The Wattle Island Book Club is another worthy edition to Sandie Docker’s library of published books. Told across two time lines and with two protagonists it sweeps us through the world of post-war Sydney and the small community of Wattle Island, through to modern day Australia.

In 1950 teenage Anne leaves her home on Wattle Island for the excitement of big city life. She hopes to leave behind heartache and desperation, but it is not long before the big city throws up its own heartache and surprises. Perhaps what she was searching for can be found back on Wattle Island?

Jumping forward three generations it introduces us to Grace the town librarian who has her own heartache and desperation to resolve. Grace learns of the mystery of the Wattle Island Book Club. Trying to deal with her own devastating secret she becomes determined to discover the reasons the book club dissolved after 50 years and to solve the mystery, but can she do it in time? As the two storylines converge and Anne and Grace meet, their lives become intertwined in surprising ways that have lasting impacts.

The novel uses the historic book club to explore themes of community, love and connection. We are shown the powerful and profound impact that books and community can have on people.

Sandie Docker has once again written a book filled with compassion, adventure and romance. Her storylines are threaded with tenderness and kindness and her characters, while flawed, show the great capacity of humans to love and care for each other.

Reviewed by Kathryn Eyre