Colleen Oakley has once again sparked my imagination and led me on a wild–and wildly entertaining–journey, this time set in the gorgeous Chesapeake Bay area with her new heartfelt novel ... knowing how Oakley so deftly creates storylines that keep readers guessing, I had a feeling there were many layers to get through before finding all the answers. Which turned out to be absolutely correct. There was a whole lot more going on than met the eye on Frick Island ... For a story that could have easily gotten bogged down with grief and loss, there was actually a lot of lightheartedness thanks to the offbeat locals on the island. It was a terrific backdrop for this type of plot ... The Invisible Husband of Frick Island showcased clever storytelling told through multiple POVs that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Somber but hopeful, with a sense of community and acceptance, Colleen Oakley has spun another memorable tale.
A powerhouse of a writer, full of creativity (an invisible husband?!) and the talent to back it up. Here, she takes something magical and wonderful --- an entire town acting on behalf of one person --- and combines it beautifully with the intimate nature of grief and the need to hide from the truth. The result is something I don’t believe I ever could have imagined before reading this delightful novel, but it is the kind of story that I feel I can recommend to anyone. Oakley balances the more unbelievable aspects of her book with a vivid and grounding community, and her characters are each as believable and endearing as the next, without a single misstep in the bunch. I love the kind of setting that acts as its own character, and Frick Island does exactly that. Even when the island is stormswept, dilapidated and resistant to change, it demands respect and admiration, and each scene reads as if Oakley is writing from the parlor of Mrs. Olecki’s B&B or sitting on the marina under BobDan’s watchful gaze.
Fans of the delightfully bizarre and quaintly humorous will love Oakley’s hopeful tale about the powerful bond of community and how far people will go to protect someone they love.
In the quirky latest from Oakley, an outsider learns of strange happenings on a remote Maryland island ... Much of the plot relies on coincidences and silly misunderstandings, but Oakley cultivates a genuine sense of hope and the outlandish things people do to support the ones they love. There’s little of consequence here, but it works as a light diversion.
A lively, heartwarming story with eccentric characters depicting the lengths a small community will go to in support of one of its own ... delightful, fast-paced novel is written in au currant language full of quirky personality. With a tight lens on a captivating premise, she unfurls the dynamic of an island community going along with Piper’s delusion that her husband isn’t dead. As Piper walks about town talking to the ghost of Tom, the locals go along with it, and it makes for spectacular literary theater.
