Three years ago, I watched a movie named The Light Between Oceans. It had Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander in it, and honestly, it made me emotional. After finishing it, I remember thinking—if the movie was this good, imagine how amazing the book must be!
I’ve always believed that books based on movies or series (or actually, movies based on books) have so much more to offer. There’s something about reading the author’s actual words that a movie just can’t show you, no matter how beautiful it looks.
So recently, I finally picked up M.L. Stedman’s book, and let me tell you—it was worth it.
What’s It About?
The story is set in 1920s Australia. Tom Sherbourne is a lighthouse keeper who comes back from World War I and starts working at this super isolated island called Janus Rock. It’s so far from everything that supply boats only come once a season. He lives there with his wife Isabel, and they’re basically the only people on the island.
Life is peaceful until Isabel goes through something really painful—she has two miscarriages and one stillbirth. Then one day, a boat washes up on their shore. Inside, there’s a dead man and a crying baby who’s somehow still alive.
Tom wants to report it right away. But Isabel, who’s been hurting so much from losing her babies, sees this as a miracle. And this is where their whole life changes.
The Beginning Was Slow (But Stay With It!)
I’m not going to lie — I almost quit the book at the start. The beginning spends a lot of time on Tom’s life during the war and before he became a lighthouse keeper. I’d seen the movie, knew the story, and just wanted the main part. I nearly skipped a bunch of pages.
But I kept going.
Halfway in, it hooked me. I couldn’t stop. Stayed up late, flew through it, and by the end I was more emotional than the movie ever made me. The book hit way harder.
The Questions That Stick With You
What I love most about this book is how it makes you think. Tom knows they should report the baby. He’s a good guy with strong morals. But Isabel is broken and desperate, and she truly believes this baby was sent to them for a reason.
They name her Lucy. They raise her as their own. And their decision ends up affecting people they don’t even know about.
Reading this made me wonder—what would I do in their situation? It’s easy to say “I’d do the right thing” when you’re not the one going through it. But when you’re in pain, when you want something so badly, when you think you’re actually helping… it’s not that simple.
Happiness Mixed With Guilt
The book has happy moments, but they’re always mixed with this heavy feeling. Every time Lucy smiles or does something cute, you feel joy for Tom and Isabel. But at the same time, you know their happiness is built on a lie. You know someone else is suffering because of their choice.
M.L. Stedman writes this so well that you feel everything—the love, the guilt, the fear, all of it.
That Ending Though…
The last part of the book really hit me on a deep level. I closed the final pages just sitting there, completely absorbed in everything I’d just read. The ending doesn’t offer easy answers—it reminds you that life is messy, that love can be both beautiful and painful, and that even good people can make heartbreaking choices.
Even days after finishing it, I kept thinking about the characters. They felt so real to me in a way the movie, as good as it was, couldn’t quite capture.
Should You Read It?
Yes! But here’s my advice:
- Be patient with the beginning. It picks up, I promise.
- Keep tissues ready. You’ll probably need them.
- Think about the questions it raises. This would be perfect for discussing with friends or in a book club.
- If you haven’t seen the movie yet, watch it!
The book asks: Can good people do bad things while thinking they’re right? Where’s the line between love and selfishness? How do you make choices when every option hurts someone?
I don’t think we can really answer these questions unless we face something similar ourselves.
Final Thoughts
The Light Between Oceans is M.L. Stedman’s first novel, and it’s really impressive. Sure, it could have been shorter in some parts. Yes, the start is slow. But the emotional experience you get from reading it is incredible.
Three years after watching the movie, reading this book felt like understanding a story that had been sitting in my heart all along. Whether you’ve seen the film or not, this book deserves your time.
Just make sure you’re ready to feel a lot of emotions.
I’ll definitely rewatch the movie after this.
Have you read The Light Between Oceans? What did you think about Tom and Isabel’s choice? Let me know in the comments!