The Light Between Oceans
The emotional, must-read Sunday Times bestselling historical novel
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4.5 • 447 Ratings
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
Discover the sweeping Sunday Times bestselling and prize-winning novel, made into a major motion picture starring Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, and Rachel Weisz.
NEARLY FIVE MILLION COPIES SOLD
'An extraordinary book…Unforgettable' Guardian
'A moving tale . . . prepare to weep' New York Times
'Irresistible . . . a high concept plot that keeps you riveted from the first page' Oprah Magazine
'A love story that is both persuasive and tender' Sunday Times
‘A moving tale. One of this year's must-reads’ Stylist Magazine
‘Delicate and imaginative . . . beautifully written . . . deserves every single bit of its success.’ Scotsman
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After experiencing the horrors of The Western Front, Tom moves to Janus Island to work as a lighthouse keeper. He hopes that life on the remote island with his wife Izzy will bring him peace following the war.
The two of them are happy together, although frustrations arise the longer they try for a child that never comes.
But then, one day, a boat washes up on the shore of their little island. In it, lies a dead man - and a crying baby.
Faced with an impossible decision, Tom and Izzy do what they think is right and follow their hearts. What happens next will break yours.
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READERS ADORE IT:
***** 'A beautiful, poignant story'
***** 'By far, one of the best books I've ever read'
***** 'A stunning and enjoyable read, one you won't forget'
**Cover may vary**
PRE-ORDER M L STEDMAN'S BRAND NEW NOVEL, A FAR-FLUNG LIFE COMING MARCH 2026
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Prepare for a good old-fashioned and hugely cathartic cry. When World War I veteran Tom and his new wife, Isabel, take up residence in the lighthouse on Australia's remote Janus Rock, their future prospects seem as infinite as the sea that surrounds them. From this memorable premise, Australian author M.L. Stedman spins out a twisty plot that pulls no punches, upending Tom and Isabel's life and keeping them—and us—guessing at their eventual fate. At once heartbreaking and stubbornly hopeful, The Light Between Oceans is a love story and a morality tale that’s not surprisingly been turned into a movie.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Stedman's deftly crafted debut, Tom Sherbourne, seeking constancy after the horrors of WWI, takes a lighthouse keeper's post on an Australian island, and calls for Isabel, a young woman he met on his travels, to join him there as his wife. In peaceful isolation, their love grows. But four years on the island and several miscarriages bring Isabel's seemingly boundless spirit to the brink, and leave Tom feeling helpless until a boat washes ashore with a dead man and a living child. Isabel convinces herself and Tom that the baby is a gift from God. After two years of maternal bliss for Isabel and alternating waves of joy and guilt for Tom, the family, back on the mainland, is confronted with the mother of their child, very much alive. Stedman grounds what could be a far-fetched premise, setting the stage beautifully to allow for a heart-wrenching moral dilemma to play out, making evident that "Right and wrong can be like bloody snakes: so tangled up that you can't tell which is which until you've shot 'em both, and then it's too late." Most impressive is the subtle yet profound maturation of Isabel and Tom as characters.
Customer Reviews
Great read
Very thought provoking well written book.
Good start but lost me somewhat
The story of being on the lighthouse island was fascinating.
Though I found the ultimate premise of the story less intriguing.
Why did they start the lie in the first place, truth is it’s own virtue.
The light between oceans.
I loved this book. It is not a book one can easily forget. It is thought provoking, well written and has depths of emotion.