Portion of the Sea: A wholesome Sanibel small town beach read about discovering an island of your own

by Christine Lemmon

PICK UP THE PADDLES, ROW OUT TO YOUR OWN PORTION OF THE SEA. A NOVEL ABOUT GOING AFTER THE WANTS AND DREAMS ONE HAS FOR THEIR LIFE

Desperate to feel good again, Abigail Witherton leaves winters behind and, in the late 1800s, moves her family to what is known as a healing paradise. Sanibel Island off Florida's Gulf Coast also proves the perfect place for her coming-of-age daughter. Outdoorsy Ava cares less about her beauty and more about her voice being heard. She dreams of being a writer and never marrying a man.

Fast forward to 1953 when Lydia Isleworth visits Sanibel and gets hold of Ava's journal, filled with secrets and motivating wisdom from life on the island.

So launches the story of parallel lives, Ava passionately inspiring Lydia. Despite falling in love with young men, both leave the desires of their hearts behind for exciting careers—one in Chicago, the other in New York. But when something is missing, each must decide. Will they return to the island to reclaim their treasures left behind?

We have natural resources placed within us as abundant as the sea, but if we don't tap into them, they'll lie dormant within. And our lives will never change.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance

422 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2021

About the author

SPECIAL NOTE.
Hurricane Ian caused devastation across the state of Florida. As a 15-year resident of Sanibel Island, it has been a heartbreaking experience to see what just happened to our Southwest Florida community.

In efforts to help, I will be releasing my novel Steps to the Beach one month early and all proceeds (until the end of 2022) will be donated to the Florida Disaster Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization. If you would like to donate or learn more about the fund visit www.volunteerflorida.org

Here's the link to Steps to the Beach on Amazon. https://amzn.to/3TdvGRD

CHRISTINE LEMMON grew up in Saugatuck, Michigan, in a house attached to her family’s ice-cream shop and bed & breakfast. From childhood on, she wrote feverishly in her diaries. After graduating from Hope College, she moved around the country writing for radio, newspaper, television, and magazines. She also worked as a publicist for a nonfiction publishing house in northern California.

As well as writing novels, she enjoys taking walks through nature preserves, and boating with friends and family along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Not only is Sanibel the setting for her novels, it was the setting for her life for nearly two decades, and she is incredibly thankful to have raised her family in the close-knit island community.

She speaks at events, including book clubs, and loves connecting with her readers. Visit her online at www.ChristineLemmon.com.

Reviews

[Alisha Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just going to get right into it and say that I went through various stages of like when it came to Portion of the Sea. When I first started, I kind of fell in love with it. I found the descriptions of everything from the island of Sanibel to Lydia's awakening absolutely beautiful (although that didn't change throughout the whole novel). So much that I copied a few quotes and put them in my notebook (where I keep most of the quotes I encounter on a daily basis). I sort of expected my love of this book to diminish soon (you know, after the initial "honeymoon" phase when things stop looking so shiny), but I didn't think that my feelings for it would change as much as it did.

So, I loved the beginning, but it was during the middle where things started fading for me. I found myself intrigued mostly with Lydia's awakening as a high school student (as well as Ava's awakening through her teenage years) more than the subsequent results of it (however, that can be just my love of anything and everything even semi-YA shining through). I thought it would've been better if the author expanded on that part; which brings me to my next point. I felt that the book glossed over too many months/years. Right when I would be getting acclimated to what was going on in Lydia/Ava's life, I would go to the next entry and years would have passed. Then that would leave me groaning "why???" for about five minutes.

After that, I felt like large parts of Portion of the Sea were just dragging on. So much that I kept thinking, "Just a little more and you'll be finished". I just didn't find the middle/ending as charming as the beginning and that put a damper on my enjoyment of the book.

However, I do have to say that I absolutely loved Lydia and Ava. As a feminist, I found myself nodding my head and saying "EXACTLY!" to some of the thoughts expressed in the book regarding marriage, careers, and basically life. I thought they were both strong women and that's something that I love when I'm reading women's fiction. Sure, Lydia was often wishy-washy, but I found myself understanding where she was coming from when it came to whether or not she should keep moving on with her career or be with the man she loves (frankly, I would rather just not choose but that's neither here nor there).

I do have to say, though, that as much as I loved Ava, I just didn't find her voice ringing true as a teenager from the 1890s (as a teenager, yes. 1890s...not quite). I just couldn't see a woman from the 1890s say some of the things she said. Not in regards to the whole feminism thing, but rather her vocabulary. The way she and her family spoke just sounded way to modern for me. I know that Ava was supposed to be modern and not want to take part in the societal norms of her time, but if I recall correctly, she did say "no way!" in one part of the book. I just can't picture a teenager from the 1890s saying that. That and other things just took me completely out of the story. I just didn't think that it rang true enough for it to be classified as a historical fiction novel. Ava's vocabulary was just too "pop culture" for me to completely buy it.

Anyway, I have to say that while I didn't completely dislike Portion of the Sea, I didn't really like it either. However, I do have to say that the author is a tremendous writer. I just found the writing so breathtaking that it made me feel a little bad for not loving the novel. Also, amazing cover!

[Danica · Rating 4 out of 5]

An empowering novel about women living for themselves. Lydia and Ava are both strong women who want their independence regardless of what society thinks of them. Lydia, growing up ion the 50s reads Ava's journal from the late 1800s. The novel follows both of these women as they try to figure out how to live as happy, independent women, rebelling against society's view of what a "lady" should be life. It also is in part a love story as both women struggle to find the role that love will play in their lives. The parallels between the two are obvious and sometimes it can get confusing. At first I wasn't sure that this was going to be my cup of tea, but a few chapters in and I was hooked without even knowing. I think the blend of personal discovery and love story was what pulled me in and made it so that I couldn't wait to find out the decisions they made and what was going to happen to them next. It felt like the characters were real. At times it was a bit cheesy, but overall it was a well-written book and I enjoyed it. The way Lemmons talks about Sanibel makes me want to see it for myself and I hope that somebody I will. Recommended to me by my Auntie Gail.

[RivkaBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. Wow. I don't even know how to begin ... I won this in a Goodreads First Reads contest, and am so very very glad I did. At first, I was just interested because it's strongly centered around Gulf Coast Florida - a region I have been in love with for YEARS. But I was quickly caught up in the story -- stories, actually: it's a dual-story that is linked cleverly and surprisingly. The characters had my attention, and I become emotionally attached to them. I had to keep reading, late into the night, to find out what would happen next. And it wasn't as if I was just reading about strangers - I could relate to the women, girls, in the novel. Their thoughts and questions and victories and discoveries were mine. I don't want to say too much to give away the content, but this is definitely a novel I will hand my friends, my little cousins, my daughters one day ... and I cannot wait to get my hands on Lemmon's other books!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely read. Lydia in 1953 reading the diary of Ava of the 1800's. This book should be read by Moms and daughters and even sons.Lydia learns alot from Ave's journal entries-even used as a guide in her own life. Nice "ancestral" read. Good character development. The very end of the books is almost rushed and almost anti-climatic.So much time building the story and then abruptly concluded. There was a "jump' in the story line was was disruptive for me. I also had issue with some 21st century slang used by people in the 1800's. But all in all a good,enjoyable read.I bought my book for 50 cents at a sale.My copy was autographed by the author. It was given by a daughter to her Mom in 2007,yet this book never had the spine cracked,never read. Just as Lydia wonders abt Ava and her life, I wonder why "MOM" never read the book given by her own daughter. Perfect read for Mother's Day.Also if you are a beach bum,you will like this book too.”

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Loved the two stories concept paralleling each other. This is a book about girls/women who lived in two different generations (late 1890s and late 1950s) but were strong, creative, and independent despite what their families and society thought about it. It is also about the idea that love and marriage don't always work out the way dreams and expectations would have them. And finally it is a story about women's issues like the different forms of depression that can plague women and the gender roles they are harnessed with. I found myself comparing my life to those of the characters which I feel was one of the author's purposes in writing this book. We all need to find our "portion of the sea."

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my eye because the author is from Sanibel Island and one of the many settings of the book is Sanibel. I really loved visiting there and I thought I'd give the book a try!
This book is written about 2 women, Ava from the 1800's and Lydia in the 1950's. Their lives end up running parallel to each other when Marlena meets Lydia when she is young. I really enjoyed this book ... it was great to read about a beach town while we were going through such an awful winter here. If you enjoy stories about women and their struggles with love set in a beach town, you will enjoy this one!

[Veronika Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother got me this book when she went to Sanibel and I dreaded reading it for a while. Instead, I found it delightful. I loved the idea of a girl from the 50s reading the diary of a girl from the 1800s who lived on the Island. It's amazing how the trials and tribulations of women haven't changed it all that much. And while at times I wanted to smack the main characters, I really enjoyed this story. For anyone who is a lover of Florida stories or Sanible, this book is for you!

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always a pleasure to read Christine Lemmon's work, and this novel is no exception. She paints a gorgeous picture of life on Sanibel Island with this story that has roots in the past as well as dreams for the future. I highly recommend anything by Christine Lemmon - she is a talented storyteller whose books are a joy to read.

[Lilli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this really was a strange story. Women who had uncontrollable depression. An underlying theme of wealth throughout the book. The saddening reality that most people have to make choices that cause unhappiness or disappointment.

It seemed the key theme was the evolving world for women, that as time progressed women had more options and choices. But these women didn’t seem to know what they wanted. And when Ava was finally free from the guilt-laden obligation her mother had over her, she made a choice that didn’t make sense to me. Instead of finding freedom with the person she supposedly loved, someone who could give her what she wanted and someone who she knew would treat her well, she took the easy route. And that’s where the story fell apart for me because I wanted to read a story where if a woman has choices and decisions to make, she chooses the route that leads to unequivocal happiness. Ava didn’t do that and that really bothered me (maybe because I loved the Jaden character). Instead, she became an early 1900s trophy wife. In fact, she even wrote that until her first child was born, she felt that her husband’s money wasn’t hers. And even though she claimed that wealth and the acquisition of things weren’t important to her, there were several passages in the book where she used wealth and what money bought to define who she was and who her children were.

Now the Lydia piece was interesting. She was always just a little too late with her decisions. She claimed she didn’t need a man or the support from a man, but when her father died and left her out of his will, he became a bastard to her. I guess she’d been living in a bubble and her bubble exploded. And although it seemed growing up she wanted more than anything to spend more time with her obsessed-with-acquiring-wealth father, she did to her son the same thing her father did to her. She worked non-stop and left him in the care of a nanny (for the sake of advancing her career I guess). Maybe the point of her character was to mark the beginning of women having children without being part of a family unit with a mother and father. In the end I just considered Lydia dysfunctional and selfish. I understand that she missed not having a mother in her life, but it really bothered me that her actions and decisions were often copycats of Ava’s. Oh the many options she had and she took guidance from a 50 year-old diary.

But I do intend to visit Sanibel Island this year. For the shells, of course.

[Tressa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from the Good Reads giveaways program.

The first two-thirds of the book were awful. The mirroring stories of Ava and Lydia were extremely contrived with little character depth. The author could have played on Lydia's strained relationship with her father or Ava's complicated relationship with her mother, but she did not. These were definitely missed opportunities.

As the stories and years progressed in the novel, the development of the characters did not. When I was reading about Ava and Lydia as older women, their views and thoughts were not that different from what they were at a younger age, which was disappointing.

What saved the book was not the narratives, but the events that occurred and the choices that the two characters made. Without spoiling the last third of book, I was surprised at what happened and how everything turned out for both of the characters in different respects.

I was annoyed with the repetitiveness of the two narratives in the beginning of the novel, but much to my chagrin, I enjoyed the ending. I wouldn't read any of Lemmon's other books, but Portion of the Sea was not such a bad read after all.

[Jean Browne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was suggested to me by a friend that lives on
Sanibel. Since I have also vacationed there I was quite eager to begin.

The story is told through the eyes of two women that are torn between the lives that society has dictated and their own dreams and desires. The author describes their parallel lives through Journal entries. Add to the fact that one woman is writing in the late 1800's and the other woman more present day , and you have a good story thread. I did however have a hard time in the beginning of this book due to the back and forth nature. Although a legitimate way to tell this story, it did not really appeal to me. But as the story progressed, so did I, and I was interested in finding out how it was all going to end.
The lives of the main characters, Ava and Lydia, are connected not only by societal rules ,but by wisdom, dreams, heart aches, and dare I say passion for their pursuit of 'life's adventures. Plus, the additional themes of depression, love lost, and strong women make this a good read.

One criticism. I think the characters could have been developed a bit more and the writing seemed sketchy in parts.

[Misti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great light read and made me wish I was on Sanibel the entire time. I found some typo's but I think it could have been the part when the girls are younger and it is supposed to be like that. Or, the editing wasn't good.

Anyway, I recommend this book. Local author. I will read her other novel, too.

[Susan Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I read this while on the beach at Sanibel and loved it, not only because it is about Sanibel, but also because it is about women and the decisions they make throughout their lives. Struck a nerve with me. I want to re-read it in the winter and six months from now and see if it is as impactful.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about young girls growing to be women in two different times in history. Each one realizing what her choices can be and discovering what she really wants in life. The story is told in 2 voices. Ava from the late 1800s and Lydia from the 1950s. As Lydia reads Ava's journal she finds that they have a great deal in common and that Ava's life has a lot to tell Lydia about her's.

[Debra Machen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first time reading a book by Christine Lemmon. It hooked me from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. So many parallels to my life. Loved the exploration of depression and the effects of touching someone's life through encouragement and friendship. On to the next book!

[Denise Gobble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I love the islands of Sanibel and Captiva. This was such a great read. Loved that it spanned many years and still stayed relevant. I highly recommend this book to all women. It was wonderful.

[Jennifer Stevensen-Waldo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started out good but then got really long and I got confused by the back and forth stories, it was frustrating, the choices these women made, it was long and drawn out, then abruptly ended with no closure, what happened to Ava?

[Emily]

Local author in Sanibel Island, FL. This book was fabulous and even more special because I bought it on our honeymoon.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This is one you can't put down!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story. A must read for anyone who has ever been to Sanibel Island, FL.

[Brionna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. I am on Sanibel very often, and made me love it even more.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very heartwarming novel. Highly recommend

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was in love with the idea of this book but didn't finish it because I found it a little dull. Maybe it was the timing. I might have to try again another time.

[Madelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked this book a lot.

[Nancy Mulvany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. I also love Sanibel.

[Elizabeth Oestreich · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who loves Sanibel, this was a sweet, lovely read.

[Jean]

I liked the story but thought it was a bit drawn out.