47 pages • 1 hour read
M.L. StedmanThe Light Between Oceans
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In M.L. Stedman's debut novel, The Light Between Oceans, war hero Tom Sherbourne becomes a lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, where he and his wife Isabel raise a foundling baby as their own but face dire consequences when the child's biological mother is discovered alive. The novel touches on themes related to infant loss, parental separation, and moral dilemmas.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman is widely praised for its poignant writing and evocative descriptions of post-World War I Australia. Critics appreciate its complex moral dilemmas and emotional depth. However, some readers find the pacing slow and the resolution predictable. Overall, it’s a moving tale with a strong sense of place, though not without minor flaws.
Who Should Read The Light Between Oceans?
Readers who relish emotionally complex historical fiction with moral dilemmas akin to those in All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr or The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah will be captivated by The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. Fans of character-driven narratives and evocative settings will find this novel particularly appealing.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Historical Fiction
Drama / Tragedy
Romance
Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Values/Ideas: Fate
History: World