The Berry Pickers: Book Review

Today we will be reviewing The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, an award winning novel released in 2023. Find out what we thought of this novel and if you should read it too!

The Berry Pickers: Book Review

A Mi’kmaq family from travels down from Nova Scotia to Maine every summer to pick blueberries. One day, their youngest daughter, four-year-old Ruthie, goes missing. Her family searches for her but never finds her. The novel goes on to tells the story of Ruthie and her family and their lives after the kidnapping.

Norma is a single child raised by her parents but she knows that she is different. Her family, however, never answers these questions and whenever Norma tries to discuss her dreams, her mother always gets a headache. As Norma grows up, she tries to find answers to these questions that her loved ones seems to always avoid discussing.

Joe was the last one to see Ruthie before she disappeared. He has lived with the pain and trauma of that memory and that event leads him on a dark path that takes him away from his family. And now, Joe has returned and has a few months to live and a lot of regrets to keep him company. 

Commentary

There are few authors that have an amazing debut novel and the novel went on to win some big awards. The Berry Pickers won a myriad of awards such as the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, the 2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, and the 2024 Crime Writers of Canada Best Crime First Novel Award. 

I loved every second of this novel and it feels like Peters is a veteran author and not just starting out. Even though you know where the novel is headed, seeing it all unfold and how Peters makes you feel the pain of all of the characters is a skill that makes this one of the best novels of 2023. 

This is a novel for anyone who enjoys well written books and amazing storytelling. Peters is able to capture the pain and suffering of her characters and there is a good chance you may end up crying. I will be on the lookout for novels written by Amanda Peters and can’t see what she writes next!

Conclusion

I have been reading a bunch of books that I have seen in bookstores and this one grabbed my attention right away. And I am glad that I gave this amazing novel a chance and recommend it to all book lovers. You won’t regret it. Happy reading!

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