Shem Creek

The coastal backdrop feels so vibrant and alive—did the setting shape the characters' lives or was it the other way around? I wonder how much the author drew from personal experience.

There were times I was laughing and other times feeling unexpectedly moved — was that intentional to reflect the complexity of family life?

It feels like the town itself is a character. I’m curious whether the author wanted to explore small-town life or if it was more about the universal need for belonging.