I want my credit back.

I had high hopes for The Seaside Homecoming, even though the second book in the series didn’t impress me much. Unfortunately, this book fell short of expectations. As a longtime fan of Julie Klassen, I anticipated a compelling story and well-developed characters, but by the final chapter, I found myself disappointed and fatigued from waiting for something to happen.

The plot is slow, and while some readers may enjoy the gentle pace and reflective tone, (which I also do) I found it lacked the tension or excitement needed to keep me engaged. Too many secondary characters diluted the focus on the main storyline, making even Claire, whom we’ve waited years to learn about, feel flat and unremarkable. With so many characters, the story meandered, and it often felt like the protagonists were lost in the shuffle.

Another unexpected letdown was the writing itself. Klassen is typically known for her polished prose, but here, some sentences felt awkwardly constructed or ended in strange ways.

The narration added to my frustration. While the narrator’s voice was pleasant, her range for characters is limited, resulting in many voices sounding the same. On more than one occasion, the narrator even used the wrong voice for a character, such as a male tone for Claire, which pulled me out of the story.

I do enjoy slow-paced, gentle stories with a focus on quiet moments, but something was missing. The story lacked the intrigue and emotional depth I’ve come to expect from Julie Klassen. It’s a rare miss from an author I admire, and I can only hope her next work will recapture the magic.

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