Title: A Smile in a Whisper
Author: Jacquelyn Middleton
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Kirkwall Books
Source: Tandem Collective Global
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
NOT ALL FAREWELLS ARE FOREVER…
Evie Sutherland throws herself into everything. Like many on Scotland’s picturesque Orkney Islands, she works several jobs: managing her family’s shop, researching genealogy for tourists, and writing historical romance novels. Evie aces most challenges—except love. With a childhood diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and a disastrous dating history, Evie has convinced herself that guys won’t date the “sick girl” and the blame falls on the shoulders of her first love, a famous boy from London who spent his summers on her island.
To the outside world, Nikolai Balfour lives a charmed life. Starring in a popular British TV series as a teen, young Nick stole fans’ hearts from the Isle of Wight to Shetland. However, that was a lifetime ago, and the years since have been filled with “Didn’t you used to be…” moments, career wrong-turns, and empty relationships. Now finding success behind the cameras, Nick is still racked with regret and guilt over how things ended with the Orcadian girl he’d loved and left behind.
But when a television series filming in Orkney blows Nick back into Evie’s quiet life, they’re forced to face their heartbreaking past and revisit old secrets that should never have been kept.
Unfolding in alternating past and present timelines, A Smile in a Whisper is a touching story of first love and second chances, and the enduring summer memories that shape us.
Review:
On the Scottish Orkney Islands, Evie Sutherland has had Crohn’s Disease since childhood but she lives a quiet life in her hometown. She blames her disease for her disastrous love life, starting with her first love, Nick Balfour. Nick visited the islands in the summer as a teen, when he was on a break from filming a popular teen soap opera. Now it’s been over a decade since their romance ended. Nick has returned to Orkney to produce a tv show and Evie is catering the food for the crew. They must revisit their past, learn each other’s secrets, and figure out if they can have a future together.
This was such a sweet second chance romance. The story alternated between their past and present relationships, which showed all the heartache they had both been through. There was great representation of Evie’s Crohn’s disease as well as Nick’s panic disorder and anxiety. I have IBS which has some of the same symptoms of Crohn’s, though not the damaging flare ups and hospital stays. I could relate to the way it affected Evie’s social life, food choices, and even clothing choices. I haven’t seen much representation that was as close to my lifestyle like this, so I really appreciated it! I think fans of second chance romances like Every Summer After will love this story!
A Smile in a Whisper is a beautiful summertime romance!
Thank you Tandem Collective and Jacquelyn Middleton for sending me a copy!
Content warnings: Crohn’s disease/chronic illness, panic attacks, hospital scenes, allergic reaction, underage drinking, and drug use
Have you read A Smile in a Whisper? What did you think of it?
Jill's Book Blog 