If you’ve recommended me a book this year, first of all—thank you. Second of all, thank you.

Isabel Allende’s A Long Petal of the Sea was recommended to me by author and fellow WWA board member Silvia Acevedo, and I’m so grateful she made this recommendation.

A Long Petal of the Sea follows a field medic and a renowned pianist who enter into a marriage of convenience to escape the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. To do so, they take refuge in Chile with help from celebrated poet Pablo Neruda—only to be chased from their new home in South America when Pinochet seizes power in his 1973 coup.

This sweeping tale skillfully interweaves fact and fiction, ensuring readers who may not be familiar with the historical context understand it through the eyes of its protagonists and supporting cast.

If you’re a fan of family sagas and historical fiction—or even if you’re not—I absolutely recommend you give this one a read.

4.5/5 stars.