Genre Fiction
![Laura Spence-Ash - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B0B1VX6NVK.jpg)
Beyond That, the Sea: A Novel
"Spence-Ash has written the novel in eight points of view, but each character is utterly three-dimensional and distinct. This debut novel captivated me from start to finish."
―Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton Series
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.
―Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton Series
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.
Editorial Reviews
"A young's woman's family loyalties are divided as she leaves her London home for Boston during WWII in Spence-Ash's magnetic debut... Readers will be riveted."
―Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review
"Beyond That, the Sea is a lovely, addictive novel. I was absorbed by the interesting premise―an eleven year old girl arrives to live, temporarily, with a new family―and by the myriad love stories that change and deepen over the decades the novel covers. Laura Spence-Ash has written a gorgeous novel filled with wonderful characters."
―Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful, an Oprah Book Club Pick
"Beyond That, the Sea is a shimmering dive into a lost past. With deft, beautiful prose, Laura Spence-Ash brings us into the worlds―both inner and outer―of two families in wartime, and over the years that follow. This novel is as haunting as it is accomplished."
―Meg Wolitzer, The New York Times bestselling author of The Female Persuasion
"This gorgeous novel, about the profound impact on children and families of even the most benign forms of displacement, marks the debut of a very gifted writer. I adored Laura Spence-Ash's characters and deeply admired her precise, resonant prose. Beyond That, the Sea is a marvel."
―Ann Packer, author of The Dive from Clausen's Pier and The Children's Crusade
"In this beautiful novel, Laura Spence-Ash renders the last century with painterly precision. Beyond That, the Sea tells the story of a British girl taken in by a prosperous New England family in the Second World War, and of the legacy of the intimate relationships that ensue―a story as rich and vital as life."
―Claire Messud, bestselling author of The Emperor's Children and The Woman Upstairs
"I was utterly...
―Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review
"Beyond That, the Sea is a lovely, addictive novel. I was absorbed by the interesting premise―an eleven year old girl arrives to live, temporarily, with a new family―and by the myriad love stories that change and deepen over the decades the novel covers. Laura Spence-Ash has written a gorgeous novel filled with wonderful characters."
―Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful, an Oprah Book Club Pick
"Beyond That, the Sea is a shimmering dive into a lost past. With deft, beautiful prose, Laura Spence-Ash brings us into the worlds―both inner and outer―of two families in wartime, and over the years that follow. This novel is as haunting as it is accomplished."
―Meg Wolitzer, The New York Times bestselling author of The Female Persuasion
"This gorgeous novel, about the profound impact on children and families of even the most benign forms of displacement, marks the debut of a very gifted writer. I adored Laura Spence-Ash's characters and deeply admired her precise, resonant prose. Beyond That, the Sea is a marvel."
―Ann Packer, author of The Dive from Clausen's Pier and The Children's Crusade
"In this beautiful novel, Laura Spence-Ash renders the last century with painterly precision. Beyond That, the Sea tells the story of a British girl taken in by a prosperous New England family in the Second World War, and of the legacy of the intimate relationships that ensue―a story as rich and vital as life."
―Claire Messud, bestselling author of The Emperor's Children and The Woman Upstairs
"I was utterly...
Readers Top Reviews
aoutwaterTechZsue
This book was engrossing--I read all night--and the structure was compelling. I love the short chapters and the time shifts.
David M. Burkaout
Others have covered the context of the story; I was struck in particular by the beauty of the prose. In particular, I loved that the language was compact—the descriptions are reductionist beautiful, the characters emerge effortlessly, and the experience combines to be one of those “curl up and keep reading” far longer than you had planned. Quite a debut!
Always ReadingDav
I have seen the hundreds (maybe thousands?) of posts on Instagram about this book and truly wasn't sure how so many readers and booksellers could be giving it 5 star ratings. Well, count me in. What a beautiful story Laura Spence-Ash has told. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. With deep studies in character and dual settings of London and coastal Maine, this is a sweeping coming of age and historical fiction novel I won't forget. The writing is gorgeous. The chapters are super short, which I love. Each written from one of the character's perspectives. Amazingly, it's easy to keep it all straight in your mind and not forget who is who. How did the author do that?? This one took me two days to read and I am not a fast reader. Perfect vacation or weekend read. Am thinking now about who will put it on the big screen. It has to be made into a movie!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
