First published 2025
Maurice and Maralyn make an odd couple. He approaches life with caution and awkwardness while she radiates charisma and determination. Their suburban existence in 1970s England feels suffocating amid oil shortages, strikes, and rising prices. Maralyn pushes for a radical escape plan: sell everything, construct their own boat, and sail to New Zealand. The careful work of building their vessel and preparing for departure tests their resolve, but they finally launch into the Pacific. Disaster strikes when a whale rams their boat, leaving them stranded on a small raft in open ocean. The crisis exposes the fault lines in their relationship. Maurice retreats inward while Maralyn fights to maintain their survival and their bond. Their love faces its ultimate trial as the ocean threatens to claim them both.
Genres: drama, adventure, contemporary, non-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: England, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean
Period: 1970s
272 pages · Paperback · Vintage