, Brian, to join the Navy as well and isn't pleased that Brian would prefer art school. Then a crisis occurs on the ship that changes the lives of the Bennett family as well as that of their fellow Navy friends.
The book starts out in the current time with the big crisis. At this point it alludes to some problems that have been building. Then the story rewinds 9 months and shows all the events that led to where they were at the beginning of the book. One of the things I thought Susan Wiggs did excellently with this book was the pacing. The main point of the book was to illustrate the lives of Navy families. Wiggs was able to illustrate the daily nuances of this lifestyle over the course of a year (in 407 pgs) and also adds enough plot points to keep the reader interested. The characters were also well written and genuine. I constantly found myself just wanting to pick up the book and read more. The teen characters were great because they were real but they were good kids and really cared about each other and their family. I just adored reading about all the characters in this book.
I thought this book was a great peek into what life is like for these families. Some aspects seem fun and exciting, but others are frustrating and scary. I cried in different places while reading this -- sometimes out of sadness and sometimes out of happiness. I would definitely recommend this book as one for those who want some insight into what it's like being married to a someone in the Navy. I grew up with my father in the Air Force, and even though I can relate to some experiences being a military family, it was still completely different than this branch of the military (as I'm sure this is from the others). Definitely a good read.
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com
June 3, 2013
RATING = 3.75 stars
Susan Wiggs' The Ocean Between Us has been in my to-read pile for a while now, so I finally decided to try it out. I'm not a huge reader of chick lit and I've never read a book by this author before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect going into it. I was pretty surprised by how much I ended up liking it!
The Ocean Between Us revolves around a few US Navy families, and the hardships that come with living that kind of lifestyle. Grace's husband Steve has been in the Navy ever since she's known him. He is gone half of the time, and she runs their family when he's not around. She's always loved his career, but now she is about to turn 40 and the kids are in high school, she realizes that their marriage is in trouble and wonders if she truly wants to be a military wife forever.
I really enjoyed getting to learn about the Navy lifestyle, specifically in regards to the family that stays behind, as I don't know anybody in the military and I haven't read many books on the subject. I also liked the fact that this novel was a lot more about Grace re-discovering herself than it was about a romance — although, obviously, her relationship with her husband was an important part of the story.
A big part of the book was the secret that came out in Grace and Steve's relationship at the beginning of the book. Although her mid-life crisis about her marriage wasn't completely about this secret, it was definitely the catalyst.
This secret was the biggest problem that I had with The Ocean Between Us. I just thought that it's really weird that such a big secret came out in their marriage. I can't imagine marrying somebody without knowing everything about them. And, even if I did date them for only a short time before marrying, like Grace... they've been married for something like 20 years. And she's NEVER asked him about his previous relationships?! That makes no sense to me. I understand that maybe she didn't want to ask about his difficult childhood, but wouldn't it start to raise some red flags if he didn't talk at all about his life before he met her? I mean, eventually it would have to come up. She never asked him about how many sexual partners he had, or if he ever had an STD, or if he'd ever been engaged before, or how old was he when he first had sex? I literally can't comprehend being married to somebody for 20 years and not being able to answer all of those questions about him. It just seems incredibly unrealistic that they could've been married for that long without him having told her about this secret that is revealed.
Susan Wiggs' The Ocean Between Us has been in my to-read pile for a while now, so I finally decided to try it out. I'm not a huge reader of chick lit and I've never read a book by this author before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect going into it. I was pretty surprised by how much I ended up liking it!
The Ocean Between Us revolves around a few US Navy families, and the hardships that come with living that kind of lifestyle. Grace's husband Steve has been in the Navy ever since she's known him. He is gone half of the time, and she runs their family when he's not around. She's always loved his career, but now she is about to turn 40 and the kids are in high school, she realizes that their marriage is in trouble and wonders if she truly wants to be a military wife forever.
I really enjoyed getting to learn about the Navy lifestyle, specifically in regards to the family that stays behind, as I don't know anybody in the military and I haven't read many books on the subject. I also liked the fact that this novel was a lot more about Grace re-discovering herself than it was about a romance — although, obviously, her relationship with her husband was an important part of the story.
A big part of the book was the secret that came out in Grace and Steve's relationship at the beginning of the book. Although her mid-life crisis about her marriage wasn't completely about this secret, it was definitely the catalyst.
This secret was the biggest problem that I had with The Ocean Between Us. I just thought that it's really weird that such a big secret came out in their marriage. I can't imagine marrying somebody without knowing everything about them. And, even if I did date them for only a short time before marrying, like Grace... they've been married for something like 20 years. And she's NEVER asked him about his previous relationships?! That makes no sense to me. I understand that maybe she didn't want to ask about his difficult childhood, but wouldn't it start to raise some red flags if he didn't talk at all about his life before he met her? I mean, eventually it would have to come up. She never asked him about how many sexual partners he had, or if he ever had an STD, or if he'd ever been engaged before, or how old was he when he first had sex? I literally can't comprehend being married to somebody for 20 years and not being able to answer all of those questions about him. It just seems incredibly unrealistic that they could've been married for that long without him having told her about this secret that is revealed.
February 23, 2017
It wasn't as good as some of hers, but I had trouble putting it down!
September 1, 2016
I didn’t expect this book to be as appealing and entertaining; it surprised me because it’s been a while since I read anything outstanding by this author. I liked the aspect of the Navy “wives”, who have to cope with every aspect of family life while their husbands are away on long-time deployment. I enjoyed the Bennett family dynamics very much. The three teenage kids were simply great. They had personality, I loved that. Actually all the characters were all balanced out perfectly.
The main thing I take away from this book is that indeed anyone can get stuck and go deaf and blind when it comes to really seeing and listening to the person (or persons) that are the most important in one’s life. For Steve Bennett his career has always come first and by tacit agreement Grace, his wife went along with that plan for 20 years, until she needed more in her life: a house of her own, a job where she could feel appreciated; she wanted to evolve and that is admirable, and it's only naturally. Nothing stays the same forever. I had a feeling that Steve would have taken Grace for granted for the rest of his life, if she hadn’t shaken things up a bit. Of course he loves Grace immensily, but still he didn't really listen to her.
Women are so much more intuitive and articulate about these things. Men are often lost for words, and dare I say it . . . more selfish.
Delightful read.
The main thing I take away from this book is that indeed anyone can get stuck and go deaf and blind when it comes to really seeing and listening to the person (or persons) that are the most important in one’s life. For Steve Bennett his career has always come first and by tacit agreement Grace, his wife went along with that plan for 20 years, until she needed more in her life: a house of her own, a job where she could feel appreciated; she wanted to evolve and that is admirable, and it's only naturally. Nothing stays the same forever. I had a feeling that Steve would have taken Grace for granted for the rest of his life, if she hadn’t shaken things up a bit. Of course he loves Grace immensily, but still he didn't really listen to her.
Women are so much more intuitive and articulate about these things. Men are often lost for words, and dare I say it . . . more selfish.
Delightful read.
August 11, 2017
No don't do it to yourself! Just accept that life is tough for navy families, which is the only point to this book, and save yourself the cheesy and predictable awfulness, complete with stereotypical broad-shouldered, white-toothed, naval-hero style male characters with all the sensitivity of a fleet of snails. The story chronicles the difficulties of long-married homemaker Grace and her naval pilot husband Steve. Grace has a midlife crisis, goes on a diet and gets a new job, while he is wildly protesting in the background that she should stay in the kitchen and behave like the good all-American wife she should be. Why oh why? The story also begins with a crisis then continues to take you chapter after painful chapter through their life up to this point, leaving you hanging and wondering if he survives or not. Eventually you stop caring.
August 12, 2013
Nora Roberts describes this book, The Ocean Between Us by Susan Wiggs as " A human and multi- layered story exploring duty to both country and family". After reading The Story of Us, a under 100 page short story, I wanted to read the sequel! Lovely read about a naval family and how the wife evolves into a strong, independent woman, while still remaining true to her husband and children. Nora Roberts' description is accurate......I recommend this book, but the short story first.
December 21, 2008
Wow! Another great book by Susan Wiggs!! I am absolutely loving this author. Here is a book that a lot of people, especially women, can relate too. Even if you have never experienced military life, you can find yourself relating to a lot of these characters. She really did her homework when it comes to this way of life. Highly recommended!!
April 11, 2010
Lovely story of changes in relationships overtime...and how emotions are so different for individual people. Truly makes you take a minute to sit and think if you still appreciate the relationship you are in and what direction you want it to go in.
Excellent read for those married forever and a day!
Excellent read for those married forever and a day!
June 26, 2015
(Library's book club book.)
This story is a great reminder to women to not lose ourselves as we plow thru day-to-day stuff while creating and raising families. Many of us give, give, give and forget we have our own lives to create.
This book, for me, falls into the FLUFF category....simple, pleasant, somewhat predictable, easy filler book to read in between the deep-thinking ones.
This story is a great reminder to women to not lose ourselves as we plow thru day-to-day stuff while creating and raising families. Many of us give, give, give and forget we have our own lives to create.
This book, for me, falls into the FLUFF category....simple, pleasant, somewhat predictable, easy filler book to read in between the deep-thinking ones.
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