The cover of this book caught my eye and after reading the blurb I discovered part of the story was set in and around Queenscliff, a place I’m quite familiar with as I have visited there many times.

This is a beautifully written story about two boys Drew and Tom who had a great friendship and enjoyed their boyhood adventures together. But as the years pass by and the boys turn into men their lives go in different directions and both Drew and Tom have to deal with some traumatic events that will haunt them for a long time. I felt this was a book I didn’t want to hurry as I wanted to take in all of the emotions and the detailed descriptions which were brilliantly written. A beautiful story that touches on issues of male friendship, trauma, mental health and so much more. I enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys a great read.3000-2024 aussie-authors borrowed-from-library29 s2 comments Craig / Phil1,657 86

Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
A story of two boys from different sides of the world spending the summer together in an idyllic Victorian coastal town.
The innocence, fun and long hot days dictate the timetable as they form a friendship.
Until the minefield that is mental health strikes.
Drew returns to Queenscliff from Minnesota to attend the funeral of his mate Tom.
A long journey, a sad occasion and an opportunity to face the demons of childhood.
The return placing a new perspective on life, reacquainting history with the present and how the dark shadows of mental health can create havoc.
Reflections back on childhood show the cultural, family and domestic issues.
The stay in Australia culminating in two deaths and a lie.
Trauma that won’t erase.
Normally I favour a timeline but in this I was equally invested in both.
An emotionally gripping narrative with an abundance of reminiscent nostalgia with an ever present intrigue lingering.
I enjoyed the similarities and differences the boys shared as two cultures became one in their mate ship.
5 s Marles Henry672 33

There is a slowness to this story, the apprehension of a wave before it crashes down on the shoreline. And it is in this tempo that thoughts are examined and memories are revisited. It is watching a moment of time in slow motion, whee you know the result won’ be what you expect, and may not be for the best.
Drew is in the agonising midst off second-novel syndrome, sending his latest manuscript to his editor with growing apprehension. He also just learned that his childhood friend, Tom, had died. The fact that this is Matthew Ryan Davies’ second novel is quite apt: The Broken Wave is a novel full of promise, emotion and it delivers a compelling look at the impact of childhood and the life events can continue to shape and haunt the years after.
In 1992, Tom and Drew’s friendship evolded so quickly, and Drew’s life was shaped and changed by Tom’s disposition and his outlook on life. Yet the afterglow of a Queenscliffe summer and an honest and warm adolescent friendship seemed to become more tarnished as the unthinkable happens. And this was where their friendship was separated by thousands of kilometres for many years. Drew flew back to Australian for Tom’s funeral, and connects with Tom’s wife and children, and those who knew him back in 1992. Drew questions Tom’s behaviour before his death. Was there a sense of unpredictability? Were there ups and downs he was dealing with? Had he ever confided in anyone about what happened in 1992? What struck me as interesting was that everyone who Drew reconnected with, from Tom’s parents to other old friends, were so welcoming of him, and not one mentioned the significant time away from Queenscliffe. It was he was being protected from those who knew what had happened, - if they knew – still after all those year ago. Dew’s mother’s spiral was an unstoppable force, something that could not be controlled in any way shape or form with massive consequences.

Thank you @macmillanaus for the #gifted copy. The Broken Wave is out on 28 November 2023.
4 s P7

I d the first half of the book way better than the second half. the first half was developed organically and the story unfolded with a nice pace. you get to know the characters quite well too.
the story sounded very relatable and you can almost visualise every scene perfectly.
however the second half was almost the opposite for me. The ending sounded a little rushed. it felt the author dragged the story as long as it was possible and then suddenly in one very short chapter everything comes to an end.
Another point from my view is that it was a little difficult for me to believe in the evilness of the Character of Mark. Because honestly he was not the antagonist of the story, he sounded a normal typical young man at that time. (sure with a little bit of ptsd) but He did not come across as an extremely bad person or a deadbeat and yet he ended up being blamed for everything which was not very fair. The Mother sounded more horrible tbh.
And the readers have not been given any information about Tom and Drew's relationship after the incident as in what happened next between them and how it affected their friendship in the following few months. etc. that is actually one of the reason why the ending seems rushed. in my opinion. 2 s1 comment Michele (michelethebookdragon)250 4

I knew I would love this book when I saw the cover. That glorious cover gives a real feeling for the story inside - genius.

This is beautifully written and imagined. The writing is so good and you can feel the hazy summer days, hear the seagulls, feel the sand between your toes, smell the ocean and taste the fish and chips.

The beautiful friendship between Drew, who has moved to Australia from the US, and Tom is so charming and typical of twelve year old boys. They fish and swim, have adventures, make up words and communicate with homemade walkie-talkies. But Drew's home life is not always nice, and when an unimaginable tragedy strikes one day, Drew knows what he must do.

Twenty six years later, Drew is drawn back to Queenscliff for Tom's funeral. While some things in the town have changed, there is much that feels the same as it did all those years ago. Feeling a connection to Tom's son Adam, Drew starts to question his current life back in the US. Is Drew seeking closure for the tragic events all those years ago? Is there any link between what happened in 1992 and now?

I was easily drawn into this story and Drew and Tom's lives. The writing is sublime and there was an honesty and vulnerability to it. It felt personal at times and I'm glad the author explained where the idea for this book came from.

I am most certainly seeking out his other novel, Things we Bury, and I think I have found another Aussie author whose books I will eagerly await their publication.1 Kylie343 5

Emotional.
Enticing.
Well fleshed out characters.
Gripping story that kept me guessing.
Shocking.
Heartbreaking.
Uplifting.1 Christina28

3.5 stars1 Tania Chapman14

In the beginning I wasn’t too sure if I would be able to continue reading this book, as it started slowly. However, I quickly got hooked and enjoyed the story. It developed more depth by the 50th page and I enjoyed the calm way the author portrayed the characters and increased the overall depth of the story. 1 1 comment Nathan Manly15

"In a novel, the stakes are not real. Nobody really dies or has their hearts literally broken. In the real world, when people get hurt it stings. Sometimes, the wounds never heal" p.272

Recommended read

I absolutely loved this book. The description of Queenscliff made me feel I was there walking alongside drew as he walked down memory lane. Every character in the book felt real and complex.

The majority of the story was compelling and nicely paced. The build-up was beautifully done, and I could see the characters develop as they explored themselves through flashbacks and present tense.
I felt as the character explored the issues his gradual unravelling wasn't over-dramatic, and realistic so as the story went on we can feel the changes rather than being told which allowed me to empathise with the character. I was absolutely immersed in the story. I ended up staying up far too late to finish this book as I didn't want to put it down.

However, the ending felt out of place from the pace of the rest of the book, feeling that the author opted for a cheap shock rather than a proper ending. Mixed with a weird non-resolution type ending, where everything is fine now, but nothing really happened.

Overall, it's excellent, and I will certainly reread in a year or two. A stronger conclusion to this story and I would have easily given a 5/5.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review1 Jillwilson666

There’s quite a lot of irony in this book. It’s about a writer (SO many books that have writers as the main characters right now). In the course of the novel, the main character Drew gets a call from his agent about the final draft of his second novel. She tells him that he was “trying too hard – that you’re trying to be another writer” and that he was avoiding the vulnerability that comes with great pieces of creativity. It’s sort of what I felt about this novel. It doesn’t really know what it wants to be and so it doesn’t really work.

Drew is revisiting the seaside town of Queenscliff in Victoria after living there for a brief time when he was 12. His stepfather and pregnant mother and he were posted there to the army base from the United States. For the first time, Drew found a solid mate in Tom and began to feel at home until something terrible happens that causes the family to return to the States.

Now, as a man nearing his 40s, he is revisiting the town because Tom has dies ion a boating accident and it feels there is unfinished business emotionally for Drew.

I won’t say anything more about the plot. In some ways the book is a love letter to Queenscliff – and Davies renders this well. It is also a psychological drama – and this aspect just felt quite portentous and clumsy. I agreed with this comment from a Good Reads reviewer: “However, the ending felt out of place from the pace of the rest of the book, feeling that the author opted for a cheap shock rather than a proper ending. Mixed with a weird non-resolution type ending, where everything is fine now, but nothing really happened.” Helen Farch180 10

This is a haunting story of how childhood trauma can shape your life - especially if it is a secret.

As we read, we can see the signs of post-natal depression and Gulf War Syndrome that Drew's mother and step-father are losing the battle with - but for a young child, all he knew is that things weren't right.

And having already lost his father in tragic circumstances, Drew was already suffering.

Imagine the sudden freedom he must have felt when he made friends with Tom - who is so different to himself and has lived a vastly different life?

But then as Drew finds himself back in Queenscliff - the town where he lived so freely but also where things went so wrong - and suddenly he finds himself having to not only deal with the slump he finds himself in as an author, but also the events of all those years ago.

Your heart will soar with young Drew and the adventures he has with Tom, but also break for him, as well as for adult Drew is finding that he needs to deal with memories and traumas he thought he had moved on from.

Love this book. It was so refreshing to see depictions of male friendships, mental health battles and their experiences of grief and trauma.

Thanks to the Publisher for the review copy of this book.2 s Mike976 80

A whimsical tale of a childhood summer friendship, The Broken Wave (2023) by Matthew Ryan Davies explores its influence decades later. In 1992, Drew moved to Queenscliff from America with his pregnant mother and new stepdad. He made a best friend in Tom, another twelve-year-old, who helped him adjust to a strange new world and new family dynamics. Twenty-six years later, Drew travels back from Minnesota to attend Tom’s funeral, although there has been no contact since, due to the unspoken tragedy that occurred. A touching powerful narrative switching seamlessly between past events and Drew’s present struggles, as a writer coming to grips with the unfathomable circumstances that changed his life forever. A summer holiday friendship is recreated, with a melodic whimsical feel and yet gentle revelations of family suffering and its generational destructive results. A coming-of-age tale to be truly savoured, its reconciliation of past traumatic events and life-affirming hope, makes this a must-read five star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.american aussie children ...more13 s Deborah1,298 104

Andrew (Drew) and Tom meet only briefly as kids but bond in the way kids can but adults struggle to. Drew in particular seems to have shut himself off, living a very isolated life–as a kid with his books and words; and as an adult as a writer (in his case, a very solitary profession). His wife Claire, a social worker, has broken through his defences, but we learn the only other person with whom he's connected in the same way, was Tom.

The beauty of this book (for me) is in the introspection forced upon Drew. We learn, particularly from Claire, he prefers not to confront the past or open himself up. Here Drew tries to understand the man his childhood friend became and whether the events of that summer impacted the rest of Tom's life. And in doing so he's forced to ask himself the same question. 
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat... ReadingupwiththeRajs31

I quite d this book and read it in two days. I loved the local setting and description of Queenscliff and surrounds.

I got the distinct feeling that I often do when the protagonist in the story is an author- that the book is based on the author themselves. The author note at the end seemed to confirm part of this.

The ending surprised me somewhat when I didn’t think it would.
Drew was an interesting character and I would have d more depth- felt that Claire ended up with him due to that social work/saviour complex that often arises.
I d that the reader doesn’t find out an outcome about Tom’s death. Vivi Widodo388 18

This is a #recommendedreading, one that is unputdownable and bingeable.
This is a story of friendship, past secret, which also brought up issues of loneliness, post natal depression, PTSD, and suicide.

"We never talked about what happened in 1992. Did it quietly haunt him the way it did me?"

Drew moved from Minnesota to Queenscliff with his pregnant mother and stepfather. His stepfather, Mark, worked as an Army and was posted at Queenscliff. So that's the backstory of how Drew met Tom and became best friends. Tom was the first one who said hi to Drew, introduced to fishing, kayaking, a life in Queenscliff.
Until one day, a tragedy striked in Drew's home at Mercer Street, and he had to move back to America again.
Even though each of them moves on with their own life into adulthood, each of them still keeps a secret of what happened twenty-six years ago at Mercer Street.
The ending is so emotional and heartbreaking.

Don't skip to read the author's note re the inspiration of this book. Karen2

I enjoyed the book and the writing style. I would have d more depth towards the end of the book after the “incident “ was explained. How did they just “go” back to America? I think they were only in Australia for 6 months … however surely it was longer to explain what happened to authorities etc …

I d the characters, was Mark really a bad man or just dealing with PTSD?

Some difficult to discuss social issues were raised..

I have enjoyed both of this authors books!! This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review Jennifer8

I love the childhood friendship the boys shared and how he made it back for the funeral and got to know Adam especially, his friend's son and how the sea side town has changed. The way the author described living in the States and in Queenscliff, that contrast was what hooked me as well.

The trauma/crux of the story was well chosen and glad it brought awareness to the extent of how damaging it can be, if no help is given. Angela Pickett60 1 follower

Having heard a few people talk about this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But once I picked it up, I found it hard to put down.

Loved the author’s writing style, and how he really evoked a sense of place, seamlessly moving between the present and his memories.

Also loved how he wrote about the process of writing and being an author, perhaps from his own experiences? Mary Churchill126 4

Really enjoyed this book.
Knowing Queenscliff and surrounding area certainly gave me a comfortable read allowing the characters to come to life believably. The story line was strong and kept me interested to the last page. Loved the boys relationship the joy of childhood at that time so much freedom and chances to experiment with life. Lahra13

This was a brilliant read. A coming of age story with a twist that I thought I saw coming, but it still got me. Set against an idyllic Australian summer in the 90s and present day, the story unfolds in a cleverly written novel. I highly recommend this. Christine59 19

Front cover gives impression of a light summer read? It’s not…but was a quick read for me as it’s a cleverly written mystery by a newish Melbourne author of fiction, Matthew Ryan Davies. I supporting our local talent…any similar recommendations? Not necessarily Australian. Jennifer612

What a sad tale. I really felt for Drew, all the confusion and sadness in his life, and for Tom who was the innocent bystander/victim. The ending was a bit of a surprise, as I was tending along a different path. This book carried several important messages within its pages. Martin1,673 9

with a 1/2.
An engaging easy read with a sense of nostalgia.
Being familiar with the setting always adds to the enjoyment as one can visualise the setting.
The prose was more than competent resulting in a good story. Faye Weston119

A book about a boyhood relationship that was special for Tom and Drew is told in detail. At Tom’s funeral Drew meets Tom’s son Adam and experiences life changing feelings. An old mystery re-surfaces and has to be dealt with. Left me stunned! Kelly Isakiewicz64

This is probably one of the best books I have ever read! It was a nice story throughout, it covered the facets of friendship and tragedy, but there was a twist at the end that was NOT expected AT ALL. Belinda16

Wow. What a gifted story teller. I couldn't put this down and just loved getting to know the characters. Judy Nickless213 2

4 and a half stars
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