BOOK TOUR x INSTABOOKTOURS: Drowned Promises by Sara Simic

On the windswept shore of her coastal town, seventeen-year-old Rose finds fleeting solace from a life marred by her father’s cruelty. There, she meets William, a mysterious fisherman whose quiet strength offers the comfort she has never known.

As their bond deepens, Rose’s long-held dream of attending art school in Paris suddenly becomes reality, forcing her to leave behind the one person who truly understands her. Yet even in the vibrant heart of the city, William’s presence lingers in her dreams, his absence a hollow ache she cannot ignore.

Drawn back home by an inexplicable pull, Rose embarks on a journey to uncover William’s past—only to discover he may not be who she thought…

You know the phrase “good things come in small packages?” Well how about “emotionally devastating stories come in small books?” I know it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it but that’s exactly how I’d describe this.

A sweeping tale about a love and recovery that transcends time and death, Drowned Promises is a hard-hitting journey into the life of a young girl struggling with abuse and pain, seeking meaning and healing when she happens upon a handsome stranger in the water who changes her world. The writing style is odd, disjointed and almost dream-like - of course being a short story, it moves quickly from moment to moment in an almost stream-of-consciousness fashion. At times I found it a little jarring just how quickly things happened, with the insta-love, instant acceptance, quick changes - I was wishing I had a moment to connect before the plot steams ahead, to adjust to the world and the people but that is just a part of reading shorter stories.

Our main character Rose, was impossible not to connect with, to care for. She was just a young girl with hopes and dreams trying to escape an impossible situation. Admittedly I found her willingness to befriend a total stranger given all she’s been through entirely unbelievable and uncomfortable, taking me slightly out of the epic tale being told - but William was also the first person in a long time to show her kindness, a smile so it also makes sense. The thing I adored about her character was the way her dreams, her wants, her passion didn’t fade away with potential love — instead it showed that painful pull between two amazing things.

It’s a book about the power of love and the horrible consequences of growing up without it — a short, difficult read but one that’s well worth taking an hour out of your day to experience.

🌟🌟🌟

Drowned Promises will be released on September 28th with The Book Guild Publishing.
This title contains sensitive subjects including abuse, domestic violence and death.
I received an advance reviewers copy of this title as part of a publication event with Instabooktours.

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