Beyond That, the Sea

by Laura Spence-Ash

A sweeping, tenderhearted love story, Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash tells the story of two families living through World War II on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and the shy, irresistible young woman who will call them both her own.

As German bombs fall over London in 1940, working-class parents Millie and Reginald Thompson make an impossible choice: they decide to send their eleven-year-old daughter, Beatrix, to America. There, she’ll live with another family for the duration of the war, where they hope she’ll stay safe.

Scared and angry, feeling lonely and displaced, Bea arrives in Boston to meet the Gregorys. Mr. and Mrs. G, and their sons William and Gerald, fold Bea seamlessly into their world. She becomes part of this lively family, learning their ways and their stories, adjusting to their affluent lifestyle. Bea grows close to both boys, one older and one younger, and fills in the gap between them. Before long, before she even realizes it, life with the Gregorys feels more natural to her than the quiet, spare life with her own parents back in England.

As Bea comes into herself and relaxes into her new life—summers on the coast in Maine, new friends clamoring to hear about life across the sea—the girl she had been begins to fade away, until, abruptly, she is called home to London when the war ends.

Desperate as she is not to leave this life behind, Bea dutifully retraces her trip across the Atlantic back to her new, old world. As she returns to post-war London, the memory of her American family stays with her, never fully letting her go, and always pulling on her heart as she tries to move on and pursue love and a life of her own.

As we follow Bea over time, navigating between her two worlds, Beyond That, the Sea emerges as a beautifully written, absorbing novel, full of grace and heartache, forgiveness and understanding, loss and love.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Book Club, Audiobook, World War II

351 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2023

About the author

Laura Spence-Ash’s fiction has appeared in One Story, New England Review, Crazyhorse, and elsewhere. Her critical essays and book reviews appear regularly in the Ploughshares blog. She received her MFA in fiction from Rutgers–Newark, and she lives in New Jersey.

Reviews

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

- Character driven (not plot driven). Most character-driven books aren’t my cup of tea.
- Hard truth time: This book should be completely rewritten. The format of this book just doesn’t work. The chapters are very short – many are only two pages. And each chapter switches from character to character. With two pages, I didn’t connect with the characters. How can I see the brilliance of characters in two pages?
- Beyond that, the sea also glosses over huge time periods. Characters exchange letters, but what did they write? With the lack of details, I didn’t feel like I was part of the journey.
- The book is also very dark. Where is the hope, the anticipation, the excitement? By no means should a book be all sunshine, flowers, and rainbows, but there should be some balance.

*Thanks, Celadon Books, for a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.

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[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

In 1940 London, Millie and Reginald Thompson make the extremely difficult decision to send their eleven year old daughter to live with a well off family in America. It is really Reg who makes the decision but he allows their daughter Beatrix to think it is her mother's decision, which affects the way Beatrix thinks of her mother for years to come. But no matter who made the final decision, Beatrix is out of the way of the wartime bombing while becoming an integral part of another family.

The American Gregorys, Mr. and Mrs. G as Beatrix calls them, and their sons William and Gerald, absorb Beatrix into their family as if she's always been with them and Beatrix will be racked with guilt when she thinks about how they feel as much her family as her mom and dad back in London. In fact, as the years go by, her London life becomes a fuzzy memory. Still, she knows she'll have to go back to London, there is no way she can stay in the US and break the mother's heart.

The book is divided into three parts and Part 1 is my favorite part. Beatrix blossoms with the Gregorys, in a different way than she could have ever blossomed in war racked London. The family blossoms, too, and they never take for granted what having Beatrix in their life has given them. It's so interesting to me to know that children came to America to escape the war. I also know that many of them did not have the idyllic life that Beatrix has in this story.

Part 2 and 3 show us "life after Beatrix in America". Throughout the book we get short chapters (except for a few times when longer chapters are necessary) with viewpoints from the various characters. I feel like I really got to know each person and I miss this family now that the story is over. By family, I mean everyone, not just the Gregorys but Beatrix's mom and other characters that join the story as it progresses through the years. At the same time, there is such a melancholy feel to the story. In my opinion, one of the characters will never be happy, that is just the nature of that character. A few of the characters seem to settle for less than what they want for too long. But isn't that the way of real life?

But here I am, wishing the book wasn't so sad. And then we get towards the end and things seem too rosy. I think the sadness is probably more real than the rosy future outlook but I gravitate towards happy when I can so I'm thankful the story ends the way it ends. The people and the locations seem so real to me that it seems like I was there. It's going to take a while for me to get these characters out of my head. And I have Mrs. G's blueberry muffin recipe card and the brown paper and string parcel wrapping that my book came in to remind me of the hominess of this special story.

Pub: Mar 21, 2023

Thank you to Celadon Books for the print version of this ARC.

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

As German bombs fall over 1940’s London, Reginald and Millie Thompson make the difficult decision to send their daughter to America, after finding her sitting on the living room floor, playing Solitaire with a gas mask covering her face. Up until that afternoon, they hadn’t realized that she had taken to doing this whenever she was home alone.

To keep Beatrix (Bea) safe, she would live with the Gregory family who split their time between Boston, and their private Island in Maine, until the end of the war in 1945.

Gerald and Nancy have two boys, William who was just a bit older, and Ethan who was just a bit younger, and the entire family would embrace her warmly, making her feel conflicted about which place feels more like HOME as the War rages on.

But, without a say in the matter, she will dutifully return to London, when the War does finally come to an end.

This lovely, poignant story, gives you a glimpse of Beatrix’s life from the viewpoints of everyone in both her London and American families, with all of their thoughts and conversations, relayed in the third person POV.

The passage of time is quietly marked ONLY in the lower right hand corner of pages, with the current year, printed in BOLD face type.

Time will jump forward, Post War, filling us in on the lives of the two families who SHARE Bea’s heart, through the year 1965, with an epilogue from 1977.

I was completely immersed in this story, always eager to return to it, whenever time allowed.

I found myself conflicted by a decision made toward the end of the book, but was happy with the ultimate outcome.

Though set during WW2, this impressive DEBUT, is much more fiction than history. No statistics are provided on how many families opened their homes to children from Europe or how many children crossed the Atlantic in search of refuge. We also didn’t learn how the families and children were matched.

So, if you tend to shy away from historical fiction-don’t let the genre stop you from picking this up! It is a strong, character driven story that can be enjoyed by EVERYONE who reads family sagas.

I admit, I may have missed out if Celadon hadn’t mailed a copy with an invitation to read it. The book was wrapped in plain brown paper, and twine, with an airmail stamp from 1942 on it. Along with the book, I received a recipe card for Mrs. G’s blueberry muffins.

Celadon always find a creative way to market a new author, and are very selective about the books they choose, publishing only twenty to twenty-five books each year, so when a book from them arrives it always feels like Christmas morning! I know I am in for a treat!

AVAILABLE NOW! (highly recommended if it sounds like something you might also appreciate! )

4.5 ⭐️

As always, THANK YOU to Celadon for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

[Lindsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

2023 Favourites List!

A fresh WWII perspective. Though this is not a gritty, violent, war-filled story, it is an important one. This novel shares the unique wartime perspective of children being sent away across the ocean from their families living in war-torn cities. Parents were so desperate during these devastating times in Europe that they felt their only option was to send their children away to live with complete strangers in America who would hopefully keep them safe. As a parent, I cannot even imagine being in that desperate situation. This book sheds light on the journey some of those children took and how living separated from their birth parents during those years affected their whole lives.

Please note, the main character in this story has a wonderful, loving experience with her American family. She is one of the fortunate ones. Many children in her situation did not have the same experience and my heart aches for them and their birth parents.

Beatrix is eleven-years-old when her parents decide to send her on a ship from London to America to live with a family of strangers in Boston. Bea makes this voyage alongside other children in the same situation, without knowing much about the people who are supposed to welcome her on the other side. Bea is lovingly welcomed into the new family’s home which grows to feel like her own over the five years she stays there. This novel follows Bea for decades through her personal relationships and life decisions from that point on.

For me, one of the stand out aspects of this novel was the relationships. The author does an outstanding job portraying a multitude of deeply layered, endearing, emotion-stirring personal relationships in Bea’s life. I will be thinking of them long after I write this review. I was deeply touched by so many of the relationship dynamics throughout these pages.

This is a quietly powerful book. It is beautifully written with endearing characters that will touch your heart. The chapters are short but they pack a powerful punch with the underlying emotions. It is a coming-of-age story that had me invested from page one and never once let go. I truly adored every single word as the writing spoke to me in countless ways. The slower pace may not be for everyone, but this was an absolute perfect book for me.

Thank you to the publisher for my physical review copy! I adore the cover!

Expected date of publication: March 21, 2023

[Melissa (Distracted by New Grandbaby) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, beautifully written book

I'm not typically a very big fan of historical fiction, but this book is more of a character driven novel that happens to be set in the past. It has lovely themes of friendship, family, found family, love, and learning what fulfills a person and makes them happy.

This is the tale of Beatrix, who at age eleven is sent by her parents Millie and Reginald from London to live in America during the peak of World War II. She lives with the Gregory family, with the parents and sons William and Gerald. They forge their way to becoming a family of sorts, spending summers in Maine and with Bea finding herself falling for William. Then the war ends and Beatrix moves back to London. Years pass, and they fall in and out of touch, there are marriages, divorces, deaths, births, and so much life lived on opposite sides of the ocean.

This is a beautifully resonant book. It's wistful, sometimes sad, sometimes hopeful. There are so many relationships and I found myself able to relate to the characters, even the ones who weren't just like me. The longing, the growing and changing, those emotions are so universal and each reader will see something of themselves in the characters and their life journeys.

I partially listened to this as an audiobook and partially read it on the page, and the narrator of the audiobook is superb. She is a wonderful voice for Bea, but also does justice to the other characters and their accents as well. Either medium is an excellent way to experience this book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash is a Blend of Women's, Historical, and Romance Fiction!

Oh, how I love this story...

Despite a hard choice, working-class parents, Millie and Reginald Thompson, decide to send their eleven-year-old daughter, Beatrix, to America to keep her safe from the bombs falling on 1940 London. She'll live with another family for the remainder of the war, then return home.

Greeted in Boston by Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and their two sons, Beatrix, who they begin to call Bea, is quickly made to feel like a member of their family. She's the daughter Mrs. G. has always longed for, and she easily fits between the two brothers, William, who is older, and Gerald, who is younger.

Bea becomes accustomed to the Gregory's affluent lifestyle and spending summers on the coast of Maine on their private island. She easily makes new friends who are curious about her other life and, as the years pass, her life in America begins to feel more natural to her than her life back in England.

When Bea is suddenly called home to England, she goes without question but she never forgets her other family in America...

Beyond That, the Sea is unlike any WWII Historical Fiction story I've read, as it focuses on the characters, not the war, and blends in Women's and Romance Fiction which softens and enriches the story overall.

The writing is beautifully descriptive, tender, and engaging and the story runs through the highs and lows of many emotions, switching back and forth, from one to another, and back again. The book doesn't end when Bea returns to England, that's just the first part of this story that continues on for many more years.

The telling of Beyond That, the Sea alternates through chapters of the primary characters from the two families, The Thompson's and The Gregory's. This gives the reader a perfect opportunity to become acquainted with each character as the years and the story progresses.

As I listening to the audiobook narrator, Ell Potter, I felt embraced by the sound of her voice. I have heard this captivating voice before, and experiencing her voicing skill and range is always a memorable one. Everyone should have the pleasure of listening to a story through the expertise of this narrator. It's simply unforgettable.

For me, Beyond That, the Sea, a debut novel, is a remarkable story that I chose to listen to rather than read, to take slowly and savor, to make it last just a little while longer, yet hoping it would never end. It's hopeful, uncertain, sometimes frustrating, but mostly beautiful in its telling and outcome. I look forward to what this author delivers next.

Before That, the Sea will be on my favorites shelf and one of my top reads for 2023. I highly recommend this audiobook to everyone!

Oh, how I love this story...

5 Beautifully Told Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Laura Spence-Ash for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

In 1940 as WWII rages on, London-based Reginald and Millie Thompson decide to send their daughter, eleven-year-old Beatrix to the United States, where she is placed under the care of Ethan and Nancy Gregory , a lovely couple who welcome her into their home and their hearts. She spends her time divided between Gregory home in Boston and their vacation home in Maine with their two school-going sons, William and Gerald, both of whom befriend Beatrix. Beatrix’s parents miss her dearly only deriving comfort from the fact that she is out of harm’s way. Millie , in particular fears that the geographical distance and her daughter’s growing emotional attachment to the Gregory family and the comfortable lifestyle in the US (as is shared through letters to her mother) will widen the chasm between her and her family in London. Five years later, the war is over and Beatrix returns to London, torn between her love for the Gregory family and the home calling her back, albeit with the shadow of her father’s demise and mother’s remarriage looming large. The five years with the Gregory family leave a profound impact on Beatrix (as does Beatrix’s presence in the lives of all of the members of the Gregory family)and the choices she makes throughout her life. The first segment of the narrative is the only one part written with the backdrop of WWII and the London Blitz - primarily its impact on the Thomson family, rather than the War itself. In the following segments, spanning 1945 to 1977, the narrative follows Beatrix and the Gregorys over the next three decades, through the ups and downs in their lives and the emotional connection that never ebbs despite the geographical distance.

With its beautiful prose and well-thought-out characters Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash is a moving story, that touches upon themes of kindness, family, home and relationships. The pace is on the slower side but that suits the story and the narrative structure well. The author describes human emotions both in their simplicity and their complexity in a very balanced tone. Though the story is predominantly an emotional, character-driven story, the author does not revert to an overly melodramatic representation of the characters or their relationships. However, I did feel that the multiple perspectives detracted from the fluidity of the narrative. While I did enjoy the story, I did not quite agree with a crucial decision Beatrix makes towards the end of the story. I found her behavior slightly contradictory to her personality as is revealed to us throughout the narrative. But then, human emotions are complicated and the author does well in giving us a glimpse into Beatrix’s thoughts as she ponders over certain decisions.

Overall, I did enjoy this heartbreaking yet uplifting story and would be eager to read more from this author in the future.

“We love people for all sorts of different reasons and in all sorts of different ways, she says. Remember that.”

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[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She had tried, as best she could, to braid her life with theirs. She never thought then that their futures would diverge. That there would be two lines, heading in very different directions...[She was] caught between two worlds...One old England and one New."

The bombings were coming closer and closer to home in 1940 London. Some parents sent their children to the English countryside for safety. Millie and Reginald Thompson opted to send eleven year old, Beatrix, on a two week journey, by ship, to America. She would live with an affluent family in Boston. Beatrix (Bea) would become an integral member of the Gregory household, much loved by Mr. and Mrs. G and their sons thirteen year old William and nine year old Gerald. Imagine the guilt, worry and anger toward her parents for sending her away. Bea, however, enjoyed five idyllic years. Five years, that included summers in Maine with Mr. and Mrs. G, William and Gerald on the Gregory's private island.

In 1945, after the war, Millie Thompson booked passage for daughter Bea's return to London. Bea was heavy hearted and torn. "I belong here and yet I'm in limbo, really caught between two worlds. I can't seem to find where I fit." Despite the passage of time, the Gregory family could not forget the memorable time spent with Bea and keep her close at heart.

"Beyond That, the Sea" by Laura Spence-Ash is a heartfelt, emotional read highlighting the cost of war for displaced children on both sides of the Atlantic. In short passages, all of the characters share their POV, their feelings ever present. Over time, they talk about the impact of the war on their lives. Beatrix, William and Gerald were thick as thieves, during the five years Bea lived with them. What was life like for them now? Bea was the common thread...an intermittent connection through letter writing and chess moves on a postcard. Out of sight, definitely not out of mind!

What a wonderful historical fiction debut! Highly recommended.

Thank you Celadon Books for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpectedly sweet and savory story that I really enjoyed.

WWII is raging as bombs are blasting London in 1940. Beatrix is a young girl in London whose parents send her to America for her safety…until the war is over.

Bea is scared and angry, but quickly falls in sync with her Boston family, the Gregorys. Over the next few years, she is considered part of the family, and she considers them her family too.

Once the war is over, Bea, having changed in many ways, is sent back to London. Over the years, she can’t let go of her second family and forges on a path to navigate between her two families.

I was hesitant to pick this one up, as I’m not keen on war books. However, I had no need to worry. The war is mentioned and we see glimpses of it throughout, but it’s not the main plot point. I absolutely loved Bea, and it was a treat reading about her growth, both physically and mentally. I also really enjoyed how all of the characters kind of intersected in one way or another.

This is a quiet novel, beautifully written, and one that I didn’t want to end.

The ARC I received not only came with a recipe for Mrs. G’s famous Blueberry Muffins, but also came beautifully wrapped like a parcel. I wish I would’ve known what was inside so I could’ve taken a picture of the package before tearing it open.

Thank you to Celadon Books for a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/21/23.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence- Ash is a 2023 Celadon Books publication.

Beatrix- ‘Bea’ Thompson is sent to America at age eleven by her parents to protect her from the ravages of World War ll. She lands with the Gregory family in Boston and is immediately folded into this loving family, though it does take some time to adjust.

As the war rages on, Bea enjoys a life she could never have imagined. Her American mother, Nancy, grows quite attached, and Nancy’s son’s also forge a tight bond with Bea.

But on the other side of the ocean, Bea’s parents struggle with the reality of war, with missing their daughter, and the widening distance between them- not just geographically, or physically, but emotionally…

Eventually, though, despite the chasm of grief over leaving America, Bea returns home to her mother. Yet, as the years pass, the bonds she created with the Gregory’s never fully fades. They each, in their own way, stay emotionally connected, believing they must live separate lives despite the deep-seated feelings that bind them together…

What an amazing novel! I love historical sagas- and this one fits the bill- it’s sweeping- covering decades of time. In many ways it is a quiet novel, but it packs a big emotional punch. The characters each have strengths and flaws, go through many trials and changes, periods of setbacks and growth, triumphs and grief, and the reader is right there- going through it with them!

Overall, this is a beautifully written story- a love story on so many levels, and a story that will stick with me a long time to come!

5 stars

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As bombs are falling on London during World War ll, eleven yr. old Beatrix is put on a ship and sent to America by her parents to live with a host family to keep her safe.
The Gregory’s, in America are excited to have her, they have two boys one a bit older and one a bit younger then Bea.
Life is very good for her in the States.. loving family, idyllic summers on the Maine coast, she becomes very close to the boys ..William and Gerald.
After several years, at wars end, Bea goes back to London where things are very different for her.. she must navigate between two worlds as her heart is still with the Gregory’s in America.
The rest of the novel I will leave to you, the reader to explore. Do read it, it’s wonderful!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the Arc!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond That, The Sea is an atypical WWII story. It concerns a young English girl who is sent to live in America at the outbreak of the Battle of Britain. Unbeknownst to me, apparently 5,000 children came here from England with another 6,000 going to Canada. Beatrix is eleven when she’s sent to live with the Gregorys. Mr. and Mrs. G have two sons, William, 13, and Gerald, 9. Mrs. G is delighted to finally get the daughter she always wanted. It’s a sweet, warm family drama. The story is told from multiple POVs - including all four parents, Bea and the boys. The reader sees Bea grow up, becoming more a member of her new family than her own family. Even after she returns home, that dynamic continues, with Bea feeling in limbo, removed from her mother. The story continues for decades and there are low and high moments as you would expect.
Spence-Ash does a wonderful job of creating a complete set of fully realized characters. I came to care about them all, especially Bea. I was so totally drawn into their lives that I was constantly finding ways to keep listening to this story. Spense-Ash’s writing is crystal clear and it was easy to envision each and every scene.
I did find the first half of the book more engrossing than the second. Spence-Ash includes some historical points in the following decades, especially in the sixties, but they are glancing and this should not be considered historical fiction. But I still strongly recommend this as a character drama.
It was interesting to have an English narrator and at times I would be jarred when a section concerning one of the American characters would use an English pronunciation of a word. But overall, Ell Potter did a fine job.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It was nice that for once a fictional book set during the time of WWII didn’t focus on the Nazis or the concentration camps (I prefer nonfiction books about those specific topics). But I wished parts of this were slowed down and other parts were sped up.

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A drama spanning a couple of decades, focussing on two families on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, with one woman who is common to both of them. Unlike what the blurb says, this isn’t a romantic story, with romance being a minor track. Better suited to those who enjoy character-oriented fiction.

Story Synopsis:

When the German bombs start falling over London in 1940, Reginald Thompson decides to send his eleven-year-old daughter Beatrix to an American family in Maine, much against the wishes of his wife Millie.
Uncertain of what awaits her in America, Beatrix arrives at the Gregory’s place, where Ethan, Nancy, William and Gerald Gregory are curiously awaiting their little British guest. Their open nature and different lifestyle soon melts away Beatrix’s reservations and she begins enjoying her life in the US. But they all know that this is only until the end of the war. Once the war is over, and Beatrix has to return, how can life be the same in post-war London?
The story focusses on all the key characters via a third person limited narration over a period of almost two decades.

Where the book worked for me:
😍 I had all but given up on WWII fiction as I am so saturated of that genre – every story was beginning to look the same! But stellar reviews by many of my GR friends pushed me into giving this one a go. I am glad I did! The story focusses not on the war itself, but on the life of Beatrix and the other characters during that period. With the war staying in the background, we get to glimpse a realistic perspective of ordinary life without repeated mentions of wartime atrocities.

😍 The book is divided into multiple sections, grouped together by years. Because of this, we get to see the characters at different stages of their lives, and they always seem to match the age in thought and action. In other words, the characters grow almost in front of our eyes.

😍 The blurb declares this “a sweeping, tender-hearted love story.” It is unfair to call this just a love story because it is so much more! I am always happier when stories focus more on every emotion than just on love, so as a historical drama, or even a coming-of-age story, it worked much better for me. But if you go in expecting romance, you *might* be disappointed.

😍 The writing explores an array of human emotions, be it pride or envy or anger or frustration or hope. It even shows the intricate connections between the key people, Beatrix’s struggle between her loyalty toward her own family and her feelings towards her foster family are especially well-written. It was a treat to see an author portray characters as realistic humans instead of caricatures.


Where the book left me with mixed feelings:
😐 We see the story unfurling from the point of view of five Gregorys (the fifth coming in later) and the three Thompsons. This gives us a wonderful look at the individual thought process of all the key characters. But it also increases the complicatedness of the storyline. The perspective changes are quite frequent, with a changeover sometimes happening within a few paragraphs. The third-person writing is a boon. (I would have gone nuts keeping track of so many voices in first person!)

😐 While I am happy that it didn’t focus too much on the war itself, the fact is that the blurb promised this to be a WWII-era story. But the wartime narrative lasts only up to the first one-third or so. The rest is set much after the war, leading right until the mid-1960s.

😐 The descriptions of the places, especially in the Maine scenes, is beautifully handled. (This isn't surprising, considering the author hails from New England.) London feels dull in comparison, though the author does try her best to do justice to the UK locales too.


Where the book could have worked better for me:
😖 The final third of the book feels too dragged. Some decisions taken by the characters in the second half seemed at odds with their personality.

😖 I would have loved for the focus to stay on the original Gregorys and the Thompsons. But the added point of view of a character who comes into the plot much later, felt like an overkill.

😖 One thing that seriously creeped me out was how Nancy Gregory insisted on giving almost-teenaged Beatrix a bath, and couldn’t even see the flaw in her behaviour, even after her husband pointed it out. Nancy is shown to be a level-headed woman in every other scene, so this weird habit just didn’t make sense.


The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 12 hours 18 minutes, is narrated by Ell Potter. She reads the book well. With too many third person perspectives, she takes the smart decision of not giving individual voices to each character, but just focusses on narrating everyone well. I liked her performance. Also, as character-oriented stories are relatively slow, the audiobook was a good way of going through it at a steady pace.
That said, remembering all the characters and whose point of view is currently active, gets a bit tricky. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend the audiobook to newbie listeners.


All in all, this is definitely a good debut work, albeit with minor flaws. It will work well for readers who would enjoy a slowburn, character-oriented family drama with characters that are human rather than perfect. Keep in mind: it is not exactly a romance, and it is not exactly a WWII story. Go in with the right expectations.

3.75 stars, rounding up for the audio version.


My thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the DRC of “Beyond That, the Sea”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Content warnings: Death of characters, some fat-shaming and religion-shaming (both because of characters’ conservative opinions).




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[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond That, the Sea is by turns joyful and incredibly emotional. I enjoyed every single page.

In 1940, as German bombs descend on London, Beatrix’s parents Millie and Reginald Thompson, decide to send her to live in America to keep her safe for the remainder of the war.

In America, Beatrix meets the Gregorys: Mr & Mrs. G and their two boys, William and Gerald. She quickly adjusts to this new and exciting life and soon feels like a member of the family. The war begins to feel like a distant memory.

But the war eventually ends, and Beatrix returns to London and feels the loss of her second family. Although Beatrix only lived with the Gregorys for a few years, those years had a lasting impact on the rest of her life.

This beautifully written historical fiction has multiple perspectives. It takes the reader on a powerful journey. The chapters are quite short, making this a quick read.

It briefly touches on the civil rights movement.

It’s been a while since characters have touched me as deeply as these ones have. I finished reading this book several weeks ago and still find myself thinking about these heartwarming characters.

This novel is a reminder of why I love historical fiction and shouldn’t write off World War II books just yet.

If you enjoy character-driven fiction, I’d recommend picking this up.

Thank you to Celadon for sending me this beautifully wrapped arc.

https://booksandwheels.com

[Dea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I waited for months for this book on my library's hold list, but unfortunately was sorely disappointed. The subject matter was made for me, but the book fell completely flat - nobody ever came alive and it all just felt as dry as reading a Wikipedia article. I persisted solely due to the high rating but gave up halfway through because life is short.

[Meagan✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would like to say thank you to my princess Nicole💖 for reading this atrocious book with me. I honestly wouldn’t of done it without you 🫂

Watching paint dry would honestly be more entertaining than this story 😭

[Brandice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Beyond That, the Sea, a family saga that takes place over 30 years, beginning in the 1940s. When Beatrix is 11 years old, her parents make the difficult decision to send her away from London to the US, to live with a host family until WWII is over. They feel this is the best, and really only, choice in order to ensure her safety. Her parents anticipate this will take months, or maybe a year but Bea ends up staying in the US with the Gregory family for 5 years.

Mr. Gregory is a teacher, Mrs. Gregory a homemaker. William is a little older than Bea and Gerald is a little younger. They live in Boston and spend their summers in Maine. Over time, as she gets to know the Gregorys, Bea fits into their family well and gains a sense of belonging.

Once Bea returns to London, she feels adrift — Spending her formative years in another country with at least a somewhat different culture has impacted her. She feels torn between her two lives, places, families, and it’s a lot to deal with.

I liked some characters more than others, but for the most part, liked them all. There weren’t easy decisions for anyone and I felt for them with the challenges they faced, individually and collectively. I enjoyed the format of the story, told from several viewpoints across many years — Not only did spending time in the US impact Bea’s life, it impacted her parents and the Gregory family.

Before hearing about Beyond That, the Sea I wasn’t aware that this really happened — Many English families sent their kids away during WWII in an effort to protect them. I know this couldn’t have been an easy decision for the parents, or easy on children as they attempted to acclimate to a new life in a faraway place.

[Marialyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an emotional journey where the past links up with the present and a bit of history repeats itself. Can we fathom the effects of war on people, especially children? It is a question that rises up through this story. How would life have been different without war or maybe would it have run its same course?

The book focuses on Beatrix Thompson, who is sent to America by her parents Millie and Reg. Bombs are falling in London and because of the many lives lost, the Thompsons send Bea off to a family, The Gregorys, and their two sons William and Gerald in America. Scared, afraid,and lonely at first, Bea is welcomed into the family and soon becomes an integral part of their life. The Gregorys summer in Maine and Bea and the boys relish their time there and for five years Bea lives and grows with this new family which now has seemed to replace the old one.

She is called back to London after the war's end and her father's death, but finds it ever so difficult to forget what she once had. She longs for those days, but her life moves on and she grows to adulthood always with a remembrance of the family and the boys.

This was a beautifully told story, one in which Bea and all the characters try to strike a balance between the past and present. It is sad as well as love and loss walk hand in hand in everyone's life and the questions of divided love appear. What happens when your body is in one place across the sea, but your heart remains in another place far away?

Many thanks to Laura Spence-Ash, and Celadon Books for a copy of this beautiful sensitive book a first by this author. This book is due to publish in March of 2023.

[DeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 torn between two families stars
*now available

I hoped that this would be a fantastic read because it was sent to me beautifully packaged in brown paper with an airmail stamp from the 1940s and a recipe card for blueberry muffins. What I found was a well-written story of a young woman who ends up torn between two families, never feeling at home in either place again.

Beatrix is an 11-year-old child in war-ravaged London and her parents fear desperately for her safety. They make the heart-breaking choice to send her to the US where they hope she can live out the war safely and then return home to them. They don’t realize that the war will last for years, and Beatrix will be greatly changed by her experience.

The family that takes her in, the Gregorys, live near Boston and have two other children, William and Gerald. Beatrix feels very out of place, and it takes some time to adjust to their very different lifestyle. The family spends most of the summer in Maine and Bea really bonds with the two boys, learning to swim, and loving the rural life. Mrs. G. is loving her time with Bea as she always wanted a daughter, but Mr. G. gently reminds her that Bea will have to return to London when the war is over. As the years pass, Bea can hardly remember her life in London.

The book then switches gears when Bea returns to London, and I admit I enjoyed the first half of the book better! The boys grow up and try to find happiness and Bea grapples with the return to London. She struggles in her relationship with her mother and in finding a soulmate. The short chapters and different points of view made this a quick read.

I had a few hunches about where this one would go, and I finished this one with a happy smile on my face. This is an outstanding debut novel, and I can’t wait to read the next book from this author.

This made for an excellent buddy read with Marilyn and Jayme, be sure to see if they liked this one.

My sincere thanks to Celadon, this one was a treat to read and honestly review.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

The storyline, the war, the characters, family by blood and otherwise. Love, loss, strength and resilience. I loved every word of this book. I didn’t want it to end so it took me longer to read than normal. I won’t soon forget Bea and the others. Do read this if it sounds like a book you could love. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ +

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I realized I was heading back into a WWII book, I sighed. Oh no, will I be able to do this?

I was feeling my own PTSD with historical fiction. There is something to be said about being in the midst of war – whether we have personally experienced it or not – if an author is successful, they can take us inside their story and bring us full circle through a myriad of emotions. That means – to me – that they are fully successful. They have done their job by making us believe, as readers, we are truly within the historic walls of time and thus feel everything the characters are experiencing. You know what I mean?

And even if it had been some time since I had read some of those WWII books I had recently reviewed, I had been in a period of refreshing myself with them, so I could write my reviews in real time. And because I was doing that, I was in a sense, re-living the war over and over…again.

But…I had heard so much about this book from so many of my GR friends, and I wanted to read it.

So, I did.

Thank you.

Besides being a war story, it is a sweeping, tenderhearted love story, too. Captivating, absorbing and beautifully written. It was emotionally charged and moving that took readers into the lives of 2 families.

The Thompson and Gregory family worlds intertwine after 11-year old Beatrix Thompson is sent to Boston from London to live with the Gregory family for the duration of the war causing unlikely friendships to be forged, loyalties to be stretched, heartache to occur, and the meaning of home to be changed.

The prose is vivid and expressive. The characters multi-layered. Vulnerable.

The plot moves quickly.

It is a coming-of-age story that includes a tale about life, loss, friendship, heartbreak, guilt, grief, courage, hope, war, romance, regret, first love, and complex (very complex) familial relationships.

The author does a great job of blending historical facts with fiction and emotion.

I recommend Kleenex.

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond sad but uplifting at the end!

The novel tells the story of Beatrix "Bea" Thompson. Is 1940 and World War II is raging. London is getting bombed regularly and her parents, Millie and Reggie decided to send her to America to live with a family in Boston.

Millie doesn't want to send her but Reginald insists. He wants her daughter to be safe.

When Bea arrives in Boston, the Gregorys are there to pick her up. She meets Mr. and Mrs. G and their sons, William and Gerald.

William behaves like a regular teenager, angry at times, thinking about enlisting when he is of age, and desperate to leave the house and travel all over.

Gerald is the youngest son. He is big-hearted and sweet. Even though both sons are so different, they both clicked with Bea, becoming one of them pretty quickly.

Bea who starts as scared and angry towards her mother-teenager, blossoms into a wonderful young woman. She falls for William but when the war is over, she must return to London. Readjusting her life is not easy but she knows she has to continue her life although the Gregorys are never far from her mind.

Heartbreak, death, divorce, and sorrow plague these two families and when it felt that there was no hope, a sliver will show up.

Ell Potter, the narrator, helps bring Bea, Mrs. G and Millie alive. I thought she did a great job narrating them.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Katie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I really fell in love with Beyond That, the Sea. There's an ease to the writing which contributed to this comfortable reading experience. I don't want to get into too much detail about the plot because it's more of a sit back and see where the story takes you type read. The story starts out with a young English girl who is coming to live with an American family, complete strangers. With World War Two going on, her parents believe she will be safer overseas rather than in London. Obviously a tough decision. The chapters alternate between various members of each family.

The pacing is good because you switch back and forth among the characters. The story isn't flashy, but to me that was part of its charm. Everything unfolded naturally, rather than in contrived manner just for drama's sake. I believed wholeheartedly in these characters so tip of the hat to the author.

Do not shy away from this novel if you are burned out on WW2 era fiction. Yes, the war plays a role in the story but it is so much more about the characters.

Thank you Celadon Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[Susan Meissner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Beautiful and moving, but in a quiet, thoughtful way. Character-driven on every page, and told with exquisite imagery. It’s one to savor slowly…

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start with saying that this book left me a bit of a wreck with tears drying on my face. But wrecked in the best way if that makes any sense. This book is beautifully written. A completely engrossing story. The chapters are short and the perspectives switch frequently but I like getting to see a bit of the story from each character’s perspectives. This book is about a lot of things but the most powerful piece for me was this book’s take on grief. There is something I didn’t know before my first major loss that only people who have been similarly broken seem to get. This book is written in that way and I felt like I was with a group of characters who really got it. I also really loved that this book is about the war, but it is a completely different take than I’ve ever read before. Beatrix lives in England and her working class parents make an impossible choice to send her to America so she will be safe during the war. This story is about both of Beatrix’s families the one she was born into and the one she discovers in Boston. A completely lovely family drama. Definitely one to read, just make sure you have the Kleenex ready.

[Holly R W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine the dilemma of English parents wanting to protect their eleven year old daughter during World War II by sending her to live with a strange family in the U.S. In this novel, Beatrix is sent to live with the Gregory family in Boston. Her parents worry that Beatrix will perceive this in the wrong way, but don't want her anywhere near the bombing. They also miss her desperately.

It is not easy for such a young girl to be sent away. However, Beatrix is welcomed into a loving family who treat her as one of their own. The Gregorys include the parents and two sons, William and Gerald. They soon call her Bea. The story progresses chronologically and is told from each character's point of view. The book spans thirty years, looking at Bea's time with the American family and her returning to live again in England after the war. Readers will get involved with all of the characters, not just Bea.

I found the book to be interesting, although written quietly. Inner thoughts and feelings were described, rather than shown through the characters' actions. A little more drama/excitement would have been welcome.

3.8 stars

[Nicole D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 rounded up because i’m in a good mood.

i wish i could write a thoughtful review but i literally don’t know what to say since this book was as exciting as watching grass grow, and the characters were as memorable as a bland meal.
it’s very well written but it doesn’t take you anywhere.

i’m trying to figure out why it has so many wonderful reviews, i was fighting for my life to get through it

🎀 thank you my dear meagan for reading this with me. 1 out of the 1.5 stars is because of you. ily

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written, historical novel about a family who made the excruciatingly difficult decision to send Bea, their 11 year old daughter, to an American family, they had never met, to keep her safe during WWII. She eventually comes to dearly love her new family and embrace her new life. Then the war ends and she has to go back. Love and loss, forgiveness and belonging, are some of the themes that stood out to me, throughout the story.

I highly recommend this inspirational book. -Debbie F.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond That, The Sea brings to light the heart breaking plight of many families desperate to protect their children during WWII in Europe. Parents were forced to make the agonizing decision to send their children across the sea to live with strangers to keep them safe until the war was over. For a scared, resentful eleven-year-old Beatrix Thompson, the journey would land her with the Gregory family in Boston and last for five of the most formative years of her young life. Bea's new life in America is idyllic and vastly different than the life she left behind in London and she soon becomes an intricate part of the affluent family. Mr. & Mrs. G and sons William and Gerald welcome her with open arms as Bea struggles with guilt over her fading memories of the mother and father she left behind in London. Newly formed bonds strengthen over time, and her happiness is marred only by the knowledge that she'll have to return home to London someday soon. On the other side of the sea, a crushing sense of loss overwhelm Bea's parents even though they know they sent their daughter away for the right reasons. Try as they may, it's hard to control the havoc the void plays on their lives and marriage. Their only contentment comes from the fact they believe their daughter is safe even as mother Millie hides the growing resentment she feels over the better life Bea is living in America as relayed through Bea's letters home - a life they couldn't give her. These scenes are highly emotional, grief stricken and heart-breaking.

The first part of Beyond That, The Sea follows Bea's life in America with all the personal relationships forged that will remain forever in her heart throughout her life. The author excels at rendering fully fleshed, believable characters that quickly stole my heart. Relationships are multifaceted and continuously evolving as Bea matures into her teenage years with all the emotional highs and lows. Every day is a new adventure, a new experience for the once sheltered Bea. The desolation experienced by all involved is heart breaking when time comes for the now young lady Bea to return home. Settling back into her former life will prove even harder than she imagined as Bea finds things vastly different then when she left, and she yearns for the life and family left behind in America.

Spence-Ash's vivid, lyrical prose conveys all the emotions - the highs, the lows, the tears, the laughter, the hope & despair - experienced by each player in this story spread over several decades. The utilization of short chapters and multiple points of view through which readers come to know individual characters' true thoughts and feelings is perfect. Each family member's life after Bea's return home is portrayed in Parts Two and Three, and I found myself drawn deeply into the hopes and dreams both realized and lost of each one. It's seldom that I can say that every character in a book touches me deeply, but in Beyond This, The Sea they do.

Beyond That, The Sea is a beautifully rendered story that quietly packs a powerful punch. While it doesn't delve deep into the physical destruction of war, it speaks volumes about the chaotic effects it forces upon families on both sides of the sea - most especially on displaced children and the families left behind. The harrowing, emotional turmoil of all involved permeates every single page with emphasis on the true meaning of family, both by blood and by choice. It's a coming of age story about the meaning of true love and sacrifice, love found and lost and forgiveness. As much as I loved this book, I was left feeling a bit forlorn and melancholy after finishing - I think mostly due to Spence-Ash's unique ability to fully immerse me into the lives of these families that I came to care about on both sides of the sea. It'll be a long time before I'm able to let Beyond That, The Sea go. Highly, highly recommended to fans of historical fiction. Don't pass this one up!

Note: While I received both a physical and audio copy, I highly recommend the audio version if you get the chance to listen to Beyond That, The Sea. The narrator's English accent and word choices are perfect for this story, pulling me into this world very quickly. Excellent job by Narrator Ell Potter!
Publisher: Celadon Books
Release Date: March 21, 2023
Many thanks to Celadon Books for both a physical and audio version arc of this book.
Also a big shout out to my fellow Bookstagram Buddy Readers at #SQAF for a great discussion!
This review is posted at Cross My Heart Book Reviews.
It will post on Instagram on release day.