Ailey of Skye by Wendy Hewlett – Review by Angela Hayes

Ailey of Skye by Wendy Hewlett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“How was she supposed to deal with this alone in a strange country and stay sober? She swiped hot tears from her cheek and began the deep breathing exercises they taught her in rehab. By the fifth breath she was starting to feel a little calmer, but she still wanted a drink. She wondered if they had AA meetings on the Isle of Skye. She should probably check that out.”

Aileen MacEwan (Ailey) had just finished a stint in rehab in her hometown of Toronto, when she inherits her grandmother’s home on the Isle of Skye. She sets off to figure out what she wants to do, and re-discover herself in the process. But when she gets there, things don’t quite go according to her plans- for a start there’s a strange man ‘living’ in her grandmother’s house. She soon discovers that this is just the tip of the iceberg- uncovering much more than she ever could have imagined. With danger making itself known, and her past coming into play, did Ailey make the right decision coming to Skye? What does she discover? What happens when danger presents itself? Will she return to Canada defeated, or will she find the stability she’s been looking for in Skye?
This book has quite a few emotional elements- and some difficult topics are depicted, such as addiction and substance abuse- but the author handled it all in a very realistic, informative, and sensitive way. Ailey has been through so much, and is a lot stronger than she gives herself credit for. Her sobriety is tested, and she has choices to make. There was a lot of character growth and development throughout the book- Ailey in particular learned and grew from her experiences and the Ailey we meet at the start of the book is quote different to who we see at the end.
I really enjoyed this introduction to Ms. Hewlett’s work. This may have been my first read from her, but it definitely won’t be the last.

Thank you, Wendy Hewlett!

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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