The Lighthouse by Christopher Parker ~ a Review

by MK French

The lighthouse in Seabrook had been dormant for the past thirty years. Now it's lit up, sparking gossip in town. Amy Tucker was planning on spending the night in town and moving on when she meets Ryan. They spend the weekend together, growing closer; as they do, the lighthouse grows brighter. Amy discovers something about Ryan that's startling, and she decides to enter the lighthouse to uncover the truth.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

October 2021; Beacon Press; 978-0995149526
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); magical realism

Amy's mother had just died when the book opened, and she doesn't get along with her father much. With a leave of absence from college, she's out of sorts and drifting. Ryan, on the other hand, is helping his father with the family ranch, and his father fears he's holding Ryan back from a better future. The two meet by accident, both at low points in their lives, and connect. Circumstances seem to push them together constantly, and there are little things that don't quite add up. Despite that, Amy and Ryan get along really well and have a connection that leads to them bonding over their grief and the difficulties of living in the wake of loss.

The oddities and elements of the fantastic are explained in the final third of the book. It's sad and really pulls at me as I read through it. With the information that we have, I feel like there are multiple denouements to the story: Ryan's future, Amy's future, and then the one presented in the epilogue. This book has a lot of loss and grief, with the ultimate message that while the living keeps on going, that doesn't mean you lose the connection with those you love.

Buy The Lighthouse at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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