Earthy Contemporary Fiction

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3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I was really excited to read Waiting for the Night Song because the protagonist, Cadie, reminds me of a loved one. Raised along the water in the woods of New England, entomologist Cadie Kessler has a deep connection with two things: the forest and her childhood friend Daniela. When a secret she thought she left behind in her childhood threatens to resurface, Cadie begins to wonder if the forest and friends she feels so deeply connected to will harbor her secret or betray her trust.

Waiting for the Night Song blends contemporary issues like climate change and immigration with classic themes of nature, friendship, and loyalty. If you want the drama of a Liane Moriarty novel with the natural setting of a Thomas Hardy or Bronte tale and seasoned a contemporary twist, this just might be the book for you.

While the opening and closing chapters of the book were executed well, there were parts in the middle that felt incredibly preachy. I have no qualms with an author taking the opportunity to expound on meaningful issues, but I do get frustrated when an author is explanatory to the point they can't or won't trust their readers. I'd much rather have an author show me her point than spell it out for me; I personally find it distracts from the plot. However, Dalton's approach to contemporary issues were handled well at the beginning and ending of the book.