All Our Beautiful Goodbyes is an emotional journey for both readers and the central characters. Emma Clarkson is the woman around whom this story is woven and hers is an epic tale of love, heartache, hope, betrayal, death, and new life but above all, her story is about second chances. Her story begins on 8 May 1946, when the cargo ship The Belvedere is run aground on a sandbar off Sable Island, a remote island off the Nova Scotia coast. Emma is one of only a very few people living on the island and her choices for a husband are very few, so when she meets Captain Oliver Harris, it is no surprise that she feels an instant attraction for him. In the coming days it becomes clear that this is more than just lust and that, despite being a married man and eleven years her senior, he feels just as strongly for her. Heartbroken when he and his crew are rescued from the island and having been told repeatedly that he is not the man for her, it is no wonder that, when veterinarian Logan Baxter arrives on the island to take up a one-year contract, Emma falls for him. Their marriage is initially passionate, but Logan becomes withdrawn when they go to Halifax on the mainland for the birth of their son Matthew. It turns out Logan is not all he seems and Emma is once again shaken by the men in her life. Throughout this story, Emma is forced to question her faith in both Oliver and Logan and it seems she is destined for a solitary life. Her story is an epic saga with many plot twists to keep you reading. In the background, author Julianne Maclean has used superb imagery to bring readers both the beauty and majesty of Sable Island and its wild horses and also the dangers faced by islanders as a result of the ever-shifting dunes and the wild weather. I was fascinated by the detail and the history associated with the island but mostly I was utterly captivated by Emma’s story. This has been a wonderful read and a book to savour again and again.

🇨🇦 author Julianne MacLean has written another beautiful story!

The story begins in 1946 after WW II. Emma lives on an isolated island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada with her Father. As Sable Island is situated in the middle of the North Atlantic it serves as a safety area for ships travelling along its path. Emma is 21 years old and dreaming about attending university on the mainland. One day there's a ship in distress and the islanders all band together to help. Captain Oliver Harris is the last to be rescued. Emma has an almost instant attraction to Oliver and they soon fall in love. The story follows Emma for close to 10 years. 3/4 of the way the story shifts to 1995 and Joanna has recently lost her Grandmother. She begins talking with her Grandfather and he starts to tell her an unbelievable tale.

I can always count on this author writing a wonderful story. This time part of my fascination was about Sable Island. As a Canadian I'm ashamed to say I really didn't know much about this island where wild horses run free and the world's largest breeding colony of grey seals reside. The setting was very vibrant. Today, Sable Island is a Canadian National Parks Reserve and the horses are protected. There are a limited number of tourists allowed to visit the Island. What an eye-catching cover and interesting story!

Published on March 25, 2025

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy.

I absolutely loved this book! This is a well-written book. The beginning was good. Then the story pulled me in to the point I could not put it down. It is one fascinating story. This book is written by an author I did not know. After finishing this book I will be reading more from Julianne MacLean. The front cover is gorgeous and the title is perfect. The narrator's performance was flawless. A must read!

First of all, this book really makes me want to go visit Nova Scotia and to Sable Island to see the wild horses. Both places just sound so beautiful.

Emma was such a beautiful character. I loved that she always knew who she wanted to be and even though it took her many more years to get there than she might have liked, it was awesome to see that she finally did make it.

She had a lot that she went through. I felt sorry for her time with Logan and what he turned out to be. Her relationship with Captain Harris was magnetic and special and while I almost ranted and raved because of what happened.... I'm glad for the ending of their story.

The first thing that hooked me about this book was the title. It just sounded so perfect for a historical fiction romance full of family secrets and lost love. And it was! I loved the island setting, the wild horses, the time period and the love story. A sweeping historical fiction novel, I also enjoyed the addition of the granddaughter timeline. I’m a sucker for multigenerational stories!

This was a fascinating read set during different periods of time. A story of lost love and heartbreak. I loved how all the characters were intertwined. Although I enjoyed this book I also found didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters maybe due to the writing style. I would still recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

Julianne MacLean’s books are always very emotional and this is no exception. I enjoyed this novel about a place that I knew nothing about (Sable Island), love, loss, misunderstandings, consequences, and time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always feel good after reading Julianne MacLean’s books and this one is no exception. A very emotional story about the life Emma lived and all the struggles and heartbreak she had to endure between 1946 and 1995. It took place on Sable Island which is off Nova Scotia after WWII. So much to this story that I know you won’t be disappointed, only glad you read it. The beauty of the place makes you want to go there and the story of true love will not end.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

This is a beautiful and poignant story. Emma is smart, but she has been sheltered her whole life. She was born and has lived on Sable Island her entire life. She was raised by her father because her mother died in childbirth. When a wrecks just off the island, Emma falls in love with the captain of the ship. He is only there a week, but she feels the connection. When he leaves, her heart is broken. When another man comes to live on the island, she finds love again. But all does not go well for Emma. She wanted to be a psychologist but had to put that aside when several things happen. She thinks all will go well, but it doesn't as it often happens in life. As Emma struggles when her husband is hauled off to jail and her captain did not come back after he promised. Heartbroken, Emma has to move on with her life. How will she go on?

I enjoyed the way the book is broken into 6 parts that tells Emma’s story from 1946-1995. I also appreciated the author’s note sharing the factual aspects of the book and her inspiration for the main character. The book has beautiful descriptions of Sable Island while at the same time telling Emma’s story!

I am usually not a big fan of this author. Some of her books are a bit too sweet for me. But this cover and this setting had me intrigued. And yes, this story is a bit on the sweet side but I enjoyed it! I loved this remote island and these characters!

1995: Mourning the death of her beloved grandmother, Joanna Griffin is shocked to learn that her grandfather once loved a young woman named Emma, but lies, betrayals, and catastrophic events separated them forever. As Joanna crosses an ocean to solve the secrets of her grandfather’s past, she learns that love is a powerful force, even mightier than the passage of time…

Emma and Oliver are definitely star crossed! But oh how I wanted this to change. This story will break your heart and keep you intrigued until the end! There is a lot that happens in these pages and you do not want to miss it!

Need an epic story of lost love…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

All Our Beautiful Goodbyes was a bit hit or miss for me.
Positives
-Beautiful Sable Island
-Wild Horses
-Strong Lead character
-promising tender love story
Negatives:
-too many dramatic occurrences, it became unbelievable
-not enough couple time together to develop that tender love story
I liked All Our Beautiful Goodbyes well enough, but I think it would have been better served if maybe the ending began the book and was developed more and then the flashbacks came in to show how these two were definitely star crossed lovers. Just a thought. Maybe it would have benefited from stronger editing so we don't put both main characters through every obstacle you could throw at them.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

Julianne MacLean never disappoints as an author and this sweeping tale of love lost and found, and the ensuing saga is not only heart wrenching but beautiful. A good reminder of what’s important in life.

All Our Beautiful Goodbyes by Julianne MacLean was a wonderful tale of lost love and fallen dreams.
This was a great read that had me hooked right from the start.
MacLean creates wonderful, fleshed out characters. The descriptions were so vivid that I felt like I was with the characters.
MacLean is a master storyteller and I just adore her writing style.

One of Ms MacLean's best! A Must Read!

I love Julianne MacLean's books and All our Beautiful Goodbyes is one of her best. As a Nova Scotian, I loved learning a little about the history of Sable Island, it's scenery and, of course, its wild horses. The plot is very interesting and the characters engaging, but, of course, life interferes! Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-limited e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Sable Island, Nova Scotia, is known for its many shipwrecks and served as a rescue station for surviving sailors, along with its wild horses. In 1946, Emma lives with her widowed father, but dreams of leaving the small island and going to college. She meets a British sea captain and falls instantly in love. 1995, Joanne has a special bond with her grandfather. She learns of a love her grandfather shared with a young woman.

Beautifully written historical fiction romance. Dual timeline. Emma faced so much in this book..love, lost dreams, betrayal and always hope. I enjoyed watching her grow from an unsure girl to a woman overcoming everything life has thrown at her. All characters are well developed. While fairly predictable, the story comes together nicely. It will transport you to this small, remote island where few live and many are saved. You can’t help but hope there is a happy ending for all involved.

I’ve read many of Ms. Maclean’s books, and while this isn’t my favorite, I found it enjoyable and highly recommend. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Emma Clarkson, grew up on Sable Island and in 1946, when the war was over, she had been accepted to go to a University in Nova Scotia, Before she left her father had an accident, and she stayed to help him get better. While she was doing that, there was a ship wreck, and the people of Sable Island rescued the men, and a British sea captain, named Oliver Harris, was one of the ones rescued. Emma and Oliver made a connection, and she fell in love with him, but when another ship came and picked them up, he left.
A veterinarian came to the island, to study the horses, and she finds love again. In time, she learns that all is not what it seems, and she says goodbye once again. She learns she has to take care of herself and her family, and that is what she does.
In 1995, Joanna Griffin, was mourning the death of her grandmother, when she discovers that her grandfather once loved a woman named Emma. Lies, betrayals, and other events kept them apart forever. She decided to go solve the mystery of who Emma was, and she finds Emma. What I learn after that, kept the story flowing smoothly, and we see Emma's life, all her accomplishments, and the life she created. I was so surprised by what she learned from Joanna.
Julianne MacLean, wrote another book that that captures the heart and soul of the people of Sable Island, the Sable Island, and all that Emma went through. She followed her heart and soul, through the people she loved, to the person she became, and the career she went after. I loved reading this book, there was a lot to the story, but it felt like there was so much calm surrounding it.
I received an ARC from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley.

What a story set in a very interesting setting! I felt all the emotions when reading this book. Emma was a fantastic character. She's a mix of confident strong woman and shelter insecure child. I really enjoyed her character throughout the entire book. The story spans decades and had a lot of ups and downs. The thought that any one event can change the direction of your life. The story was well written. The setting was so well described that it felt like I could see it in pictures. I've liked a number of books by this author, but this one is absolutely one of the best. I received an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

All Our Beautiful Goodbyes by Julianne MacLean is a beautifully written story of one woman’s life and the people she has loved. For the most part true love evaded her. While she had a once in a lifetime love it never seems to work out at the time. There is much in this life that is uncontrollable which shows strongly with Emma. It is how one reacts and makes the best of life in spite of those uncontrollable events that matter. Looking back on this story Emma’s life was not bad just very, very different from what she had planned. Lesson to be learned from her.

The final events in Emma’s life show that it is never too late. I did so like how Joanna’s and Garrett’s is implied at the conclusion of the book. Still, who knows anything could happen. All Our Beautiful Goodbyes has unforgettable characters who face life with its goodbyes bravely.
4.5 Stars

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a story that spanned over decades and historical in nature. Emma was a sheltered daughter of the superintendent of Sable Island who had big dreams. Her life however took some twists and turns.

A ship, a Captain, life choices, tragedy, and misunderstandings took Emma and Oliver on different paths but will they meet again?