A powerful short story that left me desperate to read more of the Elements series 🌊

Water is set on a remote island and follows a woman who changes her identity to escape her past. As she pieces together her role in a major event and grapples with a dark secret, the story explores heavy, impactful themes with an emotional intensity that lingers long after the final page.

2024 has truly been my year for short stories, and this one was no exception—it absolutely packed a punch. Despite its brevity, Water manages to balance the weight of its dark topics with moments of dry Irish humour that add levity in just the right places. It’s a storytelling style I love and one that Boyne executes perfectly.

This is the only story I’ve read so far in the Elements quartet, but I’m desperate to dive into the others now. If Water is anything to go by, this series is not to be missed.

What I enjoyed most about Water was its exploration of the human condition—how deeply buried emotions, desires, and regrets shape our lives. The characters are well-developed, and the story is compelling, pulling the reader in with its quiet yet powerful emotional intensity. Boyne’s use of water as a metaphor throughout the novel adds an extra layer of meaning, symbolizing both the fluidity and the dangers of hidden emotions and memories.

The pacing is steady, allowing for moments of reflection without losing the momentum of the plot. For fans of literary fiction that tackles emotional complexity and human relationships, Water is an enriching and thoughtful read.

The first book in the Elements series by John Boyne. Wow I really don’t know how to review this book to give it the justice it deserves. All I can say is this is a fabulous and at times heartbreaking read. It’s one that is difficult to review without giving away spoilers. It starts with a lady leaving her home in Dublin and renting a cottage on an isolated island off the west coast of Ireland. As we progress through the book we learn of why she has done this. Again another marvellous read by John Boyne and now I’m diving straight into the second book of the series.

After the scandal that hit her family, and after the death of one of her two children, Vanessa moves to an Irish island where she changes her name to Willow and tries to find herself in the midst of her grief and the guilt she can’t avoid to feel.
I truly enjoyed this book, which is also the first I read by John Boyne (and definitely not the last). It touches on very important themes, but it does so with a delicate hand, and such a poetic and emotional style. I loved the secondary characters, these people who have lived on the island all their lives or who, like her, have only moved there to escape their past. I loved the cat Bananas, and his quirky owner. I also really liked the Nigerian priest. I truly believe that the greatness of a novel often stands in the way its secondary characters are depicted, and it’s definitely true for Water. I’m very curious to read Earth and Fire.

*thanks to #netgalley for the #arc given in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely love John Boyne’s books and The Heart’s Invisible Furies goes into my Top Ten books of All Time. I was so excited to see he has written a series of short novels called The Elements. Water is the first in this series.

This novella is only 161 pages long. It can easily be read in one sitting. Despite the number of pages, this book really packs an emotional punch.

The story centres around Vanessa Carvin. Having fled her home in Dublin she’s arrived on a tiny, isolated island off the Irish West Coast. She’s changed her name and cut all her hair off in an attempt to remove all traces of her previous life.

Slowly the reader learns why Vanessa has left everything behind. Soon, you start to understand more about her drastic actions.

These 161 pages are packed with a powerful and moving tale. The writing is beautiful and the character of Vanessa is so authentic and real. You can’t help but feel her pain, guilt and emotions in such depth that it leaves you breathless.

Absolutely wonderful book and I totally recommend it.

John Boyne can be exceptional as a writer and he can 'miss' somehow ... pleased to say that this is one of the better: eloquent, almost lyrical in its depiction of Willow and her trauma.

Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Can you ever truly fix the consequences of past mistakes?

Vanessa Carvin escapes to a remote island off the coast of Ireland to escape the fallout caused by her husband’s scandal. She changes her name to Willow Hale and slowly starts to integrate herself with the locals. Will she be recognised? How will people judge her if they find out who her infamous husband is?

John Boyne never disappoints. I’m loving this new series and presume we’ll have Fire to follow Earth and Water.

Rony
Elite Reviewing Group

I apologise for this review being so late. Unfortunately, my health has prevented me from posting my reviews timeously.

Beautifully written, evocative and unravels in such a way we can bear its sadness .. until redemptive ending .. poetry spread out into prose .. I could not put it down, and, unusually read to end .. once started, you're going to be 'stuck'. Wonderful

John Boyne is a wonderful writer and this short novella is written with his typical warmth and wit and his characters and descriptions are always so perfectly observed and so wonderfully Irish. Like many of his previous books this novella deals with uncomfortable events, no doubt inspired by revelations and scandals that have come out in recent years. Boyne takes the unusual approach of dealing with such fallout through the eyes of the wife of a swim coach convicted of abusing young girls. Through the course of this short work the wife tries to come to terms with such unimaginable revelations. Although it is short it packs an emotional punch and Boyne’s wonderful way with words ensures that, although the subject matter is difficult it was a joy to read. It is a story of love and loss, trauma, grief and acceptance. Trigger warning: this book features themes of child sexual abuse and suicide.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who is Willow Hale? When Vanessa Carvin arrives on an unnamed Irish island, she changes her name to Willow and shaves her head. Can she simply disappear or will her past follow her? ‘Water’ by John Boyne is first in his Elements quartet. It is a small book with a powerful story.
Vanessa is escaping a truly horrendous time but at heart she knows she must acknowledge the choices she made throughout a difficult marriage. On the island she hopes to escape notice, but few people live there and everyone is curious about the newcomer. Her landlord is invisible, her daughter Rebecca is ghosting her messages, her nearest neighbour is nosy. She does connect with local priest Ifechi, Bananas the cat and neighbouring young farmer Luke. ‘I can call myself Willow Hale till the cows come home but, underneath, I’m still Vanessa Carvin. I just can’t let anyone know.’
Slowly as Vanessa remembers, her story becomes clearer. The offence committed by her husband, what she did and didn’t do during this time. Families were broken, not only families of the victims but also the family of the guilty party. Actions have consequences. John Boyne writes with such intensity of emotion and spareness on the page, he takes you straight into Vanessa’s shoes. It takes distance, isolation on an almost empty island surrounded by sea, for Vanessa to admit what happened.
I’m intrigued to see how the books in this quartet of novellas are linked; by theme, character, setting? At the end of ‘Water,’ Willow says, ‘The elements – water, fire, earth, air – are our greatest friends, our animators. They feed us, warm us, give us life, and yet conspire to kill us at every juncture.’ ‘Earth’ is next.
Sensitive. Bold. Excellent.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again … Irish writers have my heart!

I inhaled both these incredible novellas. Boyne has a way of dragging you in and not letting go till the last, beautiful word.

These are the first two books in the quartet Elements series, and at just under 200 words, both pack a powerful punch and are simply breathtakingly crafted.

Both touch on tragic and tough subjects - in only the way Boyne can, they are evident of superb storytelling! Rich in character development and setting, you can’t help but feel engrossed, almost in love with the main characters - they beg you for sympathy, understanding, and so much more.

Both these books deftly weave and incorporate politics, marginalised communities, abuse and religion with note-perfect writing. The fact that Boyne can say so much, in so little words is what holds power.

I’ve been lucky to have read so many outstanding books this year, and these two are most deserved of all the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to @netgalley @avonbooksuk @doubledayukbooks for an advanced digital copy of both. I (of course) had to buy myself physical copies of both these gorgeous books.

Running from a past she hopes will never catch up with her, Willow seeks solace on a secluded island off the coast of Ireland. She's friendly with the locals to keep suspicions at bay and soon settles into a quiet routine. But lurking in her past is a daughter she'll never see again, a daughter who refuses to speak to her, and an ex-husband she can never forgive nor forget. Willow uses her solitude to reflect on her actions - did she play a part in her husband's crime? And if so, how can she ever live with herself?

This novel might be short in length but once again, John Boyne has effortlessly crafted characters that make a lasting impression. The story tackles a sensitive topic, using the voice of the offender's wife to build up the reveal, before internally questioning her role in the whole thing. Could she have stopped it? Was she being naive? Did she know, deep down, that something wasn't right and chose to ignore it? These moral dilemmas set the stage for the story, detailing the trauma and scandal her family faced before her escape to the island.

It's certainly character-driven but never lags or feels bogged down by internal monologues. The pacing is much like its title, ebbing and flowing, keeping you engaged from the very first page.

While family tragedy and repair is a key theme, it also touches on politics, power, male egos, religion, and community. For such a short read, the author has done an outstanding job of bringing everything together and creating a satisfying resolution. Definitely keen to read the others novellas in this series.

BOOK REVIEW
Water - John Boyne

I sat myself down to read the first of Irish author John Boyne's book quartet, Water with Earth, Fire & Air to follow soon...
A short book about 160 pages, I read this one in one sitting..
You can't go wrong with a book from this author ever.....
He writes with such passion for his stories..
I think if there was one word I would ever use for his novels it would have to be POWERFUL
He writes some very powerful stories..
We meet a woman in her fifties in this story..
She is taking time out from her marriage and her life and goes to an island off the west coast of Ireland.
The islanders are curious as to who she is and where she has come from.
But sometimes we need to step away from all we know, we need the space to process guilt, to process grief and to process blame.
Maybe a change of name or haircut will help a person feel removed from a situation to give themselves time to heal without intrusion.
I couldn't help wondering though can a person be so completely ignorant of those around them and what is happening, what they are doing. Can a person shut themselves off from something and believe its not happening if they don't acknowledge it?
I do admire author John Boyne, I always have done. I admire how he writes and doesn't shy away from topics that are hugely uncomfortable.
Excellent work, so well worth your time.

What amazed me most about this book was how the author managed to get so much in, in such a short read and yet still make it so compelling. Dark, political, concise, and utterly brilliant.

this is a complex tale of Vanessa who disappears and moves to a remote island to escape a past.
You will feel as though you have lived her life by the time you finish reading this book. It is so well written and her life is expanded so well for the reader

A moving and powerful piece of writing form John Boyne yet again.
This one poses many questions, and forces reflection from both its characters and its readers. It is learning to separate the criminal from his partner, and how the partner comes to terms with the acts that their loved one has committed?
This main character is a wife, a mother, and a woman who is simply trying to come to terms with her husband's crimes; she is dealing with the emptiness that comes as a consequence of the pain, shock, and confusion.
Absolutely gorgeously written,

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future

While I loved the idea of this book - how would we react if something dreadful happened without us seeing it in front of our noses? - "Water" simply didn't live up to expectations.

Generally, I'm a Boyne fan in the sense that I think he's a great yarn-spinner, regardless of criticisms that there are sometimes factual/historical liberties taken. However, Water" is too thin; characters are insufficiently filled out, the details of the story are sparse, and the locals on the island are lazily presented as stereotypical inward-looking types.

Boyne, you can do better than this. There is potentially a really haunting novel to be written here, but this felt rushed and superficial.

I am a huge fan of Boyne. Having read Boy in the Striped Pajama's at school I became a fan. The harrowing books he writes really touches the readers. The story starts of sharp and brutal with the FMC cutting off her hair after arriving on an Island. What is she hiding from?

The book touches on fractured families, rebuilding and more. The book was short and I felt I wanted more because he writes with so much passion, emotion and sucks the reader in. I was hooked.

I am grateful to Netgalley and Boyne for allowing me access to this ARC.

I always love Boyne’s writing and this novel is no exception. He knows how to create such thoroughly realised worlds with vivid characters. Masterful.