Lost in Paradise by Rachel Lacey, narrated by Ellie Gossage

Lost in Paradise is one of the first books I read by Rachel Lacey and my first 5⭐️. I have a signed copy on my bookshelf, of which I’m very proud. It’s a very Rachel Lacey book in that it’s impossible not to fall in love with the MCs. In this one, there aren’t a lot of secondary characters—the one that do exist are very secondary yet important to the story—and for good reason: for a large part of the book, the MCs, Nicole, an American, and Fiona, a British expat living in France, are stranded at sea then on an island. It should be tragic, and at times it is, but it’s also full of hope and instead of being dreadful, it becomes the beginning of something beautiful.

I first read this book during lockdown, after loving Don’t Cry for Me. Then as now, I loved the way the characters’ personalities are unveiled progressively, Fiona appearing as strong and laid-back at first then revealing her vulnerability, and Nicole, freshly divorced, growing from confused and scared at the beginning to self-assured and confident in what she wants. And all along the attraction between the two women keeps the tone rather light. I don’t know anything about cruise ships, pirates, and being lost at sea, but I’m pretty sure the situation Nicole and Fiona find themselves in would be terrifying. The MCs aren’t nonchalant about it, but the author keeps the overall mood uplifting, a Lacey trademark.

A word about the narration: Ellie Gossage is a new to me narrator and I hope I’ll have the opportunity to listen to her work often. The voices fit the characters flawlessly, the pace is right, everything is as should be.

This book isn’t perfect, there are a few bumps here and there but it’s so heart-warming that while I know my original 5⭐️ are probably slightly excessive (I don’t believe in star ratings anyway, they’re never fair), I’ll stick to them for the pure enjoyment it brought me twice.

Read my review of Lost in Paradise, the book.