A charmingly original sci-fi comedy set on a Scottish island, this novel is quite slow-paced (like island life!) and takes its time introducing the sci-fi element. I think that even readers who don’t usually read sci-fi might enjoy the book.
The story follows Jake, a student who has travelled all the way from the English south to the Scottish island of Elsay for a summer job. The job was advertised by mistake but he is still given some work. He meets a number of characters who make his time on the island very interesting indeed. Then he discovers the huge secret on the island, known to just two other people.
I enjoyed the narrative style, which was warm and humorous. I also liked the distinctiveness of the characters and the strong sense of place. My only criticism is of an over-reliance on comparing the female lead character / romantic interest, Alva, to the actress Emma Stone, who is mentioned thirteen times in the novel.
Independently published in 2024.