Our summer book club book

Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje
Maybe don’t stalk your ex on instagram! But that’s just my advice. A Croatian woman, Ivona, still pining for her ex-husband years after her divorce, moves back into her family home in Zadar to care for her aging father. In all this mess, she’s also maintained a close friendship with said ex-husband and his new wife, thus making the pining… oh so painful. Through flashbacks, we’re given an intimate window into the downfall of their intense relationship. But it’s not all sadness, when she meets a British businessman, who shows her that moving on may just be possible.
Lidija Hilje, a Croatian author, originally wrote this book in English which really intrigued me but I also appreciated. Reading a book in its original form is always a much nicer experience (take it from a former translator). This literary romance had me hooked from its opening line, all the way through to its beautiful conclusion. I loved how real this novel was. Ivona is selfish, she’s indecisive, she’s even a coward at times but I loved her through it all (…well almost all). Even in her poor choices, she’s human and I enjoyed that so much. She’s just a lover girl who needs to figure it all out for herself. A great book for your summer TBR!