In Coastliners by Joanne Harris, Mado returns to the small Breton island of Le Devin after a decade away, only to find her village, Les Salants, struggling with both natural and societal threats.
Two rival communities, the wealthy La Houssiniere and the impoverished Les Salants, have long fought for control of the island’s sole beach, and now Mado’s home is under siege by a local entrepreneur. Desperate to restore hope to the villagers, Mado enlists the help of Flynn, an attractive drifter, despite facing prejudice from the superstitious locals. As Mado attempts to revive the community, she unravels past tragedies, including a terrible family secret. But with Flynn’s mysterious past, she must question if he is truly on her side—or if he has his own agenda.
