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Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
Eye Contact Over Truk by Stephanie Woodman is a thrilling story of two men who go on a wreck-diving excursion in the South Pacific Islands for different reasons and experience something life-altering. Set in 1985, the story follows Nick Mitchell as he reeled from losing his wife to cancer. To reclaim his life and heal his wounds a little, Nick decided to go on a trip to Truk Lagoon for a deep diving adventure. Truk Lagoon was not just a sunken treasure haven for divers but was also part of WWII history. That was where Nick met Junichi Takahashi, a survivor of the firebombing of WWII as a child. He came to Truk to fulfill a promise he made to his father. Their paths combine amidst the wreckage of the past as they each confront their demons and the lingering scars of war. What will happen when these two men with their respective pasts collide?
I love a good historical fiction novel with strong characters and an impactful storyline. I love it even more when the narrative style of the author complements the story and the characters. Eye Contact Over Truk was an amalgamation of all of my favorite things in historical fiction. Author Stephanie Woodman created a perfect story of emotions, past trauma, healing wounds, and learning to live with your trauma. The emotional upheaval in the lives of both Nick and Junichi as they met each other was palpable. Nick, a former soldier who flew torpedo planes, and Junichi, a survivor of childhood nightmares from the war and whose father fought in the battle against Nick, had their own stories to tell. I was emotionally invested in their respective stories; I wanted to see what they would do next and how they would heal. The descriptions were incredible, and the imagery of the lagoon was breathtaking. I loved each moment of the story and highly recommend it. You hardly ever come across a gem like this!
