May 18, 2021

Are you looking for an engaging and lighthearted summer read?

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Genre/Categories: Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance, Quirky

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary:

On a tiny remote (fictional) island in the middle of Chesapeake Bay, Piper Parrish is grieving the loss of her husband in the most unusual of ways. She appears to think he’s invisible and goes about her daily routine of walking to the docks to meet him and Friday night dinner dates. The townsfolk love her so much that they go along with it and understand that people grieve in many ways. One day, Anders, a young ambitious journalist, comes to town and stumbles upon this story. Anders befriends Piper and spends more and more time with her. Even though he’s a “Come Here” and not a “From Here,” he makes some friends and begins to enjoy the small community…..until everyone finds out about the secret he’s been keeping.

My Thoughts:

Welcome to my stop on the Let’s Talk Books Tour for #TheInvivisibleHusbandOfFrickIsland. Thanks to #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #LetsTalkBooksBuddyReads #ReadingIsATeamSport @LetsTalkBooksPromo for a complimentary eARC upon my request. All opinions are my own. (Available May 25, 2021)

Have you ever had a book come to you at exactly the right time? I needed a brain break and quirky is a favorite go-to.

I was so in the mood for a book like The Invisible Husband of Frick Island! First, I accepted the blog tour because it checked so many boxes: quirky characters, quaint small-town setting….. I admit, though, that I was a little leery of the premise….an invisible husband? Once I started it, I couldn’t stop! This charming book almost read itself. When I read the last word, I thought, “That was an entertaining story!” My star rating is based almost entirely on the delight and amusement I felt during my reading experience. A certain suspension of disbelief is required for full enjoyment.

“What is going on?” is the question that kept me reading. 1. Why would the townsfolk go along with the pretense of an invisible husband? Should they be more concerned about Piper’s mental health? 2. Is Anders’s podcast legit? Are there ethical concerns involved with creating a podcast about a certain person without getting her knowledge or permission?

“When Pearl finally tells Anders how and when the town decided to go along with Piper’s delusion, she says: ‘It’s amazing what people will do for the ones they love.'”

What I loved most:

• Quirky characters
• Well-meaning and unassuming Anders
• Quaint small town
• Well-written
• Whimsical feel
• Slow burn romance
• Lovable, kind, and soft spoken main character (Anders)
• Supportive and kind community
• Strangers to lovers trope
• Balanced character-driven and plot-driven
• Unputdownable and engaging in the most gentle way
• The coastal setting
• The intriguing title

Themes: As with any great read, I love the thoughtful themes including trust, grief, mental health, second chances, kindness, supportive community and friendship.

“May we all be loved and love each other so insanely.”

Recommended: I enthusiastically recommend The Invisible Husband of Frick Island for your next vacation, beach, poolside, or weekend read. Fans of quirky characters and small town settings will appreciate this, and it would make a unique and lighthearted book club selection.

Be sure to read the author’s note where she talks about her real-life inspiration for the setting.

Content Consideration: death of a spouse

My Rating:  4.5 (rounded to 5) Stars

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island Information Here

Meet the Author, Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of You Were There Too, Close Enough to Touch, Before I Go, and the forthcoming The Invisible Husband of Frick Island (May 2021). Colleen’s novels have been longlisted for the Southern Book Prize twice and Close Enough to Touch won the French Reader’s Prize. Her books have been translated into 21 languages, optioned for film and have received numerous accolades.

---

---

QOTD:

Is The Invisible Husband of Frick Island on your TBR or have you read it?

---

---

Happy Reading Book Buddies!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

---

---

Let’s Get Social!

Thank you for visiting and reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along (see subscribe or follow option), promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.

Find me at:
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
Pinterest

---

---

***Blog posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.

Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.

Book Cover and author photos are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.

© ReadingLadies.com