The Island Home By Libby Page
I was really looking forward to reading The Island Home by Libby Page, as I had loved one of her previous novels, The Lido. Libby Page is a Sunday Times bestselling author and judging from these two novels, she’s very good at writing uplifting and comforting stories.
About The Island Home
The Island Home is told from the perspectives of Lorna and Alice. Lorna is deputy Headteacher who lives with her teenage daughter – Ella, on the Isle of Dogs. It’s just the two of them in their bubble and that’s how Lorna likes it. However, Ella finds out that Lorna grew up on a small and remote Hebridean island called the Isle of Kip. Ella finds her cousin, Molly (Alice’s daughter) through Facebook and Lorna reluctantly agrees they can go to the Isle of Kip for the summer.
Lorna hasn’t been home or seen her family since she left the island over 20 years ago and there are many rifts that need to be healed and some truths finally bursting to be told. Lorna returns to find her younger brother Jack, now grown up and married to Alice and father to Molly. Lorna struggles with returning to the island and over the course of the novel we learn why she left the seemingly idyllic island at such a young age. We see how different Lorna and Alice’s lives are. How Alice who is not originally from the island, loves it and calls it home. How she’s integrated herself into island life and lives a very full and happy life with many friends. Whereas Lorna lives a very quiet life, doesn’t really trust anyone and keeps herself to herself. Alice hopes that Lorna, her sister-in-law, will mend those bridges and make it up with Jack. Alice also hopes that by having Lorna around she will learn more about Jack’s childhood and that as a result he will open up more.
Island Life
Like The Lido, Libby Page explores the idea of community, what makes one and how it feels to belong to one. The fictional Isle of Kip made for a lovely dose of escapism, but it also offered Page the opportunity to explore what it’s like to live on a small island, how the inhabitants are so connected to it, but also how fragile and transient island life can be. Page is brilliant at exploring the idea of a community and she presents all the characters that make up Kip really beautifully. We see how they rally together and offer each other support and kindness. The message being that we all need to belong to a community; that we all need to have someone looking out for us.
I wouldn’t say this is a light-hearted read. There are some darker themes woven into this novel, but it’s all managed very sensitively. For example, we learn about Lorna and Jack’s upbringing and the lasting impact their childhood has had on them as adults. Darker themes might be explored but it’s balanced well, and this is a novel very much about optimism and resilience. It can feel like a slow read to begin with, but the tension and pace picks up once Lorna arrives on the Isle of Kip and then all the secrets start to spill out. I should also add that there is also a lovely bit of romance too.
Reassuring Read
We see Lorna grow in confidence, with her eventually confronting her past. I was hooked because I wanted to know why Lorna left the island and her home. The reason for her departure is eventually revealed and ultimately this means she and Jack can move forward. It might be a little predictable at times, but that in itself is reassuring. I for one am here for all the predictability I can get during these times of Covid and suchlike.
What are the secrets that are revealed? Why haven’t I really mentioned Lorna and Jack’s parents in this review? What is this about a love story? Does Lorna move back to Kip for good? You will have to read The Island Home to find out.
This is an engaging read full of warmth that will leave YOU feeling full of hope. Just what we all need right now.