“The monster—if there was one—never revealed itself to me again. But what I had learned over the past year was that monsters abound, usually in plain sight.” 

Maddie has lived a life devoid of love. She is an afterthought to her parents with a father focused on business and a mother centered only on herself. When she does pay some attention to Maddie, it is only to change her or control her appearance. When she finally does break free and go to school as an adult, she finds herself the center of a small group that focuses on fun and having a good time. They come from money. She marries one of the men from the group and slowly discovers the truth of who her husband really is in At The Water’s Edge – a man who is only out for himself.

I read Sara Gruen’s Like Water for Elephants many years ago and enjoyed that book. I chose At The Water’s Edge for the October Online Book Club since I had picked up the book at a library book sale. I didn’t know much about the book other than liking another book by the same author. The storyline was interesting and it should make for an interesting book club discussion.

Maddie’s husband, Ellis, crosses a line and is disowned by his father, cutting all their financial support. His father was renowned for being able to photograph the Loch Ness Monster, although most say he faked the photo. Ellis decides to go track down the monster to win his father’s approval back, taking along Maddie and his best friend, Hank, who still has money at his disposal. There is a war going on and both men have been recused from fighting, but Maddie has her doubts that her husband is actually color blind. Then the men leave Maddie at the Inn in Scotland without a word of where they are going for days. As she sees honest, true relationships around her, she starts to realize what she doesn’t have in her life.

At The Water’s Edge is an interesting tale that falls in the historical fiction category. It has elements of World War II and the Loch Ness Monster. However, the story mainly focuses on Maddie’s realization that she can control her own life and find real love. Maddie’s character often feels flat, but I think that is because without love in her life, she is very flat. The book is for adults as there are a few love scenes, a severe case of domestic violence and death.

What are your thoughts about the Loch Ness Monster? Is she real? Share your thoughts on the blog!

Buy the book here (affiliate link).

This is my Review of the Month for the review collection on LovelyAudiobooks.info