Book Review: ‘Is It Any Wonder’ (A Nantucket Love Story) by Courtney Walsh

Can a promise made as kids bring them back together as adults? In this Nantucket-set beach read, “master of the genre” (Midwest Book Review) Courtney Walsh delivers a sparkling inspirational romance about first love and second chances. Twelve years ago, Cody Boggs and Louisa Chambers made a pact that no matter where their lives took them, they’d return to Nantucket Island’s Brant Point Lighthouse on July 30, their shared golden birthday, and continue their tradition of exchanging birthday wishes. But that was before a tragic accident upended both of their lives, irrevocably pulling them apart.

Their worlds collide just months before that particular day when Louisa’s fledgling event planning company is hired by the local Coast Guard station, where she discovers Cody has recently returned to the island as the second in command. As they plan a regatta fundraiser, hoping to promote positive PR in the community, neither can deny the fireworks each encounter ignites. But working together also brings up memories of the day Cody’s father died, revealing secrets that have Cody and Louisa questioning everything they thought they knew and felt about their families and each other.

About Courtney Walsh
Courtney Walsh is a novelist, theatre director, and playwright. She writes small town romance and women’s fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns and runs with her husband. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists. Her novel, Just Let Go, won the Carol Award in 2019 and Just One Kiss was a 2020 Christy Award Finalist.

A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.

Connect with Courtney online at her website (courtneywalshwrites.com) or on any of these social media platforms:

Facebook.com/courtneywalshwrites
Instagram.com/courtneywalsh
Twitter.com/courtney_walsh

Courtney Walsh just knows how to plumb the very depths of her characters’ emotions. Louisa and Cody share a birthday and have always shared their birthday wishes at a certain spot on Nantucket. Then a horrible thing happened and Cody left. Now, ten years later, he is back. Is it possible for them to reconnect? Or will past hurts and in forgiveness stand between them?

I had a very hard time putting this down. One thing that will cause me to give up on a book is wooden characters. Not so with the characters created by Walsh. Not even for a minute. Not even the secondary ones. I felt their pain, joy, and deepest feelings. Watching these folks navigate the turbulent waters of the decade long pain and heartbreak was just so difficult and that’s because of the talent of this author. I loved every minute of this book. Well done.

My thanks to Tyndale House for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is my own.