The Pelican Tide

A Novel

By: Sharon J. Wishnow

Narrated by: Sophie Amoss, Joe Knezevich

After disaster strikes, a Louisiana family and their community need to prove to each other and the world that their bond is thicker than the oil threatening their shores in Sharon J. Wishnow’s stunning debut novel.

It’s taken Chef Josie Babineaux six months to reconcile the debts left from her husband Brian’s gambling along with her broken heart. But now with a promising tourist season heating up and a travel magazine declaring her the spice queen of the bayou, she may be able to save her family’s historic Cajun restaurant. Repairing her relationship with her daughter, Minnow, while hiding the true reason she left her husband is a bigger issue.

Just as the first tourists arrive, an explosion on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico shatters their fragile plans. With her island community at the epicenter of the oil spill, everything is endangered, including the restaurant’s beloved mascot—a brown pelican dear to the family’s heart.

Josie realizes her family needs more than financial recovery. Only reconciling her past and revealing the truth can clean up the guilt and hurt pooling under the surface. And maybe, with enough honesty, this family can find renewal.

©2024 by Sharon J. Ritchey. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich deliver this novel revolving around the Babineaux family of Grand Isle, Louisiana, as it was impacted by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and Hurricane Alex in 2010. Amoss lets us hear Josie's excitement when a magazine plans to spotlight her family's restaurant to kick off tourist season and her frustration when her children blame her for the family's breakup. Knezevich gives Brian a strong voice that reflects his determination to reform himself and reunite his family. His grief is palpable as he mourns his broken family and the friends lost in the explosion.” —AudioFile Magazine

“Food, family, and second chance romance: Sharon J. Wishnow’s debut has everything I love in a novel—and a few things I didn’t even know I loved until I read The Pelican Tide. I can’t recommend this engrossing and utterly heartwarming story highly enough.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Good for You

“Set in Grand Isle, Louisiana, in the wake of the massive Deepwater Horizon oil spill, The Pelican Tide is the story of a family in turmoil, a historic café, and a beautiful but fragile ecosystem under threat. A layer of oil sludge coats the local beaches and estuaries, fishing is banned, tourists disappear, and the entire island community faces tough decisions. Against this backdrop, Josie and Brian struggle to hold their marriage together while trying to ensure a future on the island they love. In this assured debut, Sharon Wishnow creates a strong sense of place and deftly brings the natural world of this Gulf barrier island to life. Readers looking for a heartwarming story, memorable characters, and the delights of a wayward pelican named Gumbo will be richly rewarded.” —Rebecca Hodge, award-winning author of Wildland

Compelling and beautifully written

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The sultry heat and humidity of Louisiana is palatable throughout. The narrators did a wonderful job in bringing the characters to life and making them believable.This book was obviously, well researched and I learned a lot about the lasting effects of oil spill on families and wildlife while being drawn into the lives of one island family. There was just the right amount of heartache, drama, suspense and teenage angst. Bravo, Gumbo and bravo Sharon Wishnow for an enjoyable, heartwarming read.