Heather and Harriet witness violence in their home on a daily basis. As the older sister Heather tries to hide as much of it as she can from Harriet. The girls love music and their mother manages to get them a piano and pay for some lessons. They have to keep the lessons a secret from their dad and only play the piano when he is not at home. A terrible accident means that the girls become orphans and go into a care home. Harriet disappears from the care home. Heather never stops looking for her sister or trying to find out what happened. As an adult Heather’s love of music continues and she takes a job on a cruise ship. Even on board the ship her dreams and waking memories are full of Harriet and the wonder of where she is and what she looks like now. I loved this book and it’s descriptions of life onboard a cruise ship. In every chapter I willed Heather to find her sister. This is my first Louise Beech book and I will definitely be reading more.

There is a beautiful sentiment that runs through this book. That music has the power to connect us all, it is as the author says so rightly our universal language. It overrides experiences and turns them into emotions, Heather and Harriet embody this in their childhood which is marred by domestic violence. I didn’t expect this story to be so dark but for me the darkness made it feel more human, Heather’s need for music ~ the way she loses herself in her playing. The way music finally reunites her with her sister Harriet and how it was almost like the swell of symphony encapsulates just how clever the writing is. It ebbs and flows like the sea which I felt was a character in itself and of course like music. I liked the switching between the past and the present and how the backstory is filled in slowly, but not too slowly as to be annoying. I loved the ending and resolution that this book had. Louise Beech has really taken this concept of finding your family and finding yourself yet also embellishing it so vividly it becomes a fully rounded story, I cannot recommend this highly enough.