This book really was GLORIOUS! It sees academic vet, Charlotte Walker travel to the isolated island of Tuga to study the rare Gold Coin tortoises and hopefully save a species. But her reasons for her visit turn out to be more complex and her connections deeper than she expected.

I simply adored this book! From the start I was drawn in, to not only Charlotte’s story but that of the island of Tuga and its inhabitants. They get under your skin, make you laugh, uplift you, make you cry and give you joy. Francesca has created a vivid picture of Tuga, so you can really see it and feel it in all its glory! She has really done her research, there is so much detail to take in and the veterinary detail feels accurate. 

The characters are the absolute winners for me, Charlotte, Dan and Levi and their love triangle are, sure, fantastic but it’s everyone else too that are just joyful; Taxi, Moz, Grand Mary, Martha the tortoise, Sweet sweet Joan and Annie and Alex particularly all just sang for me!

But I think the island of Tuga itself comes top of the pile, it really is glorious. 

Get yourself a copy, you won’t regret it AND it’s the start of a trilogy so we get to return to this wonderful place and spend more time with its people - a true joy!