A Smile in a Whisper

Author: Jacquelyn Middleton

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Pub Date: August 10th, 2023

392p

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.

A Smile in a Whisper is the sixth book I read by Jacquelyn Middleton. This time the author tells a story of second-chance love that is beautifully written.

From the moment I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to read this book. I am a big fan of the second-chance love trope and since the book depicts a character who struggles with an illness, it is a story I could feel connected to.

Evie is such amazing character; bold and brave but still fighting problems and having insecurities. It was very interesting to learn more about Chron’s and how a person diagnosed with it can struggle. Nick is a lovely character as well; it was nice to see again a very human side of a star. He also deals with panic attacks and that made me realize that so many people suffer from it without us knowing or realizing.

The secondary characters were interesting and added to the story, I think Fiona is my favorite. Sunita was also a good friend (although I kind of hated how she was with Nick at the beach). I loved Lily and hated Nick’s parents. It was awesome to know more or Tarquin and Leia (and even Rupert), I loved that. The Orkney setting was different and unique and made me want to travel there to witness such wonderful scenery.

I cannot say more without spoiling the book but the whole thing with Evie and Nick felt very close to my heart. It broke my heart and mended it again. I also loved the chemistry they had together.

Overall, it is a gripping story, a real page-turner that I am sure will captivate you from the very beginning.